[Christian Underwood]

Please post all roleplays here! Have fun and good luck!

[Ben Jordan]

Sunday 3rd November 2024.

"Excuse me mate, you can't stay here." A female voice says.

"Huh?" A gruff slur replied.

Eyes started to open as the blur around the man tried to come in to focus, but just a shiny brown wood can be seen, before something clear and distorted came in to view.

"Ben mate, wake up." the female voice says once more in a soft tone.

His eyes flickered to realise that he was in a bar. The camera moves around to show the man as none other then Ben Jordan, well, a version of Ben Jordan at least. His hair was wild and overgrown, almost to the point of being matted. His beard, that when grown was usually very neatly trimmed, was long and unkempt.

"Ugh." He says in a rough tone. "I did it again didn't I?"

Ben lifts his head up to see he's in a bar, the voice belonging to the young female standing behind and looking at him with a frown on her face.

"Third time this week." She says with a half smile.

"I'm becoming as bad as that menace that comes in here and tries to chat you up, buying you drinks while his missus sits next to him." Ben says as he puts his arm on the bar, forcing himself upright. "The one that's loud and lairy and thinks he's untouchable, forget his name but he's got a really grating voice, like he's talking out his hooter all the time."

"Except he does that and you fall asleep." She says as she puts a glass away. "What happened to you? You never used to be like this."

Ben clears his throat, trying to focus on things around him, but blinks rapidly as he looks around, seeing no other customer in the pub on this cold Sunday night in London.

"Who bloody knows?" Ben says with a roll of his shoulder. "One minute you're the popular geezer, who everyone wanted to know cause you fought for belts while wearing no strides, the next, you become forgotten or a normal every day Joe and well, life changes and ya fall asleep on the bar."

She didn't really know how to respond to that but flashed Ben a sympathetic smile.

"I'm a normal geezer just having a tough time." He reassures her. "I'll bounce back soon, or bugger off to a remote island with no bars to have a kip on."

"Look, I'm closing up." She told Ben  "It's only ten but there's no one else about right now. Why don't you get home and get some sleep? Might feel better in the morning."

Ben stands up in silence, not directly answering her, and stops for a second to balance.

"Yeah, good night." He says, trying not to slur another word.

He makes his way towards the door, acting as sober as he possibly could before taking a step down and on to the street. Silence moves around him, just the sound of a car passing by on the main road a few hundred yards behind him as he looked across the road to his home. He walks as best as he could across the little road and just a few seconds later, he was standing outside the apartment building on the River Thames that he lives in. He stumbles around in his pocket, eventually finding his keys and uses the fob to open the door. With a quick pull, Ben walks through and towards the elevator. He tries to hit the button and third time of asking, his thumb hits the mark and the door opens.

"Knew that button was there somewhere." He mutters to himself as he steps in.

It only take a few seconds before Ben reaches his front door, the sound of a key sliding in to the lock. Ben turns the key but nothing happens.

"Bollocks, wrong key." He says out loud to no one in particular.

Another few seconds pass before he finds the right key, moving it in to the lock and turning.

"Tada!" He says with a slight slur as he walks in to the apartment.

He shuts the door behind him and walks in, stepping through a pile of pizza boxes in the dirty apartment. Bear raises his head from where he laid, but instantly put it back down again, returning to his slumber.

"Blimey." Ben says looking at Bear. "Burglar would have no problems with you, would they?"

He walks towards the sofa and sits down, pushing away a half eaten kebab to make room for himself and reaches for the remote control, switching on the big screen television he had in the living room. SCW had not long started live and Ben watches for a few seconds before something flashes up on screen.

"Open invitational rumble." he says to himself.

Leaning back, his mind races back to his glory days, the good old days where he felt the rush. That rush was something he knew deep down has been missing from his life. He turns his head to a nearby mirror, looking at himself, the grey hairs in his beard reminding him that he isn't the man he used to be.

"Don't even think about it, Ben." He tells himself. "You're not that guy anymore, not any guy anymore. Your life has become depression again and falling asleep in boozers. Your life has become a shadow of what it used to be. You're Ben Jordan by name only these days, you're not Ben Jordan the wrestler anymore, you got what you wanted. You wanted to be a normal bloke and come home, you come home and now you are a normal bloke."

He sighs to himself.

"You're just a normal guy now." He repeats to himself. "The bloke down the pub."

He puts his head in his hands.

"You're just him now." He says to himself. "You never got the send off and you was ok with that, so why do I feel like I should? I mean it's High Stakes though, biggest show of the year."

He reaches out to the table, picking up a bottle of whiskey,

"I just can't do it." He says sadly. "I'm just a sad little man these days, dead inside, drinking myself to death with no way back, but what if that could make me feel alive, just one more time?"

He unscrews the cap from the whiskey and takes a long drink.

"What if..." He mutters with a huge slur.

He reaches in to his pocket, picking out his phone and narrows his eyes as he tries to focus through drunken eyes at his phone. He raises it to his ear.

"Great, voicemail." He says with a sigh. "Mate... I need your help."


Monday 4th November 2024

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

"What the..."

Ben's eyes slowly open up and he finds himself on the sofa, hugging a less full whiskey bottle from the night before.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

He rolls off the sofa and on to the floor, lifting the whiskey bottle above his head to stop it from breaking. He looks towards the wall, seeing the time from a nearby clock.

"Seven in the morning?" He says with disbelief. "What the bloody hell?"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

He pulls himself to his feet as the fists continue to pound on the door to his apartment and he stumbles towards it, still wearing the old faded jeans he wore the night before. He reaches the handle to open the door to see none other then...

"Fenris?" Ben says as he tries to focus.

Fenris stood on the other side of the door, looking at Ben, up and down.

"You look like shit." Fenris says as he looks his friend up and down.

"Charming as ever." Ben says as he reaches out a hand to shake Fenris.

"And you stink like booze." Fenris says in a berating tone. "What the fuck happened to you?"

"Never mind that." Ben replies with a creaking voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Fenris pushes past Ben and in to the apartment, dragging a suitcase behind him.

"Come on in." Ben says sarcastically before shutting the door.

Fenris stops and looks at Ben, scratching his head.

"You called me last night, saying you needed help, talking shit about needing to wrestle in that Rumble thing for SCW." Fenris tells him.

A look of confusion crosses over Ben's face as he looks towards Fenris, his mind trying to drift back to the events of the night before. Alcohol was still in Ben's system from the night before, the alcohol still seeping through his brain.

"I did?" Ben questions. "I really don't remember that at all."

"Do you want me to play the voicemail?" Fenris asks firmly.

"Nah." Ben replies. "No geezer wants to hear about how he made a prat of himself the night before because of alcohol."

He looks as Fenris as Fenris takes a seat in a chair.

"Wait, you flew all the way here, based on a voicemail." Ben says confused. "How did you get here so quick?"

"No shit Sherlock." Fenris says with a roll of his eyes. "As soon as I heard the voicemail, I got on a plane and came here. I got here quick because of a little thing called a time difference. The fuck is wrong with you? You used to go all over the world, you know of time differences."

Ben slumps down on the sofa and looks across at Fenris.

"That was the old me." Ben tells him. "I haven't left the Isle of Dogs since I left SCW. I go as far as the pub, or to the park with Bear and that's it. I get everything I need delivered."

Fenris looks around, noticing the pile of pizza boxes and takeaway containers.

"So I see." Fenris remarks. "Seriously, what the fuck happened to you? You look like you're a homeless man squatting in a rich guys house."

Ben sighs as he turns away slightly ashamed.

"How long you got to listen to this one?" Ben asks.

"As long as it takes." Fenris replies as he leans back in his chair.

"The truth is mate." Ben stumbles out. "I ain't doing so good."

"Don't tell me, Evie came back and you turned in to shit again." Fenris says with a smirk.

Ben slowly shakes his head.

"Nah, no idea where she is in the world, dropped off the face of the earth, probably playing James Bond again." He replies with a shrug. "I came home to this place cause I thought it would be good for me, old friends, family, I just wanted to be Ben Jordan again. Just Ben from across the road, just Ben, the friendly geezer in the pub buying the odd pint. I didn't want to be the local celebrity, and I got what I wanted, but the problem with that is that you learn a lot about who you are and what you become when you do that. You become the real you because you see the real you and this me, he ain't so good."

"What are you talking about?" Fenris asks, as his face changes to concern.

"I don't add a thing to life anymore." He says seriously. "Every morning I get up without a purpose and it drags me down. Every morning I get up and I go on that balcony and wonder what would happen if I took a dive in to the river. I never do, so I drink myself in to stupidity because I am no one anymore. I've had my issues with depression and anxiety and I left SCW because I was gonna break, I thought coming back here would fix me, give me a connection but nah."

Fenris rubs his chin, not sure what to say.

"It's not like I don't get offers to do things, because I do, but it's all the celebrity rubbish that nearly broke me." Ben says with a slow shake of his head. "And there's no need for me to go get a real job, because I don't need the money, so I'll be taking work from some fella or lady with a family to feed."

"You could open your own business." Fenris offers. "I thought you wanted to buy pubs."

"I thought about buying the boozer." Ben says. "Probably have with the amount of dosh I've pissed away in there lately, but the government budget has made a lot of businesses struggle and the arse is falling out of the pub game. People can't afford to go out and owners can't afford to stay in business. I don't need the stress of that."

"What about charity work?" Fenris asks. "You did a shit ton of that before."

"I send money all over the place." Ben tells Fenris. "But it's the boots on the ground thing I can't do. I literally leave this house to walk the dog and to get pissed up. No other reason."

Fenris stands up and looks at Ben, his hands on his hips.

"Well, now you do." Fenris tells him. "That invitational Rumble."

Ben winces at the thought and shakes his head.

"Mate, that was the booze talking." Ben informs him. "Just beer bollocks. I wasn't serious. I was tanked up and everything sounds doable after a drink."

"I did not fly half way across the fucking world to help you out, only for you to change your mind." Fenris says through gritted teeth. "So get your ass in the shower because you stink like a fucking brewery, and get your running shoes on."

Ben tilts his head apprehensively.

"Honestly, I was just talking bollocks..." Ben says softly. "No need to worry, let's just go get some breakfast, couple of pints when the pub opens, and call this a holiday."

"GET! NOW!" Fenris barks.

Ben puts his hands up and moves towards the bathroom.

"Oh, and no more alcohol till after the match." Fenris orders.

"But..." Ben calls out from behind the door.

"Hurry the fuck up!" He yells back to Ben...


Thursday 14th November 2024.

"Five more!" Fenris demands.

Ben does another pull up in a nearby local gym, followed by a second, third.

"Can't we just make it three?" Ben asks

"Two more!" Fenris yells out.

Reluctantly, Ben struggles to do the forth, then finally the fifth before slumping to the floor, dropping to his knees before dropping back on his behind. The sweat dripped off the body of the Englishman, his long scruffy beard even more displaced, his hair matted with perspiration.

"Four days and you're already in better shape then you was." Fenris says with a touch of pride.

"Could have done without running in the poxy cold at five every morning." Ben tells him. "Why didn't I call Jamie or Max? They wouldn't have kicked my aris this much."

Fenris reaches out a hand and pulls Ben to his feet, offering Ben a bottle of water. Ben takes it and opens the lid, thirstily drinking down the clear liquid.

"You answered your own question." Fenris replies. "Somewhere in that thick skull of yours, you knew you needed this. I would bet that all this working out and shit has made you feel better. Max and Jamie wouldn't have pushed you this far."

Ben pulls the water bottle away from his mouth.

"You're probably right." Ben admits. "They won't push me that far and you're not wrong either. Sweating my knackers off eight hours plus a day has oddly brightened me up. I felt like I actually had something to do."

"We're not done yet, we have over two weeks for that match." Fenris reminds him.

"I don't know if I need the match." Ben says with a shrug. "I mean not now, I feel better, doing all this has given me a purpose and I haven't even called anyone about it yet."

"You think I came over here to waste my time?" Fenris says with a dangerous tone. "I left everything behind to be here. I got on a plane and came here, away from everyone and everything just because you needed this and here I am. You're doing that match or I'm gonna kick your ass myself and you know I can."

"Well, why don't you sign up?" Ben replies with a cheeky grin.

"Who says I haven't just so I can whoop your ass?" Fenris replies with a serious look.

"I um... uh." Ben stutters out.

"We need to do one more thing today and I might give you the rest of the day off." Fenris says with the serious look still plastered on his face.

"What?" Ben replies curiously.

A few hours later.

The camera starts on a pair of shiny black shoes, moving up the legs of a man, wearing an impeccable and expensive looking blue suit. It lands on his waist, showing the bottom of a black shirt, and jacket, matching the colour of the pants. A pair of hands straighten the jacket, before landing on the chest. The camera moves up a little more to see the face of Ben Jordan, his beard virtually gone, cut down to almost stubble, and his hair much shorter and neater. Fenris lays a hand on his shoulder.

"Now that's better." Fenris says with an approving nod. "You almost look human."

"I'm a handsome devil." Ben says admiring himself. "All dressed up so... Pub?"

Fenris snaps his head towards Ben, just looking at him. Ben shrugs his shoulders.

"Meh..." He says casually. "Worth a try."


Sunday 10th November.

Climax Control 410 was on the air and Ben and Fenris watch with all eyes focused on the screen. The show had some to an end in dramatic fashion with the gripping rivalry between Mark Ward, Christian Underwood and Michael Harris, going against J2H, Kevin Carter and Alexander Raven.

"Man, that's some story." Ben says with a nod.

"They've done alright." Fenris replies with a casual tone.

"Sets High Stakes up well." Ben adds.

"Speaking of High Stakes." Fenris says, picking up Ben's phone and handing it to him. "I think you have a call to make."

Ben closes his eyes and breathes deeply, lifting up the phone and unlocking it. He taps a few buttons and holds it to his ear,

"Hey Christian..." He starts. "It's Ben Jordan..."


