Monday, 11 December 2023,
Beverly Hills, California,
The home of J2H.
He'd flown back in within the early hours from Las Vegas and a week of training with Fenris. He had his reasons for the early, or late hour, depending on which way you looked at it. He had been working up until the last minute of his training camp, and wanted to get back in the early hours to possibly rest and spend some time with his family before moving away for a week in Arizona. Although his family would be with him through the December 2 Dismember week, he always felt like the spotlight was on him during that time and flying in early on Monday, to spend a day with the family before the trio moved on to Arizona was his way of maximizing time.
J2H: Ugh!
His body ached as he flopped himself face first on to the sofa in his living room, not wanting to go to his bedroom and risk waking Melody. After almost a week of non stop training in submissions, his body was beat up more then it ever was before. Fenris refused to take it easy on him and he knew even in his own bed, he would struggle to get comfortable so made the choice to just lay where he felt. He was at the point of tiredness, he didn't even jump up when he felt a pair of hands move on to his shoulders.
J2H: If that's not you Mel, there's gonna be some serious issues when I can muster the strength to actually move.
Of course it was Melody, who had been waiting in another room for her husbands return. She had heard the car pull up and knew the chances are that he would head to the nearest place to rest.
Melody: Who else would it be?
He didn't have the energy to even sit up at that point, but turn his head away from the back of the sofa to the front.
J2H: Well, I ruled out Simpson right away, unless there was some freak accident while I was away and his hands got smaller or something, but I don't know, I don't care, whatever.
He buried his face in to the sofa, the tiredness from his voice filled the room.
Melody: Rough week, huh?
He didn't know where to start as he once again turned his head to the side Melody was. She wanted to keep his attention so quickly sat on the floor next to him, moving in to his sight of vision.
J2H: Oh, you could say something like.
She knew when she made this arrangement with Aron, that her own husband was going to be put through his paces but knew he could handle it.
Melody: What happened?
His mind flashed back to his past week.
J2H: Well, he was pissed when Aron brought him to the gym to train what he thought was a new guy. When he saw me, he looked like he wanted to take my head off my damn shoulders. I didn't want to be there, he didn't want to be there, but there I was and I thought fuck it, gives me a chance to punch him in the face a few times, but he was probably thinking the same shit.
Melody tried to keep her best serious look on her face as she looked at her husband.
Melody: I think he probably was thinking that.
J2H: Oh I have no doubt. Then we get to it, agree to train and he sends me in the ring to warm up. I told him fuck off I was born ready and yeah, that didn't go well. Then he disappeared and came back with some bullshit schedule about training and other things and a contract not to sue if I get hurt.
Melody: He's just covering himself I guess.
She had to turn her head away this time to keep from smiling at her clearly in pain husband.
J2H: It was written on a fucking napkin!
Melody leaned backwards, just enough out of J2H's view to stop her from smiling, before popping right back up with her best serious look.
Melody: It was probably all he had on hand.
J2H: He had me up at four every morning to run, have you ever tried running through Las Vegas at four in the morning? It's cold, it's miserable and it's full of drunks leaving casino's in fucking Santa hats! It's an abomination.
Melody struggled to keep a smile from breaking out on her face.
J2H: Then it was training pretty much all day and I do mean all day with short breaks in between. I told him it was bullshit and over training but he said it's submission holds so man up, to which I almost smacked him in the mouth. So from running at four in the morning, all the way in to the evening I had to spend around that man. He is fucking annoying, I can see why he has to hang out with his brother, because he's the only one who doesn't see him as a dick. That's not even the worst thing he fucking did.
Melody: Oh?
J2H: He tells me during training that there's no personal calls, took my phone away and got me some shitty little burner that looked like it was something from thirty years ago, said Aron would let you know, so after all that training bullshit, I'm stuck there cut off from everything on my phone and the prick would randomly call me to do extra training or to make sure that I wasn't drunk in a casino!
Melody bit her lip, trying to force herself not to laugh.
Melody: I did speak to Aron about that.
He was in full flow of his rant at this point, almost unable to stop himself from continuing.
J2H: I mean I don't like people, they're fucking idiots, so I'm not going to go to a casino, waste my time in there, but in his eyes, I don't need the distraction cause and I can quote this, I'm trying to teach you shit I learned over years, in a week so take it fucking seriously. You'd think all that would be the worst thing possible, but it wasn't.
