The Season of Settling Scores Part 3

“The fury of a demon instantly possessed me. I knew myself no longer. My original soul seemed, at once, to take its flight from my body; and a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fiber of my frame.” -  Edgar Allan Poe, The Black Cat

{Hotel - Greece - “Family”}
[off-camera]
[Saturday 3 AM]

While I am an asshole on television, that’s not something I will ever be when it comes to my family. So when the phone rang, I looked at the caller i.d. and it was my youngest sister, Angie. I slid the bar over immediately because she’s the kind that never calls because she needs something. “Hey sis,” I began and she launched into her story. “Big brother, I need a huge favor!” She was obviously fan girling over something. I laughed as I sat up. “It’s not funny, Mac! This is uber important!” Amber looked at me, then rolled over and hugged my arm. Looking down at her I could tell she was amused by the call itself. So she sat up to listen in. Angie, “So, I was listening to Rachel Zion on the radio and she always communicates with her fans on Facebook, because she has the best radio show ever!” I cannot hide my amusement and Amber rolls her eyes but we continue to listen. “You’re coming back to the states soon, right?”

“Yeah, we have a flight later this morning,” I said with a smile. “Oh boy! Can you come to Port Arthur on Tuesday around lunchtime?” “Well, I’ll see what I can do Ang, but you know we are on a tight schedule right now.” A short pause for a deep breath and we braced for the incoming barrage. “So, I know you went to school with Rachel, and she loves you and Amber, she’s always talking about the Golden Couple of wrestling. So, I was hoping you could guys could introduce me to her.” Then Silence on the line, “We can certainly try sis.” Then she began to ramble on about how grateful she was. She hung up shortly after that. “Wow,” was all Amber said before rolling back over and going to sleep.

A few days later

We got to Port Arthur right before noon, my baby sister was there already. She was so excited to see us, dressed in her jeans, boots, and button-down blouse. She had really put in the extra effort for this introduction. She came running up to the rental car, like some wild thing that was amped up on espresso or something. Amber and I looked at each other and laughed a little. Then we exited the car, and gave her fierce hugs. I looked up from my hug with her and could see Rachel inside the restaurant where they were doing a live event today and if I read her lips correctly, she had said “Holy Shit!”. I smiled at the reception. With one arm around my baby sister and holding Amber’s hand, we went inside. The whole place was very excited when we came into the place. Some of these people I knew from high school, in Rachel’s case, had been Melissa’s best friend in high school and were one of the bridesmaids when Melissa and I married. “How the hell are ya, Mac?” She rushed over and gave me a hug. “Oh my fucking god, Amber fucking Ryan, as I live and breathe.” Then she rushed Amber and gave her a hug. I flinched, mostly because in social situations that shit could be dicey with Red. She did fine though and even hugged her back.

‘Shit, I’m sorry, I’m a hugger,” she began to apologize to Amber who to her credit waved it off as nothing. “It’s okay really, thank you so much for talking about us on the radio, we appreciate that very much.” She blushed a little, “Not gonna lie I’m fan girling really hard here.” I’d have to intervene soon and Amber knew that as well, looking over at me briefly. “Rach, this is my baby sister Angie, I wanted to introduce you to each other. She loves your show.” To my and Amber’s surprise, my baby sister turned the fangirl thing way down to low levels. Maybe it was her business sense that took over from there. “I know you,” Rachel said. “You’re the young lady he commented on my manicure posts, and girl your nails are fantastic. Where do you get them done?”

My baby sister was on fucking point as she lead the conversation from there. Amber whispered to me, “I had no idea.” I smiled and shrugged my shoulders, kind of dumbfounded myself all I could say was, “who knew?”. I thought to myself, Angie knew, that’s for certain. She spoke with confidence and never missed a beat while explaining the product she was selling. I’ve always been proud of my family but that was a special proud brother moment for me. I was so glad that I agreed to do this for her.

{LAX - Los Angeles CA - “A Mistake”}
[off-camera]
[Sunday 4 PM]
There is a distinct advantage to flying private over public. People. Always fucking people who are super annoying is the only way to put it. I had a four-hour layover in Germany and another four and a half here in L.A. I sat not too far away from the terminal, watching the planes arrive and leave, more as an amusement than anything. I kept catching this dude from the corner of my eye, who was watching me. He seemed upset and likely drunk as he would glare for a minute and then get up and pace. He was obviously talking himself into something. It was likely something stupid, but such is life. So me being me, I took my bandanna and sunglasses off and stored them in my carry-on bag. This guy is one of those travelers who gets juiced up at an airport bar. I could smell him and his obvious need for whiskey. I smirked when I saw he was wearing an old “Carnage Wrestling” Matt Knox T-shirt. I casually looked in his direction so he could be sure that I was the guy he wanted to confront. I simply smiled, and evidently, that was enough for his courage to be at maximum. I watched him sway a bit as he approached. “Yep, smashed out of his fucking mind,” I said to no one in particular. He came over and stopped in front of me.

“You’re that Mac Bane guy, did the show in Greece?” I looked up and nodded my confirmation to him. “I am.” He could have done anything else in the world but he chose to stick his finger in my face, just about a quarter-inch from my nose. He then started yelling at me, belligerent insults about how I let my marriage rot, regurgitating a lot of the same shit as Knox had said. “Remove your finger from my face, only warning you’ll get.” He looked at me, kind of dumbstruck, as if it didn’t register with him that he had made an egregious mistake. When he didn’t do as I asked, people around him started to murmur. He got brave and tried to jab me in the eye with his finger. Which I reacted to, quickly raising my left arm to knock it away, and counter striking with a fist to the exposed solar plexus. That one counter, had him on the floor before he could even comprehend what just happened. “Son, I get it. You’re a wrestling fan and obviously a mark for Knox. My recommendation for you is that you go sleep it off.” The smell of whiskey, probably jack daniels I’d assume. “And for fucks sakes, understand your audience and your enemy. I am NOT someone who tolerates fools.” As he writhed on the ground in pain, I simply stepped on his right hand to apply a simple wrist lock. I was still applying pressure to the wrist lock when security showed up.

“Mister Bane, we’ll handle it from here.” I nodded to the security officers and released the wrist lock allowing them to drag him to his feet. “Will you need a statement from me?” I asked in a polite manner. “No sir,” He motioned toward the terminal desk. “The ladies saw what was happening and called us. I think we’ve got everything we need.” The young man who had assaulted me was being led away in stunned silence at what just happened. “At least the binders will keep him from making an ass of himself for the time being,” I said in an amused tone. I sat back down and went back to staring out the window watching the planes arrive. That simple act of defending myself would practically guarantee that I would have peace for the rest of my time in L.A. I thought about what happened just now. I wouldn’t press charges, that’s always a waste of time. That young man, wouldn’t learn anything from the experience, so why bother. I mean, he doesn’t realize it yet, but he put himself in far more danger than he realized. Funny enough, so did the man he was such a huge fan of. Knox had pushed me passed the limit, there was no doubt about that. It was taking every ounce of everything I am to hold my destructive nature at bay. Just until the match, then there would be no holding anything in check. I would destroy him for his assumption that I was like everyone else.

Fade

{Top of the World - Las Vegas NV - “Errors In Judgement”}
[off-camera]

Two Days Prior

In this world, there are a lot of people that will literally do anything to turn a buck. They will set your business on fire because you’ve made an enemy at some point in your life. They will try to kill members of your family. They’ll also pay the paparazzi for pictures of your loved ones, in compromising positions. So, that being said, let’s move this story along.

I was at the Oblivion Garage, checking on progress, we were about halfway home, which was amazing to me. Amber and I could never have gotten this far this fast on our own. My moment of reverie was broken by the ringing of my phone. So, even though it came from an unlisted number, I slid the bar to answer it. “This is Mac.” was my response to the caller. The voice when they replied was disguised, it came across as robotic and devoid of emotion. “Mr. Bane, we have some business we’d like to discuss with you. We will be at the top of the world restaurant in two days' time. Make certain you are there, it would be a shame if these pictures I have of your wife were to become public and further damage both of your reputations.” The call then disconnected.

Needless to say, I cussed like a sailor after getting that call. I was pretty sure of where the pictures came from. I wouldn’t say anything though, certainly not to Amber, she had enough on her plate at the moment. I heard voices from far off to my left, and much to my surprise, my wife, looking as stressed out as usual came out. She was evidently coming out of the meeting with Reverend McCrae. A meeting I had no knowledge of. I was trying to be more trusting of her, so I didn’t give her the evil eye or anything, just a warm smile as she and the reverend approached. “Ah, Mister Bane, what do you think of the progress so far?” Yep, this guy was a snake oil salesman alright but I’d play along for the time being. “Amazing,” I said with a little bit of awe in my voice. “It really does look amazing.” I smiled as I shook his hand. “Wouldn’t you say so, Red?” She nodded her head slowly as if trying to think of what to say. “It is, Mac I’m sorry I forgot to tell you about this meeting. It was really just to finalize some details and the problem with logistics.” I smiled and nodded, “It’s all good, Red. Thank you for handling it, I appreciate it.” I lied almost as easily as she did just then. There was a lot more to that story than she was letting on.

Present Day

Which led me here today, sitting in the restaurant, I took in the sites and smells of it. This was an expensive place to eat, not a place that Amber and I would ever go out to unless it was a public relations event of some kind. I’m sure that this clown was using this very public setting to make sure I behaved myself. Little does he know, that I am never afraid of making a scene. However, I’d take a look at what he has and listen to what he had to say. As instructed I ordered the charred Ahi for my guest and the calamari fries for myself. It would be someone that just came up and sat down with me. Imagine my surprise when the woman that came up and sat down was a dead ringer for Amber.

“Thank you so much, Mac, this looks wonderful” Her voice was too sweet for my wife, but the casual passerby wouldn’t think anything of it. She looked enough like Red and smelled like her too. I don’t know how she knew that detail but the cinnamon perfume was dead on. “Impressive, is it not?” She asked in a very coy way and winked at me. I finally found my voice, “It is, very detail oriented I see.” She smiled prettily at me, “Well, she does have good taste in perfume at least.” I nodded, “Not so much in men?” I asked in an equally coy way. She laughed, just as the waiter arrived. “Are you prepared to order?” His slow and deliberate speech was a bit off-putting. Before I could speak, she cut me off, “Yes, I’d like the prime rib, new york style. My husband will have the bone-in ribeye. I waited for the waiter to wander off, “My husband?”, she shot me a warning glance. “Oh yes the game, and if I don’t choose to play?” She glared at me and produced an envelope, “that picture goes out to every dirt sheet and major publication in the world.”

I tapped my index finger on the tabletop for a moment. I’m not worried about the dirt sheets so much, we can claim photoshop on that, but the others… “That’s right honey, you need to think very carefully about your next move and words, and I did think it through very carefully. “The cost?” She eyed me for a moment and then produced another envelope. Looking at it, I then looked up at her. “Is that the final figure?” She smiled, “We are not trying to force you into bankruptcy.” The food arrived just then so the conversation was cut off. The waiter cleared away the starters, and I saw an exchange between the two, it was just a glance and a slight nod given to him by her. Now I knew who, the real question was why. “So, when I pay this, how will I know it won’t be released anyway?” She smiled again, in that uncomfortable way. “You’ll just have to trust me, Mac.” I began laughing and I took her small hand in mine and leaned in as close as I could. When I spoke to her, it was in a very quiet voice, “You had better send me every copy of these fucking pictures or I will hunt you and your boyfriend back there down and kill the both of you. Do you understand me?” She gulped and turned a very white shade of pale and nodded her head.

“Does this envelope have your contact information or the account number I’m wiring the money to?” She nodded, not saying a word. “Un-fucking-believable,” I said in that same low voice. “I’ve never understood why people do things like this.” I shook my head in disgust as I opened the envelope, finding what I was looking for, I accessed an application on my phone. I transferred the amount to the account listed. “Check your balance, dear,” I said through clenched teeth. She nodded, “Was it you or him that took the pictures?” I asked again in that soft but threatening way that I have about me. “It’s there, it was me, and it was planned. Pro athletes make so much money…” I held up a finger to her lips shushing her. “We do, but we are also the ones that put her bodies and lives on the line for the sake of entertainment and competition. What gives you the right to attack one of or any of us in this way.” She nodded, “I grew up very poor, there were many nights there was nothing to eat.” It sounded rehearsed, but I let that go. “Since you know so much about myself and my wife, you’d know that we both grew up poor and on a lot of days went to bed hungry. Sorry, not buying your sob story.” I released her hand and she calmed a bit. “Where are the other copies of this picture?”

The young man that she was obviously working with, made his appearance, “Is everything okay? Your companion seems to be a little stressed.” I looked up at him with the best fuck you look I could manage. “Where are the rest of the photos?” He looked between the two of us and almost panicked, fortunately for the three of us this place was empty. I grabbed him by the tie and pulled him toward me. “Kid, you can fuck with me all you want, you start fucking with my family and I’ll end you. I’m going to ask one more time, politely.”

“Where
Are
The
Fucking
Pictures?!”

He was doing his best to hold it together as I released his tie. “I’ll get them now”, he said through a shuddering breath. He placed a thumb drive on the table. “We never loaded them to our laptop at home.” I looked at them both, “Take a seat kid.” He only hesitated for a moment. “When I get up from this table, you are going to do two things. You will come to sit where I am now and enjoy this meal. Your girl over there is going to pay for it. Is that clear?” He nodded his head, obviously still very scared. “If I ever see either of you again, this deal is null and void. I’ll know you’re out to hurt my family again, and I’ll do what any Texan would do.” I looked between them and they both nodded. “If those pictures make their way out into the world, I know your faces and since you weren’t smart enough to use an anonymous name on that account I know your names.” Again they nodded, “Young lady put your hands back up on the table I wouldn’t want to think your reaching for the pea shooter in your bag.” She quickly did as commanded. “The bright side here is, your plan worked, you are now a lot more wealthy than you were half an hour ago. I stood up with the forty-five caliber pistol still in my right hand. I slipped it back into my holster and covered it. “Remember what I said, both of you. My benevolence only goes so far.” They both quickly nodded, and in unison said, “thank you.” I picked up the envelopes from the table and started for the door.

“Some things are just not worth going to prison for kids,” I said as I walked out of the room. I paused long enough by the door to watch the young man start eating my meal as I stepped out into the hallway. I waited long enough to hear him say, “Yes that was the only copy, I swear!” then she replied to him, “you fucking moron, we could have gotten so much more money if you hadn’t caved like a bitch.” I chuckled, just as I thought. I took my phone back out again, logging into the application and then reversing the transaction, “And now you’re poor again.” I said with all amusement and felt zero guilt about it.

Fade.

{In-Studio - Las Vegas NV - “Half-Truths and Lies.”}
[on-camera]
[Sunday, May 8th at 7 PM]

I stand in the studio that Amber and I built in our home, way back when we first bought it. Tonight I’m dressed in something more simple and comfortable. Simple grey tracksuit pants, a white t-shirt with black lettering that says “Dominate” on it. My super comfortable sketchers slide on shoes. My hair hangs loose. I’ve turned the lighting down a bit dimmer than normal to allow the moonlight to brighten up just a touch. I had just finished watching Knox’s promo and was more than a little amused. We were getting ready for the showdown at Ano Liosia Olympic Sports Hall in Athens Greece.

Well, shit, Matt. I guess nothing is off-limits now, is it? Someone was trying to be funny, okay it actually was funny. My wife called you daddy? Really? That’s fucking hilarious to me. You always warn people about talking about your kids but there we are. The reason it’s so funny to me is, that your own kids have never called you that. Of course, by the time they actually knew about you, that part of their childhood had passed, hadn’t it? Fucking dead beat. Get the fuck out of here with that nonsense. You should tell Corey he’s got nothing to worry about as far as his crown goes. The only thing you’re the king of is cheap heat. I mean in your first promo you made a lot of accusations. Why? Oh, that’s the easy part. He’s scared. He knows that I am the guy that can put him down. That’s what scares him most in his life, is that he’ll piss the wrong guy off and they’ll end his career. That would mean he doesn’t get to choose when and where he goes out. The wrestling world knows it too which scares him even more. Dumbass put a poll out there and it was favored by quite a lot to me. Corey Black and I were two of the three, some roided up chick that I can’t remember the name of was the third. Who gives a shit right? It’s just another stupid Twitter poll that doesn’t amount to shit. It doesn’t make them wrong, it’s just that they are not in this match. Oh, by the way, Matthew, recycling things you’ve said to others in order to wax poetic? Regurgitating that same old pathetic poem you used against Ken? That’s beyond sad, Chief. Quoth the Raven…blah blah blah.

Shaking my head, I sigh a bit, before continuing.

Regardless of you wanting to be a poet, I made you the guy I would face for a reason. See, when I made the announcement, what most people missed was that I said that you were not a real contender, just the next to pay the price. Mostly because I want you to be humbled, you need it, and no one will argue that point. While you walk around accusing others of hubris, all the while not accepting of your own faults. Some would call it hypocrisy, but  I can’t even call it that, it’s way beyond that. You’re one thousand percent correct, I’m an arrogant prick. Rightly so, I might add. I had no break in my career. I didn’t drop off the face of the earth into a trashcan because I couldn’t handle success. I don’t have an addictive personality so I didn’t succumb to the same trap you did. I’m proud of you for being clean for so long, Heroine is a fucking nightmare. Maybe the most important thing is that I didn’t successfully kill every relationship I had in order to chase pussy. I sure as fuck didn’t knock up a dozen women just to prove I could. I didn’t want my children to grow up not knowing their father or whether he loved them or not. Funny enough, one of your own kids reached out to me and asked if I would be her dad. Not her Daddy but her father. You really should spend more time with Ronnie to see if you can patch that up. That one has a real deep-seated hatred for you. Not that you care that much about any of them. You didn’t have a hand in raising them after all. Why should you give a shit about people you barely know. I mean, I get it, as did the magazine. What was the headline, The biggest douchebag in our industry has all the gold? Well, not all of it. Really not even a tenth of a percentage to be fair. All the gold in the industry won’t fill the void in your heart.

My look of amusement has not changed at all, I smirk at the camera.

I’m going to make something perfectly clear. You say you're coming to fight, let me assure you. You’ve never been around me when I go to that place. You are not ready for what’s coming for you. I’m not trying to scare you, I don’t want you to be able to say that you had no idea. Let’s just go ahead and get this out of the way. His name is Alex Jones, not Alix. Alix is your daughter, you might want to get that clear in your head. I mean I know Alex can be a bit of a bitch but com’on man. There is so much talk about moral high ground and penance these days. It just makes me laugh. Another point for you bird brain, I often did take the moral high ground in my past.  Penance? Nah, I’ll save you a seat on the bus to hell. We can revel in old times, damn…I hope they have scotch. Probably not though, they probably only have that cheap shit you drink. You’ll also have to forgive me, I didn’t grow up in a catholic school nor was I born Jewish, so guilt really has no place in my heart.

My smirk never slides, but, I force myself into taking on a more serious tone.

Never broke your stare? More importantly, I flinched? Things you should consider before running your mouth about me. What I did in my first ten months here. It’s almost unparalleled in this company's history. I was a triple crown champion in my first ten months. That was with me stepping away for at least 2 months. You never flinched? Please, you started whoring yourself out to any company that would have you. Well, up until you lost a match or two, then it was the same old same old. You weren’t good enough for those places, and you quit. Just like in Carnage when you couldn’t beat Amber or Joe. People who work for Sin City tend to do the same after I embarrass them. They want the title but they’re not really willing to put in the work or pay the price to take it from me. Believe me, the price is high, you’ll start figuring that out once the bell rings. I hope you’re not going to be like some other people around here. I beat them, they can’t believe they lost and they run for Florida as quick as they can. They always show up for the Blast From The Past tournament though. They also, always scream the loudest, too funny. Oh, wait I shouldn’t forget the funniest part of your promo. I’ve never stood on my own…

I begin laughing so hard and slapping my thigh. Then  I abruptly stop.

Lemme tell ya something. In my time here and elsewhere, I’ve been a part of a few stables. This one? The Saviors weren’t even a thing until after I started my second reign as world champion. These days, it doesn’t really matter the why’s or the what’s of a stable being formed. No one will ever give the originators of the stable credit for forming a stable. It doesn’t matter if the reason is noble or nefarious. They always want to tear down what they didn’t create. My opinion on this is the same as it’s been for twenty years. I don’t give a fuck about your opinion. For your words to have any impact on me, I would have to value you as a person. You killed that not long after your arrival. So, instead of having a match with an old friend, I’ll just be putting down another rabid dog with no sense of pride, class, or honor. Knox, I can assure you, that when you look across the ring at me, you will have come face to face with the enemy. An enemy with no remorse, and no regrets, only malicious intent. I said it before and I’ll say it again, you’re fucked. You won’t walk away from this one. The reason is so simple, there are certain lines that should never be crossed. It’s okay that you want to blame me, but it doesn’t track, especially when you yourself finally admitted your obsession. You also blamed Amber for your situation with Masque. So, tell me again Matthew how I’m going to pay for my sins? Yeah, I don’t think so. You crossed the line, and I’m going to make you pay. It’s not going to be enjoyable for you, it will be a slow and methodical picking apart of the human anatomy. Maybe I’ll put up a Twitter poll of my own and ask people what they would like me to break first. Your jaw, so you can’t talk? Your fingers so you can’t type. Maybe it will be your legs, so you can’t walk away from this and have to have accountability for your own actions. Nah, that would only set expectations, unfair expectations at that. Considering you may not even make it to Into the Void.

My nostrils flared, and my brows furrowed as I glared at the camera.

Now then, I could go on and on with this dick measuring contest, but really what’s the point. I’m the only world champion in this match that matters. In Sin City, this title is the one that matters.

I hold the title belt up with both hands, looking over the edge of it, then slowly I lower it.

That’s not to say that yours doesn’t matter, it just doesn’t matter here. I will always respect your ability, but that is the only thing I respect about you.

Looking thoughtful for a moment, I smile recalling a conversation I had recently.

By now, I’m sure you heard all about what I did to Larry Tact. That was just a small dose of what I’m going to do to you. What happened at thirteen, was exactly as we envisioned. Still though, on a very small dose, as payment of what I owe you.  I know you have no love lost for Kat, and yes she most definitely did hit you from behind with a pipe. Why do you suppose that was? It’s called betrayal Matt. You betrayed her and you paid a price. Have you ever seen what happens to a person, when they see what they believed was their future at the time, just vanish? Like when they discover that the person who they thought loved them is exposed for being obsessed with another man’s wife? I can’t tell you how many times I held that woman as she cried because of you. She’s family and she matters to me, she may not mean shit to you, but to some of us, she means a lot. As usual, you told a half-truth, you conveniently left out the part where you handcuffed her to a cage and lifted it into the ceiling for payback. You also conveniently left out the part where you had asked Kat where she would go when it came time to retire. She told me, although I’m not really all that shocked that she didn’t tell you, all things considered.

My appearance changes, if looks could kill, Knox would be dead three times before he hit the ground.

As for the comments you made about Seb, Chris, and others. Why? They really don’t even factor into this fight at all. While it’s true that Page will be in my corner, he’s never yet interfered in one of my fights. Neither has any member of CCPE. I see you out there trying to say that we are a stable, while amusing, it’s not factual. There are a number of us that don’t see eye to eye and are definitely not on the same page. Chris is our agent, to be blunt about it. He’s provided opportunities that many of them wouldn’t have had. We like having Chris work for us, and I’ll give you an example. My own net worth has almost doubled in the short time he’s worked for me. Seems to me that you’re being pissy with him because he never pursued you as a client. He had considered you, once upon a time before you started being such cunt. I guess it’s those years you spent away from the industry. It’s like you have this need to pick a fight with anyone and everyone. Knowing full well, that many of the people you’ve been poking could end your career. I realize that is a kind of morbid outlook but if you were to stop and think, for once, you’d also realize it’s true.

I shrug and smile as I continue.

Again, you won’t hear me, and that’s okay. I mean, it’s a proven fact, not a tact fact but a proven fact that you are a narcissistic gaslighting piece of shit. You had the balls to blame my wife for the position you find yourself in with Masque. I guess in the end, in the end…

I begin laughing, almost manically and then I stop.

In the end, it looks as though Karma has you in her clutches. All that time you spent trying to save someone who didn’t need saving, to begin with. Now, you’re trapped in your own fucking game. I wonder who might step up and save the lesser Raven. Now, that is a tough call, isn’t it? I can tell you who it won’t be, I’ll give you three guesses and the first two don’t count.

I shake my head in disgust, wondering why he just won’t listen. I told him several times not to try and involve himself in our business.

If I had a heart, I’d almost feel sorry for you. I can’t though, you put yourself in this position.

Songbird.