Monday 11th November 2024

A cold chill ran through the air in Island Garden's park on the River Thames as Ben Jordan sat on a bench, overlooking the water. A thick grey coat that went down to his ankles, rests around his body as the camera moved in front of him.

"Alright people." He says with a smile. "I bet you didn't have this on your bingo card to happen before the end of the year, did ya?"

He couldn't help but flash his cheeky grin.

"In case ya forgot me, I'm Ben Jordan." He says with a shiver. "And it's a bit parky out here so I'm freezing my wotsits off but I needed to do this today, because I only think it's fair to the other people that they know as soon as possible, that I am entering the open Rumble at High Stakes in a couple of weeks."

Ben pulls the coat around him.

"I know it's a bit of a surprise, because I didn't know for sure I was gonna do it till the minute I called Christian last night and ya probably wondering why I just disappeared all that time ago." He says as he slightly lowers his head. "I did it for my own sanity people and I learned a lot of lessons on how things can snowball out of control, no matter how hard you try to stop it. I came home to get back to my roots and be the best version of the real Ben Jordan I could be and people, it's been a struggle, not because I'm a bad guy, because it doesn't matter what you did, what you do, how many pennies you have in the bank, everybody struggles and people, I've been fighting different demons every day of my life since I came home. I guess this will explain why I need to do this, why I need to put on my boots and get back for one match."

Ben looks down the camera.

"Because I need this." He says honestly. "I need to feel alive again, I need to feel that worth I used to feel, and I am very what will be, will be and I could get back in that ring and be a bloody disaster, but for however long I'm in that ring, minutes, or right till the end, I need to feel that rush once more with people I respect, people I should never have just walked away from. We all know when we step in that ring, we might not make it out and there's some crazy people in wrestling that we all wonder how they get through, but as much as that could happen, it makes us feel alive. This is gonna make me feel alive again."

He closes his eyes and breathes deep.

"I got told before I started filming this whole thing that four names have been announced." Ben continues. "I didn't know that till a few minutes ago so I had nothing planned for you all but holy crap there's some decent names there so I can only speak from my heart."

Ben takes a deep breath before he continues.

"Bulldog my old mucker." Ben says with a smile. "It's like old rivalries reuniting a bit there because mate, we've had some battles through the years. More then a few battles through the years. One on one, multi people matches, throw in Sammi and Bea and we had a hell of a lot. I'm not a stat person like the lovely Mercedes, but I do know I've walked out with my hand held high more times then not when I take on you. These things happen and worst things happen at sea as the saying goes, but I'm also aware that these kinda matches can be absolute madness and I ain't done this wrestling thing for a long time. I know it could go wrong, but it doesn't worry me at all, because I've had someone pushing me to my limits this week, kinda feel like I shouldn't let him down. I might not be the same Ben Jordan as before but my determination is still knocking around to try and get the win, but either way, be good to share that ring with ya once more my old friend."

Ben shivers as the breeze blows past him.

"Justin Smith." Ben says with a frown. "I know it's easy to make light of your record in SCW, and so many do, but we had a ton of fun shooting that parody some time ago on the pirate ship and stuff and I know you're a good egg, but I know given the right type of match, you could be a very dangerous man. People don't give you the credit you deserve for what you do for other people. Make 'em look a million bucks mate, give them one hell of a challenge and push yourself in every single match. Everyone knows when they come out of a match with Justin Smith, they feel it for days later and I know I will too. Nothing but respect for you, even if the rest of the world don't give ya that."

Ben rubs his hands together.

"Eddie Lyons." Ben says with a smile. "I don't think there's anyone out there that I've seen grow as much as you Eddie. Seriously, you get better and better every match, never make waves, just go out there and do whatever you can to get better and that's pretty rare in a business like ours. People moan all the time that they're not getting what they deserve, there's a fair few on the roster that do that now, but you Eddie, take life in your stride and get on with things. That is a rarity, that is what's going to get you to the top of this place, that is what's gonna make you stand out and I predict big things for you and I know this is gonna be the match you can see yourself spring boarding your way to another championship. Honestly, I think you're gonna be one of the faves here no matter who signs up for it and I know I'm not alone in that thought. I know there's gonna be a lot of people out there that will see you as a top guy for this one, so me personally, I'm gonna look forward to being in that ring with you and seeing first hand just how good you are."

Ben pauses for a few seconds.

"And something not on my bingo card for this year was being in the ring with wrestling royalty, Alex Jones." Ben says with wide eyes. "This fella is a legend, been around him for many years in that ring. He's a leader, he's someone people can look up to and in the ring, we all know just how good he can be. He's given me a wallop or two in my career, but he's very much in my top five of wrestlers I respect and wrestlers I love seeing work. Alex mate, I'm stunned, I'm stunned that when I made the call last night, I didn't know I'd be getting in the ring with someone like you. My messed up little mind has been blown right now, but I really and truly can not wait. I had the nerves and self doubt and all of that malarkey, but now I'm excited. I'm really excited to be in the same ring as you providing I don't get chucked out if I'm in there before you. It's more then an honour to be in there with you, more then an honour. I really can't wait."

An excited smile crosses Ben's face.

"I feel like a kid at Christmas with these names announced." Ben admits. "And all that hard work I'm getting put through is completely worth it. Anyone can sign up for this thing and we know what Mark and Christian are like, probably made calls to everyone who's ever held gold around here. Probably called up people we ain't seen in years to try and tempt them back and why wouldn't they come back? It's High Stakes, it's the biggest show of the year bar none. It's the Superbowl of wrestling and everyone and their dogs invited to this one, so yeah, I'm under no illusions that things are gonna get pretty mad in this one and it already makes me feel alive."

Ben rubs his hands together in excitement to match the excited smile.

"I seriously can not wait boys and girls, I really can't." He says fidgeting in his seat. "I was excited to film this, I was excited to announce I was gonna be in this match. I wanted that done sooner rather then later, because...."

Ben beckons the camera closer.

"We all know Mark and Christian don't like us to watch our opponents work when it airs in week one and reply to it in week one. We all know they get proper frowny faces cause they want us to be all creative and stuff but..." Ben looks around and speaks in a softer tone. "I don't care, I want you guys to talk about me being in this one."

Ben leans back from the camera and winks.

"I want you to talk like I was already announced before this surprise thing hitting scwrestling.net." Ben says with a firm nod. "Other might not want ya to talk about them till next week, but I got to talk about you four fellas, so by all means, get that chin wagging about me."

Ben fires a quick thumbs up.

"Right, I think I've spoken long enough to you all." Ben says. "And I'll level with you peeps, this might be the only time I will get to speak to you until High Stakes, my trainer might have killed me by then, but again, can't wait to be in the ring with you all and anyone else who wants to pop in."

A sincere look appears on his face.

"And to the fans." Ben says with a warm smile. "I've missed you all. I can not wait to get to Arizona and see you all again. Thank you for being the life blood of our sport and thank you for giving me a chance to do this again, even if it is just one more time."

Ben puts his hands together in a prayer pose.

"Until then..." He says with a salute. "Laters people."

Ben looks off camera.

"Now can we get a beer?" Ben asks.

"No!" Fenris' voice can be heard saying off screen.

Ben mouths one word to the camera before it fades.

"Wanker!"

[Caleb Storms]

High Stakes has rolled around again and this year the bosses were hosting two open invitational Rumbles, one for the Bombshells and one for the men, with the winner getting a title shot of their choice at the Christman Special and former SCW Superstar Caleb Storms, who had already returned earlier in the year for Blast from the Past and Climax Control #400, had his eyes set on it! But who was his opposition?

“Bulldog” Bill Barnhart, Justin Smith, Alex Jones and “Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons were the first confirmed wrestlers for the match with Ben Jordan coming out of the woodwork to sign up as well, and now Caleb was joining the fray too! Can Caleb win?

Caleb’s Home, Syracuse, New York
Sunday the 10th pf November 2024, 23:00pm

It’s been a quiet couple of months since I was last in SCW.

My contract for the Blast From The Past Tournament was a three month contract, intended to take me through to Summer XXXTreme and beyond if I won the tournament and earned the shot at Finn Whelen, obviously that didn’t happen but between my match with Carter at Climax Control #400 and the Fresh Face Battle Royal I at least managed to get some mileage out o it but that contract expired a while ago.

Since then, I’ve been back home in Syracuse with Katie, Adrienne and Freya, ready for the year to end and see what 2025 had in store for me.

“Huh.” I glanced up at Katie as she looked at her iPhone tablet. “High Stakes is in a couple of weeks’ time.”

”Sweet, we’ll have to check it out.” I responded with a grin before taking a sip from my drink. ”What’s on the card?”

“Some big matches but the ones that are standing out are the two rumbles.” Katie commented and I turned to her. “One for the men’s division and one for the Bombshell Division, both are open invite.”

”Open invite?” I asked Katie and she nodded in response. ”Who’s in the men’s rumble?”

“Let’s see here, Bill Barnhart, Eddie Lyons, Justin Smith and Alex Jones are the confirmed participants so far.” Katie commented as she looked at the match. “Meanwhile Alexandra Callaway, Mercedes Vargas, Cassie Wolfe, Seleana and Crystal Zdunich and Song are the confirmed women for the Bombshell Rumble.”

”Interesting……….” I trailed off as I stroked my chin in thought. ”Is there a prize for the winner?”

“Yep, winner gets a title shot of their choice at the Christmas Special on the 22nd of December.” Katie explained and that was all the convincing I needed. “Why? Are you considering taking part?”

”You got it! Where is High Stakes taking place?” I asked and Katie checked the location. ”I need to know where I need to go if I’m going to take part.”

“Tucson, Arizona.” Katie responded as she shook her head. “Shame Adrienne gave up on her wrestling career, she would’ve loved the Bombshell Rumble.”

”True but she won’t pass up on a chance to be at High Stakes again regardless.” I nodded in agreement before I started making the necessary moves, booking a fight to Tucson, making a call to the SCW HQ to let them know I was in the Men’s Rumble, the works.

2024 hasn’t seen the last of the Metal Storm in SCW!

Caleb’s Hotel Room, Tucson, Arizona
Monday the 11th of November 2024, 18:00pm

*promo time*

After turning on my camera I grinned at the camera ready to do my thing,

”Hey SCW, guess who’s back? That’s right, “The Metal Storm” is coming back for the High Stakes Rumble!” I stated as threw up the metal horns. ”After all, it’s High Stakes, it’s Open Invitational and at least two of my former foes have been confirmed for the match already! “Bulldog” Bill Barnhart, Alex Jones, Eddie Lyons and Justin Smith are the confirmed competitors so far but I am throwing my hat into the ring!”

This will be good.

”Let’s be honest, who had “Caleb Storms making sporadic appearances in SCW throughout the year” on their bingo card for this year? I was originally just gonna return for the Blast from the Past Tournament but as it turns out? I’ve missed wrestling here! Who knows? Maybe I’ll return full time in the new year but before we get that far? We need to talk about this match.” I added as I folded my arms. ”And where better to start than the other confirmed wrestlers, right?”

Starting with Bill.

”You’d think I’d be surprised that Bill’s still around but I guess Old Fart Barnhart still has some bark left in him!” I stated before shaking my head. ”But anyone who knows Bill knows that when it comes to in ring competition he’s all bark and no bite and rather than being a bulldog like his namesake? He’s as harmless as a labrador puppy! I should know, I’ve wrestled him numerous times, and this match will be no different.”

Next up is Alex.

”Alex Jones! How many times did we square off during my last year in SCW? At least twice and both times for the Roulette Title, well given what’s at stake here I guess some things never change, right?” I asked with a grin on my face. ”Well one thing is about to change, I could never beat you before but this time? Things will be different and I will get that win!”

Next up is Eddie.

”Eddie Lyons wasn’t around when I was in SCW but from what I’ve seen? The kid’s impressed me!” I said as I brushed some hair over my shoulder. ”Honestly he’s a guy I’d love to go one on one with one day, it just sucks that we’re in this Battle Royal instead, honestly his cousin Victoria might scare me more than Fenris based on what I’ve seen of her but I look forward to going toe to toe with the Unbreakable one!”

Last up, Justin!

”Last up for the confirmed wrestlers is Justin Smith, a guy who’s practically winless but still gets title opportunities, make that make sense!” I stated with a shrug before I shifted my weight. ”Still, he seems like a tough customer and I can’t wait to go up against him in this match, who knows how it’ll end? Well, one thing’s for sure, this is going to be great!”

It's that simple.

”Alex, Bill, Eddie, Justin, a new challenger has appeared and his name is Caleb Storms! And given the open invite nature of the match, who knows who else will show up to take part?” I asked with a grin on my face. ”Either way I’m back in SCW for one more round and who knows? Maybe I’ll pick up where I left off in the New Year?”

And with that I decided to wrap things up.

”But until then? I will leave you with this!” I stated as I threw up the devil horns again. ”The storm is back in SCW and I’m ready to get back into the swing of things, to everyone else in this match? You had better brace yourselves because a storm is brewing, otherwise you’ll be blown away by “The Metal Storm” Caleb Storms! See you guys at High Stakes!”

I turned off the camera as the scene fades.

[Andrew]

SUPERSTAR HIGH STAKES RUMBLE 1

Narrator:  I just got off a call with Bill Barnhart and he told me he was surprised that he is assigned to the Superstar High Stakes Rumble – Open Invitation match with the winner getting a shot at a Championship of their choice at Climax Control on December 22, 2024. Sometimes opportunities get dropped in your lap when you were not expecting them. With that said I will turn you over to Bill Barnhart who is in Tucson, Arizona.

The scene shifts and we get a shot by the camera person. They pan their camera around the hotel room where Bill and Bea area residing until High Stakes XIV is finished. Bill and Bea walk into camera view and sit down on the couch where the camera person places his camera to get a shot of the duo without having to move his camera. Bill is wearing faded blue jeans and a black tee shirt. Bea is wearing black slacks and a white shirt.