Melody raised her eyebrow as she rested her hand on his shoulder, placing it gently in case that was one of his many, many sore spots.
Melody: Oh?
J2H: The son of a bitch turned me in to a fucking vegan for a week!
Melody was struggling to keep a straight face and quickly darted out of J2H's vision so she didn't give the game away.
Melody: How could he make you do that?
J2H: Ready prepped meals and all that shit, all for energy, you'll need that for the intense work out. That's bullshit, that was just fucking torturing me for the sake of torturing me! One damn burger wouldn't have made a difference but I saw his face. He was loving every second of watching me eat a salad! He was getting some kind of sick kick out of seeing me suffer.
Melody: But did you learn anything from it?
J2H: Yeah a couple of things. One, vegan's are the fucking devil's very own spawn. I mean how can you sit there and tell me eggplant is any kind of alternative to meat? Like fucking seriously, I'm eating the cows so they don't eat vegan shit, that's a win to me. They are seriously annoying people when it comes to pushing things on people.
Melody put on her best thoughtful look on her face, trying to mask the laughs that were building up inside here.
Melody: I meant on the wrestling side.
J2H: Oh I learned a lot about that. I now have five moves in every situation that I can take Alexander Raven down with, from anywhere. I also learned that now I've felt this pain, there's nothing Alexander Raven can do to hurt me.
Melody softly squeezed his shoulder.
Melody: Because of all the moves?
J2H: No, the pain of listen to that dick spout shit about being a vegan all week. There's nothing that can hurt me more then listening to that pile of shit.
Melody couldn't take anymore as she sprang to her feet and point and outstretched arm towards the kitchen.
Melody: I'll go and get you something for the pain.
She didn't wait for him to answer as she was already half way across the room.
J2H: Steak, get me a steak to take away the fucking pain, and some earplugs if I ever end up in the same room as him again.
Melody made it to the kitchen but was only a few feet inside before she burst in to fits of laughter, her voice travelling all the way back towards J2H. He shook his head slowly before burying it back in to the sofa cushion. The scene faded out to the laughs of Melody echoing through from the other room.
*******
Friday, 15 December 2023,
Tucson, Arizona,
Tucson Convention Center.
It was two days before the big show itself, the last of the SCW year but the crew were still busy working at putting together the set for SCW's December 2 Dismember V. The ring was assembled but staff were working hard building other aspects of the ringside area. It wasn't uncommon for J2H to visit the arena a day or two before the shows, often showing up a few days in advance of supercards rather then the day before when it came to Climax Control, and this was no different for him. He had avoided being in the backstage area, he had no reason to be trying to interact with people in that environment and somehow made his way in to the main arena, slowly, he walked down the steps in arena, seats either side of him. He stopped to look around, breathing deeply as he focused solely on the ring before a glance of the SCW World Heavyweight championship over his shoulder, took his attention for just a brief second.
J2H: Last show of the year, thank fuck.
He's been working hard through the year and tiredness had caught up with him, but he plowed on, giving it everything at every show. He continued to walk between the rows of seats and didn't have to wait too long before he was at the barrier separating the fans from the ringside area, and looked around again. He could already hear the roar of the crowd in his mind as he jumped over the guardrail to the ringside area, quickly garnering the attention of the people around him getting on with their jobs. He exhaled sharply as he rolled in to the ring, the crew inside stopping to look at him, but J2H just pointed at them.
J2H: You, you and you, get out of my ring now.
Confused looks came back at him.
J2H: Are you deaf? Get the fuck out of my ring.
With reluctance, the three ring technicians decided to listen and vacate the ring, but J2H wasn't finished as he pointed outside of the ring.
J2H: You, cameraman. Get your camera and get your ass in the ring now and hit that little red button that you get paid well for.
The man looked surprised but picked up a nearby camera and made his way up the steps and in to the ring.
J2H: I haven't got all day.
The man holds the camera up and points to J2H.
J2H: It's on?
The man nodded his head and J2H was solely focused on the camera.
J2H: I wasn't gonna do this the way I am now, but fuck it, I'm here, there's a camera here and there's someone barely competent enough to turn it on and use it. Don't fuck this up, it's one job, keep that thing pointed at me.
He narrowed his eyes at the nervous cameraman before he continued.
