"CLEAR THE WAY!"
Backstage at Violent Conduct
Following the Ladder Match
London, UK
The trainers were on standby the minute things started getting real in that ring between Helluva Bottom Carter and LJ Kasey. Behind the scenes of it, Alexandra Callaway and Miles Kasey stood with their eyes wide with worry, a small hint of pride flickering on Miles' face for both his husband and his brother.
Meanwhile LJ was trying to gather himself, struggling to maintain composure as he staggered toward the curtain. Blood from the cut on the side of his head was still dripping down his face and neck, mixing with the sweat and exhaustion etched into his expression. His breathing was labored, each step forward feeling like an impossible weight. Ally was at his side in a flash the moment he crossed into the backstage area, but LJ waved her off, attempting to put on a brave face.
"I'm fine," he muttered, his voice shaky but defiant.
"You don’t look fine," Ally said softly, her eyes scanning his face, her concern palpable.
LJ took another step, but the world around him spun. His knees buckled, and before he could catch himself, he dropped hard to the floor, gasping in pain. Trainers were on him immediately, lifting him up carefully and checking his head for further injury. Ally crouched beside him, her hand on his shoulder, worry clear in her eyes as she watched him wince in pain.
"LJ, hold on. Let them help you," she urged, her voice steady but tinged with fear.
The trainers supported LJ, each taking an arm as they hoisted him up. His face twisted into a grimace, but he leaned into their help, the bravado he’d been trying to maintain crumbling under the weight of his exhaustion.
“I’ve got him,” Ally insisted, slipping under his arm as she helped guide him toward the medical room. Despite the pain that she was in as well, she assisted him the whole way.
LJ let out a low groan but kept moving, every step feeling like a mountain to climb. The hallway seemed longer than it ever had, and the buzz of activity backstage became a blur. The only thing grounding him was the steady presence of Ally at his side, her voice a soft reassurance that cut through the haze of pain.
Finally, they reached the medical room. The trainers carefully lowered him onto a padded bench, and LJ winced as he sat down, the adrenaline from the match beginning to wear off, leaving only the searing ache of his injuries.
“Tis just a scratch,” he tried to joke, but the words fell flat.
Ally shook her head, sitting beside him, her fingers brushing through his sweat-matted hair. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
LJ let out a small, pained laugh. “Yeah... but I tried.”
“You did more than that,” she replied quietly, her eyes meeting his. “Just rest now, okay?”
LJ nodded, leaning back, letting the trainers do their work as the weight of the match finally hit him.
One Week Later
LJ’s Apartment
Las Vegas, NV
LJ stood in the middle of his new apartment, surrounded by half-open boxes, juggling the phone in his hand as his moms appeared on the screen. He shifted a smaller box with his foot, trying to organize the mess without looking like he was overexerting himself. His head still throbbed from last week’s brutal match, but he did his best to look as casual as possible.
“LJ, I hope you’re not trying to lift anything heavy,” Rebecca's voice came through the speaker, her expression a mix of concern and sternness. “You’re supposed to be resting after that match.”
“I’m taking it easy, Mum,” LJ reassured her, flashing a lopsided smile, though his stiff movements betrayed him. “Miles is here, helping with the heavier stuff.”
Joan, his other mom, leaned in closer to the screen, raising a skeptical eyebrow. “Is he? I haven’t seen him yet. He better not have ditched you for lunch again.”
As if on cue, Miles appeared in the background, lugging a large box labeled "Books" across the living room with a playful grin. “Hey, I’m here! Don’t worry, he’s not lifting a thing.” He flashed a wave toward the phone before disappearing back into the hallway.
“See?” LJ chuckled. “I’m in good hands.”
Rebecca’s eyes softened for a moment before she glanced toward Joan. They exchanged a look LJ had grown far too familiar with—one that usually signaled they were about to shift the conversation toward something serious. And they did.
“Well,” Rebecca started, her voice brightening with what LJ could only describe as forced enthusiasm, “since you’ve got all your books moved in, there’s really no excuse now.”
“No excuse for what?” LJ asked, already suspecting where this was headed but playing innocent anyway.
“Law school,” Joan said matter-of-factly, her tone leaving little room for argument. “You remember that, right? Your original plan before wrestling took over.”
LJ tried not to roll his eyes, though a sigh slipped out. “I didn’t forget, but—”
“You’ve got the books,” Rebecca chimed in, cutting off his attempt at deflection. “You’re all set. And now that you’re settled in, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about applying again.”
“Mum, I’m focused on wrestling right now,” LJ protested, shifting awkwardly as he leaned against the counter. “You know that.”