Bill:  I wish to thank everyone who tuned in today to listen to my comments leading up to my match at High Stakes XIV which is a Superstar High Stakes Rumble Open Invitation match. The winner of the match, ME of course, will get a choice what Championship I can challenge for at Climax Control on December 22, 2024. I can imagine the shocked looks on your faces wondering how I can be that damn confident I will win this match. The answer to your questions is because I am Bill Barnhart that’s why.

Bea:  As always I will be at ringside since I am Bill’s official Manager and I have the right to be at ringside when Bill wrestles.

Bill:  This is how the match is supposed to work. Two wrestlers will start the match. The way to elimination in this match is to be tossed over the top rope to the arena floor. There is an additional stipulation that if you get tossed out of the ring and land on the arena floor you are out of the match. . .PERIOD! None of the normal stipulations that both your feet need to touch the arena floor to be disqualified from the match. The other stipulation is that after the first two wrestlers start the match every two minutes after that another wrestler will be drawn and enter the ring.

Bea:  Bill is not a stranger when it comes to matches like this. Bill told me when he saw he was assigned to this match for High Stakes XIV that he is sure he will win this match and earn a shot at a Championship of his choice.

Bill:  Another thing I like about a match like this is that it is an easy type of match for me to win. I feel I have the advantage in this match and I will give you reasons why I feel that way. Currently the match participates include myself, Alex Jones, Eddie Lyons, Justin Smith, several others who have decided to join in on this match. I will not go into specific win-loss records I have against each of these wrestlers individually. I will, however, inform you that my total combined win-loss record against Alex Jones, Eddie Lyons, and Justin Smith comes to 4-3-0. That puts me ahead of those three in the win category. There is nothing the other wrestlers in this match can do to prevent me from winning. And there is nothing any other wrestler who decides to enter this match can do to prevent me from winning.

Bea:  That is an advantage for you Bill.

Bill:  Yes but there is something I apparently misinterpreted when the Card was posted. It said that others not currently assigned to the match can sign up and participate. The next thing I know is that Ben Jordan and Caleb Storms signed up for this match. I do not have Singles matches records with Ben Jordan but I have had Tag Team matches with him as one of the opponents. As for Caleb Storms I am even in the wins and losses department.

Bea:  I am sure the viewers would like to know why you feel having the advantage in this type of match.

Bill:  With the exception of Ben Jordan I can easily defeat the other wrestlers in this match. I would love the match to come down to myself and Ben to see who comes out the winner. And when I win this match I will ask to challenge for the Roulette Championship as I am a two-time Roulette Championship and I want to become a three-time Roulette Champion.

Bea:  So, Bill, do you have a way of putting all you have said into simple terms so that everyone, including your opponents, will understand what you mean?

Bill:  Of course! This match isn’t about who can last the longest to end up being the last person standing to win the match. This match isn’t about who is the largest, fastest, or the person with a larger variety of moves and holds to work with. There is no strategy involved in a match like this where you work on one wrestler at a time to eliminate them from the match. Since new wrestlers will arrive into the match every two minutes none of us know if we will face only one wrestler or ten or them at the same time. The concept of this match is to work on not getting eliminated and to eliminate others by tossing them over the top rope and out of the ring to the arena floor whenever the opportunity presents itself. Due to my long successful wrestling career, and being a two-time Roulette Champion in Sin City Wrestling, I have absolutely no doubt I will win this match.

Bea:  Well stated Bill. Our air time is coming to a close so is there anything else you want to say to the viewers before the camera feet is disconnected?

Bill:  In my match I will win and everyone else will lose. That’s all everyone needs to know.

After Bill states his closing comments the camera feed is cut and the screen goes dark.

[Alex Jones]

Game Over

When you are young, you feel immortal. Like there’s nothing that can hurt you. No matter what happens no matter what kind of injury you have. You always think you can come back from it and just keep going like nothing changed. The only problem is, that everything changes. Everyone has an internal clock that is slowly ticking down. And when it reaches zero, your body is no longer going to do what you want to. Anyone that is a startling concept that not many of us can accept until we’re old enough to. But for a professional athlete? Well, that can be something that no one ever truly accepts.

When everything you have is a dream that has been in your life since you were a teenager and that dream is all dependent on your body being able to do what you need to do and suddenly it’s taken away? Mentally that can break you. It can destroy you. It can leave you in a state where you don’t know where you’re going with the rest of your life. Or if you are ever going to recover. Most stand-up finding something to occupy their time, something else to keep the juices flowing into keep them close to what they used to love. Some walk away entirely.

But when you’re told that the dream is over no one has ever been ready for it. No matter what age, no matter what happened, it always comes as a shock. And for Alex, that shock came just over two years ago.

”Mr. Jones….here is what a healthy knee joint should look….and here is yours…” Alex sat back in the chair staring ahead at the x-rays the orthopedic surgeon he had been seeing the last few months put on the lightbox. The pen in his hand being used as a makeshift pointer as he brings attention to the center of the joint. ”See in the healthy one there’s plenty of cartilage in between these two bones. And in yours there’s nothing.”

Alex states silent, his arms folded over his chest his body language showing he was closing off and didn’t give a shit. His nostrils flared. The surgeon raised an eyebrow and slowly pulled down the two x-rays putting up a new one of a neck and a spine. Slowly turning back to Alex again. ”And this is your neck spine and right shoulder. You can see the separation in some of the discs, the pressure being put on some of the joints, and the calcification in your right shoulder. Mr. Jones this is no longer a time when I can strongly advise you to stop professional wrestling. We are past that now. I’m flat out telling you to stop.”

”Yeah, thanks Doc” Alex stood up, stepping forward and picking up the piece of paper that was on the orthopedic surgeon's desk turning it and throwing the pen on top of it with a small smirk. ”Now, can you sign my medical release? I have work to do.”

”No…”

”No?!?”

Alex questioned it as he stood back, surprised that the doctor wouldn’t just sign the bit of paper. The surgeon took a deep breath flipping the switch on the X-ray light before putting the X-rays back on the poll with the rest of them. He walked around his desk and sat down, the medical release in the pan over the other side of it. ”Alex… I have been piecing you back together for the better part of 20 years. You first walked into my office when you blew out your ACL when you were 21 years old. And since then I have been stitching you back together and sending you back out there. The only problem is you are now being held together by duct tape spit and dreams… and I can’t do it anymore. So I’m not signing that release. I’m sorry unless you do something drastic it’s over.”

The words echoed through his ears. They rattled around in his brain and for a few moments time slowed down and he couldn’t hear anything. It seemed like his career was going to end with a whimper, not with a bang. The rest of that day seemed like a blur. Alex went back to the gym walking in the doors. He could hear the sounds of weights being moved and hard footsteps running on the wooden slats of the ring. He moved past a few of the students most of them smiling and being nice but Alex couldn’t hear, he couldn’t bring himself to acknowledge them and he continued to move through towards his office.

Finn Whelan, head trainer and business manager of Wolfslair stepped forward with a few bits of paper in his hand ”Hey Alex I need you to sign this I need to order someone to come in and clean the canvas and need to buy some new ring slats…” Finn still there and waited, he knew what was about to happen. He needed to buy something. Alex would argue with him. The two would yell at each other about Finn spending too much money and in The and Alex would just sign the papers and tell Finn to get fucked

”Yeah…sure..whatever..” he signed the bottom of the paper moving through to his office and closing the door. Finn stood there for a moment confused as he went back over the interaction in his mind. He was somewhat speechless and not sure what he should do.

He took a deep breath and walked into his office. ”What the shit?”

”What?”

”Don’t “what” me you old fuck. You know damn well that the way this whole thing works is I come to you with a problem you tell me no we argue about it and then you just end up doing what I ask you to anyway. Arguing with you and Me giving you shit is our dynamic. Don’t fuck with our dynamic.”

”Listen, you little Irish shit, I don’t have the patience to deal with you right now. So if you would like to remove yourself from my office and go do whatever it is, you do this place. I would greatly appreciate it.”

Finn shook his head and threw his hands in the air before taking a deep breath and looking over at Alex ”So what’s the problem?”

Alex sat there for a moment looking up before realizing that Finn wasn’t going to leave until he got an answer. Alex took a deep breath standing up and folding his arms over his chest before looking out the window to the ring in the center of the gym, watching Austin with some of the students and Aiden bouncing around in the corner he closed his eyes and sighed heavily ”My orthopedic surgeon won’t sign my medical release to get back in the ring. He says there’s too much damage to my knees, and my neck, and my back, and my right shoulders also fucked.”

”So… you’re being forced to retire? And that’s why you’re acting like a moody Emo shithead.”

”That’s ironic considering your entire look screams that you’re about to take a handful of painkillers and lay down and never wake back up” Finn chuckled to himself and nodded slowly at Alex. Alex took a deep breath, his hands finding his hips as he looked over some pieces of paperwork before looking back up at Finn. ”Look, I’ll be fine. I just need time to process it. Just go out there and do what you normally do, buy what you need to buy. I’m good seriously.

Finn shrugged slowly backing up and opening the door as he closed up behind him. He knew that Alex wasn’t fine as he said he was but he also knew that he needed to get over himself.

A grand return

”Believe me, no one is more surprised by my return than me.”

A small smile came on Alex‘s lips. His long black hair tied back in a high bun, his beard trimmed short and his piercing blue eyes stared forward. He was in great shape, clearly, he hadn’t been idle while he had been away from the professional wrestling world.

”Three years ago I was the SCW world champion. Three years ago I was still at the top of my game. I held that world title high and when it was taken away from me I had full intentions of staying around. But slowly as the months wore on after that I felt my entire body starting to betray me. It was telling me that I needed to take time away, that I needed to walk away from the business that I loved. Not completely obviously. I still had to manage one of the greatest professional wrestling gyms that has ever opened, as well as help form the minds of young impressionable youth. To turn them into trained fucking killers.”

“And for all of my arrogant talk, the truth was that when I had my final match in this company in February 2022 that was it. I was done. There was no future for Me inside a professional wrestling ring. I was going to just train people, to guide them, to help them. That was my new calling and that was where I was going to be. But so many will tell you that once you’re in this business you are not for life. You can tell people that you aren’t going to have anything to do with it but there’s always that itch. That irresistible pool that is guiding you right back to where you started. It’s just when your body is completely broken and you can’t do that and that want to get into the ring doesn’t mean anything”

“Now I will get to Howe and why I came back to this company. But let me make one thing perfectly clear.”

“I’m not here for a one-off appearance. I’m back.”

“I’m not back because I have unfinished business. I mean everyone has unfinished business if they leave the professional wrestling arena, I’m back because this is my life. This is in my blood. And nothing I do in my life will ever amount to it. At least not in a professional sense. I love being a husband to a beautiful wife and I love being a father to my children. I love being there for my friends and family. But running the gym, being a mentor, anything else I do in a business sense is never going to live up to what I have done in professional wrestling and it’s never going to live up to that feeling. That feeling that we all have ourselves.”

His words are full of passion, his eyes burn, this is definitely the Alex Jones that we all remember in his prime. At least mentally. But physically? Even Alex doubts himself. Of course, this isn’t something he’s going to flat-out say in a promo it’s something that you can see by subtle differences in his body language compared to what he used to do and what he’s like now. The way he carries himself and the way he favors one side over the other.

”So, I came back. I came back and I have my sites set on that world championship. So I could’ve come back in another match. I could’ve begged the management of this company to just give me a match on any random climax control but I decided I wanted to come back at high stakes and I wanted to come back in this match. The rumble. The invitational. So I have been keeping an eye on this company and even though I’m sure most of you know that Finn Whelan is involved in my gym the truth is he and I have never seen either eye. And we have history. A lot of history.”

“History that I won’t go through right now. And he might even not hold the world championship by the time I get a shot at it whether or not I win this rumble or not. So let me be clear about this. I’m well aware of my limitations and I’m well aware that I’ll probably have some ring rust but when it comes to someone like me, you never want to underestimate me. Ever.”

“Do I need to rattle off my résumé? Probably not. But I’m going to anyway. Please indulge an old man.”

“I am an 11-time world champion, I have won multiple titles and tournaments in every company I have ever been in. Hell just in this company I’m a two-time world champion, a former roulette champion, a former mixed tag team champion, one half of the tag team of the year in 2020 and 2021 Man of the Year as well as a Hall of Fame inductee from the class of 2022…so yeah…I’m a big deal.”

He pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath he can feel his confidence rising again. And why wouldn’t he be confident? In this company at least he is in their Hall of Fame.

”And so far there are only four of us announced for this match. Myself, Eddie Lyons, Justin Smith, and Bill Barnhart. I’ve heard rumors that Ben Jordan might join us, and honestly, I would love that. I like Ben. I’d also love to see Griffin Hawkins come back, and Jack Washington the kid who beat me for the world title, hell bring back Mac Bane. Why not Erik Staggs? Let’s go through the Hall of Fame and dig up some of those names.”

“We need some real competition in this match because if we just go by the ones that are announced we have Eddie Lyons who is a great kid from a great family but he just lost a triple-threat match that would give him a shot to get the roulette title back and he’s one of these kids who can’t seem to get the winning formula right. And I like Eddie, I followed his career for some time but the truth is no matter what people think about him. He is simply not ready. If he were to throw everyone else over the top rope and get a match against Finn, then Finn would kill him. He would eat him alive.”

“Bill Barnhart is still floating around here stinking up the place and the less said about Justin Smith the better. We need real competition in this match and that’s what I am going to provide. If someone like Bill Barnhart won it then everyone would be sitting back and laughing at this company. If Justin Smith somehow fluke a win and became the number one contender then no one would care about that world title match.”

“And if Miles Kasey somehow beats Finn then we need that star power to carry that match because that kid still isn’t ready. So I’m gonna do everything I can to win this match and go on to become a three-time world champion in this company. Because my story isn’t over my career isn’t done and I have had to fight back from injury after injury just to get back here”

Alex took a deep breath calming himself down.