J2H: Alexander Raven, you know where I'm standing right now? No stupid, it's not for you to roll your eyes and say duh a lot or something like that because I know it's a wrestling ring idiot. I know it also has more of a meaning then just a place I go to work and show the world how amazing I am. This has a spiritual meaning to because this is not just a place I come to a work, this is a place I rule over and watch people's hopes fade away. This is a place that is like looking in someone's eyes and watching them take their last breath, this is where I am there to watch people's dreams die. On Sundays, people's dreams die right here in the middle of this ring.
He pointed down as he stood in roughly the middle of the ring.
J2H: This is the spot where all that hope that builds up for a week, two weeks, a month, two months, a lifetime ends up. This spot right here is where you've dreamed of being for so long, running scenario after scenario over and over in your head where each one has you walking out with something that you want, something you crave, something you need to give your existence meaning. Something that will stop you acting like a little bitch and running away from a place that treated you well. Every scenario in your head when you've been awake, every dream you've had about becoming the SCW World Champion all leads you to this place. The problem is with this place Alexander, is there's a dark force in this place, especially when there's someone who is an alpha, someone who stalks the plains, looking to take what he wants. It's a dangerous place and there's a killer on the loose. He doesn't want your life, he just wants to turn those dream scenarios in to a walking, talking living nightmare. See that's what I do Alexander, I take people like you, who have thought about being in this dark place a million times over the last month, and I take away their potential happiness.
His face changed to a stone, emotionless look.
J2H: I steal happiness. I am like the Grinch at who stole Christmas when it comes to happiness, because that's what I take and that's what I'm good at. What this place is to most is a wrestling ring, where men and women go to put on a show, but not me Alexander, this is where I show that I don't give a fuck about you, I don't give a fuck about your future, I don't care if this is the match that makes you follow every other loser on this show out of the door when they lose. This is where I steal your joy, this is where I change the course of your career one way or the other, because when I take that from you, you will question everything.
He placed his forefinger on the side of his head.
J2H: I will take that happiness and the first thing you will ask yourself is can you still do this? Then you will consider doing what every other supercard loser does and go on that, and I will air quote this.
True to his word, he air quotes the next word.
J2H: "Break", promising to return at some point and only trying to worm their way back in when other offers dry up... Don't worry, you won't be alone in that thinking, no coincidence a lot of people disappear from the roster after a supercard loss, bunch of whiny little bitches.
He rolled his eyes with disappointment.
J2H: But regardless if you're one of those whiny little bitches or not, you will question that and if you don't decide to walk off in to the sunset, then you're gonna think about what you can do next. What gets you back in the game. I hope it's the latter because I'm sick of beating whiny little bitches, but I'm gonna tell you regardless, there's no shame losing to me, because I'm J2H and I'm fucking awesome.
The disappointed eyes turn to a full face smirk.
J2H: You will be on that losing side of things, but at least I can hear that determination in your voice Alexander, I can hear that you have misplaced belief in yourself to be that guy. I can tell from your tone that you feel that not only are you are the hero everyone needs, That you're truly the hero everyone wants.
He slowly shook his head.
J2H: Idiot!
J2H once again rolled his eyes in disappointment.
J2H: You're not the hero anyone wants, you're not the hero anyone needs. Their hero is already here because I don't give a fuck if they boo me, I don't give a fuck if they cheer me, they all respect me. They know what I've done without listing off a bunch of B listers names that I beat, and they know I can talk about beating the A listers of wrestling, while you throw names like Miles Kasey and O'Malley at me, but I don't need to do that, they already respect me.
He waved a finger at the camera.
J2H: I don't have to rattle off names, but I watch you do it every single time you open your mouth, I beat him and I beat him, this is why I deserve credit. Let me stop you right there. It doesn't make me sit here and say I respect you for that at all, I mean fuck, most people have beat the names you played off, it actually stinks of stupidity and desperation so bad, you could stink out this arena for the next year. Listing off a bunch of people that are just not that good is fucking embarrassing Alexander, I thought you was better then that but you're just clutching at straws. I mean I'm not scared at the thought that you beat O'Malley, I mean who the fuck hasn't? It's cheap promo tricks 101, it's Bill Barnhart style of listing everything he's done back to World War fucking one to try and put the fear of God in to people and it just doesn't work. It's cheap, it's like me saying you lost to Peter Vaughn and I didn't, it's uncreative and it's cheap and you do shit like that and you still think you're the hero these people want and need?
