You can't change the cards you are dealt unless you stack the deck. — Terry Blakeman
I speak four languages fluently, English, Spanish, Japanese, the old tongue of Scotland, often referred to as Scottish Gaelic. There’s a fifth language though…Violence. A language that not everyone in this sport understands and accepts. As long as you accept it, you can combat it. Those purists out there are the ones who can’t accept or combat it, people like Alex Jones. Our fight was one that will be remembered for a long, long time. He had bested me on two previous occasions. A very important stipulation was added, that we would never meet again for the world title, regardless of the outcome. It’s still not clear to me if it was Alex that requested it or if it was ownership's idea to prevent me from going for the title repeatedly because I was the only one capable of dethroning him. He claims to have had no options, but we know that’s not true. Even if a man is about to be hung, he has options. He can either like it or not.
The fight itself you would assume was a competitive one, you would be wrong but you could say that. No matter what he says on social media, it was never as close as he thinks it was. He was outclassed and outgunned from the beginning. And so it came to pass that I was once again the reigning and defending world champion of Sin City Wrestling. How that happened wasn’t nearly as important to me as why. I have always been a man who was absolutely brutal in the ring to my enemies. The thing is, Alex Jones and the Wolf’s Lair were not my enemies. They were, however, a part of the problem in Sin City. The arrogance, the hubris, it wasn’t just Matt Knox, but the lair as well suffered from this. Like Knox, they believed they were unbeatable. Look at them now…
{Post Match CC320 - “Clearing The Air”}
[On-Camera]
Still drenched in sweat and blood, I made my way backstage. The thunderous reaction of the crowd when I put Jones down still ringing in my ears. They had pelted me with garbage and insults on my way back and not until I had passed the curtain did it stop. I paused only briefly at Gorilla to collect my thoughts, and try to catch my breath. I grabbed a clean towel that was stacked nearby and buried my face in it. Wiping away the sweat and the blood from my face and eyes so I could see a bit better. I tossed it in a nearby bin and grabbed another fresh towel. I was physically and emotionally spent. My breathing was still ragged but that euphoric feeling continued to wash over me. I had taken the wind out of the collective sails of The Wolf’s Lair and shocked the world one more time. My intensity and fury shown even brighter now than it did prior to or during the match. I remembered the point in the match when everything clicked into place. I had been committed to that philosophy, but then muscle memory kicked in. Once that happened I knew that no one could beat me tonight. There was not a soul on the planet that could have turned me back. Backstage reporter, Holly Wood, approached me, albeit slowly and I could see the wild eyed fear in her eyes. I motioned her to approach as I dabbed away the fresh blood that decided to drip.
“Uhm…Mister Bane….can I get a few comments from you for the fans and the press?” She asked it so timidly that it almost took me by surprise. That predatory smile was on my face faster than I expected. I saw Whisper and Kat over her shoulder as they waited for me to finish with Holly. “A few comments? Sure. Let’s start with if the first time my title win was a fluke, that would make me a two time fluke wouldn’t it?” I glared at her because I knew that was the opinion of many on this roster and in the owners offices. Before she could retreat further, I snatched the microphone out of her hand. “This begins my fourteenth reign as a world champion. It will be the most memorable of them all. What they all witnessed here tonight is just the beginning!” The fury shown bright in my eyes again, barely contained rage that was bursting to get out. I saw the look on the faces of Kat and Whisper, mimicking my own. Instead of speaking more loudly, my voice softens. “The paradigm has been changed in Sin City Wrestling. The Sin City Saviors stock is on the rise! Today was the world title, next is the internet title at Inception V.” I look over at her and Whisper and Kat are by her side.
“Miss Wood, if my intensity scares you, imagine how the rest of this roster feels right now? I hope they all wore their brown pants for the occasion.” She stepped back forward and I handed her the microphone. “You are in no danger from me, Holly. I don’t operate that way. No one in the Saviors operates that way.” She pauses only for a moment, “Then why did you allow the Supreme Machine…” I cut her off, “he did exactly what was necessary, he was not going to lay a hand on Bea.” She seemed flustered by my cutting her off. “The attacks? One of the men that I am facing when I defend this title, is the one that started all that!” Now she seemed confused as I continued on. “Have you forgotten already that Bea was the one that tried to cost me a match against Vinnie? That Vinnie and Bill attacked me after I beat him? That this was all done in retaliation?” Her jaw was hanging down now as I continued on.