Joan crossed her arms, a knowing look on her face. “You can be focused on more than one thing at a time, sweetheart. Law school doesn’t disappear just because you’re busy and UNLV has a wonderful law school program. And who knows how long wrestling will even be... well, sustainable.”
LJ winced, not liking where this conversation was headed. He loved wrestling. Even after the grueling match with Carter and all the pain that came with it, it was still what he wanted. But the idea of law school—what he’d originally intended before diving headfirst into the wrestling world—always lingered like a shadow over his shoulder.
“I know you’re both looking out for me,” he said, trying to stay calm. “But wrestling’s what I’m focused on right now. I’m building something here. Besides…” He trailed off, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ve got other things going on too.”
Rebecca squinted, catching on quickly. “Other things? You mean Alexandra?”
Joan’s eyes lit up. “Oh yes, how is Ally? We haven’t heard much from you two lately.”
LJ felt the heat rising in his face, but he couldn’t help the small grin that followed. “She’s good. We’re… good.”
“Good?” Rebecca echoed, clearly prying for more details. “Just good?”
“We’re taking things day by day,” LJ admitted, leaning more comfortably against the counter now. “She’s been a real support through everything lately. And she’s extremely happy with my recent addition to my career as well.”
The change in subject seemed to please his moms for the moment, their curiosity about Ally distracting them from the law school talk—for now. But LJ knew they wouldn’t let it go for long. It was the same conversation every few months, usually spurred on by a big move like this.
Rebecca’s voice softened, concern slipping into her tone. “We just want you to have options, LJ. Wrestling can be… unpredictable. And you’re too smart to not have something else to fall back on.”
“I know,” LJ nodded, appreciating their worry even though it frustrated him. “But right now, I’m focused on what’s in front of me. Wrestling, Ally, and... maybe not getting my head split open again.”
Joan chuckled lightly at that, but Rebecca’s eyes remained serious. “Just promise us you’ll think about it.”
“Alright, I promise,” LJ said, though he wasn’t sure how much thought he’d really give it.
Miles reappeared in the background, wiping sweat from his brow. “You guys done with the lecture yet?” he teased, dropping onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. “Because we’ve still got about a dozen more boxes and I’d like to get back to my husband and make sure he isn’t doing anything foolish either.”
LJ couldn’t help but laugh, glad for the distraction. “Yeah, we’re done—for now.”
LJ glanced at the clock on the wall and then back to the phone, feeling the weight of his moms' words lingering in the air. He softened his tone, knowing they only had his best interests at heart.
“I’ll think about it, okay?” he said gently. “But I really appreciate you both checking in. I’ll keep you updated on everything. And I promise, no more heavy lifting.” He flashed a quick smile, hoping to ease their concern.
Rebecca nodded, though her worry was still evident. “Alright. But make sure to rest. No more pushing yourself too hard.”
Joan added with a teasing grin, “And don’t think we’ll stop nudging you about law school. That’s not going anywhere.”
LJ chuckled. “Yeah, I figured as much.”
“Love you, kiddo,” Rebecca said warmly. “Take care of yourself.”
“Love you too, Mum. Love you, Joan.”
“Love you, LJ,” Joan replied with a soft smile before the call ended.
LJ let out a long sigh, setting the phone down on the counter as he stared at the mess of boxes around him. He knew his moms meant well, but it felt like every time he made a step forward in wrestling, they reminded him of the path he’d left behind.
He rubbed the back of his neck, the dull ache from last week’s match still lingering. “Law school, eh?” he muttered to himself, shaking his head with a slight laugh.
Miles, who had been pretending not to eavesdrop from the other side of the room, popped his head up from behind a box. “So… are we taking bets on when they’ll bring it up again?”
LJ grinned. “Oh, probably next week.”
“Yup, sounds about right,” Miles said, standing up and stretching. “Now, let’s get the rest of these boxes out of the way before they decide to call back and check on us.”
LJ laughed, grateful for the distraction. “Yeah, let’s get to it.”
A Toughman is So Much More
Earlier This Week
LJ sat in his new apartment, the quiet of the early morning settling around him. The soft glow of the sun was creeping through the blinds, casting long shadows across the half-unpacked boxes still strewn around the place. Despite the mess, his mind wasn’t on unpacking—or even on the nagging soreness in his body from the brutal ladder match he’d endured just two weeks ago. His thoughts were laser-focused on what lay ahead: the Toughman Battles. Last Man Standing rules.
Man-to-man, the kind of fight that would push him to his limits. But that was fine by LJ. Limits were meant to be tested, and he had something to prove.