From Raven to Songbird, she really should start calling you pigeon, that would be more accurate. Between that and trying to start a war with the stars of every company out there, you’re spread far too thin, Matt. What happened to you? You’ve lost a ton of IQ points over the last two years. You’re tired and need rest. You’ll get some rest coming up shortly though. I’m going to pick you apart, son. Limb by limb, you are going to suffer. See, I’m not Joe, I’m not strictly a brawler, there’s far more to me than that. They pay me to hurt people, and you’ll find out, I’m really fucking good at it.

Glaring at the camera again, I set my jaw to that my intensity and intent are clear.

I’ll even give you some information that you probably didn’t know about it. That fight in the desert, when I drew first blood. You said you didn’t know I could move like that. Not everything you see on television or on tapes will reveal everything they know. Everything they are capable of. Take my background for example. You know I served my country as a member of the construction battalion. Forward operations and SEALS are trained in Krav Maga. A martial art that is more closely related to real-world situations. Situations we might run into out in the world.

I stretch my fingers out, listening as they all pop one after the other.

Now you know one of my oldest secrets. In the past few years, I started incorporating it into my match preparation. Knowing it and planning for it are two different things. I know about your own background, I’m not concerned in the least. It won’t help you, just like it didn’t help you in that fight out in the desert.

I roll my neck, listening to the vertebrae pop, each one providing a little relief. When I speak, it’s in a low-level tone devoid of emotion.

Your recklessness in the ring is well known. Being reckless against me would be suicidal. Trying the mat game against me would be suicidal. Being in the ring with me right now in my current frame of mind is stupid. But, then again, that’s what you do. I don’t fight like you do Matt, I use it all to my advantage, my opponent's lapses, their lack of attention to detail.  I use my knowledge of almost twenty years of active in-ring competition. My knowledge of the human anatomy, and what their strengths and weaknesses are, both mentally and physically. You don’t understand any of that though. You’ll do your usual thing, spinning lies and twisting the truth. You’ll come into this match supremely arrogant. Last but certainly not least, I’ll put you down hard, Raven, there won’t be enough left of you for Marika to scrape up into a dustpan. I told you not to fuck around and find out, and here we are. I would say I’m sorry in advance, but I’m not, when it’s self-inflicted Matthew, I’ll have no sympathy, regret, remorse, or even an iota of guilt for fucking you up. Not for what I did to you at thirteen and not what I’ll do in our match at Into The Void. I am not however without some kindness, so I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll have Ken come to ringside and when the smoke clears and you’re on your back bleeding like you were at Thirteen, I’ll have him perform last rights over your broken body.

Fade.

“You don't adjust. You just dominate.” -  Al Davis

{Unnamed Studio - Lesvos, Greece - “More.”}

[on-camera]
[Monday 8 a.m]

Standing in front of a microphone and a camera; wearing jeans, black boots, and a white “Dominate” Sin City t-shirt, I glare at the camera.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, this is not the face of a happy man right now.” I almost yelled it but caught myself.

I shook my head mostly in anger at the outcome of the match with Fenris.

“This was not the ending we wanted was it, K?”

Shaking my head indicating that it wasn’t and mouthing the word, “No”, I grabbed the podium with both hands tightly.

“Like you and I, the fans wanted more. I don’t feel like they got what they paid for. We may have gone just a bit overboard in trying to kill each other.”

Releasing the podium, the force causing it to rock a little, I spread my arms out wide.

“It’s who we are as competitors though. We are men who are passionate about the fight and to hell with everything else.”

I allow my arms to come back down and rest on the podium.

“So, now the tag team match is set. You and Ben against myself and Chris Page. This is a match that should be on a super show or pay per view, not on a weekly show.”

Leaning forward and testing the weight allowance of the podium I continue.

“This is the go-home show for Into The Void, there will be a lot happening, and the chaos will be legit. So will the violence as we face off again.”

Straightening back up slightly.

“It will be unapologetic and visceral my friend because that is our way. I feel like I can still call you that, despite your opinion of what I’ve done lately. Despite the reason for my making Knox the number one contender. This is not a Twitter beef my man. This is something much deeper and far more personal.”

My facial expression never changes, I’m angry right now and I just can’t let it go.

“Do you remember how angry you and the roster were, when Mercer knocked Aaron out?”

My intensity and hatred are showing much more now as I continue.

“What if I told you that Knox did something far worse. He talks a good game, but he was never going to take this ass whippin he has coming for him without a title on the line. He will not risk anything unless there is the pursuit of a championship involved. That is the unadulterated, unapologetic truth. Period.”

I shrug in indifference, still feeling very angry and I was sure it showed.

“A lot of people had a lot to say about that selection. You, Ben, and he who shall not be named. All talked about a loss of respect and how I had ruined the reputation of this belt.”

I snort in derision.

“But I’m supposed to forget all that right? Not fucking hardly. See the man who cut you off from facing Knox. He couldn’t even score a clean pinfall victory, and don’t even act like that win wasn’t contriverseal. No wonder he’s not running his mouth this week about it.”

I shake my head in disgust.

“Douchebag.”

Fade.

{The offices of Chris Page - Las Vegas, NV - “Putting things in motion”}
[Off-camera]
[6:30 PM]

A few days ago

For a guy with a reputation for his partying, the one thing I could always say is that his office always smelled clean and crisp. I don’t know who did his cleaning, but damn they did a good job. I was seated in the “visitors” seat across from him, nursing a glass of scotch. He offered me a cigar from his collection. I accepted it and ran it under my nose, smelling the fragrance of the stogie made me smile. I bit the end off and lit the cigar. I dipped the butt end in the scotch, adding to the smokey flavor. “You know, Mac, we’ve already done a lot together. Having you in this group is one of the smartest things I’ve done so far.” I barked a laugh at Page, shaking my head, I responded to his comment. “I think that works both ways, Chris, collectively we are driving each other's net worth up at a crazy fucking pace. I mean all of us within the enterprise.” He accepted that as the compliment it was meant to be. One of the things that I had been taught very early on in this business was that no matter how big a star you think you are. You should always be respectful of the men and women who came before you. So, with Chris, I was very deliberate in the compliments and the level of respect I gave him.

“I wanted to follow up on the phone call we had the other day about this event.” He raised his right eyebrow, obviously curious about it. “Okay?” I chuckled at his confusion. “It’s nothing bad, I can assure you.” He seemed to relax and the last thing you want to do is make your tag team partner uneasy. “Shit, Mac, you know you don’t have to have a reason to swing by and talk to me. What’s on your mind?” I nodded knowing it to be true. Chris had been a good friend to me, getting me in positions to succeed and make far more money than I had in a long time. “You know I get amused at people calling CCPE a stable. They’d better count themselves lucky that we are not. We could take over this industry without all that much effort.” He looked thoughtful about that, “That’s not really anything we want to do though,” he said in his nonchalant Chris Page way. “No,” I shook my head, “Not at all my man. That’s what other people think we’re doing though. Just like when I formed the group here in Sin City. Everyone was accusing me of trying to remake the company in my own image.” Page smiled at the comment but prompted me forward. “Very similar to what they accused you of in XWF, ya know?” He nodded again and sighed. “Gets old after a while doesn’t it?” I laughed lightly, “Yeah, just a bit.” I paused for a moment, “That is one of the reasons that this match feels so personal to me.”

Another sip of scotch goes down all too smoothly. I set the tumbler back down on the coaster. That’s when I noticed that just about everything in here is branded with the CCPE logo. He does go all out for everything he pursues. “The other reason is because of the all-out attacks on my integrity when I chose Knox.” He clears his throat, “Which begs the question, of why did you choose him?” Looking up from the tumbler, I leveled my gaze on Chris, “Because he has much to answer for, and I owe him multiple receipts, and let’s leave it at that.” Getting the intent of my tone, he backed off and changed the subject.” When is your flight to Greece?” I gave him a half-smile, “Later this afternoon, which means I need to get going, I still have a few things to do before I leave.”

Fade

{Unnamed Studio - Greece - “Moving the needle and raising the bar.”}

I found myself in front of a camera and microphone set up once again. Dressed down today, no suits, just jeans, t-shirt, sneakers, and Mac Bane t-shirt, along with my usual skullcap. The studio itself smelled for the lack of a better word, “clean”. In the world of Covid-19 and the pandemic, I supposed that was a good thing. At least they were trying to follow protocols. I looked down at the index cards that I had in my hand. I had written out some talking points the night before. Now that I was here though, something inside my brain snapped into place. I stuffed the index cards back in my back pocket.

 “There’s a lot of talk in our industry about moving the needle these days. Some, think they know what that means, while others just assume they do. They all want to be that person, but the vast majority don’t know how.”

Inhaling deeply, I pause for a moment but then I dig into the subject.

“This is something that varies from company to company. It will vary depending on who you talk to. People like Chris and I are needle movers. Men and women with mindsets similar to ours have been the catalyst for change in this industry, time and time again. Every place we go, we are the standard-bearers for success. There are others we area aligned with that have a similar mind set. That’s what CCPE represents.”

A short pause before continuing.

“People have accused Page of making money off the backs of younger talent. What they don’t tell you is the younger talent makes money off the road he had already paved. The business contacts that he has, have made a serious impact on all of our paydays and net worth. Mine has done nothing but climb since day one. Our contracts with the Enterprise are really very simple. Any of us can terminate the relationship with Chris at any time. It wouldn’t ever require a buy-out and a lawsuit if we decide that what he brings to us isn’t satisfactory in our opinion.”

I pull the skull cap off and stuff it in my back pocket. I remove the sunglasses and hang them from the pocket of my shirt. My sense of smell is filled with my own cologne and I smile, mostly because my wife loves this stuff.

“At the end of the day, we all benefit from the relationship.”

Now that the baseline is established for what I want to say, I take it a step further.

“That brings me to this match. For those that don’t know, Ben Jordan and Fenris are icons in this company, and I have viewed them that way since day one. Unfortunately, I’m sure that Ben doesn’t think so.”

I give the camera a small smile.

“Poor Ben is over there thinking about all the disrespect I threw his way when I was trying to drag his ass out of retirement. Sometimes all you have to do is mention someone’s name a single time and they get word of what you said. I didn’t have to keep talking about him as he suggested that I did. Just enough to bring the Cockney King back to American soil.”

I allow the smile to grow a bit before I continue.

“See, it was never about me trying to do anything to this company that was derogatory. I was never out to insult Ben Jordan or attempt to make him less than what he is to this company.”

A full-blown smile appears now as I continue.

“There were and still are far too many mid-card specialists on this roster. Some have left and others are clinging to life support. When they aren’t clutching their pearls that is. They don’t say much anymore and that is by design. You see Gents, I hate mediocrity. I called Ben out as I did get exactly the result I wanted. The more of the roster that is full of elite competitors, the more entertaining the shows become.”

Stare down at my shoes briefly before shifting my gaze back to the camera.

“By getting more 4 and 5-star talent, active on the roster, and fighting for titles, what does that do? It runs the one and two-star talent off to parts unknown. There shouldn’t be any room for the curtain jerkers of the world in Sin City. The payday on this match will be off the charts. That’s what we are supposed to be doing. Making money for ourselves and this company. That is after all that they pay us to do.”

The smile slides into a predatory grin. I feel the muscles ripple under my clothes as my intensity grows.

“And, Yes that is one of the reasons that I tried to lure Matt Knox here. He is a high-level competitor and deserves respect for his complete body of work. Not just the things he has or hasn’t done in Sin City. Many won’t agree with that but I don’t care.”

My facial expression never changes as I take a deep breath and allow what I’ve said to sink in.

“Too many times, I hear the same old genric b.s. about people having not earned their stripes because they hadn’t done it here. That’s crap and you both know it. Stuff like that is such a generic heel promo.”

I shake my head in disgust.

“That would be like me saying that the MMA background that Fenris has, doesn’t mean shit, no matter how many or how few matches he had won. Or that my own service to my country doesn’t matter. The things they taught me to have no bearing on anything that I do. Things like being taught Krav Maga as par of my forward operations training.”

My intensity continues to grow as I continue to fire on all cylinders.

“So, how does any of that make me a needle mover in Sin City?”

I smirk openly now.

“First and foremost, it’s what I’ve always been. All you have to do is take a look at what I’ve done since I’ve been here. Most of you already know what I did by becoming a triple crown champion in this company in a little over ten months. I am now a two-time champion, which has finally brought credibility to this title again. I have raised the bar, I mean, let’s be real here. When was the last time a Sin City World champion successfully defended the title more than twice? It’s been a minute.”

The smirk remains.

“The last time someone defended this strap for over one hundred and twenty days? The same answer, it’s been a while. So, yes I can make the claim that I am the most dominant champion in recent history and will continue to be that going into the future.”.

I allow the smirk to slide away, my poker face takes over from there. It reveals nothing, no anger, no joy, just business.

“The evidence is all right there for all to see. It’s not brag, it’s simply fact. I’m not Knox, I don’t have to talk a lot of shit on social media in order to garner attention. I’ve been one of the constants in this business for nearly two decades. People know who I am.”

Fade.

{Hotel - Lesbo Greece - The season of settling scores}

As I made my way through the hotel lobby, my sense of smell was assaulted by suntan lotion and swet fru fru drinks. “Disgusting.” I continued on through the lobby to the hallway that I knew Kat’s room was in. I started to muse about the situation. I wasn’t amused by it at all. It was just another receipt I owed Knox. I take these transgressions very seriously, I thought to myself, When you have a little brother or sister, someone that you’d trust with your own life. That is when things will go sideways when they start behaving erratically. Their pain, real or imagined will trigger this quite often. Kat is like a baby sister to me, our connection was very real in more ways than one. We were connected through Hell’s Gate and Whisper, sure. It was a deeper connection than that. We understood each other at a far deeper emotional level. When I called her my sister in arms and heart, that has a much deeper meaning to me and to her. I knew she was struggling with the things that Knox and Amber said to her. That’s the game people play though, they’ll say anything to unnerve you or make you look foolish in the eyes of everyone. The problem here is that Kat took the bait, hook, line, and sinker. I knew this from talking to Cy a few days ago. He had to pull her back from a cliff’s edge so that she didn’t fling herself off that mountain. That is how deeply their words cut her, some cuts are nothing more than papercuts. The words of Amber and Knox had taken chunks of her soul. As her brother, I felt the need to try and patch her soul up. She would have to figure out how to force the pieces back together. In this case, I was nothing more than a battlefield surgeon, trying to stabilize her. If only for just long enough for her to get her head straight.

So, I did what any brother would do, I knocked politely on the door. I could hear her talking to someone on the other side. She hung up with them and came to the door. She opened it and her first words to me…

“Fuck.”

I shrugged, “Well, I’ve received worse greetings before.” I smiled at her, she frowned and tried to close the door. I stuck my foot in the door, thank goodness for thick boots. With flip-flops, there would have been enough force to do some real damage. “Katarina…” She finally gave up after a moment and I pushed my way into her room. “What the hell?” I began and her eyes flashed angrily. “You tell me, Mac? What the hell would possess you to align yourself with The Game Changers?” I held up my hands in mock surrender and took a step back. At least her anger made a little more sense now. Not too long ago, over in level up, the Game Changers had viciously attacked Kat during a tag team match. The attack on Kat had literally no bearing on their beef with Lord Raab. Larry Tact called it collateral damage as I recall.  Because the big man was foolish enough to care something about her, they used it to torment him. Most recently, one of them had used a briefcase to get themselves disqualified in order to keep from losing a title to her. She was angry and as she talked, she poked me in the chest to emphasize her point.

“These are the same people who beat my ass not long ago, remember?” (she slammed her index finger into my chest.

I gave her a soft smile, I remember very well, considering I was the one that carried you to the back sometime later.”

Shouldn’t have said that I thought to myself as she began poking me in the chest again, this time harder of course.

“They also got themselves disqualified to keep from losing to me!” The point was emphasized again by slamming her index finger into my chest.

“Feel better?” I asked her in my smart-ass way. “No! I don’t fucking feel better, you asshole!” I smiled at her and then asked a question, “Kat, if you are going after badgers, what is the time-tested strategy to get them?” Her nostrils flared and she started to walk away. I had asked her this question on purpose, because one, I know she knows the answer, and two, it will engage the rational side of her brain. She really needed to reconnect that right now. I folded my arms, “I’ll wait.” She glared at me as she thought this through, likely trying to detect any kind of deception. “You send the dogs into the hole.”

I smiled again.

“Whoof”

The laughter was genuine, but the pain behind her eyes was as well. I softened my own look, “Spill” I said to her softly. She shook her head, no in an emphatic way. I embraced her in a tight hug because let’s face it, I give the best hugs. She began to cry, softly at first, but then the flood gates opened. “The things that were said to you by Knox and Amber?” It was an easy conclusion to jump to. First and foremost is that my wife and Kat had been like sisters for a long time. I knew that what had been said to her had gotten under her skin. Knox though, that was a pain that would literally take years to heal. I started to whisper in her ear the tenants of the Arch Angels of Hell’s Gate, much like Cy did with her on that mountain top. She was simply one of the toughest and most fragile women I’d ever known. “You ARE my sister of heart and arms,” I whispered to her. “You are the only woman on this roster that can say that they have beaten Masque DeLuna.” The last part I whispered much more fiercely to her. Not only to turn her confidence up a notch but to reinforce that she is a badass and deserves to not only be here in Sin City but that she had earned her spot in the Saviors. After the sobbing had receded, she began rubbing away the streaks the tears had left on her face. I grabbed a nearby box of kleenex and handed it to her. “I think this will be a bit more effective.”

Fade

{Limelight Studios - Lesvos Greece - “The final cut”}

The studio had been set up for me, I entered the booth with the sound of denim rubbing on denim. The Sin City World Title was slung over my shoulder and a smile on my face as it drew closer to the tag team event. I took a seat on the stool that had been set up for me. I put the headphones on and the producer said in my ear, “We are ready to begin when you are.” I nodded acknowledging what he had said. I signalled to him to begin rolling. The recording light came on over the door out of the studio, and the session began.

“And here we are boys, just days away from a match that features legends in their own right. On one side you have two gentlemen that have made their legacy and their reputation in Sin City Wrestling. They are respected, liked and one could say even revered.”

Pausing their for a moment, I take a sip of water to fight off the dryness I was feeling in my throat.

“On the other side of the ring, you have two men, who have made their legacy, virtually everywhere else in the world. Don’t get it wrong, I’ve made a name for myself here in Sin City. I’ve been champion here for right around one hundred and thirty days as of this show coming up.”

I pause and smile at the camera.

“Where Ben and Fenris are both men who held it longer, not in recent memory but they are a huge part of the company legacy. Fenris held this title for two hundred and forty-give days. One of the longest reigns in this companies history. Ben Jordan? Less than that but not by much at two hundred and thirty days. Both impressive runs. Only Kris Ryans came close to either of them.”

I hear a low whistle in my headphones and I laugh.

“The producer was impressed as well. Of course, it’s not recent history, it’s just history. Things that happened in 2018 and 2019 are worth mentioning but not relevant in 2022.”

I heard the producer in my ear, “Ouch, that’s a bit savage.”

His comments unheard to anyone else amuse me. “I think I’ve got a new fan.”

“Respect? Yeah, I got a ton of that for both of you. Sadly, that only goes so far. As you know, Fenris, when I look across that ring and see you. I’m not looking at a respected peer in this industry. I’m simply looking at the next guy I’ve got to beat the shit out of.”

I shake my head, then get another sip of water.

“It’s just the way I am, even under friendly or normal circumstances. I’m not in that ring to win a match. I’m there to win a fight. That’s why, and even SuMa would tell you. Every punch, kick, slam that I deliver is intended to take you out of the fight. Or, to take the fight out of you.”

I level my gaze at the camera.

“I know before we faced each other last time, I had asked you to not make this personal. You decided for whatever reason to ignore my request. You chose violence. That’s the reason the match didn’t end when the bell rang. That about right?”

My gaze never falters, I set my jaw and continue.

“There are so many factors that make the results of this match far more important than they should be. See, when I was younger. I made people pay the consequences for things they said to me. Then I spent some time receiving the adulation of the crowd and my peers. None of that mattered before.”

I shake my head in disgust.

“I am back to where I was almost a decade ago. I tune out the crowd, their cheers or boos have zero effect on me or for me now.”

Holding the belt up and off my shoulder.

“This is what matters, defending it with everything I have. Not just for the sake of my own legacy or reputation. It’s a central theme to the things I’ve said. It’s about this company and making it a place that people want to come to. In order to do that, I’ll continue to run the curtain jerkers out of here as fast as I can.”

Setting the belt back in place, I continue.

“So, now…every match I’m in is about defending this strap and my own honor. My integrity was questioned. Now someone has to pay the consequences for those words. I only accept payments in blood.”

Fade.

Vs SuMa for the world title.


“There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them.” - Andre Gide


{Unnamed Studio Somewhere in Greece - “Clearing the air”}

Standing in front of a camera, accompanied by a boom microphone looming overhead I smiled at the camera. I was dressed in a slate gray suit, not Armani or anything so obnoxious. A pink handkerchief and tie, along with alligator shoes to complete it. I wore my hair loose today, with no ponytail or cap. It was an attempt to make this as professional as possible.

For those of you expecting an explanation of why I chose Knox as the new number one contender, you’ll be extremely disappointed in me once again.

My smile is now almost beaming as I chuckle slightly under my breath.

What I will address though is the reaction of other so-called stars. I’ll have more to say on this at the next Climax Control. Fenris is not a so-called anything.

I shake my head and almost lose my smile, but it’s reinforced now as if it was made of steel.

I never at any time disregarded you to challenge for this title. Quite the opposite, you are in my top three that I want to face.

Fade

{The Bane Home - Las Vegas, Nevada - “The Sanctity of Marriage” }

A few weeks ago

There are few things that can rock me to my core, and yet here I stood, overwhelmed. Not overwhelmed by the job of defending the title. It was something far deeper than that. A feeling of betrayal swept over me. That feeling you get when something happens and it sends your heart into your stomach. A nearly uncontrollable urge to vomit because your reality has been so completely shattered that you are not sure you trust yourself to speak. Cheap cologne intertwined with the cinnamon perfume flooded my senses. I knew the cologne and who it belonged to. I looked down at the hamper where Amber had deposited her clothes from the trip. I shook my head in disgust not quite believing the painting that my mind was created with broad brush strokes. I sighed heavily, “Anyone but him, Red.” At that point, I could have lost my temper and trashed the house. I wouldn’t do that today, I knew what I had to do after Mikah and I finished winning the Blast from the Past tournament. I would wait, I would bide my time and then I would bleed him dry. I would kill everything that was Matthew “The Raven” Knox. Then I found my voice.

“I will ruin you, Knox.”

Present Day

After naming Knox the number one contender, I had achieved something that few thought possible. Even though the Saviors had decimated this roster, all the terrible shit I’ve done was nothing compared to when I named him the number one contender. What did I do in return? Not a damn thing, I’m not someone who explains themselves. There was only one person that made a comment that bothered me.

“Fenris, thinking he had been disregarded,” I shook my head, “Not a chance fella, not a chance in hell,” I said these words as I happened to walk by the hamper, the smell was gone but not the memory. “Yep, that one is gonna sting for a while,” I said those words as I made my way to the back door. Stepping into the morning air, while still a little cool, was not unpleasant. Bare to the waist, I sat down in my usual place, setting my coffee cup down, I then retrieved my pack of cigarettes. I lit a cigarette and then focused on my coffee. “Funny, the things you will disregard because of who says them.” I thought back to the claim that SuMa had made on social media. “Another secret discovered,” he had claimed. He had been insinuating a relationship between Amber and Knox and of course, I just brushed it off, because why would I believe a man that would go to any extremes to get what he wanted.

That poor brutish bastard, so droll and predictable. Challenging me for my title after that little distraction. I had anticipated it and was ready for it, just as I was ready for the man who called himself a monster. I didn’t consider him that at all, a troubled soul but not a monster. A man with some obvious mental issues, mainly being a psychopath. “SuMa, you hit every bit as hard as I do, I’ll give you that. You just don’t understand the danger that awaits you. You will, but not yet.”

Fade

{Unnamed Studio Somewhere in Greece - “The Truth”}

continued from the previous part called “Clearing The Air”

I continue to smile as I start to get to the heart of the matter, nodding my head quickly I almost laugh.

The Supreme Machine!
SuMa!

The monster of Sin City Wrestling!



I pause for a moment to breathe and relax my smile just a bit.

Or as I like to call him, Tom Rivers. See, the big man has been walking around for years, claiming that titles didn’t matter to him.

Raising my right arm, I begin to shake my finger at the camera.

Tsk, tsk Tommy. You’ve been telling that lie for a long time, son. It’s not something new, you’ve always liked the gold in the belts.

I smirk at the camera and lower my hand.

What SuMa would like you to believe is that he’s just out there taking things away from people in order to cause them pain. Right?

I shake my head in disgust.

The truth is that, once he got a taste of the gold and what goes with it, he became greedy. Yet he continues to lie to anyone who will listen. Isn’t that right, Tommy?!

Staring down at my shoes for a moment, shaking my head again, I look back up. More intensity this time, less of a smile.

