Another Supercard and another championship opportunity lost, at least this time he didn’t get knocked out, and some might say he technically didn’t lose, since Braddock was the one who had his shoulders pinned down, and even more technically it was Eddies finisher that did the job.
However, that’s not how Eddie saw it, maybe he wasn’t pinned but he still lost, and that meant he still had a lot to learn before he was going to be able to call himself a champion. At the back of the line once again, it was time to climb that mountain once again, and see if this time he can reach the summit.
Truly it did feel like a bit of a restart, as he was going against his first opponent in SCW, and another man on a similar trajectory as Eddie himself in Rodrigo Afonso.[/i]
—-------
2:58 PM on a Monday
Whiskey Pete's Casino and Hotel
Primm, Nevada
Off-Camera
—-------
Eddie and his coach Keevee stood together looking at the old bullethole ridden car once driven by the criminal duo known as Bonnie and Clyde with a tourist intrigue in their eyes.
“Cleo would find this pretty cool.” commented Eddie.
“Yeah, she would.” agreed Keevee.
“They really lit those two up didn’t they?” said Eddie
“Sure looks like it.” Keevee replied.
There was a moment of silence, before Keevee broke it, he had seen the look in Eddies eyes the past few weeks since High Stakes.
“You doing okay Eddie?” he asked, “It seems like you’ve been like, distracted or something ever since High Stakes.”
Eddie sighed, he knew his coach would catch on sooner or later.
“Just tough, losing another championship match you know?” said Eddie with a shrug, “I keep wondering if I am good enough.”
“Of course you are.” replied Keevee, “You’ve already had two championship opportunities, and are still only getting started. Don’t forget you’re career is still young. Miles has a ton more experience, and that’s what got him the win.”
“He kinda stole my pinfall.” said Eddie
“Like I said, experience.” said Kaiser, “Your move or not, Miles used his experience to capitalize and get the victory and that’s why he still stands as Internet Champion.”
“I was this close..” said Eddie using his thumb and index finger for emphasis. “I could feel that championship in my hands. I keep trying to figure out what I did wrong.”
“You did nothing wrong.” Keevee replied, “You gave it your all, and that’s all anyone can ask for. I can tell you you’re still high on the radar of both Mark Ward and Christian Underwood. Just keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll find yourself facing off for championship gold again before you know it.”
“That’s all I can do right now I suppose.” said Eddie.
“And don’t forget…” Keevee said with a sly smile, “You’re still undefeated on Climax Control. That’s an accomplishment in itself. We need to keep that ball rolling.”
“Yeah, you know…you’re right.” said Eddie, “I can’t keep focusing on the past, and what’s done. I just have to get back on that horse and keep riding. My time will come, when I’ve truly earned it. As for now, just keep fighting.”
“As you said yourself.” nodded Kaiser, “It’s all you can do right now.”
“Lets get out of here, find a gym or something.” said Eddie, “Rodrigo is coming off a championship loss of his own, and I’m sure he’s going to want to get his win back from our first encounter so I need to give him my best, he deserves that.”
“Yeah, he’s a good kid. You both have bright futures.” agreed Kaiser, “I think there’s a gym nearby, we can head there now.”
“Lets not waste time then.” said Eddie, already moving to the exit, Coach Kaiser quickly catching up to him.
—-------
4:09 PM on a Thursday
Unspecific Location
Primm, Nevada
On-Camera
—-------
As the cameras open on Eddie Lyons and Keevee Kaiser somewhere on the streets of Primm, Nevada. Eddie wears his usual t-shirt, jean jacket and jeans combo, and his coach similarly wears a simple t-shirt, but with a 49ers starter jacket that says COACH on the back.
“Been a few weeks hasn’t it SCW?” Eddie began, “After my loss at High Stakes, I just needed to take a few weeks and recharge. But I assure you I am back and ready to rise to the occasion once more. Of course, I once again will have to fight my way up and earn an opportunity. It’s to the back of the line for Eddie Lyons, and while it’s a tough pill to swallow I just have to choke it down, and deal with it.”
Eddie sighs, with a short pause, it does seem like the loss still weighs on his mind, at least a little.
“It truly is back to square one, for both of us isn’t it Rodrigo?” said Eddie respectfully, “Both of us suffered a loss in our championship opportunity and now here we find ourselves back where our SCW journeys began. Against each other. And what similar paths we’ve carved for ourselves since then. Each picking up our share of wins, granted I’ve picked up a few more than you.”
Eddie winks, and grins at the camera with a spirit of playful competitiveness.
“But we both suffered at the hands of Peter Vaughn.” Eddie continued, “He choked you out, and he knocked me out. I can’t help but feel like since we started off together, we’re destined to have our careers continue to intertwine. I feel like you are going to be someone very important to my overall career here, be it as a rival or even someday a partner.”
Behind Eddie, Keevee raises an eyebrow intrigued with what Eddie just said, but shakes it off.
