Yakuza 1: 家族間の意見の相違 (Family Disagreements)

It was time to suit up.

Aiden stood in his bedroom, slowly sliding the perfectly tailored jacket over the pressed white shirt that he had buttoned up and tucked into a pair of black slacks, with a leather belt clipped at the front. He did the cuff buttons, pulled the jacket around himself, buttoned it at the front, then smoothed it down and took a deep breath, looking into the mirror. He looked good. He knew he looked good. He glanced down at his polished black shoes and lightly tugged the sleeves of his shirt just out from the jacket cuffs.

He looked like one of them now. He didn’t have one of their crests as a pin yet on his lapel, but he felt like one of them. Moving out of the bedroom and into the lounge room and kitchen, he smiled at Kallie. At first, her eyes widened as she took in the sight of her husband in a perfectly tailored black suit. Then she tilted her head and furrowed her brow before taking a deep breath. “Ummmm, what’s the occasion?”

Aiden smiled and shrugged. “I’m gonna go watch Dickie’s back. Gotta make sure he doesn’t get himself killed.”

Kallie frowned. She was clearly upset. Her hands wrapped around a teacup before she took a sip and stood up. A small baby bump was visible under her shirt as she moved around to her husband, grabbed his hands, and shook her head. “Aiden, I really don’t think you should be involved. I don’t think Dickie should be involved—or Finn. This is really stupid and dangerous. But you have a choice. Don’t do this. Don’t hang around those people.”

“Asians?”

“Mobsters, you ding dong!”

Aiden chuckled and leaned down, giving his wife a kiss on the forehead. “Aye, I get it. But I’m not doing anything too crazy, and I’m just there to make sure Dickie doesn’t either. I don’t want to become a member of the Yakuza. I don’t want to get into a life of organized crime. I’m just a fucking professional wrestler.” His voice was soft and sweet. He was trying to be reassuring, to take the tension out of the room. But he could tell that she was still worried.

Kallie swallowed hard and rested her head against Aiden’s chest. She took a deep breath and then took his hand, slowly placing it onto her stomach. Reminding him that he was about to have a second child. Another life he was responsible for. It was a subtle moment. Something that didn’t need to be said between the two. “Just be careful. We need you and love you.”

He nodded slowly. He could hear Dax playing in the next room. He could feel his wife’s warmth and the growing baby bump under his hand.

Knock knock

It broke the moment between them. Frantic knocking. Aiden turned and moved toward the door. The knocking continued as Aiden reached forward, looked through the peephole, and unlocked the bolt. He opened the door, and a smaller Japanese man stepped through. He was dressed in a black suit as well and was panting, taking a few deep breaths as Aiden raised an eyebrow. “You alright, mate?”

Kallie looked concerned. The man, a young foot soldier, breathed heavily. “Aiden-san... we… we need you.”

“What’s up, mate? Is Dickie alright? Has there been a raid on the coffee shop? Did one of our boys get hit? What’s going on?”

The young foot soldier breathed in and out deeply, trying to calm himself down. After a few moments, he looked up at both Kallie and Aiden. “No… but big emergency… we have n—”

“Have no what? Guns? Meds?” Kallie tilted her head to the side, looking at her husband. She was slightly perturbed by the fact that he immediately jumped to guns. But it didn’t stop there, as Aiden didn’t let the young foot soldier speak, instead happily interrupting. “It’s guns, right mate? What do we need? A few Glocks? 9mm? M4? AR-15s?”

“Aiden, what the hell?”

“Udon!”

“I.....-what, mate?”

Aiden blinked a few times, unsure of what he had just heard. Kallie chuckled and shook her head as the foot soldier took a deep breath and repeated himself. “Udon, broth, pickled radish, green onion…”

“Groceries?”

Everyone fell silent. Aiden blinked a few more times, and Kallie looked confused. The foot soldier nodded slowly. “Yes, we need food…” Aiden slowly nodded and took a deep breath.

“Alright… we better go. I know how the boys get when they’re hungry.”

The two left, making their way down the hallway as Kallie smiled. She pulled out her phone, looked at it, then swiped it open and made a phone call. After a few moments, we hear the voice of Dickie Watson on the other end. “Hello?”

Kallie placed her phone on the kitchen bench. “I know what you’re doing. You’re keeping Aiden out of certain jobs to keep him safe, aren’t you?”

“Yes…”

Kallie took a long, deep breath before smiling. “Thank you.”

Multi-Man Overboard

“Mate, what even is this? What am I doing here? Here I am with an opportunity right in front of me to earn a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship, and all I can do is ask why? I’m not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth, but this company and its practice of throwing whatever at the wall until it sticks is starting to destroy everyone’s morale.”

Aiden tuts and rolls his eyes before stretching his neck and clearing his throat.

“I’ll be completely and brutally honest here. I don’t deserve to be in a match with stakes this big. Not at all. I lost a triple threat match to two of the people who are in this thing. So tell me, why am I here? I know why. Because they needed something for all of us to do. Because I’ll be straight with you, Miles doesn’t belong here, Justin Smith doesn’t belong here, Bill Barnhart doesn’t belong here, Logan Hunter does not belong here. In fact, this match should be between Eddie Lyons and Liam Davis.”

“One on one.”

“See, while Liam lost his match against Kevin Carter, the guy put in a ridiculous effort and should be rewarded for it. And Eddie Lyons beat me and Miles. So congrats, Eddie, you beat us only to be put on the exact same level as us in a multi-man match, where the winner gets to face the World Heavyweight Champion. And again, most of us shouldn’t be here. If only there were another annual multi-person match that took place on this cruise ship every single year.”

“Oh wait, there is.”

“The Ultimate X over a pool match. You guys remember that? Sure you do. The females internet championship is being contested in that match this year, and usually there’s a partner match with the men. And it's for the Roulette title Instead of this Overboard Battle Royale, where half of us don’t deserve a World Championship match, we’d be in Ultimate X. But that match isn’t happening this year. I wonder why. It’s almost as if someone who says he doesn’t always get his way… got his way. Like some kind of weird setup where he gets to do whatever the fuck he wants.”

“Oh well… fuck us and fuck this company. I guess we’ll just sit here and change traditions we do every year to please one person. Awesome.”

Aiden scoffs and steps forward, his steely blue eyes on fire.

“But hey, just because I don’t agree with all of us being in this match doesn’t mean I’m not going to try and win it. I’m going to toss Eddie Lyons out. Even though I respect him, and even though he literally just won a triple threat match against me and Miles, he still isn’t the type of person who’s going to be able to win the World Championship. Because he chokes. He is a choke artist. As good as Eddie Lyons believes himself to be, and as great as his family is, he can never break through that glass ceiling above his head. He just keeps smashing his head on it every time he tries to become something better than he is.”

“It’s honestly getting maddening, Eddie. It’s maddening from my standpoint because I like you. I think you are a great professional wrestler, and I have all the respect in the world for your abilities. But you have this fear of failure in you. Almost like you don’t want to take that next step because you’re terrified of it. And that’s honestly what I think it is, you are terrified of success. You’re terrified of being the best because you know the kind of pressure that’s going to come with it. And that’s a problem. It’s a problem because most people step up and want to be the best. And you? You don’t have the balls to do it.”

“Other members of your family have the guts to do what’s needed, but they don’t have the talent. That’s Victoria’s problem. She has the guts to do everything she needs to become a World Champion, but she doesn’t have the skills that you do. If we took your skills and her guts, we’d have someone who would be a multi-time World Champion by now, instead of two failures.”

He rolls his eyes and continues.

“And speaking of failures… hey Miles, how’s it goin’, buddy? Man, this is great, isn’t it? We’re both getting a shot at becoming the number one contender for a World Championship! All we have to do is throw everyone else overboard. Sounds great, right? But here’s the issue, you definitely shouldn’t be in this match. You are screwed if you somehow fluke your way into a win. If Carter wins, then you and Carter have to go head-to-head, and that’s going to be a waste of a match. Neither of you are really going to want to beat the other, and it’s going to be boring. The rest of us are going to have a nice little nap while you’re in the ring, dancing around and doing whatever it is you do.”

“And if J2H beats Carter?”

“Well, shit. I don’t think anyone’s ready for that kind of massacre. Carter is better than you and he’s going to have trouble with a guy like J2H. You? You don’t have what it takes to beat him. Because you let people’s reputations intimidate you to the point where you become a shrinking violet in a world of war. I might not end up being able to beat J2H, but I’ll put on a much better show than you will,  and I’ll do everything I can to beat him, instead of turning into a fucking coward like you will. So I’m gonna toss your arse overboard because you do not deserve this championship match and you don’t deserve this opportunity.”

Aiden spits his words like venom as his hands ball into fists.

“Man, I can talk shit about Eddie and Miles, but at least they somewhat understand what they’re up against. They also do everything they can to destroy the preconceptions that they’re not good enough. But a guy like Justin Smith? This is ridiculous. Justin, I don’t want to be a dick, but I’m going to be. The fact that you’re in this match makes the match mean less. You have no chance of winning. You are nothing on the SCW spectrum. You shouldn’t be involved in any type of championship opportunity,  let alone for the World Championship,  and I despise everything about you and everything you think you are.”

“You are a waste. A complete waste of space. You’re taking up a position on the card let alone in a match like this, and it’s fucking disgusting. You shouldn’t be here. And I’m going to try and throw you out first because you don’t belong in this match. And if I keep seeing you there, it’s going to go from me trying to throw you off the boat to me trying to cave your goddamn head in. Because you stand for everything I hate about this business. You are a waste of time, a waste of space, a waste of a human being — and you shouldn’t even be in this business anymore, you piece of shit.”

“And I wholeheartedly mean that. And I also mean it when I say these things about you, Bill.”

“What else can I say about a guy like you, Bill Barnhart? Week after week, month after month, year after year, you stick around SCW like a bad smell, while never actually accomplishing anything. You, your wife, and your friend Felix are three of the worst human beings and worst professional wrestlers I’ve ever seen in my life. If you trip over something and fluke a win, that’s one win too many. You will never become anything more than that in this business. A fluke. And you and Justin are the types of people we need to run out of this business, instead of letting you come in and waste all of our fucking time.”

He stands up, slamming his fist on the table, clearly angry. Yes, he’s angry. Something you really don’t see.

“Kind of like you, Logan. You little shit-talking lord. I’m going to be very, very honest here. You should not have beaten me. You should not have been the Roulette Champion. And if you hadn’t somehow beaten me, you wouldn’t have been in the position you were in, and that stupid clown wouldn’t be holding the Roulette Championship.”

“By the way, kind of weird how you got an immediate rematch when you didn’t defend the title at all, while I held it for months, defended it, and haven’t had a rematch. I’m sure they’re going to use me being in this match as justification for not giving me one. But we all know the real reason. There’s someone who has a problem with that — and he’s a giant pussy.”

“But hey, that’s fine, right Logan? You get handed stuff. I get shafted. Exactly what I’ve been talking about for the last few weeks. But it seems to be falling on deaf ears. So I’m going to make an example out of you. You don’t deserve this position. You didn’t deserve to be Roulette Champion. All you deserve is to be destroyed on a grand stage so people can see what kind of pathetic piece of trash you are.”

“And of course, I want to finish on a more positive note.”

“Liam Davis…”

“Mate, you almost beat Kevin Carter. You did. I don’t think anyone can disagree with that. You almost beat one of the longest-reigning champions in this company, and you did it by putting the pedal to the metal and going at him. And now, because of that amazing effort, you’re in this Overboard Battle Royale. And I meant what I said. It should come down to you and Eddie. Even though Eddie seems to always fail, you’re an unknown quantity. You could put on a show and go after the World Championship.”

“But here’s the problem. While I can freely admit my path to this match hasn’t been the smoothest, and I don’t fully deserve it — I’m still going to take this opportunity with both hands and do whatever I can to win. Because deep down, I know I can be World Champion. I just need an opportunity. And if I have to get that opportunity by throwing you and everyone else off the ship… then I’m gonna do it.”