So, the question has been asked, why did I really bring the big man to Sin City? What he would say is so that he could manage the things that I wouldn’t. He would do what I would not. He was brought here to do all my dirty work.

I stare at the camera and then roll my eyes.

Are you starting to see a trend here? He wouldn’t know the truth if it bit him in the ass. It’s just another lie to deflect and mislead people.

I cock my head to the side.

SuMa knows the truth of why I asked him to join me here. The first part of it was to take out the garbage in this company. To run all of the mediocre talents out of here to help make Sin City a place where the elite come to chase glory. A place where people could achieve clout.

The intensity remains but a smile threatens to tug at my lips.

The second part of the equation is a little more amusing. Well, amusing to me in any event. He was bait.

I openly smile about this, chuckling under my breath I continue.

As funny as that sounds, Masque’s songbird took the bait hook, line, and sinker.

I laugh out loud, throwing my head back and howling with laughter, then abruptly I stop.

the guy that thinks of himself as a supremely cerebral wrestler got played. He hates me right now for it, I guarantee.

Then amusement is now completely gone, and my eyebrows furrow.

Those Rivers boys are something else, ain’t they? Both made to look like foolsl. Both were angry at me, not as angry as the rest of the roster but pretty close. 

I smirk at the camera again, I run my hands through my hair to slick it back again.

All of this began because the biggest goof on the planet couldn’t remain focused long enough to win a match. The supremely evil and disciplined warrior couldn't keep his eyes on the prize. Amazing. So, when he challenged me of course I was going to accept it.  It didn’t matter if I caused a distraction or not, G was gonna win that match regardless. I did it just to fuck with you. Mostly because you are so very predictable Tommy. Well, that and because I can.

Fade

{The Oblivion Garage - Las Vegas, NV - “A man of the cloth?”}

Amber and I had been in the garage for only a short time, as we looked around, it was easy to see I hadn’t been able to do much in the way of the rebuild. I knew she was fighting her own demons inside her own head, so I stayed close, holding her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze every once in a while. She returned it, and even glanced up to give me a reassuring smile. Originally we were supposed to reopen in April but that had now been pushed back until late summer at the earliest. It was a little disheartening for both of us but we knew this required patience. That word, patience, if it was a virtue, it was one she would definitely have to live without. Her patience in general was pretty slim but when the “priest” showed up, her teeth were set on edge immediately. I gave her hand another squeeze and she physically relaxed a bit.

When he offered, I shook the man's hand. A hand that was smooth, no calluses, a firm grip but he had skin like a pampered girl. His suit that he wore was expensive, to call it immaculate would be an understatement. The man looked like he was ready to walk the red carpet in hollywood. After the pleasantries had been exchanged, then came the offer of money. I brushed that off, because Amber and I could retire today and not need a thing for the rest of our lives. Resources though, that caught my ears and they perked up. Amber and I both knew there was a catch. She knew him from somewhere in her past. He had a way about him, the way he talked and even walked that screamed snake oil peddler and i didnt’ like it. Those kinds of things leave me reaching for my pistol and on high alert. I didn’t though, especially because of his parishioners that were in attendance as well. The way they carried themselves, spoke volumes to their confidence. The slight bulge of a jacket pocket, the man who was obviously his second in command. He was armed, then I surmised that the rest of them likely were as well.

There were roughly twelve in total, body guards, what had this man done in his life to need a complete security detail. I listened as he explained the nature of their relationship, former business partners. That meant Del Gado I’m sure, I thought to myself. I never allowed my smile to slip as he continued to talk. With all the pleasantries out of the way, he asked Amber to walk him out. I stayed put for a moment to allow them their conversation in privacy, plus I wasn’t entirely sure of these armed men and if they would simply gun me down for trying. So, being as respectful as I could, I watched them retreat with the guards leading the way out for McCrae.

She had walked McCrae to the edge of the garage doors, I watched her as she watched him. She was nervous about the arrangement, which begged the question of what her association with him really was. I could ask but I decided to let it play out organically, if she chose to tell me or not, I would try to find a way to be okay with it. I walked up behind her as she seemed to still be lost in thought, wrapping my arms around her from behind, “Penny for your thoughts.” I said quietly, her response was as I expected, dripping with sarcasm and self-deprecation, “I’m not sure they are worth that much.” She went from extremely tense to relaxed as we stood there watching his retinue go on their way. “Yep, I’m sure I hate him,” I said with slight amusement in my voice. She leaned back into me a little, “Mac, you only just met him, just wait until you get to know him.”

Fade

{Shipwreck Cove - Zakynthos - “Coming to terms”}

The rocking of the charter boat, the smell and sound of waves lapping against its hull gave me a sense of peace. That’s what I needed right now, time to think and breathe. My mind was so full of conflict that even focusing on Whisper at times was not helpful. The day before I had been up on the platform that overlooks the cove or Navagio Beach as some called it. One of the locals told me that it was a great view up on the cliffs but it was far more so on the beach itself. So, I find myself now on this charter, the captain assured me that this was the least busy time of the day. I paid him extra not to bother with the other stops along the way.

I sat near the front of the charter boat, Captain Pappas had named her the minnow as a joke but the name stuck and he never changed it. That captain and his boat navigated as smoothly as the sea allowed. His first mate, Shelly, I found out she was an american who came here on vacation and just never went home. A rugged woman, physically strong and skin that was lightly weathered from too much time on the ocean. She approached me as I was enjoying my surroundings, “You seem at home out here.” I nodded and showed her my United States Navy ring. “I’m an old salt, but yeah, the sea has always been a happy place of sorts for me.” What I told her was the absolute truth, I had loved my time in the Navy and being out on an open body of water made me far happier than most of the things in my life. The sole purpose of this trip today was for myself, no camera opportunities for the companies I work for. I was being greedy for me, for a change. I needed this to make sure my head was straight on what I was doing and more importantly why.

some time later

I stepped off the smaller boat and waved to the first mate as she headed back to the “Minno” and stepped on white sand. I quickly came out of my boat shoes and began making my way across the beat. I turned and marveled at the view. White sand and crystal clear water, it put me in mind of postcards I’d seen in my life. Those postcards really didn’t do it justice though. Greece was absolutely stunning and I wasn’t sure I actually deserved to see something like this. I had about an hour before the scheduled tour would begin and so I made my way towards the wreck of the MV Panagiotis. It had been, according to literature, a one hundred and fifty-seven foot cargo vessel.  The story went that they were smuggling cigarettes and other things for the Italian Mafia. They had run it to ground in order to try and escape the Grecian Navy. That was all back during the eighties, “Crime just doesn’t pay, I guess,” I muttered to myself as I approached the wreck. It was the wreck that had brought me here to begin with. The husk of metal on the beach, it had various animals using it as a home of sorts. It reminded me of SuMa in a way.

“I’ve often wondered what it would take to quiet the monster and let the man behind it out and into the open.”

I already knew this from his wars with Knox, I was there for the majority of them. If you could exhaust him, he was vulnerable to more than physical damage. Matt had told me of the conversation they had while in the hospital. I knew that at times Tom could be brought forth, he had a way of overpowering SuMa from within. I also knew that he thought this was going to be easy, he believed that he could overwhelm me like our previous meeting. I was different then, he was hellbent on my destruction. “I don’t die that easy Tommy,” I said with amusement. He had no clue how much I had evolved, he would find out very soon. He had forgotten about how easy I put him down when he crossed the line with me. My strategy would be simple, it was going to be a bull fight, it wouldn’t have a matador just two bulls slugging it out. I had seen enough here and knew what I had to do.

“Slay another monster. I never grow bored with that.”

That meant I would have to stand toe to toe with a man whose strength was every much as powerful as my own. Perhaps stronger when he was enraged. That was the difference between us overall. When he became enraged he made mistakes, when I became enraged, I simply grew stronger. I arrived a couple of days early and hadn't been to the hotel yet, that would be my next stop. It was time to check on Amber and make sure she was okay. I looked around and took my shirt off. I decided to go for a swim while I was waiting.

The warmth on my back felt good, and as I was about to make my way into the water I heard a voice from nearby. “You don’t want to swim here sir,” off to my left I spotted a woman who I thought might be in her early twenties. I stopped where I was, I could see the drop off a few feet away. She started approaching me, deeply tanned skin, dark hair, pouty lips and a sway to her walk that would stop any man in his tracks. “Why is that?” I asked with a smile. She pointed out into the water, “You’d be disturbing the babies.” I watched the newly hatched turtles had taken to the water. “This is a protected habitat for them and the seals.” I looked around and saw the seals hanging out on the rocks and I smiled. “That’s okay, the boat that brought me here will return shortly,” I said without much thought to it. “Ah, that must be your dingy approach now.” I nodded, “Yes ma’am that would be it.” “Ma’am? How old do you think I am?” I laughed, “I see my good manners have gotten me in trouble once again.” She smiled, blushing slightly, “Sorry” she said sheepishly. I waved it off, “It’s okay, in America we would refer to that as a Texas thing.” She studied me for a moment, “Is everything bigger in Texas?” she asked as she was staring at my crotch.” I smiled, “Yes ma’am, sometimes they are even bigger than the ego’s of the men, not usually but sometimes.”

“Are you staying in Zakynthos? The hotel near the venue for your show?” She asked me as she shifted her gaze up to my eyes. I nodded, “I am.” She smiled a coy little smile, “Maybe I’ll stop by there and buy you a drink.” I brought my left hand up, showing her my wedding ring, “I’m afraid that would not be a good idea, my wife and I don’t share.” She actually pouted at me, then I was saved from any further damage to my soul by the arrival of Shelly in the dingy. “Mr. Bane, we’re all set,” she called. “On my way,” I called back. “Ma’am it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” I said to her as I made my way to the small boat that would take me back to the Minnow. Shelly, obviously amused, said to me as I got in, “Looks like I arrived just in time.” I didn’t comment at first. “That young lady has been trying to get in the pants of every man we’ve brought out here whether they are accompanied or not.” At that point I chuckled, “She better be glad my wife wasn’t here.”

Fade

{Hotel Bar - Zakynthos, Greece - “Things and Stuff”}

After my trip to smugglers cove or shipwreck beach or whatever it was called, I found myself here on the patio. The food here was amazing and I drifted away from food and to Ouzo. Not the smoothest in the world but I wasn’t here for the enjoyment of the flavor. I was here very specifically to get drunk. I had checked our room before coming down here and the smell of cheap cologne had hit me again. That motherfucker had been in our room. Again my anger had flared, I had calmed myself long enough by saying that there was still no evidence that there was an affair going on. Then I had another Ouzo, in talking with some of the wait staff and other locals they loved the fact that Sin City was here and doing shows in Greece. “Lad,” an old man said to me with a face full of mirth. “Who the hell came up with the Greece Lightning Tour?” and we all laughed. “Suits always make those decisions,” I started and they all laughed again. Slapping me on the back and commiserating that all bosses were dumbasses. I went outside to smoke and found myself sitting in a chair with a table nearby for my Ouzo.

I lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. Another round arrived, then another, and then a third. I arched my eyebrow in a very Leonard Nemoy kind of way and the bartender let me know, “The boys like you.” she winked as she went back into the bar area. I smiled as I killed them one after another. The burn was amazing and so was the cloud that was filling my brain. I started thinking about things again and it hurt my soul, but I would survive. I always did, no matter what someone did to me, rather it was on purpose or not. “Fuck me, that’s good liquor.”

The last time I had them checked, my bar tab had reached somewhere around three hundred dollars in american currency. I noticed the sun had gone down, “Hmph, didn’t think I’d been here that long” I said with a slight slur to my speech. I looked up at the bartender who was bringing more Ouzo and smiled at her. She looked at me, obviously amused at my current condition, “You really should go up to your room and sleep it off.” My smile grew broader, “Aye, I probably should but wouldn’t want to wake the wife up.” She smirked at me, I’m afraid there may not be a choice, we’ll be closing soon.” I laughed at the comment, “Well, then I should probably pay my tab.” She left and I slugged the Ouzo down without hesitation. I dug my card out and paid her when she returned. I signed for the amount and slipped a couple of hundred dollar bills in for a tip.

I slapped my knees with both hands, “Okay! Here we go!,” I said admittedly louder than I intended but it got the proper amount of laughter from the other patron. “You’re welcome, I’m here all week” With that I started to make my way to the inner hotel area, I knew I was weaving a bit. Someone had asked me if I was okay, “Of course, I’m just reacquiring my sea legs.” I finally found myself at the foot of the stairs, “An elevator would be a good idea right about now.”

More laughter as I heard the ding of the nearby elevator, then I laughed too because I had walked right by it. Then I worked my way to the elevator and a young man who obviously had experience with drunk people helped me along. I exited the elevator and made my way to our room. I entered the room and that was the last thing I remembered until I felt someone tugging on my belt. Through bleary eyes, I could make out the outline of a female but I couldn’t see her clearly enough.

“Excuse me, madam, I’m a married man!” I managed to bellow drunkenly. That’s when I heard the giggle and the smell of cinnamon filled my nostrils. Then I passed out.

Fade.

{Undisclosed Greek Restaurant - “Truth part 2”}

I sat in the same restaurant that I sat in last night, with coffee this time instead of Ouzo. I had showered but was wearing cargo shorts and a t-shirt. I set the SCW title on the table. I took a sip from my coffee cup.

They say that truth will set you free, I thought to myself as the camera began to roll. We’ll see if that’s true or not. My head was still spinning a bit and I’m sure what I was about to say was going to come out just a little growly. Not that I cared in the least, but we generally try to make these things at least appear professional. Not today….


So, I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the fact that SuMa could in fact beat me for this title.

I pointed at the title with one hand and moved in front of me with the other.

He wants to take this from me because he believes it will cause me harm.

I shake my head in response to that statement and mouth the word no.

Wrong again, It’s a title belt. Take it from me and I’ll win it back again. Hurt me and I’ll heal. The title belt does have value.

I stared down at the belt.

See, world titles or lack thereof don’t define me. I’ve won world titles on fourteen different occasions. Not a single one of them made more of a man than I am.

I take a breath and another sip of coffee.

It didn’t make me a better wrestler than I already was. Sure, it brought more money. I’ve been added to multiple halls of fame.

I pat the belt and position it on my shoulder.

I’ve held it since December nineteenth of last year. I know you believe this will be easy that I’m the same man I was when we faced off in OCW. You know, before they shut the doors and started over?

I smirk at the memory of it.

Sure, I’ll give you credit for a match that was never televised. I mean you did win the match. Nothing was really at stake in that match, was it? You held a hardcore title but it wasn’t on the line.

My gaze hardens severely.

This title is on the line though, and that matters to me, to have someone who wouldn’t know a wristwatch from a wrist lock beat me for a title that exemplifies wrestling would be unacceptable.

My facial features relax somewhat but the intensity is still very visible.

It could still happen, you’re a big man, you call yourself a monster but are you?

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth.
you see, Tom believes that I brought him here to be the monster.

My smile blooms and I chuckle. Shaking my head in disgust.

No Tom, I was always the monster, always the enemy. You’ve never caught onto that fact. You never even considered that to be true.

I shake my finger at him again.

One of the many mistakes you’ve made with me.

I lower my hand and rest it on the table.

You underestimated me at every turn though, haven’t you? I told you not to harm non-combatants. You thought that nothing would happen as far as consequences are concerned.

A predatory smile is now more present.

I dropped you on your head for that. You told the entire world on social media that harm would come to me but not at your hands.

My facial expression doesn’t change.

Another lie, but it’s nothing new, is it? I don’t know about anyone else but it’s become apparent to me that the Rivers line is thick with sociopaths. You boys wouldn’t know the truth if it bit you.

Another sip of coffee and I dig out my pack of cigarettes.

You’ll however justify it to the world that it’s your perspective and that’s how you measure truth.

Lighting a cigarette, I lean back, tipping the chair back so my head rests on the wall behind me.

See, that’s a problem, too often people like you live in your own little world. Not reality.

I lean the chair forward and set the belt back on the table.

That’s a you problem, not a me problem, SuMa.

Smiling I stand up with the belt in hand.

So, the next time we meet, Tom, it will be the last time. You tormented a man’s family. Women that had done nothing to you. You caused one of them to miscarry. I’m sure that you feel vindicated, that you have done the world a favor by causing that. You say that all of his children will be just like you and him.

My grip tightens on the world title.

That’s not your decision to make, Tom, you don’t get to choose who is strong and who is weak. That is entirely on the parents. If there is any justice in this world, they won’t be as weak as the two of you.

I sling the title over my shoulder.

My plan is very simple, SuMa. I’m going to break you. I’m going to make sure that I get through to Tom Rivers. I’m going to end your reign of terror over Tom. If that doesn’t work, well, then I’ll just end you.

Fade.

The More Things Change, The More They Remain The Same

"Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving."

- Denis Waitley.


{Galen Center - Los Angeles, CA - “Promo Day Part 1”}

[on-camera]

 The ring had already been set up I had noticed as I walked down the make-shift ramp, with the world title slung over my shoulder. I could hear the echo of my boots on the metal ramp as I approached the ring. I smiled as I walked up the ring steps, carefully wiping my feet before entering the ring. I looked around the arena, making note of where seats were blocked off in case we didn’t sell the place out for the show. It would be a big one for sure. Especially for Amber and me. “The Golden Couple” was always in danger of losing the titles that we fought so hard to win and hold onto. I see that we are recording and so I begin.

Today we return to the scene of the crime so to speak. The finals of the Blast from the Past tournament.

Holding my arm out and making a sweeping motion.

This is not the same arena of course as last year. It is however the same ring that was used last year.

I frown a bit in remembering how Myra and I had failed the last time.

The constant in this of course is that two people who were in the finals last year have returned to the finals. We are on opposing sides this time is the only difference.

I walk from the center of the ring to the ropes, where I rest my elbows on them. I thought about how I was living in her head rent-free throughout this tournament. I did that from one small statement.

For a short amount of time, I had thought that I was the reason we lost Myra.

I lower my head as if studying the boots I wear.

I put the burden on my shoulders because it was my shoulders that were pinned to the mat.

I look back up at the camera with a look that shouts defiance and pent-up intensity waiting to be let out.

I’ve come to realize over the course of the last year, that simply isn’t true. You were the reason we lost. You’ll also be the reason that Mr. Burk won’t be wearing this title anytime soon.

I hold the Sin City Wrestling World Title out for the cameras to focus on. I smile at the thought of this past year.

We lost in the finals but one of us went on to accomplish our goals.

I smirked at the camera as if she was standing in front of me, the contempt as obvious through my expression as it is with the way I speak.

We both cashed in the Internet Titles we held, but of the two of us, I was the one with the killer instinct.

To emphasize each point, I slam my right hand into the left.

I was the one who finished what they started.

The sound gets louder as I go on.

You’re not a closer and I doubt you ever will be.

I stop and allow myself to unwind.

I would be remiss and downright disrespectful in not giving you a nod of respect for the reign you had as internet champion. Not many can say they have done better.

I smile a genuine smile this time, with no sarcasm.

Except for my wife that is.

I allow the smile to linger.

Based on what I’ve seen from you, I don’t think you have the stomach for this anymore. To be perfectly clear, I said what I said and you’re damn right I think that Mikah is an upgrade in partners.

I push myself away from the ring ropes, obviously disgusted with the topic of Myra having been my partner the year before.

Besides the fact that it’s true, the difference in philosophy between the two of you is huge.

Now openly glaring, any thoughts of respect for Myra are gone completely now.

You see, Mikah is not afraid to get her hands dirty, she’s not afraid of doing whatever it takes to win. That, my dear, is where you failed me last year. So upgrade? No doubt about that, it’s all on video for the world to see. She’s gotten almost every pin for us so far in the tournament.

Sneering at the camera I continue.

Killer Instinct.

My facial expression remains unchanged as I prepare to wrap up this portion.

It’s a thing, a thing that you don’t seem to have anymore. When you come to this match, you better channel that other version of yourself because this is not working.


Fade.

{The Bane Home - Las Vegas, NV - “Pinky Promises”}

[off-camera]

 After having almost destroyed our living room, the day that Amber left, I began the cleanup process. The couch was moved out of the room, along with the other furniture. I had picked up some mesh and spackle, along with paint that matches to begin the repair work. Without warning or announcement, while I was on a stepstool spackling one of the holes my daughter arrived. She cleared her throat and I nearly jumped out of my skin. “Baby Girl! Don’t do that to an old man!” She giggled and the young man who was with her laughed quietly. I arched an eyebrow at her and she knew what that was about.

“Daddy, meet Todd, he’s a good friend from school,” She started as I climbed down off the ladder. I stared at “Todd” for a moment and then stuck my hand out to shake his. My daughter watched me closely as the young man tentatively shook my hand. He was scared of me already, and that was a good sign. At least the boy had some sense about him. “Todd, it’s good to meet you. I would say I’ve heard nothing but good things, but truth is, Julez hasn’t mentioned anything about anyone at school.” He smiled and in response, he said to me, “Not really surprising Mister Bane. She’s a very private person.” I smiled at the kid, “Runs in the family.” Now focussing on my daughter, “So, what brings you home from the east coast?” She rolled up the sleeves of her long sleeve shirt to show me a brand new tattoo. “I wanted to show you this,” she said with pride as she handed me a folded-up note. I didn’t have to open it, I knew what it was.

Fifteen Years Ago

“ Daddy, where are you going?” I looked up to see my five-year-old daughter looking at me with a very concerned look. “To the moon, baby girl.” She seemed to think about that for a moment, likely deciding whether what I said was bullshit or not. With a very serious look, she said to me, “Can we go to the moon together?” I smiled at her in return and said, “One day, we certainly will.” She frowned a bit, “Could you write it down for me?” I chuckled softly, “Absolutely, as long as you promise not to try and sue me someday.” Even at the age of five, the child had the mind of a lawyer. To seal the deal, I extended my pinky and she, hers, the ultimate pact was made. There is no more binding deal than a pinky promise. She and I both knew that and that conniving five-year-old mind felt satisfied with the pact and went on her way. While she went off to play with her chemistry set or what have you, I dutifully sat down at my writing desk and penned the following.

One day we will go to the moon. Love Dad.

Present Day

I wrapped her in a tight hug and it was returned immediately. “I love you, Daddy.” I squeezed her a bit tighter, “And I love you too, baby girl.” The tattoo was nothing more than script, but it held a beauty of its own. Maybe not to anyone else but me and her but it was a large part of our history as father and daughter. A sweet memory from her childhood that still resonated with me. It had been the easiest way to leave home for work at the time that did no harm. That simple act of a pinky promise, probably did more for our relationship than any other act of kindness by either of us.

“So, what’s up with the hole’s in the wall?” I smiled at her, “Oh, you know, just patching up old nail holes.” She rolled her eyes at me, “Really? I was unaware that they made a nail that big.” I laughed at the statement and responded, “Oh yeah, when was the last time you were in a hardware store?” That got a laugh from Todd with that, muttering under his breath, “Yep, you’re definitely her father, alright.” I barked a laugh, “Yeah, the snark is strong in this family.” I absent-mindedly scratched my beard, before I could say more, my train of thought was broken. “Dad, where’s Amber? I wanted to introduce Todd to her as well, he’s the one that did the tattoo for me.” I nodded, “Of course, I think that she’s still in New Jersey. “There was something about a big publication wanting to do a story on her.” She smiled at me knowing that was a lie. We would talk later about it, and my unwillingness to talk about family issues in front of her friend. “So, where are you two off to next?” “I thought I might take Todd down to the strip since he’s never been to Las Vegas before.” I dug my wallet out and gave her my black AMEX card. “On me, Julez. I hope you guys have a great time.” They started to leave but then it was Todd to my surprise who stopped. “Mister Bane, could I bother you to come with us?”

I smiled, “You know what? Why not, this can wait for later.” I said as I gestured towards the repairs that remain unfinished. “Just give me a minute to clean up.” He nodded and Julez squeezed his hand reassuringly. Friend my ass I thought as I headed to the bathroom to wash my hands and face.

Fade.

{Southeast Shore, Oahu, Hawaii - “Promo Day Part 2”}

[on-camera]
[5 P.M.]

Standing on the beach I look out over the water rushing in and then slowly receding. Something I had witnessed earlier in the day triggered something within me and I decided to talk about it as part of the promo I would turn in.

Welcome to beautiful Oahu, kids.

I show the shark flag that had been up since this morning in the camera’s shot.

It is a beautiful place but not without its dangers. That flag has been up and flying since dawn.

I give the camera a grim smile.

Any time you go into an animal's habitat, you are not the apex predator as a young man of seventeen found out today.
I panned over to where there was still quite a bit of blood on the sand.

A tiger shark took a lot from him and his family.

One of the great things about this island is you can see out pretty far into the water. The camera shows a dorsal fin breaching the surface every once in a while.

Unlike me, sharks are creatures that use stealth and speed to get their prey.

I look at the camera with an unmistakable intensity.