“But right now, you’re another obstacle.” said Eddie, “One I must once again overcome. I know you;re going to come even better than last time, as you’ve improved and grown since then. But so have I, and don’t forget, championship losses aside, I am still undefeated on Climax Control and being as I didn’t pick up a championship, that seems like the best thing for me to continue on with, and I have no intentions of letting that streak end anytime soon. Eddie Lyons is about to roll on to become 5-0 on Climax Control."
Eddie holds up a palm to put the emphasis on five.
“Roulette Rules..” Eddie continued, “I’ll be honest and I belive I’ve said it before, it’s not really my style. The whole random aspect just isn’t for me. However it’s what I must contend with as an SCW superstar and I won’t let it break me down. Like everything else it’s just a challenge I need to overcome. So wherever the wheel lands, I’ll do what I always do and give it my best shot.”
Eddie shrugs and paces for a moment
“What more can we do right?” he said, “I keep telling myself I will be a champion one day, bu I’ve already had two chances and came up short. Maybe the third time will be the charm, and I don’t know when that will be, but I’ll keep fighting until I earn it again.”
Keevee Kaiser takes a step forward, ready to add his two cents into the mix.
“You’re a good kid Rodrigo:” said Keevee, “You’re going to have a great career, but Eddie here is the Rookie Standard, the best rookie signing SCW has had in years. In just a few short months he’s already high on managements radar. You need this win more than he does Rodrigo, but Eddie isn’t going to just let you have it. Like Miles Kasey and Peter Vaughn you’re going to have to bring a whole helluva lot if you plan to put Eddie away. This is a chance for one of you to catch a rebound, but Eddie is going to be the one that scores.”
As Keevee finishes up, Eddie steps up and speaks again.
“Let’s just give them hell Rodrigo” Eddie said, “Win or lose we can both show them what the new breed of talent arriving in SCW recently is all about, lets show them who the best new talent to arrive here in the past few months is. You are one of them Rodrigo, of that I have no doubt but like my coach said I am the ROOKIE STANDARD, and I am the BEST among them all. I am the one that will rise first to be one of the very best in SCW, and as always I will do it with HONOR BEFORE GLORY.”
Eddie gives a respectful nod at the camera.
“See you soon Rodrigo” said Keevee as they both stare into the camera, Eddie with determination in his eyes as the scene fades out to black.
—-------
10:35 PM on a Friday
Whiskey Pete's Casino and Hotel
Primm, Nevada
Off-Camera
—-------
Eddie sat alone in his hotel room with just his thoughts to accompany him. Coach Kaiser was likely doing the same in his hotel room. He hadn’t told his coach about the visions, the one he had though he fought off. The ones where he was approached by a much darker version of himself. He knew there was something with his family, and having to fight off their respective dark sides, or as his cousins chose to do, give into them. Just as the thoughts mulled about in his headspace, he saw one again, it was almost shadowlike, with red eyes and it carried what looked like the SCW Internet Championship.
“Hello Edward.” it hissed. “Moping about another loss?”
“Why won’t you leave me alone?” said Eddie
“Because I am you.” spoke Shadow Eddie, “I am the version of you that won the Internet Championship, and all I had to do was piss away my silly honor and kick Miles right in his puny little dick, that was after I smashed BRADDOCKS brains in with a chair, and made that dumb oaf even stupider.”
“I would never do that.” said Eddie.
“That is why you fail.” smirked the shadow. “You will never be a champion being Mr. Nice Guy all the time. You are a Lyons. We are the hunters, not the hunted. Look at the history of your family, no Lyons has ever won a championship by playing nice, not Vincent, not Alex, not Victoria, not even your uncles or father back in the day.”
“Well, maybe I’m the one to change that then.” Eddie replied, fearlessly.
“You think so?” smirked the shadow, “But I’m still here, which means I still reside in you, somewhere locked away tightly but I’m there. You just need to let me out, let me take and guide you and then you will have one of these two, otherwise you’re just going to keep reaching for that brass ring only to slip just as your fingertips touch it.”
“No.” insisted Eddie, refusing to give in.
“So you choose weakness?” the shadow laughed.
“I choose honor.” Eddie replied, “I won’t give in to anything. This, it’s all just in my head. You’re not even real."
“I am!” insisted the shadow.
“No you’re not.” said Eddie, “And I told you last time…YOU’RE NOT ME!!”
“NO!” the shadow howled, those three words were what was able to wisp it away into nothing, back into the dark depths of Eddies mind, hopefully never to be seen again.
Eddie knew he needed to figure this out, he had to talk to his coach about it. He felt strong enough to fight it off, but he needed to be rid of it. Of course, maybe the shadow had some points. He could perhaps be a bit more aggressive or something. For now, it was gone, and all Eddie was really focused on was his match with Rodrigo. He’d talk to Keevee about all this next time, for now, it was time to rest and then more training in the morning.