It has been eighteen months since Chris’ last appearance within the six sided ring of Sin City Wrestling. A lot of questions arose as to why he abruptly left SCW after wanting to appear in the promotion for so long. Defeating legends like Joshua Acquin and Spike Staggs on the farewell tour. Given the opportunity by Christian Underwood and Mark Ward to compete upon its return on a full-time basis, leaving fans and competitors wondering why Chris left not just SCW under a dark cloud but wrestling completely, only to reappear in the lead up to ‘December 2 Dismember IV’ and make his return on the first Climax Control of 2020.
Chris awakes from a long nights rest in his one bed-roomed Ritz-Carlton room, his eyes adjusting to the daylight coming through the slight crack in the curtains, his usual windswept hair sticking out in all directions as he sits up and rubs his eyes with the palms of his hands. Wiping the white sheet off his body and gradually swings his legs over the edge of the bed, readjusting himself into a sitting position, Chris looks down at the scars on his knees from previous surgeries over the years and runs his index finger over them. With a grunt he pushes himself to a standing position and walks across the sleek grey carpet to the en suite and uses the facilities. Flushing the toilet he walks over to the sink and runs the tap, pumping the soap and washes his hands underneath the running water, Chris lowers his head and splashes water onto his sleep ridden face before lifting it back up and stares at the mirror before him. Water dripping down his dogged face but his eyes stare at the new scar on his neck. Swallowing hard as he places his finger along the scar and closes his eyes. Remembering.
Unlike the majority of wrestlers within the SCW or wider wrestling community, Chris Crippler is not as young as he once was, being in his fifties and in what he considers being his last run before finally retiring from active competition. Chris had semi-retired before stepping out to help an up-and-coming promotion, gaining success their and gaining booking in Japan and Mexico off the success, appearing in multiple promotions all over the world. Which includes his two appearances for the farewell tour of Sin City Wrestling. Chris’ recovery from matches and travelling is a lot longer than most, having special regimes in place to help him, aches and pains where a constant and it was part in parcel in what he was doing. However a persistent pain continued in his neck, no matter how he tried to recover, trying new-age techniques, visiting sport science facilities in the hope to rid the pain but nothing helped. Lying to medical professionals before each event so he got medically cleared for the shows, also lying to himself as each performance became a struggle and recently re-watching those matches, it was evident something was wrong and Chris dogged determination to admit something was wrong was his undoing.
Visiting a medical facility that had performed multiple surgeries on him over the years, extensive tests proved he had damaged his neck to the point it required immediate surgery, and the words he hadn’t heard in such a long time. ‘You’ll never wrestle again’. That was the catalyst hearing those words from multiple medical professionals to prove them all wrong. The surgery was a success and the rehabilitation took longer than expected, which fuelled their emphasis on Chris never wrestling again, but also fuelled his determination to prove them all wrong and that he still can step into the ring as an active competitor. Travelling across the world to get the best medical advice that money can buy. After 18 months of rehabilitation, exercise, determination and multiple professionals saying ‘You’re medically cleared’. Chris’ medical nightmare came to an end but all with a word of caution of ‘We advise you to not compete as this could be the end of you’.
Opening his eyes as he lowers his hand and rests them both on the basin, letting out a long sigh as he stares at his wet face, reaching over to grab the soft white hand towel and pats his face dry. Chris grabs his toiletries and showers, shaves and gets dressed in his custom tailored black Vanquish suit. Spraying his face with aftershave and combing his long hair as best as possible, doesn’t matter what he does to it as it has a mind of its own, he places them all into his toiletry bag and steps out of the en suite and walks over to the window. Opening the curtains up one curtain at a time. Chris gazes out upon the Atlanta skyline and admires the view, looking in the direction of where McCamish Pavilion is and smirks. The little doubt of worry about each match being his last is always there but the anticipation of appearing live in an SCW ring again, lacing the boots, stepping out onto the stage to feel the energy from the crowd in attendance, facing someone he had faced a few years ago upon his return from semi-retirement makes the match even meaningful for him.
Stephen Callaway.
"It is funny how this has happened” Chris turns around from looking out of the window and adjusts his cuffs on his shirt. ”Back in twenty seventeen we both appeared in an up-and-coming promotion, I wasn’t apart of the crowning of the new champion but I did become the second tiered champ on the next show whilst you became my number one contender, I then became the promotions champion and MADE that promotion worthwhile! Big names came in because of what I was doing whilst you where always in my shadows.”[/i] Chris lowers his arms and places his hands into his trouser pockets. “I main evented, I became the first man to hold both singles titles at once, despite me vacating it a few hours later due to the rules, I represented the promotion in Japan and Mexico whilst you stayed and lapped up what I did there! I conquered the unbeatable. I wrestled guys from the big global promotions. And you never once thanked me for doing all that.. typical scot. Always taking and never appreciating!”
He wonders over and perches himself down on the sofa, crossing his arms and legs, flicking his head back to get the wondering hair out of his face.
”Fast forward to twenty twenty and here we are again. Stephen Callaway and Chris Crippler in the same promotion, only this time you’re the one coming off a win from the Pay Per View, and I am making my return as we face off on the first episode of Climax Control of the new decade. Does that mean the roles have reversed and it’ll be you victorious and me living in your shadow?” Chris pauses for dramatic effect before laughing. ”Please. You have accomplished mediocre things whilst I was out injured and the only mark you’ve left in this sport is a skid! You have been announced as a veteran of this sport by SCW officials but you’re nothing but a filler whilst everyone else outshines you, you are nothing special in my eyes and you never have been anything special in anyone’s eyes, if you weren’t wearing your ring gear then people would mistake you as being a fan or ring-crew. But who am I to say these things when I’ve had a long hiatus and may be as mediocre as you…” He ponders it for a moment before looking serious and speaking seriously. ”…Even on my off day I am better than you. My age doesn’t hinder me when I step into the ring, I can wrestle the best and compete with them, my tired old body may not have the regenerating factors like everyone else. But what I do have is talent. I may not have wrestled in the SCW for months but I am going to show the entire world that I am starting my climb in the promotion on Sunday. It may not be impressive saying I beat Stephen Callaway but it’ll be a fitting start to our intertwined tale.”
”With that being said, the climbing of the proverbial ladder, what is my goal and what is it that I want to achieve? Simple. As much as I can. I have put my name down for the impending 8th annual Blast from the Past tournament, the winners obviously get a chance to challenge for the world heavyweight championship, which is something I’d love to do but I’ve got a long way to go before anything like that.” Chris readjusts his sitting position to get comfortable. ”I am speaking like the trending thing on twitter of what I’d like to accomplish this year, look at me sounding up-to-date with the latest trends, and I’d love to add a match with the current roulette champion Griffin Hawkins to that list. We have wrestled in Germany years ago but nothing like the stage as SCW. Maybe finding a female who’ll tag with this old geeza and challenge for the mixed tag titles. Bit all this talk only matters if I can beat you, Stephen. Otherwise I’d be like all the other new guys who join a promotion with talk of grandeur but fail to deliver.” He leans forward with his elbows on his thighs. ”I don’t intend on being that, Stephen, you went on a slump and I’m going to start that again when I beat you! The tale back in 2017 was Chris Crippler outshining you and it’ll be the same in 2020. I hate it when history repeats itself, don’t you? But I’m going to enjoy it.”
Chris smiles as he stands up and walks over to his bed, drapes the duvet over the bed and picks up his gym bag, grabbing his room key from the bedside table and heading out of the room and down to the built in gymnasium in the hotel itself. Only a few days left until Climax Control and his heart has an extra beat and the excitement fills his body as he hopes to reignite his career.