“Now, I could have stopped at that point and let all of this go.” I paused long enough for her to actually speak this time. “That is what would have made sense to most of us. Why continue when you already had your pay back.” I laughed. “Pay back? No ma’am, that’s not what this is about. This is about changing things for the better. What I did to Alex Jones tonight…he may never recover from. Alex was one hundred percent correct, I am the enemy and I have made this very personal for every man on this roster. It was not coincidence, it’s by design. My first defense is set in stone. Vinnie, David and Austin. I hope they paid attention to what I did out there tonight. It’s a little taste of what they can expect at Inception. Just a taste.”
[Off-Camera]
With that I cut the interview short and walked to where Whisper and Kat were. It dawned on me just then that Amber was nowhere around. She always greeted me after big matches like this one. “Kat, have you seen Amber?” The blank stare I got in return was all I needed to know.
Aside:
This did not bode well, Red is always hanging around Gorilla when I wrestle. Something had gone horribly wrong. The woman that showed up at the end of her title defense?
I quickly made my way down the hall, bypassing my own locker room, I went straight to hers. When I got there, it was as much as I suspected it would be. The locker room was trashed and I could smell a familiar smell.
Iron
At first I thought it was my own blood that I was smelling but then I looked down. It wasn’t a lot but enough to cause me concern. My anger went white hot in an instant with an unsuspecting production assistant. He rounded the corner just as I was coming out of her locker room. I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and hoisted him off the ground, slamming him into the wall. The sound echoed loudly, even in my own head. “Where is my wife,” I said in a deadly calm tone. He tried to wriggle free at first until he saw the look on my face. “I dunno who that is,...uh….first day…” I dropped him, “Sorry kid,” was all I could muster before I looked back at the blood on the floor. Kat was rounding the corner just as I was coming to my senses. She looked at the production assistant, cowering in fear and the blood on the floor of Amber’s locker room floor. The site of blood didn’t bother Kat at all, it never has, but when she saw this. It didn’t make her sick, but you could tell that she wanted to be sick for whoever was responsible for spilling my wife’s blood. “Call Amber for me please,” I said as we started walking back towards my locker room.
We walked as she dialed Amber’s number, at first I thought it was going to go to voicemail. Kat had it on speaker so I could hear what was said. “Hey big sis, what happened?”. There was only a short pause but the words coming from the phone didn’t sound right. “I looked around for Mac but couldn’t find him after his match, so I went ahead and came home.” Kat looked over at me as I frowned. “What about the blood in your locker room?” An airy tone with a light chuckle, “Oh that’s nothing, just a nosebleed is all. Nothing to worry about.” “Oh, good, I know Mac will be relieved to hear that.” Another short pause, “Is he there?”. I nod to Kat, “He is, want me to hand the phone over?”
Aside:
Oh the web we weave when we try to deceive. You see kids, her nose wasn’t bleeding at any point in that match.
“No, just make sure to tell him that I’m alright and I’ll see him at home.”, she finished and then hung up from her end. “You look angry,” Kat said in a cautious way. “Disappointed.” I corrected her, “I always know when she’s lying. That was as brazen a lie as she’s ever tried.” She held up her hands trying to forestall the storm that she saw brewing behind my eyes. “With the amount of head trauma we get in that ring every week, don’t you think it’s possible?” A curt nod from me, “It is possible and I’ll know more once I get home.”
Fade.
****
{The Bane Home - Las Vegas, NV - “Family Matters”}
[Off-Camera]
Some time later…
I give my wife a free pass on ninety-nine percent of the shit she says and does, but to lie so blatantly about an injury was infuriating. If I hadn’t been so exhausted from the match with Jones, the conversation that we needed to have would likely be a lot more animated than what I felt was necessary. I came through the front door, swinging it wide and with probably more force than was necessary. The commotion roused Kuyon, our dog, from his slumber and he rounded the corner looking for intruders. Upon seeing me, his tongue lolled out of his mouth in his version of a smile. I knelt down and allowed him to do his formal greeting of raining slobber over my face. I scratched him behind his ears. “Thanks Pal, I appreciate the warm welcome.” I commented to him and of course, the big bastard flopped on the floor exposing his belly. I spent a moment rubbing the old boy's belly and then stood up to see my wife. She had a bandage near her neck from some altercation or other. I suspected this happened during the tussle in her dressing room.
