House of the rising sun….
This Week…

Alex hated what Wolfslair had become. The gym that he had founded half a decade ago. A place where he could bring in the best of the best. An environment of respectful competitive power. And for the last few years everything had been how Alex wanted it. Alicia and Austin had been the pillars he needed. While Alex was still a great wrestler and had many years in front of him he needed two stars of the next generation to hold the place and it’s ideals up. And that's what he had found in those two. Alicia Lukas, a woman who many saw as the best female wrestler in the world. And Austin James Mercer….

Austin.

Part of the new breed of wrestler coming through. An athletic freak of a man. Big, strong, powerful. But also smart and wanting to learn the technical side and use that impressive frame. Austin had all the raw tools and ability. Under Alex he had become a champion. And a leader. The last few weeks things had changed. Austin had changed. And Alex saw it coming. Because he had gone through the same thing many times. In this business when your ego is bruised you lash out in anger. Frustration builds and before you know it, an explosion.

This was what Alex saw happening to his young friend. Losses piled up, Austin saw the world title slip through his fingers again losing to someone who deep down Austin believed himself to be better than. And now, after lashing out Austin had pulled himself away from his stablemates, and the other members of the gym.

The culture had changed. No longer was Austin greeted with a smile and respect from nearly everyone in the place when he walked in. Now Austin was avoided like the plague. Trainees who once looked to him for guidance and advice now averted their gaze and changed rooms. And friends like Aiden Reynolds and Alicia herself now only spoke single worded answers and small sentences to someone they used to spend hours laughing with.

This was not the vision Alex ever wanted or needed for Wolfslair. And he knew he needed to do something.

”Are you going to talk to him or not?”

Charlie’s voice broke his concentration. Alex took in a deep breath and looked up at his younger sister. Her long black hair, that was like his own was tied back away from her face. Her arms were folded over her chest, dressed in basic workout gear. He gave her a nod of understanding and acknowledgment. Charlie looked out of Alex’s office window onto the floor of the gym. Alicia and Johanna were talking as Austin walked in. Limping. Last week he had come in full of fire and was ready to work out, this week, with his injuries he was more angry than ever before.

This was the first time Alex had seen him since Climax Control, a moment where Austin pushed Alex forward and volunteered his friend to take his place against Fenris. It wasn’t that Alex wouldn’t wrestle Fenris, it’s that Austin had not asked him before that moment. It just happened.

Alex felt trapped, and now what was he meant to do? Charlie stepped forward and put her hands on Alexs’ desk leaning close, looking her older brother right in the eye. ”He’s changed Alex. He’s changed and now seems to think he’s in charge. No one is comfortable.” He gave another nod, he knew Charlie was right, he knew what ha had to do but was putting it off.

He cleared his throat and got to his feet looking over her shoulder to Austin who was trying to work his good arm, wincing with each rep of the weight. Even at this moment, with Alex being angry at Austin, feeling it all well up in his heart, he couldn’t help but be in awe of his natural ability and strength. Here he was, injured and in pain, one of his arms in a sling against his chest, and his other arm was still lifting 180 pounds, over and over again. ”I just don’t know what to say, he’s still a member of this gym and the group….” Charlie moved next to her brother with a sigh looking out and being just as amazed at Austin as Alex was.

”I get it….but this can’t go on….”

He swallowed hard and sighed heavily with a small smile and nod at Charlie before opening the door out onto the floor. He moved out and towards Austin who was sitting at the far side of the gym, Charlie leaned onto the doorframe, he moved passed Alicia and Johanna, they stared in shock as Alex got closer, Aiden, Kallie, the other trainees, they all rushed to the window from the audio visual room and stared at what was about to happen.

Austin placed the barbell down and looked up at Alex from the weight bench, he pushed up to his feet towering over his friend. Alex tilted his head and laughed to himself. ”We should probably talk….” Austin moved his eyes sideways towards the door, Alex turned and moved out first with Austin following as they made it out to the parking lot, Alex ran his hands through his head before turning on his heels. ”You know we’re all worried about you right?” Austin scoffed and lightly moved his arm showing Alex he had some movement.

”No need, I’ll be back to top shape soon enough.”

He couldn’t help but let out a sigh before sitting down on the large truck tyres sitting outside, the wind blew past them, Alex gave a shiver, it was freezing. ”Not about that. Your change in attitude Aus..” The big man rolled his eyes and turned to go back inside the gym dismissing him, Alex shot up right away and moved between Austin and the door. ”You threw me under the bus Austin. You blindsided me with bthis fucking match and that-”

Austin scoffed and stepped back. Interrupting him. ”Afraid you can’t handle it?. Scared of Fenris?. I mean, I get it, you have been getting your ass kicked by everyone else. Jack, Ben, Vinnie. You don’t have what it takes so of course you don’t want to face a guy like Fenris…” Austin steps closer to his friend, his good arm moving up to put a finger right in Alexs’ face. ”You have been largely irrelevant for the last few months, I hand you this moment to get back on the map by facing one of the best. And do you thank me?...no...of course not. You throw it in my face...so ungrateful…” He pushed around Alex getting to the door before grabbing the handle and stopping. ”I expected better…”

The door opened, Austin stepped through and the door clicked shut leaving Alex standing outside, the snow starting to fall.

Better circumstances

”I’m not prepared for this match.”

A startling admission to start us off. Alex Jones, normally so full of bragging confidence and arrogance admitting he isn’t ready. But then again, the last few months haven't been the same for Alex. Realisations and honesty hitting home.

”Don’t get me wrong, at Inception I will walk out to that ring, I will step between those ropes and I will do my best, like I always do. But, the last few months haven’t really be kind to me have they?. I mean, back in August I stepped into the ring and became a ten time world champion, only to lose it a few weeks later to someone who was younger, smarter and has an ego that seems bigger than mine. I watched it slip through my fingers and there was nothing, NOTHING I could do about it. And while I have had great matches with the likes of Ben Jordan and Vinnie I haven’t been able to walk out the winner.”

“I have no excuses, they were both just plain better than me. So, I have no momentum, I have no confidence and now I’m expected to step in the ring with one of the most dominant human beings in SCW and pro wrestling.”

“Well don’t I feel great?”

“Thing is, I know I’m still good. I know that the name Alex Jones does still carry weight, no matter what someone like Jack Washington would have you believe. And for reference, you want to know the difference between someone like me and Jack? Aside from age?. It’s the respect. I sent him a message when he lost, on twitter, saying I hoped he would pick himself up and he ignored it. That lack of respect is something that is hurting this business as well as the brutality of things that are now overlooked.”

“Maybe I’m just old fashioned.”

He paused for a moment, rethinking his own statement and past. He took a deep breath and continued.

”But, I have been trying ti pick myself up, dust myself off and get back to my winning ways. Get back to being the Alex Jones people can believe in and remember. But this match, it wasn’t something I wanted at the time. And it’s nothing against you Fenris you know that. But the circumstances of this match and why it was signed, I hate it. And even with all the shitty things I’ve done in my life and my career I have never done what Austin did, I never crossed that line. If I had an issue with you Fenris I wouldn’t have gone after Aron…”

“I would have gone after you.”

