It's not easy having my commitments, but it is fun. Me and the band were set to shoot a music video for SCW in the Arizona desert. It was pretty hot out...especially in the summer. After a while of shooting, the director yelled cut. Kate Steele, Chip Zanuff and Gibby Hale talked among themselves as I got off the rock. I noticed Geoff Matthens there watching the whole thing.
Griffin Hawkins: So...how's it feel watching the magic happen?
Geoff Matthens: Well while it's hotter than hell out here...it's actually pretty nice. It's like I'm watching The Beatles performance up close.
Griffin Hawkins: I appreciate the compliment, but I don't think John Lennon or Ringo Starr would ever perform in the desert.
Geoff Matthens: Good point...so you ready for Into The Void?
Griffin Hawkins: Hell yeah, stiff competition ahead.
Geoff Matthens: First time you're facing someone like him.
Griffin Hawkins: What do you mean?
Geoff Matthens: You're facing an underdog, someone who has defied the odds his whole life. That makes him more determined.
Griffin Hawkins: Dude, I've always been the underdog. If anything we're in the same boat.
Geoff Matthens: Let me put it this way, here we are in the desert..the only ones who survive there are the sick and the cold blooded.
He points to a Turtle who's just crawling along the sand.
Geoff Matthens: See that Turtle? He's just moseying along..an underdog in life trying to survive. That's how Kane is..and that's how you are. But that isn't something you should be.
We then look to what looks to be a great Vulture, perched on top of a cactus.
Geoff Matthens: That is what you should be.
Griffin Hawkins: A swooping Vulture?
Geoff Matthens: Goddamn right. You can't be the prey, you have to be the predator. That Vulture knows what it wants...do YOU know what you want?
Griffin Hawkins: To beat Lachlan and retain..
Geoff Matthens: But you can't do it if you're the underdog..because in this game, only ONE winner can walk out.
I then heard Kate's voice calling out to me.
Kate Steele: Hey Griff! You coming or what? We gotta finish this!
I then remembered we have a video to finish.
Griffin Hawkins: Oh..yeah I'm coming!
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Something about my dream I had to check out. The next day, I was in the library looking up stuff on this faction Gideon called "The Order". I looked through books, but I couldn't really find anything. I looked on through the Occult section of the library..but came across a young woman dressed in black.
Morrigan Chambers: Oh excuse me..am I in your way?
Griffin Hawkins: Oh..no miss, carry on.
She went to leave, but something told me to see if she could help me out.
Griffin Hawkins: Actually uh...I'm kind of looking for some info on something. I mean taking a wild stab in the dark here..but do you know anything about some group in the old days called "The Order"?
I hoped it wasn't offensive, her being a Goth and me automatically assuming she knows anything about satanic cults. She just smiled warmly at me.
Morrigan Chambers: Hmm...I think I could help you out.
She made her way over to the computer and typed up The Order on Google, and the name comes up "Order of the Moon".
Morrigan Chambers: Is this what you were looking for?
Griffin Hawkins: Yeah...whats the info on these guys?...
She scrolls down, reading on them.
Morrigan Chambers: The order of the moon, a coven of warlocks who committed many atrocities in the name of the dark lord.
Griffin Hawkins: Does this include sacrifices?...like animals and the like?
Morrigan Chambers: Humans...animals...children, the whole nine.
That last part sent chills down my spine. That dream I had was meant to be a sacrifice.
Griffin Hawkins: I see...
Morrigan Chambers: Why the interest?
Griffin Hawkins: Oh nothing, just research. Kind of a history buff.
Morrigan Chambers: I see, well I'm glad I can help you mister. Now I must be going off, got some books to check out.
She walks off as I sit down and browse the article on the Order, children missing, people killed. This was a cult that terrorized everyone in the days of old. They may be gone, but I get the feeling their presence still may be around somehow. If they were..then that means that someone would pay me a visit...
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Cameras open in what looks to be a studio. Set up under the lights looks to be pictures of athletes celebrating their victories on many tripod stands. I step from behind two of the pictures, dressed in blue jeans and a white Ziggy Stardust tee. I slowly begin to speak.
