Tahlequah Public High School
Wow. It's been quite awhile, hasn't it? Two years and six months to be exact, since my last public appearance for SCW. Tunis, Tunisia if I recall, and my last opponent? Try Hall of Famer Sean Jackson. I was very honored to face him in what was my last match. Even though neither he nor I -- or Mister Ward and Mister Parker -- knew at the time that it was my final time in the ring. Sean won, of course, but I take a bit of pride in the fact it took a handful of my trunks for him to get the job done. But afterwards? My body was just so banged up that I just could not go on lying to myself that it would get better on its own. Plus, there was the personal issue I had when Mister Parker and Mister Ward discovered my issues with morphine. And the aftermath. I won't go into detail as I'm afraid that the experience is one that I want to forget but will never live down, but suffice to say Mister Parker lived up to his threat.
He marched me right into my own house and forced me to confess everything to my Grandmother, which was about the worst possible thing he could have done to punish me for my idiocy. The look of disappointment in her eyes will haunt me for the rest of my life, I'm afraid. It was also that look that forced me to come to terms with what I had been doing, and the risks I had been taking. Not just with my body, but my career as well. Not just my wrestling career, mind you, but the one that left me more personally fulfilled. During some time away from the ring, I had completed my studies and I made that final step from being a teacher's assistant to a full fledged teacher. And the best part was, I was able to remain at Tahlequah High where I had gotten my foot in the door to start with. I loved teaching American history, particularly that of the Cherokee, and I loved the kids that I teached. If I was to have them and the board trust me, I couldn't allow that black mark on my record. It could cost me everything. So I marched into the Superintendent's office and told him -- everything.
I had expected to be fired on the spot, but the man was far more understanding than I felt that I deserved at the time. He expected me to get cleaned up from that moment on, and I would submit myself to drug screenings if he had reason to suspect otherwise. Plus, he too wanted me to have the surgery on my back that was long overdue. He knew that I had been hurt in the ring during a tour of Japan, and my insistence on continuing with my career rather than have it treated only made things worse. If I had the surgery and took the necessary time off to recover, then my job would be waiting for me when I was ready to return. And if I had any doubts or worries, waking up in the hospital to a mountain of get well cards and small gifts from the boys and girls in my class erased each and every one.
So, that's a bit of my story in where I've been. And where I am now? Where else? School! The day was almost over but there was quite a bit happening before we would call it a day. Next week would be the final week before Christmas break, and the entire school was raising funds to see to it that we could celebrate it in style for the children. Each teacher's class would be competing to raise funds for a nice Christmas party for all. Pizza was the initial food of choice, but God bless these kids. The way they were going, we could probably have Olive Garden cater! And my class? One of the boys had seen a meme on Facebook about a teacher that had been taped up to a wall, and people donating a dollar for a strip of tape.
Yeah. That was why I was currently standing on a chair along the far wall of my class, literally cocooned in a mass of red and green duct tape that the kids were selling at what I would think of as an alarming rate! It took some convincing on the part of the kids to get me to agree, but in the end I saw myself as a sport so I went along with it. What I hadn't intended was that they were inviting the students from other classes, AND from the Elementary and Junior High as well! Like I said, cocooned! They could take the chair out from under my feet and I would never touch the floor! And once I had been secured, the Superintendent himself placed the reindeer antlers on my head, once he knew it was safe to do so I should emphasize!
Of course, while the kids were having a grand ol' time putting their teacher through this (I had my plans for getting even!), it did give me time to reflect on what was coming soon...
I walked about the kitchen of my home that I shared with my Grandmother and sister Abigail, my ear to the phone but a hushed whisper to my voice. Given the topic of conversation, I wasn't certain that I was ready for either to hear what was going on.
"Closing?" I frowned. "You're certain?"
"Unfortunately." The voice of my trainer and mentor, Austin Parker, stated with a sigh on the other end, all the way in Georgia. "Christian and Mark had been talking about it for some time, but Ward called me not too long ago to let me know they had made the final decision."
"But ... why? I thought SCW was still doing great business!"