I’m much more upfront and in your face about things.

The grim smile turns into a predatory one.

Max already knows this, don’t you Max.

Occasionally a tourist will wander into the shot, but I keep focused and continue.

You see, this match would be easy if I hated you, Max.

I sigh and shake my head.

I don’t though, you’re one of the few people around that I actually have respect for.

I come back to business now and the hard expression returns.

The point is, Max. That ring is my habitat and you are not the predator there, I am.

My facial expression never changes.

Max and I met in the tournament last year and I promptly bounced him from contention in Blast from the Past.

I smirk and shake my head.

So, you’re feeling confident, why? Oh, because you have my partner from last year.

I sigh a rather loud and obnoxious sigh.

You weren’t ready last year and you’re certainly not ready this year.

A man walks out in front of me with fishing gear, wearing hip waders. I look over at him, “Hey Chief, you see those signs right?” In return, he flips me off, “I know what I’m doing.” I shrug in return.

You see this bright boy Max? Much like you, he was warned about going into the habitat where he’s not the apex predator.

I continue to watch this man wade out into the water.

I guess everyone has to learn the hard way.

I shake my head as I watch the man go further out into the water.

And like you, he’s in over his head.

The man then spots the dorsal fin not far from him and tries to start backpedaling.

And like you, he’s realized the error far too late.

The scene ends with the fisherman screaming for help as a shark attacks his legs. Blood fills the water where he had stood. The lifeguards rush out to help him.

Fade.

{The Oblivion Garage - Las Vegas, NV - “Rebuilding”}

[Off-Camera]
[5 A.M.]

Since the garage had been cleared for rebuilding by the city, the materials for that had started arriving. We knew this would drive our insurance through the roof but I was unwilling to part with it. This had to be rebuilt. So, I sat in my office chair out on the loading dock. I had a small table beside me to set my cup and cigarettes on. Another load of sheetrock had come in. They would rip all the old out and replace it. I sat there with my coffee and a fresh lit cigarette as they brought the last load in. The little fella carrying the clipboard was named Mark. I’d be willing to bet there was vegetable broth in his thermos instead of coffee. He approached me with the clipboard since I obviously had to sign for it.

“Those things are bad for your health,” he nodded towards my cigarette as he approached. “So is sticking your nose in someone else’s business kid,” I said with a smile and a light tone. He handed me the clipboard and I studied it, then finally signed it. “Good luck with the rebuild,” he said politely as he walked away. I didn’t say anything in return, as I took another sip of coffee. I swallowed the dark coffee with a slight grimace as it had cooled down considerably. I dumped the remainder on the ground just off the loading dock. I flicked what was left of my cigarette in the liquid where it sizzled and went out. I made my way back inside to the coffee pot and poured a fresh cup. I then made my way to the front of the shop where the chair that I has used to assault Senor Del Gado still sat. I noticed it still had his blood on it as well. I smirked at that memory. My phone chimed as I sat down. It was a message from Amber.

Do you remember our first night together in Atlantic City?”

I replied quickly since she’s been so erratic lately.

How could I forget that? The conversations and…other things, will live in my memory for a long time.

I smiled at the statement I made back to her, it had been such a long time ago.

A few years ago

It was hard to imagine that two people who had started as bitter rivals could have ever ended up lovers. We had literally torn each other apart just a few nights before. It was the finals of a tournament to decide a new number one contender in the old Carnage Wrestling company out of Baltimore that we had worked for at the time. It had been our rubber match. She had beat me in Boardwalk Wrestling a few years earlier and I had returned the favor in another of those tourneys when she was returning to Carnage. She would go on to win the World Title in a match with a man who would later adopt her. That single act of kindness and love would change a lot of people’s opinions of him. I digress though, the real item here is our conversation that night.

After the lovemaking, I watched her sleep for a long time that night. I was totally captivated by her beauty and her fierceness in the way she lived. She was truly a marvel to me.  Before I knew it, the sun was coming up. I crawled out of bed and got dressed. I tied my bandanna securely and picked up my bag. I hesitated there by the door, to this day I’m still not sure why. I stood there and that’s when I realized that where ever I thought I was going, well, I was already there. I could literally go anywhere in the world. I somehow knew at that moment that I could never find again, the light I had seen in her eyes anywhere else but here. Until that night, I had not been with another woman, other than my recently departed wife, Melissa. The thing about Amber that’s always been true, is she learned like I did it was dangerous to cling to something that could end in a heartbeat. It’s like being betrayed by someone when you lose that one thing you thought could never end. She had gone through something similar with another wrestler and of course, cancer taking Melissa almost killed me. So, I did what any lunatic would do. I sat my bag by the door, removed my bandanna, and started making coffee.

She had done so much for me when we first met on neutral ground and away from the circus that is this business. She had told me that I shouldn’t feel obligated to her, that I had the freedom to leave. The more important aspect of that is that she gave me the freedom to stay. That all by itself was worth my weight in gold to me. Once the coffee was done, I brought her a cup of black coffee and sat by the bed. I woke her gently and offered her a cup. She took it gently, trying not to spill any of it. We had only been together a short time, but I knew from the first time I laid eyes on her that she was mine and no one else would do. She gave me a quizzical look, “You’ve got that “Alabama” look on your face, what’s on your mind?” I chuckled softly, “You mean that big dumb guy in love with a little redhead looks?” She laughed a silvery laugh and winked at me. “Yes, that one.” I smiled and leaned back on the chair. “I mean where should I even start,” I said with a smile. “You’ve never put any restrictions on me. You’ve given me the freedom to leave if I wanted to. I think the most important thing you’ve given me is the freedom to stay, Red.” Her eyes welled ever so slightly. “I love you, Amber, and there’s nothing on the face of this planet that could ever change that.”

Present Day

We continued our text conversation back and forth until it was time for her to go to another interview for Sin City. I had let her know that materials were here for the rebuild and that I would not even think about starting any of it without her here. She told me, thank you, and that she loved me. That small act by her helped to ease my mind for a bit and I was able to enjoy my cigarette and coffee. My phone chirped again at an incoming call, it was Rene from the Hells Gate School in Grand Junction Colorado. My brother in arms, and heart. I quickly answered the phone, “hey hey brother,” I said as enthusiastically as I could. “Hi Mac, how’s the training going?” I grunted as I put the cigarette out. “Pretty good, I continued to work on the things we discussed while I was in Hawaii training with Mikah.” “Good, based on what I know of Max Burk, I think that’s valuable.” Rene was one of a kind, dude, he was the ultimate cautious optimistic. “Well, Rene, if it wasn’t valuable, I know you wouldn’t have mentioned anything at all.” He barked a laugh in my ear, causing me to pull the phone away for a moment. “I’m glad you feel that way, brotherman.” I smiled when he said it, “Of course, if you can’t trust family, who can you trust,” I said in a reverent tone. Rene was one of those people that was beyond reliable, his scouting was always on point.

When I first went to the dojo, they took the speed training that I had already started the year before and helped me to turn it up a notch. Within a month or so, the gains were obvious. I was hanging with people half my age, not only that but dominating them. “Indeed, alright, let us know if you need anything.” Another warm smile crossed my lips, “I will and I’ll try to call more often, big guy.” I knew they were worried, even with my link to Whisper, the others were worried about my stability. They probably would for a while until I gave them a reason to not worry. That meant keeping a firm grip on my anger. After a long pause, “Please do stay in touch, Mac, Kat, and Whisper are concerned about your mental health. That whole Amber thing..” I smiled and appreciated their concern. “Thanks, Rene, I’ll do that, and nothing worry about my friend. It will work itself out or it won’t.”

Fade.

{Galen Center - Los Angeles, CA - “Promo Day Part 3”}

[on-camera][/b

[7:00 A.M.]

“Hey Mac, want some coffee,” was shouted at me by one of the producers. It was early, so I readily agreed. “Yeah, black please.” He paused for just a moment and asked, “Since when?” I smiled, how long have I been drinking black coffee now. “It’s a recent thing, trying to cut down on my sugar intake.” I lied easily, not really wanting to admit I had started taking it that way because it reminded me of Amber. I missed her terribly and that was a hard thing for me to admit. The day she took her wedding ring off and stuck it in her pocket damn near crippled me. The show must go on, however, no matter how I was feeling about it. They brought me some black coffee and I smiled, nodding my head in thanks. “I appreciate it, thank you.” The producer, Chris, “You’re welcome.” He started to turn away, “You sure you’re good for today? I know you’re schedule is crazy.” Empathy from the staff was something new, had they started hiring new people. “You look tired.” I smiled, “Thanks for the concern, but I’m good.” He then hurried off to get things finalized.

A short time later, he signaled that the crew was ready. So, I set the empty coffee cup down on a nearby moving crate and went to the set for the promo. “They’re ready for you, Mac. Good luck in that match, defending your title once I again, I saw.” I smiled, “At least you pay attention to what we do, thanks for the good wishes. I’ll just do what I always do.” He nodded and stepped to the side. I went to the mark on the floor. I kept my bandanna on and my jacket. Moving the flaps of my jacket to the side, so that the title belt would show easily. I got tired of hefting it up on my shoulder to make a point. The assistant producer counted me down from three to one.

Blast from the past part two, y’all.

I smiled at the camera, as genuine as I could muster.

I and Mikah will take on Myra and Max Burk.

I allow the smile to slide.

All the hype and the buildup, it’s been fun to watch right?

I smirk a bit at the statement.

Guess what? The fun is about to end as we get real

Even the crew can feel my mood darken as I continue.

Now, I know that I’ve said some rather harsh things about them both.

The look of intensity returns as I glare at the camera.

I’m just getting started. My harsh words…shit that’s just the beginning of what I have to say about these two.

The glare or scowl if you will continue as I focus.

I really didn’t think it would be the two of you that Mikah and I would face in the finals.

I pick up the nearby water bottle and twist the cap off. Taking a long drink before I continue.

I never could have imagined that you would best Jaycee and his partner.

I placed the cap back on the bottle and secured it before setting it back down.

It’s not that I don’t think you’re capable.

Half a smile returns, tugging at the corners of my mouth.

Wait…oh yes it is.

I laugh at what I said and it takes me a minute to get my breath.

I don’t think either of you has what it fucking takes to hold the top prizes in this company. Period.

I shake my head as my own amusement fades.

I mean, come on Max, if the company archives are correct. You’ve never held any belt in Sin City Wrestling other than the Roulette Title, is that right?

Focusing on the camera now and my goals.

That’s enough about you two, now it’s time to talk about us. Honestly, we are way more interesting anyway.

I smirked as I continued.

Let’s see, Mikah is like a 3-time Bombshells champion, former internet champion, Roulette Champion, and Mixed tag champion on a couple of occasions. In other words, a grand slam champion.

I continue on after a breath.

I’m a two-time world heavyweight champion, one-time roulette, and Internet champion. A triple crown champion in my own right.

Getting ready to wrap this up, I just let it fly.

So, all of that being said, we’re based out of Vegas so why would anyone bet against us? The short answer is, if they’re smart they won’t. The smart money will always be on us, not on a couple of “B” players. I couldn’t even keep a straight face and call you two, “B+” players.

I start to wave the camera crew off indicating that I’m done when a final thought occurs to me. Make sure that the belt is exposed. I then hook my thumbs behind it.

See this? This belt belongs to me. Max, I know you want this, they all do. It’s one of the prices you pay as a world champion. There’s a huge target on my back and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Not you or anyone else is going to anytime soon. If that should happen then you can truly call them the best in this company. Until then, all contenders are just victims of their own arrogance in believing that they had a shot, to begin with.

BFTP - Karma


‘I'm different, think you know hell? Well, I'll show you it
I was born in hell, the devil knows me well, I'll return with a list like Moses did” - Nova of The Hangover Gang.

{Unnamed beach, San Diego, CA - “Resetting Expectations”}

[Tuesday - On-Camera]
[7 A.M.]

I sat on the beach, watching the tide roll in. Everything came rushing at me, the swell of emotions. I could still hear her, “Don’t fucking touch me.”, towards the end of the fight. I wasn’t upset about that. The thing that bothered me most was the lies that she told so casually. I wasn’t sure that I could still trust her with anything right now. The crew from SCW came out here at my request and my expense. I looked up at the producer who signaled they were ready.

“Where do I even start. Well, that’s really the easy part.”

I pick up the world heavyweight title from my bag and lay it across my legs.

“It always starts and ends with this. Which means that it always starts and ends with me. I am the wearer of this belt, regardless of what anyone thinks, it doesn’t define me.

I remove the title from my lap and set it in the bag again.

“I define how much that fifteen pounds of gold means to everyone else. I’m the one that makes it relevant. To the point that men are coming here for a shot at me. Raven, JC, Jaycee and the list goes on. They all want one thing. Whether you are a rookie, looking for the rub that only I can provide. The middle aged hero that thinks he’s gonna save everyone. The old man that wants to hold championship gold again. Last but certainly not least the part time wrestler who only shows up for tournaments. He thinks that’s his thing that he does better than anyone else. ”

I lower the title back into the bag, never allowing my smile to waiver.

“He’s right as well, Mark Cross is great in these types of scenarios. Last year he was who I faced in the finals. I lost that match, I always try to give respect where it’s due. The Dragon Mark Cross is a hell of an athlete, as is his partner. I’ve known  Kat Jones for many years, she’s like a little sister to me. A lot of people are calling this the real finals, which I find amusing but I do appreciate the sentiment behind what they say.”

I look back out at the horizon, a wistful expression.

“Matthew, it should have been you and Amy in this position against Mikah and I, but you had to go and fuck that up. Sure, you can blame it on your partner, that’s expected, but just like when you lost that tag match in another company. The failure is because you weren’t paying attention to your surroundings. That’s two losses in one week, are you sure your ego can survive?”

I allow the smile to return, having amused myself for the moment.

“Mark, Mikah, and I are the only thing standing between you and a third consecutive run to the finals. Let me reset your expectations for you. Not his time chief. How does it feel? Knowing you’ll be facing the guy that took the world title from you and the woman who hates your guts. As I told you on social media, your only saving grace is who your partner is. She’s the only thing that gives you any class at all.

I give the camera crew a self-satisfied smirk.

“Speak of which, I need to go to Colorado. Some agreements should never be broken. Especially when it comes to family.”

Fade.

{The Bane Home - Las Vegas, NV - “The Phone Call a.k.a. Another Fight”}
[Last Wednesday- 2 AM]
[off-camera]

There’s nothing quite like being woken up at 2 in the morning by your wife who is in Atlantic City and drunk out of her mind. When the phone started playing her entrance theme, I looked at the phone. “Two in the morning, Red,” I muttered. I sat up on the side of the bed. I slid the slider over and put her on speaker while I pulled my jeans on. “Mac?” I heard her ask through the speaker. “Yes love,” I answered, trying my best to put a smile in my voice. As she began talking, her speech was so slurred that I could almost smell the bad booze she’d been drinking. Buttoning my jeans and pulling a long sleeve shirt over my head. I heard her pause, “Are you still there, Mac?” I quickly picked up the phone, “I am sorry for the silence, I’m just listening…didn’t want to interrupt you.” I knew this separation was difficult for both of us. She hadn’t been gone a week and I was already in a bad place. She continued to talk and I heard her pause again, take a drink, and exhale loudly. Just like the day she left, I said nothing. At least not until I was sure she was done.

“Are you going to say anything at all,” she asked and I knew what was coming next. “Red, if you had told me about this from the beginning…” Then I heard her begin to cry, it wasn’t an ugly crying followed by sobs, I knew that it took a lot of effort to get her to that point. I could hear it in her voice though. why the fuck do people do this to themselves? I thought to myself. “Amber, I’m a fucking tank, there was never a reason to fear for my safety. We are supposed to be a team.” No response, so I picked up the phone and started towards the kitchen and began making coffee. As I was making it, I said to her, “How long has that title meant more to you than our marriage?” Again there was nothing but silence. Pretending like it was nothing, I continued by telling her about what I had done in regards to the Del Gado family. She only interrupted slightly with “Fuck!” said every once in a while. At least I was getting through to her now so I kept the conversation going, even while I was making my coffee, my mind was ahead of me. I told her about Del Gado’s wife playing stow away in the back of my Silverado and how she was working with the feds to try and nail him. Jeff couldn’t talk to me anymore about it as they were trying to keep me far from that investigation.

Another drink, another profanity-laced tirade from her. After she calmed down a bit, I finally asked her. “Are you planning on coming home any time soon?” There was a long pause and then she said, “Mac, I love you but I don’t know when I’ll be back or even if.” “I love you too, Red” I disconnected the call and sat down on the kitchen floor. I cried for the first time since I buried my wife, Melissa. Just like when she was dying from cancer, not knowing is the hardest part. With Melissa, it was not knowing how much life was left for her. With Amber, it was not knowing how much life was left for me. She couldn’t have hurt me anymore if she had just cut my heart out with a spoon. Even the cold tile floor provided no relief from the storm that was building in my heart. That’s when I started drinking….

Fade

{Hell’s Gate Dojo - Junction, Colorado - “Brutal Honesty.”}

[Thursday Morning - 7AM]

If you get the opportunity to go to Junction, Colorado in February…don’t. From the time I got off the plane until now, standing in front of the Hell’s Gate primary entrance door. I was cold to the bone and wet. Not a great combination. I was only here because this is what I agreed to do. Kat must have sensed something was wrong with me and she was right, ever since the fight with Amber, nothing felt right. I was starting to question my decisions, professionally and personally. In my position that was not a good place to be. The more I thought about the fight the more angry I became. I crushed out the cigarette in the ashtray near the door and stepped inside. Kat was already there, and so I made my way where she stood talking to Kim and Whisper. She spotted me but didn’t head my way right away. So, I made my way to her, I knew she had been injured the night before in a match in another company. All three women looked at me, the weighing and measuring of them was something I had grown accustomed to. They were deciding internally whether I had lost anything they had taught me. One thing that was a constant with me was my intensity. They all smiled and nodded and I gave them a hug one at a time, being careful with Kat, knowing that kind of pain all too well. I spotted a step stool nearby and grabbed and set it next to me.

“Just in case you decided I deserved a smack in the head.” I smiled at Kat watching her try not to laugh. Kim laughs out loud, “Cruel, Brother!” Kat climbed up on the step stool and smacked me in the back of the head. “That’s for trying to make me laugh!” She said as she stepped back down. Whisper motioned for everyone to go into the office as she headed that way. We all stepped into the small office and took a seat. Kat was last in and shut the door quietly and carefully. It was obvious she was still hurting quite a bit. She looked at me, “Okay brother-mine, spill. What happened?” I smiled at her, “I missed you too Katarina. I’m not sure what you are referring to?” She glared at me, and I immediately threw my hands up in mock surrender. It was Whisper who spoke next.

“You’re wounded Mac. Who made you start to doubt everything?” She asked it in the same manner someone would ask you to pass the salt. I sighed and leaned back in the chair. “Well, this is the reason that I came here and since we’re all here I might as well.” I looked over at Kat, “This stays here, you understand?” I asked her. She nodded her head in understanding. “Amber and I had a huge fight. I know that couples do fight, especially when they are so similar in personalities. This was different though.” They all waited for me to continue. “The fight was because I called her out for lying to me on many occasions.” Kat, almost in tears, “Is this about the garage?”. I nodded to her, “In part, she thought she was protecting me by deceiving me and a number of other people.” I paused for a moment and then continued. “Long before she and I met…” I continued on with what she had told me about her relationship with the Del Gado family when she was much younger.

“I think the worst part is two-fold here, I don’t know if I can ever trust her again, and she doesn’t know whether she even wants to come home. She tells me she loves me but I dunno…” Kat rested her hand on my shoulder, with tears running down her face. “I had no idea, Mac.” I patted her leg gently, “That’s because she and I have done our best to keep it off of social media and out of the news. It’s more about protecting our privacy and buffering any negative thing from Sin City or Hell’s Gate.” I shake my head in disgust. Just by talking about it, I could feel my fury combined with a righteous anger building. Whisper continued to watch as I sat there stewing in my own anger.

“Enough Mac..” Whisper’s tone of voice left no room for discussion. “Internal raging will lead to loss of focus and you can not afford that if you want to keep that title around your waist.” I was unsure of how she did that shit, but I looked up at her with clear eyes and the anger dissipated like it was never there. “Welcome back.” She smirked and her dark eyes glittered in amusement she never did tell anyone how she does that. “Mind clear and focused at the problem at hand now?”I sat there in almost stunned disbelief, I started to hang my head in shame but instead I looked her in the eyes, “Yes ma’am,” I said with a sheepish grin. “You are both in the same match and as much as Kat wants to advance in the tournament she does not want you to lose the title this way. She does not handle it well as she is afraid of losing you in the process.” Kat was a huddled up little ball on the chair next to me. I smiled, “I know but the rules of this tournament are clear and maybe she missed the fine print. If she should cover Mikah, my title goes nowhere. Mark would have to cover me for that to happen. That shit is not gonna happen.”
Kat looked at me with her big dark eyes. “So it is me vs Mikah and you vs Mark.. I am not going to talk shit about you. I refuse to.” I looked at her, “Don’t you dare ease up just because it’s me, that’s not fair to you or to your partner. I really don’t like him but he deserves you at your best.” Kat nods at me with a determined look in her eyes as well. “Well the best I can be by then. Sorta a mess right now.” Whisper nodded pleased with herself. “Mac I think you are missing something”   

I looked back to Whisper, “What’s that?” Whisper smiled and handed over a file folder with a single sheet of paper in it. On it was a sketch hand drawn by Maria. “Your wings''Without hesitation or thought, I smiled at her as I studied the sketch. “Now that is epic art. I’m honored that you think I deserve this, I will definitely wear this with pride. I’m proud to represent you and this family.'' Whisper smiled and made her way around her desk and towards me she held my face in her hands gently before leaning down and pressing her forehead to mine and in my head I heard her loud and clear. “You were already part of the family and we are proud to have you amongst us.” I was a little surprised by the connection at first, testing the waters. I tried to respond to her in the same fashion, “Thank you Mother of Arch-Angels''. A soft smile came over her face, one that I had not seen that often before. “You are welcome, Macentyre.” she pressed a soft kiss on my forehead and stood up and smiled towards Kim and Kat which was a sign they were waiting for and Kat, recklessly forgetting about her injuries jumped on my lap and hugged me tight. I had not seen Kim leave the room but she did and returned moments later with Maria by her side. I smiled more than I had in weeks, surrounded by people that I know would have my back no matter what was important. I really wish Ken was there at that moment. Maybe I could bring him, Kyra and Adina here one day soon.

The ladies escorted me to the area where the tattoo work would be done. Rene showed up at that moment as well, “Welcome Brother,” he said as he gave me a huge hug and pat on the back. Whisper motioned for me to lay down on the massage table. As I did Maria came up to me. “Wings for our warrior. Been waiting for you” I winked at her, “Thank you for your patience.” Maria chuckles “Thank me when I am done if you do not hate me by then. This will take a while. Your sisters will be right here with you.” I nodded, “I’m no stranger to the pain, and if I think back about it, they always seemed to be there.” Kim spoke up for the first time looking right at me. “And we always will be.” “And I for all of you.”, I said quietly but without hesitation or reservation. Kim’s geek side showed for a moment “This is the way” she winked at me with a smirk on her face. I shot a wink back at her, “This is the way.” Whisper placed her hand on my shoulder as Kim and Kat made their way to the headrest and sat down with me each taking one hand in their own. “Focus on their voices and let Maria handle the rest.. I have spoken.” Whisper winked towards me with that reference and did as she asked and focused on the voices of my sisters. As they sang, Maria began her work on my back. I could feel the warmth that they sang with and I never felt very much from the needlework that Maria was doing. When Maria was done she put some healing cream on the needlework she had put on my back and the voices of my sisters faded as Whisper approached me and placed her hand on my shoulder. “It is done” I looked up and smiled. “Thank you, Maria, you have a gentle touch.” I then hugged each of my sisters in turn, planting a kiss on their foreheads as a way of thanking them.

I could feel a difference in my body and my mind. I felt better physically and emotionally. It was like I could feel my psyche being healed. In his mind, the words came loud and clear. “Focus and remain calm, you are never alone.” The smile returned to my face, “I know mother, and thank you.” Whisper smiled and nodded before turning away and helping Maria pack it up and bring it back to the house. The elderly lady had done more than her duty.

Fade

{Oblivion Garage - Las Vegas NV - “Cleaning Up”}

The cleanup of what was left of the garage was just about done. I came here often when I was in town. I think it reminded me of our marriage, gone up in smoke. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from Amber. I wasn’t sure if she would ever come back. This place though, it provided me with a little solace. The paperwork was done for the insurance. Now it was just the waiting game. Waiting for the paperwork to be processed and the funding to be in place. Then they could begin rebuilding. If there was a “they” at the end of this. If not, I’d still rebuild it then probably sell it. Maybe I’d reopen the garage but it wouldn’t be the same without her here. I looked around the garage one last time. I heard the crunch of a shoe on gravel and my Smith and Wesson was out and pointed in that direction.