“One on one. You and me. No family brought in.”

“So no, in case anyone was wondering I do not endorse what Austin did to Aron or how he has gone about his issue with Fenris, nor do I appreciate being shoved into this match and this situation. And while it’s not ideal, I suppose I should try and make the most of it right? Here I am coming off losses to some of the best in Sin City Wrestling and instead of sliding back down towards the front of the card I get to face one of the best in this company one on one at a supercard.”

His head shakes as he clears his throat.

”I should be happy, I should be excited. But I’m not. I’m really not. And that breaks my goddamn heart. And the thing is, while there are reasons to hate this match is happening, like how it was conceived and signed, there is plenty to be excited about. Two former world champions going at each other. Two competitors who will go out and down to that ring and fight tooth and nail to walk out the winner. People should be excited for it, but so should we. But...I’m not...and here’s why…”

“I should not be in the ring with someone like Fenris. I should not be in the ring with former world champions because I am not currently good enough to earn the right to be in there. Especially at a show like Inception, an event that so many of us are excited for.”

“But Fenris deserves to be facing the best of the best or to be able to get revenge against Austin. And with me….”

He swallows hard and looks away, a far off look deep in his eyes.

”With me Fenris is not getting either. He isn’t getting revenge against Austin because I don’t think Austin cares if Fenris breaks me in half. And he’s not getting the kind of fight he deserves because I am simply not good enough right now. And the thing is, I respect Fenris. I think that goes without saying. I respect what he has accomplished, I respect the fighting spirit, I respect his ability to overcome everything. And this match should be huge. It should be noteworthy and people should be talking about it but the truth is they’re not. The truth is that everyone….and I mean everyone, believes this is just a throw away match.”

“This is Austin being injured, legit or not, and choosing someone for Fenris to destroy…”

“Now, I will get in that ring, I will put my body on the line and do my best against Fenris, as I said earlier, he will get me at my current best. The only problem is that Alex Jones, right now, my best isn’t worth shit in this goddamn company and Sin city wrestling deserves better.”

“I am a shell of who I once was.”

“A shadow of a champion and not the opponent Fenris wants or needs. So, I’m sorry. I’m sorry this is how the match will go, I’m sorry that I am no longer the world champion people remember and I’m sorry thyat now all I am is a name people can put on a list, like a checkmark. At Inception, I’ll get in the ring with you Fenris, I will fight, I will scratch and claw, I will do all I can to beat you….”

“....I just know….it won’t be enough…”

Death and taxes
Dallas, Texas
13 Years Ago

It was fitting, the weather being like it was. Heavy grey clouds hung above in the sky, because the air was thick and heavy. It was warm but not the usual Texas hot. It was time to say goodbye, but neither of them knew how to act. Alex walked along the grass, his mother on one side clutching his arm, his sister on the other keeping her distance. The last few days have been hard for all of them, their mother rushing back from whatever spiritual retreat she happened to be out at the time. The relationship between Alex and Charlie had become strained, they confident each other has Dylan slipped away but now? Now they seem to be this wall between them. I will stop them from listening to each other, from understanding. Alex knew that Charlie was in pain, but it was hard for him to see what he needed to do with his own pain.

She blamed him. And the worst part was that he blamed himself.

Had he been too hard on Dylan? Had his version of tough love and trying to stay back pushed him towards his inevitable end? He thought he was doing the right thing. His heart was in a good place. But that didn’t seem to matter, the last few days Alex has replayed the last few months over and over again in his mind. Watching Dylan go from an innocent kid who  lost his father to an angry adult. Dylan blamed everything on the rest of the world. He didn’t take responsibility for his own actions. And deep down Alex knew that that included his drug use, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. They buried their father and now the siblings had to bury one of their own. The youngest, the most innocent.

He was the best and worst of them.

Dylan was young and dynamic, he was caring and smart. But he was also overly emotional and impulsive. He was ill-equipped to deal with the pressures of the world. He wasn’t strong enough to stand up and push through any hardship. And because of that he did all of this to himself. But his family was left to pick up the pieces. Their mother was quiet, she was always quiet, that was the problem. She stayed quiet as her husband was physically abusive towards his children. Alex in particular being the oldest. But as they moved across the cemetery towards Dylan’s final resting place Alex’s heart sank. At the week he had been able to distract himself, he was even able to ignore the fact that Charlie wouldn’t even look at him. But now he could see the gravestone, he could see everyone around it. Trainees from the gym, Dylan’s best friends from high school, they were all there. Even the ones that Alex knew for a fact soul Dylan his drugs.

Alex and Charlie’s mother stopped and wiped tears from her eyes with a tissue before holding her hands in her lap. Alex Snead and stepped forward looking to approach the boys, Charlie reached out, her hand pressed his forearm. Alex turned and she slowly shook her head, one of the first moments where she was able to acknowledge his existence since Dylan’s death. She spoke with a certain amount of authority, the voice growing stone from behind a clearly melancholy look and attitude that she had. ”This isn’t the time or place.” she was right of course, this wasn’t the time or place to be confronting anyone. Alex swallowed hard and gave his sister and not before stepping back. He didn’t even hear anything that was said, all Alex could hear was the sobbing from his mother, Charlie trying to hold back tears of her own to stay strong.

In minutes it was over. The casket was lowered into the ground, everyone slowly started to disperse and walk away. Alex looked over seeing one of his best friends, Michael “Spike” Kane. A man who trained at the same gym, even worked a few of the same companies as Alex. Charlie took their mother by the arm and started to walk her away towards the car, Alex moved over towards Spike stop in next to his friend. Before spot could say anything Alex leaned in close ”I’m going to need your help...tonight…” Spike just slowly nodded his head in agreement and understanding. Alex took a long deep breath and turned on his heel was walking after his sister and mother, but his day wasn’t over yet.

That night…

It was a calm night in the inner city of Dallas Texas. A cool summer breeze keeping the temperature down to 100. A black car slowly rolls up with the lights off stopping outside a shotty looking house in the suburbs. The window slowly comes down and we see Alex Jones sitting in the passenger seat. Spike Kane sitting in the driver's side. Spike’s long hair sitting under a black woven cap. Alex’s eyes burned as he growled under his breath staring out at the front door.

Spike seemed solemn and quiet, a sadness in his eyes contrasting the anger in Alex’s. Spike turned and looked at his friend wanting to say something as Alex reached towards the door handle. Spike reached over and grabbed his arm. There was an awkward pause. Spike took a deep breath and as he opened his mouth his strong Irish accent came out in his low, deep voice and tones. ”Alex, think this through…”

”Are you with me or not?” His response was short and sweet, a hard punch to the gut. He seemed disconnected and lost. A far cry from the Alex in later years we had seen with his friends and family, His phone went off, Alex looked down at it and sighed pressing the red button to send it to his voicemail. The name “Charlie” flashing on it. Frantically trying to get a hold of him. Spike looked down at it and shook his head.

“”Maybe ya should pick it up mate…” his voice was soft and caring, it was more of a statement than a question.

Alex ground his teeth together, Spike reached out and touched his friend on the shoulder “Maybe, but she might talk me out of this….” Alex pulled away from Spike and opens the door. Spike’s eyes widen and he slides out of the car sliding over the hood stepping in front of his friend.