Mister Parker answered, "It is, but both Mark and Christian want to work on other projects and they can't do that while still running SCW. It takes up too much time every week, and ah have a feelin' they also want to spend more time with their families."
That I could understand. Family always came first. But it still felt like a punch right to the gut to know that now I had been part of two promotions that folded before their time. First it was GCW, and now SCW.
"One more show, Bo." His voice drew me from my thought process. "On December seventeenth. Last edition of Climax Control in Vegas."
I asked, "And they want me to be a part of it?"
"You, and a good deal more of the men an' women who were a part of the fed's past. They got somethin' cookin', but aren't sayin' exactly what. An' you've kept yourself in shape. Still work out after that surgery of yours. You might need a refresher course here, but that won't be no trouble."
I nodded, but then a question struck me so I found myself asking, "Why didn't Mister Ward call me to ask if I would do it?"
"Mostly because he thought it would set off alarms with your Nan and sister." Austin answered. "He knows about you telling them you were finished, so he thought ah'd be best suited to see if you were up for it."
I found myself frowning, "That'd ridiculous. He calls now an' then to check up on me. Probably in hopes Abigail will answer the phone, but still..."
Austin chuckled, "Maybe so, so what do you want me to tell him?"
I drew in a breath, then cast a sidelong glance back over my shoulder and towards the kitchen. Abigail was in the process of making dinner, and Grams was in there lending a hand. Something said between them had Abigail laughing, and I had a feeling that my desired answer would kill the levity of the mood. I missed wrestling, I don't mind telling you. Seems I fell into the same path of fate as my own mentor did, when his career inside of the ring was cut short. My own was ended well before I was ready, and here I was being given a chance to step inside the ring one more time. Perhaps to get that sense of closure I felt like I had been missing all along.
I turned back and spoke into the phone...
"You're not serious."
I knew that would be the first thing that came out of Abigail's mouth the moment I sprung the news on them. Well actually I had expected it to be more laced with more accusations towards my sanity but Grams was sitting right there so Abbey had to keep it light.
"I am." I nodded as I sat at the head of the dinner table, looking at the two most important women in my life. "SCW is going out of business and Mister Ward wants me to be a part of one of the final two shows."
"I thought he knew you were retired." Grams asked as she chewed thoughtfully on her Granddaughter's pot roast, one of Abigail's best dishes.
"He does." I nodded, picking up my glass of iced tea. "And I am. But he also knows that I never got an official farewell to the sport before everything went to hell for me. I was just plucked away. This is something that I need. Just the one time."
Abigail picked up the gauntlet and challenged me, saying, "And this one time will wet your appetite for another, and maybe even another down the road and before you know it, you'll sign a contract for somewhere else."
But I shook my head and answered her, "No, I won't. I only ever wrestled for promotions that Mister Ward had a hand in running as I trust him. If he, or Mister Parker aren't involved, I want no part of it. And for the foreseeable future, I think it's safe to say that this is it."
"So you're just going to risk everything then?" Abigail waved her fork in my direction, directly challenging what her older brother wanted. But that was a sister's love for you. "You had serious back surgery, Bo."
"I know but..."
But she wasn't finished with me, not by a long shot. She interrupted my rebuttal, "And god knows what could happen in this match. You say there are nine other men involved?"
I nodded, "Four partners for me on my team, five on the other side."
Abigail went on, "That's multiple men who may have multiple motives for wanting to see you hurt just so they can be the winners of this last show. You are willing to put yourself at risk and for what? One match in a profession that is just one step above a circus sideshow!"
I bristled at that particular analogy, and set my glass down before I pointed at her and said, "You not only just insulted me, but a profession I loved."
"Let's all just calm down." Grams said, holding her hands up. "We are at the dinner table."
"I didn't mean it like that, Bo." Abigail conceded. "But truthfully. What has wrestling ever given you to warrant this loyalty?"
"You mean besides paying off the mortgage to this house so we didn't risk losing it?" I raised my brow, now feeling my own temper starting to flare. Which happened rarely if you ask those close to me. "Or how about providing you the attorney to divorce Darius?"
