The Go Gym
The epicenter of all things professional wrestling! Ever since the very beginning of Sin City Wrestling right up to our current timeline, when wrestling schools were discussed by fandoms, the GO Gym was one of the ones discussed most frequently and with the most reverence. After all, with names such as Evie Jordan, the London Underground and Fenris - among others - listed amongst their graduating classes, you could understand why this facility in particular was mentioned so often and with such respect. Both Gabriel and Odette Stevens took everything that they learned throughout their years in the sport and used that knowledge and wisdom to better train the young men and women who walked through those hallowed doors to pursue the very same dreams that they had once held themselves. And now? They were about to take on the task of training two more.
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The young, voluptuous damsel on the left? Her name would just so happen to be Teagan Moore. And her bosom chum that you see to her right? That young woman is Irene Clark. When you look at the two, you wouldn’t exactly think either one would belong in the world of professional wrestling, would you? Teagan looks as though she could be on the cover of a magazine, if not one for the fashion industry, then certainly one of those Hot Rod magazines, draped over the hood of some speed racer for the drooling male masses. (Okay, the times are changing! You can include the female drooling masses too, I suppose!) And her best friend Irene? She just looks like that everyday girl next door, wouldn’t you say? Not the sort who would be laying sprawled out on a car hood like her bestie, but more so the girl who you might find working under the hood., just as capable as any of her male friends. Quite the pair, yes?
And yet here the two young women were, seated in the main office of the famed GO Gym, and seated across from none other than the patriarch of perhaps the most famous wrestling school currently in operation; the man Gabriel Stevens himself. See, that’s the thing about Gabriel and by extension, his wife Odette who also played a big hand in the training of the next generation of wrestling stars. Where many instructors and heads of training schools would just take your money and throw you to the wolves, the Stevens took strict care unto just whom they allow to set foot past their doors. They conducted extensive interviews with each prospective charge, ensuring that not only did they possess the mental fortitude to extend past these walls and into the rough and tumble sport they had their hopes and dreams pinned upon, but also whether or not they had a fall back plan - just in case things did not work out as one might hope and they were forced to rely on other options for a career.
Gabriel and Odette cared about what happened with these students of theirs, both before, during and most definitely after they left their Gym officially and made their way into the unforgiving world of professional wrestling.
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Alan Campbell. Rather devilishly handsome fella, wouldn’t you agree? Oh sure, the glasses give him an air of sophistication and the allure of brain power, but take those away and he’s actually quite the handsome young man. He sat in the middle chair, between his two besties as Gabriel finally looked up from the clipboard that had the two applications that Teagan and Irene had filled out. Gabriel tapped the end of his ink pen against his bottom lip before he looked up to their expectant gazes collectively.
Gabriel: “Well I have to admit that your education resumes are impressive.”
He looked toward Teagan.
Gabriel: “You have a degree in nursing and you…?”
He shifted his gaze to Irene.
Gabriel: “A Masters in psychology. So, I have to ask…?”
Teagan: “Why wrestling?”
Gabriel found himself yielding with a nod.
Gabriel: “I don’t like to question the decisions of pros[ective students but…”
He looked at their applications and blew out a shrill whistle from his pursed lips.
Gabriel: “You ladies could make a killing in either one or both of these fields! Yeet you want to put your bodies on the line in this sport?”
They both nodded, neither saying a word.
Gabriel: “Do you mind if I ask why?”
This time, it was Irene who answered dutifully.
Irene: “I admit we both know we could make more in the medical fields than as a wrestler, and we’d be sacrificing our bodies on a weekly basis…”
Gabriel: “...But?”
Irene: “The truth is that those degrees were just to keep our families happy. Both of our parents wanted us to be doctors or lawyers and we did go to college to make them happy and we both got good degrees…”
Teagan: “But it was more or less just for show.”
Gabriel: “Just … for show?”
They both nodded.
Teagan: “We love our families, we do. But the truth Gabriel is that both of us grew up in extreme controlling circumstances. We were told what we had to study and when, what we could eat, there were no phones or video games allowed…”
Irene: “Neither of us were allowed to date and we even had to have our parents’ approval to have friends!”