“If you do this there’s no turning back brother. You know that. If we walk in there and take them out?. You’re crossing a line that very very few people can ever come back from.” Alex stayed silent and then slowly shook his head going to walk past Spike.

Spike though grabbed his arm again yanking him back. Alex threw his arm to the side and growled in anger. “You know what they did Spike, you know what I lost. What my family lost….” His heart was beating fast, he struggled trying to hold back tears. Alex had let everyone else deal with the grief, but he had not shared one tear for his brother‘s death.

Spike swallowed hard and put his hands up. “And doing this won’t bring Dylan back!” Alex moved forward, his right hand hitting Spike in the face sending his friend staggering back across the street, Spike wiped the blood from his lip and as Alex stepped forward Spike ducked tackling him into the side of the car. The two moved and wrestled around Spike headbutting Alex in the nod before Alex kicked Spike in the chest.

As Alex tried to move past him again Spike grabbed him pulling him back against the car again slamming Alex down onto the hood with his forearm across his throat. “Let. Me. Go”

“No!.... I get it, man, I do! the need for vengeance, the pain of losing someone. Dylan was your younger brother and he made his own choices!” Alex struggled, and even though he was strong, Spike was stronger.

“They killed him!” his voice broke, tears rolled down his cheeks. Alex finally let go.

“He killed himself!” Spike yelled and pushed off Alex stepping back as he sat up, Alex shook his head and sat on the front of the car. His breath labored as he tried to calm down. Alex started to pace  back-and-forth is hands balled into fists. “Dude, you just….think about it. Think about England, think about E-”

“Don’t…..” His voice growled again as he slid down to his feet, his eyes moved over to the house again, his phone rang and lit up. Alex looked down at it and then up at Spike before giving him a slow and understanding nod. “Hey, Charlie….yeah. Yeah, I know. I’ll come home sis…..”

Dream Match

He took a deep breath in, holding it for a few moments before exhaling. The weight of the world seemed to be on his shoulders as Alex shook his head choosing his words carefully.

”Well, it seems as if I’ve had that uptick in competition that I wanted. A few weeks ago my first match back after losing the world championship left a lot to be desired and also left a sour taste in my mouth. Alex Jones is a fucking star in this business. I don’t need to be put on any top 100 list, I don’t need people to kiss my ass. I know who I am and what I deserve. And after losing the championship to Jack Washington I still deserve more than a random gimmick triple threat match on the Halloween show. With that being said though, I took that stupid little opportunity in both hands and I ran with it. I got in the ring against Caleb storms and Jack’d the Ripper and walked out the winner. Which is what I do…”

“Even as people laugh and start talking about how quickly I lost the sin city wrestling world championship, they seem to ignore my record here. A positive record, with wins over some of the best in this goddamn company. Although when it comes to Wolfslair eyes are always on Austin. And many would say rightfully so, after all Austin was a dominant champion and has a chance to regain that title at high-stakes. He has a chance to become a two-time champion and also beat the man with beat me. It will be a hell of a match, meanwhile Alicia and Johanna will defend their respective titles through the night too. So what exactly was there left for me to do?”

“I suppose I could’ve had the night off, hell I could’ve taken the Griffin Hawkins route and walked out of Sin City like a petulant child.”

“No, that isn’t my style. I know people wish that I would’ve done that because they are honestly sick and tired of hearing me talk and they’re sick of seeing me on the television screens. Jealousy is an ugly ugly thing in this business and it’s something that I’ve had to deal with since I stepped foot in it. Because I have always been a talent, when I was younger they called a potential, and as I grew older people in and out of the business realise the talent that I possessed over everyone else. And since then I have gone on to become a 10 time world champion. That is no accident, you don’t just wake up one day and decide that is what you’re going to do. It took hard work and dedication. And it took having the balls to do things like go out there and target the best. If sin city wrestling was a prison? You would do the same thing and go after the biggest baddest in the yard.”

“Fenris isn’t here, Ty west disappeared, Vinnie is taking time away, Austin and Jack are busy so it left one person. One name.”

Alex couldn’t help but laugh under his breath, he ran his hands for his long black hair tying it back away from his face. His hands class being together as he stayed sitting down leaning his elbows onto his thighs as he sat forward. He took a long deep breath in and shook his head before opening his eyes and muttering the one name.

”Ben Jordan.”

Alex smiled, his heart seemed to race as he started to get excited. Excited about the prospect of true competition against one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet today. Alex moved his arms, he gripped the bench with both hands and slowly pushed up getting himself to his feet.

”Former world champion Ben Jordan. Going one on one with former world champion Alex Jones. And I get it, As far as well title rains in this company have gone? Bens was definitely have a higher standard than mine. I still won the world title and I get to have that on my resume and I get to tell people that I was the world champion but as far as looking at what someone did with said championship? Ben is leaps and bounds above where I was. I can admit it, I man enough to admit my own shortcomings and say that I can overcome them. Unlike some people in this world. Then one that while title, he put it on the line against anyone and everyone including Jack Washington. “

“Now, it’s no secret that usually when I talk about my opponents I’m less than complimentary. I treat a lot of people like they are beneath me, like they’re nothing more than a bug to be scraped off the bottom of my boot. And for the most part that’s true, for the most part I do look at the roster and think that I am above them and better than them. Because I am. That isn’t an opinion, that is a fact. You look at what I’ve done in my career not just in this company but every other company I’ve stepped foot in and it’s clear to see that I am a step above most of you. I have built a gym and an idea that promotes and creates champions.”

“I have earned the right to be an arrogant prick.”

“But, against Ben Jordan I can’t really go that route now can I?. I can’t look at Bens career and say that mine has been better than his or that he can’t live up to the standard that I have set. In sin city wrestling he has been a star. A shining light to show what hard work can do.”

He pauses for a moment with a grin, he folds his arms over his chest and takes a long deep breath before continuing.

”Most of the time when doing these I need to become the antagonist to sell a match. That’s the way most stories go right? We have a protagonist and antagonist. And I have always been comfortable with my position being the antagonist since I was younger, I’ve always been comfortable with putting my finger on people’s chest and telling them that I’m better than them and I’m going to embarrass them and it is up to them to stop me. Sometimes they do stop me, sometimes I have to eat some humble pie and watch as other people become a champion or a star off of my back. And I’m comfortable with that I’m absolutely fine with that. But, in a situation such as this I don’t feel the need to antagonise someone like Ben Jordan. I don’t feel the need to sell this match by telling people that I’m just going to embarrass him and have them want to tune in to prove me wrong.”

“This match and this Supercard doesn’t need to be sold on that.”

“I don’t need to sell it by talking down your championship rain and bringing up that you lost the title to Griffin Hawkins, I don’t need to go the well traveled path that others have walked down and talk about you and your wife. I don’t need to say that you live in your wife’s shadow despite the fact that they use the same argument with her against you and to be honest it’s weak, shallow, and pedantic. This match doesn’t need any cheap tricks or gimmicks or hooks to get people to care. Atleast it shouldn’t.”