“And it is on every single one of you… to stop me.”

Sacred

Dickie Watson sat in his office going over some papers. Blissfully unaware of the shit storm that was about to come walking in through the front door. As he took a sip of his energy drink and put it back on the desk, he moved some papers to the side, took a deep breath, and looked up just in time to see the door fly open and his best friend/former tag team partner, Aiden Reynolds, step in.

Dickie blinked a few times, tilting his head trying to figure out why he was seeing what he was seeing. Aiden stood there, his hair slicked back. He was dressed in a tailored black suit with a red handkerchief in the top pocket of the jacket. ”Uh..dude what the shit?”

Aiden looks around and slowly smiles before walking over and standing next to Dickie‘s desk putting his hands in front of him crossing one over the other and standing at attention.

Dickie raised an eyebrow looking around before standing up and booking Aiden up and down with a confused book ”Why?…”

Aiden turns and quickly bows before speaking in Japanese ”私はあなたの背中を支えるためにここにいます”(I’m here to watch your back)

Dickie blinks a few times and looks back out the door at all of the confused employees of the store out front before walking over and closing the door that he left open before scratching the back of his head ”Why do you want to wash my back?”

Aiden raises an eyebrow and sighs before speaking back in English with his usual Australian accent ”Watch mate, watch your back. How in the hell are you the head of a chapter of the yakuza while not knowing how to speak Japanese?”

Aiden tilts his head and Dickie tuts shaking his head ”Hey! I know how to speak Japanese. It was your Australian accent while speaking Japanese that put me off. And what do you mean by watching my back? What are you doing here, dude?”

Aiden laughs and throws his arms in the air as if it should be obvious. ”I’m here to help you out. I know you said I should stay away and focus on my wrestling career. But that is going pretty well right now. So, I’ve come to join the yakuza.” Aiden smirks and Dickie just stays silent. ”I can be your right-hand man. I’ll do whatever you need me to, boss.”

Dickie shakes his head. Unsure of what to say he takes a moment before going back around the desk and sitting down. ”Aiden, no…”

”What? Why?”

”Well, one, Kallie would kill me. And, two, this is not the type of place that you want to be in. You have a great career, I just kind of fell into this shit.” Dickie paused unsure of if he should tell Aiden all of the reasons. Because there were many..

Aiden frowns and shakes his head ”You know that I can help you. You have to have people around you that you can trust. People around you who will always have your back. Mate, you know that’s me.” Aiden smirks and continues ”You could send me out on collection runs, or I could infiltrate places that some of your other guys can’t, you know, because I look like I could be an American as long as I don’t open my mouth”

Dickie rubs his temples taking a deep breath but before he can say anything the door opens and a Asian man step in. Wearing a T-shirt and baggy jeans. Aiden raises an eyebrow.

Before the gentleman can step toward Dickie and say anything Aiden moves in front of him. ”私の上司と話してもいいって誰が言ったの?” (Who said you could talk to my boss?) The kid raises an eyebrow looking confused, Dickie stands up but before he can say anything Aiden continues ”それで何を着てるの？なんて失礼なの”(And what are you wearing? How rude)

The guy looks around Aiden and to Dickie and then in perfect English with an American accent gets Dickies attention ”Hey I got your order…some fried chicken and rice….” He hands the bag to Dickie and then as he is walking past Aiden he scoffs ”Dude…I was born here…and I’m also Korean not Japanese…”

The guy leaves and Aiden scratches the back of his head as Dickie rolls his eyes and opens the small cardboard box popping a piece of Korean fried chicken in his mouth ”So uh….Can I have a piece of that?” Dickie laughs to himself and slowly slide the box over to Aidan who pops a bit of fried chicken into his mouth and shrugs. The issue was closed for now. But it wouldn’t be forever. Eventually Dickie would have to give Aiden a straight answer and also tell him the truth.

He wasn’t the “yakuza” type.

Unbroken Hearts

”Well goddamn…it is damn good being a champion…”

Aiden Reynolds, the happy-go-lucky yet slightly cocky Australian slowly Smile as he popped his arms over his chest and we pull out to find that he is standing right in front of the louvre.  Why the Louvre? Well, let’s just say that because of two previous yet unrelated incidents, he is not allowed near Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower.

”And I’d like to think that now all of those whispers about me being the roulette champion have died down. You know the ones. All those people who seem to believe that my championship run was going to be a quick one-and-done. That I was going to lose my championship in the first defence. Well, now I’ve defended this championship a few times, and I am not really looking at slowing down. Connor Murphy did everything he could for 30 minutes to wrestle this championship away from me. 30 whole minutes. He tried everything he could.”

“But in the end, I held my head high, and I was the champion. I walked out holding this title over my head and then was able to swing it over my shoulder and walk into every single show since then as the champion. Leading through this Viking era tour all the way to Paris, France.”

“The city of love…”

“Eh, it’s alright.”

“But I’m here for a reason. I’m not here to take in the sights, and the sounds, and the food. I’m here to defend my championship again. To step into that ring with the roulette wheel spin and whatever it lands on, let it decide my fate. And what can I say? I’m starting to thrive on the chaos of it all. Not knowing what type of matches are going to be when I step into the arena is starting to be a unique experience and a rush that I will never forget. And this time. I’m defending against Logan Hunter.”

Aiden nods and smiles as Dickie Watson steps into from eating a chocolate filled croissant.

”Another fellow Aussie. But I don’t know, something seems off. Something just seems wrong about the way you carry yourself in the things that you say. I mean goddamn. You have one of the coolest names I’ve ever heard. Logan Hunter. But something just doesn’t seem right. He just feels weird looking at you. Like I’ve seen you somewhere before, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. It could probably be nothing. But at the same time, I’m not 100% sure.”

Dickie stands in the background continuing to eat his chocolate filled croissant. Keen eyed viewers might even notice that Dickie and Logan look very similar to each other. In fact, eerily similar to each other. Something that Aidan seems to have missed out on, but a lot of other people have commented on.

”I don’t know. But what I do know Logan, is it you’re a bit of a dick. You have a move where you literally pull brass knuckles out and punch someone with them. That already tells me that you can’t get the job done by just being a great wrestler; you need to take shortcuts. And mate, Shortcuts don’t get you anywhere anywhere anywhere. They just get you found out. But then again, what should I expect from someone from Sydney? The biggest city in our country but full of the most dickheads.”

“And you’re also a go gym graduate. So this is going to be another match in the long line of rivalry matches between the go gym and Wolfslair. Despite the fact that my gym has had more champions in it than go gym ever will….per capita anyway.. You see, you want to stand there and tell that you’re a coaching graduate. A graduate. So your gym takes wannabe wrestlers and molds them into mediocre ones. Do you know what mine does?”

“Wolfslair is where great wrestlers go to become legends. Champions.”

“Do you know how many SCW championships are a part of Wolfslair DNA? 30. 30 championships in this company alone that are attributed to current or past members of Wolfslair. Including 9 men’s and women’s world championships. Just think about that. 30 championships, 9 of which have been those who stand on the top of the mountain. This isn’t so much rivalry as it is the go gym thinking that quantity equals quality and blowing their load over everything. And if you, Logan, are a graduate of that gym? They have low standards for graduation. I’m starting to think they might have given you a free ride through the entire thing.”

”And he seems to be super lame. I’ve heard him run his mouth over the last couple of weeks about things, and he just comes off his forced. Completely unnatural. Almost like he’s reading off a script. What kind of bullshit is that?”

Aiden laughs and nods before folding his arms over his chest and continuing.

”I know, mate, and also he gets his girlfriend to cut off his promo for him. What kind of loser needs someone else to come into their promo to help?”

Aiden laughs again but Dickie stands there and blinks doing the mental mathematics to connect. What Aiden just said about their current predicament and the fact that he usually wants Dickie or somewhat else to pop in and out to jump off with lines. Dickie goes to say something but at the same time doesn’t want to ruin Aiden’s view of himself.

”Now mate. I’m not gonna say that you are a bad professional wrestler. Hell, you’ve been able to get enough wins where you can challenge me for the roulette title. You’ve been trying hard and trying to climb that ladder, and even though I personally believe you’ve been doing it with some Doobie means I am also going to respect the decision makers and the idea of having you challenge me for the Roulette championship.”

“I have never made a career out of second-guessing the guys who are in charge. I don’t kiss up to them like certain other people do but I damn sure not about to question them when all they are trying to do is run a successful company. And that’s what this company is. Successful. But do you know why it is successful, Logan? Do you know why SCW  is constantly looked at as the gold standard of professional wrestling?”

“Cause the cream rises to the top.”

“Those who deserved to succeed to succeed and those who don’t found out really quick. And I’m not even talking about doing things like cheating or using a foreign object like a pair of brass knuckles. I mean those who don’t have it in them to be a champion. They were found out very quickly and exposed. And you, Logan, are not someone who should be a champion. I can see it in your eyes, I can see it in your delivery, I can see it in how you stutter in doing certain things in the ring. You are not good enough to be a champion that this company can rely on. So when you and I get into that ring, I need you to know that I’m going to do everything in my power to walk out as the roulette champion and continue making this title worth it.”

Operation:Tasmanian Devil

It was a strange time at the home of Aiden Reynolds and Kallie Reznik. Kallie wasn’t currently working, she was staying at home looking after their young son Dax. Meanwhile, Aiden was working in two different places and doing all he could to become a star. He was the roulette champion in Sin City wrestling and in PWS apex he had just become the number one contender for a championship. Everything professionally is coming up so well for him.

And at home? He had a beautiful wife and an adorable son. He had friends and family all around him. In fact, if you looked at his life, it looked perfect. And to top it all off he was happy. But, the problem with a happy man like Aiden is that he’s always looking for something else. Something to do that is wild and in some ways incredibly stupid.

He humped to himself looking at his iPad screen and tilting his head before putting his fingers on it and zooming in on something. At his feet, we hear some grunting and shuffling. He looks down with a small smile at Willow, his wombat. That he “liberated” from the San Diego Zoo. ”Oi, I ain’t here to hear that kind of negativity.”

Willow snorted and sat down before scratching behind her ear with her rear right leg. Aiden shook his head and sighed S he kept looking at the iPad. He was so focused that he didn’t hear Dickie Watson step in and move from the kitchen to the lounge room where he was standing. ”The hell is that? The map for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo?” Aiden jumped and turned. ”Why would yo-“

”Hey I’m just doing research. I might want to take Dax to the zoo.”

Dickie wasn’t buying it. Not only did he know his best friend better than anyone else on the planet. He also knew when Aiden was planning something. ”Do I look stupid to you?”

Aiden raised his eyebrow. ”Well, with that haircut…”

”Ok, one, fuck you, and two, I know you are up to something I can see it in your eyes and I can see it the way you jumped when I walked in the room”

Aiden sighed and came to the realization that he wasn’t going to be able to lie to Dickie or deflect what he was really doing. So instead he took a deep breath and pushed the iPad sideways so Dickie could get a better look. ”So, I figured that Dax needs a protector. So I decided that I was going to liberate a little fuzzy friend for him. A Tasmanian devil.”

Dickie stuttered and had a look on his face that said his brain was struggling to retain the information that he was just given as well as having to do a hard reset ”Can’t you just get a fucking dog?”

Aiden smirked ”Nah mate…dogs get fleas..” Dickie broke again having no idea what to say to his friend. Aiden continued. ”So you in or out?”

Dickie shook his head and threw his hands in the air before sighing. ”Yeah…but there’s just one problem..”

”What?”

Dickie rolls his eyes and pulls up the map display list showing where all of the animals are and what kind of exhibits they have. He raises an eyebrow and motions his hand across the entire map. ”They haven’t got Tasmanian devils”

Aiden looks at Dickie, then at the iPad, then back at Dickie, he then takes the iPad and does it again looking at the iPad and then back at Dickie before shaking his head and putting it back on the bench ”Ok, uh no problem. We’ll just go to Denver.” Aidan switches the map to the Denver one and slides it back to Dickie with an arrogant smirk.