Gabriel raised a single eyebrow in wonder.
Gabriel: “Wow.”
Irene: “So you can see why we’re keeping this a secret from our families – for now.”
Teagan: “Yes, we told everyone we were going to graduate school to further our studies.”
Gabriel: “I see, so tell me then…”
He turned his head and suddenly Alan found Gabriel’s attention focused solely on him.
Gabriel: “Mind if I ask where you come into all of this? Are you one of the approved friends?”
Alan: Oh no, sir.”
He shook his head.
Alan: “I’m one of the friends both of their parents disapproved of. But we became friends anyway. We just had to keep it hush hush so they didn’t make their lives any more of a controlling nightmare than it already was.”
Gabriel: “Mind if I ask why they didn’t approve of you?”
Alan sighed, his shoulders yielding in a light shrug.
Alan: “I guess because I came from a single parent home. And the fact my mom is open about being gay. And I found work as a mechanic to help her out with bills…”
Gabriel: “Well I don’t see how her being gay is any business of theirs or how it reflects on you… but working a hard job to help your mom out with bills? I’d think that would only help you out in their eyes.”
Teagan: “You’d think, wouldn’t you?”
Gabriel looked back down at the clipboard in his hands and then rummaged around in the papers on the surface of his desk.
Gabriel: “But you didn’t fill out an application for the Gym too, Alan? Why?”
Alan: “I… didn’t think I would have to? I mean, we thought we could come as a packaged deal… and I could be their manager or escort or whatever you call it?”
Gabriel: “Well son, it doesn’t quite work out that way. Even managers get hard pressed into the ring every now and then. You might even get bit by the wrestling bug yourself so whether as a manager or a wrestler, if you get inside of the ring, you need to know what you’re doing to better protect yourself and your opposition.”
Gabriel opened up a drawer on his desk and removed an application and offered it over to the hands of Alan.
Gabriel: “Fill that out while the ladies here get the grand tour from my wife. Maybe you’ll be able to catch up quickly enough to graduate with them.”
Teagan and Irene looked at each other with smiles before turning their attention to Gabriel.
Irene: “You mean … we’re in?”
Gabriel just answered with a smile as…. As the scene slowly shifted. Faded out in a wavy haze and things turned bleak. Dark. Blank.
**THUD!** **THUD!** **THUD!**
“No. Nonono! That’s not how it went. That’s not what happened… Oh if it were only so... but those voices. Oh they are annoying but they do come up with some wonderful little stories!”
**THUD!** **THUD!** **THUD!**
The soft, pounding sound could be heard in the darkness that blanketed the room like some ebony shroud that covered the eyes, preventing all else from being seen. Not so much a pound as the noise one’s fist might make when striking the pillow beneath your own head to soften it up for a restful slumber. Only this thud never seemed to end, it continued to repeat like a vinyl record skipping and repeating the same verse continuously. The room itself was large, closed off from the outside world, and it would soon be revealed why as a soft, yellow light overhead illuminated a single spot on the padded floor against the padded wall…
Wait, padded floor? Padded wall?
The explanation could not be more clear as the figure huddled in a seated position against the padding was lurched over at the waist, then reared back and hit the back of his head once again, but did little to no damage thanks in part to the cushions that lined the walls. His face was familiar with that ghastly smile that could curdle milk, and only the faintest traces of the ghoulish clown makeup that he had come to be known for – Anthrax. Barefoot, dressed in the usual hospital pajamas on his lower body and his upper body bound and restrained in a leather straight jacket, it would be hard pressed to explain how he could be smiling like he was, or why the previous fantasy had played itself out in the psychotic recesses of his mind.
He giggled, biting at his bottom lip as he shook his head, his flaxen, blonde hair falling over his forehead and into his ghostly gray eyes.
Anthrax: “No… no. No, that’s not how it happened. Just a dream. Just a beautiful dream.”
His head fell forward and a breath escaped him as slowly, he righted himself and this time the smile was more subdued, but still pronounced.