“This match should be sold on the premise that two of the best professional wrestlers on the planet today are going to go one on one at the biggest show of the goddamn year. This match is the personification of one of the most overused terms and troops in professional wrestling today. But it’s so big that even I am gonna use the words, even I am gonna use the tagline that so many others have tried to bastardise and using their own selfish needs for something that honestly could never live up to the billing. Ben Jordan one on one with Alex James, it’s a goddamn dream match. It is a match between two incredibly talented men, to world champions and two people who will not give an inch in that ring. That is what you should all look forward to watching, that is what you should all look forward to seeing. A dream match in every sense of the word. At high-stakes you will all get your money‘s worth I can promise you that.”

A danger to yourself
Dallas, Texas
13 Years Ago

It felt like any other day at the gym. Alex and Charlie laughed and moved around the ring with others. They locked up, took each other down and tried to make each other tap. They learned, they made themselves stronger as a unit. Alex moves over to talk to Charlie and Spike Kane,an old friend of his. But before they could bring Charlie hit her brother on the shoulder pointing to the entrance. Alex turned to find Dylan standing under the open metal roller door. He smiled at everyone and seemed uneasy on his feet. Alex crowned and shook his head.

He went to go to his brother but Spike reaches out grabbing his arm pulling him back. Alex sighed and Spike shook his head. Dylan has to make his own mistakes. He moved through the gym high giving some of the younger trainees. They were happy to see him. Dylan had always been a very popular member of the gym. He made friends easy, he seemed to be able to relate to strangers better than his own family.

Dylan moved over to the grappling mats, he took off his jacket and revealed that he was in his training gear. He dropped it near the mat leaning down to take his shoes off almost slipping over. Alex went to go to him again, and yet again Spike grabbed him by the arm. Charlie looked at them both and wanted to go to them, but knew what Spike was trying to accomplish. Dylan stepped onto the maths, one of the young trainees who was always friendly with Dylan stepped forward willing to work with him. They went to lock up, Dylan stepped back and lost his balance falling on his back as the tradie landed on top of him confused. Dylan started laughing uncontrollably clapping his hands before being helped up. He still seemed uneasy on his feet and Alex started becoming furious.

This was disrespectful to the gym, and disrespectful to Alex and Charlie as well as everyone who is there training with them and training them to be better at their art of professional wrestling.

Dylan lined up again, this time his shot in for a double leg. The other trainee was able to stuff it and push Dylan down before rolling over and taking Dylan’s back, he was straight away able to lock in a rear naked choke, Dylan tapped out and the trainee let go. But something snapped. Dylan popped up and instead of clapping his hands his entire demeanour changed. He moved across the mats charging at the training before taking him down and throwing hard punches, the train he was able to cover up as others put them back and away.

”Get the fuck off me. Fuck y’all!” Alex is nostrils flared, he moved across the ring, this time Spike didn’t stop him. Alex slid out into the floor before moving across through the group of people who had started watching what was going on. Alex grabbed Dylan by the arms and pulled him backwards shoving him against the wall behind the mats. Dylan shook his head and mood for shoving Alex in the chest. ”You want some now?. Shut you wanted me here.” Dylan Snead and lean back against the wall, obviously having difficulty staying in an upright position.

The other trainees all crowded around and watched them, Charlie moved over to the ropes leaning forward wondering if she should go down there and talk to both of her brothers. Spike folded his arms watching what Alex was going to do next.

Alex folded his arms over his chest and stood in front of his brother, his long hair falling down his shoulders and back. ”I only wanted you here if you were going to work.” Dylan started laughing, almost uncontrollably and in a maniacal way. He slid a bit further down the wall, his leg sitting at an angle as he had trouble staying there. Alex looked away from his younger brother, he failed to hide the disgust in his eyes.

Dylan was able to pick up on this. He stopped laughing and eased his way back to his feet taking a step forward almost stumbling forward into his brother. His finger up pointing at Alex right in the face. ”You don’t get to act all high and mighty. I’m here bro, I’m here to train so let’s train.” Dylan move forward and try to shop past Alex to get to the maths, Alex put his hand on Dillons chest pushing him back lightly, Dylan stumbled back unable to keep himself upright falling back and landing against the wall in a sitting position. He growled and push back up to his feet and then looked over at the ring trying to get there, this time Alex put his left hand against Dylan’s chest and shocked him slightly harder backwards. Dylan again landed on his ass sitting against the wall.

Everybody around them gasped. Dylan looked up angrily, growling again as he pushed up to his feet and this time stepped forward at his brother taking a swing, Alex moved out of the way of the clumsy punch attempt spinning Dylan around grabbing both of his arms and holding him in a restrained position, ”Calm down.” Alex spoke in a calm and measured way. He tried to whole Dylan still, Dylan flailed and moved before throwing his head back, he connected with Alex‘s nose. Alex stumbled back some blood trickling from his nostrils as he failed to see straight.

Charlie looked on in shock, Spike moved forward watching even more intently knowing what was coming next. Dylan turned around looking at his brother, watching the blood drip from his nose. ”I fuckingbtold you Alex.” Dylan stepped forward and landed a hard right hand, it connected with Alex right on the jaw, Alex dropped one knee his hand resting down against the concrete below. Dylan stood above him waiting for Alex to get up. ”Come on Alex! Teach me a lesson Mr high and mighty!”

Alex look down at the concrete, some of the blood from his nose trip down onto it. He shook his head and took a deep breath before getting to his feet moving his jaw around, and wiping the blood from his nose. ”I’m not going to fight you D. But you can’t train. Not in your state.” Alex swallowed hard and backed away from his brother just to be safe. [cooor=red]”You’re a danger to yourself and a danger to others. We don’t want you here.”[/color]

 Dylan started to laugh, he threw his hands in the air and looked around at all the other trainees who was staring at him. His laughter slowly faded away and turned into disappointment and sadness as he realised none of them were laughing with him. Everyone was staring at him with the same pity and sadness that Alex had. Dylan slowly looked over his sister, Charlie couldn’t even look him in the face a tear rolled down her cheek as she turned away. Dylan looked down at the ground swallowed hard, he tried to stop tears from welling up in his face.”That’s really how you all feel huh? Well goddamn.”

He pushed off the wall, he stumbled over almost falling. He moved around and picked up his jacket and shoes before turning to walk towards the roller door. He moved slowly and almost stumbled again before stopping and turning to look at everyone. ”Fuck all of you. I don’t need this. I have real friends. REAL FAMILY WHO GIVE A SHIT.” he stormed away, out and down the stairs.

Alex let out along deep sigh, he moved around closer to the ring where Charlie was almost in tears, she leaned against the ropes holding her head in her hands as Spike moved over grabbing a towel. He leaned over handing it to Alex as he wiped away the blood. Speed bike decided to talk, he was usually the silent type, his Irish accent shining through with a bit of the American that he picked up in the last seven years of living in the United States. ”it’ll be alright. Tough love. But...watch him eh?” Alex gave a small nod, but in his heart he knew that his brother was broken. And he had no idea how to fix it.

Context.

