Prologue:

Jack was now the number one contender after his victory over Fenris and Senor Vinnie two weeks ago, and he had etched his name into one of the main events for High Stakes. Jack was headed to New York City to face Alex Jones for the SCW Heavyweight championship, and was now going for feat accomplished only by two other wrestlers in SCW History. Jack had cleared all the challenges set for him, and now there was only one final hurdle for Jack was in Madison Sqaure Garden, a final mixed tag team match between champions, and their challengers. Jack of course was on the challenger’s side, teaming with Crystal Zdunich to face the champions, Amber Ryan and Alex Jones, all the while the special referee, would be none other than Roxi Johnson. 

 

Jack was dubious of this match, and in reality, he wanted no part of it, as he felt this was beneath him. But he would need to live up to his self-proclaimed monitor and be the “Face of the Franchise” and participate in the match regardless of how he actually feels about it. With his immense dislike of pretty much everyone on the roster, it’s hard to figure that Jack would be a team player in this sense. Teaming with Crystal Zdunich presents its own challenges, so Jack automatically felt his back was against the wall. How would Jack fair in this encounter, knowing what it could mean headed into High Stakes?

We’ll have to see just what shakes up.

 

Outside the ring, Jack was now dealing with being followed and tailed by the Mexicans. Although he was working with them, his relationship was becoming rockier and rockier each passing day. Though Jack was now working against them by working with Sonny to destroy the shipments of the Mexican’s product coming out his casino, alliances are becoming more and more fragile as this time passes. There going to be another meeting between Jack and Ana Sofia, but with Jack knowing about the tail, and making sure Ana Sofia knew about the tail, there are clearly many trust issues going on all over the place here. How would this exchange go down, and how much rope would Ana Sofia give Jack to hang himself with? Or was there yet another angle to this that could make things much clearer in the grand scheme of things?

 

Only one way to find out.

--

Grand Flamingo Casino

Las Vegas, NV

2 months ago

 

Jack once again pulled up in his car after some time had passed since Sonny’s men ambushed the convoy of product again. Jack stormed down to the underground portion of the casino, below the parking garage and ran into Jorge who was waiting, hands on hips, his head down.

 

Jack: Again?

 

Jorge: Yes, Mr. Jack.

 

Jack feigned anger, but he certainly looked the part.

 

Jack: Jorge, I don’t like when people fuck with my money. I really don’t. This is the second time that this has happened. The same people, Jorge. The same people.

 

Jorge: Si, Mr. Jack.

 

Jack: You have to do something to switch it up. Something, ANYTHING. I’m getting really fucking tired, Jorge, of coming down here at all hours of the night, because you guys can’t handle a SIMPLE OPERATION! Now, what am I supposed to tell Ana Sofia? Because she’s gonna call me, Jorge. She’s gonna call me, and she’s gonna chew my ass out because you all can’t get your shit together for longer than a couple of weeks! So you tell me, Jorge. Wham I supposed to say?

 

Jorge: Yo no se?

 

Jack: Yeah, of course you don’t know. Is anybody dead, Jorge?

 

Jorge, Si, Mr. Jack?

 

Jack: Well, that’s fucking fantastic, isn’t it? I should fire you, Jorge. I really should, but I can’t make that call, because I have to actually sit around and wait for a call. I hope you get your shit together really fucking fast Jorge.

 

Jack angrily rubbed his head and face with his hands, frustrated and angry. He walked away for a split second and then came back.

 

Jack: Is the whole thing gone, too?

 

Jorge: Si, Mr. Jack.

 

Jack: God dammit. Fix your shit, Jorge.

 

Jack walked away again, this time swearing loud enough that everyone within earshot could hear it before he came back up through the elevator to his manager’s office.  He sat in the office for a few minutes, just thinking about how this next conversation would go, and while he told the tail previously to tell Ana-Sofia he knew about it, it wasn’t sure if it was delivered.

 

He made a quick phone call.

 

Jack: Looks like your fireworks went off again.

 

Sonny: Yeah, they did. Make an awful noise, sorry if that keeps you awake.

 

Jack: You know, sometimes they look so beautiful, it’s easy to forgive.

 

Sonny: Everything else go alright, I take it?

 

Jack: I’m gonna have to talk with the boss lady here at some point soon. She’s not going to be happy.

 

Sonny: I wouldn’t be either. But fuck ‘em. They need to know who’s town this is, and look at this this, kid, we’re saving a bunch of lives.

 

Jack: I guess that is one way to look at it. Never thought of it that way.

 

Sonny: Always gotta look on the bright side.

 

Jack: Alright, I’ll let you know when the time is good for the next one. Until then, just... you know, keep the noise down.

 

Sonny: You got it, kid.

 

Jack: Pleasure doing business with ya.

 

Jack hung the phone, and no sooner had he hit end, then the second call came in. Of course it was Ana-Sofia. Once again, she requested a meet-up

 

--

Parking lot

Las Vegas, NV

 

Jack again pulled into the parking lot to meet the limo like he had done before. He parked his car and waited. Two other men got out of the limo as Jack exited his car. He was guided over and searched once again, before getting into the limo, to see Ana Sofia, sitting there with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Jack returned with one of his own, as the two sat in an uncomfortable silence for a moment, until Ana Sofia finally broke it.

 

Ana Sofia: Mr. Jack, it is happening again.

 

Jack: I know. I don’t know what to tell you.

 

Ana Sofia: Why is this happening? This is what you must tell me.

 

Jack: I don’t know. Somebody, somewhere is leaking the information. It has to be. Once may be dumb luck, but twice isn’t something I take lightly. There is someone doing this against us.

 

Ana Sofia: And do you believe you know who it is?

 

Jack: No, I don’t. If I knew, I’d put a stop to it. 

 

Ana Sofia: And no one from your side knows about this?

 

Jack: No. They only one who knows is me. Benny doesn’t know, I did this on purpose to stop him from screwing it up.

 

Ana Sofia: This is becoming too dangerous.

 

Jack: Well, what do you want to do? I don’t like losing money any more than you do.

 

Ana Sofia: We must find out who knows these things, and we must eliminate them.

 

Jack: You might want to start with your people. If Jorge isn’t doing it himself, then maybe he knows. But you’re the boss.

 

Ana Sofia: I am many things, Mr. Jack. One of them is not stupid.

 

Jack: And you think I’m stupid? Is that it?

 

Ana Sofia: It is possible.

 

Jack: Yes, Ms. Ana-Sofia, I know what’s going on. I’m only putting myself, and my patrons at risk by housing your operation. I am giving you shelter, but I’m messing it up, my people are messing it up, so that I can sit through these meetings and get yelled at. That doesn’t make a lot of sense, does it?

 

Ana Sofia: It does not, but that does not make it impossible.

 

Jack: So, you don’t trust me, is that it? Is that why you’re sending your men to follow me?

 

Ana Sofia didn’t respond to that.

 

Ana Sofia: I am protecting myself, Mr. Jack.

 

Jack: No, you’re hurting the business partnership we have. How are we going to work together, if you don’t trust me? I have done everything you have asked of me, and more.

 

Ana Sofia: Everything?

 

Jack: Everything.

 

Ana Sofia: You did not take out the basuda like I asked you to start with.

 

Jack: What?

 

Ana Sofia: The car. With the basuda in it.

 

Jack: The car? You told me to burn the car and I did. I got rid of it.

 

Ana Sofia: Not the basuda.

 

Jack: What are you talking about?

 

Ana Sofia: We had an agreement and you did not dispose of the girl we asked you to.

 

Jack: What girl?

 

Ana Sofia: In the trunk. She got out.

 

Jack: You had a girl in the trunk of that girl? How the hell was I supposed to know that, Ms. Ana Sofia? You didn’t tell me.

 

Ana Sofia: Perhaps, but perhaps you let her out.

 

Jack: I didn’t know she was in there. 

 

Ana Sofia: Would you have done this, if we told you?

 

Jack: ….

 

Ana Sofia: This is why we watch you, Mr. Jack. 

 

Jack: Okay, fine. And outside of that little hiccup, I’ve done everything I can to work with you. But here we are, and you have tails on me. If you want this to work, then you have to trust me. If I can’t be trusted, and I can’t trust you, then this isn’t going to work, and you, not me, will be worse off for it. I just want you to think about that.

 

Ana Sofia: Yes, Perhaps I will.

 

Jack: Now, I’ll ask around about anybody seeing anything suspicious in the garage, but I know it’ll come back clean. If you do the same, maybe we’ll both find what we’re looking for.

 

Ana Sofia: Maybe. Yes, maybe we will. We will speak again Mr. Jack.

 

Jack: We will. In the meantime, I would kindly ask you to stalk watching me and get your people in line before this whole thing goes back.

 

Ana Sofia said nothing as Jack knocked on the window and the limo door was opened. Jack went back to his car and watched as Ana Sofia departed. As soon as Jack turned his car on, there was a tap at the window, and a pistol aimed at him. A voice rang out, familiar to Jack.

 

Voice: Turn the car off and roll down the window.

 

Jack did as he was instructed, and looked out ot see Detective De La Fuente again. 

 

Jack: Jessica?

 

Jessica: John, what the hell are you doing?

 

Jack: What I have to.

 

Jessica: Don’t make me have to make this a bigger problem than it is, John.

 

Jack: I will do it my way, Jess. I told you I would do it my way.

 

Jessica: People are dying right now, John.

 

Jack: And it’s nobody I care to know. That’s the difference. You do your job Jessica, I’ll do mine.

 

Jessica: John, I’m telling you this one more time: Do the right thing.

 

Jack didn’t respond. He glared at Jessica, and shook his head, and rolled up the window, before driving off.

 

--


Click.

Jack sits in his recliner, reclined back, with a somewhat satisfied look on his face as he begins.


Jack: I told you. I told you that when I came back to Sin City wrestling that it was about one thing, and one thing only. I told you it was about getting back what is mine and what is mine is the SCW world heavyweight championship. And you know everybody that was making these matches tried to make me jump through hoops, and they tried to give me every challenge possible to make sure that I didn't get this opportunity again. you know what I did? I jumped through every single hoop, I passed every single test with flying colors, and now I am getting what I deserve. and there is nothing that anybody could do about it. You tried your best, you put every obstacle you could in front of me, and what happened? I mowed them all down. but to quote another fighter I'm not surprised. As a matter of fact, NOBODY should be surprised that I won every single match that I had and that I beat Fenris’ brother and then I beat Fenris himself, and Senor Vinnie, to get here. People around here indeed learn they should stop doubting me when it comes to me, getting what I want. I will beat anybody I have to beat and I will do anything that I have to do if it means I get what I want in the end.  you can call me an asshole, you can call me a jerk, call me a cheater, whatever it is that you want to call me go ahead but the one thing that you're not going to call me, and that you're never going to be able to call, me is a liar.

 

I know that's popular with people these days just making up stories about themselves to make themselves sound a lot more interesting than they are but I don't have to do that. people have to walk around here and pad their numbers people have to walk around here and make up records about themselves and brag about title reigns. I don't have to do that. I don't have to practice one thing and preach another. everything that I say that I'm going to do, I do. the proof is in the pudding. and you may not like it, but that's the way that it is. And you may be wondering why I didn’t show up in my hometown of Philadelphia last week, the answer to that, is simple. It’s none of your god damn business. All you need to know, is Philly is my time, and it always be my town.

 

 Anyway, now that all of the hoops have been jumped through all of the i's have been dotted at all of the Tees have been crossed, we are a very short time away for me getting back what is mine. and what that means is, Alex Jones’ days as the SCW world heavyweight champion are numbered. it is only a matter of time before I beat Alex Jones’ ass and I take back my championship. but I guess now we get a little bit of a warm up, we get a tune up before we hit High Stakes. get a little bit of a preview as I was shows gets to look into my eyes one more time and realize how screwed he actually is.

 

Jack scoffs and shakes his head before continuing.

 

Jack: but the fact of the matter is I don't give a rats ass about this mixed tag match. I don't care about Crystal Zdunich being my partner. I don't care about Amber Ryan being on the other team and I surely don't care about Alex Jones. all this matches to me is just a little bit of a preview like I said. all Crystal has to do is not screw the whole thing up, and be semi competent for about 10 to 15 minutes and we should be fine. all she's gotta do is get into the ring, do whatever it is that she does and then, when she's completely soaked up all the spotlight that she possibly can, reach out, tag me, I will finish this off I will take the spotlight where I belong and we will win. It's a very simple story that we're trying to tell here. or I could just beat Alex Jones’s ass the whole match, pin him or tap him out, and then walk away and not even give Crystal the opportunity to screw the whole thing up. Because if there’s one thing that Crystal is known for, it's screwing shit up. Well it may just be screwing, but that's none of my business. all she has to do is not get her ass kicked for the entire match.  And for a person who is a six-time champion, this should not be a problem, but you know I have my doubts. 

 

I mean, I obviously should have my doubts when the last time she was in the ring with Amber Ryan, Amber kicked her ass. But you know I'm stressing too much over this already. this match is nothing but a circus we got champions we got contenders we got a special referee for no reason. all of this is just to delay the inevitable. and look as far as the superhero goes, As long as you stay out of my way, we won't have any problems. you just call the match down the middle, you count the pinfall when I pin Alex Jones or you register the submission would I tap out Alex Jones, and you raise my hand at the end, we won't have a problem. After all that? Do whatever the hell you want. And the same goes for Amber Ryan. You stay out of my way and we don't have a problem. I already don't trust anything that bleeds for seven days and doesn't die, and with the way you’re covered in scars, it looks like you bleeds every day. so you keep your spooky zombie voodoo chick ass away from me and we don't have a problem. It's just too bad that your punk-ass cowboy boyfriend wasn’t tough enough to keep the championship so I could take it from him. Then HE could have been in than this match and got the same thing that Alex Jones is going to get. But whatever, I'll let Crystal try her luck against Amber Ryan 'cause I ain’t worried about it.

 

Jack now wears a slight smirk on his face as he goes to address his opponnent.

 

Jack: Now, Alex Jones you may have noticed what I've been talking about this that I really haven't given you much attention, and you know why I haven't given you much attention? because you don't deserve it. all you are to me right now is the person who has my championship I'm not quite sure how you got it I'm not quite sure how you retained it. Obviously, the talent level in this company has dropped off significantly since I left, but it seems now that any schmuck who has even remote amount of talent can win the world heavyweight championship. That is the only explanation for why you even have it right now. you were in the right place at the right time I guess. there is NO reason that you should be even sniffing the world championship. You could sit here and you can talk about how you're a Triple Crown this, and how you have one all of these championships, and how you're a Hall of Fame level wrestler, and how you have all of these accomplishments, and you know what it means to me? Nothing. it means absolutely nothing to me Alex, just like you. as far as I'm concerned, I beat you last year and I'm done with you you're in the rearview mirror for me. you somehow were in the right place at the right time and now you have what is mine. and I'm going to take it from you. Again. that's all I really need to say about you as far as this match goes it's a throwaway tag team match. 

 

Yes, it's a main event and I was born to be in the main event, but the fact of the matter is that you are completely out of place in this match if you think about it. Seriously, think about this Alex, you have 3 top women's wrestler in the world, I guess. Then you have the number one contender and the face of this company, the face of this franchise and then there's you. you are a blind squirrel who found an acorn. I really hope you are proud of yourself for doing that. Obviously the cowboy sucks because he couldn't beat you not once, but twice. I was going to say that maybe he had an off night but the fact is no, he's terrible. I mean, imagine being so bad that Alex Jones actually beats you repeatedly. That's how terrible the Cowboy is. it's actually pretty ridiculous. And if you're going to try and tell me that you're too cool for all this, or that you’ve seen it all before... you're right. You have seen it all before and it beats you. I beat you convincingly last year. I made you a transitional champion and I will do it again at High Stakes. but right now? this tag team match it means nothing. it's a little hype, it's a big circus. It's a big show and it's going to be a painful preview for you and what's going to happen at High Stakes. 

 

So you have really one of two choices Alex. I mean at the end of the day it doesn't really matter what you choose because the end result will be the same. I'm just curious as to what exactly you have to say to me. your first choice is to go out on your sword. you can start this week and you can tell me how much I have left to learn about how you're looking forward to facing me, at about how you will go down swinging to keep the championship away from me. that is literally your best option. or you can do what Alex Jones always does. try and play it cool an act like you're above all of this. you can put on the facade all you want about how this is just how it champion acts. you can try and play the moral high ground you can try and play the wanna-be badass. tell me how you're gonna show me what it's like to be a real champion. you can start that this week. and the reason that you could start that this week in the reason that it might even be successful it's because I don't care about this match. if it wasn't for the money involved in this, I wouldn't have declined being part of this match, at all. I can't let good money go to waste. Especially when it comes to losing it to somebody like you.

 

at the end of the day Alex this mixed tag match is just going to be another lesson for you. or evidence I am the face of this franchise. at everything I say I mean. I don't mince words I don't sugarcoat anything I tell you like it is and it's too bad if you don't like it. I will tell you you suck today I will tell you you suck on Sunday they will tell you suck at High Stakes. this is just money in my pocket Alex and to be perfectly honest with you, you could be interchanged with anyone else at this point it could have been the Cowboy. it could've been Fenris. It could have been Senor Vinnie it could have been Kris Ryans, it could have been anybody, I'd say the exact same thing to them that I am to you. it wouldn't be any different. this is just going to be me being the team player that I am being the face of this company that I am going out there and doing what needs to be done in order to properly make sure that everybody knows that I am the reason that people are going to purchase and come to this super card. I'm going to make sure that they sell out Madison Square Garden.  So if you, and Crystal, and Amber, and the Superhero all pay attention... I will show you how this is done.

 

Keep my championship shined up, Alex. it's coming home real soon.

 

Jack makes a “Shoo” motion for the camera to go away as we fade to black

Click.

Prologue:

It had been some time since Jack appeared on SCW television, after his loss to Mark Cross, Jack seemingly disappeared. There was no angry tweet, or even reaction from Jack regarding this loss, and it was like he vanished and left wrestling altogether. Even with all the rampant speculation, In the three months since he left, there wasn’t a word from Jack about his status or what really was going on with him or why he wasn’t going to be around. It was sudden and abrupt almost like a light switch.

 

But just as sudden and abrupt was Jack’s return at Climax Control 307, hopping the guardrail and announcing his intentions. There was not fan fair or warning, just a simple, firm warning to all the SCW talent that Jack was back, and he was serious about winning back the SCW world championship. Simple but effective, that was Jack’s style. And obviously the message worked since Jack was then promptly booked in a main event match on the next Climax Control against Austin James Mercer, a wrestler Jack knew well, and was confident his return would be a successful one.

 

But what DID happen while Jack was away? Inquiring minds surely would like to know why the SCW star disappeared for 3 months. Could it have been something outside the ring that drew Jack’s attention. Of course, ourside the ring, Jack’s run at the casino was marred with issues, mostly involving the Mexicans, he has formed an unlikely partnership with Sonny in order to sort the mess out and keep his casino clean, and allow Sonny a little revenge for the Mexicans putting Sonny’s son in the hospital, beating him near to death and Sonny’ son miraculously surviving.

 

Also with Jack’s brother Jason now on the scene and recovering from drug abuse, it had become more apparent to Jack that the deal with the Mexican’s be broken off to save any more potential headaches. It was becoming a twisted web and Jack’s life was extremely complicated given his current situation. But the public wasn’t privy to that as Jack was a pretty private person. Could something have happened between all these combustible elements that made Jack take time away?

 

While it was unlikely that Jack would ever talk about these things publicly, there is an era of curiosity surrounding Jack these days, with so many unanswered questions. Why did Jack leave? What enabled him to come back? Why now? With so many questions unlikely to be answered, the most we do now is wonder what the future holds, and what the past may look like. 

 

And the real question becomes, will Jack be able to replicate any of his past success when he returns on Sunday, or will there be kinks in his amour or ring rust after all this time away from thing? 

 

Questions just continue popping up around Jack, but he’s clearly not showing his hand... yet.

 

--


Washington Estate

Las Vegas, NV,

3 Months ago

 

Jack returned home after the loss. He made no comment on the match, and the loss of his championship, he just went home. There didn’t appear to be anything wrong, he simply went home, without a word. He would enjoy this week away from the ring, and soon most likely would be possibly asking for his rematch or earning another shot, whatever the case would be. Jack didn’t make any fuss about that, he just wanted to be home. 

 

He sat down in his recliner, and lit a cigar. He calmly puffed on it, almost with a look of relief on his face. Brian thought about asking about this pretty strange behavior, but he didn’t. He simply let Jack puff away on his cigar while he sat, reading the newspaper, probably for the 5-6th time that day, but that’s what Brian liked to do, plus there was no doubt he was looking for some kind of opportunity somewhere. Jack in the meantime, simply checked his watch, before pulling out his phone and dialing.

 

Jack: Hey....It’s Jack... listen, my brother... send him home, huh? Give the kid an early night.... Good, good-bye.

 

Jack hung up and dialed another number and waited.

 

Jack: We’re on...

 

That was all it took, and Jack hung up. He went right back to puffing on his cigar and almost smiling to himself. Finally, Brian spoke up as he went to the kitchen and poured himself a drink.

 

Brian: Making that move, huh?

 

Jack: Yup.

 

Brian: You know they might figure it out.

 

Jack: I don’t have many options at this point, Brian. I have to get away from this as quickly as possible, and this is the best possible solution.

 

Brian: Didn’t Jess give you something?

 

Jack shook his head as he flicked the ashes into the ashtray. He didn’t want to think about that option, it went against everything he knew.

 

Jack: I’m not a snitch. We handle problems man to man; we don’t involve the law. That’s always what my dad taught us. Because when people involved the law, he went to prison, and I ain’t having that. I got family here, Brian. You and Jason, and I’m gonna look out for both of you. And if the law gets involved, you know they tell everybody after the fact, and the last thing I need is for either of you to get caught up in it. It’s my mess, I’m cleaning it up.

 

Brian: Looks like the champ is all grown up. Oh wait... you aren’t champ anymore, are you?

 

Jack: No, but it doesn’t matter, all that matters is what goes down tonight, and getting a new beginning started around here.

 

Brian: You play some dangerous games, Stick.

 

Jack: I have to sometimes. It’s just part of the game sometimes.

 

Brian: Amen to that, I guess. Hope you know what you’re doing.