“Easy Senor Bane,” the smooth cadence of Dominic’s father, “You and I should talk before things get out of hand.” He paused for only a moment. “I am not armed Senor, please lower your weapon.” I snapped my head around and glared at the older gentleman. “You’ve taken your life in your own hands today, Francisco,” I almost growled it. He put his hands up in mock surrender and I holster my weapon. “If you have men with you, have them come out in the open where they can be seen.” I could tell he was considering something, it was something that was going to get someone killed. He saw the look on my face and my hand still lingering by the holster. “Fair enough senor, “ Like out of b move he clapped his hands twice and then there were five of them including him. “You watch way too many movies Del Gado, that was lame as hell.” His eyebrows furrowed, “never mind, I should have known you wouldn’t get it.”

“What exactly was your plan here, senor?” I asked in a straightforward manner as possible. “Did you think you and your men could just jump me here and kill me off, and poof problem solved?” He shook his head indicating that was not the plan. “No Bane, that was not my plan, they are simply here to ensure I come away from this unharmed. I only wanted to ask you if you knew the whereabouts of my wife.” I shrugged, “I didn’t even know you were married,” I said in my own smooth way that just didn’t sound as cool as he did. “What’s her name? More importantly, why do you think I know where she is?”

“She was in Texas recently,” he began but his phone chose that moment to ring. “Stupid boy,” he swore at the display. “My son, pardon me please.” He turned to leave me and his men to stare at one another. It didn’t last long though as he came back and stared at me. “That was my son, Dominic, he told me what he did here.” I nodded, “Gutless”. “Si,” was his response. “He asked me if I would apologize for him for the pain he has caused you and your wife.” I gave the old fella a smile, “Tell him that I’ll consider it if he comes here and does it himself.” Senor Del Gado smiled and nodded. “Consider it done, Senor Bane.”

Fade.

{Somewhere in Texas - Karma”}

Recently I had been able to find my center again, my anger was less prevalent since my trip to Colorado. The one thing that remained was my intensity, I was extremely proud of that. I was even more proud of the fact that I had successfully defended my title. The failure the first time around still haunted me a bit but I knew the more I defended it the more that my confidence would grow. I stood there looking at the countryside. A wistful expression on my face, my black skullcap ripples a little at the wind. I pull the collar up on my duster to ward off the wind. I get ready to speak but pause as the thunder chases the wind across the sky. Once it quietens down, then I begin to speak my mind. I smile at the lightning as it flashes to the northeast. Looking down at my old black boots.

Mikah and I have been working very hard for this match. She’s a phenomenal partner and does things the right way. I know she doesn’t want anyone but Kris to like her and that’s not only understandable but admirable. I like her work ethic and her willingness to do whatever it takes to win. I like her as a tag team partner, so far she’s been super reliable and a great teammate.

Still looking down…

I mention her first, because I know she realizes what is at stake.

Now I look back up, the intensity etched in my face. My determination is as bright as neon.

Kat, I know this is all new to you, being your first time in this tournament. I know you will bring everything to this match that you have. You’ve always been dedicated to your craft and your family. For you and I this is what it is baby sister. I hope what I told you eased your mind a bit. You are not facing me at all in this match as we discussed the other day. Mikah is your challenge in this event. Whatever people have said about my partner is probably true. She’s that good and then some. You are as well, you’ve always shone brightly. I expect you to come hard at this match and do what we’ve always done, leave it all in the ring, the violence is always unapologetic.

The smile is now gone as I begin to address Mark Cross. The smile has transformed into something more predatory.

Well, lookie there, a tournament was announced and wild slapnuts appeared.

The American Dragon Mark Cross.

This dance is not new to you and I. We’ve fought before. Last year in the tournament was an epic battle. I know that you are proud of that win and the ones that followed. Rightly so I might add. You were on a hell of a run. A run that didn’t end until we fought again. My internet title versus the world title.

I flip the folds of my jacket back revealing the Sin City Title, done with a flare that you might have seen in an old western.

Sin City has a very different landscape now. A lot has changed in a year, Mark. I’ll talk first about the things that haven’t.

You.

You seem to be continuing your track record of being a part time wrestler. I guess the grind of a real job is a bit much for a former player in the National Football League. You’ve always been great in tournaments, but that’s about where it ends. You’re great at beating people you’ve never faced before. Kudos to you bud, but the problem is, I’m familiar with you. I know your tendencies and your lazy habits in the ring.

I spit on the ground following that statement as if it were a taste I couldn’t get rid of. Just talking about this guy always made me feel unclean and as if I had something nasty in my mouth.

You see, this might be on the line…

I rest both hands on the title belt, hooking my thumbs behind the primary plate, feeling the leather strap beneath it.

You’ll never get your hands on it, little man. You won’t be covering me in this match. You’d have to kill me to get that cover.

My facial features harden as I continue to talk about him.

Even if you were to get it again, to what end? You lost your passion for the business when you held it before. You walked around here talking about being a such a great champion. A reluctant one as I recall. Being the good man that I am, I relieved you of that responsibility. As far as the things that have changed? It looks like you’ve got someone special in your life, so that’s cool. It won’t help you win a match but still…good for you. At least I think you do, haven’t seen much of you on social media lately with you professing your love to her.

I shoot the camera a wink and a smile.

Other things that have changed.

Me.

You won’t be facing the same Mac Bane you faced last year. I’ve changed a lot and grown a lot in the last year. I’ve embraced my evolution as a man and a fighter. While you’ve been….doing whatever it is that a part time athlete does. I’m sure you’ll have a lot to say about what I’ve been up to since the last time we spoke.

I laugh a bit at first then stop laughing.

People like to talk about my group of associates who I am running with now. Thing is, they didn’t help me win this title. They never interfered in the matches I was in, nor would I allow it. So, feel free to talk about that until you’re blue in the face. The last time we faced each other, I called myself your mountain to climb. You failed. You fell to your professional death that night. This time in this moment, I’m your karma. You couldn’t beat me that night and you won’t beat me with this title being on the line.

I pause as another round of thunder and lightning crashes against the Texas sky. That always seems to ease my soul and lessen my burdens.

I do love a good storm, don’t you?

I smile at the skyline as more and more hits.

It’s never a good idea to stand around when a storm is brewing unless…unless you are the one that created that storm. The one I’ve created in Sin City…

I point out at the sky as a tornado tries to form some 5 or 6 miles away.

Makes this look like light rain on a sunny day. The things I’ve put in motion…well they are not for the weak of heart. Sin City is not ready for what’s coming. After you lose and get bounced out of here, that’s what you’ll do, bounce. You don’t want to stick around for what’s to come anyway. You don’t have the spine for this kid, better for you to just go back to Florida. It’s much safer and less competitive there.

Fade

The War and The Lies

“Lies and secrets, Tessa, they are, like a cancer in the soul. They eat away what is good and leave only destruction behind.” ― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Prince

They say that consistency is the most  important part of what we do. Unfortunately it’s also tedious when your opponents continue to be predictable. From the things that they say to the things that they do. You see, the men of Sin City who vie to be a world champion are supposed to be Alpha Males of the company. There’s only one in this match, and that’s me. Don’t believe me? Ask Alex, he’ll tell you all about getting his ass kicked by me. I have zero conscience about the things I do inside of that six sided ring. I will do whatever it takes to remain on top of the mountain. I was on top of the world the first time I won the title from Mark Cross. I said it then and I’ll repeat it less I forget and make the same mistakes again. Winning the world title is difficult. Remaining on top is harder. When I started looking at who I wanted to defend against first in my first reign. Alex Jones' name leaped out to me. A guy who had been a champion before and was on quite the streak with the Roulette title. He was the perfect person to test my mettle against.

The problem was that I took him lightly and he beat me, no excuses from me at all. He was the best man that night. He would prove to be the better man in the rematch. I should have learned in our first encounter but I was too caught up in other things. There were far too many distractions for me to process everything that was going on. When he beat me a second time, no one was more surprised than me. Then came the third match, the company made sure that there wouldn’t be a fourth by the previously stated stipulation. Now the King of Wolves is nothing more than a cry baby bitch in my opinion. The once proud champion is full of hubris, claiming that he was the one that kept the company afloat. I look at this roster over the last two years and considering how long it had been since I made him relevant, how can that be anything other than bull shit? What can you say though, his narcissism is his claim to fame. He’s a lot like J2H and Ben Jordan in that respect. Except for one thing, he has been in other companies in his career and made a name for himself many times over. While they….well, they have always been here.

Big Fish

Small Pond

Always limited and never any growth. Never evolving to take that next step, never taking the chance to learn from others and experience other things. No sense of adventure, no pursuit of knowledge and last but certainly not least is the lack of balls. I am the only man in this company with the balls to say that about a couple of legends. I can say that because they are both badasses in their own right, but I’m moreso. Three hundred ninety-nine days? So fucking what. This is my fourteenth world title reign. I’ve held more world title straps than most of the people in this match have held titles.

Hey King Ben, don’t like what I’ve said? Come do something about it, the slackers in this match can’t and won’t. I’m the new King of Sin City, the King Slayer and the slayer of dragons, black dragons, and american dragons. Fucking deal with it.

Fade.

{The Oblivion Garage - Las Vegas, NV - “Lies and Secrets”}
The night of the fire

The heat from the fire was intense, smoke billowed out of the building so hard and fast it was like it was running from something it feared. We were still too close to the building and the firemen were trying to get us to move back to safety. Without thinking, Amber still clung to me like a second skin, I picked her up and moved us both back beyond the line that they had indicated was a safer place. My face was caked in soot, except for the tracks left behind by the tears I had shed. Amber continued to sob uncontrollably with her face in my chest, she kept murmuring about the wiring.

“It had to be, yeah?” “Yeah, Red, it would have to be,” I supported her lie with one of my own.

Absent-mindedly I stroked her hair, not believing for a moment that it would sooth her in any way, but a man could hope. I sat there with her in my lap and watched all the hard work we had done as a couple go up in flames. She never turned around to see it, not that I blamed her. It was hard, even for a man who tried to injure people for a living, watching all that work just disappear into the night sky. My focus was on her now, the marks on her wrist, I knew the signs. Someone had tried to restrain her and they used zip ties. It was a common practice during conflicts in the middle east to use zip ties to restrain prisoners. I knew this because I had once been captured by the Taliban during an operation. There are ways to break out of them, but they are painful and not without scarring.

Kandahar, Afghanistan - a long time ago

The last thing I had remembered was a blinding light behind my eyes. As I woke, my head pounded in rhythm with my pulse. I had been clobbered from behind evidently, at least that’s the way my head felt. I looked down and saw my predicament. My wrists were zip-tied in front of me. I looked up from where I sat and saw one of my captors laughing and retelling the story of how he had butt-stroked me from behind. He had used the butt of his rifle to knock me prone and then another to make sure I stayed down. I leaned my head back, hoping it would help ease the pain but it didn’t. Not that I really thought it would but I had high hopes. The longer it pounded, the angrier I had gotten. His audience soon left and he came to stand in front of me and gloat I guess. He stood there glaring at me and spit at me. I looked up at him as I wiped the spit from my face, “I hope God has mercy on your soul because I have none.” He laughed and that was the last thing he would ever do in this life. I pressed my hands together, flexing for all I was worth and the ties snapped. They cut deeply into my wrists but I was free and he was fucked.

Present day

Amber was breathing in a rhythmic way that was a sign of someone who slept or was falling asleep. “I wish you would level with me, Red. Who tried to kill you? Who hates us so much that they would try to destroy everything we have worked so hard to build?”

Adside:
I already knew who it must be, I was hoping she would tell me. For her and me to be able to stop the lies and the deception. To come clean about what was going on. I made the first step in that direction from my side.

“Maybe this is my fault.” I paused as I shifted her into a more upright position, still keeping her head against my chest but a more comfortable position for both of us. “Maybe this has to do with Mixon and Senor Del Gado,” I mused softly. I was unsure if she heard me or not. I was fairly certain she had cried herself into the sweet peaceful oblivion of sleep. Maybe not though, so I waited for any kind of response at all from her.

I started to say more but the emergency medical team approached. “Mister?” “Bane,” I responded. My wife and I own the garage. “We’d like to check her over, she may be suffering from smoke inhalation.” They placed an oxygen mask on her but she didn’t fight them, an indication of how far gone she was. The garage had been everything to me, but in some way, I think it meant even more to her. She was awake now, I knew that from the wracking cough and the way her body jerked against my own. She sat there staring at what was left of the garage, the tears were gone, replaced by something else.

Hatred.

Her breathing finally eased and the medics declared her good enough for travel.

Fade.

{In-Studio - “Vinnie"}

Back in the studio, I stand there in front of the camera, wearing black silk pajama bottoms, red house shoes and a black smoking jacket that is trimmed in red. On a nearby table sits two bottles of single malt scotch. One is a bottle that is shaped like a child's spinning top. The label reads “Duncan Taylor’s Rarest” with a date of nineteen sixty-nine. The other bottle, not nearly as unique, has a label reading, “Murree Brewery”, a very basic twelve-year-old scotch.

What do you think? Do you like it? I’m channeling my inner Vinnie today. I mean come on, man. The way I’m dressed is a reflection of you. This is the kind of vibe you’re trying to give off right? You want anyone who watched that garbage you call a promo to think that you’re important. You want them to believe you are relevant. Your relevance is dictated by yours truly.

I take off the smoking jacket, revealing a plain white t-shirt. Then I rip the tear-away pajamas revealing plain blue jeans. Finally, I kick out of the slippers to a bare-foot look.

This is the way I think of you, just a basic dude. You have talent, Vinn-man but not the level you think you do. You’re certainly not on my level, son. No, far from it. I would say that you are suffering from delusions of grandeur, but it’s really more a case of delusions of adequacy.

Pick up the bottle from the Murree Brewery and hold it in front of me.

This is you. This is a basic scotch that you can buy in any package store. This is reserved for the weak. The men who cannot afford the better things in life. It’s like you, it’s cheap and unremarkable. There is nothing special about it at all. Yes, I just inferred that you are a basic bitch.

I picked up the Duncan Taylor scotch.

This scotch, now this is the good stuff. It’s among the best you can buy in the world. You have to special order this, its price is roughly twenty thousand dollars per bottle. This is like me. It’s timeless, with a quality so high that it blows your mind. Just as I know I am blowing yours right now. You never expected this approach from me.

Setting the bottle back down, I take a seat in the chair. I pick up the tumbler and take a sip of the glass of Duncan Taylor and smile.

Your assessment of me and my reign as champion was interesting. You really think that no one wants to see me as a champion. You think that I am the most hated champion in years. I’d be willing to bet if you were to ask Mark Ward and Christian Underwood they would have a much different view. The thing is Vinnie, my being champion is what puts buts in seats. They all will pay higher prices to interact with me and my team. They all show up in the hopes that we will all lose and they can go home happy. Back to their miserable existence. You hope the same, you hope that you can be good enough for just one night to dethrone me. Like the four other times, we’ve been in the same ring and you couldn’t beat me.

I smirk at the camera before I have another sip of my scotch.

They say that fortune favors the bold. The bold is always ready. People like you always talk about doing “Lion Shit” until it’s time to do “Lion Shit”. I am the Lion. I even have the mane to go with it. There’s always blood dripping from my maw, where some poor bastard underestimates my ability and overestimates their own chances of survival. Vinnie, it would behoove you to bring every ounce of everything that you are to this match. I’m playing for keeps and I’m playing for fucking blood. This title belongs to me, no one else. When I defend this title, it’s an all-in scenario. I will not be denied my first successful defense of this title. Do you think you can take what’s mine? Fuck around and find out how wrong you are.

Fade

{Oblivion Garage - Las Vegas NV  - “War has been declared”}

I had risen several hours before the sun decided to peek it’s head through. I stood in what was left of The Oblivion Garage. It wasn’t completely burnt out but pretty close. The smells were overwhelming to say the least. The air was still thick with the smell of smoke and ash. I was here by myself because I needed to pick through the ashes, Amber’s story didn’t add up. I hate to be lied to. I knew she was lying to me, I knew that it wasn’t electrical at all. I had personally replaced the wiring, inside and out.

8 months ago

The inspector had arrived to review the wiring replacement work that had been done. I showed him my license and all the paperwork. Because of the amount of work that had been done, the inspection took about two hours.

“Mister Bane, where did you get your training as an electrician?” I smiled at the question, “United States Navy,” I said in return. Now he smiled, “Outfuckingstanding, me too.” I smiled again and we shook hands, “You’re off the clock now, yeah?” He nodded in response and I handed him a beer. The most important thing to me was that we had passed inspection and unless something crazy happened we shouldn’t have to worry about fires in this building.

Present Day

As I continued to kick through the debris, I made my way to the office. I knew this wasn’t where it started but I needed to look at a few things. I hadn’t made it very far when I saw a zip tie on the ground. I knelt down, picking it up and I studied it for a moment. While it was hard to pick out at first, it was tinged with red. “I fucking knew it.” I could feel the anger returning again. “Why the fuck are you lying to me!”

Aside: We are currently deceiving each other on such a regular basis, if we aren’t careful there won’t be a relationship left to save.

I was good and pissed now and I wasn’t even sure that I trusted myself to be around people right now. I stuffed the zip tie in my pocket as I stood back up. I continued through the shop and spotted the gas cans. They were mostly melted but I knew they weren’t ours, we didn’t even keep gas cans in the garage for safety reasons.

Aside: This painted a picture for me. At least 4 men plus Dominick Del Gado.

I shook my head in disgust as the evidence was pointing more and more towards someone attacking my wife the night of the fire. One thing was certain, she was not going to tell me who it was. For whatever reason, she couldn’t see the damage she was doing to our relationship by lying to me. I was hopeful that she’d tell me what really happened here and we’d get the chance to repair our marriage.

Aside: I had no idea of why the Fire Marshall had falsified the report, probably Del Gado money.

My phone rang, breaking me out of my train of thought. The caller i.d. read “Jeff Castello”, my old friend from my military days. “Hey Jeff, I’m guessing you saw the news.” “I did, and I know who did this. It’s one of Del Gado’s boys, you were not the target.” My blood ran cold as he said those words. I continued to listen to him as he regaled me with the evidence that Senor Del Gado’s wife and children had given them. “Did you get photos of the men that did this?” “Yeah, they are on their way.” “Alright, thank you, Jeff, this will help.” I disconnected the call. When the pictures came through, I was surprised, to say the least. I studied the picture of Dominick Del Gado and made the decision to take it to a higher power. I sent the pictures to his father, with the message, “You hurt one of mine, I’m going to put two of yours in the fucking morgue.”

It didn’t take long for my phone to ring. “Mister Bane, do you really think this will end well for you and your family?” I sneer, “Against the man you knew? No, but the game and the players have changed. I’m going to fucking own you. Never again will I allow someone to hurt my family like what your family did to mine last night.” There wasn’t even a pause as he responded, “My family other than my son had nothing to do with that. If they had, your lovely wife would not have made it out of the fire.” I respond without hesitation, “Your family did this to me and my wife, your family will pay.” I disconnected the call without hesitation.

Fade

{In-studio - “David”}

We pick up where we left off with my hands folded in front of me, head tilted to the side I begin.

How soon they forget. You see, David forgets himself and speaks out of turn a lot. He also forgets that I am one of the people who supported him and tried to push him to believe in his own abilities. Rightly so as well. He’s one of the few that holds a singles pinfall victory on me. I was in my opinion very respectful of your ability in the ring. I never questioned your actions inside or outside the ring. When you all but crippled Vinnie, when you were trying to cripple Fenris not all that long ago. You really should stop with the holier-than-thou bullshit. It doesn’t suit you and it’s honestly beneath you to pursue that narrative. You are better than that quite honestly. Was I offended by what you said? Honestly, no, mostly because it lacked direction and originality. I give you credit for being able to fight Suma the way you did. Just to step in between the ropes with that guy takes amazing courage and a willingness to be brutalized by him. Honestly, it’s really fucking stupid, but that’s what I’ve come to expect from you and those like you. The really stupid part is that you asked for that match.

I move my head from a tilted angle back to a more neutral position. Wearing a look that screamed disappointment and when I speak again I use the disappointed dad voice.

The first was that The Saviors were some kind of hostile takeover. No, little man, if that was the case this company would already be off the air. This has been purely about eliminating mediocrity in this company. Getting rid of the Bill Barnhart's, Senior Vinnie’s, and David Shepherds of the company. I mean if you’re gonna spout off about something, at least make sure you know what you’re talking about. It’s more meaningful that way and it makes it far more difficult for someone like me to so easily refute every ounce of the bullshit that flows from your mouth.

I shake my head in disgust, really wishing I had more scotch.

You called out my inability to win the big one, yeah? You really do enjoy taking the low road, don’t ya? That’s okay, chew on this, slap nuts. Ten months. Ten months is how long it took me to become a triple crown champion in Sin City. How about you? That’s right, you had that two-week internet title reign. You were also a roulette champion. That’s really about it though, isn’t it? Not very impressive kid, but you’re just living up to your own expectations of yourself. Where is your fire and your drive to be the best in this company? No juice eh? Doesn’t surprise me or anyone else. Your words lack merit, just as your accusations do. To be clear, we never targeted Fenris or Aaron. Another poor assumption on your part.

I look down at my feet for a moment, then when I look back up a predatory smile blooms on my face.

We did target The Wolf’s Lair and he and Aaron stuck their nose in something that was none of their concern. It makes me laugh that you want to make this personal, but I think you’re still the same old David who doesn’t care nearly as much as he says he does. You protest too much and far too loudly. You and I both know that Fenris needs no one to take up for him or stand up for him. He does that really well on his own.

The other huge mistake you’ve made is believing that defeating me a second time is going to be easy. You really are a clueless kid, you’ve not paid attention to what has been going on around you. I’ve done what is needed in order to reclaim this title. I’ve evolved as a fighter and adopted a more appropriate philosophy that is much more conducive to longevity as a champion. Maybe you think that this change in me is fake? I think what’s more likely is that you don’t look at things going on outside your circle of friends.

My facial expression doesn’t change as I continue along this line of thinking.

That’s very shallow and short-sited of you. You really have no idea who and what you are getting into the ring with.  This will be a good lesson for you and the others. If you believe for one minute that you are facing the same man you faced before you are a bigger fool than I thought.


Fade

{Unnamed Location - Las Vegas, NV - “On The Hunt”}

Having gotten pictures of the men that had burned down our garage, I had started tracking them down. My intent was to eliminate them one by one. I had promised Del Gado to put two of his in the morgue for everyone of mine he had hurt. I’m a man that takes my promises very seriously. I stood atop the casino, the subject of my aggression was by himself. The rooftop camera’s had been disabled so there would be no evidence of my being here. My phone was powered down, so he wouldn’t be saved by the bell so to speak. Moving quickly but quietly I stalked my prey, with zip ties in hand. My gloves would leave nothing behind, then I struck with power and speed. I beat his head against the concrete barrier to stun him. He slumped to the rooftop in a heap. I dug out his wallet in order to verify his identity. I had a match for who I was looking for. I zip-tied his hands in front of him, much the same way that he had done to Amber, or tried to I should say. Then I looped another zip-tie around his neck to match the marks he had left on my wife. Now the fun part came, waking him up.

Digging the water bottle out of my bag and splashed him in the face. He groaned a bit at first, then he tried to move and that is when the panic set in. “You’re probably wondering why you are restrained right now.” I started to explain. He tried to rise and run away and that’s when he realized that his feet were also bound. He leaned up against the concrete barrier looking around frantically for an escape route. “You were one of five men that tried to kill my wife and burned our business to the ground.” Slowly, his wild eyed look went away as I went and stood next to him near the roof’s edge. “I told your boss that since you tried to kill my wife that I was going to put an end to his operations in Vegas, permanently.” I waited for that to sink in for the younger man. He actually sneered at me and then I shocked him by laughing at him. “Mr. Del Gado, it would seem, had never heard of you.” He shook his head. “Not that I’m surprised, you’re nothing more than an arsonist for hire and an occasional thug for hire.” He looked at me and began to speak in a very humble way. I wasn’t surprised by this either, when faced with death, any man would plead for his life.

“Look mister, we were paid to burn your place down. She wasn’t even supposed to be there. Dominic said…” I backhanded him, the impact causing a trickle of blood to slide down from the corner of his mouth. “I don’t give a fuck what that piece of shit had to say. He’s not relevant to our conversation at the moment. What is relevant though is that you tried to take someone away from me. Someone whose life has value to me.” I paused there for a moment to allow him to absorb what I said and the meaning behind what I told him. “I’m glad she made it out of the fire,” he managed to say before I decided he had talked enough. “Now you’re going to meet your maker, I suggest  you make peace with him beforehand.” He tried to run, I’ll give him credit for trying, but he ran the wrong way and tried to leap off the rooftop. He didn’t quite have enough to clear the barrier and dangled there for a moment. “It’s just so hard to find good help these days.” Taking the wire cutters out of my front pocket, I clipped the zip ties restraining him and shoved them in my bag. “Now the ball is in your court…” Before I could finish the sentence, he jumped off the roof. I didn’t watch him but I could hear the impact when he hit the ground. It was time to plan the next one, I would continue until every mother’s son of them was done.
Fade

{In-Studio - “Austin”}

We continue from where we had left off, talking about foolishness and foolish people.