A steel folding chairs it’s open right under a large bright light. There is no one around it, just darkness with a few shapes being made out to look like it is in the middle of an office. There is a sound of a door opening, click and heavy footsteps from someone wearing black boots. Alex Jones steps in from the side, wearing said black boots, torn black jeans, and a white and red T-shirt from the band a day to remember. He slowly lowers himself down on the chair leaning back against it throwing his legs straight out in a relaxed position with a long deep breath.

”It seems like I struck a nerve.”

He couldn’t help but smile. Observing Jack’s behaviour and what he said obviously made him get under his skin. It was a good trade off, after all the things of Jack said may not of cause the same reaction, but they did annoy him.

”Sucks doesn’t it Jack?. To do something and have your actions apparently miss construed as to what your true nature is. Although I think we know what your nature is. Although, it is quite funny knowing that if I hadn’t of said anything, if I had stayed quiet and waited, you would not have had anything to open with. Replying isn’t a good move Jack. Shows lack of vision, and lack of creativity. There’s so many things you could’ve talked about when it comes to you me and our match coming up a violent conduct. But that’s what you went with, that’s what you chose. You chose to get so angry about the little quips I made about your lack of leadership.“

“All the things that I said and that have happened in the past and that’s what you choose to open on, of course it wasn’t anything compared to what you kept going with. That’s the difference between us Jack, you are nothing but a childish moron grasping at straws trying to keep yourself on my level verbally because you know that physically while you may look more impressive you don’t have the pedigree, and you don't have the past that I do.”

“I zeroed in on that for a reason Jack.“

“I am a locker room leader. I am someone who walks into a company and people instantly gravitate towards. Love me or hate me that’s just the truth. I am a professional, I am a legend, I am a veteran. I walked in here and the big dog with this company Fenris decided to open his mouth and disrespect me. By the time he was right it’s hot his tail between his legs and fuck off back to Iceland, he knew my name, he knew who I was. And he realised his mistake. He realised who I was and what I could do in that room, he realised that I was a former world champion and a fucking veteran.”

Alex leans forward with a large smile on his face, his hands clasp together into a pyramid just under his chin.

” I moved in on that because I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle it. And here you are commenting on it straight away jumping on it like a dog with a bone. But here’s the thing Jack, you came up with your excuses on why the loss didn’t matter to you, you came up with some bullshit about how a leader knows when to retreat. If that’s true, and you want to be a leader, know when to retreat, and tuck your balls and run now. Leave now. Because I am the one to lead this locker room, I am the one to show everyone what it is to be a true competitor and a true champion. A real champion doesn’t run from a challenge, a real champion doesn’t pack his bags and think better of it and leave other people to do his dirty work.”

“A real champion stands toe to toe with anyone and everyone, uses and loves competition. I don’t care if I win or lose, as long as I go out there and I bust my ass and that’s what I do week in week out, day in day out, and match after match.“

“But, for argument's sake Jackie boy, what would happen if you did become the champion? How long before you face someone who you know is better than you, and instead of staying in that rank and trying to beat them and defend your championship like a real leader, you walk out and take account out just so you keep your championship? How long before you decide it’s just too hard and lay down and let someone who honestly shouldn’t be allowed to touch the sin city wrestling world championship beat you just because you think it’s too hard?“

“How is that being a winner?“

“Spoiler alert, commonsense alert, it’s not Jack. And this is the problem I have with you. See you are young, but you are also old enough and now experienced enough to know the difference. You got into that ring with Ben Jordan and you had a chance to hold the sin city wrestling world heavyweight championship. You had a chance to beat him and show everyone what you’re made of. And then you failed. And in the weeks after that you put up a few fake bullshit reasons and emotions, acting like you actually learn something. Right up until I stepped in and took the championship off Griffin, then? you went straight back to your same Waze and show the world that you don’t know how to adapt, change or learn”

He rolled his eyes, in Alex’s mind he was right. He watched Jack’s verbal diarrhoea, he watched him sit there for 20 minutes and run his mouth and say so much but somehow I’m not saying anything. Rookie move Jackie boy, Rookie move.

”There are some things about you though, that I find admirable. You are worthy of respect in one way. And that is being alone. Not relying on anyone else and being your own man is definitely something that is worthy of respect and something that should be drawn attention to. I’m not gonna sit here and say that you’re a giant pussy Jack, because the truth is you will go up against anyone and watch your own back and I applaud it.”

“With that being said, given your amazing verbal bullshit talking about being a winner, it’s kind of sad that you don’t know what a winner looks like.“

“You went through my entire history, you brought up all of these things about my past names, about the people who I work with and my friends and family. Yet before you went into it you came riding on the whole steroid thing. And said that is the best that I can do? Really? So you spent all that time going over how I told you apart when it comes to walking away in a tag match and having no courage to stand and be a leader but apparently all I said was something about steroids? Are you high? Are you talking rain in circles or you just fucking stupid? I’m sorry I thought I was talking to someone who had an IQ higher than his goddamn shoe size.”

“But still, congratulations on knowing how to use Google, apparently it’s something more than Fenris knew how to do when he first came at me. but somehow you went to all that trouble of googling me, but didn’t watch any of my promotional material from other companies where I go over various nicknames. And names for my moves.”

“But I completely agree, AJ Phoenix was a stupid name. Which is why I started going by my actual name champ.”

Alex winks and puts up a small thumbs up before moving over to the side grabbing the Sin City wrestling world heavyweight championship dropping it over his knee.

” but hey, it’s not like you went over all of my failed marriages, or any of the weird things I’ve been involved in in the past right? It’s not like you brought up the nudes for myself that are circulating around because of my ex-wife. But again, he brought up everything I’ve done in my past a whole bunch of stuff the people in Sin City probably don’t even know about. Or care about. Things that I moved on from and learn from because again I know how to adapt, change and learn. and the fact that you had to go back that far and talk about things that don’t matter when I’ve made so many mistakes and dumb things within the last year that is stupid? It goes to show how far your reach and how many straws you decide to clutch it.”

“Very sad Jackie boy, very sad“

“ I do have to concede something though, you are supposed to be a challenge in my championship. So I can understand why you would come after me and why you would try and make my past look like something to be afraid of, to make fun of, I get it. but, do you really want to go after the rest of my gym? You called Austin just some guy despite the fact that he too has helped this world championship, something that up to this moment you have failed to do. He’s also beating people who you have never beaten. So explain to me again how do you know what a winner looks like when you said that about Austin?”

“But what about Alicia? One good year? The fact that she’s been a champion in every company she’s entered. Well every company that matters. There was some LAW bullshit. She held the championship here for almost a year. She held all the championships in honor, including two at one time. She was the champion of WWH for almost a year. So not only do you not know what a winner looks like, apparently you don’t know how time works. So let me explain it to you dip shit, the earth rotates around the sun, it takes 365 days, 366 during a leap year.. Maybe you should’ve actually listened in school instead of running your mouth like a fucking moron.”

He scoffed and pushed up to his feet holding the world championship belt and his hand before putting it over his shoulder.

”One of the only intriguing and original thoughts in your head, he’s talking about my family and the fact that I have to provide for them. But, it’s wrong. I don’t have to provide for my family, the gym, endorsements, the fact that I didn’t snort away most of the money that I and unlike some guys that I used to work with. It means that my family is well provided for. We have a great life. So if I’m not doing this for something as basic as money, why do I do this?”