"Underdogs..people who want to be the best and fight through no matter what is thrown their way. Along the way...they stumble, but they never give up on their resolve to become champions. Me..and Lachlan Kane. We both may be entirely different on the outside, but inside, we are one in the same. We are both underdogs..the guys nobody bets on, but ends up shocking the world when they achieve victory. Now..two underdogs fighting for one of the important belts in this industry, one will leave with the title..the other will leave defeated."
I go to the first one. Tom Brady.
"Tom Brady...while now it would be unusual to refer to him as an underdog, back then it was different. In 2001 he silenced all the doubters and started a tradition of winning when he took home the Super Bowl ring for the first time ever. Some would compare Brady to Lachlan Kane..a scrapper from Ireland who's been fighting for what he's wanted since he was 13 years old..told all his life he'll never amount to anything because he's not big enough...now he's on the grandest stage. Me, I'm not like the others, because I had the same detractors tell me that I don't deserve to be in the spotlight, that I am just some gimmick..by looking at both of us, it looks like we've pissed a lot of people off...because here we are about to fight for a title that only a few were lucky enough to hold."
I realize Lachlan is a whole different kind of animal, I couldn't allow him to get the drop on me.
"One thing I admire about you Lachlan is that you don't take no for an answer. You want to prove that you deserve to be among the elite here in SCW, and you don't care who you gotta go through to prove it. I know that fire because I am the same way. When I came here, I said from the beginning that I would face the best in the business and I would not duck anyone. You are without a doubt one of the best athletes in SCW today and I am honored to defend my title against a worthy contender such as you...which is why I have no choice but to beat the holy fucking fuck..out of you. Nothing personal Lachlan, it's something I've been doing since the day I started..surviving."
I make my way over to what looks to be an old Boxing photo.
"James Buster Douglas...a young unknown who came out of nowhere. Mike Tyson was 42-1 before his fight with Douglas. But not only did Douglas beat Tyson, he knocked him out and took his title. Even though his tenure as champion didn't last very long, he is still an underdog. I know how Douglas feels. When I signed back with SCW I had people saying that my time has passed and I can't compete with the new crop of talent. The title I hold says otherwise, and it will be time once again for me to prove myself against a man whom many view as the future of Sin City Wrestling."
I had no idea how much I'd succeed before returning, the question was do I still have it against them?
"I know how bad you want to be champion Lachlan, you've been there before and you want to be there again. But the truth is, I need this win for me. Because when I came back, all I was known as was the undefeated and final Internet Champion. That wasn't good enough for me, I wanted more. I wanted to become more than the man who retired the Internet Title..I want to be the man who can carry SCW on its shoulders and be a champion that those people can look up to and be proud of. Not saying you can't be that champion because you got all the qualifications. But I said from the beginning that I am here to pick up where I left off until I reach my goal to become the World Heavyweight Champion, and if I gotta go through you to do it..then that's what I will do."
I walk over to a baseball team celebrating a victory in the picture.
"The Boston Red Sox..for years they came close to winning..but so very far. Then one night in 2004, they did the impossible and won the World Series for the first time since 1918. Many have compared me and Lachlan to the Red Sox..we both are underdogs as I mentioned. But I am looking to shake that. As much as the Stigma hangs over my head, I can't be the underdog in this match, I have to be the aggressor..I have to be the man who'll retain the Roulette Title."
I begin to walk away from the photo.
"Now, this is a match that could spell doom for the both of us Lachlan, because as the belt implies...it's Roulette Rules...anything can happen. It could be a match that benefits me like a Street Fight...or a match that benefits you like a ladder match. It's anyone's guess what this will be Lachlan..but whatever the match is, I will fight until there is nothing left in me to give..and knowing you, you will do the same...and I would not want it any other way. I knew when you became the number one contender, I'd be facing an uphill battle...this is further proof."
I look off camera and grab the Roulette Title, placing it over my shoulder.
"This...is what it's all about. A match between two men who've been underdogs their whole career, fighting in a match where neither know what the rules will be, or if they will survive it. All I know is..somebody is gonna get rocked."
I take my belt and walk away as the camera crew pack in the equipment.