Anthrax: “Can you ever forgive me, for misleading you? For bringing you here into my world? I just thought we should talk, just the three of us. Three? Hm? Oh, yes. I suppose an explanation is in order. All the other times you’ve seen me, I’ve been free as a bird. Just the ornery little scamp that you’ve come to know over the years, making mischief wherever I go. And yet, look at me now! You see, I checked myself in here just a few days ago. It helps me to think, and when we heard about this silly little play date between my girls and the GO Gym girls, I knew I had a lot of thinking to do about this little adventure that we’re all going to have fun with together! So yeah…”
He showed his pearly whites and bobbed his head up and down in a gleeful display.
Anthrax: “I was thinking ALLLL about you, Krystal and Ariana.”
His head fell to his right shoulder and his mouth opened to which he chuckled and licked at his dry lips.
Anthrax: “Ooo! The GO Gym graduates! I guess that means I should be worried – or my girls should be? Because, well we all know about just how successful anyone who comes out of that school happens to be. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a man or a woman, whoever goes into that Gym as a wet behind the ears loser, comes out a changed success story. Well…!”
He shrugged his shoulders.
Anthrax: “Almost every loser. Unless you count Tallyn who was gone pretty much as quickly as she showed up.”
He pursed his lips and whistled while shaking his head in mock disbelief.
Anthrax: “I just bet Gabriel and Odette wish they could strike THAT ONE from their record books! Then there’s Devona who, well I suppose she was successful with a decent win-loss record and even got an Internet title for her troubles, but as soon as she lost that belt? She got up and left. Haven’t really heard much from her except for the random tweets that nobody really cares about. Then there’s names like Ariana Angelos and Krystal Wolfe and I – D’OH! Those are the opponents for this match, aren’t they? Where IS my head?”
He flopped his head back against the padded wall once again, neck craned back so his eyes stared straight up at the single bulb that shined down into his ‘dead’ eyes. The corner up his lips curved upward before he righted himself to stare back into the camera again.
Anthrax: “Sorry. But considering recent events, you can forgive me for lumping them in with the rest of the riff raff, can’t you? I mean, Ariana … Ari … I can call you Ari, right? I mean, seeing as how we’re such good friends? Ari here was … ‘decent’ enough when she was down there in Sin City Underground. She held the Pride Tag Team titles way back when with her ‘bestie’ Carter, and they held onto those titles a pretty decent time for as chaotic as that division can be. But let’s be honest, hm? Who won the titles for that team? Carter. Who racked up the most wins in their championship defenses? Carter. Who took the fall when they finally lost the belts? How the hell should I know!? I’m not Mercedes Vargas! I’m not a historian and quite frankly, I don’t CARE! But funny thing in SCU; they are ab;e to compete for more than one championship at a time, unlike in SCW. So both Carter and Ari tried for a singles run at the same time as when they still had the gold. And after they lost the belts? Carter really shined once he dropped the dead weight! Who knew he had it in him to win and defend the Combat championship??? And he even went on to win the top title, the Underground championship! Youngest Underground champion in history! And Ari….?”
He turned his head and leaned over as if to hear something… anything. If there were crickets in the room, that would be the only answer forthcoming. Anthrax nodded and leaned back against the wall.
Anthrax: “Yeah… that pretty much sums it up. Our friend Ari here was midcard at best in SCU, and she hasn’t really expanded past that now that she’s moved on up. The only real success she experienced was when she teamed with Carter, and let’s face it; he carried that team. And selfish? Whew! I didn’t think sweet little Ari could be so selfish but she proved herself wrong when she tried to pressure/guilt poor Carter into trying to regain the Pride championship with her for a second time, DESPITE the fact that he expressed an interest in getting out of the tag team ranks and trying to make it as a singles wrestler. Tsk, tsk, Ari! I mean, I can understand the desperation to be relevant again, but really! He’s supposed to be your pal and you tried to weigh him down just so you could be a champion again. Because let’s face it…!”
He leaned forward and laughed.
Anthrax: “The only way you could pick up a significant win or a championship is by depending on someone else! Hahahahaha!!! But let’s give her the benefit of the doubt, hm? This isn’t SCU. It’s SCW! I mean, surely now that Ari is here, her track record will follow her and she’ll experience just as much access here as she did down.. Oh, wait.”