“You asked the question of who I was Jack, that’s the thing you don’t know who I am. You can throw out all of the stupid nickname that I’ve used, the stupid stage names I’ve used, you can throw all of that at me and failed to mention all the world titles I won in a very convenient twist of fate. But if I don’t do this for money, if I already have the glory that I want and that just leaves one thing, one small thing. And it’s the same thing that I started talking about before that separates men like you from men like me. From challengers to champions.”

“Competition.”

“I do this because I still have that fire in Me. I still have that fire to be the best, and face the best, and beat the best. You have a chance to get in the ring with me at violent conduct and prove that you deserve to be one of the best. Truth is I thought you already own that right when you faced Ben Jordan. I thought when you got into that room with him and you did everything you could beat him and came up short but still seem to have that need and that want to compete, I thought you were someone who I could relate to. But then, you opened your mouth.”

“And that old adage popped up, it is better to be thought of  a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. You’re a fool Jack, a dancing fucking clown. And violent conduct either the real Jack Washington who almost beat Ben shows up, or the rambling moron who went through my past and twisted it to his own narrative turns up. And I can tell you right now one of those Jack Washington‘s has a chance to beat me and walk away with the world title, and the other one has absolutely no chance at all. Make the right choice Jack, because I don’t want this to be easy."

Sibling Rivalry 
Dallas Texas 
13 Years Ago

“Come on kid”. Alex laughed and moved to the side as his younger brother went for a double leg but slid across the canvas. Alex laughed as Dylan slammed his fist on the mat. At 15 Dylan was bigger than a lot of his friends but still smaller than Alex. He was athletic and wanted to try his hand at wrestling. They had got permission from their mother. After much begging from Dylan and kind words from Charlie, now 18 and Alex. now 22 convinced her to let Alex train Dylan at a local gym. 

Alex moved around Dylan and as Dylan again ducked down he grabbed a leg, this time Alex quickly bent down wrapping his arms around his baby brother's midsection squeezing before lifting Dylan up and slamming him down. Alex then spun around Dylan's back and took him around and over locking in a rear naked choke. Dylan struggled and moved, he tilted his chin and grabbed Alex’s arm pulling back and away from his neck, turning around to gain the upperhand. Charlie looked up with a proud grin at ringside, nodding at Dylan. 

“Not bad….” Alex laughed as Dylan smiled not realising Alex had wrist control. He looked down too late. Alex turned his hips pulling Dylan around wrapping his arm and his legs straightening into an armbar pushing his younger brother down. Alex straightened his back and pushed up. Dylan screamed in pain. “Tap DJ….” There was nothing Alex rolled his eyes and pulled harder causing Dylan again to cry out.

“TAP DYLAN” Charlie screamed and slammed her hand on the mat.   

“No….” Dylan yelled and Alex sighed, pulling once more cracking his elbow before letting go, Dylan yelled in pain again and stayed on his knees holding his arm as Alex rolled over his shoulder to his feet, he paced back and forth shaking his head.

“If this was a match I would have fucking taken your arm off DJ…” Dylan smirked and gave him a small nod before sitting back looking over at Charlie who just sighed deeply.

“I ain’t a quitter Alex.” Alex stopped mid step. Charlie rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath, Alex turned and slapped his brother across the face.

“Don’t be an idiot. You know what pride gets you in this?. Broken bones and time off…” He scoffs and throws his arms in the air as Dylan slowly wiped the blood from his lip. “There isn’t shame in knowing you got beat by someone better. You learn, take it in and never make the same mistake again.” Dylan nods slowly and slides from the ring, Alex turns to Charlie and slides through the ropes with a deep sigh. Alex looks at his phone as Charlie keeps an eye on their baby brother scowling as a few of his “friends” approach   

“We need to do something about that…” Alex made a grunting noise and looked up for a moment putting his phone away,

“They’re just his friends Charlie….I’m not dad I can’t tell him who he can and can’t see…” He looked back at the screen, Charlie grabbed Alex by the face turning his head towards the entrance just in time for Alex to see it, Dylan shaking a friend's hand and a small bag being passed between them. 

“Yeah...we have to do something about that...and soon…”

A few days later

Alex took a long drawn out breath, his hands on his hips as he looked his younger brother’s door up and down. Wondering if he should just walk in, or if he should knock. Alex holds his hand up, before lightly knocking. After a few moments the door opened. Dylan went and gave a small smirk. He looked tired. Alex noticed, he noticed the bags under his eyes, he noticed his brother's pale complexion.

“Hey D, got a minute?” Dylan gave a small nod and moved to the side so his brother could walk in. Dylan moved over to his bed sitting on the end grabbing his can of soda drinking it down and then burping “charming…” Alex laughed, Dylan just smiled and sat back as Alex looked around his room. Out of the corner of his eye Alex saw pill bottles under Dillans bed he swallowed hard as his heart sank, he knows what is going on but how can he bring it up to Dylan?

“We missed you at training today.” It had been true, a lot of the other trainees asked where Dylan was. Both Charlie and Alex could not give a straight answer. The truth was that they weren’t sure. Alex had yelled to Dylan early in the morning, asking him if he was awake. Dylan said he was in that he was going to be at the gym later.

But as the time ticked by in the morning going into the afternoon, there was no Dylan. Alex and Charlie were worried. They came home, hearing the music coming from Dylan's room. Charlie begged Alex to go and talk to him Alex wanted to ignore it but instead gave in. “Yeah sorry. I felt sick.” It was a bullshit excuse. And Alex knew it. He moved around Dylan's room, his foot touching an empty pill bottle. Alex turns sideways moving his foot to the side to kick the pill bottle out from under the bed as if my accident.

Alex looked down, Dylan did to his face twisting. Alex leaned down picking up the pill bottle turning it towards his brother. “What the hell Dylan?”

There was an awkward silence, Alex took his head and Dylan slid to the edge of the bed getting to his feet. He grabbed the pill bottle and turned, throwing it in the bin. “Must have been left here by a friend.” Alex took a deep sharp breath in his eyes focusing on his brother. He knows he’s lying, he can feel it, he can see it. Alex takes a small step back and folds his arms over his chest.

“You think I’m that dumb?” Dylan lockdown. Alex has nostrils flared, he could feel the anger rising even higher into his chest. His voice rising to almost a yell. “You don’t think I can see what is going on here? You pulling away from us, becoming withdrawn, looking the way you do. Dylan Charlie and I aren’t  dumb we know what’s going on.”

“And why do you care?” Dylan finally looked up  at Alex, his anger matched by Dylan’s. He got to his feet and stood right in Alex‘s face. Dylan only a few inches shorter than his older brother. “You walked out on us Alex, and then you come back in and think that everything is just going to be fine?. Stay out of my life unless I ask you to. Stay out of my business.“

Dylan moved over to his bedroom door, he opened it and looked through it signalling he wanted Alex to leave. Alex shook his head, his hands balled up into fists. He wanted to smack his brother as hard as he could. He wanted to make sure Dylan knew that this was stupid. But, Alex also knew it would push him away. He moved towards the door and out into the hallway hearing his brother's door shut behind him. He moved over towards the stairs getting ready to go down wondering just what he was going to tell Charlie.