Dickie blinks a few times and then has a look at the same list ”None at Denver either…..”

”Fuck!”

Dickie takes the iPad and flicks through it. ”You know what zoo does have them?...San Diego….”

Aiden swallows hard and shakes his head with a sigh. ”I can’t go back there, they have me picture up all over the place. They’ll spot me in about five seconds…” Aidan takes the iPad and starts to search. He then nods slowly and looks over at Dickie with a smile. ”I got it” He slides the iPad over ”Toledo…”

”Why Toledo?”

Aiden smirks again and nods. ”Cause mate…nothin good ever comes out of Ohio…”

Oh Canada

”Sometimes it just isn’t your time.”

Aiden swallowed and cracked his neck before continuing.

”For instance, right now it isn’t my time to be going after the world heavyweight championship. I had an opportunity. I could’ve got into the elimination chamber and then I would’ve been fighting for my chance and my shot. I could be getting ready to face the likes of Carter, Miles, J2H, Jayden Harris, Bill Barnhart, Senor Vinnie…. I could be fighting all of those guys for an opportunity to face whoever wins out of Finn and Alex. But, it wasn’t my time. Instead, Eddie Lyons was able to get into that match, and truth be told he deserves it.”

“Eddie had a shot at Finn and came close. Closer than most people do. I have also faced Finn. And I pushed him to his limits and I’ve beaten Eddie. So I know that my time will come. I know that I’m not completely inept and that I’m never going to reach those heights. But as I said, this just isn’t my time. Unfortunately sometimes it just never happens for people. The sad fact is not everyone can be a world champion and not everyone can be a roulette champion or an Internet champion. Sometimes you hold one of those champions and you can never get back to that same height and get them back.”

“The sad truth is that there’s only a handful of people in this business who can become stars and keep going at a high level. There are a few people who know what it’s like to become a champion. Fewer still to become a world champion, and even less you become multiple-time world champions.”

“This business is cruel, sadistic, and sometimes as much as you love it it simply does not love you back. Now I have been very privileged in my career. I have won a world championship. One. I’m a multiple-time tag team champion, I’ve won all sorts of other titles. Including this roulette championship which I have now held twice. With that being said now is my time. But, do you know whose time it isn’t?”

He pauses for dramatic effect sitting back and putting his hands on his knees.

”Connor Murphy.”

He laughed to himself and shook his head before offering up a shrug.

”Thing is, I don’t have anything against Connor. At the end of the day, he’s just a bloke trying to live his best life and reach the same height that I have. He’s not even a bad bloke. Sometimes I come up against people and I get criticized because the people who I’m facing in these matches can be complete dick heads, and I’m still somewhat positive towards. That’s just the kind of guy I am. I can’t help myself. I joke around I make smart-ass comments but at the end of the day, I’m not here to be a complete prick. I’ll leave that up to other people.”

“Ya know who I’m talking about. I’d put Finn in there, I’d put Alex in there, anyone with the last name Harris…”

“All them…”

“I wouldn’t put Connor in there. I know that Connor doesn’t like to talk shit, he’s similar to me. He likes to run his mouth and be a bit of a smartass. But he’s not a prick or a dickhead. He’s just a guy who likes to fight and is trying to be the best. However, it feels a little bit disrespectful that before inception I was the only one who was giving a shit about the roulette title match. I went into that match as the champion and I was putting it on the line against Daniel Morgan and you Connor. And you said nothing.”

Aiden shakes his head and sits back.

”You had a chance to get so many people‘s attention. To get eyes on our match. To make people care about the roulette championship. And you didn’t. Both you and Daniel said nothing. You did nothing. So tell me, if two men who are fighting for this championship, don’t care about it then why should anyone else? I’ll tell you who does care about it. Me. I care about it. I care about the roulette championship and I care about how it’s perceived. I want people to fight for it. I’m hoping this time you’ll give a shit, I want you to turn up and throw everything at me. I want you to try everything in your power to try and beat me.”

“To prove me wrong. Because as I said, in my eyes it simply isn’t your time. It’s not your time to be the roulette champion. It’s not your time to beat me. It’s not your time to walk out of blaze of glory, the biggest shelf of the year with your hand raised. It’s not your time, it’s my time. And you need to prove me wrong. You need to beat me. And you also now have the problem of being viewed as someone who simply doesn’t care. I know that isn’t necessarily true. I know that you want to be a champion. Thing is, you need to show it. Show me that passion, show me that file. The same kind of passionate guy that I have that I show. I still like to joke around and be funny but over the last few months I have been forced to take my career more seriously and as a result, I’ve been a champion.”

“I might just be one of the best athletes to come out of Australia. Ever. And I understand that that might not exactly be a very long list.”

“But I’m up there…”

“Now to give you a bit of motivation Connor I’m going to remind you of who you have to be to become the greatest athlete to come out of Canada. Hold on a moment.”

Aiden turns and rummages through his things, he moves his phone to the side, one of those pillows that you use on a flight to relax your neck, his wallet, the Roulette championship, and a stuffed unicorn for some reason, he then stops and smiles grabbing hold of a picture before turning it toward us.

”This is Wayne Gretzky. The greatest hockey player of all time, the greatest athlete to ever come out of Canada, and someone who many considered to be a Canadian hero. This is who you need to be like Connor. Did Wayne quit when he moved from the Oilers to the Kings? No of course not. Did he quit later on in his career when he ended up with the New York Rangers? No of course not. He still went out onto that Ice and he tried his heart out. You need to be like Wayne.”

There is a clearing of someone’s throat to the side. Aidan looks over and raises an eyebrow before leaning over. We see a female hand move and shield her face as there are a few whispers happening.

”Wait…what? Really?, TRUMP?…e
Right…..ok”

As the woman draws back, a woman that we can safely assume was his wife Kallie, Aiden clears his throat and slowly puts the picture down.

”On second thought maybe you should just be yourself Connor. Come at me with everything that you can and see if you can leave blaze of glory as the new roulette champion. Because I’m going to throw everything I am at you. And when the dust settles, I’m going to be the only one standing”

Bonding

It was his first-night wrestling in Japan. The first time he would be out in front of those fans, the first time he would be performing in a new country. He was opening the show, and in his mind, he knew he had to set the pace for the rest of it. He bounced on the balls of his feet warming up as he stretched his shoulders, stretched his back, and rolled his neck. He was going to make damn sure that everyone else who had to follow him was going to have a hard time.

Aiden closed his eyes took a deep breath and went out there. The crowd was a lot more quiet than he was expecting. They sat there, respectful. Clapping when they saw something that they enjoyed. Aiden and his opponent went at it, throwing right hands, kicks, trading power, and athletic moves. And then, he heard it. The crowd started to make noise. They started to get into it. The sound of stomping feet and clapping hands mixed with noises made in awe and excitement.

As the final bell rang, Aiden took a deep breath, he slid from the ring and made his way up the ramp and out the back through the curtain.

And there, behind the curtain clapping his hands with Steve. His new friend, the British gentleman who had been in Japan for six months. He was nodding with a smile on his face before holding out his hand and giving Aiden a high-five and a pat on the back. Aiden let out an exasperated sigh. He was relieved. His first match in Japan and it seems to have been a success. But, he didn’t know just how much of a success it had been.

”Oi mate, that was bloody brill eh?” Aiden raised his eyebrow, the Americans and Japanese wrestlers backstage had absolutely no idea what Steve was saying. But of course, Aidan had a general idea. Australia and England are rather close and he at least understood most of what Steve was trying to say.

”I’m just glad that it’s over mate, I was so nervous. I thought I was gonna shit myself.”

Steve couldn’t help but laugh, he slapped Aidan on the shoulder again and led him to the locker room. The two of them sat there watching the rest of the show as Aidan packed his bag. ”You’re going to the after-party yeah?”

Aiden raised an eyebrow and clasped his hands together, giving Steve the side eye. ”After party you say?”

Steve nodded slowly, looking around at the rest of the locker room who will also getting ready to leave. ”Every show mate. And all these guys know how to party. So grab your shit, will go back to the house and get changed and head out…. besides it’s always a good idea to bond with your coworkers.”

As the show ended, The two made their way back to the house that they were staying in. They kicked their shoes off, walked inside, and paid their respects to their sponsor. They both got ready dressing in jeans and trendy-looking T-shirts before heading out. They walked along the street until Steve called a taxi over. As they sat in the backseat, Aiden looked around and couldn’t help but ask Steve where they were going. ”Where else? Roppongi”

Aiden smiled and the cab came to a stop outside a nightclub. They got out and moved toward the entrance. There was a line, filled with locals. Aiden went to move to the back of the line but Steve shook his head and laughed calling Aidan over to the front. He slipped the doorman some money and the door straight away opened for them. They walked in and Aiden’s eyes widened. All around him, beautiful women were dancing, rich looking. Japanese businessmen sat in their booths with drinks around them. He had never seen anything like it. Not even at the nightclubs on the Gold Coast in his native Australia

”Welcome to heaven bruv…”

Aiden and Steve went over to a table where there were other wrestlers. They chatted amongst themselves, Aidan not understanding any Japanese whatsoever but he definitely understood it when a shot glass was sat in front of him. The men took a shot and tapped the glasses on the table before another one was poured. The drinks flowed the laughs were loud and by the end of the night most of the other wrestlers there were being more friendly with Aiden.

Steve put his arm around his new friend and slapped him on the back. ”No no no mate you’re bullshitting”

Aiden laughed. He was in the middle of a story and he was never going to let anyone forget this night. He swallowed hard and threw his hands in the air before continuing ”Nah I’m serious mate. I was dating this deaf girl, and we were at my friend's place and we ended up having sex in his kitchen. The only problem is she had no idea how loud she was being. And the worst part is have you ever heard a deaf girl orgasm? It sounds like a seal with its foot trapped in a net ARF ARF ARF”

There was an eruption of laughter. Everyone at the table including the Japanese contingent who didn’t fully grasp what Aidan just said. They were all dying of laughter and clapping their hands. And before Aiden knew it, he had more shots lined up in front of him. The night continued to descend into laughter and fun. Ending as Steve and Aidan got back to the small home they were staying in. Being as quiet as they could, they slipped their shoes off and crawled onto their bed rolls passing out after Aidan’s first successful night as a member of the roster.

Disappointment

It was a cold and miserable day outside. The snow was falling and the heat was turned up inside the apartment. Dickie Watson stepped through the door and straight away took his jacket off. Feeling the heat blast him in the face he looked around and found his best friend and team partner Aiden  Reynolds sitting on his couch with a pen in his hand and a notepad on his lap.

”Hey man, what are you doing? Shouldn’t you be getting ready to record your second promo? I see you’ve got your phone already set up.”

Aiden held up his finger to his lips.

”Shhhh you hear that?”

”No…”

Aiden throws his notebook down and stands up throwing his hands in the air.

”Exactly! Nothin. Silence, crickets. Awaited an entire week and heard nothing from either of the guys I’m defending my championship against. And I get it I do. Being a professional wrestler is a full-time job but we usually have to cut promos to hype people up for our matches right? Well, I’m trying to build something here. I’m trying to give myself a Headstart on a bit of a legacy. And I can’t do that when I have opponents who can’t be fucked turning up to work and helping me hype the match up. Do you know how much of a disappointment this is?”

Aiden was serious, his hands were bald into fists as he stood up and paced back and forth. The angle was evident in his face as Dickie raised an eyebrow and looked over at the phone which was recording this little hissy fit.

”Maybe they both had a family emergency?”