”My career was over, I had resigned myself to that fact. When I would go home at night I would sit there and have no hope whatsoever of stepping foot in this ring and luckily I was wrong. I was wrong because I was given a chance to come back. I was given a chance to continue my career and I have been given a chance to set things right and that is what I am going to do. I’m going to get into that rumble and I’m gonna do everything I can to throw every last one of you over the top rope. Then I will go onto face Finn Whelan or Miles Kasey….”

[Eddie Lyons]

Well the dream was going to have to be put on hold. The Lyons Den would not walk out of High Stakes as the dual roulette and mixed tag champions. Aiden Reynolds had bested him again and would be the one to challenge Alexander Raven. This would bother most wrestlers, but Eddie took it in stride. He liked Aiden and his hope was that he would be one to clip the ravens wings and leave Tuscon as the new Roulette Champion, and this time get the run he deserves without Victoria to ruin it for him. But as one door closes, another opens and this one could lead him to the very match Aiden said he deserved. A shot at Finn Whelan and the World Heavyweight Championship.

Or would it be Miles Kasey? He had a different edge about him recently and could very well shock the world and defeat Finn Whelan himself.. While Eddie’s mind was already set on winning the High Stakes rumble and challenging the World Champion on December twenty second, be it Finn Whelan or be it Miles Kasey. Eddie liked chasing goals and now he had the goal of bringing home the World Heavyweight Championship just in time for Christmas.

___________

“I’ve already put it behind me.” Eddie said, as Victoria glared at him, looking disappointed. “Losses happen, unlike you. I don’t stress over them. I dust myself off and move on.”

“Well, maybe you should start worrying about them.” said Victoria, “Because as of late you always seem to lose the big ones. What happens if you don’t win this rumble? Am I going to have to go find Alex and persuade him to enter?”

“I think YOU should worry about Luna.” Eddie snapped, annoyed at Victorias remarks. “She already beat you once. If you want to remain a double champion, you need to really step it up this time.”

“That was Bella Madison's fault.” Victoria grumbled.

“Perhaps it was.” Eddie said, ”But perhaps it wasn’t. It’s up to you to prove it. Did she only beat you because Bella Madison got in your head? Or is she simply the better woman?”

“IT WAS BELLA MADISON.” growled Victoria.

“...We’ll see.” said Eddie.

Victoria frowned at him, and folded her arms.

“You’re supposed to have my back you know. We’re still a team.” she said.

“What do you think I’m doing?” said Eddie, “I’m trying to motivate you. Make sure your focus is in the right areas, because I still want our dual double champion dream to come true. I don’t want to see you lose to Luna, but you need to realize the threat she poses to you. Learn from your losses, and allow them to make you better.”

Victoria sighed, part of her knew Eddie was right and maybe her recent losses to Kayla and Luna had humbled her a little. Only a little.

“...I didn’t give up against Kayla.” she grumbled.

“I know.” said Eddie, “You may not be the most liked Bombshell but nobody denys you are one of the toughest. If you ask me, You, Kayla and Luna are the women to beat in this company. You’re also probably the three least liked.”

“Buncha jealous bitches. They hate us because they ain’t us.” Victoria shrugged, “Look I know Luna is tough and I said before she at least earned the opportunity. I got the Luna Pasilno situation under control. You go win your rumble so you can challenge and defeat Finn Whelan.”

“Or Miles Kasey.” Eddie reminded her.

“Right.” Victoria said with a laugh to herself, “Or Miles Kasey.”

“Hey Miles is a different animal as of late.” Eddie said, “He just might beat Finn Whelan, especially since I ended the aura he had that made him seem unbeatable. I showed everyone that the great Finn Whelan can be defeated, and on some level that has to help Miles Kasey’s confidence going into his match.”

“I mean, I know his balls seemed to have finally dropped.” said Victoria, “But let’s not act like he’s actually on Finn’s level, or yours for that matter. Aiden was right you know. You should have been more angry about not getting the match with Finn and being put back in a contendership match for the Roulette Championship.”

“I mean, yeah he was.” said Eddie, “And it did bother me some. Maybe I even had thoughts that Miles stole my opportunity. But at the end of the day another opportunity was still presented to me, and I’m not one to squander any opportunity. Especially one that means I get a chance to punch Alexander Raven in the mouth.”

“Well now you have a bigger opportunity.” Victoria said.

“That I do.” Eddie agreed.

He knew the road wasn’t going to be easy, while names like Justin Smith and Bill Barnhart didn’t worry him much, there was still the unknown.  He didn’t know much about Alex Jones other than he wasn’t the gay frog guy but rather a former World Champion. Likely taking a page from the Kris Ryans playbook and making his comeback to SCW. But the true unknown was that anybody could enter, from anywhere. He might find himself across the ring from his own cousin Alexander Lyons, or any of the other PWS stars. Perhaps SCW will get to experience the antics of The Squid Man, or feel the power of Mule Jr.

And then there were the other companies that Eddie wasn’t familiar enough with who likely had amazing talent of their own. But they still had to go through Eddie Lyons, if they were unknown to him. He was unknown to them, and they would find out why he is the one they call UNBREAKABLE.

__________

Eddie sits on the apron of an empty ring, his mixed tag title sitting in frame next to him. He’s dressed as casually as he usually is, jeans and an Eddie Lyons PWS t-shirt.

“Well you got me again Aiden Reynolds.” said Eddie, “But I ain’t mad about it. I told you that our match was about as evenly matched as a match could be, and any one of us, LJ included could have won. But you were the better man that night, and I’ll be watching to see you punch Alexander Raven in the mouth and give him what he deserves.”

Eddie exhales and pauses for a moment.

“And you said some things about how I need to be striving for more.” he continued, “And you were right. I should be facing Finn Whelan for the World Heavyweight Championship. But like you also said, I’m not one to squander any opportunity given to me. I was given the opportunity to earn a shot at Alexander Raven. I wasn’t going to complain about it. I’m going to take it and run with it as best I can. Besides, I’ll take any opportunity to smack the shit out of Alexander Raven.”

Eddie grins at the camera.

“But now, I do have that chance." he continued, "All I need to do is win this High Stakes Rumble, and I’ll be on my way to facing the World Heavyweight Champion. Yes, in case you haven’t figured it out.  If I win this match, I am challenging the World Heavyweight Champion in December, be that Finn Whelan or Miles Kasey.”

Eddie takes a moment for that to sink in, making sure everyone knows his plans should he win the Superstar High Stakes Rumble.

“You know, it’s really the unknown that I need to worry about.” Eddie continued, “I’ve beat the shit out of Justin Smith enough times that he is of no real concern to me, and Billy Boy isn’t too far behind. Now Alex Jones is interesting, a former world champion returning to the company. Perhaps Kris Ryans has started a trend.”

Eddie shrugged.

“Well, in case you don’t know me Alex, my name is UNBREAKABLE Eddie Lyons.” he continued, with confidence in his tone, “While you are from this companies past, I am hailed as one of it’s brightest stars of the future. You can ask anyone who’s been out there with me how tough I am and they’ll tell you. They’ll tell you I’m one of the toughest sunuvabitches you’ll ever get in there with, and right now? I’m the best I’ve ever been. You want to make a comeback? You’re going to have to go through me, and I am not the one to be taking lightly.”

He looks to the camera, keeping his confident expression on.

“That goes for the whole lot of you still to sign up.” Eddie continued, “If you’re part of the SCW family, then you already know. But those coming from anywhere else are gonna learn real quick. You wanna come into OUR house? You better come with all you have because I’m not gonna let some outsider stroll in here and take a championship opportunity.”

He looks at his mixed tag championship sitting next to him.

“You know, I do hope it’s you Finn.” said Eddie, “Nothing against Miles Kasey, but I want to be the one to dethrone you…AGAIN. I want to be the man who ended not only the mixed tag reign, but also the World Heavyweight reign of Finn Whelan. Winning it from Miles Kasey just doesn’t have that same energy to it. No offense Miles, but if it does come down to you and I, then your reign will be cut very short.”

He pauses, taking time to reflect on his words.

“So both of you, watch this match closely because WHEN I win, I’m coming for one of you.” said Eddie, “Whomever walks out a champion will become hunted by a lion, and he’s hungrier than he’s ever been. He’s looking for blood and he’s looking to claim his rightful place atop the SCW Kingdom.”

He takes his mixed tag championship and rests it on his shoulder.

“I know you can all feel it too.” said Eddie, “My time is coming, Aiden has been singing my praises like he’s my personal bard. It’s time to make his praises come true. It’s time to show that Aiden was right once again and that I am the man that will beat Finn Whelan and become the new World Champion. So again I say to anyone who dares enter this rumble, you better come with your best because I not only want this. I NEED this. I need to finally get my shot at the World Champion, the match everyone knows I deserve. Alex Jones may be a former world champion but he has to start at the bottom again like everyone else. Justin Smith and Bill Barnhart don’t deserve shit, and are only good for licking the sweat off my boots. Anyone else willing to step up doesn’t deserve it as much as Eddie Lyons. Especially if you come in uncontracted from some other company. This is MY opportunity, it’s MY turn and nobody is going to take that from me. You wanna try? Then show up, enter the rumble and I’ll throw you right back out on your ass. You think I’m playing around? Come find out and you’ll see how serious I am real damn quick. My name is Unbreakable Eddie Lyons and I’m coming for the World Heavyweight Championship. So Justin, Billy Boy, Alex and anyone else who steps up….”

Eddie pauses centering his gaze on the camera.

“Let’s rumble.” he said with a confident grin on his face as the scene fades out to black.

_________

Eddie knew he was ready, he just had to prove it. Losing another big match would really sting and he just couldn’t let that happen. That meant he needed to step his game up even more, he had to dig down deep and find something new within him, more aggression maybe or perhaps all he needed was to stay focused and not get off track. Whatever it was he was stopping at nothing to find it because he really wanted his chance at the World Heavyweight Championship.

“How do you do it Cleo?” he asked his friend and current PWS World Champion Cleo Phillips. A woman who had recently defended her championship against the man who recently defeated Eddie, one Aiden Reynolds.

“I don’t think bout it’ too much.” said Cleo, “I just go out there and do my thing. Keep my confidence high and stay focused.”

“You make it look so easy.” said Eddie.

“It’s never been easy Eddie.” Cleo responded, “I had to work my way up the PWS roster, just like you’re doing in SCW.  I had to go through my own failures, betrayals and even being thrown off the top of a building. But all that shit made me stronger and made me the two time World Champion I am today.”

Eddie nodded, listening to her. He has the utmost respect for Cleo. A woman who once had troubles with the law, spending time in and out of prison/ Finally leaving her life of crime behind her and becoming a leader for the next generation, helping the troubled youth of today. She was considered a leader around The Lyons Den as well, and many considered her the top student.

“I can feel it Cleo..” said Eddie, “I’m like this close to finally becoming a World Champion. I just need that little extra push, or to pull that little extra bit out of me and I know I can do this. I can be the SCW World Champion.”

“Oh no doubt.” said Cleo, “And you know I’m behind you the entire way. It’ll be dope to have another World Champion around here.”

“The Lyons Den needs this too.” said Eddie, “Not my team with Victoria but our school. With the exception of you, we always have some trouble winning the big one. Vincent never quite reached his full potential back in HWL, and Alex, Victoria and myself have had our share of success…but never the big one. The Lyons Den talent just never seems to be able to truly break through and be on top, present company excluded obviously.”

It was true, across various companies talent from The Lyons Den had won tag team championships, and even secondary championships. But only Cleo Phillips had became a World Champion and she did it twice. It was no wonder Coach Kaiser considered her the top student of the new era.

“Well, Coach won some world championships in his day.” said Cleo.

“I meant us. The new school.” said Eddie, “You know he says we’re all better than the talent from his day. Says we work harder, and we’re just all around better than the old days when he was the most active.”

“I think you’re worrying too much Eddie.” said Cleo, “Just do what you do. You proved you can beat Finn Whelan. So don’t think about it, just go do it. Go win your rumble and then go win your World Championship.”

“Do or do not. There is no try.” Eddie said with a nod.

“Yoda?” grinned Cleo

“Hey, it’s sound advice.” said Eddie.

“Then go get it done.” said Cleo, “Then WE can be the World Champions around here.”

“Victoria would hate it.” Eddie grinned.

“She might.” agreed Cleo, “But I think she’ll be content that “her” team will have all the gold as they say.”

“That’s if she beats Luna.” said Eddie

“True that. But even still, I think it’s Alex that we’d have to worry about most.” said Cleo, “He’s the only one of us that’s active and has no championship. If you and Victoria both end up with two, and he still hasn’t captured one..his rage might go further untested.”

“Well.” said Eddie, “I can’t worry about that too much. I need to keep my eyes on the prize. I’m gonna do it this time Cleo. I’m gonna bring our school a second World Championship, and maybe I’ll even take your title as “top student.”

“Hey, watch yourself.” Cleo grinned, “But, hell yeah. That’s the spirit. Go get it done. I want my World Champion buddy aight?”

Eddie nodded, and shared a fist bump with Cleo.

“Then I guess I have a rumble to win.” Eddie replied confidently.

__________

Eddie Lyons leans back against a stone wall as the scene opens, he’s outside and it’s late evening, the sun just making it’s way down, as the moon prepares to rise.

“Am I crazy for hoping that better competition emerges?” says Eddie, “Because right now the only feasible threat that I’m aware of is Alex Jones, and I’m only basing that off knowing that he’s a former world champion and was someone to watch for during his time here. It remains to be seen if he can still hang with todays roster, but I can say that he will at least be more of a threat than Justin or Bill are to me.”

Eddie shrugs, he really had nothing to say about Bill or Justin anymore, it was always the same with them, Eddie proved himself better than those two every time.