This was bad, and it was only gonna get worse.

Trust issues.

The screen comes alive, we focus on the Sin city wrestling world Heavyweight championship. The gold nameplate at the bottom clearly reads Alex Jones. It sits over his shoulder, his right arm wrapped around it holding onto the main plate has his head tilted to the side with a smile on his face

“Well here we go. My first match as the world champion. The first time I’m stepping back in the ring as a champion with the gold. I know it will be something that all of you will remember forever.“

Alex has his hair tied back in a bun. Dressed in a black suit as we have seen him lately. We noticed that he is standing in the main room of the wolfslair training facility. Other members of the gym and stable around him training. But Alex just smiles and stares directly at the camera

“When the champion gets in the ring, it is an event, it’s an occasion, it’s not just a simple wrestling match it is the wrestling match. Even if I do have to carry two inept partners with me against a team of people who shouldn’t even be able to touch me in the confines of a professional wrestling match. I have to team with the other two singles male champions in this company. And I’m sure some of you are questioning why that would be a problem, after all they are like me they whole championships..”

“But you do realise, not all champions are created equal. I am the world champion, the best of the best. I walk down into that ring a few weeks after losing the mixed tag team championships, a few weeks after feeling the weight of propping up that goddamn division has been lifted off my shoulders.“

“And I once again, for the 10th time in my career, for the first time in this company, became the man”

“And II told you all it was going to happen. When I lost the mixed tag team championships, I told the world that this was going to free me up to go after the world title. That I was done standing in the background and wedding my friends, my students, stand in the spotlight. It was my time, my turn. And people laughed. They said that I was over the hill, that my time to be a world champion has passed.

“An apparent irrelevant has-been, at 35 years old.“

Alex couldn’t help but laugh. He looked down into the side holding the title tighter to his chest, an arrogant glint in his eye as he cracked his neck and looked around at all of his friends.

“I suppose I showed everyone didn’t I?. So not only did I become the champion, it seems like I broke Griffin Hawkins. I meant what I said, I like Griffin as a person I thought he and I were friends. And as a friend I will always be honest with people, I won’t sugarcoat things, I won’t lie. See I was a real friend to Griffin Hawkins. I told him he wasn’t world champion material, I told him what he needed to do to become world champion material, and he didn’t listen. So when I did get in the ring with him I forced him to listen, I tried to teach him a lesson and then instead of him listening to my lesson, and learning from me, he walked away. Proving my point.”

“And now I will be gracing the ring For the first time since winning this title!  And I know there are some people, my detractors, who say that I have not been a fighting champion. Because I haven’t been challenging people left or right. The truth is? As the champion people need to be coming for you. They need to be hungry for this championship. If someone challenges me, and I think the third the shot. I’ll put the belt on the line. But nobody has, even Jack Washington has just rambled on with the same things he’s been saying for weeks.And at violent conduct he will get his shot “

“Before that, we have a six-man tag team match to get through.“

“As a rule, I really only team with people I trust. I trust Austin, I trust Alicia, I trust Johanna. I don’t trust Teddy or O’Malley. Teddy Warren-Steele Fluked his way 20 Internet title shot, and he was able to pull another four leaf clover out of his ass and beat Vinnie.  Trust me, I will have plenty of things to say about Vinnie later on. But Teddy should not of been him. Teddy got lucky. That joke of a human being should not be a champion, he should be opening the show getting the shit kicked out of him by the latest star that sin city wants to have as a champion contender.”

“But this week I have to carry Teddy to win kicking and screaming.”

“O’Malley on the other hand, I don’t have to carry him. People underestimate him. But he’s clearly been able to win championships. Doing it both here and in sin city underground. The only problem I see with O’Malley, is that his ego is larger than his talent. And yes you are a talented professional wrestler O’Malley. But your ego, it’s okay to have an ego if you can back it up. And you seem to have trouble in that situation. Do you think I have a god complex?. No, I just know I’m good and I know I can back it up”

“I’ve done it my entire career. And I’m going to keep doing it while I drag both of you to win.“

Alex laughs to himself again, he moves along the main floor of the gym away from the practice rings and maths. Over to his office where he turns and leans against the door following his arms over his chest.

“And on the opposite side of the ring, We have a team of Contenders. We have Milo Kaaey, señor Vinnie, and Jack Washington. The only thing more pathetic than the two douche bags I have to team with, is the three douche bags on the outside the ring. Milo Casey was supposed to face Austin in a match, that match never happened yet Milo is still a contender. He’s going to go on and face O’Malley. Admittedly it’s for a championship that no one should really give two shits about, a championship that needs a gimmick to be relevant.”

“Miles, and I’m going to call you Miles from now on, because Milo sounds like the name you give one of those annoying little pugs that can’t breathe properly that has the tongue hanging out the side of their mouth and likes to run into brick walls. You may believe you can hang with the best of the best. But, on a team full of weak links that seem to be coming apart at the seams, you are the weakest. See, Jack Washington at least has a future in this business, he looks put together and he’s already proved he can stand up with the best in what he did against Ben Jordan.”

“Vinnie has had success. But you? You have exploded onto the scene, but not in a way that is going to actually make a difference. You are someone who will be looked at as a flash in the pan, and O’Malley is going to steamroll over you.”

Alex shrugs, his assessment based on over a decade of in ring activity and seeing people come and go in different promotions and the business.

“Now, don’t get excited Vincent. I know the fact that I just said you had success is probably made you jump up and down and try and give Cactus Pete a hug, or maybe you felt a nice little flattering of butterflies down in the base of your stomach that got you all nice and excited enough to jump on top of your fat wife.”

“But I was using success in a relative term. You have been somewhat successful in sin city. It took you many times to actually become the world champion but you did, you beat Austin one on one. Then you did it again to take the Internet championship. And while your world title run was good, It was stuck in an era where we have had dominant champions. Fenris, Austin and Ben. I don’t happen to agree with Austin’s assessment about your world championship reign. If it had happened at any other time, it would be looked at as amazing. But your Internet reign on the other hand.”

“You won the title, and then you rolled over on your back and played dead for three seconds for Teddy like your name is Kate. Not the best look Vinnie…”

“I’ll give you credit though, You got right back on that horse, going after the Internet Championship. And to be honest, you are better than Teddy and you deserve that championship more than he does. So good luck, but I’m still gonna be going as hard as I can’t win this match. Because I hate losing.”

Alex raises his eyebrows, it’s a pretty normal statement and something that encompasses most of what Alex has done in his career

“But, what people should be most excited about is this is the first time Jack Washington and I will be competing in anything that actually matters. He’ll be standing over the other side of the ring from the ready to get his hands on me and actually see what all the fuss is about. But what you need to remember Jack, I am the champion. And I’ve done it nine times before this one. You have not climbed the mountain. You don’t know what it’s like. So, I’m sure you believe your comments about me being irrelevant hurt me or got in my head or made me angry…”

“Oh sweet summer child.”

“The steroids have gone to your head.”

“I’ve heard comments like that for years. From people like Kaden Kessler. Where is he now? And Dinn Whelan, gosh where did he go?. From Kevin Hunter, he up and disappeared…..”