”Don't defend them. The truth is that Connor and Daniel both couldn’t be fucked turning up to work. And that’s fine. I’ll get people hyped up about this roulette championship three-way myself. Look, I haven’t been the best representative of the roulette championship in either of my championship runs here. In fact, I was probably really shit the first time. Mainly because I wasn’t ready. I went into that match with Eddie Lyons with all the confidence in the world but the truth is, I honestly thought he was going to beat me. Eddie is an incredible opponent but when I was able to get the win, I was shocked.”

“I shouldn’t have been, I should’ve been on top of the world and I should’ve been ready to defend that championship and make a name for myself but instead I fumbled at the first hurdle. So this time I swore it was going to be different. After beating Alexander Raven last year I was going to come out and hit the ground running. So when my opponents were announced and I was ready to face two men at the same time I was hyped up. I was bouncing all over the place and I was ready to go. Only to find out that my opponents think so little of this match and the championship that they haven’t even talked about it.”

“I dunno…. maybe I expect too much.”

“Maybe I’m not taking their personal lives into account. Hell, I’m sure Daniel Morgan has a lot on his plate with the whole casino thing and having to put up with Crystal whatever the fuck her last name is today’s plans. And I’m real sure that Connor Murphy is having a bit of trouble dragging himself to work after he lost to Bill Barnhart of all people.”

Aiden narrowed his eyes and folded his arms over his chest. He was clearly pissed off and angry but all Dickie can do is sit there and chuckle. This is the equivalent of seeing a Chihuahua getting angry and growling at its owner.

”I get it. I do. I understand how it feels when you’re putting effort in and people don’t seem to want to match it. But think of it this way. You are clearly dialed in and focused on defending that championship. You want to make it mean something. So forget what other people are doing and just focus on what you can do. An inception go out there and beat the hell out of both of those guys and walk out with that championship. Prove to everyone that you’re not a joke. Prove to everyone that you deserve to be here, bro.”

Aiden stopped pacing, turning and nodding a dickie he holds out his fist, and the two fist bumped. Aiden takes a deep breath, calming himself down before turning back to his phone and finishing his thoughts.

”Look, at inception I’m going to do everything I can to walk out as the champion. I don’t care what type of match that Roulette wheel pops up with. The three of us are going to walk into that ring and we are going to beat the living hell out of each other and only one of us can walk out with the roulette title. I understand that the roulette championship isn’t the most prestigious in this company, I understand that it is something that people laugh at because of the premise. But if you’re going to do something you should put your whole heart into it. I don’t care what kind of match we end up in I really don’t.”

“I said it before and I’ll say it again. It could be a pillow fight, a gravy boat match, or a marshmallow fluff masterpiece. It could be a Texas death match or a ladder match or anything. I don’t care. At the end of the day, you two are going to be getting into the ring with me and I’m going to do everything I can to walk out with that roulette championship. And unlike you too, I’m so focused on this that I’ve been ready to go for the last two weeks. So bring your bodies down to the ring and get ready. Because I’m gonna do everything I can and everything in my power to make sure you put some respect on my name.”

Opportunities

The start of a career is always the hardest part. It doesn’t matter what kind of career it is. Anything where you are starting from the bottom and starting from scratch means that you have to work hard to get your name out there. Even if that is something like being in an office, or working retail, working in the service industry, or any type of management or business, all of it leads to having a chance to reinvent yourself and put your best foot forward. The old saying is to respect the hustle.

Everyone, everyone on earth who has some sort of job or career has had to start at this point. Some people end up having advantages, like getting a job in the family business or having a friend who gets your foot in the door. But you still need to learn how to do the job and still need to have some form of Work ethic. And that is what Aiden Reynolds did. He had a work ethic. From training and learning his craft to going out and grinding and working he had done everything he could to get his name out there. Well, not everything.

He had only worked in Australia.

Contrary to popular belief while Australia is a bustling nation with first-world problems and technologies. It isn’t exactly the most popular place for professional wrestling. There are companies, independent companies that host events all around the country every weekend. But while this is what Aiden wanted to do with his life and his career. It wasn’t what he was able to do to pay the bills. During the week he was working construction jobs, working as a bricklayer on job sites. And on the weekend he would drive all around the country or fly around the country to make dates to get better in the ring and get his name out there.

This was one such night. An independent show in the western suburbs of Sydney Australia, Aiden had just finished a match. The crowd was in all of his natural athleticism and a charisma that he had slowly been working on to set himself apart from every single other name on the card. He stepped backstage a few familiar faces giving him a high-five and a pat on the back. He grabbed the towel moving through the backstage area to the locker room rooms. He bent down and grabbed his bag, pulling it to the side and wiping himself down with a towel to get rid of the sweat.

He looked up, noticing a well-dressed man in a suit. The man was talking to the local promoter nodding slowly as the two seemed to be talking about Aiden. He raised an eyebrow as the promoter put his hand up and told him to come over. Aiden got to his feet moving over to the two men ”Aiden, mate. This is Ken Mashima. He’s from the Tokyo sports Confederacy. He’s been out here scouting a few people and he seems to have been impressed by you.”

”Really?” Aidens eyes widened with surprise, he quickly composed himself realizing that looking like a deer in the headlights and looking shocked at what could potentially be a job opportunity was not the best way to go about things.

Max gave a small nod and lightly bowed to Aiden who bowed back. The promoter backed up and gave Aiden a small wink before letting the two men talk. Mashima folded his arms over his chest with a smirk on his face. He was an older man, still young enough to have his finger on the pulse of what people were looking for but old enough that he had seen many flash-in-the-pan names come and go. ”Excellent to meet you Mr. Reynolds.”

”Please feel free to call me Aiden.”

Mashima then nodded before continuing. ”Well, Aiden, I was sitting in my office in Tokyo, and one of our social media workers came to me and said that many fans from Australia had been tagging our company's Twitter and videos of you. Asking us when you were going to be coming over to Japan and doing some dates. Some of our Japanese van saw those videos and interest has peaked. In fact, you have become somewhat of a cult favorite.”

Aiden blinked a few times unsure of what to say and unsure of how to feel. He scratched the back of his head nervously with a small smile on his face. ”Wow, that’s news to me. Don’t get me wrong I think it’s great. It’s just kind of shocking. I didn’t know that some of the fans in Australia were so passionate about what I do that they were bothering your company about it. All the Japanese fans had taken an interest in Me. Truth be told I wasn’t sure how I was gonna get my foot in the door but I’ve always wanted to go to Japan” Aiden smiled, his enthusiasm was evident.

Mishima nodded slowly and reached into the pocket of his dark blue jacket, pulling out a small envelope. A red bow was tied around it with some gold Japanese lettering embroidered on it. Aiden raised an eyebrow wondering just what it was. ”This is an offer. It is for a limited run of dates for our company, you’ll be paid well your flights will of course be taken care of by us and we have set up a family who will sponsor you. It is only a short run of a month. As an introductory offer. To see if you can be a value to us and if that cult following can transfer into real popularity”

Aiden raised his eyebrows as he opened the envelope. Inside was both the offer in Japanese and in English. Aiden tried to hide it as his eyes almost popped out of his skull seeing how much he was going to get paid for The 15-date tour of Japan. ”Aye, this is amazing. Thank you, Mr. Mashima.” Aidens heart was beating out of his chest. Nationally just slowly smiled. There was a certain respect in his look but also an arrogance.

”Do not thank me yet Mr. Reynolds. Japan is a country where you sink or swim. And believe me, when I say this, we are going to throw you into the deep end. I hope for your sake you are able to swim laps. Because I do not want to see you drown.”

Aiden nodded slowly as Mashima offered his hand. Aiden took it giving it a firm shake as the well-dressed man turned and walked toward the promoter’s office. Aiden looked down at his contract offer. It was real money, a real opportunity. An opportunity to travel to another land and show what he had learned. To be a real professional wrestler. And he wasn’t going to waste it.

The Best

”Oi dickie! Where the fuck are you?”

Aiden Reynolds stomps through the hallway of the large area of the house he currently lives in. Looking around frantically for his best friend Dicky Watson, the younger brother of our current world champion and his opponent for this week Finn Whelan. Aiden turns the corner and finds Dickie sitting at the table a spoon in his hand as his wolfing down a bowl of lucky charms.

”Hey mate, I need your help. See I’m gonna be cutting a promo this week on your brother and I-“

”No…”

”No? What do you mean no?”

Dickie puts his phone down, putting the spoon into the bowl of his lucky charms before moving it to the side and clasping his hands together as he leans across the breakfast bench.

”Aiden, let me explain to you what is going to happen. I will help you cut this promo and then afterward I’m going to get angry and frustrating voicemails from Kayla. Asking me why I said the things that I said. Or why I helped you in any way shape or form. Now, Finn isn’t the one who will care in fact he’ll probably just laugh it off and shrug. But I don’t want to put up with Kayla‘s shrieking voice with her stupid British accent on my goddamn phone.”

Aiden nods slowly

”Fair….”

”I thought so. Last time I said anything negative toward him, she filled up my goddamn voicemail inbox. And then proceeded to start sending me voice messages through everything from ‎WhatsApp to telegram to Facebook Messenger and I really don’t have the time all the patience to deal with her bullshi-….wait… have you already started recording motherfucker?”

”Uh…yeah…”

”You…raging…dickhead…”

Dickie gets to his feet and shakes his head putting the bowl into the sink before walking off. Aiden blinks a few times holding the phone in front of him before realising he still recording and she’ll probably get on with it.

”Right, so, just in case anyone’s wondering I am still the rule at champion. I know, it’s been a while. After all, we ended 2024 and took some time off. I was able to beat Alexandra Raven, I was able to become the roulette champion and since then all I’ve really done is have a rather high-profile match against Daniel Morgan and lose. I’m not gonna make excuses, I’m not gonna sit here and say that I should have beaten Daniel and that it was a fluke or anything like that. You get enough of that from 90% of the other morons who were in this company. I’ll just simply say that Daniel is the better man and I still have a lot of improvement.”

“But still, in case anyone has any type of question about this, yes, losing sucks, and yes it has pissed me off. But Daniel Morgan is not someone who should ever be taken lightly. The guy is a great talent who could be so much more if he actually stuck around in this company. So hopefully he does. We need more people like him in the male division of SCW.”

“And now I get to do the whole New Year New Me thing. Even though it really isn’t. It’s a new year but it’s Me the same old Aiden Reynolds.”

“Now, I’m not going to say that I’m happy with how 2024 ended but I am happy with the year that I was able to carve out in this company. Two roulette championship wins and I was able to get in the ring with some of the best of the best. I was able to face guys like Ben Jordan and of course Daniel Morgan as well as Alexandra Raven and others. I’ve been able to climb the ladder in this company and make a name for myself. I’ve been able to spend time with my son and my beautiful wife as well as my best friend and watch some of the best professional wrestling on the planet from the comfort of the locker room.”

Aiden places his phone down and steps back, folding his arms over his chest before continuing.

”And now I get to have a champion versus champion match. I get to jump in the ring with Finn Whelan. And I’m not going to be like miles and jump him from behind and then play the victim. I get this match just because I’ve earned it. Funny how that happens isn’t it Miles? Sorry if I sound a little bitter but that dude was supposed to be friends with all of us. He was supposed to be our family and he goes and stabs a family member in the back. I’m a little bit pissed off with him, and I get it. Finn can be a bit of a prickly arsehole. And I don’t think that’s news to anyone. But he deserves more respect than that.”

“So, I’ll make damn sure I give Finn the proper respect in and out of the ring. And that’s something that I know exactly how to do because I’m one of the few people on this planet that does understand him. I know he’s not the type of guy who enjoys empty platitudes and people verbally jerking him off in public. But he is all about respect. And I do respect Finn Whelan. And how could you not? The dude has been almost unstoppable in this company. A former world champion and current world champion, a two-time mixed tag team champion, and someone who will be in the Hall of Fame someday. And again, this isn’t me jerking you off Finn this is legit.”

“I know for a fact that you already have had a hall of Fame-worthy career.”