And then there was one. You see, Mister Mercer is a bit smarter than the other two. He chose to try and use psychology and a bit of courtesy as a ploy to try and play games. The problem is that I don’t ever believe anything that anyone ever says.  It was interesting to watch the guy who tried to end the career of Fenris and his brother Aaron strike up a friendship with Tempest. To have friends outside of The Wolf’s Lair and to become successful again. Unfortunately that all came crashing to an end when you two lost to a couple of has-beens. You were rewarded even prior to that failure, weren’t you?

As I continue, there is no malice in my voice and a half-smile on my face. 

You guys had a nice long reign as mixed tag champions, this, however, is a different game as you well know. This title is something I busted my ass to reclaim. The Saviors never played a role in that, and to say anything otherwise would be foolish and not without consequences. That would be like me insisting that the only reason that Alex had beaten me was because of the lair. That never happened just like they never assisted me in beating Alex in our third and final match. That’s not saying that I can predict his level of fear when it comes to the unknown. Will they, won’t they? Who can say for sure but I know that I never asked them to do any such thing.  Unlike most people who form groups, I’m not the leader of this group. We simply don’t have one and we make our decisions as a group.

The scotch from earlier has reappeared, I pour myself a drink and continue.

The Saviors don’t have a leader, there’s no Alex Jones in this group trying to be something he’s not. Alex wasted so much of y’all’s time and held you all back for so long, you don’t even recognize it for what it is. None of that really matters to you or the group you belong to. One thing I’ve noticed is that to a person you believe that The Wolf’s Lair is the best of the best. You take no one as a serious threat to that. Oversight is a fickle bitch that way. The moment you believe so devoutly in your own hype is when you fail. I guess my only question that remains for you Austin is do you even realize how lucky you are just to be in this match? I know that you want my title for your own. You covet this opportunity, as you should. You’ve not been relevant in a while. Now is your chance to become relevant once again. It won’t be at my expense, Austin.

My gaze hardens and the good nature is replaced by a softer, more menacing voice.

We’ve never shared a ring, Mercer, you’ll find that I am a different kind of fighter. Take a look at all of my matches and you’ll see what you lack as a dominant force in this company and in this industry. My own personal evolution as a fighter. I did not spend all that time in training with the folks at Hell’s Gate to lose this strap in my first defense. I will not allow it, you’ll only get this title off of me by prying it from my cold dead hands. Take a look at the business associations that I’ve made recently. Do you believe that someone like Chris Page would waste his time on someone who might drop a world title in his first defense? Look deeply in my eyes and do you know what you’ll see when you face off against me. What you’ll see is a barely contained righteous fury. Mine is the face of all of your destruction. I cannot be contained and I will not be denied. This title is mine until I say otherwise.



Fade.

“I'll do what I can to promote the greater good. If you can harm one person to save 1,000, I'm gonna do it every f**king time.” -- Sean Patrick Flanery

{The Enemy Part 1 - Unnamed Location}

The white walls gleamed in stark contrast to the black clothing I wear, the lighting of the room had the desired effect. Black slacks, black and silver button down shirt, aviator style sunglasses, and black shoes were the polar opposite, the opposing force if you will to the brilliant, almost blinding white light in the room.

“Enter the bad guy, the villain, the reason that Sin City Wrestling has so much exposure. All eyes in this industry are focused on what we are doing and how we are doing it. There’s been some criticism lately by some former talents about how unoriginal the attacks are. These are the same people who require the attention of others in order to feel relevant, even though they haven’t stepped between the ropes for a while. Everything we do has purpose, I’d suggest you stay home and finish raising your children before that’s not an option. Now then back to more important matters. The real question is the why of it, even though I have been saying it for weeks. The answer is almost as simple as your current world champion.”

I smile at the camera, amused at myself and my statement.

“I know, that seems hard to believe. It’s even more difficult to grasp how he was able to beat me not once but twice. Maybe I underestimated him, maybe I was like Mark and just didn’t care enough about what I was doing. As far as why we are doing what we are doing. Sin City was mediocre at best before I started this war on the roster. There were even rumors of a shut down. If I didn’t love this company and what we do, why would I bother?”

The smile disappears as I take the sunglasses off and stick them in the breast pocket of the shirt I wear. I move my hands behind my back and clasp them together.

“I wouldn’t. I would have simply asked for my release from a sinking ship and went on about my business.”

I smirk at the camera, followed by a wink.

“So, I did the unthinkable. I raised a call to arms to men and women who are respected by me or are considered family. Kat, Ken, Dominick, Supreme Machine and others who haven’t appeared yet. You see, the one way to shake up and wake up a roster is to make them think that the company is in peril. That there is this force that is trying to commit a hostile takeover.”

A wolfish grin plays across my face as I continue.

“It not only woke up the roster, but look at the attention it garnered from outside the company. The roster has blown up and the company is doing better financially. Some would say it has nothing to do with what we’ve done.”

I shrug

“We tend to let people think what they want, we can lead them to the truth but can’t make them think. We can only inspire others to do better with our actions in and out of the ring. Take Matthew Knox for example. Why is he here? That’s more simple than you can possibly imagine. So imagine this, wanting something so much that you would risk eternal damnation. To covet another man’s wife, that’s the reason he’s here. It literally has nothing to do with myself, Ken, Dom or Suma. I’m going to send you to Hell personally Matthew, regardless of your intentions. First though, the boys will have fun playing with a broken toy. You see, he’s here to try and save my wife from the influence of others. He actually thought that Suma was responsible for the current happenings here. At least that’s what he tells himself when he looks in the mirror to justify his actions. The real reason he’s here is because he was manipulated from the start.”

I shrug again.

“It was easy, and that may be the most satisfying thing about all of this to be honest. I mean, persuading someone to do something you want them to do is fun. Convincing them that it’s the wrong thing to do,even though that’s what you want is even more so. It’s like the exit only sign at a store, you just have to go in that way, don’t you Matt? I’ve always known about your obsession with my wife, Matt. The other thing I’ve always known is that she would never betray me.”

I laugh at the simplicity of the plan I put in motion to get him to come here.

“So, why would I do that? Why would I do all of this? Ah, that’s my little secret that will unfold slowly as we move forward. I can’t reveal all my trade secrets so early in the game, now can I?”

My smile remains as I continue.

“Now, what is next for The Sin City Saviors?”

That knowing smirk returns.

“All in good time, but the plan has already begun to bear fruit. Even though, sad to say that Dom will be on the shelf for a bit after he was attacked by Alexander Raven. That receipt will not go unpaid, I can assure you of that. I could tell you where and how and you’d still never see it coming. That’s simply the way we operate.”

My smirk is gone, replaced by a hardened gaze as I address the fans.

“What happened to Fenris and Aaron was unfortunate. What happened to Miles was expected, not to injure him but to send a message to all of The Wolf’s Lair. I know it’s not in your nature K, but all you had to do was stay out of our business. I’ve no beef with you or your brother, you know that. We’ve talked openly and often about the respect between us. I know you love this company as much as I do, why not join us?”

I shake my head, knowing what the answer will be to that question. Too much had happened between Suma and Fenris, they were on a collision course. There was nothing I could do about that but hope that K would see the reasoning for what we are doing.

“That leads us back to the reason that I am here talking to you today. The Wolf’s Lair in general but Alex Jones more specifically.”

The loathing and hatred for them as a group had been festering in my heart for a while. Their destruction is what I wanted although it had never been said out loud.

“All the fans and the roster get to hear about is how much the Wolf’s Lair has done for Sin City Wrestling. Is that a fact? Really? Because of the titles you’ve held? So fucking what. There is so much more to this business than that. Not that the shallow and narrow minded fools would even admit to that. Especially not their leader.”

I feel my heart hardening even more, there was a special place in hell for people like Alex Jones.

“Another glaring difference, Alex. You see I’m not the leader of The Saviors, we don’t have one. What we do have is a purpose, unlike you and yours. You talk about unity, like you even know what that word means. You’ve had countless opportunities to show it but you always make it about you, Alex.”

I shake my head in disgust and sigh heavily.

“It wasn’t Alex Jones that went out first to help Miles, nor was Austin James Mercer. It was Fenris and Aaron. At some point people like Miles will get tired of being a doormat for you. People like Austin will get tired of playing second fiddle to “The Black Dragon”. They’ll stand on their own eventually if for no other reason than to spite you. I’m looking forward to seeing that day. It’s not just about the way you represent the company. You give  people back handed compliments and call that respect. When I’m done destroying you, you’ll receive no such platitudes from me. I'll simply move on to the next challenger. It will be like your reign as champion never happened. Not because of respect but that is my reality Alex, your reign should never have happened.”

Fade

{The Bane Home - Las Vegas, NV - “The Problem”}

~2 weeks ago

It had been a good morning, the automated timer for the coffee pot worked perfectly so when we crawled out of the bed it was waiting on us. Waking up next to this spicey, sexy woman is one of the best parts of my day every day. We sit at the kitchen table, idle chit chat, nothing too heavy, each of us walking on eggshells for the other. I look at the audience…

Aside:
“The problem is not the problem, the problem is your attitude about the problem” or something like that said by one, Johnny Depp, many years ago.

That was exactly the case in point for me today, as I stared at my lovely wife over a fresh cup of coffee. In spite of the coconut creamer I had in mine, I could always get a whiff of cinnamon when she was around me. Her tousled mane of red hair, bed head if you will, always looked perfect to me. We hadn’t really had a chance to talk about the incident in Atlantic City, she had kept insisting that it was nothing and that the panicked phone call I had gotten from the PR assistant was just an overreaction to her falling because she was drunk. So we were grid locked on the topic, with each side not budging on their insistence.

“Getting you to admit to anything is damn near impossible” I said to her in an amused tone, so as not to put her on the defensive. “And getting you to give up on a lost cause is just as infuriating,” she retorted with amusement laced sarcasm. “Touche my love”, I remarked flippantly as she smiled that fake smile over the rim of her cup of black coffee. We both knew it was fake and sometimes she just did it to annoy me, which I also found amusing and at times infuriating. Looking at the camera again.

Aside:
What Amber doesn’t realize is that she’s not fooling me in the least, I know she’s created a mess. As always, I’ll let her make the mess and then be there at the end in order to help her clean it up. I’ve always been rather good at picking up the pieces of broken things and putting them back together. That will have to wait, I have a mess of my own to clean up to be honest.


So, yes we had reached a stalemate for now. There always seemed to be something trying to get in the way of our happiness, it almost felt like the universe was out to get us. It was still “us” though as it had been from the beginning. The Bane’s versus the world. The world knew that I would set it on fire just so she and I could watch it burn together. We had been married since April, but it seemed like we had always been together. She got me in ways no one could, even my deceased wife never had that level of understanding when it came to me.  Amber knew what made me tick, just as she knew the things that would trigger my anger. There were times that I think it was turn on for her to push my buttons, although she assured me that was not the case.

“Going to Colorado?” she asked me, trying to change the subject. Discretion being the better part of valor, I went along with it. “Yeah, I think it’s time I visited “Hell’s Gate”. Something I’ve been thinking about for a couple of years now.” She arched an eyebrow, “I didn’t know you even knew about that place.” I nodded, “Well, it’s not exactly a secret in the industry. People go there for a variety of reasons.” She nodded, she knew about the training center of course. She was concerned and it was obvious, “Why are you going there is what I’m concerned about.” I nodded, I knew this was coming and there was no sense in trying to avoid the conversation or lie about it. “Do you remember when we met for the very first time? How aggressive I was then?” She seemed to think about that for a moment and then nodded in agreement. “Aggressive isn’t the word I would have chosen, but you were a beast back then.” Now it was my turn to nod my head in agreement. “What if I told you that pales in comparison to who I used to be when I was in my early thirties?”

Aside:
Video doesn’t really tell you the whole story about how I started and the things I did to my enemies. I used to throw people off the top of cages through tables that had been set on fire for fun. I’ve often wondered, where did that guy go? I was going to bring him back, the funny part was that no one was the wiser. Provided the plan worked, but it had to, my future in this sport depended on that.

That got the reaction I was hoping it would. With her jaw hanging down, in shock I would assume. I reached across the table and raised her jaw back up. She clamped her teeth together and glared at me, then that feral smile swept across her face. That look always made my heart smile, the grin of a predator who just had a wicked thought about the subject they were discussing. “I would call bull shit, but I know it’s not. I had heard rumors and actually watched a few of your matches from that time. So, I know you’re not lying.” I studied her for a moment and then finally I said, “I lost that piece of me, somewhere along the way. I’m hoping that the physical therapy with Whisper and the training with Renegade will help me bring that side of me back.” As I finished the sentence, she reached across the table and grabbed my hand. It was something that I usually did to her. “Darl, you know I’ll support you in whatever decision you make. Do what you need to in order to bring that world title back to the fold.” There it was, my wife’s full endorsement of my plan, even though I don’t think she knew exactly what that might entail. What I was about to do, may very well end some friendships within Sin City but something had to be done. Not only for the company but for myself. That was what “by any means necessary” really meant. “I’ll fly up in a couple of days, Kat already warned me that I was a dead man if I didn’t come stay with her and Chris.”

She chuckled a bit, “I’d support that, who knows, maybe you’ll catch Jason while he’s there.” I smiled, “I guess that depends on if his trip to Egypt gets canceled or not.” I looked at the bottom of an empty coffee cup and frowned, “hate it when that happens. Need yours topped off?” She waved me off and I walked to the kitchen, likely to her relief. It wasn’t like her to avoid eye contact but considering the subject of our conversation that might have a bit to do with that. I had put some feelers out to see if I could get the straight answer on what happened in Atlantic City. I had Amber’s story, which I didn’t believe a word of. The relief of both Amber and her drinking companion when I arrived was all I needed to know. Something had gone down, something violent. Someone had been trying to kill them both and I wanted to know who. There was still the Del Gado thing to deal with as well. How do I keep getting myself into these situations? I thought to myself. I finished pouring my coffee and grabbed my pack of cigarettes to go to the back porch. My cell phone chimed just then.

When I checked the message it was from my old friend Jeff.

Mac, I can’t use my resources for this but I still have people in Jersey. I have the information for you in the file attached to this message. Too bad they’re all deceased, I know you would have liked to have taken care of that yourself.

“Well, I guess that settles that. This book is not closed though, only that chapter, there’s something that doesn’t feel quite right…”

There was something heavy headed our way, I could feel it in my soul. Maybe I was being paranoid or maybe not. There are a lot of strange vehicles on our street lately. Darked out windows, low profile sedans parked across from the garage. The occasional biker riding by the garage, wearing colors that had no business being in Nevada, let alone in Las Vegas. As the old saying went, something is rotten in Denmark. I had to head on over to Colorado soon, I had to get my mind and my body right for this fight with Jones. I knew that Whisper could help me, and that brute Renegade would test every ounce of who I am as a fighter. They were both legit badasses in their own right.

Fade.

{Hell’s Gate - Denver, Colorado - “Awakening”}

~ three weeks ago

The drive from Kat and Chris’ place to the dojo wasn’t a long one but it was breathtaking. Snow Capped mountains and recently cleared roads. I could hear the slush echo off of the undercarriage of the rental I had gotten. The roads would likely be a little slick on the way back later today. Whisper and Renegade were expecting me, they had known well in advance that I was coming. I pulled into the lot a full hour ahead of time. I did this based on Kat’s advice about Whisper’s hatred for people and things in general that didn’t show up on time. I of course understood this, it was one of the things that annoyed me about my own kids. I still had a full cup of Kat’s coffee and a fresh pack of cigarettes so I took advantage of one of the few breaks I would have today.

Aside:
You see kids, if you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late.

The snick of the zippo and the immediate aroma of lighter fluid filled my senses. I took a long drag off my smoke and savored it, exhaling slowly through my nose. I thought about the reasons for my being here. To awaken something that I thought was long dead or maybe just maybe create something new that hadn’t been seen before from me. It’s one thing to be a beast in the ring, it’s quite another to have beaten your opponent before they ever set foot in the ring. To live in someone’s head rent free was something I knew how to do. It was far more important for them to believe that they had won. Whether on twitter or direct interactions. These were the kind of flavorful things that I enjoyed most. Another sip of coffee. “My God woman, you make the best cup of coffee, I swear.” The coffee hit my soul and brought not only warmth but energy. It only took a few moments more for me to finish both my coffee and my cigarette. I saw the front door light come on and a smiling Whisper unlocked it to allow the day's visitors to come in. So, having finished both coffee and nicotine it was time to head in and get my mind right.

I entered the wrestling school through the door just opened by Whisper, I hadn’t gone very far before she approached me. “Get in your gear and meet me in my office.” I nodded, “Yes ma’am.” I heard as I was walking away, “Ma’am?” I looked over my shoulder, “Yes ma’am, it’s called respect.” I shot her a wink as I continued towards the locker room area. I quickly changed and came to her office as requested. She didn’t appear to be fuming over the “ma’am” thing so I hoped I was still in her good graces. Whisper was known to be a hard woman, demanding but always fair in her assessments. “Most of the time”, she began, “People come to me who are broken in one way or another. Lacking confidence, or needing to get their edge back. You do not seem to have lost confidence, so the edge it is.” Whisper smirked and her devilish nature showed. “I can help with that. First though. How much of an edge did you want to regain. I have seen your work from the start. Which Mac Bane are you going for?” I thought for a moment, a legitimate question to say the least. “Then you remember who I was and how I fought when I was younger. I want it all back, Whisper, every ounce of that vile bastard that I was.”The smirk on her face was telling enough. “It is a process, it won’t happen overnight. But I will introduce you to the group of extraordinary wrestlers that will guide you back to our brand of vicious unapologetic violence. You know about Renegade.. He will work with you on the striking and will take you to your limits and beyond. Kim.. She will torment you until you rage.. And when you do make sure to not hold back for she will take you out if you do. In HellsGates we never hold back. For you need to know what level of rage you need to destroy your opponents.” I allow a predatory smile to form, tugging at the corners of my mouth. “That was exactly the reason I came to you. I knew that this is the place where there will be no shortcuts, no excuses, just a lot of hard work.”

Aside:
And so began the journey with Whisper and her team, the days were long and grueling but worth every minute of blood, sweat and tears. This is what it looks like when you talk about by any  means necessary. To reclaim something I never should have lost. That was the key, and this could be the tipping point in my career. At the end of the day, the things that mattered most to me were, family, my world title, and unapologetic violence. I was going to recapture every ounce of that or die trying.

Fade.

{The Enemy Part 2 - Unnamed location]

From the same location as before, I stand there patiently, and continue.

“So, for the last three and a half weeks or so, do you know what I’ve been doing, Alex?”

The predatory smile blooms on my face, no hesitation, only malevolence and intensity.

“Well, I’m glad you asked. I’ve been planning your demise, Champ. I find it funny that I could get to you so easily. In typical Alex Jones fashion, you get on twitter trying to be a prick to me. You go on a fishing expedition trying to elicit an emotional response from me. When that didn’t work you attacked Mark Cross to vent your frustration.”

I spread my arms wide and then allow them to come back to my sides. My expression never changes.

“Someone like you has to feed off the emotions of others in order to get ready to fight. You need that extra motivation because of your insecurities. I require none of those things to get ready to beat you to a pulp. The more important part to me though, I’m in your head already and we are still days away from our match. I know there will be many other attempts by you prior to our match.”

I bring my hands in front of me and clasp them together.

“I look forward to it. You’ve already tried the tired old, “I beat you twice”, that really didn’t work out for you though did it? No, because as I said, Mark thought the same thing as you. He thought having two pinfall victories over me would actually mean something. He thought it would derail me. Just as I’m sure he thought my losing to Jack would derail me. Guess what? I’m back, bitch!”

Barely contained amusement floods my facial features.

“So, you go ahead and sit on the throne of lies you’ve been telling yourself. The clock is very quickly reaching zero, your time as a champion is drawing to a close. I WILL restore prestige and honor to that title. I WILL begin eliminating your little den of puppies, one by one. I WILL NOT stop until I’ve gotten what I came here for.”

The intensity during that heated verbal barrage shows very plainly on my face. It’s only momentary though.

“What I won’t do is allow you or your cronies to stop my momentum. I won’t allow the likes of you, a rank amatuer,  to get under my skin.”

The heat and intensity that was so evident in my face is gone now, much like when you turn a switch off.

“I will offer no backhanded compliments in order to build you up as a proper champion and a man worthy of my time. When I think of everything you could have done to promote this company and draw not only fans in, but competitors from all across our sport. You didn’t do that though, you promote your brand. We are not the same. When I won that title, I offered up shots to anyone who wanted it. I could have gone from the bottom of the roster on up. I didn’t though, I started with you. I felt like you deserved a shot and you took advantage of it. I congratulated you then, the most sincere accolade I could give you at the time.”

Nodding mostly to myself, I’m digging the tempo of this promo.

“I did that without reservation. You claimed that you survived me twice. Then you go on social media and ask me if I thought the third time's a charm? You should be asking yourself the same question. Can you survive me a third time?”

I shake my head and almost begin laughing.

“You really are a special kind of stupid.”

Fade.

{Hell’s Gate - Denver Colorado - “Back to Hell”}

I’d only left for short periods of time, working with Whisper on my mind set. That had been my focus, along with the striking and all the other training we had been doing. The ability to achieve that unapologetic violence that she spoke so fondly of was my goal. Everything that I learned from Whisper, Renegade, Kim, Kat and Cyrus along the way all had value. My body and mind were hardening over time. The exchange between myself and Alex Jones this morning was evidence of that. He had tried to bait me into an emotional response but he found out the hard way that’s easier said than done. Today was my last session with Hell’s Gate before I needed to head back to Vegas. I currently sat in Whisper’s living room. She had invited me to stay with her, since Kat and Chris were out of town. I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical about coming here in the beginning. I didn’t know if she or any of the team could bring something out of me that I had intentionally buried years ago. Once I realized that it was me that had buried it to begin with, the sessions with the team became easier. Not easy mind you, easier to grasp what they were trying to teach me. I heard the swishing of the pajama pants that Whisper wore as she entered the room.

“Coffee is already made? Bless you.” she said in passing, making a b-line for the coffee pot. “Of course,” I responded with a smile, “I wouldn’t be a proper guest if I didn’t do that.” I could hear the sound of liquid filling her mug and she made her way into the living area. She sat down Indian style on the couch. “How do you feel?” She asked me with no hint of sarcasm or levity. I looked at her and smiled, “Honestly? I feel unfucking stoppable right now.” The smile she gave from the answer lit up the whole room. She was pleased, not only with my progress but what the team had been able to accomplish with me. “Good” was her only response as she sipped her coffee. Kat had hinted that they may want me to join their team but it hadn’t been brought up to me at this point. It seemed rude to even consider broaching the subject with her right now. My focus was elsewhere at the moment anyway. The match was my focus. Dethroning Alex Jones is what mattered to me. “Whisper, do you believe that the brain can react in a way that is similar to muscle memory?” The question had been on my mind for several days. There was that smile again and her eyes lit up at the mention of it. “Indeed I do. Is that what Kim and I were able to bring back for you?” Now it was my turn to smile, “yes ma’am, that’s exactly what I feel.” She set her coffee cup down and leaned forward. “Then my dear, that being said, I think Alex is in for the shock of a lifetime.”

“Shock isn’t what I want, I want his blood, Whisper. His blood and my title are the only things that matter right now.” She looked at me only briefly before returning to her coffee, after a short silence, “You’re ready Mac, but you already know that. You’ve shown it in the sessions. You’ve shown no restraint, no hesitation, only commitment to what you are trying to accomplish.” I nodded along and she finished by saying, “You did everything I asked and I couldn’t possibly ask for anything more from any student.” I smiled, thankful for the praise but sensing there was more that she hadn’t said, so I remained silent out of respect. “The way you and Renegade went back and forth during sparring and striking sessions was quite frankly insane. You even managed to shock Kim, that’s far more difficult than you can imagine.” I smiled remembering that session. Kim Pain is one badass woman, no matter how you measure that. “I like to think, in each one of these sessions we get the chance to learn something from each other.” I said finally. “What will you teach Alex Jones then?” I smiled, “I will teach him what unapologetic violence is really about, so he has first hand knowledge.”

Fade.

{The Enemy Part 3(final) - Unnamed location}

Still standing in front of the camera to finalize what I have to say ahead of this all important match. A match that in my mind says will determine the path of the company in the next year. I think to myself - will it be the same old, same old with the Wolf’s Lair trying to run the show or will it be a new era with fresh blood dominating the scene? I know I need to address that at some point.