LJ stood in front of the mirror, flexing his fingers as if testing his grip. His mind kept circling back to Felix the Cat, the man who would be his opponent in the upcoming Toughman Battles. A guy like Felix wasn’t a threat—he was an annoyance. A pest that needed to be swatted down, and LJ was more than ready to do it.
Felix loved to run his mouth. Loved to talk about how "quick" he was, how "aggressive," how "intelligent" he was in the ring. Always the first to remind people of their injuries, like that somehow gave him an edge. LJ had heard Felix’s chatter before, the way he seemed to get off on the weaknesses of others. But that’s the thing about Felix. He didn’t realize that focusing so much on other people’s flaws only highlighted his own.
"Felix the Cat," LJ muttered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "More like Felix the Joke."
LJ ran a hand through his hair, the soreness in his body a reminder of the war he had just been through at Violent Conduct. He wasn’t 100% yet, but he didn’t need to be. Felix was the type of guy who thought mentioning someone’s injuries made them vulnerable, but in reality, it showed just how little he knew about real competition.
"You keep bringing up people’s injuries like it gives you some kind of advantage, Felix," LJ said, talking aloud as if Felix were standing in front of him. "But what happens when there’s nothing left for you to talk about? When you’re not the quickest guy in the ring? What happens when you’re the one struggling to get back up after I knock you down? What’s your plan then?"
LJ paced the room, his muscles warming up as his mind sharpened. Felix was all talk, and LJ had seen it before. Guys like him puff themselves up with words, calling themselves ‘talented,’ ‘intelligent,’ ‘above everyone else,’ thinking if they say it enough times, it’ll come true.
"But here’s the thing," LJ continued, his voice calm but edged with contempt. "You aren’t above anyone. You think you’re smarter, faster, better? You need to look in the mirror, man. Because I’ve seen your kind before, Felix. Guys who think they’re something special, but when it comes down to it, they fold under pressure."
LJ’s grin widened as he thought about what Felix was really up against. Felix, with all his bravado, had no idea the storm he was walking into.
"You’re quick? Great. So am I. I just went toe-to-toe with Carter in a ladder match, and you think I’m worried about how ‘quick’ you are? I fought a guy who’s twice as fast as you and took him to the absolute limit. You think your speed’s gonna matter when I’ve got you backed into a corner, gasping for air, trying to figure out where it all went wrong?"
LJ shook his head, the intensity in his eyes growing.
"You’re aggressive? You have no idea what real aggression looks like. I legit just pushed my own brother-in-law to the edge in that match two weeks ago—drove him to the point where he had to bust me open just to keep me down on top of several other horrible things that one human, let alone family, should EVER do to one another. And you think you’re gonna out-aggress me? Nah, Felix. You might start strong, but I’m gonna make sure you finish on your back, staring up at the lights."
He stopped pacing, standing still, staring himself down in the mirror. This wasn’t just about Felix. This was about showing SCW that LJ Kasey wasn’t some flash in the pan. That the name Kasey wasn’t just associated with his brother’s success or Carter’s championship reign.
"You talk about being talented," LJ said, his voice dropping low. "But talent? Talent isn’t running your mouth. Talent is proving yourself, night in and night out. Talent is taking the beating of your life and still coming back for more. I am still sore to this day but everyday it gets a little easier. It’s pushing yourself beyond the limit, even when everything in your body is screaming for you to stop. And that’s where you fall short, Felix. You don’t have the guts to do what I do."
He leaned in closer to the mirror, locking eyes with his reflection.
"You want to talk about who’s talented? Let’s get one thing straight. The name Kasey isn’t just some footnote in SCW. It’s a legacy. My brother, my family, we were born to do this. And you? You’re just another guy who needs to be brought down to reality. The reality where I’m standing tall at the end of our Last Man Standing match, and you’re the one on the mat, wondering what the hell happened."
LJ exhaled slowly, letting the intensity roll off him. He was ready. He wasn’t underestimating Felix—not at all. He knew better than to underestimate anyone. But Felix? Felix was out of his depth, and LJ was more than willing to show him just how deep the waters could get.
"Felix, you might think you’ve got all the answers, but you’re not ready for this. You’re not ready for me."
With that, LJ grabbed his gear bag and slung it over his shoulder. It was time to put the final touches on his preparation. Felix was just another obstacle on the way to something bigger. And LJ? He was ready to show everyone that he wasn’t just his brother’s shadow—he was the future of SCW.
"Last man standing?" LJ smirked. "That’s gonna be me."