“It’s nothing Mac,” she said as she saw me staring at the bandaged wound. I paused for a moment to see if she would come clean. The lingering silence persisted, “Glad the nose bleed stopped.” My facial expression never changed, and neither did hers. “It wasn’t a big deal, let’s not make a mountain out of something so trivial.” She put on her best fake smile, I returned the same fake smile.
Aside:
See, this is the part that I hate. I know she’s lying, and I really hate being lied to. However, I’m going to give her the chance to come clean about who attacked her.
“So, that's nothing”, I pointed at the wound near her neck, “I know that didn’t happen in your match. Your dressing room was trashed. Something you wanna tell me?” She pursed her lips before responding, which makes her look hot as fuck. I was not trying to press too hard because a caged animal will engage in flight or fight and honestly I didn’t want either of those things. Her eyes flashed a dangerous glare.
“Are you calling me a liar?”
Aside:
Rhetorical questions are both amusing and dangerous. You see if I answer either way, she’s going to take this the absolute worst way possible. I do have to answer, because first and foremost it’s in my nature. Unfortunately my nature is a bit sarcastic and sometimes snarky.
“If the glass slipper fits, cinderella you should put that mother fucker on.”
I said it in an extremely tired voice, one that I hoped conveyed a joke rather than an accusation. “Fuck you, Mac,” she said as she walked back towards the interior of the house. I felt Kuyon thump against me. “Yeah, I know pal.” I said to him as he whined a bit. I knelt back down and scratched his ears trying to assure him and myself that everything would be okay. A smart man would let her go and fume about what I had said, but I never claimed to be terribly bright to begin with. So, of course I pursued her.
Aside:
You see, you can’t stand there and lie to me and think you’re going to be able to just walk away all mad and shit because I call you out on it.
With Kuyon by my side I followed the stream of angry profanity to the living room. I didn’t say anything right at first as I unshouldered my bag. I took the world title out and placed it on the mantle in its proper place. I looked over at the place where her’s should be and I can tell she cleaned it up. I hear her sit down heavily on the couch and the jingling of Kuyon’s collar tells me he is climbing up on the couch with her. I turn around to see him with his head on her lap, her eyes have lost their fire as she watches me, absentmindedly stroking Kuyon’s ears. I walk to the bar and pour myself a scotch, no water or ice, just scotch. “Want anything?” I hear her sigh heavily, “No thank you, I’m good.” I got the couch and took a seat on its edge so I could face her. I set the scotch on the table. I start to ask a question but she shakes her head, “Don’t Mac, not tonight. I don’t want to talk about it, please don’t try to make me.” I look back at her and then look down at my feet. “Okay, no more questions tonight.”
Aside:
Remember what I said about not being a very bright person? It kicks in every once in a while. Probably not often enough to save me from heartache and headaches but often enough to not do permanent damage to my relationships.
“When was the last time, you know who has been, “ I said and she smiled. “He hasn’t, at least not yet.”
I returned the smile, “How about we do that together?” I said in a hopeful voice. She nodded vigorously, anything to avoid that discussion again I’m sure was fine with her. It wasn’t with me but I wasn’t willing to pursue it right now.
I looked down at Kuyon and he lifted his head up to consider me, “Well, go get your leash.” The dog took off like a shot, causing both Amber and I to laugh. Discretion is often the better part of valor, especially in relationships. So we took Kuyon on a walk and pretended like everything was fine even though we both knew that was not the case. I attached the leash to Kuyon, he didn’t really need it. He was the most well behaved dog I’d ever been around. We headed out for a walk. I reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, she squeezed back in return. I hoped it wasn’t another lie.
Fade.
***
{Denver, Colorado - “Back to Hell”}
Over the past month or so, the Hell’s Gate facility had become like a second home to me. The philosophy that Kim and Whisper taught was very near and dear to my heart. The friendships I had developed with them were nearly as strong as the one I shared with Ken Davison. That in itself brought a smile to my face as I entered the building. Whisper’s door was open, so I rapped politely on the frame. She was working on paperwork of some kind and with a frustrated sigh, she looked up. “I can come back later if you’re busy,” I said with a half smile. She returned the smile, “Back for more?” I nodded, “And then some,” I replied in a matter of fact tone. “I was pretty happy with the way things went, but I feel like there’s more than that inside me.” She studied me for a moment. Looking thoughtful and maybe a little pensive she replied, “Good.” She paused only for a moment, “Go get changed and come back and we’ll talk about it.” So, being the good student that I was and respectful of everyone’s time I made my way to the locker room.