“Jones, your failure to grasp the most simple of concepts, it really must be quite maddening inside your own skull. You know who I’ve been working with for the last month and yet you still think you’re getting the same person you faced in September? I see you Alex, I see you for what you really are. What you are is scared. Your funny little gif’s on social media trying to convince the world and yourself that you are confident. I guess it’s only obvious to me that you are anything but confident. You are a man who knows his time as champion is coming to a close.

I look at my hands, the blood still soaking through the bandages. The marks left behind from sparring with Rene at Hell’s Gate.

”Blood on my hands, not the first time and certainly won’t be the last. This time, it was for a damn good reason. Training. I’ve always been a solid striker but now…well, you’ll get to see soon enough. The last few weeks, they’ve been grueling, challenging me physically and mentally. I’ve questioned my own philosophy when it comes to how I approach a match. With the help of Whisper and Kim Pain I’ve managed to break those chains. Shatter that concept of why I do things the way I do them. You see, Alex, with those restraints gone. The things that kept me in check, and prevented me from completely destroying someone in the ring. With those things gone….

The predatory smile returns as I continue to rub my fists.

”No hesitation, reservation or remorse, Alex. That only leaves the execution of my plan and my enemy. I’m going to show you and the world what Unapologetic Violence is and how little I care about your personal well being. The things I care about have changed ever so slightly. My family is my number one priority, it always has been and always will be. Followed closely by the belt that you currently hold. That’s it. When I destroy you and I will destroy you Alex. It won’t be because anyone interfered in our match, the boys know not to come to the ring. When the bell rings, I will feel nothing. Nothing but the exhilaration of a mission accomplished and knowing that I will be the man that rings in the new year with the world title around my waist.”

The blood now runs from my knuckles again, having soaked through the bandages, my focus is unrelenting and I allow it to continue. I smell the iron, it fills my senses, I raise my hands so they are as visible to the camera as they are to myself.

”The loss of blood is not nearly as devastating as the loss of self. For the past decade, I’ve been going through the motions of life and wrestling. Never really fully engaged, never really fulfilling my potential or my purpose in this sport. My purpose is easy to define. The only thing that ever mattered to me was being the very best that this business has. That got lost along the way, I was out there trying to help others achieve greatness instead of focusing on my own growth. Instead of focusing on what I needed I chose to help others. I’m still helping others, I will never abandon the people that rely on me.”

I look at my hands and watch as the blood runs down, it coats the watch I’m wearing and threatens the cuff links of my suit jacket. I lower them back by my side.

”Can you say the same, Alex? Can you claim to be wholly committed to something other than yourself? When you kicked Milo out of the gym. It was said that you did that for his own good, because he was pushing himself too hard. That in itself was a selfish act, because you didn’t want to deal with him and his obsession. He had every right to be obsessive about his success. So you chose to help him by booting him out of the place he calls home. It would appear your leadership skills are lacking Jonesie. If we look at your social media presence, it appears that you are spending a lot of time posting….well, you…your mug with a smug look. I’m sure you think that’s cute and all but what does it do for Sin City? How does this promote our match?”

I shrug it off.

”In short, it doesn't. So I guess all of what you and your team has been saying is not actually true. That you’ve all done so much for Sin City but cannot be bothered to promote your matches. It’s your house though, so who am I to judge. Think about houses…some people think that it’s the foundation that makes them strong or weak. What if I told you it’s the people that live in that house that determine its strength. The house or the team is only as strong as its weakest link. The people are the foundation, the brick and mortar. They matter as a whole, not individually.”

I stare down at the floor as I get ready to wrap this up.

”Have you ever heard the myth of the Black Razor? The Black Razor is a sword of legend. Like the sword of damocles but worse. The Black Razor was forged in the fires of Hell, taking the feathers from the wings of angels. The angels that were killed or corrupted and fell in the war between heaven and hell. Of course that’s just myth and legend right? Maybe, what if I told you that is exactly what has been created by Whisper, Kim Pain, and Rene. Still like your chances of surviving a third match with me?”

The lights start to dim and we fade to black….

Fade.

High Stakes Fatal Four-Way vs. Vinnie, Miles and Hilton

“My conscience might not permit me to do the things that the darker side of me would most certainly like to do. But in the end, what makes the greater story; how I beat the darker side or how it beat me?”
― Craig D. Lounsbrough

[Information is power - The Last Chapter - Somewhere near Port Arthur, Texas]

Fucking city boys was what I kept thinking to myself as I heard distant gunfire. I’d been running around in these woods for the last twenty five years, it didn’t belong to me anymore but that didn’t stop me for a minute. It was not lost on me that I was trespassing. It was also not lost on me that I needed to pay attention to the ground. Even though I knew where the copperhead snakes were likely to hole up and some of Del Gado’s men were evidently discovering them by accident. A snake will surprise you if you’re not careful and the last thing I want is a trip to the emergency room with a snake bite. I doubted that Del Gado had anti-venom on hand, that simple fact warmed my heart just a bit. Armed with a service revolver and a knife, I moved through the area easily. I’m a bit nightblind so the goggles helped with that aspect of my self imposed mission. I really shouldn’t care about what they are doing but this somehow felt right, if for no other reason than to help me sleep at night. I had come alone this time, I didn’t want anything to happen to anyone but me. Jimmy was at his Dallas apartment, he was technically still with me and currently in my ear.

He had rigged a set of eyes for himself to help me spot surveillance that I might miss as I looked around. “Sensor at three o’clock”, came the message. I looked up to where he indicated and a motion sensor was there. I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn’t one of the three hundred and sixty degree models. It faced inward toward the property, which I thought was a bit odd. “More worried about keeping them in than keeping people out.” I said quietly into the microphone. That was the entrance to the duck blind, so that meant that was out. Now I started backtracking and heard the snapping of a branch. I stopped just then and the security patrol of two men also stopped. I scanned my surroundings and located them. They were to my right, roughly thirty yards away. Since there was no gunfire, they hadn’t spotted me yet. I went to the west facing side of a nearby tree, trying my best to stay out of sight. Where I had been trained to stay quiet while moving, evidently they had not had the same training. They continued on their route with no indication of my being there. “That was close.” I heard in my ear from Jimmy. I allowed a sigh of relief to escape my lips, “No kidding” I said quietly into the microphone.

I stayed behind them and to their west, so I could keep an eye on them and make progress to the next location. What a lot of people didn’t know is that my sons and I set up surveillance on this ranch a long time ago. It was in part to monitor animal movement on the property, and to keep an eye out for possible intruders. Last fall we had tagged and released three cougars from this same stretch of terrain. I wondered if those big cats would make a return trip through this area. I hoped not but at the same time, I kind of hoped they did. I stopped when the warning came from Jimmy. I leaned up against the tree I had just passed and waited. A drone hovered about three feet over my head but I couldn’t see which direction the camera was facing. “Disabled”, came the message from Jimmy in my earpiece. “You’re a little too good at that.” I responded. “Good thing I am.” was his reply and it was all I could do not to laugh. “Agreed” was my reply to his smugness. I continued on my way until I found the entrance to the boys' old underground fort. Scanning the surface, I saw no holes or snakes moving about. “So far so good”, I said to him.

I entered the fort, sliding down on my backside. Keeping my eyes peeled for anything and everything. “Pretty much the way we left it all those years ago.” was his comment. It did not appear that anyone had been in here at all. They may not have even realized that this was here. I made my way through the tunnels the boys had worked so hard on for such a long time. They only went one hundred yards but it was the point they came out at that interested me most. This would place me near the fenceline of the east side of the property. That would be the closest point to that inlet where they had been excavating. As I was nearing the exit point I stopped and looked at the exit. “That’s going to be problematic” was the message in my ear from Jimmy. “No shit.” was my response as I studied the exit. “Leave it to a snake to fuck up a good plan.”, Jimmy said in a voice heavy with sarcasm and tinted with concen. “I hate snakes” I said bitterly, “And copperheads are the worst.” I finished the sentence. Your resident zoologist would tell you that they are not aggressive, merely territorial. I didn’t have the time or patience to discuss philosophy with the snakes. What I did have was Calcium Cyanide, not the granules but a mixture in a small bottle. I made it earlier, just in case. Not only was it deadly to snakes but highly flammable. There were only two snakes though, there should have been more. That’s when I noticed a little furry friend on the other side of the tunnel. “Is that a Racoon?” Jimmy asked me. “It damn sure is” I said in response. This problem was about to sort itself out without my interference.

I’ve always been awed by the way nature sorts itself out and this was no different. The racoon made short work of both copperheads and drug the bodies off to likely feed a small family of future snake killers. “I approve,” I said quietly as I moved towards the exit. “How’s the timing looking?” I asked Jimmy. “We’re good, it’s not even midnight yet, fifteen til.” I took that in and thought, still ahead of schedule then. “Okay Jimmy, this is where we go silent. You know the method to use if there’s something I need to know.” “Yes sir” was his only reply and then nothing but silence.

Fade



The Rolling Stones said, “You don’t always get what you want, but if you try, sometimes you get what you need.” Unless you are in the ring with me. When you are in the ring with me, you get whatever I decide to let you have. Needing something, Vinnie, is different than wanting something. When you need something, and you call it like that, it’s a sign of a desperate man. A desperate man will do anything to get what he needs, right? They will resort to a by any means necessary model of doing business. Is that you, Vinnie? Are you a desperate man? More importantly is this, are you a dangerous man? Can you derail the momentum I’ve built over the last few matches? Can you stop the carnage from heading your direction? All signs point to no big fella. You already had that opportunity against me one on one. You had everything in your favor and yet you dropped the ball once again. You could have been the one with momentum and victory on your side going into this matchup. If’s, could haves, would haves, all rhetorical at the end of the day. None of it happened, so none of it mattered now did it? No, it was me that came out victorious in our one on one match. It was me that made you tap out like the little bitch you are. In Spite of having someone at ringside to help you, because let’s face it, you needed it. There’s no question about that, you were in over your head and you knew it. In the end, it didn’t matter much, you couldn’t stop me from wrecking your leg and neither could Bea. At least you tried though, right?

You gave it your all but it wasn’t enough. Not against someone like me, see, someone like me knows how to disable their opponent. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I had forgotten how much I enjoy punishing an opponent, how much I enjoyed the look of helplessness that they have when you are attacking an injured limb. The almost euphoric feeling that comes from hearing tendons snap and cartilage crumble under the pressure of a master. Then comes the excruciating pain they have to endure, when I turn it up yet another notch. And when they tap out? That is the best part of it all. Nothing in this business gives me more satisfaction than that. One of the things I’ve noticed is that the guys who talk the most, seemingly have the weakest joints. Those with the biggest mouth, tap out the quickest. That’s not really where it ends though, then I have to decide whether to release the submission. Will I? Won’t I? Hard to say, it largely depends on the mood I’m in going into the match. Doesn’t look good for any of you. Vinnie, if I actually believed you were as dangerous as a wounded animal should be, I’d certainly give you more respect than I have to this point. Thing is this, you’ve had multiple opportunities to reclaim that title and each time you have failed. You should be angry as hell about that, but like a wal-mart lawn chair, you fold right up when confronted about it.

Speaking of failures, that brings me to the latest addition of the Hilton family. You are the only one of the three that I’ll face in this match that I haven’t faced before. A young man who believes that he should automatically be in the main event scene regardless of experience. This is all just based on a name that he didn’t help to build. Riding the coattails of your mom and sister seems to be your only claim to fame. You don’t want to put in the work that goes with the job and you haven’t. Then, when the owners of this company gave you the opportunity to challenge for the world title, what did you do?

Not a fucking thing.

Like normal, you chose not to put in the work. All you had to do was cut a promotional video for this match. Not that it needs much hype, I’m in it, and that’s all it really needs. It shows a lack of respect for your employer and your opponents. Not to mention the fact that you are contractually obligated to do these things as a member of the roster. This is the reason that I will take a lot of joy in destroying you in the ring. You won’t be the only sacrificial lamb in this match though. The one person in this match that I thought there might be some hope for.

Milo, following Hilton’s lead is the last thing you should have done. You’re another one that chose not to do the things that are required of you. Disrespectful behavior is not something I would have expected of you. Not from one of Alex’s guys. I mean you even went as far as telling him on social media that you were going to show him. Yep, you sure showed him,didn’t you?  Then we have this situation, where you can’t expect success if you don’t put the time into it. Vinnie and myself, you know, we did the things that are expected from someone who wants to reclaim the top spot in this company. It’s really very sad, Milo, you could have been the catalyst that propels this company forward. Instead you chose to be a reason that it gets held back. That being said, that means it’s up to me and my particular brand of carnage.

That certainly works for me. Although it will be a rather painful experience for everyone else. You might want to consult with Vinnie on the amount of pain, I’m sure he can explain it in graphic detail.

[Knowledge is Power - The Last Chapter Ctd..- Somewhere near Port Arthur, Texas]

It wasn’t until I reached the top of the exit itself that I realized that this was the perfect place to be. The thing that I wasn’t prepared for was a hanger style building that they were using to hide the exit from the tunnel from satellite or aerial views of the property. Jimmy was recording all of this from his apartment, I hoped to be able to provide enough evidence to law enforcement and federal authorities to get this thing busted. Fortunately for me I wouldn’t have to leave the security of the tunnels in order to get what I needed. I sat there for what seemed like an hour watching the coming and going of personnel and vehicles from this hanger. The vehicles were full of people. Men, women and kids….

“Fuck” I said quietly into the microphone. A double tap from Jimmy on the mic warned me that someone was near. I said no more and sure enough a pair of boots walked past the exit. I froze in place as more and more boots were in the area. I stopped moving and if I could have I would have stopped breathing. I sent a double tap back to Jimmy to acknowledge his warning and for him to bug out. The plan was that if he got that signal from me, he would get his drones out of the area and cut communications with me so it couldn’t be tracked. I moved carefully and slowly backwards until I found my purchase and stood up slowly inside the cave. I looked over my shoulder and moved out of line of sight from the exit. I wouldn’t be able to see the egress point either but them being able to see me was more crucial. They were out looking for something or someone and it wasn’t a lock that it was me. I would wait. I sat on the dirt floor of this place and got my backpack off, making as little noise as possible. I dug out a protein bar and opened it, I consumed a bit or two and washed it down with water. I put the cap back on the bottle and placed it on the floor. The noise near the opening quietened down and I snuck a look in that direction. The movement near the exit was gone.

I sent Jimmy a text to let him know I was okay and would text again once I was out. I didn’t wait for a response because there wouldn’t be one. I then turned my phone off to prevent anyone from reaching out unexpectedly. It just wouldn’t do for someone to call me while I was sneaking around in the dark. I picked my way back through the tunnels, there was no one in there so it was what I knew would be the easiest part of this. Then I heard something I didn’t want to hear, footsteps coming from the entrance. I stopped, pivoting. I ran back the other way, towards the exit. There were no lights showing in the exit and so I scrambled up and out. They hadn’t changed the fenceline at all so I had a shot to disappear before I was caught. I looked around quickly and seeing no one, I made a run at the fenceline. Diving over the top of the fence, I tucked and rolled through it and popped to my feet. I continued to zig zag through the trees. I finally reached the place where my truck lay beneath a camo netting to hide it from prying eyes. I didn’t even try to start the truck or remove the netting, I knew that doing that would draw eyes to this location. Instead I jumped in the back of the truck, extinguishing all light sources. I lay very silently, hoping for the best.

Let’s see if my luck holds I thought to myself. I could hear footfalls but they were a good distance away. It was then that I discovered I wasn’t alone in the bed of my truck. Over my shoulder were two elementary aged children and their mother. I shook my head and signalled to them to remain quiet. She nodded her head quickly and held her children close. Making very quiet soothing noises to keep them quiet, we waited.

Two Hours Later

I hazarded a look at our surroundings, not a soul in sight, much to my relief. I started unmasking the truck so to speak. Removing the camo netting, I stowed it in the toolbox on the back of my truck. Everything stowed, I got them into the cab of my truck and then got in myself. what the fuck have you gotten yourself into this time, Mac? I thought to myself as it started. I eased out onto the road heading away from Port Arthur and towards Silsbee, Texas. The boys that were with her were maybe six or seven years old. “English?” I asked her. She shook her head no in response. Speaking in Spanish, “Very well miss, what is your name?”. The look of surprise was not unnoticed by myself, causing me to smile. “Felicia” she replied very quietly. I smiled a reassuring smile to her. “Don’t fret young lady, I’m going to get you somewhere where we can get you whatever help you need.” She nodded her head. “Felicia, do you have a last name?” She nodded again, “Del Gado” she said finally.

I think that all the blood may have drained from my face at that moment. “Felicia Del Gado”, I repeated. “Yes”, was her response, this time in English. I gave her a sidelong glance, “So, you do speak English then. I thought that might be the case, but assumptions are dangerous.” She nodded her head again, “Yes, I speak English, not as well as you speak Spanish but easier for you I think.” She said finally. I looked at her again as I continued to drive toward the location where I knew my old friend Jeff Castello would be. “Your sons?” I asked her. “Yes, they are my sons.”. The only thing that could make this more impossible is if these were the senior Del Gado’s kids. I prayed that was not the case. “Why were you hiding in my truck?”, are you the senior Del Gado’s..” she cut me off mid ask, “Wife.” “And these are his…”, “Sons” she finished the sentence for me. Mac, you are so fucked right now was the resounding thought in my head.

Fade




Knowing when to give and when to take…

Mark Twain said, “The principle of give and take; that is diplomacy—give one and take ten”. I realize that was not the context that you had in mind. You claim that you are going to educate us all in this match as to who you are. That means you didn’t learn your lesson from the last time we faced off. I think you need to be educated about who I am, yes Vinnie, I’m directing this at you. I’ve already given the others more microphone time than they really deserve. For the past twenty years, all I’ve done is give back to the business that has made me so very successful in life and wrestling. If you look at my history, do you know what you’ll find? You’ll find that I’m the guy who shows up in a company and before you know it, I’m standing on the top of the mountain. The only thing I’ve ever taken is opportunities that were presented. I capitalized on those opportunities and turned them into thirteen championship reigns.

That’s right, thirteen world title reigns, let that sink in Vinnie. Opportunity is just part of the equation though. The next piece of the puzzle is ability. Having the ability to take advantage of the opportunity. Ability or Talent, if you will. Obviously you’ve got that having been world champion before. Being given opportunities means nothing if you don’t seize the moment. In life or wrestling, you have to grab the world by the balls and make it do what you want to do. If you do not seize that opportunity and make it your bitch, you end up like Vinnie.

Past your prime

Bitter

And no self esteem.

The next piece of this is, motivation, should never be confused with desperation, Vinnie. The motivated are never desperate. They are fucking stoked to go after what is thier’s! There is never a doubt in their mind about who they are, how good they are or what the end result will be. These are the people in this business who like to refer to themselves as inevitable. That is who and what I have always been. You of all people should know that you cannot stop me. The pain I put you through should tell you a small, little bit of what I’m capable of. That’s a tiny component of why I’ve been so successful.

Success in this business, how is that measured by most of us? Titles? Money? Notiereity? In short, the answer to those questions is yes. It’s all of those things. That alone is not a true measure of success. Liking what you see when you look in the mirror every day. Knowing that every day when I look in the mirror, knowing that who I’m looking at is a man who’s given everything he has, every single time he steps into the ring to do battle. Not just sometimes, every fucking time, that bastard looking back at me left nothing but his best in the ring every time out. That’s how I measure success. More importantly than that is how do you get there? Maybe you’re confused by all of this, maybe you were a C plus student in school or maybe you didn’t go at all. So let’s break this down for the mentally deficient.

There are three common denominators. The first of those is hard work. Sure, you can take shortcuts in order to get to the top of the business. To stay there though, the shortcuts will only carry you so long. I’ve worked hard my whole life, and I’m certainly no stranger to breaking a sweat in order to get things done. The ranch I owned was a working ranch my man, there were no easy days especially back when I first got started. I built that place up to make it worth ten times the going rate for land in that part of Texas. That doesn’t come easy or without sacrifice.

Talent being the next part of that, very similar but not the same as ability. Talent will carry you farther than ability will ever take you. A natural ability to accomplish what many consider to be impossible or out of their comfort zone. I was born with it, it’s all over a professional wrestling resume that is second to none. I could talk for hours about my accolades but that’s boring, so I’ll clue you into one that matters. How many men or women in this company can claim that in ten months they had triple crown status in this company or any other? Not many I’d bet.

The last piece of this is luck, yes I said luck. Skill, ability and talent will take you far. Luck however puts people in the right place at the right time. In Sin City that has been my ace in the hole so to speak. I’ve worked hard but at the end of the day, you need to have a little luck on your side. Not in winning matches but being involved in them to begin with. Take a look at some of the hardest working men and women in our sport who have never even had the opportunity to fight for a world title. So, anyone who tells you that there is no luck involved in getting that shot is full of shit. The owners and promoters of our brand didn’t have to put this match together and give us all the opportunity to face Alex. If you were chosen to be a part of this, luck plays a part. Based on who my opponents are in this thing, hard work damn sure had nothing to do with it. They really should just go ahead and name me the new number one contender for the title. That would make the most sense. I mean the only chance any of the three of you have of winning this is if I trip on my way to the ring and blow out my fucking knee. That reminds me...pain...

You say you want to inflict as much pain on me as I did to you. That breaking me, both mentally and physically is your goal. It’s not impossible, it’s been done before, but by men that were certainly better than you in every aspect of the game, son. I’ve already broken you down physically, after this match, you’ll be oh and two against yours truly. That’s when the real mental breakdown begins. That’s not where it ends though, Amigo. No, where it ends is when I’m main eventing the final show of the year and you’re in the back crying on Bill Barnhart’s shoulder….again.

Black Sabbath

“Because when we give too many fucks, when we choose to give a fuck about everything, then we feel as though we are perpetually entitled to feel comfortable and happy at all times, that’s when life fucks us.”
― Mark Manson, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

The question lingers in the back of my mind, “Where do I go from here?''The answer is more simple than you might imagine.You don’t sit at home licking your wounds, you don’t quit just because you lost the top belt to someone you respect. You don’t act like a bitch on social media. You work your way back up to regain what you shouldn’t have lost to begin with. That’s not a slight against Alex Jones, quite the opposite. That’s a slight against myself for not getting the job done. His ability and talent saw him through the title match and the rematch. There’s no shame in that for me, every failure is an opportunity to learn and grow. Thanks to Alex and Austin, the Wolf’s Lair has become relevant again. Milo has his star rising and Alicia...well she’s the constant isn't’ she? Now as you can imagine, they don’t like me much because of the language I used in describing them as a whole and individually. The respect is still there regardless of how they feel, because you know…

I don’t give a fuck.

It really is that simple, I don’t care what people feel about me. Whether they respect me or not doesn’t matter. If I don’t have your respect then I’ll fucking beat it out of you. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It doesn’t matter who they put in front of me, friend, acquaintance or foe you all look the same standing across the ring from me. You look like a victim when the bell rings, it’s just that simple. You take someone like Goth, I have a ton of respect for him as a competitor and his achievements here in Sin City. He’s changed his life around from where he was a few short years ago. He’s on the right path and he knows it. The end result was the same, I treated him like an enemy once the bell rang. As good as he was, the end of the match was the expected outcome, at least in my own mind. Think about this for perspective, I’ve been here for about a year now, I’ve accomplished all of my goals. I have done nothing but make history since my arrival. One of the fastest to a triple crown status in this company's history. I’ve beaten men that the so-called experts said there was no way I could beat.

Gents, I’m far from done.

Hell, I’m just getting started.

As far as the landscape of the world title goes, don’t think for a minute that I’m on the outside looking in. My main event status is far from over. Just because Jack finally got off his ass and earned a shot at the title doesn’t mean shit to someone like me. The way he did it was in typical Jack Washington fashion, he’s a fucking low life what else would you expect from someone like that. That shot could have been Vinnie’s but in what has become the expected, he took his eye off the ball. He became so distracted by other things, like brotherly love. You are nothing but predictable, big boy. You fancy yourself some kind of badass but at the end of the day, you’re just part of the body count, son. You’ve had your time in the spotlight, and you want that again. That’s something I can respect but you’ve already proven you can’t take the heat that goes with that spot. So, I’m going to do the humane thing and put you out of your misery. When you cut your promo I know it will be full of bluster and lip service but the fact that your hanging out with Bill tells me everything I need to know about you.
[“Knowledge is Power Part 4” -
Crooked M Ranch -
Port Arthur, Texas]

The air this morning had a crispness to it that was rare in SouthEast Texas, even in the fall the temperatures rarely dipped below fifty degrees. Thermometer read forty-six at the moment. Not cold enough for a jacket, for me at this moment it felt good. Being here right now, felt like the right place to be. I loved my wife with every ounce of who I am but lately things had been tenuous at best. She had told me that I was doing something similar to what she had done before, whether that was true or not? Well, the jury was still out on that. Her perspective did not necessarily translate to my reality. I was proud of her accomplishments, it was my own failures that were causing the problem between us. We’d even gone out to that swanky place to put on a good face for the fans and anyone saying or thinking that there were problems in our marriage. Like most celebrity couples we had to put on airs to quiet the fan boys on the internet. That was the one thing I hated about our life was all the pretending that we had to do in order to stay relevant. To put the right spin on who we were as the golden couple of Sin City. So, instead of being in Vegas playing pretend for people I didn’t give two shits about, I was home in Texas. I had just arrived the night before, flying in from Florida, another company's show. I was tired but it was a good kind of tired.