 

Jack: You bet your ass I do.

 

Brian simply nodded in response. Jack once again turned to him.

 

Jack: Pour me one of those.

 

Brian: You got it.

 

A short time later, Jason entered the house after being dropped off by the casino staff. He opened the door, nodding at Jack and Brian, who each raised their drink to acknowledge him. Jason however, looked a bit confused as he simply pulled a water out of the fridge and sat on the kitchen stool.

 

Jason: They sent me home.

 

Jack: You did a good job, Jay.

 

Jason: I mean, I guess, I’ve just never gotten the night off before.

 

Jack: I like to reward people who do a good job. I told them to give you the rest of the night off, I’ll cover the hours you would normally work.

 

Jason: You... you’d do that?

 

Jack: You’re my brother. I’d do anything for you. 

 

Jason: Shit, bro... that’s... that’s great.

 

Brian: Stick’s not so bad sometimes.

 

Jack: Yeah, don’t talk to loud, I don’t want other people to hear it.

 

Jason walked over and hugged his brother. The gesture meant a lot to Jason, and Jack hugged his brother back.

 

Jason: Hey did... did you wrestle tonight?

 

Jack: Yeah.

 

Jason: Where’s the uh... the championship belt.

 

Jack: I lost it. 

 

Jason: Oh... shit dude I’m sorry.

 

Jack: More important things in life, you know?

 

Jason: But you loved that thing.

 

Jack: I did. And I still do. Just... there’s just some other stuff that the champion doesn’t need to a part of. I don’t want the eyes on me that don’t need to be on me. That’s all. 

 

Jason: Alright, bro... you know how that works.

 

Jack: I do, don’t worry about it. I can go and win it back any time I want.

 

Jason: Damn, it’s like that?

 

Jack: It’s like that.

 

Jack and Jason share a laugh and Jack enjoyed his drink and another cigar. 

 

Much later in the night, Jack stood alone on his upstairs balcony. He had yet another drink, and another cigar, sitting in a lawn chair, rocking back and forth and enjoying the night sky. He checked his watch, and he smirked, as if on cue, his phone rang.

 

Jack: Talk.... Oh, let me look...

 

Jack stood up, looking at the city in the distance, and hearing the loud bang and an explosion in the distance.

 

Jack: Yeah... fireworks look really good this time of year, you know? Can really enjoy them. No, thank you.... 

 

With that, Jack hung up, and a few seconds later, his phone rang again. He knew exactly what it was, and he let it ring a few times, before picking up.

 

Jack: Talk.... what? What do you mean it’s gone? What’s gone? God damn it... I’ll be right down there.

 

Jack hung up the phone, nodding and smiling to himself. He knew exactly what happened, now it was time to put the acting chops to the test as he got himself somewhat dressed and took the car, headed to the casino.

 

--

Grand Flamingo Casino

Las Vegas, NV

3 Months ago.

 

Jack drove down at a quick pace, but not too quick. He listened to the news rasio station on the way down, reporting on the Mexican’s vehicle being hit, and now the cops, and the feds would be after it shortly. They would obviously try and track the truck and where it came from. This was the only real loose end in the whole thing. If Sonny’s men left survivors, they would be questioned. And that could in theory lead the authorities to Jack, but Sonny’s men were supposed to be good. 

 

Jack drove by the accident scene. It was far enough away from the casino that it didn’t look too suspicious. He nodded to himself as the truck was a charred wreck and the police and ambulances clearly had a lot of work to do. Jack continued on, driving to the casino parking garage, where the Mexican’s men were freaking out. Jack took a breath, and got out, looking furious.

 

Jack: WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED!

 

There was a gaggle of men all trying to explain the same thing, but Jack didn’t want to hear it.

 

Jack: STOP, STOP STOP! SHUT UP! I WANT ONE GUY TO TELL ME! YOU! JORGE!

 

Jorge: The truck was hit, Mr. Jack.

 

Jack: You gotta be kidding me.

 

Jorge: Mr. Jack, they killed my men and they took the product.

 

Jack: Oh, that’s just FUCKING PERFECT, Jorge. Just grand. Now, I’m out fucking money. Who did this?

 

Jorge: We don’t know, Mr. Jack. Just a car, it drive by and they blow up the truck.

 

Jack: This is bullshit, Jorge. You better not be trying to hang this on me. I told you all to be fucking careful. The past month has been clean with no accidents. Sounds to me, like you have a rat. You’d betting find this fucking rat, Jorge. 

 

Jorge: Si, Mr. Jack.

 

Jack: I’m not about to lose this deal because you got guys you who can’t be trusted, Jorge. That’s bullshit. Fix your shit, you got me?

 

Jorge: Si, Mr. Jack

 

Jack turned back to the car, leaning up against it, before taking of the traffic cones and flinging it across the parking garage. 

 

Jack: GOD DAMN IT!

 

Jack turned back to Jorge, shaking his head furiously.

 

Jack: Fix your shit. I’ll call Ms. Ana Lucia.

 

Jorge: Si, Mr. Jack.

 

Jack angrily got back in his car, almost during a burnout he floored it so heavily before pulling out of the parking garage, and into the main lobby parking lot. He quickly dialed the number.

 

Jack: Ms. Ana-Lucia, I apologize for waking you at this hour of the night, but we have a big problem, and we need to talk. Business, it went bad tonight, and there could be a problem with one of your employees. I have your man on the ground checking into it. Yes Ma’am... we’ll speak soon on it. I’m just as upset as you are, that was a lot of money left on the table. Yes Ma’am... 

 

With that, Jack hung up, and another smile crossed his face. His plan was working.

 

--


Click. 

Jack is in a familiar spot. He sits on his couch, looking over at where the SCW world championship would normally be in this type of promotional video, but obviously, it’s not there, and that makes Jack growl as he looks at that very spot, but then turns to the camera.

 

Jack: I make no excuses for what happened. I got beat, my head wasn’t in the game. I blame myself, because I don’t need to make excuses. Because I could and I would be justified, but no, there is no time for excuses. I dropped the ball and Mark Cross ran with it. That’s on me. I should still be the SCW World champion, and hell, I should have beat Mac Bane’s ass and won the Internet championship as well, and anybody who knows me, and has seen me in that ring, knows that it’s true. But that’s not what happened. I lost the SCW championship, but I will not say that Mark Cross is better than me. No, Mark Cross wrestled the match of his life, and now he’s off somewhere fishing or some shit because he clearly wasn’t built to be the World champion and it shows. That’s just the facts of the situation.

 

So, I needed to take a break, and recharge my batteries. I shot up the ladder of SCW quicker than anybody breathing and I went straight to the top and I beat the best there was, or so he thought, and I won the world championship, and it anybody in charge of this company has any common sense, they know I’m ready to pick up right where I left off. But then again, one of the people in charge loves glitter and puppies and this sappy horseshit, so who the fuck knows when I’m going to be where I need to be. 

 

As I said, it’s nobody’s business but mine, where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing. All anybody needs to know at this point, is that I’m back. It’s as simple as that. I took the time I needed to take, and if anybody has a problem with that, they can kick rocks because it’s my business. But I will tell you that I watched from home, and I watched a bunch of people fumble around and then act like they were any good. And now you got these pieces of trash, thinking that they got what it takes. You punk kids running around here, you got people simply chasing championships for no other reason than to have them, and you got a bunch of losers fighting for the chance at a championship they will probably lose on their first defense. It’s really sad the way things dropped off once I decided to take a break.

 

It’s almost like I cleaned out most of the garbage, and then as soon as I step away, someone fills that void with more garbage. So I guess once again, I will do what I do best and that’s whoop these dude’s asses and take my place at the top where I belong.

 

Jack shakes his head, still disgusted with how he views the SCW landscape.

 

Jack: But I bet all you people forgot about me, didn’t you? Yeah, because I wasn’t constantly tweeting or posting shit on social media, and you know why? Because I’m not a diva looking for attention. I ain’t one of these losers you got posting every waking moment of their life, and exercising their twitter fingers because up in their feels about everything under the sun. No, I handled my business, and when the time was right, I showed up. And trust me, when I jumped that guardrail, and when I stood in that ring, a lot of those jack-offs in the back started hanging their heads. They started to moan and groan, to bitch and complain under their breath about how I was going to step right back in the spot I left just a couple of months ago. And do you know why? Because that’s exactly what’s about to happen. Oh yeah, they’re all going to complain, but ain’t one of them gonna be able to do a damn thing about me. I’m about to once again, run roughshot over this group of chumps, and at the end of the day, before the year is out, I will be back on top of the mountain once again. And if you don’t think so, please have your head examined, or possibly seek some doctor’s help, because there is something wrong with you. I am NOT the one you want to bet against. You will be going fucking broke. 

 

But, I did hear the cries from SCW, tagging me in some kind of tweet about winning the Internet championship, some kind of tournament or some shit? I don’t give a rat’s ass about the Internet championship, I’m not really on the internet unless I choose to be. Mostly, I do my own thing because I’m have grown adult business to take care off and spending my time oogling twitter thots and exchanging with keyboard warriors is a waste of my time. My time is precious. So, don’t be sitting here, hoping I’m coming back for less than what I had before. And take that in more ways than one. The fact is the Internet champion does not interest me. When I shoot, I aim for the top. I already hit the top two different times and had successful defenses. I’m not a puppy or some mangy dog that dances for treats. I do what I want to do, and I’ve more than earned the right to talk as much shit as I do. Because they ain’t nobody out there, that can stop me.

 

Go ahead, you can look around the roster, think of every single so-called superstar in SCW and tell me that one of them is just going to roll over me like I’m nothing. Tell me that there’s a guy you have complete confidence in. The fact is, you can’t and you know it. There is a reason I shot straight to the top and became the SCW champion. It’s because I am fucking good. One of the best, and I haven’t even PEAKED yet, you understand that? Look, you can call me cocky, you can call me arrogant, you can call me, whatever you like, but the one thing you will do, is show me the proper respect for what I have done. You will put some respect on the name of Jack Washington. I tell it like it is, and that’s just too much for some people to handle. It’s not my fault that they are soft. It’s not my fault that they are walking around here, all of them fucking hypocrites and liars, who change how they feel about cheers and boos about as much as I change my socks. It gets so confusing to watch SCW and see why I should care about any of these chumps when they smile in your face and stab you in the back. Me? I don’t do that. I’ll stab you in the front, right to your chest, while I look you square in the eye. But then you got people like my opponent, Austin James Mercer is the very definition of the type of characters you have in SCW.

 

Jack cracks a rare grin, more sarcastic than anything, but it is quickly replaced by a scowl again.

 

Jack: You see I remember a lot of stuff. I remember when Austin James Mercer was running his mouth, and trying to avenge when I beat the shit out of his trainer, and then I beat the shit out of him. I remember those speeches about how Austin wasn’t Alex Jones, and they might be on the same team, we aren’t the same person. Yeah, does anyone else remember that shit? What a load of bullshit that turned about to be, huh? Looks like I was right the whole time to call him a lap dog, and errand boy, and a liar. Because he turned out to be all three. As soon as he thought it was convenient, and because I had beaten him into irrelevancy, all that noble shit went out the window. Turns out Austin is everything I said he was and more, but again, the whole reason for that was to dig himself out of the grave I put him and Wolfslair into. 

 

And now once again he’s walking around like he’s a big, tough bad ass again. I mean, how many different ways can I call this guy a fraud? I have proven it time and time again and now he’s gotta give himself a cool twitter nickname like that shit means anything. You can’t just have a name, my guy? You can’t just be Austin James Mercer? Why not? Well, don’t answer that, bruh, I already know the answer, and so do you. Because Austin James Mercer, on name alone, is lame. It’s boring, it’s fucking white bread. So, you gotta pick a name like “Triple Crown Austin” Oh, because at separate points, before the real talent came along, you were the World champion? And then at one point, you managed to hold onto the Internet championship for six months? And now... holy shit a couple of months ago you won the Mixed tag team championships. What happened? What happened? Two years ago, you were on top! What happened?

 

Oh, that’s right... people like me, exposed you for being a fruad.

 

And now here you are, attempting scrape up whatever relevancy you have left and make yourself seem important again. The truth is, you know you were trying to lie about yourself and trying to convince the entire world that you were someone you weren’t. And now, you’re even less. Am I an asshole? Of course I am. Do I cheat, do I take shortcuts? You damn right. But one thing you won’t ever be able to call me, is a liar. Because I speak the truth. And as soon as I moved past you Austin, you turned on a dime and did a 180 about spoke about how it was the real you and you really were just like Alex Jones. And you tried to cover up the fact that you’re a liar by saying you were playing a role. So, you’re a fake, right? Good to know. I’m glad that at least now, you accept it. I mean, you really just do a piss poor job of owning it, but what else can you do when you get exposed like that, right?

 

Jack shakes his head again, finally standing up.

 

Jack: But I’ll tell you what, Austin, my first match back, they gave me you. You know and I know that I’m going to whoop your ass again, because that’s what people like me, do to people like you. You are being FED to me. Why? Because I’m a star, and you’re just a... I don’t even know if flash in the pan is fitting at this point. I don’t even know what you even are right now. You’re just here. Plain ol’ garbage ass Austin Mercer. Literally all this is, is a warm-up for me to get right. This is like when you’re like Penn State and you play Ohio. It’s nothing to me, but a warm-up. I will run through you like a hot knife through butter, because I am better than you, Austin. 

 

But it’s not all bad for you, is it? No, you get to bring that shiny tag championship to the ring, and hold it up like you’re fucking proud of it or whatever, and show it off to all the fans, and for... roughly 10 to 15 minutes, you get to be back in the spotlight again. MY spotlight. You get to be back in the main event, a place that you were sent packing from some time ago. And so, I want you to enjoy it, Austin. I want you to take all the time you can, walking to the ring and soaking up that feeling of a main event, soak up that feeling that on this night, you are in the last match on the show, the most important match, the one everyone will be coming to see. Take a look at how many fans are in the arena and make some eye contact with them, let them know who you are, and enjoy that moment.

 

Because at the end of the day, all of it, is going away. I’m going to walk down to the ring, some people will cheer, most will boo, but they know who I am. And then, I will proceed to treat you like the bitch you are, and beat you, yet again, and I will walk away the winner, in the main event, in the last match, in the most important match, and you will able to say at this point, that at least, you had at least one more main event match, with the best thing in SCW history. That’s what this is, Austin. It will be a important night for both of us. For you, it’s your last dance with any sort of main event scene, and for me? Picking up where I left off putting everyone else on notice that I am back, and I am going right back where I belong.

 

I hope the champ is watching.

 

Jack gives a tip of the cap, despite not actually having any hat on.

 

Jack: Yeah, I see ya over there Tex. I don’t sweat you. When the time is right, I will whoop your ass, just like I will Austin’s this Sunday. But I do hope you are watching. I do hope you take me seriously. I mean, in the end, it doesn’t really matter if you do or not, the end result will be the same. But I really want you to watch what I do to Austin this Sunday. I want you to have your undivided attention on the screen. I don’t want you looking at your little phone, or messing around with your crazy-ass wife or whatever. No, I want you to have your two beady eyes locked on your television, your laptop, or if your ass is backstage, I want your eyes fixed on the monitor with the main event on it. I want you eyes glued to the screen, because you are getting a glimpse into your future This Sunday. The clock started on your title reign the moment I hopped that guardrail. You aren’t the one that took it, but you’re the one that has what belongs to me.

 

Believe me, Tex. I am going to be the biggest problem you have ever had in your life. You best be ready, and you best take my warning. I will be knocking at your door very, very soon.

 

Austin, I’ll see your bitch ass on Sunday. Now get out of my house. 


Jack shoots a glare to the camera as we go to black

Click.

Prologue:

It had been some time since Jack actually appeared on SCW television. His sudden appearance last week was a shock to many, as well as Jack’s demeanor and attitude. Gone was the smugness, and even more so, gone was the brashness, the attitude itself appeared to be gone and Jack looked like he had not slept in some time. Backstage crew also reportedly tried to speak to Jack, even offering any sort of small talk, but even they did not get the usual rude or abrasive response from Jack. He would normally insult or belittle them, but all they got this time was no response and a blank stare. Even when Jack made his way to the ring and spoke, it wasn’t an angry or bold or brash talk we were used to. Instead, it was a plain, monotone statement, seemingly requesting a championship match with Kris Ryans, or at the very least, making his intentions clear that he wanted to get such a match in the future. And thus, maybe due to this seemingly extreme change in behavior, the match was indeed granted this week for SCW Climax Control.

 

Whatever happened to Jack during his absence, the question was now going to be if Jack was ready. As it stood, Jack was 0-2 against Ryans, and technically 0-3 after the loss at Inception. Was this a new plan or scheme, or is something really wrong with Jack that has caused this change in behavior.

 

Outside the ring, Jack had gone to Sonny in an effort to seemingly sabotage the Mexicans and their illegal dealings inside of the Grand Flamingo, attempting to use his rivals and ill-fated partners against each other for his own benefit. If Sonny takes the deal, he could get back at the Mexicans, and in theory Jack would be in the clear. There was the knowledge given to Jack by Jessica that Ana Sofia, leading the Mexican group, knew that Jack hadn’t accomplished the task of getting rid of Marta, who was supposed to be burned alive inside the car Jack was to dispose of. Jack let her out and while he feigned knowledge of her being there, he was only going to get away with that for so long. Perhaps, Ana Sofia knew, perhaps she didn’t. Either way, wasn’t good for Jack to have that over his head, and so he devised this, given the other option was to go to the police, which would assuredly result in the Mexicans striking back against him, or his partners personally, and if Benny, who Jack had put in charge found out, it could result in the casino shutting down, before it ever gets a chance to get off the ground. 

 

Of course, that is all worst-case scenario. The best would be the Mexicans would remove themselves from the Grand Flamingo and leave Jack alone, and that would get him out of the bad deal, and perhaps make Sonny believe that Jack wasn’t all bad, and perhaps use power and influence to drive down the business at the casino. 

 

Jack had a lot on his plate, banking on a good idea, but... maybe that would explain Jack’s current mind state?

 

--

Washington Estate
Las Vegas, NV
1 month ago

 

Jack returned home after the unsuccessful bid to win back the SCW Heavyweight championship. He was furious as he tossed his bag on the ground and sat in his recliner and eased back. He sat there stewing, so upset he was unable to win and now seemingly, was lost as to what was next for his career. Having risen to the top so far, he feared there was nowhere to go but down. And he clearly didn’t want that.

 

He sat in the chair and the tension was so thick. Jack was boiling inside and it was one of those moments where the wrong thing would set Jack off and he would explode like dynamite. Since it was late after Inception had gone off the air, Brian would normally be asleep, but this time, he wasn’t. He sat at the kitchen table, with another person and they both looked over at Jack, who had paid no attention to their presence, as he was used to being alone late at night. 

 

Brian cleared his throat which startled Jack for a moment. But Jack recognized the voice and hand waved Brian away.

 

Jack: Not now. Go back to bed.

 

Brian didn’t say anything at first, awaiting Jack to question this, but he does not. The second man at the table tugs at Brian’s arm, but Brian stops him from saying anything. Brian then clears his throat and stands up.

 

Brian: I take it you didn’t win, eh?

 

Jack’s hand was on his face, and it slid down as his expression changed to pure anger at the snark he was getting from Brian.

 

Jack: I’m not in the mood for your shit, Brian.

 

Brian patted the other man on the shoulder and nodded.

 

Brian: Jack, it’s not the end of the world, plus we have company.

 

Jack stopped and looked around for a moment, not seeing anyone in the immediate area, until he stood up and his face turned him anger and frustration to one of surprise. He knew the other man sitting at the table, they locked eyes and Brian nodded.

 

Brian: Yeah, people just turn up these days.

 

Jack cautiously approached the second man at the table, making sure he was not seeing things. Once he was sure, he spoke.

 

Jack: Jason?

 

Jason Washington. Jack’s older brother. Older by 6 years, Jason was the one person who Jack looked up to. Jason was family, he always looked out for Jack, and he was the one who kept Jack out of the family “business” for most of Jack’s early and teenage years. Jason outright rejected the family lifestyle, instead leaving home after high school and joining the Army. Without Jason there to prevent Jack from falling in with the family business, Jack became heavily involved. Jason on the other hand, was never part of anything, so he was free to do as he pleased. He wasn’t blamed or suffering like Jack was now. 

 

The last time Jack saw Jason, Jason was clean shaven, with a buzz cut and in great shape from his time serving. Now Jason sported a long “woodsman” style beard, his hair a little longer on top and buzzed on the sides. His face was slightly withered and there were noticible bags under his eyes. His physical frame was also smaller. None the less, he smirked as his brother and waved slightly.

 

Jason: Little brother.

 

For a long period, neither brother said anything to the other. Jack had so many questions, but he was still more taken aback by Jason’s appearance, both his actual showing up at Jack’s home, and his physical appearance. Jack slowly and respectfully approached his brother, and stuck his hand out. It was rare, but this was Jack’s brother. Jason looked at Jack and slowly stood up. He took Jack’s hand and shook it, and then pulled him into an embrace, which Jason returned in kind. 

 

Once they broke, Jack and Jason sat down together.

 

Jason: It’s been a little bit, hasn’t it?

 

Jack: Yeah...

 

Jason: You okay?

 

Jack pondered this question, unsure of exactly how to answer it. 

 

Jack: I don’t know. What do you call this? I’m living in a big house and I have money. Is that... okay?

 

Jason: Sure looks like it.

 

Jack stared at Jason for a moment and finally he had to get it out of his system.

 

Jack: What... what happened to you? How did you find me? How did you get here? I didn’t see a car outside.

 

Now it was Jason’s turn to pause and not answer right away. He looked away from Jack and leaned back in his chair and sighed.

 

Jason: Just been places, man. I was stationed in Cali, and after I got out, I figured I’d pay my brother a visit. You got all the fame now, I guess.

 

Jack wasn’t satisfied with Jack’s complete non-answer. 

 

Jack: Jay.... tell me.

 

Jason: Tell you what? 

 

Jack: Don’t take this the wrong way, bro, but you look like shit. Tell me what happened to you. Tell me how you got here and what is going on. You’ve never been one to just “drop by”.

 

Jason snickered and he shook. Visibly shook and his nose began to run. He wiped it away and looked at Jack, almost indignant.