I knew bringing that last example up was hitting below the belt, but damn it her words had me more angry with her than I could ever remember being. But our argument was ended then and there, thanks to Grams. Cooler heads prevailed and by the end of the night, they understood. Neither of them liked it, but they understood why I needed this. And they both said they would be there in Las Vegas, watching and cheering me on.
I imagine that was their way of saying they would be looking after me.
Tahlequah Public High School
I had just finished looking back on things that were leading up to this special match, when I realized that at some point in time, someone had slipped a pair of elf ears on me. I must be the sight! But at least the kids would make out like bandits during their party, thanks in part to my own personal embarrassment. Then to make matters worse, the familiar sight of my sister stepping through the door, assisting our Grams, struck me like a bolt of lightning. I had forgotten all about Abigail volunteering to help, and of course Grams would want to come along. She adored kids.
No sooner did they enter the classroom and see my predicament than Grams's eyes went wide and Abigail covered her mouth but not before the laughter at my expense escaped her.
"Oh ha ha!" I mock laughed. "Are one of you going to help me put of this or not?"
"Not a chance!" Abigail laughed as she helped Grams to have a seat at a vacant desk. By this time, all the kids and much of the faculty were used to my sister and Grandmother being seen at the school. Both helped regularly during events throughout the school year. She turned around, and with hands on hips, fully examined her older brother. She shook her head and all she could say was, "Well, at least it's not the most embarrassing spot you've been caught in."
"Abigail..."
"There was the time you got your trunks pulled down on live television."
"Ab..."
"Or that mud wrestling match you were caught in."
But by then I figured what was good for the goose, and I hit her with the retort, "Or there was the time you got your headphones caught in the elevator doors and took a nose dive in a elevator full of people." I smiled as she stopped fast and I felt heads turn our way and that sort of just egged me on as I continued, "Or the time we were kids, Abbey, and you sneezed in church during silent prayer and ended up farting."
I smiled, quite proud of myself as she just stared at me. Then she smiled, and I sort of knew that my own goose was cooked for that last one. Or calling her Abbey, her hated nickname. She turned around and looked at the students and asked aloud, "Did your teacher tell you that he was planning on assigning you a book report before the end of the day?"
There were a collective symphony of groans and I exclaimed, "Abbey!" Oops!
She walked over to the nearest student with the red duct tape and asked, "How much?"
The student looked at me awkwardly before replying, "A dollar a piece?"
"Fine." She pulled her purse from her shoulder, opened it and fished out some cash. "Give me two."
It would seem the chance to earn two more dollars for their party trumped loyalty to their dear and much beloved teacher as the boy eagerly accepted the two dollars, and tore off two strips of the tape, handing it to my sister. She turned around and marched over toward me,
"Abbey, don-MMPHH!" and she promptly pressed both pieces of tape over my mouth, shutting me right up. She turned around and gave my students and everyone else her brightest smile, and to their credit, they were at least TRYING not to laugh. Abigail said, "I guess this means no book report?"
And THAT was greeted with cheers from my class! I huffed beneath the tape and rolled my eyes.
Okay so maybe I had that coming.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Part of me never thought I'd be here again. Las Vegas. The Gold Coast Casino. The home territory of Sin City Wrestling. When I first signed to SCW thanks much in part to Mister Ward, I made the very same journey then that I was now. Right now it's Thursday, just three short days from Climax Control; the very last one that will take place in the glorified history of SCW. Grams and Abigail are still back at the hotel, catching up on some much needed rest, but I had to be here right now. They had originally planned to remain at home in Oklahoma, but I was insistent that they come along with me for this one last time. And Mister Ward was particularly insistent as well, but I had an inkling that had more to do with my sister than anything else. I try not to think about that, though. I had to see this for myself because I was still in a sense of disbelief on what was happening, at what I never thought would happen.