Moments Later
As I entered her office, Rene or Renegade as some called him was there. We shook hands as I made my way to the chair provided. “Remind me later,” Rene said with a smile, “I’ve got something for you.” I nodded in return, “Sure thing, big fella.” Whisper cleared her throat, “Mac, I know what you are wanting. That’s the reason I asked Rene to come in for this discussion.” Rene regarded me for a moment and smiled. “I’m honestly surprised you took so long to decide that this was the path you wanted.” I nodded my agreement, “I think it’s time. I have some goals and aspirations that I want to achieve over the next few years, and this…just feels right to me.” They both studied me for what felt like eternity as you are being weighed and judged at the same time. Of course, it wasn’t really that, it’s just the way that Whisper looked at people. She always had to be sure of you. She had to believe in you and what you were trying to achieve. She had in my experience been an excellent judge of character. I knew what was required to further my own goals. I had taken the first step in embracing the philosophy here at this gym. There was more though, and I knew it would take me back to the place where I began my journey. To say I had been an extremely violent man in my youth would be a huge understatement. A lot of people get confused by thinking that I came up with “The One Man Wrecking Crew” moniker, like it was a part of the gimmick or something. That was very far from the truth of it. Few people were still around that knew where it came from. I had been given that moniker by an old wrestling company owner. Will was his name, he saw me single handedly demolish a faction of four men.
“The return of The One Man Wrecking Crew,” Rene said with a smile. “About fucking time my man.” I smiled as his words broke through my own train of thought.
Aside:
I couldn’t have agreed more with Rene if I wanted to. It was way past time for the killer in me to make it’s long awaited return. These are all people I respect, and I would not betray them for any amount of money.
I returned the smile, “Then we better get to work, big man,” I said as I stood and shook his hand again. Whisper came around from her desk and we exchanged a hug among friends. I could see the pride in her eyes, she didn’t have to say anything, but she did. “I’m really fucking proud of the way you handled that match with Jones. He deserved every ounce of the beating you delivered.” I nodded and allowed the smile to return. “Yes he did, and now I have three others who think they’re going to take what’s mine.” My genuine smile for my teacher, now replaced by a predatory one. “They are in for a shock,” I said to her as the rage returned to my eyes. It was in hers as well as I exited the office to join Rene. Rene was a good man, tough as old boot leather and could get as nasty as anyone in this business inside of the ring. He handed me a package the size of a cigar box. “For you, my brother in arms.” He smiled as he said it and I quickly opened the package. A box of Padrón cigars, but not the run of the mill batch. No, these were the Padrón nineteen sixty-four anniversary series number 4 maduro’s. I was blown away. “Holy Shit Rene, these are fantastic.” You couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face with industrial strength sandpaper. This time I gave him a proper broh-hug in appreciation of the gift. “Much better than those damn cigarettes you smoke.”
All I could do was smile at the thoughtfulness of the gift. “I thought you deserved something, not just for winning your world title back but also for the pride that you bring to our home. You made Whisper very proud, you and Kat both did. For that, and the way you took to our teachings here, you’ve earned my respect, big man.” I smiled a genuine smile again, now it was time to get to work on bringing out the rest of it. “Okay, enough sappy stuff, now let’s get to work,” he said as if he was reading my mind. My week would be filled with workouts like this one, followed by sessions with Kim and Whisper to make sure my mind was right for this first defense.
Fade
{Unnamed Location - “Stacking The Deck”}
[On-Camera]
I look around the studio, state of the art set up, “Chronic” Chris Page Enterprises backdrop in place, microphone is ready. It’s both rewarding and amusing to me that the fire that Kim and Whisper lit inside of me has not faded in the least since I won the world title from Jones. If anything, the thought of defending it against three other men has intensified that feeling. That barely contained rage, that only I can unleash. It’s not something that someone else can provoke me into. There’s a certain amount of pride in that. Today, I’m once again dressed in all black, jeans, button down shirt, skull cap, boots. I have the world title slung over my left shoulder, close to my heart. In my right hand, I hold a white cowboy hat. I focus on what I want to say and what needs to be said.