 

Jason: What? I can’t come visit my brother, fine, I’ll leave.

 

Jason slowly stood up, Jack noticed this almost instant mood swing and put his hands on his brother’s shoulders to stop him.

 

Jack: Sit down.

 

Jack eased Jason back into his chair and Jason calmed down. Now seemingly almost... normal. This was very confusing for Jack.

 

Jason: Just... I’ve just been going through some shit, that’s all. Getting a divorce and that.... you know that shit hits hand when you lose someone you love and... You are about the only family left. I just... I need to get my head on straight, that’s all.

 

Jack: Why didn’t you say so? Fuck, bro. Yeah, of course, take all the time you need. But, how did you get here?

 

Jason: Got an uber. Went by the casino since you’re a big shot over there. And... that’s when I ran into Uncle Brian here. 

 

Jack looked over at Brian, who shrugged.

 

Brian: I didn’t know what else to do, leave him there?

 

Jack: Are you staying anywhere?

 

Jason: Not really, no.

 

Jack sighed and stood up, walking away from the table and towards the living room where he was pacing, trying to get a hold of the situation.

 

Jack: Where are you staying? Where do you live?

 

Jason: Wife kicked me out. I’ve been crashing with friends, getting some money through benefits but, I don’t have much anymore.

 

Jack: Shit. 

 

Jack motioned for Brian to join him in the living room, and basically called a huddle with Brian while Jason just looked on.

 

Jack: How much did he tell you?

 

Brian: Same thing he told you. 

 

Jack: Something about this doesn’t add up, and I need to know what it is. 

 

Brian: He’s your brother, Stick. You gotta figure it out.

 

Jack: Shit.

 

Jack stood up straight, hands on hips and looked at his older brother.

 

Jack: Alright, you can stay here until you’re back on your feet.

 

Jason stood up, admiring the house while Jack looked at him. He didn’t want to think his brother was doing what he thought he was doing, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

 

Jason: You’re a good brother.

 

Jason hugged Jack again, this time Jack only slightly returned it. He didn’t want to act this way to what was the only family he had, but he was still in the dark about what actually was going on with his brother. He finally caught the smell his brother gave off. It smelled like he hadn’t showered in some time. Jack released his brother and put both hands on his shoulders.

 

Jack: You are my brother. I would never turn you away. But for real you need to get cleaned up.

 

Jason: I will bro, I will.

 

Jack: Where are your things?

 

Jason: In storage.

 

Jack: I mean your clothes.

 

Jason: I travel light. 

 

Jack: Jay, if you’re going to stay at my house, you need to tell me the truth, you know I got your back but come on man, you need to work with me here.

 

Jason looked up at Jack, but could not answer. He simply shook his head, which then turned into a nod.

 

Jason: I just need to rest.

 

Jack wanted to press the issue, but thought better of it. He quietly led Jason to one of the spare bedrooms in the estate, showcasing the room.

 

Jack: You can stay here for the time being. I have some smaller clothes but I have a whole new wardrobe so, I’ll get you some of the stuff I still have.

 

Jason: Thank you, brother.

 

Jason’s eyes once again darted across the room, and Jack quickly left the room and nudged Jason along. He led Jason to the bathroom.

 

Jack: Get yourself a shower. I’ll lay out some clothes while you’re in there.

 

Jason didn’t respond and Jack more or less nudged him into the room and closed the door behind him. Now Jack was highly suspicious and almost heartbroken. He walked back into the living room, and towards the kitchen table where Brian was seated.

 

Jack: Something is wrong, and he won’t tell me.

 

Brian: He said it was a divorce.

 

Jack: No. I know what I’m seeing. I’m going to need you to keep an eye on him.

 

Brian: I ain’t nobody’s babysitter.

 

Jack’s eyes narrowed.

 

Jack: First of all, he’s my brother, your nephew. And second, you fucking brought him here.

 

Brian: Because he came all this way and he was at the casino!

 

Jack: He needs help. But I know what I just saw him do. He needs eyes on him 24/7.

 

Brian: What are you talking about?

 

Jack: What I’m seeing is an addict. He wasn’t impressed by anything I have, Brian. He’s looking for things to steal. He was fucking casing the rooms. 

 

Brian: You don’t think?

 

Jack: He... God damn it I hope he’s not, but that’s what the shit looks like. So just... just watch him, okay?

 

Brian didn’t say anything at first, but he saw the look on Jack’s face, and in his eyes. Jack was 100% serious about protecting his brother. 

 

Brian: Alright.

 

Jack: Thank you.

 

Jack walked back to one of the other spare rooms and pulled out some fresh clothes he no longer wore. He didn’t even know why he still had them, but he was glad he did. He looked at them for a moment, and sighed. He took them and into the room he had given Jason and laid the clothes on the bed. He walked away and sat down, keeping an eye on the door to the bathroom and listening to hear the shower running. After about 10 minutes, there still was no water running. Jack began to become both impatient, and worried. He went and knocked on the door.

 

Jack: Jay?

 

Jack got no answer. He knocked again.

 

Jack: Jay? Are you okay?

 

Jack turned the door handle and found it was locked. He turned it a few more times to be sure, before he sensed what could be behind the door. Jack began to shoulder the door, trying to open it.

 

Jack: JAY!

 

There was still no response from the other side, and now Brian was up and entered the hallway, seeing what the commotion was.

 

Brian: What the hell are you doing?

 

Jack: It’s locked and he’s not answering. 

 

Jack said it so quickly that Brian barely had time to compute all of it, before he too was shouldering the door, and then seeing it as futile, Jack pushed Brian back and a couple of hard kicks knocked the door off its hinges and forced it open.

 

Jack: Jay!

 

Jack rushed in passed the door, and there was Jason, lying curled up in a ball, almost in the fetal position and twitching. Jack rushed over and fell to his knees to console his brother.

 

Jack: Jay! Wake up! Jay!

 

Jack looks at Brian with actual fear on his face.

 

Jack: Get an ambulance. Or the car. We need to get to the hospital! NOW!

 

Brian again takes a moment for it all to register as Jack holds his brother in his arms. He then hurries out of the room grabbing keys and preparing to start the car.

 

Brian: BRING HIM! LET’S GO!

 

Jack essentially cradle carries Jason, who’s eyes all of a sudden pop open and he gasps for air. Jack almost drops him as Jason scrambles to figure out what’s happening.

 

Jason: Whoa... what? I’m... I’m okay. Just tired man.

 

Jack: TIRED?! What the FUCK, JAY?!

 

Jason: Sorry man... I was just going to take a shower.

 

Jack is confused that Jason does not remember the past 15-20 minutes.

 

Jason: Yeah, I thought we were going to the shower. 

 

Jack: You were in the bathroom and you stopped answering me! What the fuck? Don’t you remember that?

 

Jason: N... No. I was just going to the shower and now... I’m here. Did you not start the shower?

 

Jack at this point was more sad than angry, the mix of emotions at the sight of his once strong older brother now just made him upset.

 

Jack: What happened to you?

 

Jason: I’m good man... I just need to get my head on straight. I just need like a few days.

 

Jack knew something else was wrong. He didn’t say anything else as he led Jason to a different restroom, looking at the door he kicked open to the downstairs bathroom as he led Jason gingerly up the stairs. He led him into the bathroom and sat on the toilet in front of Jason.

 

Jack: Take a shower.

 

Jason: Alright, dude... I’m okay. 

 

Jack: Then take a shower. 

 

Jack watched as Jason looked around nervously for a few seconds, and then began to disrobe and Jack could finally see Jason’s frame was much, much smaller than he should be. He clearly lost a lot of muscle that would be normal on a person who was in the military. It was becoming clearer and clearer to Jack that something else was wrong with Jason, not just a divorce. Once Jason actually stepped into the shower, Jack got up and left, but stood outside the door listening for moment. Once the water turned off, Jack came back in and escorted Jason back to his room and watched him put on clothes and as if Jason was a child, Jack tucked him into bed. 

 

Jack returned to the living room and sat down, his face now having that same thousand-yard stare it has currently. Brian put a hand on Jack’s shoulder that he did no acknowledge.

 

Brian: Is he...

 

Jack: There’s something he’s not telling me, and we may have to get it out of him somehow. Did he have ANYTHING on him? 

 

Brian shook his head

 

Brian: Nothing but the clothes on his back. I figured he was staying somewhere.

 

Jack: Wait a little bit, get his clothes. We’ll have to go through them to see if there’s anything that can provide any clue as to the issue.

 

Brian: You wanna do that to your brother?

 

Jack: You’re goddamn right. He’s my brother. Now leave me alone. 

 

Brian took his hand off of Jack, who just sat there staring off into space.

 

--

Grand Flamingo Casino
Las Vegas, NV.
Two weeks ago.

 

Jack had been taking care of Jason, not allowing him to go anywhere unsupervised. Brian was mostly responsible for Jason, while Jack tried to resume his normal activities, but it was obviously more difficult. Jack was getting impatient and annoyed with everything now. 

 

Jack arrived at the Casino, in no mood for anything, as he walked up to the manager’s office to meet Benny. Benny was leaning back in the manager’s chair as Jack entered.

 

Benny: There he is.

 

Jack: I’m just here for my money.

 

Benny: What? No time for your partner? Not even gonna ask how business is going?

 

Jack: No. Just give me the money so I can get out of here, I have other things to do.

 

Benny was taken aback by this for a moment, sighing heavily to himself before opening a drawer under the desk and pulling out a large collection of bills. He dumped them into a briefcase and handed it to Jack.

 

Benny: It’s all there.

 

Jack: Thank you.

 

Jack was done with that, and turned to leave, before Benny spoke up again.

 

Benny: Hey, they think they saw you’re brother around here and -

 

Jack wheeled around and almost charged the desk and slammed his hands on either side.

 

Jack: I know. Now, if we’re done, I have things I need to do.

 

Benny was again taken aback by Jack’s behavior and put his hands up.

 

Benny: Alright, alright. Touchy, kid.

 

Jack sighed and turned around and left. As he made his way out of the casino, he pulled out his phone and dialed.

 

Jack: Hello, Sonny.... Listen... I can’t sit around and wait all day for you to make up your mind. I’ve got some other stuff that came up and I’m going to need an answer soon.... Yeah, well... it’s either that, or we don’t do business and we can’t work together. I would say that that would be a bad thing, but I’m just not in the mood to wait around anymore.... I’ll give you a little while longer, and if not, I will find someone else who wants to work with me.

 

With that, Jack hung up the phone and headed out, but as soon as he got in the car, the car was boxed in by two more cars, and a third behind him, halting him from going anywhere. Jack looked and saw the people doing this, and the limo which was the third vehicle, and sighed. He exited the car and knew that in the rear vehicle was the person he needed to speak to. He walked over, and was escorted as well, and the back door of the car was opened and Ana Sofia was right there. Jack entered and sat down.

 

Ana Sofia: Mr. Jack. We are awaiting out chance to do business.

 

Jack: The Casino has been open for a little over two months. You have to give me time to make sure nothing is brought unwanted attention. 

 

Ana Sofia: Mr. Jack, it seems you have been avoiding us.

 

Jack: I’m not avoiding you. I have things that I need to do, and you haven’t given me anything to do. I will give you the word when the operation can begin, it’s as simple as that. 

 

Ana Sofia stared at Jack, but Jack was in no mood for this. Other things were on his mind.

 

Ana Sofia: What is the problem, Mr. Jack?

 

Jack: I don’t know, Ms. Ana-Sofia. IS there a problem? I’m telling you right now that I will get this underway, once enough time has passed. If that doesn’t work for you, then we cannot have this partnership and we can both take our chances elsewhere.

 

Jack was stern, not wanting to anger Ana Sofia, but to get his point across. Ana Sofia  nodded and pointed at the car door.

 

Ana Sofia: Okay. We will speak again, but I warn you, we are not going to wait forever.

 

Jack: Good.

 

Jack took his leave, and watches at the cars all pulled off, and he got back in his car, breathing a sigh of relief. His emotions almost boiled over as he sat in his car for a few moments, just breathing and trying to collect himself. He was so wired and manic now that he certainly needed a rest, but there was so much still to do.

 

--


Click.

Jack sits in his recliner, leaning forward and seemingly out of it. His eyes are off in the distance, staring off into nothing, much like we have seen before. He slowly turns his head and peers into the camera.

 

Jack: I don’t know, or care if you are wondering where I’ve been all this time. It really doesn’t matter to me. I came back, because I need to win the SCW heavyweight championship once again, and to do that, I have to be in the ring, in the company and working. 

 

The fact is I stood back and watched as all I had built over the past year was snatched from me, and then some shithead got in my way and now I still don’t have the championship back. And I want it back. So after Inception, I had to sit myself down and re-evaluate my situation. I knew deep down that all I needed was a championship match, and I could have gotten the job done. But no, O’Malley’s punk ass had to stick his nose where it didn’t belong and because of that, Kris Ryans is walking out the champion. 

But, all in all, O’Malley was part of that match because both Kris, and myself, agreed to that. Looking back on it, it was a stupid decision on my part, because I let my sense of fair play get the best of me. I should have said no, and left O’Malley in the dust, and I wouldn’t have created the problem that at the end of the day, resulted in what happened. I blame myself for that. But now, O’Malley is no longer the issues and I have Kris Ryans all to myself, Sunday for the championship, and my chance at reclaiming what it mine. 

 

I’ve also watch what Kris has done since winning the championship, and lo and behold it’s a big pile of nothing. I’ve watched all that I built with that championship degrade and decay while Kris is just happy to be at the top and not even bothering to do anything like I do. And yes, it’s true, we are very different from each other, the point is, is that Kris is a do-nothing champion, only focused on wrestling whoever is put in front of him. He said it himself. Yes, I have been paying attention to social media, but at the same time, staying away from tweeting anything because it’s not that big of a deal, and I don’t live my life on that platform. It’s simply used to promote me, and my career. Things like this piece of work will go onto the tweet, and that will be the end of it. While Kris, like many other people, just use it as a sounding board to voice opinions on stupid shit and hope they get enough likes or whatever the fuck to make themselves feel good. It’s a disease and I have more or less seen it for what it is, and I use it and treat it as it should be. That’s the end of that.

 

Jack finally blinks at what seems like forever. His eyes continue to pierce the camera as he continues.

 

Jack: More importantly, I have been watching the show, and seen Kris a handful of times, never wondering about the next contender or anything of any value besides being a body carrying a gold belt around. You have to MAKE that championship mean something, and Kris did nothing. Even pathetic ass Alex Jones promoted himself. He may be a total fraud, but at least he tried. Kris isn’t even fucking trying and it’s pissing me off even more that he’s walking around with that belt like it’s all he needs. Fuck all that. You need to be front and center. That’s how you get eyes and get noticed. Kris has been a fucking ghost and he knows I’m right. Well, I can change all that shit on Sunday and get rid of one of the biggest wastes in SCW in one fell swoop. 

 

I made no bones about it then, and I will make none now. I’m in it for the money. I want as much as I can get my hands on, and that championship means more money in my pocket. Purists and other people who like to complicate things will say that’s the wrong motivation, but I think I’ve made it pretty fucking clear over the past year that I don’t give a flying fuck what other people think of me. I care what I do with what I have. I think some people around this company and others would be better suited going on that mantra. Stop worrying about the next man that doesn’t affect you. Period. Focus on you, and what you do. And let me tell you, what Kris is doing, or better yet, NOT doing with that championship affects me greatly. I want that spot again. I want to be at the top of the heap, because it’s where I belong. I never backed down from a fight in my life and I’ve never gone into one thinking I was going to lose. You see, Kris has never been in my shoes or my life so, he doesn’t understand about being a target. Both times he has held that championship, he has treated it like it was no big deal, and just went along for the ride. I cannot, and will not EVER do that. I fight to be at the front of the line, the head of the line to be in control of the fucking ride, not just to ride it. If there’s something to be won, a competition, I want to be the winner. It’s just that simple. And right now, as I speak to you, I’m more of that than Kris Ryans will ever be. The only thing I haven’t done, is beat him to prove it.

 

Yes, I will fully admit I’m fucking 0-3 against Kris Ryans. I have yet, to beat him, and it fucking sucks. I hate that more than anything else. I absolutely despise him for that fact alone. Because I know right now, I am better than Kris Ryans, I just can’t seem to beat him. The first time, I wasn’t where I needed to be. The second time, MAYBE, I was an overconfident champion. I took Kris lightly based on my own success and I paid the price for it. I’m a grown man who can admit when he makes a mistake. And on that night, I did. I fucked up and I lost, what I thought was everything that night. But as my future from that day would explain, I hadn’t lost everything yet, but I was really fucking close.

 

Jack laughs to himself, biting his own hand and running his hand over his face and hair before continuing.

 

Jack: But I became hasty. Greedy. I became blinded by the chance to simply regain the championship and I didn’t focus properly and wouldn’t you fucking know it, Kris Ryans walked away with the championship again. I fucked it up and that sent me to a spot I’ve never actually been in before. I was sitting there, and wondering what was going to happen next, and how it could be any worse. I was starting to actually doubt myself, and wondering if I would be sent to the dregs of competing for less. Because I don’t want that. No one does, but that’s not the point. Yes, I am saying that anything less than the SCW world championship won’t do, because that’s who I am. I am at the top; I am the best. I believe it, & I live it. I expect greatness, because I have achieved it. It’s pretty simple to think that anything less than the best is a step down.

 

And I have the chance to finally make all that right on Sunday. I get Kris Ryans all to myself this time. Nobody is going to get in my way. I can at the very least, give myself closure on a low point in my career. 

 

Yes, Kris, you can get mad or offended, or be too fucking cool for it, I don’t care. But I’m telling you here and now that losing to you, has been a low point. It has been the worst. I wish I could sum up my anger and hatred towards you better, and maybe this will do: 

 

Fuck you. 

 

Fuck you Kris, I hope you slip on a banana peel and hurt yourself. I hope you lose your keys and never find them. All that shit. Because you have something that should be mine. You took that away from me, and you started this spiral that is now out of control. I blame you, and I will carry a grudge against you my entire career for doing what you have done. The only solace that I will take is that beating you ends the chapter on a high note for me. Finally, the monkey will be off my back and that will be nothing but a bad memory for me. Yeah, I’m still going to be very, very salty about it, because that’s what I expect of myself. I want to win all the time. I want to beat everybody. It’s not just something I say in interviews, it’s not just a catchphrase or a dream goal.

 

It’s something I know I am fully capable of doing, and you have presented this nasty hurdle that I can’t seem to get over and it drives me up a fucking wall that it’s like that. Why is it that I can’t do this? Why? What have I been doing wrong these past three times? It was one of the things that kept me up at night trying to figure this shit out when I know how good I am, and it just never made any sense. I never wanted to leave any doubt whatsoever when I am done with this that I was the best, and nobody, nobody was on my level. That’s the kind of drive I have for this Kris. You have demonstrated that you just want to be A guy. I NEED to be THE guy. When I call myself the face of this franchise, I fucking mean it. And I don’t think you really appreciate how seriously I take this. But trust me, you will fucking find out.

 

Jack then pulls the camera closer to him, as if it was being held by someone who wanted to get away. We are uncomfortably close. He sets the camera down after a moment, still getting closer until his eyes are all we see.

 

Jack: See... I’m not going to sit here and threaten you or tell you that it doesn’t matter how I get the job done, you already know that. That’s not new information. But let me just explain to you one thing that you don’t. I am desperate for this win, Kris. It’s not only hunger, or drive, or determination and or will power, or even just skill or emotion that is motivating me. It’s the pure sense of desperation. You see, I don’t need to win, I HAVE to Kris. I HAVE to beat you. More than anything you can ever imagine. If I don’t, then I am lost. Things are just too important to me right now to lose to you. I want you to take a good, long look into my eyes Kris, you look in my eyes and you tell me what you see. You see something that wasn’t there before, don’t you? You don’t see the pity, or fear, or compassion for anyone. That’s never been there, but you see it don’t you? You see that desperation that I have to be the champion and to do it, at your expense. I don’t have to tell you how badly I’m going to kick your ass or threaten you with some childish or super violent threat. You know that by now that I mean those already. That will gladly hurt you and make it so you can’t wrestle. You know that already. But now, when you look into my eyes and you see that desperation, it should awaken something in you. 

 

It should be tell you that you are really in for the fight of your life on Sunday. It should tell you that if you don’t give me the best performance you have ever had. If you don’t fight for YOUR life on Sunday, that you don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell. You see Kris, I’ve lost a lot more than you ever will. But I lost a lot, to you specifically. I lost to you and you gave me my first singles loss. I lost to you again, and you took the world title from me. You took it all away from me. And now, some other things have happened and now, my back isn’t against the wall, but rather, I’m free. I have literally nothing left to lose anymore. I don’t have a care in the world, Kris.

 

That’s why they set this match up, rather than he following through on my statement to hunt you down, Kris. They could tell I was serious, and I hope you do too, Kris. I hope you understand my mindset coming and how this time, more than any other time I’ve ever said anything that what I’m saying is the truth. I will stop at nothing to win back that championship from you. There is no two ways about this. You want me to show you something? You want me to prove it to you? You don’t have to ask twice Kris. Now, without anything I need to worry about losing, without the restrictions of having anything taken away, I will fight you, and I will beat your ass and I will take the title from you. 

 

I said it before that everyone was going to suffer until I get this championship back, and you know, I wasn’t kidding. It all started with me, Kris. I suffered first. I stepped up and I suffered to get it out of the way, so that I knew what it was like to suffer and push on through and make sure they I made this shit count. You will learn Kris, that I may be wrong, but I’m never unsure. Only once was I unsure and that was after Inception. Now? I no longer have that handicap. I am sure of myself once again. And to have that, and to have nothing left to lose, that makes me a very, very dangerous man, Kris.

 

So come Sunday, I will finally get the Kris Ryans monkey off my back. I will finally put that to rest, and then I can be at the top, knowing that I everything I did to get there, was entirely worth it. And that I can finally begin to rebuild everything. From the ground up.

 

The feed just goes black, no cut or fade, just a slam to black. 

 
Click.

Prologue:

 
Jack was on top of the world, still. 