“So what am I supposed to even say here?” said Eddie, “I have no idea what to expect, or who we might see. Maybe more from SCW’s past will remerge. It’s been a theme here as of late, with your Kevin Carters and your Kris Ryans making their returns to the ring. It wouldn’t surprise me to see others do the same, but we;re not here to talk about SCW’s past anymore, we’re here to talk about it’s future and it’s future is Eddie Lyons.”

He pats his chest firmly, with pride as he continues.

“See, I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done.” said Eddie, “Be it here in SCW, or anywhere else. You step into the ring with me, there’s gonna be a fight. If you want to be like Jones and use this as your return, you’ll find out real quick who SCW’s future is. If you want to try to come over from some other company into OUR house? Well I’ll come ready to defend it and show why SCW talent is the top talent in the business. I’ve been doing nothing but fighting for over a year. Nobody deserves this more than me. NOBODY!”

Eddie shouts at the camera, angry in tone.

“I pinned Finn Whelan.” he shouted, “ME! Now I have to earn my chance in this rumble where I could go up against anyone from anywhere. Well, if that what it takes then send the whole god damn world at me because that’s what it’s going to take. I am TIRED of waiting and it’s time I took someone's fucking head off and get what I fucking deserve.”

Eddie paused for a moment, he didn’t feel like himself for a moment there. He looked at his mixed tag title, could he be hanging around Victoria too much?

“Sorry…” he said, “I just want this so bad, and I feel like it keeps slipping from my grasp. I know I can do it, but I have to wonder what I’m missing. Why can’t I figure out what Eddie Lyons needs to reach the next level? Victoria tells me I need to be more aggressive. Is that it? Or am I just overthinking it too much? Whatever it is, I’m going to find it and I’m going to use it to win this rumble and go on to become the World Heavyweight Champion.  No amount of former world champions or outsiders coming in will be able to stop me. This is MY match to win, and I dare anyone, and I do mean anyone to try and stop me. I am Unbreakable Eddie Lyons and I am coming for the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP.  So if you do choose to enter this match and try and stop me then you need to truly…..BE PREPARED.”

He doesn’t take his eyes off the camera, as it slowly fades to black.

_________

It was time for one of Coach Kaisers talent meetings at The Lyons Den. Eddie stood next to Cleo and Victoria, with his cousin Alexander lurking off to the side nearby trying to keep his distance from everyone else. Eddie stood intently watching as his coach paced back and forth in front of them.

“Eddie, Cleo, Victoria and Alex.” Coach Kaiser began, “The four of you are the talent we’ve sent out to represent our school. All of you have been working hard and while I don’t agree with some of the decisions a couple of you have been making, I won’t stop you from making your own decisions. Like I always say, I’m not writing your stories for you.”

Off to the side, Alex scoffed in annoyance, but Coach Kaiser let it go unchecked, they all had become used to Alexanders attitude.

“Eddie…” Coach Kaiser said as he directed his attention to Eddie first, “How are you feeling? I know you’ve set a lofty goal for yourself to become SCW World Heavyweight Champion.”

“I feel great Coach.” Eddie replied, “I know I can bring another World Championship to this school.”

“Good.” said Coach Kaiser, “I see it in your eyes too. You want it more than anything, so go out there and get it.”

Eddie nodded, wanting nothing more than to make his dream happen. He felt ready, and many of his colleagues believed in him too.

“I will Coach.” said Eddie, “I’m feeling more motivated every day. I intend to smash through the rumble and bring home the big one. No more waiting. Eddie Lyons is going to the next level of his career.”

“Just remember, we support you no matter what happens.” said Coach Kaiser, “I’m proud of how much you’ve grown this past year and a half or so, and even if you don’t do it now, you WILL be a World Champion one day.”

Eddie raised an eyebrow, as Coach moved on to talk to Cleo. Was he suggesting that maybe he couldn’t get the job done? Well Coach was wrong. He would reach his goal this time. He would win the rumble at High Stakes and on December 22nd he would become the SCW World Heavyweight champion. Like Cleo Phillips before him, he would stand here with a World Championship.

“..so keep being the leader you are…” he could hear Coach telling Cleo, while he was lost in thought.

He wanted to be a leader too and knew he was on his way. At this time last year he was still finding himself, but now he had become one of the best stars SCW had to offer. Anyone who watched him or faced off against him cold figure that out, and now it was time to not be one of the best, but be THE BEST.”

“Look…if you don’t want to talk fine..but if you do ever need to Alex, I’m here for you too.” Eddie could still hear Coach Kaiser talking to the other students while still caught up in his own thoughts, Alexander was being as moody about things as usual it sounded like.

He promised himself he would never let anger consume him like it had his cousin Alexander. Alex being the only student without a championship now had only made his attitude worse. Eddie was at least relieved that Alex was a PWS problem, unless of course he decided to enter the rumble too. Which he was technically allowed to do. If he did however, Eddie would have no problem sending the feral one of the family back to the land of PWS. Somehow, he knew Alex simply wasn’t going to bother entering though, but Eddie had to stay open to the possibility.

As Coach Kaiser approached Victoria, Eddie wondered if Coach himself could be planning a return. He hadn’t stepped into a ring competitively in over ten years, but with all the returns being made in SCW, it just might spark a fire that pushes The Dragonborn to spread his wings once again.

“Victoria…our dual champion.” Coach said to Victoria.

He had to stop being nervous. Anyone could enter that rumble, but whomever it was would be forced to deal with a very hungry Eddie Lyons. It didn’t matter to Eddie if it was Coach Kaiser, Alexander Lyons or the fucking Dalai lama himself. They would all be thrown out, and when the smoke settles one man was going to stand victorious.

“Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons.

[JustinSmith]

The scene opens up with Justin Smith standing in Tucson by the location where the El Tour De Tucson, a cycling race takes place. He stops before going to ask for tickets to call his friend and former trainer Casey Williams.

Justin-Hey Casey, what do you think about me being involved in the Superstar High Stakes Rumble Open Invitation, where “Bulldog” Bill Barnhart, Alex Jones, and “Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons, and others yet to be determined have been entered at High Stakes?

Casey-Im looking forward to it.

Justin-Why?

Casey-You have an match that you can use your unique power and move set to get the upper hand and a win.

Justin-I will prove my worth by defeating them for sure.

Casey-It will be awesome to see that visual.

Justin waves off the cameraman, asking him to leave so Justin can continue his conversation as the scene fades to black.

The next day, Justin is seen at his hotel room, getting ready to go to the gym to get a workout in, but turns to call out his opponents in “Bulldog” Bill Barnhart, Alex Jones and “Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons and others to be determined.

Justin-Bill, Alex, Eddie, I am looking forward to showing the world how dominant I really am when I throw you around until I get tired and toss your asses out.  I am going to showcase that I am as good as I say I am.  There is nothing that will prevent me from achieving my ultimate goals and becoming champion here in SCW and not let anyone drag me down. Even the unknown names who may pop up in here won’t shake my confidence because I know what I bring to the table and will do whatever I can to emerge victorious by any means necessary.

The scene fades to black with Justin cackling as he leaves the hotel room to go to the gym.

[Aaron Matthews]

- - - - -

Left Hook. Right Jab.. Duck.
Right Hook. Left Jab. Body Shot. Duck.
Double Right Jab. Duck again. Left Uppercut.

I stood there in the middle of the ring. Listening to every call out from my personal trainer. Flawlessly executioning the call outs. Despite being drenched in sweat and feeling the exhaustion overcoming me with each power punch I threw. My gloves collided with the protective covering on my coach’s hands and body. Then as he had been known to do he failed to make a call out.

Catching me in the back of the head with the protective mitts he had on his hand. Completely throwing me off balance.I stumbled forward a bit after losing my footing. My hands came down in frustration. Quickly I felt him push against my chest with those mitts to get my attention. Looking right up at him. Meeting eye to eye and that look he was given me was troublesome.

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
Come on now Aaron. How many times have you been told to expect the unexpected?

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
I know. It’s just that. . .

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
It’s just nothing. No man is going to want to hear your excuses in a real fight. He won’t care how tired you are, how run down you are, how physically spent you are, or how mentally drained you are. No. All he cares about is knocking your punk ass out and getting his hand raised in victory.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
You know Sebastian. I think sometimes you forget I’m not a boxer. Instead I’m a thirty five year old dad that’s just trying to trim down the dough around the gut.

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
And I think you forget you pay me good money to not be your friend, but to get your skinny fat ass in the best shape of your life.

Oof. He got me right there. He got me good. For the better part of the last six months I have been paying top notch dollar to be pushed to my limit. Taking a couple of steps over to one of the corners. I undid the velcro that kept the gloves on my hands. Popping my left hand out of the glove, tossing it to the ground. Then gripping the right glove and popping my right hand out of it with a little more ease.

Tossing both gloves in the corner of the ring. Only to lean down and grab my water bottle off the mat. Squeezing it to squirt the water into my mouth. Exactly what I needed to clear up that cottonmouth I had been experiencing. By the time I had put the water bottle back down and turned around. Sebastian was already ripping into me again.

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
I’ve been telling you for a good little while now that if you get yourself into something physical. Other than this it would help keep you on the track you want to be on.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
And I have told you a few times now...

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
You’re active enough with this and having a six year old. Yes. I have heard it a bunch of times now. Again it’s nothing more than a cop out. Just another excuse and a way to allow yourself to be lazy.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Kiss my ass dude!

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
I’ll pass on that one. You’re not my type. But the only reason you’re bitter about it is because you know what I’m saying is right. Being thirty five isn’t an excuse. Being a dad isn’t an excuse. Being busy isn't an excuse. If you want to really get into the best shape. You’d do something about it.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
What exactly are you expecting me to do? Get involved in some kind of basketball rec league for old men?!

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
Honestly? That would be kind of intriguing to watch. Your ankles getting taken by a sixty year old man would be the funniest shit ever.

That deep belly laugh that came from Sebastian made me react on instinct alone. Putting my right hand up and flashing the middle finger.

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
In all seriousness though Aaron. You’re an athlete at heart. You did all that pro wrestling shit for years. Maybe dabble in that or something. Anything to keep your ass up and moving.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Wrestling was a great time. Some of the best times of my life. However I don’t know if my body can handle something like that. It is so physically demanding. All the aches and pains of being slammed against the mat. None of it sounds appealing now. Not like it did in my early twenties. And on top of that I tried to get back into it two years ago. Turned out to be a waste of my time.

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
Don’t know how you can say it was a waste of your time. Considering it was keeping you active which is the whole basis of this argument. Not to mention didn’t you win their biggest battle royal or something like that? And then go on to the main event of their biggest show?

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Yes. Those things did happen. However it was all a disaster. All the delays. All the poor management decisions. It didn’t take long at all to make it unfun for me and make me feel like getting back in the ring was pointless.

S E B A S T I A N | E V E R L A N D
Sounds like to me that going back there was a poor decision on your part. Maybe if you went somewhere else it would be a different story. Just something to think about or keep being doughy in the mid section. Can’t make you do something you don’t want to do.

Sebastian let a shrug leave his shoulders. Taking a few steps over to the ropes and climbing out of the ring. I found myself shaking my head a little bit. I knew he meant well and he was just trying to do the job I hired him to do. I guess I just wasn’t in the right frame of mine to hear it right this second. Walking back over to the corner to retrieve my water bottle.

As I had hunched over to grab it. I watched the screen of my phone light up with an incoming call. I grabbed a hold of the phone and stood up looking at it.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Who would be calling me from Vegas?

I took my thumb and slid it across the surface of my screen. Quickly being sure to bring it up to my ear speaking with a puzzled tone.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Hello?

Little did I know at the time that this phone call would change the course of my life for the next couple of weeks. Having a conversation with someone that I hadn’t spoken to in years. Finding myself agreeing to something that I never thought I would agree to again. At least not with that person. Not with that company. Not with that situation. But that’s just the way the world works sometimes. It’s full of unexpected surprises.

- - - - -

I had just finished zipping up my suitcase and placed it right by the bedroom door. Then coming back to the bed where I had my gear bag laid out in front of me. I needed to double check everything. Last thing I needed to happen was to get to Arizona and realize that I was missing something crucial. Something important to get myself through this situation.

Faded Jeans? Check. Black Beater? Check.
Retro Air Jordan 1’s? Check. Sports Tape? Check.

I was fully submerged into double checking everything. However with the usual bad timing that she was known for having. I heard the sweet voice coming from the right of me. Instantly forcing my concentration to break and lose where I was on my check list.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
Are you sure this is something you want to do?

Finding myself standing back up away from the gear bag to be able to turn around to face her. Letting a small chuckle leave me.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Kind of a little late to back out now. I already gave them my word that I would be there.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
It’s never too late, ginger.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
It’s been over twelve years. Are you ever going to let that nickname go?

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
Not a chance. Not at all.

She couldn’t help but let her beaming smirk spread across her expression. I couldn’t do anything but roll my eyes. I had tried and tried and tried some more to get her to leave that in the past. She was fully committed to it.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
But as I was saying it’s never too late. You have always kind of been a fly by the seat of your pants kind of man, Aaron. I’m sure they sweetened the deal. Made it sound really nice. All that jazz. It’s what wrestling companies do. It’s what PROMOTERS do. It’s their job. I just don’t want it to turn out like it did a few years ago. I still feel bad for you over that situation.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
I take a little offense to that comment. You know I’m a dad now. I’m a little more in tune. A little more in check. Don’t fly by the seat of my pants that much.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
Oh? You don’t? If that’s the case. Then you should be ready to talk about the giant ass Charizard statue that is sitting in the middle of the living room that cost us over fifteen thousand dollars. You know since you don’t fly by the seat of your pants with decisions or anything.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Come to think about it. That’s not a conversation I’m ready to have just yet. However it does look pretty dope. You have to admit that.