“Now, the next question is, can I beat you? Truth is I don’t know. But if we dig a little deeper into that truth then I have to say no. And I get it that might be a little bit weird for someone to say. That I don’t believe I can beat you. But such is the paradox of professional wrestling. I know I’m not as good as you, I’m not as experienced, I’m not as dangerous, I’m not on your level. Yet. But I want to get there. And to get there I need to keep testing myself. I know it’s an old, kind of bullshit saying, but it isn’t about the amount of times you get knocked down. It’s about the amount of times you get back up again. And I keep getting up. Much to the frustration of a lot of people.”

He smiles and shrugs before grabbing a beer and popping it open and taking a sip.

”I’m going to do all I can to beat you. I’m going to give you my best. Not just because I want to be able to beat you but also because if I don’t give you my best I know I’m going to hear about it later. I’m ready for this match Finn, I’m ready to do everything I can to beat you and I’m ready to put my body on the line. And I know you’re going to do the same. No matter how you feel about me you know that I’m family. Family doesn’t always agree in family isn’t always kind to each other but the fact remains you and I are like family. Your younger brother is like a brother to me. Dickie and I have been tag team champions together and we have gone up and down these roads.”

“Shit, dickie is the godfather to my son. You have spent time with my son you’ve spent time with my wife and we’ve spent time together. I look at you as a brother. That’s why I would never disrespect you as Miles did I would always come to you directly and this match while I didn’t choose it I’m going to embrace it.”

“So, let’s do this brother. Give me your best cause I’ll be damn sure to give you the best.”

Be Kind, rewind

Everyone has an origin story.

Every hero, every villain, every single person in the professional wrestling world has a moment in their lives where the interest in wrestling went from a passing fancy to being something more. The moment when the hobby became a profession and a life. Most of the time you can play paint by numbers, a kid grows up watching his favourite professional wrestlers on television. These huge larger than life characters beating the hell out of each other for the enjoyment of the masses. And then that impressionable child grows up wanting to do it and the second they have a chance they step through those doors and become their dream.

But not everyone gets to live that dream. Not everyone gets to realise it and step forward. In fact it is only a very small percentage of people who get to go any further than just thinking about it. And most have a story of deciding that this is what they wanted to do with their lives, going to wrestling school or, waiting until they got a college degree before focusing their lives on their dream.

But this isn’t that kind of story. Aidan Reynolds had all the hallmarks of a regular professional wrestling origin story. He did sit and watch every Saturday morning as these larger than life. Human beings would yell at each other threaten each other and in the end beat the hell out of each other. He was in thrilled by what they did, he loved everything about it. But, as he grew up through his teenage years and he hit puberty, he started going to the gym. He worked out. He started to come into his own as a physical force.

Naturally athletic. Over 6 feet tall, a frame that allowed muscle to build on top of it easily. Physically he had everything that most people would look for. But at 16 years old Aiden was ready to tell his parents what he wants to do with the rest of his life. Coming home from school throwing his report card on the table. It was full of straight A’s he sat down. His mother smiling as she looked at it. ”Great work….you’ll be applying for universities in no time…”

Aiden, a very young Aidan sat down. His hands clasping together as he leaned on the kitchen table. He wasn’t as muscular as he is now, his face wasn’t as rugged. He still had that boyish looking in his eye with wavy shoulder length light brown hair ”Mum…..can we talk about the whole university thing?”

His mother raised her eyebrow and put a sandwich in front of him. As well as a glass of milk because why don’t we look at this as the wholesome family scene that it is? She sat down tilting her head and sighing ”What is it? Do you not want to go to university? Is there a trade that you want to learn? Because we can always get you sent up with some kind of apprenticeship. Your father will be pleased.” she smiled trying to hide her disappointment

His mother wanted him to go to university to get some sort of degree to push himself into medicine or maybe even law. But his father wanted him to learn a trade, something with his hands. Aiden wanted to do neither ”No…mum it’s not that simple. I want to become a professional wrestler. And to do that after I graduate high school, I’m going to need to go to another school. The closest one is in Brisbane. I’ve already looked into it and I know how much it will cost me and I know what kind of job I can get support myself.”

Silence filled the kitchen. His mother blinked a few times trying to process information that Aidan had just revealed to her. He could see it in her eyes, the thought process. He could see that she was struggling with it and that she had no idea what to say. His mother was usually a very understanding person, someone who would go out of her way to make sure that her family was happy and healthy and that they could do whatever they wanted to. But then it happened. She laughed. A full belted laugh as she shook her head. She held her ribs and leaned back in the chair, unable to breathe because she was laughing so hard.

”Glad I can make you laugh but I want to know what you think”

The loft is subsided. She took a few deep breaths calming herself down as she realised this wasn’t a joke and that her son was serious. ”You….want to do this?”

Aiden nods taking a deep breath and sitting back trying to relax himself. ”Yeah. Look, I’ve been watching it for years and it honestly is something that I want to learn how to do what I want to do. I think I could be great at it. I have a bit of flare entertainment. I’m physically fit. I think I could make a career out of this and I want to do it. I could see the world.”

”No” it was a short and concise answer. And this time there was no laughter, his mother clearly realising that Aidan was serious and she was determined right now to stop this. ”Aiden, I want you to be happy. Your father will want you to be happy. But this decision, this profession that you feel like you want to do is nothing but a romanticized lie. It’s something that barely anyone can make a real living out of you are going to be struggling for years and you may not ever be what you want to be.”

Aiden swallowed hard and turned getting up from the table ”So that’s it? I have to give up the dream of what I want to do with my life or because you’ve said no?” he laughed to himself, shaking his head. Leaned against the kitchen counter he folded his arms over his chest. ”You aren’t really telling me anything that I don’t already know. I’m not stupid. I know that this is going to be hard and it’s going to take a hell of a lot on my part. But everything in life is ready for the taking if you’re good enough to do it. If you’re determined enough to do it. And you and Dad, you raised me to go after anything that I wanted. And now that I figured out what I wanna do with my life suddenly it’s a problem?”

He looked at his mother, waiting for her to say anything else. But she was frozen in place shaking her head, realising that he wasn’t going to back down. ”Alright, how about this? You focus on your schoolwork, after you graduate because you’ll have high enough marks if you keep going how I know you can then you take a year off. You go and you learn what you want to. You do that professional wrestling thing. And if after a year you realise it’s not for you we start applying for universities and you can go as a late year acceptance?”

Aiden took a deep breath nodding slowly before stepping forward and sitting back at the table. ”Deal” he picked up his sandwich taking a bite before at his mother. It was an understanding in an uneasy decision. But Aidan was convinced that his mother would live up to her end of the bargain and also talk to his father about it. She always kept her word and he hoped that this time would be no different.

Why do I do this?

Aiden was nervous. Something that wasn’t foreign to the Australian Wolf but it was definitely something that he never admitted to himself. Nerves were something that would happen before he would step through that curtain. Before he would perform in front of people and before he was ready to beat up another human being to try and get a paycheck. button nerves before cutting a promo? They’ve never been this bad before.

”I feel like I’ve been in this position before. Getting ready to challenge someone for a championship knowing how good they are. And I want to be very clear on this, I know sometimes when I sit here and I’m ready to cut a promo I might have a friend of mine with me. Sometimes my wife will be with me. they will interject things and point out when I’m just being facetious or an idiot but sometimes like this I feel like the situation calls for Me to be a little more serious.”

“I went into that triple threat match knowing that on one side I had Eddie Lyons a man who I had gone to war with. I beat him, he beat me. We respect each other. On the other side there was LJ Kasey. And while he and I aren’t exactly what you would call best friends it’s not like I hate the kid. In fact I kind of understand him. See, while my brother is not involved in the professional wrestling business I do have someone in my life who is like a brother who I have always been in the shadow of. He’s my tagteam partner and he’s my best friend but if you look at our careers as singles wrestlers he has honestly gone above and beyond what I have. And LJ is living in his own brother shadow.”

“Going into that match I knew that the three of us all had something to prove. Eddie wanted to get that roulette championship back so he could be on the same level as his cousin, LJ wanted to get through to that match to prove that he was better than his brother or at least on his level. And Me? Well, I’m still struggling to prove that I belong here. right now I’ve been about 5050. I win some big matches I lose some others. And there are some people in this company who are happy with being in that position.”

“Bill barnhart, Justin smith, Felix Hernandez. All of these are names of people in this company who are happy with being in the position that they are in. They turn up they do they job they get their money and they go home. If they lose, it’s almost like it doesn’t matter to them, they don’t feel it. They don’t care about it. All they want is to just come out in front of a Camera wrestler match get paid and go home. The problem is that isn’t me. Sometimes I wish that could be me. Sometimes I wish I didn’t care as much as I do.”

Aiden closed his eyes shaking his head as his hands class together.

”But, I do care. I care about my career, I care about people looking at me and knowing that I’m constantly trying to improve and be best. I want people to know that I put the effort in and I’m not just someone who is here to collect money and go home. I want to make this place better as well as get better myself and I can’t do that if I keep failing. I can’t do that if I just become complacent being a 5050 name n  the card.”

“So winning that triple threat match meant the world to me. Because I beat someone who I respect I think should be going for the world championship and I beat a hungry up and coming kid who has a chip on his shoulder and everything to prove. And both Eddie and LJ are going to be fine. They both have the talent and drive to keep going in this company and in this business. but I was the one who walked away the winner and I’m the one who gets to challenge Alexandra Raven for the Roulette championship. And I get to do it at the biggest show of the year. High stakes.”

“This show is the biggest of the year. Everything comes full circle and people get to show the world what they are capable of, because the eyes of the wrestling world are on this company even more than they usually are when we approach the huge year end event.”

“It’s my chance to step up and put my head above the pack. Right now there are a few big names who everyone knows and then there is a large chunk of us in the middle. I’m so sick of being a face that is lost in the crowd. The only thing that has really set me apart from everyone else is my sense of humour. Normally I don’t take things as seriously as others, not the wrestling business, not myself, nothing. I do that deliberately to stand out but at the same time I know that I need to get better. I need to let the skills that I have and what I do in that ring. Speak for themselves instead of just making jokes and making everyone laugh. So the last few months that’s what I’ve done and it’s paid off.”

“I lost match after match and now? I’ve surged up and come back and I’m on the cusp of getting back that championship.”

He chuckles and folds his arms over his chest

”And hey all I have to do to claim that roulette championship again is beat one of the most dangerous men in this company. Alexandra Raven. No pressure at all right? I mean, I faced Alexandra before. He and I’ve been in the ring in multi man matches as well as one on one matches and I’m not gonna sit here and say that, I know for a fact I can beat him. Because I don’t. I don’t know if I can beat Alexandra Raven. No one ever really can. Especially now.”

“See, Alex has changed. He used to be someone who might talk in riddles and circles but when he was in the ring he would be all about winning. All about showing he was the best. But ever since he started his loose alliance with the likes of Kevin Carter and J2H we have seen a different side of him. Maybe I’m just naive and that side of him was always there but he’s gone from someone who I respected and admired as a competitor to someone who has gone out of his way to destroy people…”

“Look, I don’t like Michael Harris… but dropping a guy on his head and trying to break his spine and then gloating about it isn’t exactly going  to ingratiate you to most people”

“But hey he probably had it coming right? But what about Me Alex? If you and I get that ring and I’m standing in your way and I’m standing in front of you do you have it in you to try and break my neck or break my back? Man, I’m just in this to prove that I’m one of the best. I’m in this to provide for my family. I have a wife, I have a son, they rely on me to be able to do this. So when I look at someone like you who is gloating about hurting someone else so bad regardless of if they deserved it or not? I kind of take offense.”