 
He had successfully defending his championship at High Stakes, SCW’s biggest show, and now, he was going to bask in it. He was proud of everything he had accomplished, and now, he could put the members of Wolfslair in the rear-view mirror for now, now he had the holidays coming and he was very proud that he would end the year, as crazy as it was, as the world champion and he believed he was very close to doing that, until the SCW booked him to defend the championship against Kris Ryans. There was no doubt that Jack was not happy about this and he believed it was yet another attempt by SCW to undermine him and do whatever they could to get the championship off him. He was just too good, too fast. So once again, he was going to have to prove himself a worthy champion. While Jack was annoyed by this, and he had become increasingly paranoid about it, he knew he had to be ready otherwise he would slip up, and that’s what a lot of people wanted to have happen. This was just another test, but with a familiar foe, one who had beaten Jack early in his career. But Jack was bound and determined to prove that that was back then, and this was now, it was different, just like he was shooting for the outcome to be. Different from last time.

 

Outside the ring, Jack had relinquished control of the Casino he purchased day to day operations to Benny. While Jack was still a figure head and really pulling the strings, Benny was given the chance based on his experience and connections. Jack would be spending much less time at the Casino now, until it was open for business, and while construction was nearly complete, Benny would be hiring and setting up most of the way on the operations side.

 

Of course, Jack still had dealings with the Mexicans, and despite their objections to Benny’s involvement, Jack had assured them that they would deal with Jack personally, while they got to house their products. Jack knew it wouldn’t be smooth sailing at all times, but he knew if he played his cards right, he would stand to make a profit from that, as well as the Casino. Jack was playing both sides which was highly dangerous, but he figured if only one side knew, then he’d be able to manage. If Benny ever found out, he’d either want a cut, or he’d be bringing the police into the situation, and that was what Jack hoped to stop if Benny did find out, with the casino ownership piece. Jack had a plan and he was moving forward with it despite the dangers that lay ahead.

 

Jack also purchased a home in Las Vegas, no longer having to live under SCW’s Saxon hotel rules and finally gaining a place for himself, and it was a secluded and gated home that he knew afforded him protection. But Jack wasn’t about to continue to live in fear, instead he was going to assert control over his life. Now, having finalized the purchase and closed on the house, Jack was going to treat himself. 

 

But this is the season where ghosts of the pasts come into play...

 

--

 

Washington Estate

Las Vegas, NV

Two weeks ago

 

Jack was now outside his new house, along with his realtor, Greg. Jack looks over the house, once again like a proud parent, having really felt he accomplished something with this move he made. Jack stood staring at the house, hands on hips, sunglasses on and a satisfied grin on his face, as Greg, the agent stood next to him, also smiling. He went to touch Jack’s shoulder, but thought better of it, as Jack wasn’t paying him any attention. Greg only cleared his throat in order to get Jack to look at him. Jack shot a death glare at him.

 

Jack: Why are you ruining this moment?

 

Greg: I’m sorry Mr. Washington, I just wanted to go ahead and finalize everything.

 

Jack doesn’t respond right away, he continues to take a long look at his home, the grin returning to him face. He finally stops and removes his sunglasses, and then turns to Greg.

 

Jack: Where do I sign?

 

Greg had been holding a clipboard, He turns and hands it Jack, who holds it, staring at the paper, and then signs his name. Greg smiles as Jack hands him the clipboard back.

 

Greg: Great. Everything is all set, Mr. Washington.

 

Jack: Good. Very good.

 

Greg: Well, this is it, congratulations, Mr. Washington.

 

Greg extends his hand and Jack at first is reluctant to shake it. He stares the open hand of Greg.

 

Jack: COVID, Dude.

 

Greg pulls his hand away sheepishly.

 

Jack: Thank you. I mean, I would shake your hand, this is a big deal and you have been very helpful in this, but you know, I don’t want to get sick. I don’t know where you’ve been.

 

Greg just laughs nervously. He didn’t want to get Jack upset or mess anything up, the sale was final, so Greg was just estatic to try and finish this off. 

 

Greg: Yes, well, anyway, here you go.

 

Greg pulls a keyring out of his pocket. The 4 keys adorned on them. He holds them out and Jack takes them.

 

Jack: So... this is it?

 

Greg: Yes. Yes, Mr. Washington, you’re a homeowner. 

 

Jack: I am, aren’t I?

 

Greg: Yes sir.

 

Jack began to almost play with the keys on the keyring. Despite there only being four keys, Jack turned them around and swung them around on his finger. Finally, he grasps the keyring in his fist and turns to Greg.

 

Jack: Alright, I suppose our business is concluded, so you can go ahead and leave.

 

Greg: Right. Right, enjoy Mr. Washington, you’ve made a hell of a purchase.

 

Greg again goes for the handshake, but thinks better off it. With a bounce in his step, he makes his way to his car, with the paperwork in hand as he whistles a happy tune before driving off, leaving Jack alone. Jack continues to stare before he entered the gate, shutting it and locking it behind him. He smirks as he moves up the outside stairs to his pool and patio area, smiling the entire time. He takes the time to admire the entire area, before unlocking the door from the outside, smiling as he opened it and entered what is at this point a giant empty house. Jack was pleased as he made his way through the halls and could hear his footsteps as the only noise around. Here it was, it was all his and he was very, very pleased with it. 

 

Jack: All mine.

 

Jack continued around the house, before he finished his tour and took a deep breath as he stopped in front of the front door.

 

Jack: New house smell. Damn that’s good.

 

Jack finally realized that while the house was his, and while he had the keys, there really wasn’t anything here, and that needed to change. He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed.

 

Voice: Stick?

 

Jack: We’re official.

 

Brian: Is that so?

 

Jack: Damn right. 

 

Brian: Good on ya, Stick, I guess I’ll be over soon. 

 

Jack: Yeah, the movers are coming this weekend, but as soon as that’s all taken care of, we’re going to discuss the rent you’re going to pay.

 

Brian: Very funny, Stick.

 

Jack: I’m not joking. This shit was expensive, and if you’re going to live here, you’re chipping in.

 

Brian sighs on the other end.

 

Brian: Okay Stick, we’ll talk about it. I’m on the way. This is a cause for celebration.

 

Jack: Yes, it is.

 

Jack ended the call just like that. He had a bottle of champagne to celebrate, and all alone, he popped the corked, spilling champagne everywhere, but he didn’t care. He would clean it up later, but for now, this was his celebration, and he was enjoying it exactly how he wanted. By himself. This was his moment.

 

--

 

Washington Estate

Las Vegas, NV

 

Jack was still standing around, drinking the champagne out of the bottle when Brian showed up. Jack had to go outside and unlocked the gate, allowing Brian in. Brian looked at Jack and the bottle in his hands, shaking his head at his young nephew.

 

Brian: Getting a head start, Stick?

 

Jack: You said this was a cause for celebration, right?

 

Brian: Yeah, nobody said for you to drink the whole bottle.

 

Jack: It’s my champange. 

 

Brian: Yes, I’m aware of that. Not even gonna bother to share, are you?

 

Jack looked Brian, and then at the bottle, and then back to Brian.

 

Jack: I would but... I don’t have any glasses yes.

 

Brian: Then what are you even doing here? You got the keys, you should be finding a nice hotel or something until everything is ready.

 

Jack just shook his head, handing what was left in the bottle over to Brian, as he turned and stared at the house in front of him.

 

Jack: Because it’s mine. I can do whatever I want here. It’s fucking great. This is something I bought, with my own money. Money I earned. I don’t have to live in anybody’s shadow anymore, Brian. My dad is no longer a factor in my life and I’m fucking thrilled. This whole thing has been worth it. I’ve got everything I want. I’ve done it my way and it feels really, really fucking good.

 

Jack leads Brian into the house, the two of them inside the empty place with nothing but the echoes coming from the house as they walk around. Brian is less than impressed, but happy for his nephew for accomplishing a goal of his. 

 

Brian: You got lofty goals there, kid. But uh, I think you better start at least with some furniture. 

 

Jack rolls his eyes at Brian’s joke.

 

Jack: Very funny. I told you, the movers will bring the stuff in over the weekened. And then I’ll get used to it. 

 

Brian: Yeah, but, right now, it’s empty.

 

Jack: I know that, but you know, it’s like anything, sometimes you just get an exterior, a skeleton and once you will in all the details, man, it looks nice. And It’s what I’m doing both in and out of the ring. I’m building. You see how far I got with the casino, I laid the foundation, just like here. This is just a foundation right now. It’s bare bones, I’ll admit that, but soon, soon it’s going to be filled. Just like the casino. And just like I’m doing in SCW.

 

Brian: I saw that, congratulations on the big win. 

 

Jack: Pfft. No sweat. I’m the champ.

 

Brian: They going to give you the holidays off I suppose, right?

 

Jack: Well, the show before holiday break I have to be there fucking stupid title defense. I mean, they could have just let me live and let me do what I needed to do to end 2021, but no, some asshole has a title shot. It’s fucking unreal. Plus, I already let them know I’ll be in the arena for the first night. Despite it all, Gotta celebrate this victory properly.

 

Brian: I see. 

 

Jack: I’m tell you, Brian, things could not be looking up further for me. I told Benny this was the start of something great, and I fucking meant it. I can’t wait to see what 2021 is all about if this is how 2020 ends.

 

Brian: Not if you lose.

 

Jack turns and side eyes Brian, before turning and pointing a finger in his face.

 

Jack: Don’t put that shit on me, Brian. Don’t kill my fucking vibe. I’m the champion, and I’m going to stay that way for a long time. I’m going to pull in that championship money!

 

Brian eases forward and pushes Jack’s finger away gently.

 

Brian: Relax, Stick. I was just messing with ya. Now, I guess we gotta really go celebrate now, I’m getting creeped out by the echo in here.

 

Jack: Alright, alright, but soon, we’re going to fucking rock this place with a house warming party! Fuck. Yeah. 

 

--

Washington Estate

Las Vegas, NV

One Week Ago

 

It is the night of Jack’s house warming party. It’s a select group of people, all of them of course wearing masks due to COVID. However, Benny did decide to bring along some women to the party as well. And Bobby was able to round up some party-goers and a DJ to play some music in Jack’s newly furnished home. Jack was able to mingle with several people and the good times were being had. However, there was still much to discuss.

 

Jack sat at the head of the kitchen table, Benny on one side, and Brian on the other. There was a bottle of Jack Daniels between them, most of the way finished along with three shot glasses, and three men are smoking cigars per usual.

 

Benny: I gotta say, kid, you’re doing pretty well with a place like this.

 

Jack: Thank you Benny. I like it a lot.

 

Benny: Maybe you need some boys around here, just in case.

 

Jack eyed Benny suspiciously.

 

Jack: Just in case of what? 

 

Benny: I don’t know, never know with all these crazies around here. Out there spreading diseases and all that.

 

Jack: That’s why people are wearing masks here. I think you’re implying something else, Benny. 

 

Benny: Look, kid, you got enemies everywhere, Kid. They come from everywhere and they don’t stop coming just because you move away. You know that by now.

 

Jack: Are you suggesting that people from the street are coming here. Well, let’s just think about this for a second, the only reason that somebody like that would should up now, is that they knew where I lived. Now, as I look around, something interesting does strike me right now. There’s only 3 people who would inform other people that I live here. One, is me, and one is Brian, who’s also going to be staying here. So, I think that kind of narrows it down, Benny. Are you going to be that fucking guy now?

 

There is a tense moment of silence, and Brian happens to break it up by pouring himself another shot. 

 

Brian: You guys can drive a man drink. Arguing like bitches.

 

Jack: No, Brian, that sounds like foreshadowing. But thanks Benny, Now I know where to look if things go sideways here.

 

Benny: I was just saying to look out for yourself, Kid. I ain’t trying to set you up.

 

Jack: I hope not, Benny, because that would be pretty fucked up. Is that how you would repay me Benny, I put you in this position and you’d try and take me out?

 

Benny: No, god damn it! I’m not saying that at all. We’re working together kid, I agreed to do this with you. I was just saying to look out for issues, because we both fucking got them. Sonny ain’t out of the picture either. You know that, right? He’s still gonna scheme about how to put us both out of business. He’s got unlimited resources. He’s not gonna just let you compete.

 

Jack: Well, it’s a good thing I got you, isn’t it? Like I said a bunch of times, Benny, if we work together, we can make this work. But I need to know I can trust you on this shit. 

 

Benny: Of course, you can.

 

Another period of silence, before Brian pours the last of the whiskey and downs it himself.

 

Brian: Are we done now? Nobody’s setting anybody up. Jesus christ you two. Get a hold of yourselves. We ain’t even off the ground yet, and we got this shit happening. Get your heads out of your asses, gentlemen, we need to be able to fucking see, before we’re blindsided by actual problems, not pretty squabbles.

 

There is another brief moment where Benny and Jack stare at one another and then finally Jack nods. He knew Brian was right, although he already had other plans in motion. But riling up Benny was not the right idea.

 

Jack: You’re right, you’re right, we need better communication, that’s all. I didn’t mean to go off on you Benny, I do need your wisdom and experience in this situation. I’m just a little on edge these days. That’s how I was raised, you know that. Trust is something that needs to be earned in my book, and that’s not something I give away easily. 

 

Benny nods himself.

 

Benny: I get it kid, it’s good to be paranoid sometimes. Keeps you on your toes. I’m with you on this, I’m ready to help you. We’re teaming up and that’s what we need to do.

 

Jack: Good. I uh... I need some air. Get some more of that whiskey out of the fridge. After a little hiccup like this, I’ll probably need a drink to calm my nerves.

 

Jack stands up from the table, and walks out of the room, headed to his back patio to catch his breath. He pondered the future as he leaned forward on the back patio porch, it was quiet and he was all alone with his thoughts. He stared at everything in front of him, including the pool, and if Benny was trying to get into his head, he was succeeding. Jack realized that a gate was strong, but maybe he did need people to actually be guarding him. But would that mean he was living scared? 

 

He thought about this for a while before Brian appeared at the back door, whistling for him. Jack turned and spotted him.

 

Brian: You coming? 

 

Jack: Yeah, just... give me a minute, yeah?

 

Brian: Don’t blame me when this is all gone, Stick.

 

Jack: Yeah, I know. 

 

Brian disappeared behind the door again and left Jack alone again.

 

Jack: Fuck.

 

Jack let out the word and his thoughts again raced. The door swung open behind him again. Jack didn’t bother to look back before he spoke.

 

Jack: I said I’d be right there.

 

Voice: Hello, John.

 

Jack spun around quickly with the soft, feminine voice he remembered, and the word “John” His name. And only one person ever called him that.

 

Jack: Jessica?

 

Jessica: I see you’re living a good life out here.

 

Jack: What... what are you doing out there? Shouldn’t you be in Philly?

 

Jessica: I probably should be, but I’m on vacation. I just came here to see what all the fuss is about.

 

Jack: Jessica, I... 

 

Jessica: You’ve made something of yourself John. I can respect that. Ownership in a casino, World champion wrestler. You’ve done well in a short amount of time.

 

Jack: I.. appreciate that. I still don’t understand why you’re even here. I mean, it’s been a long time.

 

Jessica: It has, doesn’t mean that two friends can’t get together, does it?

 

Jack: No, but it’s just... It’s good to see you is all.

 

Jessica: Likewise, John. I figured you’d be too big for me at some point, so might as well get it done now before that happens.

 

Jack: That’s not who I am Jessica. You know me.

 

Jessica: I do know you, and that’s why I came here, because what I see on TV, and how fast word travels, you aren’t that boy I knew all those years ago.

 

Jack: I grew up, Jessica. But I didn’t change. 

 

Jessica: Yes you have, John, you can’t fool me into thinking that either way. That’s not how this works. You’re changing and becoming exactly like your father.

 

Jack: What? How can you say that?

 

Jessica: Because of what I know John. Because of who I know, and how I know them. It’s the other reason I came here tonight. People let me know you were here, and exactly what day you’d be doing this. That doesn’t strike you as odd.

 

Jack: I mean, it does, but...

 

Jessica: John, I’m a cop, I’m trained to be able to get information from people without having to beat them up or otherwise twist their arm. And you know, sometimes, people tell me things, and I need to find out if they’re true. And the bad part is, John? I already know what I know is true without having to talk to you. People already told me and I see now they are correct.

 

Jack: What are you talking about? I hate this cop double talk. Come out with it.

 

 

Jessica: I came here to warn you Jack, because of our past, and that boy that I knew, despite what happened, I don’t want him to get hurt. People told me how to find you, and people are watching you. People you know, and people you think you know. 

 

Jack: Who told you?

 

Jessica: Marta. Marta Jimenez.

 

Jack: Who?

 

Jessica laughs knowingly.

 

Jessica: There was a women in a trunk a few months back. Ms. Ana Sofia Domingez and her crime family have been pushing their stuff all across the country, and Marta was one of the people buying from her. And you know what happens when you miss a payment? You die. That’s what happens when Ana Sofia thinks you have crossed her. And she wanted you to get rid of her.

 

Jack: She... But I didn’t.

 

Jessica: I know you didn’t. She talked to a lot of people, thankful that you kept her alive. And that’s very commendable Jack. You did a good thing by not killing her.

 

Jack: If she didn’t make any noise in the trunk I would have. She’s lucky I knew she was there. She saved her own life.

 

Jessica: But you spared her. And people saw her. People who work for Ana Sofia. She’s in protective custody right now because of it. And Ana Sofia knows she’s alive, she may just be decieving you into thinking that she’s okay with it, or that she doesn’t know. But you’re in a bad deal if you work with her John.

 

Jack: I can’t just back out of that. I made a promise, and I keep my promises, Jessica. I don’t want to hurt people like that. I lived way too long in that life that violence is the go-to option for anything. I want that time to be over. I didn’t want to kill her -

 

Jessica: And you’re in this mess because of it. Just like your father would be. 

 

Jack: There is no easy way out of this Jessica, you know that. 

 

Jessica: I do, I can talk to people here and possibly get you out of this mess before you’re poisioning the rest of Las Vegas.

 

Jack: Las Vegas is a poison in itself, Jessica. You know that just like I do. They call this place Sin City for crying out loud. There’s no redeeming this place, just like there’s no redeeming Philly, and you know, maybe there’s no redeeming me at this point. Maybe I was in that life for too long, I don’t know. But I’m not going to sell any of it, I’m not going to use any of it. Doesn’t that count for something?

 

 

Jessica: No, it doesn’t. You’re assisting all the same. Like I said, I can talk to people and maybe get you out of this.

 

Jack: You... you want me to snitch?

 

Jessica: Don’t say it like it’s not a solution to the problem. Like your moral code won’t allow it.

 

Jack: That’s a code I lived by. I don’t narc on anybody. That’s not how that goes.

 

Jessica: It’s only going to end one of two ways John. Either you in the ground, or her entire operation in prison and the spread of her disease stopped.

 

Jack: Don’t make me do that Jessica, don’t put me in that position.

 

Jessica: You already are, John. You have a choice you can make and maybe save things, or make them worse. Ana Sofia is one day not going to have use for you. She already knows you live here. She’s already got people watching your every move. 

 

Jessica moved closer to Jack, putting a piece of paper in his hand, and actually hugging him. It takes a moment for it to register on Jack before he hugs her back.

 

Jessica: Think about your choice.

 

Jack: Jessica...

 

Jessica turned, shaking her head, and she walked away, and eventually leaving the party. A minute after Jessica was out of sight, Brian once again peeked his head out of the back door.

 

Brian: Come on, Stick!

 

Jack: Yeah... yeah.

 

Jack looked down at the piece of paper, and put it in his pants pocket, rejoining the party.

 
--



Click

We are with Jack in his new home. His Christmas stocking is hung over his fireplace, notably it’s the only stocking hung. Seemingly in the holiday spirit, Jack is seated on his leather couch, a cigar lit and half smoked in an ashtray beside him on the side cabinet next to the lamp. Jack is leaning back, and an actual smile across his face, and the SCW world championship draped across his lap. Jack even wears a santa hat for good measure.

 

Jack: Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life that bring you the most joy, you know? Just being able to sit here still the SCW world champion, a second successful title defense under my belt and damn, life was good. Having buried Wolfslair  in the ground for good, I was ready to finish this year on a pretty positive note. I have silenced any and all doubters who continue to try and tell me that I’m still unproven and that are just jealous that I picked up the ball when they fumbled. I told them to put me in coach, I was ready to play, and bam, I fucking picked up the ball, ran and scored the touchdown and won the big game. I have done exactly what I said I was going to do and I have made no bones about how I conduct my fucking business. I win, I may play dirty, I may cheat, I may bend or break the rules, but I get results. You may not like it, but it’s the truth. It’s the main thing I pride myself on. I have exposed many a bitch, posing as internet tough guys and keyboard warriors and people who are not on my level. I have no backed down from any challenge, nor will I start any time soon. Do I make tactical choices on whether to fight? Of course. That’s just how a smart man thinks. That’s how a champion, moves. It’s pretty simple.

 

So, this nonsense with O’Malley finally growing a nutsack and trying to go through his redemption story is touching and all, but he deserves nothing. This man had two championship, and now they’re all gone. And, after I mopped the floor with him, he put on some Dropkick Murphy’s or watched Matt Damon movie and now he’s all ready to fight me. Cool. I have already completely obliterated O’Malley twice, so I will have no problem doing it a third time, and making sure he, like Alex Jones, and like Austin James Mercer, are completely out my hair once, and for all. 

 

I mean, didn’t he just lose, handedly, to Agostino Romano? A loser I’ve crushed twice in recent memory. And now he thinks he’s just gonna waltz in and try to take some shortcut and take my championship? Piss on that. O’Malley, is going to learn, just like everyone else, when you come at me, you best not miss, and you best not piss me off. Everyone who has stepped to me has walked away with their ego bruised and a newfound respect when there wasn’t any to start with. O’Malley should already know, but if he keeps fucking with me, he’ll learn once again that I am not the one who you try and get one over on. People like that, end up regretting it. All but one, I guess, And I’ll get to him momentarily.

 

Jack sighs, and removes the santa hat as he takes a puff of the cigar before continuing.