It didn’t take long at all for her to shoot me a look. Letting me know right then and there that she didn’t find it dope. Nor was she thrilled about the purchase. But we had managed to avoid an argument this long about it. Why not put it off a little further right? I started to then take a couple of steps towards her.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Julez. I appreciate the concern. I understand that it’s coming from a good place. I know that you want the best for me. However I promise you this is nothing like the last time I dusted off the Jordan 1’s. Not even close to the same situation.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
Can I ask something then? I promise this isn’t me being a smartass or trying to rain on your pardade. It’s genuinely something I want to know. What’s the point, Aaron? Like what is it about this that was presented to you that makes you want to do this?

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Well there’s a couple of reasons. The first one being I want to be able to prove to myself it is something I can still do. Being thirty five. Being a little bit out of shape. Being a little bit slower. I just want to know if it’s something I can do.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
I don’t know Aar-Bear. I’m kind of liking the Pillsbury Doughboy look.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Get fucked!

I couldn’t contain the laughter that came. It wasn’t nearly that bad. Not like she was trying to describe. Although it was still hilarious that she thought that and had that image of him in her head. Again I just shook my head.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
The second thing is all I am known for the world of professional wrestling is working for that ... one place. Now don’t get me wrong. I know you have a hatred for them and everything they did to you. I had a decent career so I can’t slander them or hate them like you do. However, I'm still only known for that one place. I’m not so sure I want that to be the defining image of my career.  Not to mention the one time I tried to step outside of that place and came to where I am going. At best I was just a tag team competitor there. I don’t want them to only see me as such.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
As far as the one place goes. It’s entire headquarters could burn down right this second. There would not be a single tear shed from me. No human decency would be given from me. It’s been close to fifteen years. They know what they did to me and they still won’t admit their faults. So fuck them.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Trust me Juelz. I get it. There's a reason I don’t bring them up often.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
Smart man. And as far as this other place goes? I don’t personally understand or see how competing in one battle royal would force them to change their mind about you. I don’t think it will change their outlook on you just being a tag team guy. If you think it will? Then by all means go have fun. Like I said to begin with. I don’t want it to be a waste of your time.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
You’re speaking from the heart and with some logic too. You may very well be right. It might not change anything at all. Yet it would change a lot for me. Like just knowing I had one good performance there as a singles star. That would make it right in my eyes. It’s nothing against Jon Dough by any means. Dude was a great tag team partner. I just want this one moment there as me.

Shrugging my shoulders a little.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
And then there’s Jace. Little man is older now. He loves the wrestling shit. Much like I did at his age. This would be kind of cool for him to really see me do something instead of all the other stuff I’ve shown him. Sure. I’m older. Not as flashy or as quick. But it’ll still be a moment he will remember and because it’s me. He’s not going to care that I’m past my prime. Not the way anyone else will.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
You’re only his favorite wrestler. Because we haven’t gotten around to watching anything that I have done in my past. There will come a day where that happens and you sir will be nothing more than an afterthought. Kidding of course, but if this is something that means that much to you Aaron. Go for it. Just be careful and come back home in one piece.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
It’s an over the top battle royal Juelz. What’s the worst that could happ... you know what? Nevermind. I’m not even going to finish that statement.

J U L I E T | M A D D O X
Probably a wise move there sugar.

I felt her flick me right on the bridge of the nose. Before she turned herself around and walked out of the room to leave me by myself. I turned right back to the gear bag giving it a once over scan. Before reaching up and closing the bag to zip it shut. This was real now. Few hours from now I will be heading to Arizona and waiting until the big day. Lots of time to think about it. Lots of time to mentally prepare. Nothing however would prepare me for the match itself until I got in there to mix it up.

- - - - -

I had really thought that when I got to Arizona it was going to be a whole lot hotter than it was. Instead today it was in its fifties. The sun was hidden by the clouds and it truly looked like at any given point it would start downpouring. Kind of like Illinois. I told people all the time. If you didn’t like the weather. Give it about five minutes it would change.

With being in the city for about twenty four hours at this point. I had kept a pretty low profile. For a good reason. I didn’t want there to be a chance that anyone would recognize me. This entire little thing was meant to be a giant surprise. A surprise that might end up falling flat but a surprise nonetheless. Now as as good of a time as any to let the ‘folks’ know what was going to be happening.

Taking out my iPhone as I sat there on the balcony of my hotel room. I set it up on the table directly in front of me while opening the camera up. A simple press of the record button and things were underway. Allowing myself to lean back in the chair I sat in. Giving a small little wave to start things off.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Sin City Wrestling. Long time no see aye?!

That very second the thought crossed my mind with how long it truly had been. Oddly enough, making my smile grow just a little more.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Matter of fact there is a very good chance. Over seventy percent of the fan base has no idea who the heck I am. Along with over ninety percent of the roster also having no idea who I am. I mean the looks I got backstage at the Anniversary Show pretty much confirmed it for me.  But it’s cool. I ain’t one to trip over stuff like that. Not when I know my time here was short and lackluster as hell. Guess I should drive a little more into that right? Small little history lesson before giving you guys some fine details of what’s about to happen right around the corner.

Taking a second to bring the chair I was sitting in a little closer. I made sure to keep my blue eyes right on the little red light on my phone. I was taught long ago that simple gesture made it feel like you were making eye contact with the viewer. That made them feel something. Make them feel truly involved and in this industry that’s exactly what you wanted.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
My time here was from about the middle of the year in two thousand thirteen to early two thousand fourteen. Fresh off a requested release of my previous place. Decided to see what the S C Dub was all about. Great competition at the time. Lots that was going on. However I struggled to find my footing. Struggled to find my place here is the better way to put it. That’s not anyone’s fault but my own. Can’t even remember a match I had that would be worth telling you to go watch and see what I’m capable of.

It’s not even worth talking about the tag team that myself and Jon Dough formed for a brief bit. We had a moment where we captured the now defunct SCW Tag Team Championships. However as quick as we won them we lost them. My time here was not memorable by any means and the few that might actually remember who I am. Probably wish that they didn’t. I would have to say that my time here was a failure in every sense of the word. Again no one’s fault but my own.

But because I know it is my own fault. That’s not exactly the type of impression I want to leave here at Sin City Wrestling. That might be for others. You know people in the past might have been okay with making that kind of mistake. People in the future might be okay with making that kind of mistake. Not me. And that’s because I know if it wasn’t for professional wrestling as a whole. I wouldn’t be who I am today. Instead I’d just be some average joe from Chicago working a nine to five that I likely hated.

For a second I paused. The realization of that’s what my life could have been was pretty damn depressing.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with being just an average joe. Nothing wrong with working a nine to five. That’s an alright thing to do. You’re still making a living, but like I said. I know I would have likely hated it. I had always felt like since I was a little kid I was meant to do something big in life. Wrestling allowed me to do that. Allowed me to achieve some of the greatest dreams I ever had. Therefore I am always in debt to the business and always in debt to you the fans.

That being said I never wanted my time here to be what it was. You guys deserved a little more out of me. It just wasn’t something that I thought about like I should have. Not until I had a phone call from Mr. Ward a few weeks back. Which by the way shout out to the homie. Because that phone call ended up meaning more than I think he thought it did. I am truly grateful for the call and even more grateful for the contents of that phone call.

By now most of you know that High Stakes is taking place on Sunday. With it taking place it has been announced that there will be two major Rumble matches. Open to anyone that isn’t booked, open to anyone that doesn’t have a contract, and as it was explained to me on the phone. It’s also to any former Superstar and Bombshell that may want to take part in it. No, it wasn’t that Mr. Ward asked me to be in it. He didn’t offer me a spot or anything like that. He was simply letting it be known it was there.

If I wanted to be part of it and without even taking the time to think about it. I said throw my name down brother man. I’ll dust off the sneakers and see if I can still throw a mean superkick. But after I agreed to it and started to really think about the situation at hand. I knew that I was making the right call. Getting a chance to mix it up in a SCW ring one last time. Giving you guys a moment and having a chance to at least show I can do more than I did the last time - even if it's one night - yeah this works.

I could feel the goosebumps starting to form on my arm. The excitement of what was looming in a week’s time was getting such a reaction out of me. Not that I should have hid the reaction but if I had to. It would be pretty damn hard to keep to myself.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
So surprise folks. Ya boi is going to be part of the High Stakes Rumble. Now from what I understand this Rumble does have a little bit of a spin to it. We’ll start off with two men entering the ring. Every two minutes we’ll get a new entrant until everyone that’s in it has come out. Like the traditional battle royal rules. You throw them over the top rope and to the floor, but that’s where the twists start to take place. Because any part of your body touches the arena’s floor. That’s it you are eliminated.

No situation where both feet hit. Not quite sure how I personally feel about that. It does however create a level of challenge that isn’t there for most traditional battle royals. In my honest opinion it makes you feel like you have to really be on top of your A Game to make sure you never even get in a situation to be tossed over those ropes. Of course there’s still one other big twist to the match. That is the twist of what happens in the end. Once bodies have been tossed left and right over the top rope.

And there are just two men left standing. The battle royal aspect goes out the window. It turns into a one on one match. Pinfall and submissions come into play. Those two men will beat the hell out of one another until they get that pin or get that submission victory. Ultimately earning them a championship match of their choosing for the Christmas edition of Climax Control. Lots to experience. All types of men to go toe to toe with. With major implications for the winner. This really is all about High Stakes.

Sitting there I found myself rubbing my hands together. That excitement found itself pouring out of me just a little more.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
Now at this particular moment. I don’t see the point in breaking down the men that have been announced for this match. You don’t know me. I don’t know you. Ain’t no point in slinging shade. Y’all just need to be ready to get down with me when I hit that ring. I want to see what this place has to offer now. I want to see the level of talent that I know Sin City Wrestling has been known to have. Hit me expect to get hit back. Knock me down. Expect to get knocked down as well. I may be old as hell.

At least in terms of wrestling, but I wouldn’t have taken this match. If I didn’t think I couldn’t at least hold my own. Now for those men that are going to remain a secret. For those men that aren’t going to let their faces be known until the night of. You also need to understand. You may have the element of surprise on your hands. You may think that being sneaky is the thing that gives you the edge over everyone else. Although I can promise you this much. I’ll still whoop ya ass the same. Hands down.

Every man in this match would talk a big game. They’d talk their shit. Part of our business was selling tickets and part of selling tickets was drawing interest. Course I had to add my own flair to it. That’s when I reached out and grabbed my phone to pull it a little closer to me for the recording.

A A R O N | M A T T H E W S
I leave you with these words gentlemen. I made the statement that Traditions Never Die years ago. But come High Stakes. You’re about to find out neither does A-Matt!

Giving a little wink just before hitting the button to end my personal recording. I felt good. I felt really good about what was waiting on the horizon. This was going to be a career defining moment for me.

[GUY]

By this time of year the weather was starting to change in most places. Seattle always had shitty Weather with all the raining but as we were getting closer to december. It was getting colder and colder. Guy was feeling every bit of the weather as he walked back and forth across the edge of the driveway in nothing more than a pair of shorts and a bright purple tank top. As his pacing continued a school bus came pulling right up to the driveway. Coming to a slow stop catching the attention of Guy. He looked up with a bright smile with the doors opening. An excited voice of a child could be heard.

“UNCLE GUY!”

Seconds later Oliver or as he was commonly referred to as Ollie came sprinting to the front of the bus. Before he could even attempt to get off the bus. The bus driver put her hand in front of the young child and prevented him from going anywhere.

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- Wait a second Oliver.

[ O L L I E ] -- Why?!

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- Who is this man?

[ G U Y ] --  Pardon my manners. First name Guy. Last name With Cape.

His response didn’t seem to ease the tensions at all. She kept her arm firmly in front of the child. Her attention back to Oliver.

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- Oliver. Do you know who that man is? Yes or no.

[ O L L I E ] -- Yes! That’s Uncle Guy. Can I please go now ma’am?!

[ G U Y ] --  Silly bus driver lady. You’ve got nothing to worry about. Ollie is in good hands. I’m going to take him to get Banana Milk Smoothies!

[ O L L I E ] -- Yaaaaaaaaay!

The excitement of the child took over. Ollie finds himself jumping up and down with his hands in the air. However the Bus Driver still didn’t seem convinced. Shaking her head a little bit.

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- Oliver. Please return to your seat.

[ O L L I E ] -- Why? This is my house.

[ G U Y ] --  Yes! The boy is home. Let him off the bus please.

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- I have never seen you before. You look like a freak dressed like that. I highly doubt you are related to this young man. It’s my job to protect him from people like... you!

She was very firm with her response. Guy feeling more than offended. As well as hurt. Oliver looking completely devastated; he wasn't going to be allowed off the bus. The lady reached for the handle to start shutting the doors. Shutting a little bit before an ARM slid between the two doors to stop them from closing. That arm belonged to ALESSANDRA and right away the bus driver opened the door up.

[ O L L I E ] -- Mommy!

There was nothing that was going to stop the young boy from getting to his mom. He blew right by the bus driver’s arm as he leaped off the steps of the bus and right into his mother’s arms. Alessandra had a death glare on her expression as she looked back at the driver.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- You should be ashamed of yourself!

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- Me?!

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- I’m looking right fucking at you aren’t I?!

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- Listen lady. I have a job to do and it requires keeping children safe!

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- In keeping him safe. Is it also your job to judge someone based on their appearance and do it right in front of him? You know, essentially teaching him that type of behavior.

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- Okay. That I shouldn’t have done and I’m...

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Save it lady. I don’t want to hear the fake apology. My son doesn’t want to hear it. And I know my dear friend doesn’t want to hear it. Since you’re only apologizing since you got caught!

The expression that was starting to overcome the Bus Driver’s face said it all. Alessandra was really making her feel about herself and the way she had gone about things.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Oh and one more thing lady. It’s twenty twenty four. All kinds of people make up diverse families. Don’t you ever tell my child he’s not related to this man ever again. Just because they don’t look alike!

[ B U S . D R I V E R ] -- Ma’am. I really am...

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- I look forward to speaking to your boss on Monday morning!