Aiden shakes his head and sighs heavily

”I am not the kind of guy who goes after people to hurt them, to me this is all about competition, and High stakes….the biggest show of the year….it is about me proving myself, hat I am better than Alexander Raven, that I am better than so many people believed me to be….and I ain’t backing down…”

You can’t choose your family

It was always interesting when Aiden’s family would come to visit. When his lovely wife Kallie’s family would come to visit, it would be a very calm and stoic affair. Her parents were very quiet reserved people who would enjoy quiet conversation and enjoyed the final things in life. That is not what his family was like. The Australian crew was loud brash and obnoxious. They were consisting of his father mother and older brother. Amelia, his sister who had also moved to the United States was not around, instead trying to avoid spending any time with their family. Something that Aiden completely understood.

He shook his head looking over at his father who seemed to be very confused by the way that Americans did things. Staring out the window and down onto the street he narrowed his eyes counting how many times he would see people walk past each other and not greet the person walking in the other direction. Something that in Australia was almost a prerequisite for life.

He was always confused about the cars to how they would go in the opposite direction on the other side of the road. Aiden shook his head looking over at his mother his eyes pleading for help to get her to walk over and pull him away from the window. His mother obliged grabbing hold of his father and leading him towards the kitchen to get something to eat. Took a deep breath trying to gather his thoughts before his brother Adam walked up behind him.

”Oi cunt why the sour lol?”

Aidens eyes widened and he turned and cut his hand over his brother’s mouth before shaking his head and looking around to make sure that nobody heard what he said ”Shhh mate… the Americans get really touchy. If you use that word you have to keep your voice down yeah?”

Adam said something his voice muffled by his brother’s hand. Aiden moved his hand out of the wave raising an eyebrow as Adam looked confused. ”Why? It’s just a word. Like fuck, shit, dick, all the other fun four letter ones” Aiden sighed and shook his head looking over and noticing his young son Dax sitting up on his playmate wide-eyed as he looked at his father and his uncle.

”Oi you fucking peanut you have to watch your fucking mouth. Your nephew is really impressionable right now and if you don’t cut this shit then he’s gonna end up with a little fucking potty mouth. So do me a favour mate and stop being such a loudmouth dick.”

Dax blinks a few times before giggling his little voice ringing out ”Dick!”

Aiden and Adam stood there for a moment shocked that Dax would say such a thing. Of course, Aiden had heard his son swear before and it would usually be followed by a swift slap from his wife. But this was the perfect opportunity to shift the blame. ”You see what you did? Do you see what kind of bad influence you are, mate?”

Before Adam could say anything, the door opened, Kallie stepped in with a smile walking up to Aiden and kissing him on the cheek. ”Hey! How’s the visit going?”

Aiden smiled ”Yeah it’s great. Nothing is going wrong, everything is fine, Dax is doing great, no bad influences going on here.”

”You’re an idiot…”

As Adam walked away Kallie looked confused. She looked down at Dax picking him up ”And how’s my Daxy?”

”Shit!”

Aiden swallowed hard Kallies eyes widened. But as she turned to tell off her husband he was already gone. Her eyes narrowed. She shook her head and growled. ”Aiden!!!”

Whooping the dog

”So what is it about facing Bill Barnhart that has annoyed me so much? I want everyone to think about this. About 40% of my matches in this company have had Bill Barnhart involved. 40%. Almost half of my matches that I’ve had in this company have had that fat arsehole somewhere in or around it. That is unacceptable.”

Aiden folded his arms over his chest he’s normally chill exterior replaced by a look of frustration and anger. His nostrils flared as he shook his head.

”My last match in this company was at the last supercar. And my last opponent was Bill Barnhart. He and I went against each other in a street fight. A match that I won. Any time he and I have been in a match one on one. I’ve walked out the winner. So he’s my question, why am I continually getting books in matches against this man? Why am I continually being forced to get in the ring and fight the same guy weekend and week out?”

“I want to move on from Bill. I want to be able to go and face new challenges. I want to be able to go for the Internet championship or the roulette championship or have some kind of clear path to earn these matches. I’m not going to earn shit by facing the same guy week in and week out.”

“Not to mention it’s getting really hard to come up with new ways to insult this man.”

Aiden rolls his eyes.

”I know! I know exactly what I can do. You see Bill, you went on this large rant and tangent about how I apparently talk nothing but shit and I just say senseless scenes. That’s hilarious. Mainly because you run your mouth and constantly go on tangents about shit that no one cares about. Meanwhile, I produce facts. Fact number one you are a joke. That’s not an opinion that’s a fact. People laugh at you, people think you’re an idiot, people never take you seriously. The fact is the only way that you can get wins is if you go up against people who are quite honestly horrible or you go up against people who Are just plain unlucky.”

“You don’t get wins because of your talent or skill, you get wins based on pure luck. Any time you have ever beaten someone with a name in this business it has just been dumb luck and in a rematch, you’ve been slotted. Again not an opinion…a  fact.”

“I’m sick of you. I’m sick of your face. I’m sick of your stupid promos. I’m sick of seeing you in the ring. I’m sick of your wife. I’m sick of your dog. I’m sick of your friends. I’m just playing sick of you. I faced you over and over again and I’ve always been the one who comes out of our matches looking like a winner while you look like a loser.”

“I’m sure you are used to that with everyone”

“But facing the same opponent weak and weak out is starting to take its toll on me. I want this to be the last time. I have to see your stupid face. The last time I have to get in the ring with you, the last time I have to verbally run you down. It’s getting tiring Bill. And I am tired. Tired of facing you over and over again, I’m tired of having to listen to your voice. I’m just sick of it. So this week I’m gonna walk into that ring. I’m going to beat you down. I’m gonna have my hand held high and then I’m gonna leave. I’m gonna leave you in the rearview mirror and I hope to God I never have to see you again because I’m sick and tired of Bill fucking Barnhart”

Blame game

It had been a few weeks since the breakup. It was a breakup instigated by Aiden. He replayed all the moments going through his head wondering if he made the right decision. After all, while Florence had been controlling and tried to change him she had also been a stabilizing presence in his life. A presence that he now felt was absent. And breakups are hard even if you were the one who made the decision in the end to pull the plug that doesn’t matter. There is always that feeling of absence of emptiness of feeling that there was something there but it’s now empty.

And no matter what you do you always end up feeling hollow. For at least a short time the loneliness will creep in and no matter how much time you spend around other people the absence of that one person is always felt deeply. And that’s where we find ourselves now with Aiden. He takes a deep breath reaching out and grabbing a can of beer popping the top. He drinks it down and makes a face. He looks down at the label and rolls his eyes. Bud light.

He feels horrible, not because he’s drinking beer but because he’s drinking that beer. He lowered himself to that to drinking this horrible American bullshit. He finished the can dropping it on the floor, hearing the crumpling noise of aluminium. Other cans lay around him as he folded his arms over his chest. The door clicked and as it opened, he looked over to the side saying Dickie Watson step in. Another case of beer over Dickie’s shoulder as he stopped and looked at Aiden with a frown. ”Dude seriously?”

”What…”

Dickie put the case of beer down, folding his arms over his chest and throwing his keys behind him onto the table in one swift movement. He shook his head looking Aiden up and down. Aiden was still in excellent shape but he had definitely gotten softer around the midsection. Ingesting nothing but beer and pretzels will do that to a man. He sat up burping as he did and then farting as he stood up ”Classy…”

Aiden went to the pantry grabbing out a packet of chocolate-coated pretzels he popped them open and started eating ”Mate this is great. I’m finally starting to remember why I broke up with her. I can dowitiwnt” he stopped a handful of pretzels in his mouth as he ended his statement Dickie blinked a few times and shook his head trying to decipher what Aiden just said.

”Yeah, you definitely seem like you’re back to your old self. This isn’t troubling at all. You not going to the gym, sitting on the couch drinking beer, and eating pretzels all day long while watching Nickelodeon cartoons. You haven’t taken an independent booking since you left that apartment. Legit, I’m kind of worried about you, and not just because you’re basically living on my couch. I mean come on man how am I ever supposed to bring a chick back here?”

”You know any SHIELA‘s to bring back here”

Dickie paused a moment before folding his arms over his chest ”Well..no. But this isn’t about me. This is about you. Come on man this pathetic. It’s been three weeks. You’re the one who broke up with her. It’s time for you to get back out there. To enjoy your life man.”

Aiden popped open the case of beer chugging one down before letting out a rather large burp and throwing the can down with the rest of them ”I have a great life. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dickie closed his eyes taking a deep breath as Aiden sat back down on the couch with another beer popping another pretzel in his mouth he took out his phone dialing it ”Hey Mrs Reynolds. Yeah, it’s sticky. How are things? That’s great hey so Aiden has something he wants to tell you.”

”Oi mate what the fu-“ Dickie straightaway hands Aiden the phone pressing it up to his ear ”Hi mum.. yeah. Yeah things are okay. Yeah, so I’m living at dickies because Florence and I broke up. Yes. I know she was a bitch. Yes, and I’ve never heard you use that word before, you’re kind of freaking me out Mum.” Aiden turned staring daggers at Dickie. He then mailed the words. “I’m going to kill you” as Dickie cackled maniacally in the background having forced Aiden to get off his ass and make a change.

Mans best friend

We open up our little area of the promo world with Dickie Watson stepping into the lounge room of his older brother Finn Whelan. The place where Aiden Reynolds and Kallie Reznik are currently staying. Dickie looks over at Callie with a confused look on his face.

”Uh why are we here? Did you get the same message I did?”

Kallie nods slowly sitting on the couch with her hands on her knees.

”Yeah… Aiden sent me this weird text just told me to come and sit down and wait.”

Dickie sat down the two of them staring ahead as a voice suddenly broke the silence.

”Quiet now, classes in session. I’m sure you’re wondering what we are going to be studying today class.”

Kallie and Dickie both sat there staring ahead confused as Aiden came into view. He wore black wingtip leather shoes, a pair of light brown dress pants, and a belt. A pair of black rimmed glasses that didn’t have any lenses in them and a tie wrapped around his neck but no shirt. Because of course, there’s no shirt. Because it’s fucking Aiden.

”Aiden what the fuck?”

Kallie giggled Aiden pulled down a screen and took a small click controller out of his pocket pressing a button. The projector behind them flicked on and a picture of a Bulldog appeared on the screen. Aiden took out his pointer and smacked it against the screen with a loud thud.

”This, class, is a Bulldog. More precisely it is an English Bulldog. Notice the furrow brow the tongue sticking out the side of the mouth the strong shoulders. This animal is not the best looking. It is not a pretty dog. It is not a particularly handsome dog. However, the Bulldog is a majestic creature. It is loyal, trustworthy, and fearless, it is an animal that will be loyal and your best friend to the very end. This animal exemplifies the purest form of the canine-human relationship. A Bulldog will lay its life down for you and will be nothing but a loving happy companion. These are qualities that anyone should strive to have in their lives. But these are also qualities that certain Bill Barnhart is lacking.”

“You see Bill likes to use the Bulldog moniker before his name as well as having a Bulldog as a pet. But he is not loyal, he is not fearless, he may have the furor brow and below average intelligence of a Bulldog but he does not have all of its best qualities. Hell, he may even smell like a Bulldog. And for all I know he humps Bea’s leg like most Bulldogs would do.”

“This man is not a Bulldog. This man is an overweight wannabe veteran who believes himself to be better than he really is. A man who has flaked his way into championship wins whether that is in the mixed tag team division all the roulette division. A man who has somehow been able to get away with pretending to be a professional wrestler for the better part of 15 years.”

“A man who along with his mail-order bride seems to have taken the wrestling world and molded it to fit their own horrible ideas of what it is meant to be. This class is not what exemplifies the courage and tenacity of the British Bulldog.”

Aiden turns again, slapping his pointer against the screen even harder.

”Oh…my…god…”

Dickie slowly rubs his temples Kallie on the other hand is just marvelling at how cute the picture of the Bulldog looks.

”Now there are many other things that Bill does not have in common with the noble and honorable British Bulldog. One he’s American. Automatically that takes him out of the running because he’s a filthy colonial.”

”But..Aiden so are you..”