 

Jack: But, of course, it seems that in my personal and professional life everyone is out to try and ruin my holiday mood by forcing me to face my past. I mean, SCW is making me defend my championship AGAIN, the third time in under 2 months. I don’t remember Ben Jordan doing this, I don’t remember Al- wait no he didn’t have the title long enough... Whoever Ben Jordan beat, Vinnie? Yeah, Vinnie I’m sure wasn’t put in this type of situation. But when you say the things I say, when you move people and command attention the way I do, people want to try and knock you off. That’s okay. So, SCW decided rather than to pull up from the dredges and reach through all the garbage and find someone, anyone who could challenge me, that Kris Ryans just happened to have a SCW world title match in his back pocket. Which is fine, Kris won this on a game show or whatever so he’s got it and he’s got to use it, so he is. And apparently, I am supposed to be intimidated or afraid by Kris Ryans, I’m supposed to look at Kris Ryans and go... oh no, he’s a former World and Roulette champion. Oh no, he’s currently ruling the oh-so-competitive mixed tag division. 

 

In case people don’t get it by now, I don’t have to respect any championship wins, anyone has earned in the past, especially when it was years ago. I proved that point a while back, didn’t I? You see, respect is a two-way street in this world. You have to earn it, and then you give it back. Alex Jones could have made his job really easy and said “hey kid, I know you’ve got heart and determination, but you know, I may not have more of these title reigns left, so I’m going to hold on this for as long as I can.” But no, Alex decided to flaunt his 10 or 15 title wins and disrespect me by telling me I wasn’t ready. And then, after he showed me the disrespect, I showed it back to him, and he got his panties in a wad and cried foul. And then, after he lost, he threw up a bullshit tweet about respecting me and then when right back to bitching about losing. But there was a key figure in that moment Kris, but we’ll get to that in second. After I disposed of Alex Jones, Austin Mercer came running in. He could have told the truth and said he was fighting for Alex Jones and Wolfslair, but he lied, just like he lied about his tweets and was resoundingly shown to be a complete fraud in the ring. He too, chose to disrespect me by being a pretender, and then to, have to throw out the bullshit surrender tweet after he got run over. I earned respect and then chose to try and take it away. 

 

And then, there was you, Kris.

 

Jack learns forward, his festive spirt is now gone, and a scowl replaces his smile.

 

Jack: Yeah, there’s always been you, going through and choosing actively to disrespect me by swinging from Wolfslairs nuts like god damn fanboy, choosing to not put respect on my name and then vanishing just as quickly as you appeared. You have been a ghost for a long time Kris. And now, you come back to haunt me, right? You’ve come back to do what you think you can do because you’re in my head, right? 

 

Oh yes, I have not forgotten, I just don’t really bring it up, because it’s just wasn’t relevant before. People have already forgotten about it because they have seen that I didn’t stop and kept moving forward and driving and beating people’s asses and winning matches and titles and proving to everyone I was as good as I said I was. But no, Kris, I haven’t forgotten, you’ve been sitting on this little nugget because you think it gives you an edge. Sorry to tell you, it doesn’t. It only adds to my motivation.

 

Yes, I can readily admit to you, right now, that some 6 or 8 months ago, when I was newer to the company, Kris Ryans got a victory over me. The luckiest 3 seconds on his life and at this point the highlight of his 2020. I can, in a way, respect that. I was younger, I was still adjusting, and Kris Ryans showed me exactly where I stood that night. I didn’t have what it took to be at the top just yet, but I was god damn close. And after that, I got better. Better and better and more and more confident. I ascended to the top of the mountain faster than anyone could have expected. Within 3 months of debuting, I was a cunt hair away from beating Ben Jordan for the SCW World title. And then, in my second attempt, I won this championship right here and I have kept it ever since. So yes, I do owe Kris Ryans a lot. I have to fondly look back and understand what exactly happened and how it shaped everything for me.

 

Jack throws up his hand, in an “hey, you never know” type motion

 

Jack: See, if I have just beat Kris Ryans, maybe all this other stuff wouldn’t have been so bad. Maybe, I wouldn’t be hearing from Kris subtweeting me like a bitch, quote tweeting and acting like the coolest dude. I mean, I can so imagine the idea that Kris Ryans has to shut his fucking trap because he’s already yesterday's news. What’s he going to say to me? I already whooped his ass once, and normally, that’s all it takes these days. I don’t hear Alex Jones running his mouth anymore. And Austin James Mercers out here acting like he wants to be a bad ass NOW instead of last month. I have beat respect into people, and that’s a fact. All but one person. All but Kris Ryans.

 

And I get it. Now, Kris is running around here, he made his big comeback, he didn’t even think he was welcome around here anymore since he fucked up so bad, and he’s basically trying to pass himself off and some sort of success story. And while it’s funny to hear that, you really believe that don’t you Kris? You come waltzing back in here and you’re trying to pick up where you left off when you left the first time right? This whole story gets a happy ending when you win this SCW world championship and all is right with the world? Sorry my guy, but this isn’t the movies. Because you got one win over me when I first started doesn’t mean jack shit now. 

 

But when you stop and think about it Kris, it should worry you, it shouldn’t give you any confidence. Think about how you, coming back after a long layoff and then losing to Bill Barnhart happened, and everyone doubted you, and then you run into me. I don’t quite have it all together just yet, and you managed to build your confidence back up because you got the win. But even you, even you know that you pretty much lucked out and got by. And then what happened, Kris? I tore through this company and won this championship. You? Let me stop and think, you were sitting around, not taking this seriously because you had a championship match lined up shortly after our match. You went ahead and returned to 2017 and got everything back the way it was. You and Mikah sitting back and laughing at everybody and it was all fun and games for you. But while you may have expected me to roll over and die, I didn’t. Not even close Kris. I learned from you and I became the man. You are pretty much the only person in this company I haven’t be able to right what was a major wrong for me. A misstep at best and now, I get that chance. So, let me just tell you that this match means way more to me, than it EVER will to you. Why? Because you are on your high horse because you’ve got gold around your waist from a crummy, crumbling division and you think this is a joke. This is real life son, and this championship I earned, this championship that I had to bite, scratch, and claw for? I will do ANYTHING to keep it.

 

Jack looks down at the championship, clutching it tightly to his waist.

 

Jack: Before I wrestled you, and slightly after I wrestled you, I was just trying to fit in. I was trying to figure out something that you make me stand out, at the same time, at least at that point, not trying to make waves, figuring that I would get a chance somewhere down the road, and that it was early in my career to set the goals that high. 

 

But then I said, “Fuck all that.” Because I knew in my heart I was destined to be at the top. I wasn’t going to less that loss define me. Instead of waiting for an opportunity, I took it. And I became what I am today, the SCW world heavyweight champion. And now you come out of the grass like a snake, trying to stop what has been a truly awe-inspiring reign as the champion for me. I don’t think there’s ever been a champion like me, and if you think I’m going to let you stop me, Kris, you have got a truly painful surprise coming from me. At Climax Control I will erase any hopes that you had of becoming some sort of double champion at my expense. Oh no, I will go to any lengths I have to retain this championship. You see, my road to this championship wasn’t easy, but by god I did it. I took it to those so-called legends and hall of famers. I carved a path that no one else has come close to. There has been no one like me, and there never will be again in SCW. Not even you, Kris. Reality is here to smack you in your smug face one more time. You will be awakened from this fever dream you’re having right now of becoming the champion.

 

Jack again leans back, another puff taken from his cigar.

 

Jack: I can see your dream right now Kris. You got me right where you want me don’t you? Yeah, you’ve got those people cheering you on, you’ve got everybody on your side, and they give you that energy to take my championship.

 

Oh yeah, you’re on a roll aren’t you? A little spinning wheel kick, bam! A jawbreaker, wham! A tornado DDT, BOOM! You’ve got this Kris! Can you see Mikah backstage screaming in approval?! Yeah, it’s right there! It’s unbelievable what you’re doing, it’s amazing. Why not add a little side effect and you are in the driver’s seat my man! The world title is in your grasp, it’s 2017 all over again, holy shit! You’ve hit the Smackshot and whoo boy you’ve got this in the bag man! But why not, why not go for the kill? You’ve got all the momentum, you’re it, you’re on fire. This is it, your big moment! And oh man, the fans are on their feet as you hit that vaunted Godspeed! That’s it, you’ve done it! You just gotta make that cover and there it is! One. Two. Three. You’ve done it, you’re the world champion! Mikah can sprint down to the ring and celebrate and everyone is chanting your name as you make history, you’re a damn double champion! Holy shit you are that damn good my man.

 

Jack has a wide grin as he describes this, but as soon as he’s done, it disappears, and Jack snaps his fingers as he says:

 

Jack: Wake up.

 

Because all that shit, I just went through? It’s just that, a dream. A dream scenario that will NOT be playing out for you on Sunday. 

 

On Sunday, you will learn that while you got me once, you will NEVER get me again. I learn from my mistakes Kris. I learned from that match and on Sunday, I will beat your scrawny ass like you stole something. You are in for the beating of your life. You will serve as yet another example and testament to my greatness. All there was before to fight for was money, and now, it’s not just money anymore. It’s this championship. And I hold this championship very near and dear to my heart. I know you fucking saw what I did to get this, because you always had a little snide comment. I know you were paying attention and I know you will always have that first match to fall back on, but when it counts more than anything, Kris. I will be an entirely different animal than I was back then. I’m the one backed into a corner now with you coming for my championship. I’m the one with everything to lose. You’re not going to lose jack shit. You’re still going to be a mixed tag team champion; you will still be in a partnership you enjoy and on top of a shit division. 

 

Me? I lose and everything I just busted my ass for, and prove the doubters wrong, they pop up again like a fucking pimple. Oh, looks like Jack got lucky, and then Kris Ryans swooped in and now Jack has to rebuild everything. Jack’s gotta earn himself another championship match, but Kris Ryans has his number, he’s 2-0 against him. Jack Washington cannot beat Kris Ryans in the ring. 

 

I said it before, and I will said it again.

 

“Fuck. All. That.”

 

Jack shakes his head “no” like a person who doesn’t want something to be true.

 

Jack: I’m not ever going to let any shit like that be said about me. No, no that will not stand and I will not have my world championship title reign be ended by a smirking jackass who thinks he has my number. No, I will finally exorcise that ghost once and for all. I will put Kris Ryan’s away and show that I am exactly what I say I am. I am the franchise player in this company. I am it’s premier champion. SCW has been waiting to see me fail, and it makes me all the more paranoid. It makes me all the more eager to prove each and every single person wrong. They have made me this cornered animal, and that is when an animal is at it’s most dangerous Kris. When you give me no options but to fight, I will fight, and when I fight, as is proven, more often then not, I win.  And it makes all those haters sick. It makes them so jealous because they just can’t stop me. They pray and pray each and every night, hoping that their prayers get answered and I go away, and somebody beats me for this championship. But that’s all they seem to be able to do. Hope and pray that someone does it. And you wanna shoot your shot, Kris? You wanna choose now to cash in this championship match? Well, my guy you choose the worst possible time to try it. You should have done this before Ben Jordan lost, you could have had your little dream match and it could have meant something. But now, it’s just going to be you, and me, and son, Your chances of taking this championship from me, are slim and none, and slim just fucking left town. 

 

Sunday, I will beat you, and you, like everyone else, will never ever get to hold anything over me. I am the SCW world heavyweight champion for a reason Kris, and it’s because I am the god damn best thing going today. And you will find that out on Sunday.

 

Happy Holidays, you fucking peckerhead.

 

Jack stands up, and puts out his cigar and we are left with the last flickering light from the cherry of the cigar as we fade.

Click

Prologue:

Jack had done it. He was now the SCW World Heavyweight champion. He had accomplished his goal and he was damn proud of himself and what he had achieved. He walked through the curtain after the match and although he was applauded by the crew and the folks running the show. Jack only shook a couple of hands, those of Mark Ward and Christian Underwood. They ran the show so it was only fitting to shake their hands. To everyone else, he was almost snubbing them, but he did give a subtle nod before he walked right back to the locker room and he packed his stuff. He was about to leave, just like that, but he was informed that he needed to take his new championship promotional photos, there were name plates that needed to be changed. New videos and 8x10’s that needed him there. Jack did as he was told as he knew the hard work was just beginning. He was the champion now, so as much as it pained him to be a public figure like this, it was what he was facing now. He stayed behind after the show was over, interviews and podcasters already wanted him. He changed into his regular clothes and did the SCW Post show press conference before he was finally allowed to head back, finish getting everything signed off on and all the annoying new things he would have to do as champion. Finally, he gathered his bag, he went back to the hotel and spent his first night as champion. Now, he needed to prepare for what lay ahead next inside the ring.

Outside the ring, Jack knew that with what was going to go down of the Grand Flamingo, bringing Benny in on the deal would be beneficial but would also come with a cost. And Benny could not know about the deal Jack had with the Mexicans. But Jack was smart enough to know that Benny had experience with running an operation and he would be able to keep it running far smoother than Jack would. Jack reasoned they needed each other to stay in business. Now the only question was whether or not Benny would actually take the deal. He walked away from Jack originally, needing time to think. Once he arrived, he saw the size of Jack’s operation, and realized it was his best shot at getting back into the gaming world, and not be left behind in the outdated bookie operation. Jack made the offer, and Benny, once he was given what he really wanted, which was power, continued to give thought to Jack’s deal. Jack knew that if something happened he needed to be simply a background player to the public. The only thing that would be public was the fact that Jack bought the building. This would give Jack the out he was looking for, the golden parachute as it were. If anything went down, Jack was simply the owner and would have no knowledge of what really takes place. He wanted to be a public figurehead, but in essence, he was setting Benny up as the fall guy in case things went sour.

Jack learned from a young age… always have an escape plan.

But now, Jack would shoulder a different responsibility.


--

Saxon Hotel
Las Vegas, NV.
Three Weeks Ago


Jack returned to his hotel room. By this point, most of the wrestlers were now moving a lot more freely but Jack was still taking his time in moving out of the hotel. Why spend the money if he didn’t have to? Jack knew eventually he would need to leave and find some place to stay, but now, he could do that. Championship money. That was his phrase for it. And now… it wasn’t just a possibility or even a probability, it was and inevitability.

Jack tossed his gear back on the ground and unzipped it to pull out the SCW World championship. He closed his eyes as he lifted the belt from the bag and held it in his hands. It almost felt surreal to him. He kept his eyes closed, thinking that when he opened them again, he would wake up from a dream or something. He would not be the world champion and this wasn’t real. Jack continued to hold the title at eye level, and then his eyes opened. It wasn’t a dream. He was the world champion and he made it happen. He smiled to himself and gently laid the championship on his bed. He stood back and admired it. He looked on it from different angles he stood on the bed and looked down at it. He propped it up to face forward and he stared at it in reverence. For a good amount of time, Jack simply stared at the title. He would look at his phone and he would quickly glance over to the title, as if it had gotten up or sprouted legs and ran away. Once he finally was threw with his social media tasks, he opened the balcony door and stood on the outside. He wanted to laugh. He was like a little kid. He looked back, picked the championship up from the bed and walked back outside. He raised it high over his head and he screamed.

It was a yell of joy. A release of the emotion he felt and how much it meant to him. He screamed until he had no breath. He felt nauseous for a brief moment. He dry heaved as all the emotion came out. But as quickly as it was there, it was bad the feeling of joy. He raised the title once again high over his head with one hand, and with the other pointed to himself.

Jack: IT’S FUCKING MINE! ALL MINE!

Jack screamed at the top of his lungs. He was as proud as a peacock as they say. He wanted the whole world to know that this championship was his and his alone. He grunted and pumped his fists knowing his hard work had paid off. He walked back into the room and closed the balcony door swinging the championship around his head and once he finished he headbutted the title itself. He then kissed it. He didn’t know what he was really doing, just that it felt right at the time.

Finally, when it was all over, all the adrenaline wore off and the emotions weren’t raw… he gently laid the title on his gear bag and looked at it once again.

Jack: I did it.

He said it softly to himself. All the outbursts of emotion were done and he took his sore body and laid in the bed and took the good night’s sleep.

He had earned it for himself.

--

Grand Flamingo Plaza
Las Vegas, NV.



--

Jack arrived days after winning the SCW title, to the Grand Flamingo. He was actually carrying the championship with him, it gave him that much pride and he wanted to show it off, as any champion would. But the sight of a grown man carrying a championship belt with him is a little silly, even Jack acknowledged this. Jack stood staring out the glass window of his office, championship slung over his shoulder and back to the door. Jack loved seeing the casino portion nearly complete. The slot machine and card and dice tables were there. He was on his way, but it wasn’t quite there yet.

After a few moments, Brian walked in the door, a sly smile on his face.

Brian: Good going, Stick.

Jack: I know.

Brian: Big time now, huh?

Jack: You could say that I guess.

Brian: Gotta be pretty big time if you’re carrying it around.

Jack: This is… this important to me, Brian. It really is. I worked my ass off for this. It’s… it’s the first thing I really did on my own without anyone helping me or looking out for me. Sure, I won some title before, but not a world title. I mean, I can say right now that I am the fucking best at something, and I did it all on my own.

Brian: I know, Stick, I’m just messing with ya. I mean, you ain’t gonna carry that thing everywhere, are ya?

Jack: I don’t know, man. I mean, I like this thing. I want to have it forever. I want this feeling to last forever. But I know it can’t. I’m just… trying to enjoy it while I can.

Brian: They do say nothing lasts forever, Stick. I get ya.

Jack: And it’s another reason I need Benny to look after this place.

Brian: You know he still ain’t on board. If he takes too much longer we ain’t gonna have anybody here and we’re going to start losing real money.

Jack: I know, but I know what he’s thinking, and so do you.

Brian: What’s the catch?

Jack: Exactly. He’s trying to find an angle. He’s trying to figure out how I’m double crossing him. Something to give him the idea not to take the deal.

Brian: But you are double crossing him.

Jack: Not quite. The point is with all the media and shit I’m going to have to do now as the champion, I don’t know how much time I’m going to be able to spend here. I have a lot of obligations now, so I was hoping to get this done sooner rather than later.

Brian: Well, Benny never was fast about anything. Except with his ex-wife.

Jack: Dorothy…

Brian: Yeah, too bad about her. Pretty girl.

Jack: If you say so.

Brian: She was. She was. But seriously Stick, what’s going to happen with the Mexican’s if Benny finds out?

Jack: I don’t know. Still working on that.
 
Brian: And what am I supposed to do if you ain’t here?

Jack: Keep an eye on the money. Watch out for Benny. You and I both know he’ll rip us off if he thinks he can get away with it. He’s a snake like that.

Brian: But you wanna hire him…

Jack: Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t, right?

Brian: I suppose, still think it’s a shit idea.

Jack: We’re pretty much out of options. You ain’t gonna run this place.

Brian heads to the mini fridge to get another glass of whiskey

Brian: Might rip you off though.

Jack smirks.

Jack: I’m well aware of that.

Brian feigns heartbreak.

Brian: You really think that about me?

Jack: Of course I do. I just said Devil’s you know, right?

Brian finished pouring his shot, when there was knock at the door.

Jack: Come in.

Jack kept eye on the door as it opened. Never knew if something was going down. Brian also took a tactical step towards the mini-fridge, prepared to use it as cover. But, at this point, there was no need.

Benny: Easy, kid.

Jack: Benny.

Benny: Yeah.

Benny slowly made his way in, flanked by his two bodyguards. He sat down in front of Jack’s desk, legs crossed ankle over knee. He turned to Brian.

Benny: Pour another one will ya?

Brian looked at Jack, which caused Benny to look at Jack.

Benny: If you don’t mind, that is.

Jack nodded, motioning for Brian to pour the drink.

Jack: Well Benny, I’ve explained this before, what do you think? Are you in, or not?

Benny: I’m still trying to figure out something.

Jack: Alright, what are you trying to figure out?

Benny: What’s in this … for you? I get to run the casino, put my people in here, run it the way I want. And you just get to be the figure head.

Jack: Is there a problem with that?

Benny: Yeah, it’s too good for me. Too good on my end. Why do you get nothing real big out of it?

Jack: I do, Benny. This is in my name. You work for me. This is an accomplishment for me. Something I did, on my own. Much like this title I won.

Benny: Yeah, nice new belt you got there. What’s it worth, couple, two, three grand?

Jack sighed.

Jack: We’re not discussing that. I’m not pawning this thing. It’s mine and I need it. Which, again, presents a problem for me. I need to be out there, doing everything a world champ does, and I won’t be able to run this place 24/7. Neither would Brian.

Benny: I still don’t see how this works for you.

Jack: You got the people and connections I don’t. We went over this. This helps you, and it helps me. You can’t compete with Sonny, and right now, neither can I. But together, there’s a future.

Brian finally delivered the shot glass to Benny and Benny downed his drink. He turned back to Jack after staring at the glass for a few moments.

Jack: Deal?

Jack stuck his hand out. Benny looked at it for a moment, and then stood up, shaking Jack’s hand.

Benny: Deal.

Jack: Alright. Like  I said before, we can make this place special. You are my guy Benny, as, as the champion of the company based here… I can get you those wrestling fans into the casinos too. I’m already working on getting some dual exposure for that.

Benny: No shit?

Jack: No shit.

Benny: Well hot damn kid, looks like we’re going to be in a great business together.

Jack: That’s right. Now, I need your guys here, and we need some new guys here. We’ve got applicants from the website that are going to work in food, and do some security.

Benny: I’ve have my boys training them and we’ll be ready in no time.

Jack: Good. I need you on this Benny. You get your boys over here, and trust me, we can start making some real money. And uh… we also have a good thing going with the commissioners guy. We just need to keep him in a place where he can’t fuck anything up, and they’ll be off our backs for the foreseeable future.

Benny actually smiled and chuckled slighty.

Benny: You’re… you’re alright, Kid.

Jack: I’ll have some paperwork drawn up and we can make the official announcement and all that.

Benny: You got it.

Jack: Alright, pleasure doing business with you Benny.

Jack escorted Benny out of the room, where Bobby was there to escort Benny and his body guards out of the room.  Jack closed the door and his smile faded. He marched back the desk and sat down.

Brian: Happy now?

Jack: He’s going to rip us off. Just, remember to keep an eye on this guy. I don’t need him fucking anything up. And if you could, keep an eye on the commish’s guy. You know Benny will do something stupid like fire him if he fucks up.

Brian: Look at you, thinking like a boss.

Jack: Yeah, don’t tell anybody, I don’t wanna be mistaken for you OR Benny.

Jack poured himself a shot of whiskey and quickly tossed it back. He put the glass down and stood up, walking over to the mirror on the wall and checking himself out for a moment.