First to clear the air, no matter who the champion was going to be. They would have found themselves in this situation. Defending against three other competitors. It doesn’t bother me in the least, nor does it anger me that this is the situation I find myself in. Just another obstacle to overcome. Unlike my opposition, it’s something I’m used to. Twenty years in this business and industry. Twenty years as an architect of violence, an artist if you will. In this industry, we are considered artists for lack of a better term. We paint a picture for the fans, that tells a story. A story of struggle, and yes sometimes a story of war. A war waged inside a six sided ring.In my case,
I tell a story of…
controlled rage.
Of domination.
Of unapologetic violence.
Of success in this industry, not just in Sin City Wrestling.
Unlike some of you, I’ve spent as much time on the road travelling for more than one company than you’ve spent in a wrestling ring, six sided or otherwise. Being a big fish in a small pond was never something that would make me feel complete as a competitor. Sitting in one spot and bragging about my accomplishments from a single source was never going to bring me pride. It damn sure wasn’t going to fill my bank account. Do you know what does though, is my association with “Chronic” Chris Page. CCP Enterprises is a worldwide company that won’t simply be a common place name in one company, no it will reach much farther than that. By the time we are done, we will have touched them all. I will of course provide a proper My plans are always in motion and that’s a small part of what drew him to me. My twenty years of success in a cut throat business was another. The fact that I am your world champion certainly didn’t hurt anything. So, you boys rest on your laurels and talk that talk about everything you’ve done here. If you are relying on that shit, you’re in for quite the education. Where my resources are endless, your’s are limited by your own lack of effort. My training at Hell’s Gate with legends will trump anything you can come up with. Alex Jones found that out, just as Vinnie did prior to that. The one thing all three of these men have in common is that they are hungry. Two are hungry for a repeat as world champion, the other is hungry for his first taste of world championship gold. The only thing that they will get out of this match is that they will be relevant for however long this match lasts. They will get the rub from me and Chris Page by being in the same building with greatness. Let us take a moment of prayer for these poor souls.
I bow my head, staring at my boots momentarily. When I look up at the camera, all pretense of amusement is gone. The Gentleman Wolf lies in a hospital bed taking his last breath, The One Man Wrecking Crew has been resurrected to continue his twenty year old mission.
Lord, forgive my Saturday drunkenness and my Sunday sloth. Dearl Lord, forgive me for my transgressions against other men. Forgive my willingness to put them in as much pain as possible. Most of all, please forgive me for the men I’ve put out of this sport…
I pause for dramatic effect.
and those I’m about to.
I shoot a wink and a smirk at the camera as I raise my head back up.
This is just an example. Those who know me, know that I am as far from being a religious person as you can get. I use this to prepare you for the absolute bullshit you will hear from the others. You see, people will try to fill your head with nonsense. They’ll play up to your need for someone in a white hat.
I allow the predatory smile to come.
Funny thing about that, is that there are no white hats left in this industry, let alone this company.
I fling the white hat away from myself and out of the scene.
Hero worship is what they want from the fans and the roster alike. They’ll lie to you and tell you that they can fix this. That they can eliminate The Sin City Saviors.
I shake my head in amusement and disgust.
While, what The Sin City Saviors represent is the truth. No sugar coating to make you feel better about yourself. No silver linings provided for bad situations. No quarter given to anyone.Not friend, foe or even people I respect. I had asked those people specifically to steer clear of me and the group that I had formed. It would have been fine. They couldn’t or wouldn’t do that. Not very smart, not smart at all. Some might tell you that I am the most hated man in this company right now. They might even tell you that no one wants me to be the world champion. What they won’t admit is that by me holding this belt, it puts asses in seats. The fans are clamoring for my head even though I’ve helped turn this company around. They went from having to consider closing up shop to having a booming roster and a big reduction in mediocrity. All you have to do is look at who’s here now. None of those people are in this fatal four way for my title though. This is about the old guard here. The tired old men that they put in this match with me.
My gaze instantly hardens, nostrils flare, jaw is set.