”Silence! Miss Reznik, please see me after class you have detention”

Had jaw drops she fought her arms over her chest and stomped her feet on the ground huffing as she seems annoyed that Aiden actually gave her detention he then clicks the button in his hand the picture changing from a happy painting smiling Bulldog to that of a Bulldogs testicles.

”Now this is another reason why Bill is not like a Bulldog. Notice the size and girth of this dog's testicles. This dog has balls of steel. It will face anything. Bill on the other hand where Spandex and you don’t even see a goddamn lump. In fact, if Bill Barnard was a Roman soldier his name would be Sans Testikles”

Dickie shakes his head, bawling his hands into fists. He does everything he can not to laugh at that stupid joke but in the end, Dickie fails and can’t help but laugh he shakes his head looking at Aiden.

”I hate you. I want you to know that. Right now. I hate you.”

Aiden continues

”So, this man. Bulldog Bill Barnhart, is going to get into a street fight with me. A street fight. There is a saying it is not about the size of the dog in the fight. It’s about the size of the fight in the dog. And I look at a man like Bill Barnhart and I don’t see much fight left. For months he has stood there and talked about how he’s going to beat this person or that person and has shown little to no regard for the reality of the situation. I don’t think Bill knows what reality is.”

“Bill makes promises, he makes them to his wife. He makes them to his friends. He makes them to his fans. Well, both of his fans who are mentally damaged and currently sitting in a special hospital somewhere in Alabama. He makes promises to these people that he is going to win that he is going to be a champion that he is going to rise to the top of the professional wrestling world and in the end he does nothing.”

“In the end, Bill fails”

“So, at Violent conduct, he is going to be getting into a street fight with me. And I got some real dog in Me. But I don’t need some stupid moniker or nickname to make it seem like I have that kind of fight. All I have to do is go out to that ring and do everything that I possibly can to win. Despite everything that has happened my loss against your brother Finn Whelan, our world champion, my loss in that number one contenders match, all of this added together, there is one thing on this earth that I cannot do and that is lose to a fat pathetic fat loser like Bill Barnhart who makes promises that he can never keep and runs from the reality of his losses. I lose and I feel it in the very essence of my soul. He loses and tones up the next week and nothing happened not respecting the people who have beaten him not respecting the sanctity of this goddamn business.”

“That is why at violent conduct I am going to beat the reality in to Bill Barnhart”

The mirror in front of our faces.

When you’re in a bad situation, sometimes you can’t see it. We all want to believe that our lives are perfect. That the imperfections of those perfect lives are just bumps in the road on the way to what we want. It’s true with everything in life from jobs to family relationships to personal relationships and friendships all of it together seems to be woven in a way that if we are in a bad spot we don’t want to see it or don’t want to accept it.

Aiden Reynolds was in such a situation. But he couldn’t see it. He didn’t want to see it. He thought the relationship he was in was good for him. Florence was a levelheaded woman. She had a steady job that paid well and all she wanted was for him to be a stable boyfriend and partner. The only problem is that Aiden has his own life and his personality and the man that she wanted was not the man that Aiden was. There was nothing else that could be said and nothing else that could be done but instead of them agreeing that they were in a relationship that had no future, they kept trying to fight for it. Or at least, Aiden did.

He tried to change for her. He had a part-time job while trying to keep his wrestling career afloat. It made him miserable, it destroyed everything about him. His personality started to change, he tried to be more straight-laced and normal. But what was normal? Anyone who knew Aiden could see the difference in him and most of them didn’t like it. But it only took one person to make him see that. One person to open Aiden’s eyes to the horrible situation he found himself in.

Dickie Watson.

He was Aiden‘s best friend and Finn Whelan‘s younger brother. Aiden and Dicky had become almost inseparable even starting to team together on local independent events. Dickie had a straight-laced sense of humor and a dry delivery of his jokes which contrasted with Aiden's almost manic delivery of anything he said. And the most important thing was Dicky didn’t mince words. He meant what he said and he said what he meant. And here the two friends were, Aiden just finishing a workout at Wolfslair and meeting Dickie down the road for lunch. The two friends enjoying their food Dickie pile of chicken nuggets and fries Aiden, ribeye steak with potatoes, and a second steak on top of the first steak

”Dude….how?”

Aiden cut the ribeye in half and then half a gain stuffing a piece in his mouth chewing it or at least pretending to chew it before swallowing it almost like a duck. ”I like steak…” he said it with such a casual matter-of-fact nature that dicky didn’t bother to question it. Aiden put the second quarter of the steak in his mouth and swallowed it. ”I feel like I haven’t eaten in a week. Flo has me on some kind of vegetable diet with macros and whatever the hell else she was talking about and it has no meat. I feel like I am wasting away here.”

Dickie raised his eyebrow. Clearly, Aiden was not wasting away and he was just being facetious. He was still a hulking man with large muscles. While he was only 6’1 he weighed in at about 220 pounds. ”Yeah man.. you look like you’re anorexic”

”Mate, I’m from Australia, I’m totally not afraid of spiders”

Now, it is important to note at this point in Dickie and Aidan‘s friendship. He wasn’t completely used to the fact that Aidan used stupidity and jokes to mask who he was. Dickie blinked a few times, his brain hurting from the comment that was just made. But there was something else he wanted to talk about and the conversation involving a diet was something that exasperated his point. ”So, I can’t help but notice that you seem to be doing a lot of things that you don’t want to do for Flo”

”Yeah. I mean, that’s what I’m supposed to do right? You know when she’s wrong and I’m right she’s still right and when she’s right and I’m wrong she’s still right? At least that’s what I’ve been told.” he laughed it off feeling awkward about this conversation and situation. The truth was that he was miserable with Flo. He just didn’t want to say it out loud.

Dickie shook his head, he wanted to be honest with his friend but also didn’t want to overstep his balance. He cleared his throat and reached up scratching the back of his neck as he leaned against the chair. ”You know it’s okay not to be okay. Most relationships are built on compromise, and I’ve gotta be honest man not anything that you two have decided has ever been a compromise. I’m not saying that Flo is a horrible person or some kind of evil succubus sent here to steal your soul and make you a husk of a human and no longer a man but I’m also not saying it.” Dickie cleared his throat ”Allegedly”

Aiden slowly put his fork and knife down. Sitting back unsure what to say. But there was a glimmer of acceptance in his eye. Dickie was right. But Aidan didn’t want to admit it. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them and looking across the table at his friend. The only friend who had the balls and the respect to actually be honest with him. To tell Aidan what he had seen. tell Aiden how he felt. ”I have no idea what to do. I thought I loved her Dickie. Really I did. She and I, we don’t work. And every day I wake up and I try and go about my life and I try and find some kind of joy in it, but she seems to be pulling all of that joy away from me and I don’t know how to make it stop.”

”Leave..” the way Dickie said it was so matter-of-fact. Hayden had no idea what to say back dicky shook his head and threw his hands in the air. ”Leave dude… nothing is saying you have to stay with someone just because you’re in a relationship. In fact, it takes way more courage to walk away from a toxic relationship than try and stick it out and stay with that person. Just leave Aiden you clearly aren’t happy bro and all of us every single person who cares about you and every single person who considers your friend knows it”

Dickie pops his final chicken nugget in his mouth popping up from his seat he knew he needed to leave Aidan to his thoughts. He walked around the table, padding his friend on the shoulder as he walked down the street. Hayden took a deep breath looking up to the sky still unsure of what he should do but the picture was at least a little bit clearer now.

I’m fucked

Aiden took a deep breath. He paced back and forth, he suddenly stopped and turned to the camera looking like he was about to say something. The moment passed and he shook his head continuing to pace. After a few more laps he stopped again turning to his left this time instead of his right but again he said nothing. He started mumbling to himself before stopping and this time instead of saying something to the camera, he turned and yelled throughout the house

”DICKIE! HEY DICKIE!….”

”What?”

Aidan jumped spinning around and finding Dickie standing behind him popping pieces of popcorn into his mouth and chewing them obnoxiously getting oddly close to Aiden who recoils back and shakes his head.

”You’re like a fucking cat mate. We need to put a bell around your neck or something.”

Dickie rolled his eyes and shook his head.

”What were you yelling about?”

”It’s time. It’s definitely time. It’s time to do the stuff in the things and then and everything.”

Dicky stepped back, looking confused

”The The you know promo stuff”

Aiden throws his hands one way then the other way and then finally back at the camera that is right in front of them.

”I haven’t asked you to do any of this in months. Months. I’ve sat back and I’ve politely waited while you dealt with your little yakuza thing.”

”You mean..my life?”

”Yeah that thing. I waited through that not asking you for anything. But I need you now. I need you on my side and I need you here to do what we do. Best cut sarcastic, borderline offensive promos in front of a camera that makes people laugh and forget that I am in fact a good professional wrestler. I need you Dickie I need you. I miss you. You are my other half, my guiding light in this world of horrible darkness please be the Robin to my Batman, the peanut butter to my jelly, the Oprah to my unfortunately timed weight gain”

”……no.”

Dickie popped another piece of popcorn in his mouth turning around. He walked away and Aidan threw his hands in the air pacing back and forth game before looking over at the camera realizing he should probably say something substantial.

”Right. So here’s the thing. Literally, everything I thought of saying I kind of needed Dickie to bounce off of especially since you know I’m facing his brother. So I’m just gonna have to wing it and I just wanna apologize if anything I say comes off unhinged or actually no I’m not the one who needs to apologise. I had a plan and when you have a plan you stick to the plan you don’t deviate from the plan. That’s what makes it a plan so now I’m gonna have to go rogue. I’m gonna have to run my mouth….”

“THANKS DICKIE”

”You’re welcome

Aidens eye twitches.

”Look, I recognize that I’m not really the big challenge that Finn probably thinks he needs. Hell, I don’t even think I’m the big challenge that he needs. He’s the world champion. He’s a two-time world champion a former roulette champion and the longest training mixed tag team champion in history. the thing is none of that feels relevant at the moment. Because stating that Finn Whelan is a great wrestler is kind of stating the obvious. And the more I think about it the more I realize that most people don’t know how to give or take compliments in this business.”

“And if there’s one thing I know about Finn, the man is that he really doesn’t take compliments too well. And I don’t know why. Finn mate you are one of the most successful people I’ve ever met in my life. You have wayward restless living at your home and you barely see them not because you’re never home but because your apartment is the size of an entire floor of a luxury apartment complex. you could walk from one end of the apartment to the other and you’d have to stop off and get a drink if not you’d be dehydrated.”

“I mean shit dude..”

“So many people would kill to have your life. You are a world champion you are successful. You have the money you have prestige, you have a beautiful, slightly attractive, well slightly above average I guess if you’re into that kind of thing girlfriend.”

“But even with all of this. The rest of us just kind of sit and look at you with awe and shock. And it’s not because you have these things it’s because you have these things and you’re still just so goddamn miserable.”

Aidan throws his arms in the air again, flinging around like some kind of spoiled child

”Finn, mate, you know that I like you, you know that I consider your friend. You helped me when I was down and you know that I’ve always got yours and your brother‘s backs. But coming from one person to another you have to realize that you are one of the most miserable people that we’ve ever met. legitimately nothing seems to make you happy. You have it all and instead of enjoying it, instead of looking at your success and everything that it’s brought with it and allowing yourself to think that you are worthy of it and that you want to enjoy your life instead you just stand there like some kind of Emo Gerard Way looking bitch. and I just don’t understand it.”

“I get accused of never taking anything seriously. Meanwhile, you’re over here taking everything seriously you don’t take a step back to look at your life and enjoy it and it’s sad. It’s sad because you seem like you always have to be the thin Whelan that you were 10 years ago. you want people to believe that you have changed but you don’t show anything to the contrary.”

“You were miserable with your ex-wife and now you’re miserable with Kayla. And look my opinions on Kayla are extremely well-known and documented but that girl loves you and wants to spend time with you and none of us understand why because being around you sometimes feels like we are in a very slow vortex of depression. and we all want to stop it. I’m using this time right now where I should be talking about our wrestling match to appeal right to you.”