Brian: And where are you going looking all spiffy and shit?

Jack smirked in the mirror turned back to Brian.

Jack: I got champion business to take care of.

With that, Jack walked out of the office.

--


Click

We are in complete blackness. Then Jack’s face is illuminated by a flashlight under her chin.

Jack: Do you people want to hear a scary story?  It is Halloween season, so what’s wrong with a little ghost story right? Ahem, Once upon a time, there was a man, known to be a greedy, conniving, asshole and just an all-around shitbag person. He would scare the townspeople when he would make his presence known and everyone would be leery of this horrible man with his terrible attitude. He was rude and unpleasant to everyone he met. He would take all the gold he could get his hands on from the townspeople and never share it with anyone else. And when he was done he would retreat to his old run down cabin. Some of the townspeople went after him and tried to get their gold back, but he would run them off with his army of dogs that were just as nasty as he was. Some of them would bite and kill some of the townspeople. But the man would always claim that these men trespassed on his property, so the authorities couldn’t do anything about it. They say at night you could hear him counting the gold and laughing at how much he had. He had done this several times before and amassed hundreds of pounds of gold, threatening all the townspeople from afar like the coward he was. He was hell-bent of making everyone’s lives as miserable as possible because all he cared about was gold.

And then one day, a young, handsome man saw all this happening and he decided that he would take the gold back. He watched as every day at the old man took from the townspeople. And so, he followed him deep into the woods. He arrived at the run down cabin and saw all the guard dogs. If they saw him no doubt they would tear him to pieces, but he was resourceful. He carried pieces of meat with him and used them to distract the dogs. He snuck into the house and was met with a powerful stench of old, rotting meat. The young man saw the old man’s book of insults directed at the townspeople to use. He saw all the gold the old man had amassed and realized how this man needed to be stopped.

But the old man woke up before the young man could gather all the gold. There was mighty struggle and the young man eventually escaped the house, having beaten down the old man and taken his gold. He beat the old man nearly to death and pretty much crippled him. The young man returned rich, and the townspeople were ecstatic to have their gold in good hands. And even happier to have the old man finally dealt with.

But the old man swore revenge, he screamed at night about how he would come back and take the gold again, but the young man shouted back that if the old man showed his face again, the young man would kill him for good.

And to this day, if you listen closely on a full moon, you can still hear Alex Jones bitching about it.


Jack turns off the flashlight and turns the light on, a smug look on his face, and the SCW world championship draped over his shoulder.

Jack: I know, that was scary there for a while, but the greedy old man has been dealt with, and I am the SCW world heavyweight champion. You don’t have to fear Alex Jones coming back for the title anymore. At this point, the old man’s bitching is just pathetic at this point. Dude, you lost, let it go and move on with life.

Anyway, how the hell are you, Sin City Wrestling? Doesn’t it feel better, haven’t the past 3 weeks just been… better? Isn’t it so refreshing that we can finally start moving forward instead of backward with our champions? I mean, well… not all champions I guess, but still, things are almost better now. Things are just so close to being better than you can taste it. I lifted the black cloud that was hovering over this championship by putting Alex Jones in his place and sending him back to the cabin in the woods or whatever. The fact is Alex Jones could not compete with me and at Violent Conduct I made that clear to the whole world. I beat him, right in the middle of the ring. All Alex was doing was holding onto my title until I took it from him. There’s a word for that kind of champion… I think they call it… transitional or something like that. Yeah, that was Alex Jones was. And now, old scary dog Austin James Mercer is getting a championship match at High Stakes. Good for you, Austin. Maybe you can work on trying to not be the human equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte next. You won your little contendership match and that’s all well and good. It will not change the fact that at High Stakes, you’re going to lose like your boy Alex Jones did.

But oh shit, I’m getting ahead of myself and looking past the guy I’m actually facing this week in my first title defense. Well, if nothing else, I have to be better than wolfsliar and not lose it here, otherwise I’d be a transitional champion. So, let’s move on past the Bed, Bath & Beyond crew and talk about the racecar driver.


Jack scoffs before continuing.

Jack: Agostino Romano. Didn’t you just lose to Austin James Mercer? Didn’t he just whoop your ass, and some other dudes ass and now you’re getting the chance to dance with the champ this week? Big time title match, main event of Climax Control. Good for you man. I’m not going to hate of you for getting this shot. Nah, there’s no need to. As the champion, I don’t determine who’s worthy of a shot or not. I don’t really care who they put in front of me. You are just like Alex Jones, and every other opponent I’ve faced. Only one word comes to mind to describe you:

Next.

That’s what you are man. Just the next guy in line. You aren’t special. You know why? Because if everyone is special, that nobody is. There’s only one guy in this company who is special, and that’s me. My talent had me rising to the top from day one. While somebody like you Romano, has toiled in mediocrity since the day I first laid eyes on you. You allowed yourself to become a joke. Because you care about what people think about you.  You want to have the fans on your side and yadda yadda. Here’s the problem with that Romano, it will never be enough. Not until you are old and broken down and then the people who you think give a shit, will boo you and tell you to retire and walk away. I would think, that before that time comes, that you would want to be something special. But you have instead let them drive you into the ground. You’ve hit the wall, Agostino. You’re done and you don’t even know it yet.


Jack laughs at his own joke, but stops and shakes his head.

Jack: I would say it’s sad, but it’s not. It’s just how this works. In life, there are winners, and there are losers. And you, are a loser. At this point right now, before you get the biggest chance of your life, you have to know that it’s going to end in failure right? You have to know that I’m going to run through you like a hot knife through butter. You have to know that you have no chance. Has it actually dawned on you yet that you have no chance? I’d actually give you credit for taking one ass whooping from me and coming back for a second, but you don’t really want to face me again, do you? No, I didn’t think so. You just want what’s around my waist. And you know what? Good for you. But, that’s the problem isn’t it? You can want in one hand and shit in the other and we both know which hand is going to get filled up first.


Jack’s tone becomes deathly serious.

Jack: You are trying to take something from me that I worked really fucking hard to get, and when I wasn’t the champion, I used you to cement my contender status. But don’t mistake that with me owing you anything Agostino. If you thought it was a rough night when I wasn’t the champion, and only had that little piece to fight for… can you imagine what I’m willing to do to keep this championship now that I have it? You will have to be a killer, an animal to take this from me. And that’s not you, kid. That’s not you at all. And you know that, don’t you? You know deep down that you aren’t man enough to take this from me. Because you aren’t willing to go to the lengths that I am. Not in this lifetime, son. If I have to take you completely out of this business to keep this championship around my waist, I will do it. No questions asked, no regrets, no remorse. You are jumping feet first into the World championship ocean son, and you already look like you’re bleeding. You already look like you’ve got wounds, and you’re trying to swim with the sharks. It’s not going to end well for you.

But trust me, I’m not looking past you, not by a long shot. This championship means the world to me and I’m not about to sleep on anybody that is even trying to sniff a championship match. You’re here, so you are my focus this week. You are right now, the guy in my direct line of sight. And you trying to take this championship from me, makes you a threat. And I don’t take kindly to threats Agostino. I don’t take them lightly either. Yeah, you can say I’m paranoid. When it comes to this championship, I’m a paranoid mother fucker, man. Everyone is enemy to me. But then again, you know right now that I’ve made plenty of enemies. It makes it easier for me. I don’t think I will ever have to worry about people trying to watch my back or be my friend. Don’t need them. I keep everyone on the same side, and I treat them all the same: Like dirt. It’s a life lesson more people in this business need to figure out. You let somebody in, and they will undoubtedly one day stab you in the back. That’s the whole reason they get close to you. You can look at history and find that out. Many of the greatest civilizations crumbled from within. So do yourself a favor and ditch those hangers on, if you ever want to crawl out of the hole you’re already in.

And in addition to the fact that you are getting this championship match, I have an even more solid reason to beat your ass. You failed last week to stop Austin James Mercer from getting a championship match. I mean, the last thing ANY of us need if Wolfslair getting any more championship matches, and you failed. I mean Jesus Christ you can’t seem to do anything right these days. So, because of that failure, I’m going to have to punish you even more. So this won’t even just be a normal beating like at Summer XXXtreme. Oh no, you deserve a more prolonged, example setting beating for this failure. You will learn in the most painful, harsh beating I can think of. I will beat you like a dusty rug at spring cleaning. I will make it so you won’t even have to wear a mask at Halloween, you’ve already be ugly enough as it is. I-


Jack stops himself mid-sentence, as if something of great importance has crossed his mind.

Jack: You know what? I won’t do that. But I actually see the genius in what you actually did. You’ve given me a great gift, my dude. You really have. I didn’t realize it until just now, but you’ve done something pretty fucking good. By losing last week, you’ve given me the chance to finally kill Wolfslair once and for all. Or at least have another one of them crying like a bitch. So, you know what, I’m not going to really really hurt you Agostino. No, I’m going to whoop your ass like I normally would, beat you, retain my championship, and that will be all. All you’ve have to do then is serve as an example of what Austin Mercer has to look forward to.

So no, Agostino, you will NOT be winning on Sunday. I’m once again going to use you as a stepping stone. I did it once, and I will do it again. I know that you’re thinking I can’t get any higher than I am already, but you’d be wrong. I am not stopping at simply winning this championship. Oh no, I will not stop until I am the greatest champion in SCW HISTORY. And that… starting with beating you. If nothing else, you will be a footnote in my hall of fame highlight package. You’re welcome.


Jack puts the SCW world title directly in front of the camera, blocking us from seeing him, but he continues.

Jack: I want you to get used to seeing that sight. I want you all get used to hearing my voice and seeing the SCW world championship grace your screens whenever you see me. That’s what I am now. I am YOUR champion. And if you don’t like it, there’s always something you can do about it. You can man up and try and take it from me, or you can be a bitch and cry foul like some ex-champions seem to be doing right now.

You better talk to your old master, Austin. I will snatch his other ACL. I will render him useless, well, even more useless and then he gets the Lassie treatment. Ah, what the hell do I care? Bark all you want. Because I’m the SCW world heavyweight champion and you’re not.

Get used to it.


Jack then turns the camera off and we cut to black on that.

Click.

[/color]

 <span style=\'font-family:arial\'>Prologue:

Jack returned from the Summer XXXtreme cruise a satisfied man. He felt that after all this, he was on his way to an SCW championship match after a great performance against Ben Jordan. His continued ability to impress people in high positions was getting him noticed and he enjoyed that, more so on the inside. He was confident in his ability and that when he decided to go for broke. He appeared on Climax Control and challenged the new SCW Champion Griffin Hawkins. Jack was in firm belief that he had done enough to deserve this opportunity.

Griffin Hawkins accepted this, and Jack now had set his sights on defeating him and becoming the SCW world champion at Violent Conduct.

However, Hawkins lost the SCW championship to Alex Jones in his first defense, complicating the championship picture. Jack was annoyed by this, because now he would have to answer more questions about if he was still in the championship picture and what the future held. To Jack, it didn’t matter who was champion, just so long as he received what he believed he had earned.

Outside the ring, Jack still had some projects under construction on the Flamingo that he had left in the hands of his uncle Brian while he was away. Jack knew that while it was in good hands from a business perspective, it was still his, and Brian couldn’t always be trusted. Jack knew that he needed to be a stable voice in this endeavor, because otherwise it could all go downhill, there were still people breathing down his neck, and people who wanted him to fail, and some who may have been wanted him dead and out of the way. Jack still had to be on his toes, but he still needed to be savvy when it came to what he needed to do to get the business actually up and running.
--

<span style=\'font-family:tahoma\'>The Flamingo Grand Plaza
Las Vegas, NV
Two weeks ago</span>

Jack had returned and sat at his desk looking over papers and checking to see what happened while he was away. His uncle Brian stood, looking out at the newly renovated casino floor, a pleased look on his face.

Jack: Is this all in order?

Brian: It will be. Just gotta meet with the licensing commissioner.

Jack: Well… shit… things are going well.

Brian: I told you that you could trust me, Stick.

Jack: About as far as I can throw you.

Brian: You’ve got big muscles, bet you could throw me far.

Jack: Not far enough.

Brian: Cut me deep, Stick.

Jack: Not deep enough.

Jack continued to look at the papers, and then finally there was a knock at the door, and the new office phones were in working order as the phone rang.

Jack: Yeah.

Bobby: Jack, the commissioner is here.

Jack: Send him in.

There is a click on the phone and the door opened. A man in a large white cowboy hat entered, his teenage son right along with him. His face greying with age, but he still had pep in his step. He smiled widely as Jack stood up and the two shook hands. Jack looked at the man’s attire and realized he had plenty of money. Jack looked at the soon who appeared to be staring off into space. Jack was puzzled by this, but still needed to continue to be a professional.

Jack: I’m Jack Washington.

Man: Oh, I know that Mr. Washington, lots of paperwork coming from here with your name on it. I’m Ted Anderson.

Jack: It’s good to meet you.

Ted: I appreciate you taking the time to see me when you’re trying to get all this taken care of.

Jack: It’s my pleasure, So… what can I do for you?

Jack looked over at Brian, and cleared his throat.

Jack: Sorry, this is my uncle Brian, he was looking over the place while I was out of town. So you may have dealt with him on the phone.

Ted: I did, how are you sir?

Brian: I’m well. Good day to make some good business happen.

Ted: Yes, sir, I believe so.

Ted finally did sit down, his giant gold belt buckle not prominent.

Ted: Thank you both kindly for this. Now, you’ve got a nice little place here, and I am a man who values the American dream. I don’t want to deny you any licenses or permits or anything like that. But there are some people around here who seems to be not too friendly when it comes to you getting this here business off the ground.

Brian: Competition breeds some less than happy competitors when you win.

Jack: We were just quicker on the draw with the purchase and renovation of this place. Just a side effect of progress.

Ted: Very much so. Now, I’m obviously going to have do an inspection of your facility once you get everything squared away. I trust that there’s not going to be anything that’s going to be prevent this place from passing from the guidelines?

Jack: There shouldn’t be. We don’t have anything to hide here, Mr. Anderson.

Ted:  That’s good to hear, now. I can of course make this an easier time for you. People around here do a lot of business, and we want business to be good. So, I was thinking that, maybe, we could talk about something that’s near and dear to my heart, and that’s my son here.

Jack: What about him?

Ted: My son could use a job. You know, give me a little experience doing something that he wants to do. He’s always been interested in the family business.

Jack: And how does that pertain to me? You want me to hire him?

Ted: I would consider it a personal favor.

Jack looked at Ted’s son with a suspicious eye. The boy hadn’t moved a muscle since he entered the room. He had sat quietly, staring at the wall, completely oblivious to his surroundings.

Jack: What can he do?

Ted: He can do anything you ask.

Jack: Is… uh… is something wrong with him?

Ted: What do you mean?

Ted had straighten up in his chair. Now it was getting tense. Jack had to choose his next words carefully.

Jack: He doesn’t seem to talk much. He just seem preoccupied.

Ted: Well, yes, he isn’t much of a talker, but if you give him an order, he’ll do it.

Jack: I don’t know about this. I mean, I intend to run a tight ship here, Mr. Anderson. All within the rules and regulations obviously. But communication is key. I need to know that he can be trusted not just to carry out orders, but to be part of a team. I intend to build a team.

Ted: I consider little Danny here to be… independent. He can do that kind of work.

Jack pondered this, all the while noticing that Danny still wasn’t moving, or speaking.

Jack: I don’t know if that’s really a fit here, Mr. Anderson. Look, I’m not trying to be offensive, or disrespectful, I very much would like to do business with you, and get this place up and running without a hitch. I am just not sure that Danny here is really the type I am looking for.

Ted again straightened himself out. He cleared his throat and fixed his suit jacket to straighten it out.

Ted: Now, before we go dismissing the idea of Danny, let me just let it be known that I would consider it a personal favor, and means to expedite things through to get you on your way.

Jack: I appreciate who you are, and who he is. I like to do favors for people, and I’d like to help you, but the facts of the matter are, I don’t know your son well enough to trust him, and I have to know that in times that require it that he can be trusted to make the right decision. I’m sure he’s a great listener and all, but the idea that he just needs to be left alone after being given orders isn’t a smart business move.

Jack could see Brian licking his lips and giving sutble head movements in Jack’s direction. Jack tried to keep his gaze on Ted, as he sighs and removed his hat.

Ted: Before we… completely go off track, Do you maybe think that down the line, you could maybe find something for him.

Jack: It’s…

Brian finally stepped in, placing his hands on the desk.

Brian: That’s a fine boy you got there. I’m sure we’ll have something down the road. It’s just that what Jack here really means is that we’ve got a lot of things that are yet to be…completed, let’s say. Once everything is in place, I’m sure we’ll be able to find something for Danny there to do, that he can excel at. Jack’s just not thinking about long term, that’s the hesitation.

Ted arches a brow and nods.

Jack: It’s really about the lack of positions that could fit his skill set. At the moment, but in the future, we may have just the spot for him.

Ted: Well… I appreciate you’re going to take that into consideration. I look forward to a long and healthy relationship. I think that can wrap up our business for now, I’ll have my office schedule an inspection real soon. I’ll let you gentlemen to it.

Ted stands up and shakes hands with Brian and Jack, before simply taking Danny by the hand and guiding him out of the room. After a few minutes, the door closes and Brian sighs, running his fingers through his hair and shaking his head.

Brian: You gotta be smarter than that, Stick.

Jack: What are you talking about?

Brian: You gotta read between the lines. That man spelled it out for you, and you always messed it up.

Jack: What, by not hiring his kid? You saw that kid right? Kid looked like a psycho.

Brian: That kid could save you a lot of trouble. This is about the long run of this, not the short term.

Jack: I’m just saying hiring the kid isn’t going to make people want to come here.

Brian: It will make plenty of people you want here, to come here. Kid, I’m doing you a favor.

Jack:  That kid’s gonna murder somebody. He’s a freak.

Brian: Yeah… but he’s someone we need. Having the commish on our side… it’ll pay off.

Jack: I don’t know man.

Brian:  Trust me, Stick. That’s a favor, you’re going to want to have down the road.

Jack shrugs.

Jack: If you say so..
--
<span style=\'font-family:tahoma\'>The Flamingo Grand Plaza
Las Vegas, NV
Monday</span>



Jack once again sat at his desk, and his office phone rang again. He pushed the intercom.

Jack: Yeah?

Bobby: Yo, Jack… the lady and the Mexicans are back.

Jack closed his eyes and sighed.

Jack: Send Ms. Ana Sofia in.

It isn’t two seconds before Ana Sofia has entered the room. Jack stood up and greeted Ana, who was accompanied by her body guards.

Jack: Well… Mrs. Medina, what can I do for you today.

Ana Sofia: You have made progress, si?

Jack: Yes, we have.

Ana Sofia: Then you are ready to make a deal, si?

Jack: Whoa, whoa, Mrs. Medina, we’ve made progress, yes. But if you’re boys start coming around and the people see that, they might get a little suspicious. Nobody wants that. We want to make sure that having a deal, means that we can have a deal without a problem. Smooth.

Ana Sofia: We need a location to move our product from.

Jack: I understand that. I want to accommodate you. I do. I would love to do business with you, but right now, we simply don’t have the space.

Ana Sofia: Then perhaps we take our business elsewhere, no?

Jack: Now, now… you came to me, and I agreed after we made progress we would talk about a deal. But there’s too many eyes right now. It would be bad for you, and bad for me. Progress sometimes is a slow process. But I assure you, we are making progress. Now, if you want to go somewhere else, where maybe people have some progress, and maybe they’ve got somewhere to host you, but they’ve also got some people who will ruin your business, and maybe try and take some business from you… you can do that. You can walk right out that door and never come back, and we can go our separate ways.

Ana Sofia eyes Jack suspiciously.

Jack: But, you know a good thing when you see it. You know that I am willing to help you. You just have to let me get the people I don’t know if I can trust out of the way, and we can progress to the point where we don’t need to worry about anything getting in the way. That’s guaranteed here. Nowhere else. The choice is really yours, Mrs. Medina.

Ana Sofia stands there for a few moments, pondering and thinking about her decision. She eventually smirks.

Ana Sofia: Okay Mr. Jack, I believe you. We can do business, but I need to know that you are true in what you say.

Jack: You can believe that.

Ana Sofia: I need you to do us a favor.

Jack:  Oh really?

Ana Sofia: Si. We have a problem that needs to be … how do you say it… taken care of?

Jack: What kind of problem?

Ana Sofia: There is a car. Parked in a garage not far from here. It needs to… disappear.

Jack: So just… have it crushed or something.

Ana Sofia: The perros, they are looking for this car. They know my men, they drive it. You drive the car, and get rid of it, and what’s inside.

Jack: What’s inside?

Ana Sofia: Basura.

Jack: And what am I supposed to do to get rid of it?

Ana Sofia: I don’t know, but I do hear a lot of things get lost in the desert, Mr. Jack. 

Jack: … I see.

Ana Sofia: You do this for us, you tell us when you’re ready, and… maybe there is more in it for you.

Jack sat back and gave it thought. He knew what the Mexicans were capable of and really, it wouldn’t be smart to have them as enemies.

Jack: I’ll look into the car.

Ana Sofia: Here is photo.

Ana Sofia pulls out a phone and displays the picture of a green Dodge Stratus. Jack nods.

Jack: I’ll take care of it.

Ana Sofia hands Jack a slip of paper.
Ana Sofia:  This is the address, and the number. Call this number when you are finished. We will verify.

Jack: Of course.

Jack takes the slip of paper and places it in his pocket. Ana Sofia then hands him a single car key.

Ana Sofia: Do this favor for us. We will speak again soon.

With that, Ana Sofia takes her leave, her bodyguards follow her out and Jack is left alone. He sits back down at the desk ponders his choice, and exactly what he has gotten himself into.
--
<span style=\'font-family:tahoma\'>
Freemont Street Experience Parking Garage
Las Vegas, NV
The Next Day</span>

Jack didn’t want to do this, but he knew that entrusting someone else to do it, could be seen as a bad move. He was also aware this could be a set up. He pulled out his phone once he was in the garage and texted Bobby

In the garage. Green Stratus, follow me.