“Meanwhile, I’m standing in a gym I own, surrounded by friends, students, training partners and family that are champions or have been champions, holding the world title of one of the best companies in the world and you...you think off hand childish comments like yours are going to put me off my game or get in my head?”

“To steal from fight club. I am Jacks sense of disappointed and latent potential….”

“You are a great talent Jack. I’m not saying you aren’t. I’m not even saying you won’t be world champion someday. But if you keep down this line of thinking...then I’ve already won. But on climax control we will both have to compensate for lacklustre partners. But….they have me….”

“And you have Miles kasey”

Alex can’t help but laugh before shaking his head and walking off screen.

Remember When

The coffee cup got placed on the table, his hard wood brown table sitting in the office of Wolfslair. Alex sighed and put his hands on either side of the cup, his head hanging down as he rolled it from side to side, his neck cracking and popping as he stretched the muscles. Other members of the gym filtered in, Aiden followed in behind Austin as the two had a laugh, Johanna was in the corner stretching out some of the younger trainees. Alexs’ sister Charlie worked one on one with Kallie Rezik.

Alex couldn’t help but smile. The business he had built, the gym where he could impart his knowledge on the next generation. Not that Alex was old. He had just turned 36, still in amazing shape, still in his prime. But the sun was starting to set. And Alex knew it. But this, this was his dream. His mind wandered back to the early days. Working with Elena DeDraca, working in England then back to America to teach his sister Charlie and their younger brother Dylan.

Dylan.

His heart sank. His biggest regret, his biggest failure. He saw the pain, he saw the frustration. But Alex was too wrapped up in his own shit to care. Too centered on himself to see Dylan's issues and problems. This is why he takes care of the trainees. Why they were his family. Alex looked up and stared out the small window watching them all. The current champions and stars of other companies. His backup in Sin City Wrestling. He kept smiling.

”Penny for your thoughts?” Sonya piped up, their son Dylan, sat on the floor playing with papers and crayons. She smiled and tilted her head sideways as she went over the finances. Alex just sighed and shrugged, shooting another smile at his wife. Sonya was in amazing shape, she could still get in the ring now if she wanted to. And before the pandemic. She did. Every few weeks Sonya would take an independent booking, get in there against a new star and enjoy herself.

But, her real value and job was in financial and legal matters. Alex loved Sonya with all his heart, they had the love of wrestling in common, but also had music and movies, common interests. She was the rock that kept him grounded and kind. ”Just assessing the situation…” Alex took a sip of his coffee, finishing it before throwing it into the wastebin next to his desk. Sonya moved around and looked out at everyone.

She smiled and put a hand on Alexs’ shoulder ”Time to rebuild them all?” He laughed and gave a small nod. Alex knew what she meant. Charlie was still a champion for Triumph, Aiden was one half of the Apex tag team champions. But, Austin, Johanna, Alicia and himself had all lost their matches, lost their titles and opportunities in SCW, It was a bitter pill to swallow.

”Kind of” His voice was low, his eyes moving around the room. His heart was full and heavy, but there was an anger there. Alex had not been the man he needed to be. Alex had not been the star he needed to be. ”I think it’s time to let the others go. Let them handle themselves. I can’t coddle them anymore. And I can’t hold myself back.” He laughed to himself, her hand moved down from his shoulder and arm to his hand, their wedding rings crossing over. Alex can’t help but smile again. Sonya kisses her husband on the cheek and nods slowly.

”Go get em tiger”

Dead mans hand

”We were so close”

Alex ground his teeth together. Obviously angry and disappointed. His arms folded over his chest as he looked up at the ceiling and back down again rolling his eyes around as he tried to think of a way to start this.

”When you have been at this as long as I have you tend to get used to a lot of things. You get used to the aches and pains you gather over the long weeks and months. You get used to being away from home, hotels, airports, cramped car rides. You get used to all of it.And if you’re lucky, you get used to the feeling of winning. Losing though, and especially losing titles, well that never feels normal. That never feels familiar. No matter how many times it’s happened and trust me on this…”

“I’ve lost a lot of championships.”

“Now, some people would look on the bright side of this and they would say “Hey Alex, you lost those titles but it also means you won them.”. And yeah, that’s true. You can always look at the positives in life but the dirty little secret is that you only really learn anything from the negatives. From the things that grate on your mind and make you feel like you learned something. I can learn more from a loss than a win and I have told my students that. I told Alicia that, I instilled that in her when I met her and it has taken her career to heights that so many others aspire to. And that is what I have done for so many….”

“But now, well now it’s time for me to take what I have learned, and move forward.”

He smirks and pushes to his feet from his sitting position on the floor.

” But before I can move forward to where I really need to be, I need to deal with the past. I need to reconcile myself with the fact that we lost the mixed tag team championships. I need to realise that losses not only happen but they also happen to people who nine times out of ten would not have beaten you. And as much as I like Malachi and Bella, and as much as I respect them, even though they have to admit that there was a hell of a lot of luck involved in that win. In fact I dare say there was more luck and skill. And, while part of me wants to avenge that loss and take back those championships, part of me does just want to move on. And that part of me has won out.”

“So, Bella Malachi enjoy those championships. I hope you do them proud just like we did. In setting the record for most offences, and coming close to setting the time record. But before I can really focus on where I want to be I have to also look at where I am now. And right now as all the promotional material, and as everyone will tell you, I’m at a strange crossroads in my career and my life.

“Alex Jones, nine time world champion, leader and owner of the gym and affection that has been dominant, but a man who has really stood on his own two feet in so long that some have started to wonder if I can. I’ve stood in the shadows and I’ve let the people that I hold dear, and I have trained, take the spotlight. And I’ve been fine with that, they’ve opened it, they deserved it, and they can stand on their own two feet and continue pushing their careers forward.”

“Meanwhile, I need to plant my feet, look my next opponent dead in the eye, and make them know, not just think, know that I was not only the better man on that night, but every night that we could ever possibly step in that ring.”

Alex's nostrils flare as he paces back and forth.

”And the man to feel that kind of disappointment, the man who will be stepping in the ring with me for my first singles match in months, is Stephen Callaway. A guy who has made it known that if he fails to win the sin city wrestling world title he is going to leave. And I get it, I get the feeling, I get that he wants something so bad that he’s willing to put his career in this company on the line. The only problem is while Callaway and I seem to be in a very similar position he doesn’t have the talent or the drive to be where he needs to be.”

“See, I willingly took a step back. I willingly let others step forward and be in the spotlight in front of me. Callaway has been scratching and clawing and trying to get himself into a position where he could challenge for the world title. And each turn each look down the corridor each match in the rain it’s just led him to the same disappointment time and time again. He is challenged for the roulette title, he challenged the unit title, and each time he’s been left holding nothing“

“He and I are even both trying to rebound off of losses. Am I worried about Callaway? Of course not. I’m not gonna take him lightly and let him get a cheap win over me because I was looking towards the future, but someone like him is never gonna beat someone like me. As hard as he tries, as much as he puts effort into every match and every single preparation. He still is not Alex Jones. He is the first step. The first step on the next road that I am gonna walk down. And it all begins with this climax control..”