“Open your eyes and enjoy your life. Now one way that you might be able to enjoy your life is by getting in the ring with Me and having an all-time great wrestling match. And I’m going to bring everything I have to go after you and I get it, I’m not exactly the most intimidating person in this place. My win-loss record isn’t setting the world on fire. My roulette championship rain was a joke. I get it. but you know damn well not to underestimate me. You know damn well that I’m going to do everything I can to beat you. And I want the best Finn Whelan that has ever been. If I don’t get that then why the fuck am I even in this business”

The  Great Wombat Heist

Why can’t this motherfucker be normal?

Sorry, I understand that might be a little bit on the unprofessional side. But if you knew what I knew then you would see my frustrations are perfectly apt and completely reasonable. We join Aiden Reynolds outside the bronx zoo in New York. He looked around like a kid in a candy store happily rubbing his hands together waiting for someone.

It was clear that he had something great in mind. Perhaps a date? Or perhaps something else.

He smiled and side happily as he put his hands behind his back and simply stroll back-and-forth in front of the entrance. The sun had gone down and it was night time, the zoo was closed but that didn’t seem to bother Aidan which is really weird right? I can’t be the only one finding that weird? Okay, okay I’ll focus Jesus. he paste back-and-forth looking at his phone before smiling as he replied to a text message. Then it happened. Florence. The tattoo artist that he been seeing for the last couple of weeks.

You know the one. The one who is a bit of a gaslighting bitch who tried to get to be a Dorman? Yeah, that cunt. Sorry, I know I’m being unprofessional again. That lady. She smiled moving across the ground getting closer to Aiden who opened his arms and brought her in for a hug. ”Aye love….you ready?” he flashed a very toothy grin. One thing about Aidan is that he has a certain boyish charmed that most women find to be irresistible. For at least a few weeks before they start getting tired of his immaturity.

Florence seem to be at that point as she dismissively shrugged and tried to be polite. ”I suppose. But what are we doing?…The zoo is closed..”

Aidan cleared his throat, obviously nervous about something and also perhaps trying to hide something. He nervously ran a hand through his light brown hair and smiled. ”Yeah I know. But I..uh…paid the guy and we can go in privately.” and that’s why he was nervous. He had to spend a lot of money clearly. He turned and made his way toward the entrance. Entrance of Florence followed shocked that Aidan would spend so much money on something like this. But also happy and impressed that he would do that for her.

”Wait, you really paid the guy so we could have the entire zoo to ourselves? Aidenzzz” She stopped Aiden also stopped and turned. He tilted his head as Florence put her hands together and smiled wide. ”That is so romantic…I never knew you had it in you.”

”Hey that’s Me. I’m full of surprises love.” He winked at her and took her hand. Leading her toward the entrance. But then taking a quick right and heading towards the maintenance door. A bright blue door that was sitting slightly open. He looked around almost nervously before stopping and turning around and putting his hands up to stop Florence
”Just one thing. The animals are going to be somewhat tired and also easy to spook since there’s no one else around. So my friend told us that we need to be really quiet and kind of sneak around so we don’t start all them.”

”O…Kay…” Florence was suspicious. But as Aidan grabbed hold of the door and kept the brick that was holding it open out of the way and let her through the maintenance area she decided to trust him. They moved out through and around the large piping out another door and into the main part of the zoo. Aiden crouched down and Florence followed as they lead all the way around past the primate enclosure and the reptiles. After staying having a look for what seemed to be a short amount of time Aidan looked up and smiled seeing a sign as if that’s exactly what he was looking for.

”Hey look…” he excitedly points up at the sign. Florence looks up tilting her head and chuckles. ”Oceana animals…that’s my people!” he took flow by the hand and let her down the walkway toward the enclosure. Looking around before grabbing the door and sliding it open and pulling her inside. Inside they found a few gum trees behind the glass with koalas in them, wallabies are asleep in their enclosure a kangaroo that was looking at them while chomping on some grass.

”Why do kangaroos look like giant rats?”

Aiden stopped midstep and turned. He took a deep breath calming himself down so he didn’t offend her by basically calling her an idiot. By the way Flo was an idiot just saying. He shook his head and gave her a tap on the shoulder. ”I’ll be back…just gotta take a piss…”

”Charming.”

Flow moved around the area studying all of the animals. A few minutes past and she realised that Aidan had been gone the entire time. She looked around and couldn’t find him. ”Aiden?….Aiden?” she moved deeper into the enclosure, looking over it a few other animals like the Tasmanian Tiger and the echidna. Looking wide eyed at them.

Then in the distance she heard the sound of feet hitting the ground. Then around the corner came Aiden. Holding his jacket in front of him. A jacket that seem to be a hell of a lot bigger than it was before. ”Time to go!”

”What? Why?”

Then she saw them. Two guards running after Aiden. ”Hey you! Stop!”

Aidan and Flo took off. Running out of the enclosure as Florence straightaway turned around and shut the door slamming a rock behind it. Both of the move back out past the primates and the reptiles toward the door that they came in. As they got through dodging all of the different pipes and maintenance equipment. They got back to the parking lot. Moving over to Flo‘s car. She opened the doors and Aiden sat down. She started the car and they took off. She was breathing heavily shaking her head and also shaking while trying to drive. ”What the fuck Aiden?!?”

He couldn’t help but laugh. ”What a rush eh?”

She  growled  and shook her head, her hands clasping the wheel hard. ”No, not a rush you asshole!”  she shook her head and looked around sniffing the air as they got further away from the zoo. ”What the hell is that smell?”

She looked over and her eyes whitened. Underneath Aidan‘s coat was a small furry creature. ”Its her…”

”WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!?”

Flow slammed on the brakes. Opening the car and getting out and backing up. Aiden blinked a few times before looking at the wombat on his lap. ”Was it something you said?”

I get wet

”Well, this is weird. See, I wasn’t expecting to rise through the ranks as quickly as I had. I wasn’t expecting to become the roulette champion and I wasn’t expecting to have to defend that championship against Alexander Raven. But I did. And he beat me. I was at the lowest point of my career so far in SCW because after rising so high so fast been unable to maintain that definitely broke me..”

Aiden Reynolds, former roulette champion, all around nice guy, Australian, marsupial enthusiast, he was bobbing up and down, relaxing in the very same pool that he will soon have to climb above if he wants to become the champion again.

”But, I was able to rebound from that. See, I was able to beat Justin Smith and Felix cat. And I know what most people are thinking, those two don’t exactly have the best records in this company and it was kind of like beating a dead horse. but sometimes when you’re at a low point, you don’t know if you are going to be good enough to win anything. You don’t know if you’re going to be able to bounce back, and if I hadn’t then I might as well pack up my shit and go home. but, I did win. I was able to get my hand raised and that gives me a little bit of momentum.”

“And trust me on this, momentum is very important in this business. Now, I’m sure you were all wondering why it’s just me. Normally I have a guest star and someone to bounce ideas off of and I get to be comic relief while also making points. Well, I do have a lot of people with me on this cruise. I could’ve picked Finn, I could’ve asked Kayla, I could’ve asked my wife. but the truth is, I thought it would be best if I could just speak to all of you. Just me.”

“Just me in a pool…”

“The very poor that we are going to set up cables over and have an ultimate X match with. I’ve been in an ultimate X match before, but it was a standard one, it was one way you had to climb up and try and get the championship and it was above a professional wrestling ring and all the dangerous that came with it. I’ve always liked the concept. It’s kind of a match without ladders. But this, this is a tradition. I’ve gone back and watched all the other supercars that have taken place on this ship and every single one of them has had these matches.”

“So, I get to be a part of history. This is my first summer xxxtreme, and I hope it won’t be my last. As for being in this match though? Well we’ll have to see how well I do.”

Aiden looks comfortable, bobbing up and down sitting on an inflatable chair with a plastic cup filled with beer sitting in the little cupholder. There are other people around but they seem kindly aware that he is doing something important and are leaving him alone.

”But to be a champion again I have to get that title before three others. Bill Barnhart, Eddie Lyons and Alexander Raven. Now, I’ve been in the ring with all three of them. In fact I was able to take the roulette championship off of Eddie and I beat Bill. Raven is the only one who’s been able to get one up on me. But I have to question, how is Bill Barnhart going to do anything in this match? I’m not the type of guy who wants to get cancelled for fat shaming but the extra pounds that Bill is carrying around his midsection are not exactly conducive to being able to drag his fat ass up onto those cables shimmy and get the championship.”

“And why is he even in this match? Alexander is the current champion, Eddie is the one I took the title off, and I was champion in between. Why is Bill there? I don’t understand.”

“I guess it’s just to make up the numbers”

“That’s the story with you isn’t it Bill? You’re always there just to make up the numbers in these matches. And it served you well over the years. You have been able to get some unexpected wins and you’ve been able to be a champion. But you’ve never really been able to step up to that next level. You’ve never been able to be looked at as anything more than a fill-in and a joke. You and your wife constantly get brought up when people are talking about the worst contenders and champions.”

“It’s not all your fault. Sometimes people can just be mean. But you have done nothing to earn your rights. You’ve done nothing to earn championship opportunities. You haven’t been able to be a named people think of when they think champion. And I don’t think this match is going to do anything to change that.”

Aiden throws his hands in the air and takes a sip of his beer before floating a little bit further around the pool

”Eddie however is… see, when I faced Eddie I pretty much verbally blew him in front of the world. And I had no problems doing that. I’ll even do it here and now. Eddie Lyons is an incredible professional wrestler. He puts everything on the line and will never leave anything in the tank. Now, when you and I face each other Eddie I told you that I was gonna give you everything I had.”

“And I did.”

“When the dust settled, I was the one who was holding the roulette championship over my head. I would’ve had no problems giving you a rematch. Hell, I was fully expecting you to cash in your rematch clause. But it didn’t happen. You see, your cousin decided instead of giving you a rematch that you rightfully deserved. She was just going to try and punish me. So she forced me to defend my championship against Alexander Raven. The last quarter of our quartet.”

“I was not expecting it.”

“And my question is why? Why would she do that? I wanted that rematch against you. One on one Eddie Lyons Aiden Reynolds two. A different match stipulation for the same championship. But instead, Victoria did something unexpected. And I failed. Meaning that you and I never got that rematch. So, I feel the need to apologise to you. And let you know that I did want that match. But if you wanted that match to, instead of just blaming me, blame your cousin because she was the vindictive bitch who decided that punishing me was more important than giving you what you deserved”

A kid dives in the pool, Aidan gets splashed and some of the water goes into his beer. He slowly looks at the child and shakes his head, the kid swims away clearly intimidated by the 6 foot tall muscular Australian.

”Now, i’ve talked about how Bill doesn’t really earn anything that he gets and that Eddie deserved one on wild shot with Me over the current champion. But I need to make something perfectly clear. Alexander Raven deserved a roulette championship match. He is consistently being one of the biggest and best names in this company and I would like to think that he won’t take this as an insult, but, he is the most talented person in this company. Do not have held the world championship.”

“I hope that didn’t come off as a dick thing to say”

“It comes from a good place. Trust me. See Alex, you beat me. You beat me one on one you took that championship and you get to hold it again. It just sucks that it’s come with a small problem. See, you are already booked to be in a tagteam match at the SuperCard. But due to you winning the Roulette championship, it also means that you have to defend the roulette championship in the ultimate X over the pool.”

“That sucks mate.”

“Really it does. Pulling double duty going into this where you could get injured before you have to get in the ring in that tag match? A match that has been building for so long that everyone was waiting for it? I feel for you I do. But I hope you realise that I’ll be doing everything in my power to climb up shimmy across those ropes and cables and get that championship. I’ve earned my position in this company and I’ve earned everything that I’ve been given. So now, I just have to join in this crazy match and do what I do best. And that is something unexpected. I’ll be glad to see you boys in the match and good luck.”