Jack quickly placed his phone back in his pocket and looked around the car. He saw nothing out of the ordinary that would make him think that was anything other than a car. Trying not to look too suspicious, he was satisfied entered the car. It was mostly empty aside from some wrappers and other garbage that had no use. In the back were two shovels, and a gas can along with some cloth. He was curious as what they were for, but he wasn’t about to call and ask. Honestly, if he wasn’t getting rid of this car, he saw that it could have uses. It made him more suspicious that this was a setup of some kind. He used the key and turned the car on, holding his breath.

Nothing. It didn’t explode,

Jack was again suspicious but pulled the car out of the spot, and looked around. Nothing. This was getting weirder by the moment. Jack drove the car out of the lot, paying the $5 and driving the car onto the Las Vegas streets. Jack was told this needed to disappear in the desert, so, he headed for the Mojave.

It took a little bit, but eventually, he was on the lonely highway, and there weren’t many cars in sight. He drove along at a hurried pace, but not rapid. He didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention.

That’s when he heard the thumps.

Jack: Fuck.

Jack closed his eyes, angry that perhaps this was their plan. Get Jack out of town, and leave him stranded. Reception would be terrible in the desert. He pulled off to the side of the road. He put the car in park and slowly got out. He examined all four tires, but found that none of them were flat. Bobby was trailing in his Chevy pickup and pulled off as well.

Bobby: What is it?

Jack: I don’t know. Heard some thumps. Thought it might be a flat. Doesn’t look like it though. Maybe I just hit a speed bump. Whatever. Keep close.

Jack made it back to the car and started it up. He drove on a little more and then the bump started again. Jack looked around and decided that this would was as good as any other place. He pulled off and drove into the desert, a few miles off the road. It was out of site, and no one aside from Bobby was around. He continued to hear the thuds against the car, and now his suspicions were high. He stopped the car, and Bobby soon appears after him. He exited the car and looked around. Nothing was out of the ordinary.

Bobby: Is that it?

Jack: Yeah…

Bobby: What now?

Jack: You got your piece?

Bobby: Yeah.

Jack: Stay close.

Jack had to know what the thumps were and there was only one place he hadn’t checked. The trunk. He felt dumb for not doing it earlier. He slowly inched towards the trunk and placed the key in, and turned it. He lifted it up, and the source of the thumps was revealed.

Jack: Mother fucker.

Inside the trunk was a woman, duct tape over her mouth and bound. Her eyes pleaded for mercy as Bobby held back with the gun. Jack reached in and removed the duct tape from her mouth.

Woman: Please! Please sir! Mercy!  Dios Mio! Mercy!

Jack: Whoa, whoa! Calm down.  Who are you?

Woman: Marta. Marta Jimenez.

Jack: You wanna explain why you’re in this trunk?

Marta: They want to kill me! Please don’t kill me! I am sorry! I am so sorry!

Jack: CALM DOWN.

Marta: Please!

Jack: Look, I don’t know why you’re in this trunk, but I’m going to get rid of this car. Now, I don’t want to kill you. I just want to know that leaving you alive isn’t a bad move.

Marta: They… they just want me gone. I will go. Far away. Never come back here! Please just don’t kill me!

Jack: Let’s get you out of there.

Jack helped Marta out of the car, and untied her.

Jack: Bobby, get the gas, torch the car.

Bobby: Right.

Jack: Stay here.

Jack motioned to Marta and she complied. Jack and Bobby soon lit the car on fire, and then let it burn as they headed back to the Bobby’s pickup. Jack sat in the truck for a moment and then dialed the number.

Voice: Hello?

Jack: The car is gone.

Voice: Si… and the Basura?

Jack: Gone as well.

Voice: Si.

With that, there was an audible click and Jack shook his head.
Jack: Let’s go.

The pickup roared out of the desert and back into the highway without a scene. Jack pointed as the truck passed a rest stop.

Jack: Let her out here.

Marta: What? Here?

Jack: You wanted to live, right? Get out of here.

The truck pulled into the rest stop and Jack got out, leaving the door open for Marta.

Jack: Come on.

Marta eased her way out and hugged Jack.

Marta: Thank you. I won’t come back. I won’t. Ever.

Jack: Good.

Jack simply got back in the truck, and the chevy drove off, leaving Marta behind. They drove on, back to towards the city.

Bobby: What was that about?

Jack: It was a test.

Bobby: Shit man, what happens if they find her?

Jack: Hopefully they don’t, and she’s smart enoght to stay the fuck out of Vegas.

Bobby: I don’t know man, maybe they were looking for her.

Jack: Somebody probably, was, and somebody probably didn’t want her to be found.

Bobby: That’s a big fucking risk, man.

Jack: I know. I fucking know.

Bobby: If they find her and they put two and two together…

Jack: Looks, as far as we knew, there wasn’t a bitch in the trunk. We torched the car. End of story. That’s what I’m saying, and that’s what you’re going to say if it ever comes up.

Bobby: Yeah… yeah man, I got you.

Jack: The price of progress…. Fuck.

The pickup continued to drive, headed back to Vegas, where now Jack had done a favor for the Mexicans and the gambling commission. The question was… would it all pay off in the end?

--

Click.

Jack is sitting in his hotel chair, rubbing his face. The look of frustration is plastered all over his face, but there is a large dash of annoyance on his face as well.

Jack: I don’t get it. I’m not going to complain about Alex Jones winning the SCW world championship. Why does anyone think I give a rat’s ass about Alex Jones doing anything? Good for Alex Jones beating a paper champion. Griffin Hawkins proved he doesn’t have what it takes to be a good world champion. If Alex Jones is proud of that, then so be it. I don’t give a shit. Alex Jones is just happy that he’s relevant again. He can jizz all over himself for winning a championship he had no business getting a shot at in the first place. The sun shines on a dog’s ass sometimes.

Alex Jones was handed a chance, and he made the most of it. Good for him. Does he want a fucking cookie? At the end of the day, Alex Jones is simply keeping the title warm until I beat him. Or I beat Hawkins, or I beat them both. If Griffin Hawkins wants to stop crying and having his mascara run, he can get off his ass and ask for his precious rematch or whatever he wants to do. It makes no difference to me. If he wants to sit at home crying in his cherrio’s, then that’s fine to. At Violent Conduct, that’s where I am going after my title match. That’s where I made my challenge. And that’s where I want shot. That’s all there is to it. You want me give Alex Jones a round of applause? You want me to give Griffin Hawkins a crying towel? Nah. I’m good.

Jack simply shakes his head and sits up from his chair.

Jack: But that’s not-too-distant-future, not what’s up coming. What’s upcoming is the old Irish prick, O’Malley.

Jack almost smiles, but it turns into a look of mock pride

Jack: How about that? O’Malley headed my advice and now he’s done something. He finally took his balls out of his girlfriend’s purse and made a stand. He cashed in that briefcase or whatever and won a title, and then he managed to win another one. Ho-ly shit, son. The man has finally taken control of a situation rather than he be pussy-whipped his entire life. He’s actually got some personality too. God damn I think I’m a miracle worker sometimes. Still a little sensitive though. I mean, Why bother letting  Kris Halc get to you? Who cares who he fucking subtweets? That’s a pussy move and if he’s cool with that, so what? Let him do his pussy move. But instead O’Malley wants to subtweet back and they both wanna be internet tough guys and keyboard warriors. I halfway expect when they wrestle they’ll start fucking slap fighting.

And that’s just the bad part of this whole deal.  No O’Malley is tough guy. But that seems to be a running theme here doesn’t it? Alex Jones is god now or some shit, and O’Malley’s two title Charlie and he’s just cock of the fucking walk. Is it just championship’s go to everybody’s head or something? I mean, these jackoffs act like it gives them fucking superpowers. So, once again, I gotta be the guy who is real about the whole thing, don’t I?

Okay, here goes. O’Malley is still a chump who gets triggered that people don’t respect the way he won SCU championship, and think him winning some goofy pool match isn’t legit. And here’s out here crying about it. Whaa, these people don’t respect me, whaa, they don’t think I’m good. Whaa. This guy’s mean to me, whaa. Jesus Christ son, all you have to do is tell ‘em to fuck off and move on with the rest of your day. You have two titles, they don’t. That’s it, the end. What is this stick up your ass, gotta reply to the keyboard warriors and act tough in front of people bullshit? You are the fucking guy with two titles. Fucking act like it. Does it matter how you won? No. You do the fucking dirt to get results. That’s the truth, that’s reality, my guy.

An while I’m glad that my words finally reached you and you proved you at least have a little bit of a backbone, it’s not going to save you from this ass whooping that coming your way on Sunday.

Jack finally stands up from his chair, leaning forward on the desk in front of the camera.

Jack:  You may be a double champion, but you’re still the same old crybaby that you’ve always been. Nothing is ever good enough because you worry about what Ben Jordan says about you. You worry about what Kris Halc says about you. Why? Because you’re still an insecure little bitch. I’ve tried to get you to stand up and be a man. Own the shit you do. But you still wanna act like a bigger bitch than your wife. Seriously man, I asked you to take your balls of your wife’s purse, but you put ‘em right back in there once you actually did something.

So you know what you are now, O’Malley? Just a target. You got two titles, well what’s the going to do for me, when I beat your ass right in the middle of the damn ring. You’re lucky this isn’t a championship match in any way, because I’d take both of them from you at the snap of my fingers. But then again, you ain’t done shit with them anyway, and I got much bigger fish to fry. I have a damn world championship that I’ve set my sights on. I’ve already proven that I can hang with the most skilled champions in this company, and all you are, is a stepping stone for my on my path to being the damn world champion. That’s it. That’s your role. Accept it.

Jack smirks slightly moving away from the camera.

Jack: Because I know right now in the pit of your stomach, you’re dreading this match. You’re tore up with the fact that you’re going to get your ass beat and embarrassed and look like a chump, being a double champion and losing to me. I mean, I’m a rookie in SCW, my dude. You have two titles, and you’re the one biting your fucking fingernails and trying to think of some perfect comeback or cute little quote that you think I’ll bite on. You’re the only thinking about how to just get out of this without looking like a fool. I’ll tell you exactly how to do it O’Malley.

You show up, and you stand in that ring like a man. You take your ass whooping, like a man. You stand back up, and you walk away with the L, and move on with your day. I’d respect that more than anything. But those phony tough guy bullshit ain’t it, chief. You’re a lame ass dude and the evidence clearly shows it. So what you’re going to be, is simply my stepping stone. You will be the proof that I deserve what I already know I deserve and you can just accept it, and be in some garbage gimmick match while the real cream rises to the top. I mean, you call yourself the future of Sin City? Nah dude, you’re not the future of anything. I am the future, and I will prove it when I beat the hell out of you, and leaving you laying in the middle of the ring. It’s not personal son, it’s just business. You’re standing in the way of progress. And in life, you have three choices: Lead, follow, or get out of the way.

And let’s be honest, son, you’re not a leader, and no one wants you to follow them anywhere. So the best option you have, is to get out of the way.

But if you don’t want to get out of the way on your own, I will be more than happy to move you.

With that, Jack simply turns the camera off.

Cut to black.

Click.

 Prologue:

Jack was victorious. In the brutal ladder match which he did not escape unscathed, he managed to grab the briefcase and become King for a Day, granting him the opportunity to book an entire Climax Control to his heart’s content. Jack has his plan for that show, it wasn’t a secret, but he needed to win in order to put this plan in to action. Now that it was accomplished, it was time for phase two.

Jack let the adrenaline die down and he was not normally this happy about things. This was, to this point, the biggest win of his career. He needed this win and he got it. But obviously the price was heavy as he iced himself down and dealt with the pain that it brought. The pain brought back that reality that he wasn’t invincible, and he needed to recover. He slept better despite the pain, and woke up to even more with stiffness and soreness. But the briefcase sitting on the table was the reminder that yes, he won and now things were going his way.

At least in the ring.

Out of the ring, Jack was now in the middle of some 3 way war between former family friend Benny, A Casino owner in Sonny, and a group of Mexicans that threatened to turn the whole city into a warzone at any time. Sonny also claimed that Bobby was the one giving information to others about Jack, thus making him a person of interest to all three groups. Jack had to figure out if he could actually trust Bobby, since really, Jack’s enemies had sent Bobby originally to try and take him out. Sonny may have been about to do something to Jack until an unknown incident saved Jack and turned Sonny’s attention to the Mexicans.

There were so many unanswered questions that were another stone cold reality for Jack. His past would never truly let him go.


Saxon Hotel
Las Vegas, NV

It was rare for Jack to be in this good of a mood. He stood at the pool area actually not as paranoid as he usually would. His guard wasn’t down, but he was going to take the time to actually enjoy his    surroundings. It was almost like it was the first time he realized he was in Las Vegas. This was home now. They say that things are just better when you win. You sleep better, you wake up in a better mood. Food tastes better. Workouts are less painful. And Jack would be damned if he didn’t feel the exact same way. Everything about that was true. Jack was seemingly on cloud 9 after winning was what the biggest match of his career to this point. He felt great.

Of course, Jack knew that basically outside the hotel walls, that life wasn’t as great. He wasn’t going to let it get him down, but he knew that things weren’t perfect. And he still had to figure many things out. And that when he saw Bobby, on the outside of the hotel grounds. Jack had his suspicions about Bobby, so, the concrete barrier between them showed exactly the distance Jack needed to keep until he figured things out.

Bobby: Yo, dude.

Jack: What’s up Bobby?

Bobby: Congrats on the win.

Jack: Yeah.

Bobby: What you gonna do with the briefcase?

Jack: I already said what I was going to do. I’m giving myself a championship match.

Bobby: That’s what’s up. I mean, you earned it, right?

Jack: You’re god damn right I did. Now, what you got for me?

Bobby simply shrugged.

Bobby: I guess the Mexicans shot one of Sonny’s nephews. Got him at a parking lot around town.

Jack: That must be what stopped Sonny.
Bobby: I guess. Nobody’s really talking about it. Sonny’s gone quiet. Mourning and all.

Jack: What about Benny?

Bobby: Ain’t heard much. Looking into some places to set up shop or whatever. I think he’s gonna make a move here soon, trying to take advantage while Sonny ain’t paying attention.

Jack: Smart move. I think we need to go shopping then.

Bobby looks incredibly confused.

Bobby: You know they’re keeping track

Jack: I do. Yes, But I can’t just stay here and get caught in this nonsense without having a little fun. Meet me outside in like 10 minutes.

Bobby: I don’t know about this, Jack.

Jack: It’s okay, I do.

Bobby was still lost as Jack departed. Bobby knew, as did Jack, that his enemies watched his bank account like a hawk. They would follow credit card transactions, they would follow withdrawls and deposits. Bank had to open another account for his SCW checks, but his main account had plenty of money in it. Money left by his father and money that grew in interest over the time he never touched it. In the end, maybe his enemies did him a favor.

Jack came back and the two took Jack’s rental car and began to drive.

Bobby: Still don’t understand what we’re doing.

Jack: We’re going to get into the real estate business, Bobby.

Bobby: WAIT.. you can’t be serious bro? You want to get INTO the gang war?

Jack: No, we’re going to just buy some property. Specifically, whatever Benny is looking for.

Bobby:  MAN, that’s fucked up.

Jack: I know, but I’m in a good mood.

Bobby: This is a bad move man.

Jack: What do you want me to do, Bobby, be a prisoner inside that hotel? This shit is driving me crazy having to stay there. I’m not about to stay there, in fear of these three groups trying to make my life hell. And really… that’s all because of you.

Bobby: What?

Jack pulled over to an alleyway, getting the passenger side very close to the building. He stopped the car and put it in park. He took a breath, and pulled his pistol from the driver’s side door pouch in the car. He leveled it right at Bobby’s face.

Bobby: YO! WHAT THE FUCK?!

Jack: Bobby, I don’t like when people are lying to me, and treat me like I’m an idiot. Now, people have been saying things about you, and so, I’m going to give you one chance, here and now, to level with me.

Bobby: Come on man… you know I’ve been straight with you!

Jack: They sent you to off me Bobby. I know your loyalty can be changed. I fucking did it! I warned you once, that if you crossed me, I’d put you in the ground. Now… where you coming from?

Bobby: Jack… come on… I’m with you. I’m with you.

Jack: Are you sure? Because too many people are telling me that you are a problem. This ain’t back home, Bobby. I need to know that I can trust you. I need to know that you aren’t about to sell me out at the drop of a hat. Because if you are… I have no use for you.

Bobby: Jack, come on man… put the gun down! I’m with you.

Jack: I feel a little better. But I need to be sure. Put your hand against the headrest.

Bobby:  What?

Jack: Your hand. The headrest. NOW!

Bobby did so, holding his hand against the headrest and Jack reached with his right hand, gripping Bobby’s wrist. From the left side, Jack produced a small pocket knife, and forcefully jammed into the palm of Bobby, who screamed as Jack’s quick piercing motion was in an out. Blood seeped from Bobby’s hand, and Jack handed him a towel.

Jack: Don’t get blood on my car.

Bobby: WHAT THE FUCK MAN?! YOU’RE FUCKING CRAZY! YOU FUCKING STABBED ME!

Jack: I’ll do worse if you keep fucking crying about it. You’ll live. We’ll get it sewn up in no time. After we finish shopping. Now, tell me about this property.

Jack continued to drive, headed to the destination that Bobby would give.

--

SuitSupply
Las Vegas, NV

Jack drove and parked the car outside the store.

Jack: Stay here. I’m gonna be a minute.

Bobby was still nursing his stab wound and simply nodded. Jack exited and entered the store with his mask on. He got with the tailor, and eventually got himself fitting for a nice suit. He opened his wallet, the credit card he dared not to use, was used. They would know, but to Jack, it didn’t matter. For now, he was going on the offensive instead of constantly playing defense. This was going to be the moment he took charge.

He paid for the suit, and took a hankerchief as well. The suit was covered by a bag, and Jack marched out of the store. He placed it on the handle in the back seat, and got back into the car, he tossed the hankerchief to Bobby.

Jack: Use that. Tie it around your hand.

Bobby did so as Jack waited and watched.

Jack: Now, tell me where Benny was looking.

Bobby: the Flamingo.

Jack: Good work.

Jack once again put the car in gear and drove off, headed to a new destination, and seeing exactly what the Flamingo had to offer.

--

The Flamingo Grand Plaza
Las Vegas, NV


Jack arrived at the Flamingo and used the time to put on his new suit. He calmly entered the building and there were two men in suits standing there chatting.

Jack: Gentlemen, I’m here to talk about some…business opportunities here at this establishment. I saw this online, and think could be a major opportunity. You must be Grant and Chris, the agents.

Grant: Yes. So… Are you looking to buy a suite here or something?

Chris: We can make that happen easily.

Jack:  No gentlemen, I’m here to buy the whole place.

Chris and Grant shared a look at one another.

Grant: Really?

Jack: Yes.

Chris: We… do have someone looking at doing the same thing.

Jack: That’s fine. I can easily take my business elsewhere. I’m looking to make this happen as soon as possible. I have the funds, and I want to get to work.

Chris: What are you looking to do, sir? Uh… What is your name?

Jack: John. Pleasure to meet you both.

There is a handshake exchange.

Jack: And I’m looking to use this fine establishment to make someone’s dreams come true. Although, probably going to make some people very unhappy. You know how that goes.

There is a laugh shared between the three men.

Grant: So, you have your liscene from the state

Jack: Just waiting on the paperwork from them.

Chris: Well… I think that we can make this happen in a timely manner then.

Jack: Excellent.

Eventually, Jack has successfully negotiated a deal in principle. His name will be going on the dotted line soon enough, and it would be a thorn in Benny’s side. Jack left to the two agents smiling, proud of himself and his actions. He returned to the car, and drove away, but not before stopping off one last time, to draw money from the ATM.

--

Sunrise Hospital
Las Vegas, NV

Jack parked the car in the hospital parking lot. He opened the door for Bobby, and opened his wallet, taking several large bills out of his pocket and handing them to Bobby.

Jack:  Get yourself checked out. I’m going to take care of you, Bobby, but I needed to know if you were loyal. That is for all the hard times I’ve given you. Just understand that if you cross me, I won’t be dropping you off here again, while you still breathe.

Bobby simply nodded. He turned to enter the hospital, but Jack pulled him back in, embracing him.

Jack: I need you Bobby. I need you to help me. And I’m counting on you. Don’t make me regret that choice. I love you like a brother. But this is business… you understand?

Bobby: Yeah.

Jack: Good.

Jack let go and watched as Bobby walked into the hospital to get himself sewn up. Jack slowly got back into the car, and drove back to the hotel.
--

Saxon Hotel
Las Vegas, NV

Jack parked up in the hotel and went back to his room. His personal phone rang not long after that. Jack saw it was a Las Vegas area code. He had his suspicions on who it was, and when he answered the phone, they were confirmed.

Jack: Talk.

Benny: You little rat bastard!

Jack: Hello to you too, Benny.

Benny: You think you can muscle in on my territory?

Jack: I didn’t, Benny. I’m just taking advantage of a business opportunity.

Benny: Listen to me you little prick, you stay out of my business. I thought we could be friends or even partners, but you’ve fucked that up.

Jack:  Like father, like son. This is the reality Benny. Get used to it.

Jack quickly hung the phone up, and chucked it across the room, shattering it.

Jack: Huh… looks like I’m gonna need a new phone.

Jack smiled to himself, pleased with his actions, and the scene fades.

--
On Camera



Click.

He leans back in the chair. The briefcase has won at Into The Void sits on his table where his feet are propped up. Jack wears a look of being content, but not exactly happy. It’s rare that Jack shows this kind of emotion given everything in his life, so to see him in this mood is something to make note of. In fact, this actually turns into a small grin as he puts his feet down and grabs the briefcase with both hands, hovering over it like it was a prized possession. And so, he begins.

Jack: I normally don’t want to be the guy who says he told you so, but dammit, I earned this. So yes, I told you so. I fucking told you so. I told all of you that I was going to be dismantle those other chumps and that this briefcase would be mine. Now this is the first time I’ve spoken since I won, but god damn that feeling is still fresh to me. The fact that I have this briefcase means exactly what I said before. I’m giving myself an SCW World championship match. Now, the suits are making me wait until next week because dumbass Crystal had to go first, and they wanted some kind of buffer in between her and me. And what do you know, they give me a match on this buffer show. A tune up I guess for the real main event next week.