I paused as I set foot in the lobby of the Gold Coast and looked around. Even at this early hour of the day, the people were here in droves, playing games of chance and socializing and just having a good time in general. Which I suppose is what Las Vegas and their famed casinos are all about. I never did get into the gambling bug, myself. For one, I couldn't afford the risk. And two? Mister Ward and Mister Parker never let me play anything, citing they had seen numerous times what the gambling bug had done to people during their careers. Especially Mister Ward who was based in Las Vegas the last six years.
I just won't tell that about the time I tried out a slot machine when I went downstairs to order a burger and needed SOMEthing to pass the time while waiting!
I glanced about the lobby and smiled as my eyes passed over the TGI Fridays on the far side. How many times I met with some of the men and women who called SCW home after a show here, had a few drinks and ate. All in the name of celebrating another well-done show. Friendships were made. Fans were entertained. It's not a memory that I will soon forget. I'd be blessed if they were forever remembered.
I walked past the check in counter and weaved my way through the people and slot machines, taking the route that I was still familiar with, even after all of this time. The golden Buddha statue was always an eye sore to me, but it was like a homing beacon to where I needed to go. I turned the corner right around it and found the escalators that would take me up to the next floor where the grand ballrooms were and the rooms where meetings and lecture halls were held. As I traveled up, a familiar face or two passed me on the way down, and it dawned on me that I would probably never lay eyes on them again. Mostly backstage employees of SCW who were busying themselves, preparing for the weekend's festivities. I gave them a polite wave and a smile as I arrived in the upstairs hall and turned to the double open doors that led into the Grand Ballroom where Climax Control and a number of Supercards had been hosted over the years.
It was bustling inside with much activity. The rows of chairs were in the process of being arranged around the perimeter of the six sided ring, which also was slowly being put together. Under most circumstances, the ring crew did this task on the mornings of the programs, but this time was different. This event was different. Given the historic nature of the show, it was to be expected. Men and women from years past were returning to pay homage to SCW and celebrate all that is was, and is. Myself being among them. Fan meet and greets were scheduled, as were autograph sessions and press conferences. It would take days for all of this to sink in, but Mister Ward and Mister Underwood were sparing no expense for this one. Nothing would top it.
Well, nothing save for Full Circle.
I turned my head and spotted an unoccupied chair in the far corner of the Ballroom, and made my way over to have a seat so I could watch the set up and just contemplate what was happening around me.
"I still can't believe it. I don't think that anybody can. Even though the discussions had been going for months from what Mister Ward had said, it still came from out of nowhere and as a great surprise. Not only to the men and women who were currently putting their bodies on the line, but also to those of us that did so in the past. No more Sin City Wrestling. It's just unheard of."
I leaned forward on the chair with my forearms rested on my knees and clasped my hands together. It was still something to realize I felt no pain in doing so simple a position, but that is what one of the many benefits of surgery can bring to you. The same surgery that I had put off for years in my own misgivings.
"I admit that I had my own doubts about making this last journey into the ring for the SCW Universe, but in the end there really was no way that I was going to be able to say no to Mister Ward and deny myself the thrill of just the one last time. And that's just what it's going to be; one last time. After my surgery, I realized and understood that my time in the ring was basically at its end. My wrestling career was over and this? This is my grand hurrah, if you'll give me that indulgence. And I couldn't ask for any finer men than the ones I am teamed up with."
"Spike Staggs has done it all and is one man that can legitimately be referred to as a wrestling legend. It would come as no surprise to me that SCW wanted him back for this last Climax Control. The man was one of only two I believe to hold the NeWA World Championship when it was still a thing. That coupled with all his SCW accolades, I believe our team is in capable hands with him alongside of us."
"Jordan Williams is another who has seen it all and done it all in this sport. Everywhere he went, championship gold followed. I just wish I had spent more time on the road when he was actively competing because I can't help but think the experience would have been invaluable!"
"Tom Dudely? I remember facing him way back in GCW, and even though I came out ahead in that match against a ring veteran and former World Champion, I learned more from that one match against Tom than most of the other matches in my rookie year."
"And since this is a tag team event, who more would you want on your team than a tag team expert? Despayre dominated tag team wrestling for years with a number of partners, most notably Gabriel, until he graduated onto the singles scene and won the Internet title twice. He's small in stature but you won't find anyone fighting with a bigger heart. Damn shame he retired because this kid has World Championship written all over him."