I felt fresh and ready to go for the first time in a long time. I still had my schedule to keep for Sin City, the usual round of signings and appearances to promote matches and the super show of course. A supershow that I hadn’t even been booked for yet. Not shocking, I’m sure that the people at the top of the food chain were still trying to figure that out. I knew I would be booked in some way and I was even more certain that it would be a result of this match I had coming up with Vinnie. There would be time to think about that later for now I had to focus on the task at hand. Figuring out why in the hell Thomas Mixon and the Senior Delgado wanted my land so much. That was the million dollar question for me right now. There were a lot of new buildings going in around town, most of them were owned by Mixon INC. That in itself was a red flag for me, he had a lot going on around town. So, what was it about my place that had so much attention on it from him and Delgado. I stared at the map of the property lines and nothing really just jumped off the page. It would have to be something subtle, so now I took a step back away from the map. From the bookcase I grabbed the tube that had a larger, more holistic view of the area. I unfurled it over the more local map and looked at it.

“The only thing I  can see is this small inlet towards the edge of the property line.”, I muttered to myself. That section of land bumped up next to Mixon’s Logistic Offices and an Industrial Park. Was that the key? I wasn’t sure, so I went back to the documentation package the boys had sent me. “What is your game, you old bastard?!” I mused to myself as I scanned the map. According to the files that the boys had provided, it was going to be a way to ship goods more easily. Delgado had said that wasn’t entirely true, but which part of it wasn’t entirely true. There was other documentation there about his family's desire to go into real estate and build new residential complexes on the land. The list went on, rezoning parts of it for commercial use, shopping centers and the like. The last item I knew was a lie, a mall?

“Who the fuck builds malls these days?”

No one does I thought to myself as I scanned the map one last time. I finally rolled it up and put it back in the protective tube. Returning it to its place on the shelf, I grabbed my pack of smokes from the work table. The snicking sound of my zippo as I lit the cigarette was closely followed by the buzzing of my phone. A picture was incoming from my son James. He had gone down to the coast on a fishing expedition of sorts. The picture he sent me was of earth moving equipment. Lots of earth movers to be more exact. That would support the documents that the sons of Thomas Mixon sent me. Earth Movers were not uncommon in construction jobs. Something didn’t seem to add up though, the picture he sent didn’t have just a few earth movers, it was row after row of them. My phone buzzed again, the next picture was of the inlet, it was starting to look more like a series of docks. “Okay, so he’s building a wharf…” I said, trying to piece the puzzle together. Then a third picture came in, it looked like an architectural dig from the movies. The message from James was that I needed to come down there and see this for myself. My response was that I was on my way. I grabbed my cup of coffee and downed it. Setting the cup back on the table, I grabbed my smokes and my keys and headed for the truck.

Fade

Senor Vinnie is the topic of conversation this week. I guess scumbags of a feather flock together eh? You and the Barnhardts, that’s quite the recipe for disaster right there. Let’s go back in time a ways, you were injured in a match that David Shepherd was a part of. You spoke about how you were injured and could feel the ligaments snap. To come back from an injury so quickly is some borderline miracle kinda shit ain’t it? I mean, your doctor must be amazing. There is another option though. I mean what other option could there possibly be? You seem to be such a straight shooter with a great track record of being on the up and up, right? You’ve never misled the fans or anyone on the roster about who you are as a professional, right? Your word is as good as your bond, right? No one would possibly hesitate to shake your hand confirming it was a good deal and they trusted you, right? If anyone watching this right now can’t recognize sarcasm for what it is, I’m sorry.

Vinnie is a fucking liar.

I didn’t stutter.

I said what I said.

You’ll get the opportunity to prove me wrong, don’t worry about that for one moment. I’m very good at testing the structural integrity of a person's joints. I have no qualms about destroying you limb by limb Vinnie, it’s the least I can do for such a stand up guy like yourself. I’d much rather punch you in the face until you stop moving, but that’s frowned upon in this establishment. So, what is the point of our match really? Well, you had a match to try and become the number one contender for the world title. I lost my rematch to regain that title. My belief is that this match will determine a number of things for the supershow. Unless our bosses are just using this as filler on the show, and that would be sad. I know you’ll do your usual thing and talk my shortcomings into the ground. Afterall, that’s what we do right? I know that’s what I expect, as does anyone who takes the time to actually watch one of your promotional videos. The number of people who are entertained by you must be a huge number. I mean it’s got to be like...all three of them? You are not without some redeeming qualities though vin-man. I mean you have a right to be proud, You are a former internet and world champion. That’s a lot to hang your hat on. You were a good champion and I don’t think anyone would refute that. That’s where my respect for you ends. All of the other things that you’ve done here...the short cuts, the double dealing and all the other bullshit. It’s just fluff and not worth mentioning. To say that you are owed a receipt by many people is like saying the Pope is a little bit Catholic. It’s obvious, so obvious that even someone as dimwitted as the people you are keeping company with would see it.
This is definitely not about them though and It’s not that I don’t like you or respect your ability. Wait...did I actually just fucking say that?

Correction.

I do respect your ability but as a person I can’t stand your big lanky dumb ass. You are a sleeze, and hardly worth my time. The fact that I have to share a ring with you is disgusting to me. I know David wants to settle up with you, I hope he can wait until after the match though. I don’t think my ego could survive a disqualification loss to the likes of you.

[Las Vegas, Nevada - “Trouble in Paradise Part 2”
The Bane Home]

The smell of mesquite and oak filled my senses as I checked the smoker to make sure it was at the right temperature for the pig I was smoking. The smoker itself was as old as my oldest child. An old butane tank that had been cleaned out and cut in half for this purpose. I had taken this thing all over the place but it now rested on a concrete slab near the front driveway. I checked the digital gages for the temperature one last time and sat back down. Smoothing the legs of my jeans and leaning forward I finally exhaled a long steady stream. It allowed me to let the tension go a bit. Amber was away for the time being, taking care of whatever it was she needed to do. I had noticed that recently she had not been displaying her world title as prominently as she once did when we were both holding a world title. I notice a lot of things, especially with her, it’s both a curse and a blessing. I always knew when she was trying to hide something from me. Like the cut on her lip for example, maybe she didn’t realize that a little dab of makeup wasn’t going to hide that from me. At times it’s almost like I can summon her, just by thinking about her. I smirked as she rolled into the drive.

Grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder she shoots me a wink and a smile as she walks towards the house. Even at home it seems we like to play pretend. We pretend that everything is just fine and I know in time it will be. The path I’ve chosen, like her, we’ve walked it many times individually but never together. Together is kind of a misnomer right now because we may live under the same roof but we are definitely not together. I needed to try and figure out how to fix that. Checking the digital gage again, the fire is going well and it’s maintaining my target temperature. “Relationships are not hard” I muse to myself as I stand up and turn to walk towards the house. “It’s like gas really, if you try to push too hard, it’s just shit.” I say as I enter the house. Her bag is still resting on the bar as I enter the kitchen. I can see the strap of the bombshell's title sticking out just a bit. She has her back to me as she’s digging something out of the fridge. I grab the strap of the title and look at it. She turns around and sees me with her belt and I can see the wheels turning in her mind. I look up and smile at her, “It’s a bit scuffed, nothing that can’t be fixed though”, I muse outloud in a friendly voice as I shoot her a wink. I take the belt to the living room where my cleaning solution is.

I know she’s following me and I can feel the heat on my back from her stare. I take a seat on the couch and dig out the polish and the soft cloth and go to work cleaning up her belt. “What in the Hell are you doing?” is the question expressed in complete exasperation to me from my wife. I don’t say anything at first, but as she comes towards the couch, I begin to stand. I turn the belt around and show her my handy work, “Better?”, it stops her dead in her tracks. I find that sometimes with my wife, shock value can work best. My shining her belt had been a joke on social media for a while. Instead of handing the belt back to her, I take it to our display of titles. “I am setting things straight.” I say as I place the belt in its proper place. A place of prominence within our home. “This belt or any other that you wear should never be tucked away out of sight.”, I look at her meaningfully, hoping I’m projecting the right attitude and meaning to what I’m saying.

“You of all people should never try to protect my fucking feelings, Red”, I look back at the display and smile. I see the look on her face and can see the storm of emotions playing across her features. I nod, smiling and I close the distance between us. Hugging her I say, “I love you with every ounce of who I am, Amber.” She returns the hug and we stay like that for countless moments. “I want you to remember, just like I have to remember, I’ve always got your back. No matter what you do, it’s not going to change our relationship. I hope you’ll remember that.” She lifted her head, “Always” was her response to me.

Fade.

[“Final Word” - In-Studio]

I stand in the studio, looking out the window I think about what I want to say to close this out. I finally settled on a specific direction.

Senor Vinnie; an accomplished athlete, who has done virtually everything there is to do in this company. I can respect that, but not the method’s you use. I get it, I’ve done the “by any means necessary” thing many times in my career. Unlike me though, you seem to be quite comfortable continuing down that road. You care not for redemption or the fans or the company for that matter. The only thing that you want is the fame and notoriety that comes with being a champion.

I nod my head towards the camera.

Yet another thing that I respect about you Vinnie. You’re committed to yourself first and foremost. Your alliance with Bill and his wife? That will go by the wayside as soon as they outlive their usefulness. Again, part of your track record. It’s widely known that you can’t be trusted with anything or anyone. You don’t have a clue what loyalty is, much less what it means. Hell, I doubt you could even fucking spell it. Since I’ve been here, I’ve done my best to do everything the right way. I’ve given respect to people that have earned it. I don’t cheat to win matches. I also don’t just bury people when I cut promo’s.

Shifting my gaze back towards the window, so that the light gives my face an aura of sorts, not quite a halo but close enough for the desired effect.

When you do that, it makes you look like an ass should they beat you. At that point you’ve gotten your ass kicked by some loser that you have no respect for. It’s one of those “sucks to be you” moments in life that people have to learn the hard way. Once you’ve learned that, it’s the first step in being able to get out of your own way.

Turning back to face the camera, the smirk returns to my face. With a playful smile I continue.

My opinion doesn’t have much weight with you though, what do I know, after all? I mean, I’ve only spent the last two decades, honing my craft, in the ring and on the microphone. That doesn’t mean that you have no chance against me because let’s be honest. This is Sin City. If you are signed to a contract with this company you have a chance. Anyone can beat anyone under the right circumstance.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth as I worked towards the finish.

You don’t believe that though do you? You’re one of those dumb motherfuckers in this business who thinks they’re ten feet tall and bullet proof. When I was younger, I believed that as well. Another of those hard life lessons that’s learned through trial by fire. Trial by combat in our case. I know you’ve been around the business for a while but it’s like you’ve forgotten everything you were taught. You don’t respect the business, only the dollar. That marks you in a way that I can’t even begin to describe. For the sake of this match, it puts the crosshairs squarely on your chest, and I’m the trigger man. I feel no remorse for the things I do inside that ring Vinnie. Especially to those like yourself who spit on the tradition that all of us who came before you fought so hard to preserve. I won’t go into that whole tired trope of respect the trail blazers...blah blah blah. Instead, I’ll welcome you to the body count. Should you survive this match with me you can count yourself among the few. It’s rare air you’ll be sharing and if you beat me? Even more rare, son. You should say a prayer and thank god for the ass whoopin you’re about to receive.

Fade.

Empty Handed

“Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose.” - Bill Gates

[On-Camera]

When you go from the top of the mountain to a footnote, that’s not an easy thing for anyone who’s ever held a world title to accept. I never took Alex lightly, I was prepared for this match and lost anyway.

I stood in front of the camera for the first time since I lost the world title, my trademark stetson sitting on a table nearby. Today I wore the face of a poker player, no emotion was betrayed. I had not planned for this eventuality, so I have no excuses, only the ownership of the problem and no one but myself to blame. The loss of that title had consumed my thoughts from the time the bell rang to this point in time. Where pride and joy once lived so outwardly to the world, now anger and hatred preside.

I could be like my predecessors and stand here in front of you all and make excuses about how and why I lost to Alex Jones. I could simply walk away just like Mark Cross and Jack Washington did. The only thing the three of us have in common is that we WERE world champions who lost. Jack would never admit that he lost to a better fighter in Mark Cross, who would also never admit that I kicked his ass. As I told him on social media, we are not the same. On that night, Alex Jones was better than me. He beat me and he did it clean. Well, as clean as you can in that type of match.

I feel my face darken as the anger rises in me again, without knowing, my fists are clenched at my side. Upon realizing it, I foreably unclench them, flexing my fingers a few times to work the blood flow back into them.

I’ve been told that I can pass on the title rematch, should I choose to do so. At first I was going to take some time off. That would make me as fragile as Mark Cross, who all of a sudden is back. I guess Florida is not the be all, end all of Professional Wrestling after all.

I reach back and tighten the knot of my bandanna that is holding my hair out of my face and smirk at the camera.

A while back, after I had won the Internet Title, Goth had issued an open challenge. For whatever reason, ownership allowed Milo to answer that call. That was cute and all but anyone with any brain cells left knew that Milo stood no chance of winning that match. It doesn’t matter what you think of Goth, he’s a legend, famous or infamous depending on perspective. I’ve been on record saying how much respect I have for the man. He’s an elite competitor and has held many titles here. That’s where the respect ends though. See, you came back for a cup of coffee and then left again into the void known as retirement. And….now you’re back again.

The smirk is gone again as I finish that sentence, replaced by a gaze that is not quite a glare but it’s far from friendly.

Welcome back, Chief. I hope you will be sticking around for a while, this company is far better with you than without you. Everyone knows that when you step into the ring that you draw money. The same can be said of myself. The difference is, I’ve not taken time off from the sport in over a decade. My dedication to the company and this industry is fucking unparalelled. You will never encounter anyone in this sport that has as much passion for what we do than me. We’ve never encountered each other here or anywhere else for that matter so this will be a historic night.

I frown slightly and nod as I continue.

You came back for a match that many have been anticipating for a while. I continue on as I prepare to take back something that was taken from me. I will regain my world title and you are the first step in that. I’ve often been referred to as “The Gentleman Wolf” and in an ideal world that is exactly who you would be facing. That can no longer be said. That part of me is dormant, one could say that it was stripped away. That’s not your fault of course, it is circumstance. The problem is that AJ is not available, so to try and get back to center, I have to vent my frustration. You’ll have to do.

Fade

Aaron
Unnamed Hospital, Port Arthur, Texas.
/Scene Opens\
[Off-camera]

The flight home had been uneventful, I was fifteen pounds lighter for the trip back and none too happy about that. I had lost to Alex Jones and it stung more than a little bit. That meant there was only one thing to do. Take back what was mine. The envelope that I had been given in Alaska still rested in the breast pocket of my jacket, unopened. Having shown my vaccination card to the hospital staff, I had been allowed into the room where my friend of thirty-six years and my sister’s husband of thirty-three years lay dying. Aaron, who was every bit as big as me, was a gentle giant. A god-fearing man, who had been a deacon in his church for the last twenty years. He was dying because of a stubborn streak that was as wide as the state we called home. His kidneys were functioning at ten percent when he’d been brought in. The doctors had informed us that as of this morning they were at six percent. In essence, the man was in a coma and in full renal failure. All because of his pride. My sister Abi, sat in a chair beside his bed. For the first time in a long time, she seemed to be at peace. Her red hair hung limply around her shoulders, her green eyes were rimmed red with tears but she wore a grim smile that accentuated the wrinkles around her mouth.

As I entered the room, she looked up and gave me a smile, glad that someone was there. I had no idea where Aaron’s Dad and Sister were. She just shook her head and motioned me over. I gave her a long hug, not just because she was my baby sister but because no one I’ve ever known needed one worse than she did right now. When she pulled back, she said to me, “I’m glad you could be here. It’s really a shame his own family doesn’t care as much as mine does.” In response, I didn’t get angry but simply kissed my sister on the forehead. She seemed to melt against me as I guided her back to a seated position. She held Aaron’s hand as I spoke softly to the man who had been one of my closest friends in life. We had known each other since we were around eight or nine years old. “Well old friend, your stubborn pride finally got the better of you.”, I said as quietly and smoothly as I could. I knew my eyes were beginning to well up but I didn’t care. “Fair winds and following seas old man.”, I said softly to him. The tears were running freely as my little brother, as I used to call him took his last breaths, with only myself and his wife of thirty-plus years for company.

The heart monitor flatlined and I moved out of the way for the hospital staff as they rushed in. My sister Abi stopped them, showing them his “Do Not Resuscitate” card. They stopped, unable to be able to help bring him back to the land of the living. All due to his own wishes, another example of Aaron’s stubbornness, which I respected, we always said that when it was our time, it was our time. He believed that if he allowed himself to be revived, that went against God’s will. He was not big on challenging the big man as he liked to call him. I finally looked over at Abi and even though her heart had been broken in two, she was at peace. It’s such a foreign concept to me. Peace. What does that even feel like, I’ve often wondered? What might it feel like to be completely satisfied with the life you’ve chosen to lead with zero regrets. I was very jealous of Aaron and Abi just then. I wished with all of my might that I could have that, even though I knew that was beyond my ability to achieve. Imagine that, suddenly realizing that there was one thing that no matter how hard you tried, you could never achieve.

“Where’s Gerald and Nickki?”, I asked her quietly. She shook her head no, either not knowing or not wanting me to know. “Okay, when was the last time they were here?”, I asked. She smiled and then replied, “They left about ten minutes before you got here.” I looked over where Aaron lay, a sheet now pulled over his face. “They knew the shape he was in and they just left?” I asked her with a tone of incredulity. She nodded, not saying anything else. “Would you like for me to take you home, Abi?”, I asked her softly as I laid an arm across her shoulder. She leaned her head into my shoulder and cried softly. After a while, when the tears had finally subsided for this round, she looked up and spoke. “I would like that Mac, it’s been a couple of days since I’ve slept or even ate anything.” We stood up together and I guided her towards the door. We stopped by the door and turned to look one last time, neither of us believed that he could really be gone.

Fade.

No More Micky Mouse Bullshit
Orlando, Florida.
/Scene Opens\
[Off-camera]

I stood in line at the hotel waiting my turn to check-in, when my phone buzzed. A message from Amber, giving me the room number. “Thank god for that woman.”, I said quietly to myself. I left the line and went to the elevator. I turned the corner a bit more sharply than I had intended and nearly ran into a woman who looked like a cast reject from “The Housewives of Miami”. ‘Excuse me, ma’am.” I made my apologies and maneuvered around her. She wreaked of bourbon and weed. “Sure thing.” she said as I went around her. “My, my you are a tall drink of water.”, she followed me to the elevator. “Thanks, I think?” I said in response. She eyed me up and down, looking at me like I’d be her next meal. “So, Tex, where’d you park your horse?” she said in a voice that was full of snark. I’d had a really tough week and so I don’t think anyone but God would blame me for what was said next. “He’s parked between my legs but you’re too fat to ride.” I said in a voice that was equally sarcastic as I entered the elevator. She tried to follow me in but I stopped her. “I’m sorry miss, but this car is at maximum capacity.”, I said politely but firmly.

I pressed the button for our floor, “God damn Mac don’t you ever get tired of this micky mouse bullshit?!” I shook my head in disgust as the elevator climbed suddenly. It threw my balance off briefly but I recovered quickly and leaned against the wall of the elevator. I let out a long sigh as they chime dinged letting me know I had arrived at our floor. I exited the elevator and made my way towards our room, pausing once to readjust the bag I had slung over my shoulder as it threatened to slide down. Since I had lost the title to Alex, I had been tempted to just buy out the remainder of my contract and call it a career. That wasn’t how I was though. As a competitor and as a man, there was no way that my pride would allow that. No, I was going to reclaim what was mine. No one had to like it but I knew when I was in this mode there was nothing they could fucking do about it either. I started to get closer to the room and the door opened, my wife was a lot of things to a lot of people. She was everything to me. The combination of violence and beauty was a rare thing in our business. Not many women could pull off both. Most of the beauties were just eye candy for some jackass who couldn’t work a mic. Not mine though, she’d kicked my ass before and would do it again if it was called for.

“Red” greeted me with a smile, a kiss, and a hug as I entered the room. “Feeling any better?”, she asked softly. “About fifteen pounds lighter”, I quipped to her as I allowed the bag to slide off my shoulder. “Well, you already know what to do about that.” she quipped back at me in response. I smiled at her, the sarcasm levels were always evenly matched between us. “Yes Ma’am, I certainly do,” I said in return. I rested my bag on the office chair and turned back around. Amber reached up and grabbed me by the ears, pulling me closer so we were nose to nose. “Make him pay for even thinking about taking your title, darling”. I smiled at her aggressiveness and responded in kind, “They will rue the fucking day, my love.”. Her smile broadened, “Fuck, I love you.” she said as she wrapped her arms around my neck. My only response was to say, “I know.”

Fade.

In this business we often say a lot of things that we don’t mean. We call each other all variety of names. We thinly veil our contempt for each other with fancy words laced with innuendo. We insinuate things and flat out accuse each other of things that may or may not be true. There is one thing that I know is true about Goth. He is a legend in our business and one of the cornerstones that Sin City was built on. Whether you like or dislike his methods is irrelevant. He was always someone who simply got shit done. If he failed, he owned it. If he succeeded he never let you forget it. The days of face paint and liquor are gone, but the ass-kickings continued. Don’t believe me? Ask Mark Cross how his match went with Goth. If you can get him to cut the crap long enough, to tell the truth, that is.

The thing is this, Goth came back in some sense of redemption, I guess. He did a lot of bad things early in his career and felt the need to come back to “make things right”. Now to him, it doesn’t matter if anyone took him seriously or even believed him. In his mind and his heart, he thought he was doing the right thing. The next thing that happened was just as unexplainable as him materializing, to begin with. He disappeared once again. No one knew where he went or if he was okay. He just vanished. Much like Mark Cross after I beat his ass. Yes, I’m repeating myself because it amuses me to say that. Bear with me kids, I’m getting to the point. So, Goth is back again, but will it be for the same reason as last time? Will it be, “to make things right” or will it be because he misses the spotlight and everything that goes with it. Will water bottles be replaced by bottles of booze again or will he stick to the straight and narrow? All valid questions as far as I’m concerned. Not that I care, but the fans will likely be interested to know the answers to the questions all the same.

Fans today, you can’t pull the wool over their eyes like in the old days. Use to be that people in this industry protected their art like a member of the family. Never let anyone inside or get too close to give away any of the secrets of what we do. These days though, they are way smarter and you can’t really hide anything from them. Like my anguish of losing the world title. It’s not like I tried to hide it. I did what a man should do, I congratulated the new champ and told him I was coming for him and that title once again. I’m not going to stand here all full of fake bravado and yell at the top of my lungs how I am going to tear you apart and that there isn’t anything you can do about it. No, because that would be fake and disingenuous. What and who I am, has always been obvious. I am first and foremost a wrestler. I take pride in that, just like the previous generation of Bane’s did and the generation that I raised. When I step between those ropes, I’m on a mission. That is my domain, I don’t play well with others and I don’t share my territory. Every wrestling move I execute is done with precision and impact. Every punch I throw is thrown with velocity and hate. That’s the difference between me and the rest of the roster.

The rest are out there trying to win matches. I’m out there protecting what’s mine. While you are trying to beat me in a match, that’s not what I’m doing. When I tell you we are not the same, you can take that as the gospel. Every move and punch is designed to hurt you. I’m not out there to win a match. I’m out there to hurt the enemy that stands across the ring from me. It doesn’t matter who you are or what your name is. All of that disappears when the bell rings. I only see red, and I only see enemies across from me. You would think, Goth, as long as you have been around and doing this. You would think that I would be the last person you would want to face, instead of the first. I could lie and tell you this is not personal, but it is. Not because I dislike you personally. You’ve done nothing to me, outside of signing a contract to face me one on one.

That was a mistake.

Not because I think I’m so much better than you. I don’t think that at all, I know I’m better. At the end of the night, you’ll know it as well. There is only one thing I’m not so certain of. That’s whether you’ll be able to leave under your own power. I’m fucking done placating people in Sin City. The fans, the ownership, my so-called peers. J2H was right, as bad as I hate to say it. He was fucking right about all of you. The Gentlemen Wolf has been stripped away in a single match. What’s left behind is raw, unbridled hatred for every single one of you. Get ready bitches, you reap what you sew.