He stifled a laugh as he looked down the camera.
J2H: Brother, you're not even an employee that McDonalds wants or needs. You wanna be a hero, in your mind, you're probably Batman, taking down the evil Joker over here, or Superman going after Lex Luthor, but in reality, you're like Blue Beetle or something.
J2H turned his head for just a second to admire the belt.
J2H: You're not a hero, you never will be, you're not even a sidekick, you're the guy at the start of the movie randomly walking down the street like an idiot, that pays no attention until it's too late and the bad guy gets him. That's as close as you will come to being relevant and that just makes you relevant as cannon fodder. I mean someone's gotta die first to show off who the bad guy is, right?
He threw his hands out palms up towards the camera.
J2H: But you want me to play my part in this blockbuster where you can play hero to people you don't know, then I will do just that. I will be the bad guy, I'll play the villain just so you can live up to the fantasy in your head that you really are the hero of this story. Well I'm not just any old villain, I'm telling you that this ring right here is my secret lair. I don't need a bullshit place hidden in a mountain or an underground bunker, this here is where you can come and find me hero. This is the scene of the final battle, the one thing this whole little movie in your head has been building up to. This is where the hero proves his worth to not only the good people of the SCW world, but to himself. This is the place where the hero finds out if he really is a hero or if he's just another deluded prick with God complex.
He looked at the championship belt once more over his shoulder.
J2H: I think we all know which one you are Alexander. We all know how this story ends and it doesn't end with the hero of the tale walking away as a hero, holding the gold, showing it to the citizens of Arizona with sweat on your brow and a sense of fucking pride coursing through your veins, it ends the other way. It ends where the villain stands tall, looking over the fallen hero, the crowd hushed to silence as they wonder if the hero is going to have a hissy fit and really go and hide in his secret hiding place, grow a long beard and cry through depression. They're gonna be wondering if there's going to be a sequel to this where the hero gets a shot at redemption and finally rids the world of this bad guy here.
He pointing a single thumb to himself.
J2H: That's not gonna happen Alexander because this hideout is where the hero in his own mind, gets put to rest. This is where the hero fights his last fight, where the sequel isn't needed cause the hero won't be able to rise again. This is the end game right here and look around.
He spins around, his hands pointed towards the seats before completing the three hundred and sixty degree turn.
J2H: Imagine these seats being full of citizens of the SCW world, watching the hero come and try and take what he feels is his. Look at them, cause I can see them Alexander, I can hear them, I can see the look on every one of their faces as we do battle, but in your mind, you see different from reality, you see different from the fucking truth, you see different from what you think could happen because they're not rooting for you. They're not calling your name and hoping that you're going to beat me and end this reign of so called terror that I've been on. They're actually cheering for me, they want me to put you away, they want me to stop the person that wants to be the guy, even though I'm not a hero, but you know what people love more then a hero?
He moved closer to the camera.
J2H: An anti hero.
He took half asleep back.
J2H: I'm not claiming to be their hero, but I am someone that shouldn't be supported but I am. All this I'm the bad guy and you're the good guy thing, it's all bullshit, it's delusion, just like your very own delusion of becoming SCW World Heavyweight champion because I see what these people see. You're just a guy with dreams that will never be realised. You're a guy who sees things just the way he wants with no connection to reality. I see the big picture Alexander, I see who I am and I see what is going to happen and that is the hero loses, the anti hero wins.
He pointed to himself and the championship.
J2H: The roar of the crowd, the bright lights, the burning desire, the hopes you have inside will never be enough to push you on to win this Alexander because this belt is coming home with me for Christmas, I will be the last champion of 2023, the first of 2024. While you sit at home looking in the mirror wondering what the future might hold for you, while you decide if you should man up or be a pissy little bitch, I'll be staring at the one thing you really want for Christmas.
He turned his head to look at the championship over his left shoulder.
J2H: And that's real talk bitch!
He ran his hand across his throat, a universal sign to cut the camera and the cameraman lowered his lens. J2H looked at the people outside the ring. He was unsure how long they had stopped to watch what he was doing, but all eyes were on him.
J2H: Get back to work you lazy fucks! You're not getting paid to do nothing!
People snapped back in to life as J2H stepped from the ring. It was only a few seconds later, he was back over the barricade and exiting the way he arrived. Eventually, the screen faded to black.