Following those words Alessandra turned her back to the woman with Ollie in her arms and started to storm up the driveway to the house. Guy found himself very awkwardly and silently leaning his head in to look over at the bus driver.

[ G U Y ] --  Daaaaang! You really effed around and found out huh?!

Very angrily the woman grabbed a hold of the door handle and swung it towards her to slam those bus doors shut. Not taking her long at all to start pulling away from the driveway and continuing her journey down the road. Guy then turned and started to approach the house. Alessandra was just getting the door open and letting Ollie down so he could run inside the house. Her attention finally being able to direct over towards him.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Guy...

[ G U Y ] --  Yessum?!

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Please don’t take this the wrong way or anything when I say it. We’re thrilled that you and Oliver have such an amazing relationship. We love having you around. But these... unannounced visits. That’s the type of thing that causes those issues.

[ G U Y ] --  Oh? Well Guy didn't mean any harm...

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- I know you didn’t. Again, it’s not a situation where I’m telling you not to be around or anything. But they do have a job to do. They do have to protect children. They can’t just release them to anyone. Not with the world we live in nowadays. She didn’t have any right to say the things she did. That was too far, but she does have a job to do in protecting my son. All I ask is you just reach out. Let someone know you’re coming.

[ G U Y ] --  Guy understands. He’ll send a messenger pigeon about a week before he shows up next time. Easy peasy!

Nodding his head some. Alessandra couldn’t help but shake her head a little bit while trying to keep her laugh to herself.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- What are you doing here anyway? You haven’t been around a little while now. Been kind of quiet around here lately. You’re not causing Calvin’s blood pressure to rise and I’m kind of missing out on that.

[ G U Y ] --  Hmm!?! Guy causing Blood Pressure to rise?! Nooooo! He’s just an old old old cranky man. That’s what happens when you start using adult diapers. But uhm... Guy came to take Ollie out for milkshakes. That and talk to Calvin about the Cash Money Rumble!

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Cash Money Rumble? Something tells me I’m going to regret this. But what exactly is that? Please put it in terms that I can understand.

[ G U Y ] --  It’s an idea Guy came up with to replace SCW’s High Stakes Rumble. Going to be far more entertaining. Far more purposeful. Guy wanted to talk to Calvin about our approach. Working together. And how he can do his part to make sure Guy wins.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Is he aware of all of this? Cause the last time I knew he was still pretty upset with you for the last stunt you pulled at that Anniversary Show.

[ G U Y ] --  Upset with Guy?! That’s silly talk. We’re the best of friends. Best friends don’t ever get upset with each other. Besides, Guy made sure that he didn’t make a huuuuuuuuuge mistake in retiring. So the way Guy sees it. Calvin kind of owes him one. Of course he knows it and of course he’s going to be glad to help out. Duuhhhh

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- If you say so...

Alessandra had shifty eyes in her gaze the entire time. She wasn’t convinced that Guy was telling the truth. Which was fair considering that Guy lied quite a bit. He just didn’t consider it lying.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Calvin isn’t going to be home for a little while. He had to go pick VP up from the principal's office at school. Apparently she decided to get herself suspended by punching a girl in the face for quote looking at her wrong.

[ G U Y ] --  Thatta girl! Uncle Guy is proud. Punch people when they got ugly looks!

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- You do realize you’re a bad influence right?!

[ G U Y ] --  Pfffffffffffffffft!

Once again the man’s delusion was playing a factor in his mindset. Alessandra found herself shaking her head some while taking a step into the house. Guy followed right behind her and closed the door behind him. In his mind this was just going to go as smoothly and effortlessly. He would be on the fast track to a big win and a major bag of money. Yet the reality is. It wasn’t going to be so easy. Not by a long shot.


“HUZZAH MY MINIONS!”

The cameras had just found themselves rolling in. As those words came oozing out of the always energetic man known simply as GUY. With the cameras starting to settle in, he stood right there in front of him. Dressed in the traditional all black clock with his cape wrapped around his shoulders. It was important to note he had the King’s crown placed firmly on his head. All dating back to the night he became King for a Day.

“Your King has been away for far too long. To be exact it has been. One hundred and twenty six days. If days are too complicated to understand. It has been eighteen weeks even. Or if that’s too complicated it has been four months and three days. Heck guy could break it down even more than that. He could do hours or even minutes. It’s... uh.... uhm...”

Standing there with his hands up in front of him. He was trying to count it all out on his hand. Very quickly discovering that it wasn’t actually possible. Shooting his attention back up to his minions.

“That’s not important right now. Point is it has been far too long for you my minions to not have your King. Far too long without your King’s guidance and wisdom. Have no fear though. King Guy is finally back and he’s bringing you a massive-massive gift. Much better than the fat man that’s meant to bring gifts next month. This is a gift that every single one of you can enjoy! So in the words of the great Willy Wonka. Come with me and you’ll be in a world of pure imagination!”

He made a waving motion towards him just as he began to turn himself around. Behind him were two giant metal doors. Reaching for the latch, he pulled up on it, and the doors were springloaded causing them to spring outward away from each other. Revealing to viewers a giant wrestling ring. The center logo of the ring was a 100 Dollar Bill with Guy’s face on it. The ring ropes were made the money color. Each turnbuckle pad had the words: Cash Money printed on them.

“Take a look into your imagination!”

Guy found himself prancing around into a little song and dance while walking through the doors. Approaching the ring as he pushed down on the middle rope and allowed himself to climb in. dropping down to his knees and placing a kiss on the logo.

“Beautiful man. With beautiful money. If your King does say so himself!”

From there he sprung right back to his feet. Turning all the way back around to the cameras/. Leaning right against those ropes in order to address his minions.

“King Guy was informed that Christian ‘Dingleberry’ Underwood and Mark ‘Too Old To Be Hot’ Ward decided to give my minions a Rumble Match at their big event: High Stakes. First of all that’s a problem because as the King of Sin City Wrestling. That is a conversation that they should’ve had with me. King Guy is the one that makes all the decisions. Not to mention he is the leader of his minions. He knows better than anyone else what his minions would want. You don’t want this. This isn’t what you want at all. Not with the people they have chosen to be part of it. It’s quite the insult to my minions and your King will simply not stand for you being insulted!”

Holding a single finger up. Guy allowed him to wag it back and forth in a very ‘no-no’ like manner.

“My Minions don’t deserve to have to suffer watching Justin Smith fumble, stumble, and crumble through another wrestling match. Seeing a Justin Smith wrestling match is an eye sore. It’s also been known to cause migraines. Along with vomiting and diarrhea. How dare Christian and Mark make my minions sick? That’s just a bad business decision and trust Guy. He knows what good business is and what bad business is. Keeping Justin Smith employed is bad business. But if they came to Guy. If they came to their King and listened. They would already know that.

But since King Guy is loving and forgiving. He will look past it and give free good business advice after all. Go ahead. Take Justin Smith. Sell him to the prison systems that still do lethal injection. Let inmates on death row watch him wrestle. That will be just as bad as lethal injection! If they take you up on that offer. It’ll be a little more humane. That will lead to the prison saving some money. It should make people not as angry and hateful towards the prison system. More importantly it saves my minions from never having to see him wrestle again and make SCW a bunch of money. You’ll welcome for Guy’s genius idea!”

Reaching behind himself with his right hand. Guy proceeded to give himself a genuine pat on the back.  Everything about this moment made him feel like he was doing the company a major service.

“And what the heck is even going on? Why are you guys still allowing a Bulldog to compete?! King Guy thought we had an understanding after he gave you the single greatest match you will ever see with the Dog Food match! He was very much under the impression you understood that allowing a Bulldog to compete in wrestling matches is considered animal cruelty. But not only did you listen to your King, Mr. Dingleberry and Mr. Too Old To Be Hot. You went and allowed the Bulldog to find himself a Cat that he can tag team with. You’re allowing them to compete in matches together. That’s double animal cruelty!

You’re trying to get PETA to come in here and shut this whole operation down because of your negligence. Are you that dumb-dumb to think if someone grabs a Bulldog and throws them over the top rope that they’re not going to call the law on you?! King Guy might have moments where he is a little dumb-dumb but even he knows this is the biggest dumb-dumb thing that could ever happen. Listen to your King right this second. Get rid of the Bulldog. Get rid of the Cat. Stop making my minions see animal cruelty and stop forcing my minions to live in fear of this place getting shut down!”

There was such a disappointed expression that had overcome the painted expression of Guy. He reached up and grabbed the crown that he had on his head. Placing it on the top turnbuckle before dropping to his back lying in the middle of the ring where the logo was. Forcing the camera man to come into the ring with the camera to keep the filming process going.

“This is just a half baked idea by them, but this is where Guy is here to save the day. Instead of having the High Stakes Rumble with a championship match as the prize. We’re going to do Guy’s Cash Money Rumble with a gigantic bag of money on the line. It’ll be filled with millions and millions of dollars. Now, it won’t be Guy’s millions and millions. He would never share his wealth like that. Surely the minions will understand. Mr. Dingleberry and Mr. Too Old To Be Hot be sitting on millions. They can fund this prize. Guy’s name alone will make people watch it. It’s a fair trade if you ask your King.

People will care about money more than a championship. There’s proof to that. You can trust Guy with this mindset. However, the only way it’s going to work is if we make some adjustments. Like I said we can’t allow Justin in it. He’s got to go. We cannot allow a Bulldog or even a Cat into it. Not acceptable in any way at all. This Rumble has to be selective. Very selective. With the standard being set high for the Rumble. Your King will be a part of the Rumble. The standard doesn’t get any higher than him. And of course because your king is in it. It has to be written in stone that he wins.

That’s not being biased though. Anyone that says that will not be allowed in the building that night. Guy having to win is the right decision to make. However with being selective and King Guy making the right decisions for the rumble. He will only approve the best of the best to be in. Like Ben Jordan and Eddie Lyons. They were going to be in the original rumble, but Guy is okay with them being in his rumble. He can see that they aren’t animals and he can see that they aren’t going to be completely useless. Guy could have a good spar with them.”

Right away Guy rolled himself over to get up to his feet. The moment he stood up he instantly began to flex his very non-existence muscles. Like it was meant to be impressive to someone.

“Eddie for example is a man that he has proven time and time again to be able to hold his own in the ring. He is a former Roulette Champion. King Guy has seen how nasty that division can be. He has seen how difficult that division can be. Being hit with ladders. Being forced to climb ropes over pulls. Being put through flaming tables. None of that is to be taken lightly. Guy respects what you have been through Eddie. He respects that run. He may even be a little envious of that run. To be able to stand across the ring with you. Knowing we can create magic. That’s an exciting situation for Guy.

The only thing that is working against you, Eddie. Well the only thing working against you other than this is Guy’s rumble. He just has to win. Is the fact that you are in a tag team with that nasty stinky bleach blonde chicken head Victoria! More than just her tag team partner and one half of the Mixed Tag Champs. You’re actually related to her and that’s not good my friend. Not good at all. Especially not with Guy being like an elephant. He never forgets. That thing was not only rude and nasty to the King, but she kicked him right in his royal jewels. Guy will never let that go.

And considering he’s a gentleman at his core. As well as he was told a Cunt Punt is very much frowned upon in today’s world. He cannot take it out on the fake Queen. But he can on the other hand take it out on you. King Guy can very much kick you right where the sun doesn't shine. Maybe more than once just for the sake of driving the point home. Then take you and throw you over the top rope to be one step closer to a major bag of money for Guy. Once you are done icing those jewels though Eddie. Make sure you yell at Victoria. It was all her fault.”

His black painted lips were spread in a boyish grin from ear to ear.

“As far as Ben goes. He’s also someone that Guy wouldn’t mind sharing the ring with. Game sees game. Ben has been a Tag Team Champion. Ben has been the Roulette Champion. Ben has been the Heavyweight Champion. That’s a top notch fella and a man that would truly thrive in Guy’s Cash Money Rumble. King Guy would certainly welcome him into the ring. For no other reason based on accomplishments and what he has meant to Sin City Wrestling. Although there’s a very good chance that the two of us wouldn’t be able to communicate very well.

For starters he got a very awkward accent. Pretty sure because of that he doesn’t even speak english. Like seriously the man calls Soccer, football. There’s clearly a major issue there. But that’s fine. We may not speak the same language. He may enjoy tea and crumpets where Guy enjoys Banana flavored Milk and Devilled Eggs. Yet the beautiful thing about wrestling is that it is a universal language and we’ll be able to understand each other just fine inside the ring. Guy does have to warn you though Ben. He has heard your type of people got some hard heads and they like to throw headbutts.

That’s just a silly dangerous situation. For the world already knows that no one wins with a headbutt. Of course with that being said dear sir. You try and headbutt Guy. It will be useless. He will be wearing his King’s crown and that is made of the finest gold that one can get their hands on. You head butt that and you’re going night-night my friend. And if you’ve gone night night. Then it just becomes so much easier for Guy to scoop you up and put you over the top rope. You can dream about the money, but you will never have the money in real life!”

Very much looking like a cartoon villain. Guy was now standing in the middle of that ring just rubbing his hands together devilishly. His mindset was very much clear to anyone and everyone that was listening. He didn’t think or believe there was a chance that he could lose. Delusional was his best friend.

“Like I said King Guy will have to remain selective for who is allowed in his Cash Money Rumble. But that’s a very nice start with those two gentlemen. As far as the rest of the peasants that exist out there in Guy’s Royal Kingdom. You have to start to understand that this is how the universe works. It might not be your cup of tea. You might not like to see Royalty constantly succeed. It’s the evil that the world needs. Because as long as King Guy succeeds.

As long as King Guy is sitting pretty at the top of the mountain in his throne. As long as Guy remains your king then he will be able to make the bestest decisions for his kingdom and that’s what you want. You don’t want anyone other than Guy to win this rumble and win the cash. Because they would use it for evil. They would use it for their own personal gain. They will not put you wonderful minions first and that’s a damn shame. So now that you know that. You have to keep rooting for King Guy!”