I rubbed a hand along my jaw and continued.
"Taking nothing away from the five men we will be striving to survive against in this chance of a lifetime encounter. Unfortunately when Mister Parker told me Nick Jones would be a part of this match, part of me wanted to do a U turn and just walk away. The other part that came out on the winning side told me this would be my last and best shot at shutting the man up for good. Nick Jones is a cocky, self absorbed braggart, but he's a talent. I'd be lying if I tried to claim he couldn't back up that ego of his. To say he and I have a past would be a gross understatement, because at one point he took extreme lengths to make my stay in SCW as miserable as was possible. Not with attacks mind you, but just by generally being an annoying brat in a grown man's body. The prank war that he instigated was just the beginning..." I smiled. "But I would like to think it ended in my favor. This match, I hope to get my fair share of time in there with him because we never really did get to settle things inside of the ring."
"Gene Banton Junior? That's a young man that had the world at his fingertips and just let it slip away without taking full advantage. He's a second generation star, son of Gene Banton who won world championships everywhere he went! But unlike his celebrated dad, Junior just didn't take the business as seriously as he should have. It's a damn shame because had he, then I am certain we would have seen his name at this point in the Hall of Fame and held more championships, many times over. He was just that good, but relatively immature in the long run. This match, against men with a wealth more experience, some who competed with and against his own father? Lessons are going to be learned this weekend Junior. Class will soon be in session."
"As a Hall of Famer and Grand Slam Champion, everything Kain set out to accomplish, he did. It may have taken him awhile to finally win the world title, but when he did so, he did convincingly! You knew going into a match with Kain, you'd walk away battered, beaten and perhaps even bloodied. It didn't matter whether you won or lost, all you'd know was that you were in a fight. Kain played to win, and fought at all costs to walk away from any match with his head and arm held high. I don't have his striking ability, not by a long shot! But I have no qualms in believing that everything I learned from Mister Parker puts me a head above 'the King of Kings' as far as technical ability goes."
"I was surprised Goth agreed to this match, given his own history with Kain. But I imagine the chance to succeed on such a show as this allowed past grudges to be buried. Like Kain, Goth is both a Grand Slam Champion and Hall of Famer, and I have no qualms in admitting he'll be one of the most dangerous opponents to set foot in the ring against. He wants to win at all costs, and has done so many times over. His track record is no mistake, and neither are the accolades that have followed him everywhere he went. Goth is another one I never had the privilege of going up against, but I will say that I look forward to my time in the ring with him. Aside from Spike on my team, I believe Goth is the prime example of what a wrestling legend truly is. And it'll be my pleasure to celebrate my team's win with him when all is said and done."
I drew in a deep breath and exhaled, shaking my head as I relaxed back against the chair.
"But if ever there was a wasted talent, it would have to be J2H. Not that he himself is a waste, but it's just a waste that he has stepped away from the ring and let all that talent go to waste. The kid could be the hottest free agent in the sport, go anywhere, even Japan, and take the world by storm! If there was ever someone bred for this sport, it's James Huntington Hawkes III. No that he started off that way, mind you. (Kid lost his debut to a teddy bear for god's sake!) But nobody - NOBODY - exemplifies the hard work aspect of this business like J2H does! That lad was sick and tired of being seen as a joke, and he went out and actually did something about it! He built himself from the ground up, mentally AND physically! I should know. When I visited Mister Parker's ranch during his training, I lent a hand when able. The kid came from nothing, and rose to become the best of the best. And the best part was he didn't do it for anyone other than himself. To prove that he could be what he wanted to be; and that is, taken seriously. I never got to have a match with J2H. Our training sessions were the only times we shared a ring, so this will indeed be a treat."
I stood up and slowly made my way to the open double doors of the Ballroom. I paused just long enough to take one last look at the ring crew setting up the six-sided ring.
"I'm looking forward to this. More than anyone understands. I will come out on top. I have to."