He cringed.
Anthrax: “Sorry! My bad! But when you get right down to it, Ari isn’t exactly what you would call the loyal sort. I mean, as soon as SCU announced that it would be closing its doors, Ari just up and split! Ran for higher ground before SCU could even give us any details on their farewell tour or the final plans… nope! Like a rat deserting a sinking ship!”
His eyes opened wide.
Anthrax: “So I guess that means that Krystal had better watch her back because when things go to hell against my girls…! Well if history tells us anything, it tells us that Ari will be running and leaving Krystal dry!”
“And I am only saying this out of love, Krystal. Tough love! You know you can trust me – right? Well don’t you worry sweet cakes! You’ll make it through this relatively unscathed. I guess. I mean, if you’re lucky… if?”
He looked away, with a frown on his face and eyes squinted as if in deep thought or contemplation.
Anthrax: “If? There is NO ‘if' when it comes to Krystal Wolfe and luck! Krystal has to be the luckiest girl to have ever signed on the dotted line! I mean she lucked out when she applied to the GO Gym and they actually took her on. And she lucked out when she implied she was one of their first graduates, predating Evie herself and nobody called her out on her bullsh-lies! All lies! I mean, if any of that was true, then why oh why did nobody ever hear of her until WAY after Evie called it quits and Krystal just sort of… snuck in under the radar? Telling us she graduated from the GO academy before names like Devona and London Underground and even Fenris! Yet! Nobody! Heard! Of! Her!!! Do you GET what I’m saying!? I thought maybe Krystal had to be worried about Ari’s loyalty and trust but can any of us really trust Krystal - if that IS her real name!?”
“Now granted, she started off in SCU just like her buddy, if you can call it that. The bosses down there didn’t even try with her so maybe they saw something in her that the rest of us didn’t care about? They didn’t even bother pushing or promoting her so she went to greener pastures like the cow that she is, and signed to SCW where she’d get the respect she THOUGHT she deserved! She started off slow but then lucked out (again) and actually won the Roulette championship! Well BRAVO, Krystal! I’d applaud your efforts but I’m a little bit tied up at the moment.”
He threw his head back and cackled at his own self deprecating joke.
Anthrax: “The Roulette title is the bottom of the barrel as far as success stories goes, ranks right down there with the mixed tag team titles. And Krystal was the champion! So that made her - what? The best of the worst?”
He jetted out his bottom lip and nodded.
Anthrax: “Makes sense! And as soon as she lost it, she rose to the occasion and it was just one success story after another and I…”
He stopped just as quickly as he had started, his eyes shifting from left to right until he smiled again and shook his head.
Anthrax: “Sorry! … The voices! Sometimes they like to rewrite history to give us those happy endings that we all crave. But let’s be honest, hm Krystal? It’s been one crash and burn after another. And then here we find ourselves on a cruise, ready to play with each other. I just hope that you’ve been working out because you’re obviously going to be carrying around a LOT of dead weight. And I am not talking about my girls, Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister. No, I’m talking about…”
He looked from left to right as if to see if anyone was listening in, before he leaned in to whisper…
Anthrax: “Ariana… So in one last parting shot, might I suggest that you stiffen up, Ari? For your partner’s benefit, of course. It’s easier to carry rather than going limp like dead weight. And we all know that Ari is only a success story when she’s a part of something bigger.”
Just then, the sound of keys in a metal door was heard and the soft unlatching of the lock’s tumblers was detected. The door to the padded cell then swung open and the lights turned on, causing Anthrax to squint as Nurse Iron Maiden and Nurse Twisted Sister entered the room. While Nurse Maiden undid the shackle on his bare ankle with a key, Nurse Sister worked on undoing the straps that secured his arms around his upper body. Anthrax looked up at both nurses’ and smiled.
Anthrax: “Is it visiting hours already or are you here to save me?”
Both Iron Maiden and Twisted Sister looked up from him into each others’ dark eyes – and they screamed in glee! They then looked down at Anthrax and a moment passed – before all three fell to the padded floor and rolled around, laughing maniacally and kicking their legs in the air like children!
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