Vinnie, this all started with you and Bill. Bea of course was a very willing accomplice. The night she sprayed whatever that was in my eyes was the catalyst. I warned you to keep her away from the return match, yet there she was once again. Ready, willing and able to jump into something that was none of her business to help you and Bill jump on me in a two on one beatdown. That turned into a four on two situation that you couldn’t walk away from didn’t it?
I can feel that vein throbbing in my temple as I continue.
That is how The Sin City Saviors were born. That is the reason that we thrive, and the reason that we will save this company. Even if we have to do it out of spite. Make no mistake about it, we are more than capable of doing exactly that. I could give Vinnie and Bill all the credit for what happened next or the blame for that matter but I won’t. While their actions were the catalyst, this was something that was already in motion. When I made the call for Carnage, they answered the call. Ken Davison was the first. Then Supreme Machine and Dominick Strife answered the call. Later it would be Kat Jones who joined us. They are not the only ones of course, there are others waiting in the wings for me to reach out and tell them to come to Sin City. Before something like that can happen though, I’d have to feel threatened by this roster in some way. I don’t even feel threatened by anyone in this match.
I take the title down off my shoulder, holding it in front of myself. I look at my reflection in a freshly polished Sin City World Heavyweight Championship belt.
Senor Vinnie or Brother Vinnie, whatever you are calling yourself these days. The fact that you are in this match at all is a joke and an insult to me and the others. I’m sure you’ll try to draw some kind of parallel between what I did to Alex and what you have encountered with myself. You’ll likely draw on the past and how it was a similar match and situation that cost you the title a couple of years ago. The real story is this. I’ve had your number and will continue to do so. What I have done and what you are trying to do is evolve. My evolution has been successful while you still flounder in mediocrity. You experienced that in our last match up, my evolution or devolution in the eyes of some. Where you rely on your training as a wrestler, I rely on my instinct as a survivor and a fighter.
I look up from the belt so that he can see the intensity and rage in my eyes.
You rely on deception and manipulation while I take the more direct and blunt approach. That is the reason that since two thousand and nineteen you’ve been a challenger instead of a champion. You haven’t dedicated yourself to your craft the way that I have. I am a student of the game and constantly training and learning. You? You sit in the corner with the dunce cap on because you’re a fucking goof that can’t focus. It’s funny, when you speak, I see a ghost. The shell of the man you were, it’s a shame really. You could have been one of the legends around here, after this match, you’ll be nothing more than a footnote on the list of competitors.
I pause momentarily to stand up and place the belt on my shoulder.
Vinnie is just one of the three men that I will face. There’s also David Shepherd. David is one of the few men on this roster that can claim a pinfall victory over me. Another interesting aspect of him being in this match is his well known issues with Vinnie. No one believes that you boys can put that aside long enough to deal with me. We both know that Vinnie will be gunning for you in order to get revenge. It was you that injured him and put him on the shelf. Just so you know, that knee is still a little gimpy, in case you wanted to target that. I like your inclusion in this match to be honest. I think you are someone that is worthy of a title shot. If it were one on one, I might even think that you would challenge me as I defend the world title. The kind of chaos that match is going to be? Not so much David. You’ve got experience, but not enough of it to be fair. This is the type of match, that if you hesitate for one moment, you’ll be looking at the ring lights, flat on your back.
I look at the belt on my shoulder again and then back at the camera.
Have you ever even had a world title match in your career? I didn’t dig too deeply but I didn’t see any mention of you being a contender. It’s not that I don’t think you deserve to be, but in reality, you’re not ready for this match. Didn’t you tell the bosses before that you weren’t ready for a match like this for the title? So, tell me, what has changed that makes you believe that you are ready now? Nothing has changed except for your relationship status. I hope that Fenris and Aaron are hyping you up for this encounter and making you believe that your ready and that you deserve to be in the conversation. It makes it all that much sweeter for me when you fail. To me, you’re nothing more than a shit talking punk.
I pause again, more for effect than anything as I continue on to the last contestant.
Austin.
James.
Mercer.
Another man, like Vinnie, a former world champion. Unlike David, you are tried and tested, scarred by battle. You’ve been bloodied and caused others to bleed on a regular basis. I respect that about you. Even when you attacked Aaron and left him bleeding, incurring the wrath of the roster and the ownership. You stood your ground like a fucking man and owned that shit. You did what you wanted to when you wanted to. ‘Cause fuck the roster right? They don’t control you or how you operate, no one does but yourself, right?