I have plenty of thoughts as to why this is, perhaps because they think it would be unfair that I have all this time off and poor Ben had to wrestle last week. Want to even the playing field or something like that, I guess. It means nothing, because I’ve got this bad boy right here, and the match is already made. This guaranteed me what I wanted, and I got it done. You don’t have to like the way I do it, but it gets done.

Now, I’ve got match this week with one of the losers I already handled at Into the Void in Senior Vinnie. I said before that I’ve seen crazier than Vinnie just being back home in Philly. I don’t give a shit if he talks to cactus or anything else that’s an inanimate object. He just thinks he’s crazy. But maybe, he’s crazier than he looks, because he actually fucking agreed to this match against me. He must be crazy to assume the outcome is going to be any different. It’s not going to be anything but a repeat of Into the Void where I take him apart once again. Any other outcome is a pipe dream and Vinnie has to know that. It doesn’t matter how crazy Vinnie is or thinks he is, he’s going to get his ass whooped one more time.

Jack slides the briefcase out of the picture, placing his hands on the table and leaning his weight forward.

Jack: You may ask why I am so confident. You may be thinking that this win was a fluke. That each win that I’ve had in SCW has been followed by a loss that leaves me sitting here bound for another loss. That winning the briefcase was just something that I did by sheer luck. Let me just explain that I crushed Casey Williams. And my partner got pinned in the Blast from the Past, not me, and the team that beat us, won the whole damn thing. I stopped the Roulette champion lesser Jack dead in his tracks, and he’s not even in the company anymore. Kris Ryans beat me, but his ass has a future world title match down the road, so it’s not he’s a scrub… much.  

And then, I beat the old man, and a current champion in O’Malley despite him being a ball-less loser, and Vinnie himself. I’ve jumped head first into the deep end, and I’m swimming just fine. Can you really say the same for Vinnie? Ya’ll really think this guy is going to just waltz into Climax Control and just beat me? He’s got a snowball’s chance in hell of beating me this Sunday. He knows it, I know it, and now… you know it. History is fun when you know it. I’m better at this shit than Mercedes Vargas, I’ll tell you that.

Honestly, the only hope Vinnie has is that I wasn’t going to take this match seriously. No, I watch football and I know exactly what this is. This is a “Trap game” type of situation. The suits wanna make sure that I’m ready for Ben Jordan and that I take this match as something to actually care about. They didn’t want me to sit here and not care about winning or losing this match. I’ve got this championship match set in stone, why would I give a shit if I lose to Senior Vinnie? No, no… it ain’t going down like that. They must have forgotten one of the reasons I’m here to begin with.

Jack makes the universal sign for money with his fingers.

Jack: Money.

I’m here to make money, and there’s way more money in winning, than in losing. Losing sucks. It fucking sucks and I got big plans for next week. I need that money. And if that means I need to beat Vinnie within an inch of his miserable life, I will do so with a smile on my face. If I have to take that cactus and shove it up his ass in order to get my money, that’s what I’m going to do. Money makes the world go ‘round. It keeps me going, so I’m not about to pass up the chance at more money simply because I have bigger fish to fry next week. Oh no, this week is very, very important to me. Because I’m sure Ben would love to see me fail. Love to see me slip, because he thinks I’ll rush to make it all go away if I lose. But it’s not about to happen. I am laser focused on this match and beating Senior Vinnie like a god damn drum to serve as an example. So yeah, I want Ben Jordan to watch, so he sees what exactly he’s up against next week.

But you know, I’m spending too much time talking about Ben, and not Vinnie, so let me just go ahead and speak on that.

The truth about Vinnie is the fact that he had his moment already. He was the world champion, and it doesn’t change anything about the fact that he is basically a one hit wonder. He had one championship, and he will most likely never achieve that ever again. Think about it. Deep down you know that Vinnie had his chance to really establish himself, and he wasted it. He’s going to be forever known as the dude who talks to a fucking cactus than a man who was once a world champion. It’s a stain on the championship itself that a asshat like that once held it. But thankfully, all that is over. Vinnie has failed time and time again, and he’s about to fail again. I am going into this match, to put him down, and for the foreseeable future, keep him there. I intend on beating Vinnie so badly, that he will never WANT to ever try to reach the level I’m at and where I’m headed in the future.

Jack stands up, taking the camera with him.

Jack: I’m only 23 years old. I have my whole future ahead of me. And I’m only striving to get better. I’m striving to become the best. I won a damn championship at age 21. And I want that feeling again. I want the money and fame that comes with it. And ain’t no half-crazy jackoff with a plant fetish is about to derail me. No. I’m going to put Vinnie is the pile of flash in the pans with the rest of them. I will smoke Vinnie like a pig on a spit. I will be focused and ready. I want the winner’s money to fill my pockets, I want the sensation of being on a roll and beating another former champion. I want it all, man.

Can you imagine, what I’m willing to do… to get it?

With that, Jack closes down the laptop to force us to black.


Click.

Watch. This. Space.

 Prologue:


Jack believed he was done with Sin City Wrestling. Following the loss in the tournament, Jack’s temporary deal with SCW wasn’t renewed. He was brought back to the states, and stayed at the Saxon Hotel in Vegas. As Jack waited, he spoke to the owners and they wished him the best, thanking him for his effort. It was a hollow gesture in Jack’s eyes, but the small nibble on what he could have done at least gave him a sense of pride. He knew what he was capable of, and so did everyone in Sin City Wrestling. Jack waited patiently for the payment to kick in.

But Jack also knew from the publicity of Sin City Wrestling, and the announcement that the wrestlers were staying at the Saxon hotel, that he was a target. While the hotel was basically off-limits to fans and the general public, Jack knew his enemies were creative, and they would go to extreme lengths to get him. Jack had to continue to play the waiting game, and each passing moment, he felt more and more paranoid.
--

<span style='font-family:tahoma'>Saxon Hotel
Las Vegas, NV.
Two months ago.

He laid in the king size bed, casually watching TV. It was late, past midnight. He looked over at the clock on the small nightstand, and then at his phone. That feeling of literally watching time pass and anticipation of something bad happening. Something bad always happened. Some stroke of bad luck. A reminder of his past.

Restless, and seeing his online account had not been filled, and considering it was overnight so that really wasn’t going to happen, he got up, the shorts and t-shirt he was wearing were good enough. There’s a gym. Why not? He figured he might as well use these facilities while he could. Because as soon as the transfer hit, he was going to be a ghost.

He slowly walked down. Eyes darting all over the place, head turns, always checking behind him, in case he was being followed. He made no eye contact with the staff, or any other wrestlers that may have been up, or wandering the hallways or whatever the case would be. Less is more was always his approach and this was no different.

He entered the gym and saw it was mostly empty. A few other wrestlers were there, but he placed himself in the far corner. That way they didn’t notice him, and he didn’t notice them.  He put himself in the corner for another reason. No one would sneak up on him in this area. He would rarely have to turn his back with the equipment, and he could monitor the entrances and exits. Yes, despite the fact that no fans were allowed in, Jack lived like this, and always believed it served him well.

He did what he needed to do. Looking around each time he finished a set, passing it off as he blasted his music. He finished the workout and returned upstairs, almost power walking with the remaining adrenaline, and then stopping only to check his phone, knowing full well this business transaction wouldn’t be processed until normal banking hours.

He placed his bag on the floor and locked the door in addition to the electronic lock, just in case. He did this and showered, and changed into another pair of shorts and t-shirt. At least with available laundry, his clothes were clean.

He plopped himself on the bed and began to drift off to sleep, only to be awakened by his phone ringing. The room phone, not his cell. Odd. Why would any of the SCW staff or wrestlers need to talk to him? He thought twice about picking it up. Who would be calling at this hour anyway? He figured at this point maybe the staff wanted him back or something else that at least was somewhat important. Perhaps… family situations?

His curiosity got the best of him. He answered. He added a gravelly tone to his voice, an attempt to disguise it.

Jack: Hello?

There was at first, silence on the other end. Finally, a voice rang through that Jack remembered, though he hadn’t heard it in some time.

Voice: Jack. I know it’s you.

Jack looked down at his phone and sighed.

Jack: Benny.

Benny: Bingo.

Benny “Bingo” Foreman.

Book maker. Finally decided to come out to Vegas and try his hand out with the big time players. Benny was big in Philly. Made a lot of connections. It wasn’t surprising to hear his voice, but it was one Jack never really wanted to hear again.

Jack: I don’t need this right now.

Benny: Relax, relax Jack. If I was after you, you’d know it.

Jack: You know where I am.  I know it now.

Benny: Come on, Saxton hotel, it really wasn’t a lot of work to figure out where you were and what room you stayed in. Just needed to ask the right people. Just thought I’d check up on ya. Ya know? See how the kid made it for himself.

Jack: I’m fine. That’s not all you’re after Benny. I know it. So why don’t you tell me what this is about.

Benny laughs. An amused but completely fake laugh.

Benny: Always straight to the point, eh Jack?

Jack: Get to it, Benny.

Benny: Whoa, hold your horse’s kid, I was getting to it. You think two guys can’t have some small talk around here. I’m just trying to be hospitable. You’re in my town, you know?

Jack: Yeah.

Benny: This kid, I tell ya. Look, I see you’re there, you’re doing the wrestling thing. I got something that maybe could help you out.

Jack: They do drug tests, Benny. Nothing you got is going to help me, no matter where the fuck you get it from.

Benny: Don’t get smart kid. I wasn’t talking about that. I’m talking about something you really want. Money.

Jack actually perked up. Money was good. Money was always good.

Jack: And what is this idea you have?

Benny: Ooooh, now the kid wants to listen? Mention money and he perks right up. I can hear ya getting a damn hard-on from here!

Jack: Shut up and just tell me what you want!

There is another period of silence, as if Benny was offended.

Benny: I’m just busting your balls a little bit kid. Take it easy. Look, you want to make some money, maybe we go into business together. You do some favors for me, I slide some extra your way.

Jack: You want to gamble? On Pro wrestling? Benny… that’s got to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You want to fix a fix? That shit makes no sense!

Benny: You haven’t even heard the proposition yet.

Jack:  Benny… I got some bad news for you. I’m done with this, and I’m going back to my spot. So, you’re little scheme, whatever you were planning, it isn’t going to work anyway. Not with me at least. You can’t slide me money for messing up a place I don’t even work for anymore. I’m out of this place soon. And you know what? I hope I don’t wind up back in this town for a long time.

Benny: Whoa, whoa, kid, calm down. Yikes. Alright, so you don’t work there no more. I got it.

Jack: Good. This ain’t back in the no more Benny. I don’t want anything to do with you. Just let me live my life. You can have whatever the old man had, you can rebuild it.

Benny: Kid, that’s not how this works. You know that. Somebody has to be held accountable for your father.

Jack: Well… that’s not going to be me. I'm not my father. No matter how much you want me to be. Deal with it.

Jack slammed the phone down. He sighed, and unplugged the cord. He shook his head. He understood now that people did know where he was and he had to simply get out as quickly as possible. He stood up and double locked the door. He laid back down, and drifted off to sleep.

He awoke some time later. The sun was out. Checked his account and say the generous deposit. This was all he needed. He called a cab, and proceeded to check out of the hotel. He got into the cab with his bags, headed to rent a car, this chapter of his career, now finished.

--
Homewood Suites Hotel
San Bernardino, CA
Last Week

Jack had returned to doing many odd jobs around the small city. Finding employment was next to impossible with the virus outbreak, but Jack able to find a few places here and there, at least for a temporary paycheck. He went online and purchased a car, not too shabby, but not flashy. No need to do such a thing in such a time. He was able to deliver food in the meantime, the payment from SCW was enough for now. Not that he didn’t have money, but he knew that any transaction would be sought after. Most things had to be done cash only.

He received a check from the delivery place and held onto it, knowing that he would have to cash it sooner or later, but he couldn’t cash it where he was. But this was life for now. Until something better came up.

Jack continued to stay at the hotel, an apartment seemed like an idea, but if there was ever a need to leave quickly, an apartment wasn’t the answer. That would come in time. But Jack could never feel comfortable until things were steady. But they almost never were.

Jack began to get to know the folks that ran the hotel, handled reception, the cleaning staff, the courtesy staff, everyone who would be associated with the hotel. This wasn’t really part of the plan, but it just happened organically. At least, if there people knew him as just a guy who stayed there and just went about his business, there wouldn’t be any questions. They knew his routine, and he knew there’s. So, when a new kid joined the staff, Jack couldn’t help but ask questions.

He walked down to reception, a smile greeted him from the receptionist at the front desk.

Jack: Hello Julie.

Julie: What can I do for ya Jack?

Jack: Just need some information.

Julie: Okay, shoot.

Jack: Who’s the new kid on the maintenance crew?

Julie: I think his name is Troy.

Jack: Troy.

Julie: Yeah, hasn’t really said much, but Pablo says he works hard.

Jack: Okay.

Julie: Is something wrong?

Jack: No. Just trying to make sure I know everybody.

Julie: No problem. Uh, just let us know if you need anything.

Jack: I will.

Jack left, now taking a closer look at Troy’s movements. For the days he was on, Jack would keep tabs on him, watching him work, clock in and out and generally do his job. Jack began to notice that Troy would check the garbage, maybe looking for things to steal or hang on to. Maybe something valuable had fallen in. But with next to no new people coming into the hotel, there really could have only been a few people even in the hotel to check. This raised alarms in Jack’s head.  But it would require more monitoring before Jack could really make any determination other than the kid was a possible thief.

But it was in the middle of all this, that finally, something looked to change Jack’s fortunes. A phone call. One again from Sin City Wrestling. They wanted him to return. A larger contract, this one for the long term. He agreed.

Jack knew the risks now with Benny knowing everything and still with enemies. But this was money. This was opportunity. One too good to pass up. He packed his bags, checking out of the hotel, finally. Perhaps this one was for good. He loaded everything into his car, and the drive was on, back to Vegas. It was there he would cash the delivery check, before quitting.

This chapter wasn’t over just yet, it seemed.


--
On-Camera

Click.

Jack paces. A almost incredulous chuckle escape him as he holds up his pointer finger to the camera.

Jack: Can you believe it? They wanted me back. I feel like I’m back home in Philly, living that life again, man. You want to get out, you want to escape, and then you wake up one day and you realize that you’re not going to be able to get away. No, you’re stuck. So I don’t know if I’m crazy, or just stupid. Blast From the Past was supposed to be it. The ticket to stardom, and low and behold, nothing comes of it. I remember both Mark and Christian told me to keep my phone on, and hey, you never know. And I treated it, exactly like I treat everyone and anyone who makes that kind of remark:

I don’t get my hopes up. If you set your expectations low, you’re rarely surprised.

So anytime somebody says “Hey, you got something there, keep plugging along and eventually something good will happen.” I let that shit go in one ear and out the other. Because it’s those type of sayings that truly mean “Yeah, we got nothing, but here’s some sunshine up your ass so you feel inspired and I feel like I did my job.” That’s what it is, that’s what it always is. So after Blast from the Past, I finally got my ass out of that goddamn hotel, and Ii went back to where I stay. I went to what I’m calling home and I sat there, wondering what the hell I was going to do. But I never expected them to call me back.  They can have the bunch of scrubs that infest the place, and I will be just fine, on my own. It’s how I’ve been for a long time, so why should I start trying anything different now?

But then a funny thing happened.

I answered a damn phone call from a Las Vegas number. And I will be damned if Sin City Wrestling didn’t come with the big offer to bring me back.

Sure, I could have went other places. I could have tried to stay where I was and make a go of it. I could have, but when you come to me with opportunity, and more importantly, money… Let’s just say I become a little more interested.

Jack takes a seat at the make-shift office desk, placing a stack of papers on it. We can all see the SCW logo on the top sheet. Jack pets the stack a few times before taking a seat, letting out a satisfied sigh.

Jack: So here it is. My contact. Back in Sin City Wrestling. All T’s crossed and I’s dotted. I had some good people look into this before my name ever was on it, because fuck if I’m aware on how promoters and owners try to dick you out of things. And when they are satisfied with it, so I was as well. So, I get to continue where I left off. Tallyn and I should have handled Mark Cross and Evie Jordan easily. Given another crack at it, we might of. We let that slip through our fingers, but you know what, at least they won the whole fucking thing anyway, so I guess that helps ease the level of annoyance I have for that situation.

But whatever, I get to face the NEW Roulette champion Jack Russow.

I bet the suits are really slapping their damn knees thinking about Jack vs. Jack and 2 Jack’s and all that stupid shit. Easily amused I guess.

The kid goes and beats Griffin Hawkins and ends a historic reign, and then, he gets to get his ass handed to him by me, upon my return to the SCW ring.

Jack holds his hand up and stops, holding up a finger again to indicate he has a point to make.

Jack: Yes, I know what I just said, and I know what I said immediately before that. Jack Russow is the new champion, and I’m going to beat him in my return match. You may wonder how I am so confident, but the fact is, Jack Russow is just a punk kid who got lucky. Yes, I said it. I’ll say it again. Jack Russow is a punk who got lucky. I just want to be sure lesser Jack actually heard me. He knows it’s the truth, despite having a championship on his shoulder and having the biggest win of his career. But let’s face it, his career spans like 3 matches. The dude would be parking cars somewhere if he wasn’t a wrestler.

In fact, he should be.

So, let me just go ahead and speak to Jack Russow right now, in case there’s any confusion. I know sometimes with a match like this, people think I might be talking about the wrong person.

Here’s the deal, Jack. The suits want to protect you and not have you lose that championship you worked ever so hard for in your first defense. Because you know and I know that all you are right now, is a kid who is trying live up to a reputation he can’t hope to attain, and keep on a legacy that nobody outside of your immediate family will give a rat’s ass about. Nobody cares about Levi Russow, or the Russow legacy of being bit players in pro wrestling. I’ve never heard of your old man, and I don’t think many other have either. So obviously, your old man sucked and he couldn’t cut the mustard, so the wrestling world got rid of him. And you’re really trying to keep that shit afloat? I just find this so… what’s the word I’m looking for here? It’s uh…

Jack snaps his fingers and points at the camera.

]Jack: Oh yeah… I got it now…

Stupid.

That’s the word. I mean, do you seriously want to be compared to your washed up old man? You want to carry on that legacy instead or forging your own? Don’t be your own man, don’t stand on your own two feet. Just continue to be propped up by your family. I mean, I do find it somewhat funny that you’re here, where the legacy is unknown, trying to keep it going. Like, that’s is just… precious isn’t it? Little Jack Russow trying to defend his family name. Well, precious is one word…

Pathetic is another.

It’s almost sad how pathetic this really is, Jack. You should be trying to do something with your life that makes you stand out, not be compared to your loser father. Oh, and don’t bother with the explaining that he’s won this championship and that championship. No one cares. My brother was that Texas State Syndicated Television champion! Whew boy that sure is something to be proud of isn’t it?

The answer is no.

But, I suppose that is how you and I differ, lesser Jack.

Jack pushes his contract off screen, and folds his hands on the desk.

Jack: I had to get away from my father’s legacy. Do something different because without doing something different, I could never have made it out his shadow. I never wanted to be “Ethan’s son” after the age of 12. Why? Because I needed to be Jack. I needed to be me. Not just being known for being his kid. Because nothing good comes of that. People expected me to do that, and I didn’t. People wanted me to follow in his footsteps and I knew then and there that no way was I ever going to wind up like my father and live off his name.

You, of course, went the opposite way.

I mean, did it not occur to you that all this was going to do was lead to comparisons? This is like the last thing anyone wants to do, and with the track record of kids in pro wrestling, you are literally doomed, no matter what you do. Any success, will be because of your last name. All the incoming failures? You’re clearly not as good as your dad. Do you not see how this is an exercise in futility? Nothing you will ever do will help you get away from your old man’s shadow.

How does it feel, to be trapped? And how does it feel to know that you did it to yourself?

These are questions, the people want to know the answers to. The questions only you can answer, Jack.

But there are more questions that I’m going to get to answer this Sunday. Because I am curious just how much of a beating you can take. I’m curious to know how good you are at taking an ass-kicking. How many shots until you bleed? How many blows until you’re crying in agony? Because that’s something worth exploring. And yes, I know, you just wrestled in a parking lot to win that Roulette championship. You survived a grueling match. I mean, I guess you did, not really sure. Because let’s just be honest here, lesser Jack, Griffin Hawkins, the guy wasn’t out to hurt you. He wasn’t out to really try and put you down for a lot longer than a 3 count. He was trying to retain a championship. He was trying to keep the title around his waist. So in my eyes? You got off easy.

You will not be so fortunate come Sunday.

No, I’m coming into this match, to not only beat you, but to do so as painfully as possible. I wanna see if you are as tough as you think you are. I want to know that after one solid shot to the face, what your response is. And judging by the look of you, you will fold. I can see it on your face. I can feel it in my bones. You don’t really want to get hurt. And that’s too bad, because you’re going to get hurt. And then lose.

After hearing about this match, and doing my obligatory research, the only thing I wish, is that we could wrestle live in front of your old man, so I can see the look of disappointment on his face, when you’re lying there, covering up, shrinking and crumbling at my hands. I wanted very much to see you crying out for him to come and save you when you know you’re beaten.

And then I could have kicked his ass too.

So you can continue to be stuck in your old man’s shadow, and doing everything you can to make him happy and try desperately to share the father-son moment, but I’m not interested in that, Jack. I’m not. I don’t give a rat’s ass about who likes me, who hates me, who wants to see me succeed or fail. Unlike you, I don’t need anyone’s approval to feel like a success. No, because in this business, you have to TAKE things because nobody should be giving you an inch. This business is about getting ahead. And you have to do by hook, or by crook. If you have stab someone in the back, you do it. If you have to step on toes, offend people, you do it.

Jack stands up again, and pulls the camera lens to square up on his eyes and the top part of his head.

Jack: I want you to look into my eyes right now, Russow.

I want you to really think about what I said here. Because right now, you’re living high on the euphoria of winning a championship and making daddy proud. You’re still caught up trying to prove you’re a good as your old man. You know it, I know it. But you look into my eyes right now, and you understand that I fully intend to tear you apart this Sunday. You take all of that into account, and you look me in my face and tell me, you’re better than me.

I didn’t think so.

I’m coming to beat your ass champ, better be ready. You’re going to learn that unlike many… I don’t waste my opportunities.


The camera feed drops. Nothing but black.


Watch. This. Space.</span>