I shake my head and mouth “no” at the camera.
One caveat to that is Alex Jones though isn’t it? You even said so yourself on social media that you were embracing this match for no other reason than to piss him off. That in and of itself is admirable. I too enjoy pissing him off. I also really enjoyed fucking him up in our last match. I wonder if you’ll follow his lead after you’ve lost in this match? Rage quit then come back and act like you’re relevant again? Who is Austin James Mercer, really?
I smirk at the camera. Shaking my head in disgust I continue.
A poor man’s Mac Bane. That’s who you are and what you are. The second fiddle to Alex Jones. A man capable of so much more. A young man who could have led the Wolf’s Lair and could have been so much more than what we’ve seen. Imagine the potential of someone like Milo under the leadership of someone who cared about his development as an athlete. Imagine the potential of someone like that without Jones holding him back. Holding him down. Alas, none of that can come to pass now. Mercer talked about taking a long break from wrestling. Alex Jones on twitter telling his compatriots to abandon Sin City, that this is not their fight.
I wink at the camera.
Evidently Mister Mercer feels differently than Alex does though. Maybe he does feel like this is his fight and that we are his enemy. You should, because it is and we are. More specifically I am. I am the enemy of every man on this roster that has aspirations to become a world champion. If you don’t take that personally then not only are you a fucking loser but you’re in the wrong line of work. It’s one of the many things that sent me down this path to eliminate the mediocrity on this roster. To be elite, it starts with your own attitude about what you do inside that ring. It doesn’t matter to me whether you do it for yourself or heaven forbid the people that pay to see the shows.
I allow the predatory smile to form again.
I was actually chastised for demanding a rematch. I could have sat my ass at home like so many others do. I didn’t do that though, instead, what I did was invoked my rematch clause, and consequently lost again. Sometimes, you gain more and you learn more from losing than winning. Losing teaches us where we are lacking. I’ve said it before and I still believe it. Excruciating pain is among the best teachers. It wasn’t just physical pain that I had to endure, it was the aftermath of the match. How it affected me, well, you’ve only gotten a surface view of that. It forced me to rethink how I conduct my business and how I face my challenges.
Looking at the title belt, then showing the face plate to the camera.
The question isn’t can you take this from me.
Lowering it enough that only my eyes, full of rage and intensity. I lower my voice to barely a whisper.
Can you survive the onslaught, the first barrage, the second that will follow. The longer this match goes the more it’s in my favor. Can you withstand the final barrage when your tank is empty and you’re running on fumes. Do you have the heart, can you dig deep enough to overcome the rage and the righteous fury that I bring to this fight. It’s never a matter of if you can win, it’s always a question of can you survive. Like Vinnie, Alex Jones believed he could. His belief was not strong enough, if someone like that failed, what makes you all believe that you will succeed?
The camera quits recording and I start to make my way to the door. My phone began to ring and so I dug it out and saw it’s Kat calling me. “Hello!” I said enthusiastically as I answered it. Kat says to me in a language I didn’t know she even knew, “Halo mo bhràthair ann an gàirdeanan agus cridhe.(Hello my brother in arms and heart)” I smile so hard right now that my eyes almost well, “Halo mo phiuthar ann an gàirdeanan agus cridhe. Dè a tha a ’cur dragh ort?(Hello my sister in arms and heart, what troubles you?)” Scottish Gaelic was something I learned as a child from my grandmother, we continued our conversation for a time.
[Off-Camera]
An incoming call, it was late and so I told Kat I would call her back. My heart sank as I saw the number. Las Vegas FDT. I accept the call…
“Mister Bane, you own the Oblivion Garage, is that right?”
My mind was racing as was my heart. “Yes, myself and my wife Amber…”
“Fuck me…”
I jumped on my V-Rod and the race was on to reach Amber. Weaving in and out of traffic until I reached the scene. Everything burned….I raced to where I saw her sitting. She rocked back and forth with her title belt clutched to her chest. I went to her and grabbed her in a rough embrace and held her close. “Are you okay?” I asked her through the tears, she didn’t say anything, only a blank stare…There were cuts on her wrist and neck…it looked very much like the marks a zip tie would leave behind in a struggle. I start to ask her but she buries her face in my chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
Fade