Pacing around the ring a little bit keeping that warm smile across his lips. He was enjoying letting the people know that he needed them. His minions. His people in his Kingdom. They were the trying that kept him going and kept him fighting the good fight against all evil.

“For you people supporting your king. Guy does have one more surprise for you. It’s another one that everyone can enjoy and will get you super excited for when it comes to Guy’s Cash Money Rumble. He’s very much in the process of giving the people what they have wanted to see for a very-very long time. Last year this idea and this concept had everyone talking. Guy was having merchandise made left and right. We were selling it like hot cakes. Heck, at one point the SCW website shut down because of you minions. You couldn’t get enough of the Two Guys, One Cape tag team. Sadly though with the powers that be with Mr. Dingleberry and Mr. Too Old To Be Hot not listening to Guy or the people.

They never gave us the tag team match we deserved. They never gave us the Tag Team Championships we deserved. They never gave Two Guys, One Cape a chance. Tragic. Maybe the most tragic thing in all of mankind. More tragic than the Titanic sinking. However, King Guy never gave up on the idea. King Guy never gave up on the concept. King Guy never gave up on Two Guys, One Cape. So therefore Guy is proud to announce that you will see Calvin and I working side by side in Guy’s Cash Money Rumble. We’ll stand our ground. We’ll drop people on the stack of dimes they call a neck. We’ll give you the tag team you always deserved!

One by one. Based on the selective few King Guy let’s in the match. We’re going to toss them out of the ring. We’re going to send them packing for the night. Making sure they don’t get any stack of monies. For they don’t deserve it like Guy does. Then when it comes down to just Jester Calvin and King Guy. Calvin is going to return the favor from when Guy talked him out of retirement and gave him the first five star match of his career. Calvin is going to lay down. He’s going to let Guy pin him. He’s going to let Guy get the one, two, and three. He will let Guy have the ring to celebrate with his millions and millions. It will be the single greatest moment in Sin City Wrestling history!”

Every bit of the man sounded as excited as excited could get. Whether or not there was any truth to what he said. That remained to be seen. However at this point people should have known there was no logic to Guy. Taking a step over and reaching for the crown that he had set down moments ago.  He placed it right back on his head before taking a couple of steps back to the center of the ring. Raising his hand into the air a massive microphone instantly dropped down from the ceiling. Guy wrapped his hand around it and began to scream out at the top of his lungs.

“Ladies and gentlemen. Boys and Girls. Children of all ages. Leeeeeeeeeeet’s get rrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeaddddyyyy to RRRRRUUUUUMMMMBBBBLLLEEE!”

As those words continued to be belted out. A massive banner felt from the sky behind him. Guy was all over with a bag of money in his hand and the words Cash Money Rumble all over it. Each one of the turnbuckles had fireworks shooting from them in blue, red, and white. There was a lot of production put into this and it showed. By then though the cameras were starting to zoom out away from Guy until the finally faded to black. Leading the world to wonder how bizarre High Stakes would become thanks to Guy With A Cape.

[Andrew]

SUPERSTAR HIGH STAKES RUMBLE 2

Narrator:  Leading up to this point in time Bill Barnhart has made it clear that he is going to win the Superstar High Stakes Rumble. With that comment out of the way I will turn you over to Bill Barnhart for his comments on his upcoming match.

The scene shifts from a shot of the Narrator who makes opening comments for Bill and Bea Barnhart, and for Felix Hernandez, to a shot of Bill Barnhart who is standing in front of the wrestling ring at the TCC Arena in Tucson, Arizona. Bill is casually dressed in faded blue jeans and a weathered white pullover shirt. When the assigned camera person informs Bill they are live broadcasting Bill launches into his comments concerning his upcoming Superstar High Stakes Rumble match and he holds up one finger into the camera.

Bill:  The first thing those of you who are watching my presentation notice is that I do not have Bea with me during this comments session. I decided to leave her out of my comments on my match so that she doesn’t have to endure the stupid, ignorant, degrading, and insulting, comments so many in Sin City Wrestling make about her. However I assure you that Bea, who is legally my Manager, and who is legally authorized to be at ringside for my matches, will be at ringside for the Superstar High Stakes Rumble.

Bill now holds up two fingers to indicate the second thing he will talk about.

Bill:  The next item I wish to discuss is how this Superstar High Stakes Rumble works in my favor. Everything about this match benefits me. Eliminating opponents by throwing them out of the wrestling ring onto the arena floor is something I thoroughly enjoy and I am damn good at it. None of the other wrestlers in this match can deal with me with how easily I will eliminate them from the match.

Bill holds three fingers into the camera this time.

Bill:  The third thing I wish to discuss is how easy it will be for me to toss the other wrestlers over the top ropes and onto the arena floor. I am big. I am powerful. And the most important feature is that I carry a very high IQ of 130. I think ahead and I out-think my opponents. I don’t wait until something already happened and then try to resolve the item. Most of the wrestlers involved in this match are not as intelligent and gifted as I am. Now am I saying that all of my opponents suck? Nope. I never  said that so don’t try to put words into my mouth. Several of the wrestlers in this match suck. Some of the wrestlers in this match are average. Some of the wrestlers in this match are good. But myself, and one or two of the other wrestler that I will not mention their names, are the three wrestlers in this match who have what it takes to win a match like this. Another thing to take into consideration as there is no way to know the final number of wrestlers who will be involved in the match. It seems like every day someone else gets a bug up their ass and they decided to ask to be included in this match. That’s fine with me as I love kicking the bugs out of the wrestlers who are arrogant.

Bill flashes four fingers into the camera to indicate the fourth thing he will discuss.

Bill:  Remember that the only way to get eliminated in this match is if one or more of the other wrestlers can toss you over the top rope and you land on the arena floor. Once you are thrown over the top ropes and any part of your body touches the arena floor you are eliminated and you must return to your dressing room. I am not the type of wrestler who can be easily tossed out of a wrestling ring to the arena floor and lose the match. I am, however, the type of wrestler who can easily eliminate the others in this match.

Bill holds all five fingers of his hand up for the camera to get a shot of.

Bill:  When I win this match. . .notice that I said WHEN I WIN THIS MATCH. . .not MAYBE I will win this match. . .not possibly I will win this match…I already have plans to challenge for the Roulette Championship. Why? Because I am a two-time Roulette Champion and I have my sights set on becoming a three-time Roulette Champion. And how does my history as a two-time Roulette Champion benefit me in this match? I am great at beating opponents down, in any way shape and form possible, and I am not going to allow a bunch of jerks prevent me from winning this match.

Bill stops talking for a moment then. . .

Bill:  I have said what I wanted to say. You can believe me or not as that is your decision to make. When I win this match I will shout out to all you unbelievers one of my favorite four-word phrases which is I TOLD YOU SO

Bill gives the cut sign to indicate he is finished with his presentation and the camera person cuts their camera feed and our screen goes dark.

[Eddie Lyons]

And so the contenders begin to reval themselves, in addition to those previously announced, Ben Jordan will be returning from across the pond to try his luck once again, while Aaron Matthews will also be returning, looking to punch a ticket of his own and The Guy with a cape will be up to his antics while Caleb Storms tries his worth once again.

Well, at least everything just got spiced up. Eddie wanted better competition, he needed better competition than Justin Smith and Bill Barnhart. Maybe Alex Jones was decent competition, but Eddie still wanted it more, and now he felt things getting more exciting with all these former stars making their return to Sin City Wrestling.

They were just going to have to accept one thing. They were going to have to accept that this ia a new era, and many lare reaching to get to that glory all these former champions are trying to either cling to, or find once again. But the hungriest and most dangerous of all is the one that they’re all coming face to face with.

“Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons, and he’s ready to show all these former talents, just what the new school is all about.

__________

“I guess I get to be the welcome back mat.” said Eddie as he shut off the monitor. He saw what some of his opponents had to say, and wondered if even more were to come. As it stands right now, these were the men he felt who should concern him.

Alex Jones…
…Ben Jordan
…,Aaron Matthews
Guy With A Cape…..
…Caleb Storms

He wasn’t concerned about Justin Smith nor Bill Barnhart, and why would he be? He had proven himself against those two enough times, that it didn’t even feel arrogant to assume their failure was a foregone conclusion.

But these others, they were all new faces to Eddie. Men he hadn’t faced before.  Other than Guy, they were all making their return hoping to relive some sort of their former glory, and perhaps in a sense guy and his cape were as well.

“Well, this welcome mat hits back.” said Sabrina smiling.

Eddie smiled back, Sabrina was such a supportive girlfriend and he knew she would be thrilled to see him become a world champion.

“You’re not wrong, but these guys are going to come hard.” Eddie said, “They want to prove they still have what it takes.”

“So, you’re kinda like Jake Paul and they’re Mike Tyson?” asked Sabrina

Eddie pauses and glared at Sabrina dead-eyed.

“Never compare me to Jake Paul again.” he said with a grin, “But I see what you’re getting at. Me being the young gun against all the old-heads. That whole Paul Vs Tyson thing was just Rocky 6 anyway”

“I never watched that one.” Sabrina shrugged.

“It wasn’t too bad.” said Eddie, “But at the end of the day, all these stars making their returns will find out who the hell I am. I know they have their eyes on me, they all see me as a threat and if they don’t, they should.”

“Well, I believe in you Eddie Lyons.” Sabrina smiled.

Eddie smiled back, as she leaned in and they shared a kiss.

“Thanks babe.” he said.

“...You heard from Victoria?” asked Sabrina

“Not for a few days.” said Eddie, “She’s deadlocked into this thing with Luna. She’s fine though. She’s just preparing for her match in her own way. She is absolutely not ready to lose her Roulette Championship yet, and even more she does not want to lose to Luna once again.”

“I’m not sure we want to deal with her if she loses that championship.” said Sabrina

“True that.” said Eddie, “But we have to just let her do her thing. My business right now is the rumble. If I don’t win, then I’m not challenging for the World Championship, and I’m back at square one. I can’t start over again Sabz. This has to be my moment.”

“Then make it your moment.” said Sabrina, “Go show those old dudes that they don’t get to just walk back in and reap a reward. Not after all of your hard work. They have to earn their spot, like you did.”

“Eaiser said than done.” Eddie replied.

As confident as he was, he knew he had to stay focused because the majority of these men that revealed themselves have already been there. The top of the mountain. Where time and time again Eddie Lyons comes close, but never quite reaches his true potential. He knew the risk of that happening again.

Somehow though, maybe it was a little holiday magic in the air, but somehow this time..it felt different.

__________

Eddie gives the camera a confident look as the scene opens on him with a mixed tag title slung over his shoulder.  He pauses for a moment, with a short laugh as he begins speaking.

“So it’s come to this.” said Eddie, “A whole lot of you trying to make your comeback at MY expense. Forgive me if I don’t just accept that. Forgive me if I believe none of you deserve this opportunity more than I do. I am the only one of us who has been working, grinding each and every week for this.  I am the only one of us who has pinned the World Champion Finn Whelan. At least recently, in his current iteration. Maybe one of you beat him in the past, years ago or something. I don’t know, or care. What I do know is this is MY match and I am not going to let any of you just waltz back in here and take away what should be rightfully mine. It doesn’t fucking work that way.”

There’s some frustration showing in his eyes, a look of a man who’s tired of almosts and is really seeking his big moment.

“So Guy, you want to magically appear again after pulling a disappearing act?” said Eddie, “You can sit there with your cape and blame me all you want for what my cousin did to you.  Yeah, I get it she’s a callous bitch, but at least she too has been fighting week after week these past few months, proving her dominance as Roulette Champion. Taking it out on me though? Really. Well, you can try but at the end of the day what we’re going to find out is if that cape of yours can really make you fly, when you go soaring over the top. The King of SCW you might be, but remember…”

He looks down at his mixed tag title with a sly grin.

“These are the queens lands.” he said still grinning, “Hey, I gotta be a supportive tag partner right? Besides she made me part of her Queensguard. It’s only my honorable duty inn’it? It sucks she gave you The Ol’ Crown Adjuster, been on the wrong end of that myself, but you have it let it go, and stay focused on what actually matters.”

He pauses for a moment, as he casually looks around.

“So what about the lot of you mounting comebacks all these years later.” Eddie continued, “Ben Jordan is it? You seem like a nice chap. I’ve got a reputation of being a nice guy myself around here. But right now is not the time for me to be Mr. Nice Guy. I’ve came close to getting MY opportunity against Finn one on one for a while, and for whatever reason it just keeps getting pulled from my grasp. I can’t settle anymore Ben. I need this. I appreciate the praise, I do, but I’m not here to listen to anyone verbally fellate me anymore. It’s time I show that what everyone says about Eddie Lyons is true. That I can be the one on top, that one day I will be the one on top, and I fully an looking to make that day be December 22nd.”

He pauses again, if anything just to keep pace.

“Then we have Alex Jones, who wasted no time giving us new guys a history lesson.” said Eddie, “Wolfslair again. Of course.  You dogs are everywhere aren’t you? Look, save the resume pal. I don’t give a shit if you’ve won a thousand world championships and were named Wrestling God Emperor Of The Universe by the Galactic Wrestling Alliance. You’re in there with me this time. You can think I’m not ready all you want, but you and everyone else are going to find out how ready I am.  Truth is Finn doesn’t want to face me on December 22nd, because he knows I’m the biggest threat to his championship. He knows I can beat him. Why? Because I already fucking did, and I already took one championship from him. Now I’m coming to finish the job.”

He pats his mixed tag championship proudly.

“I feel like this Caleb Storms guy might be in over his head a little bit.” said Eddie, “Perhaps shows more promise to me than Bill or Justin do, but I’m not sure about you yet Caleb. But there’s some sort of spark about you I like, and I know you’ve held gold here in the past. Still you strike me as sort of just happy to be here. I’m here to win championships and I’m here to be the best, and if I have to go through you to so that, then I’ll do what I have to do and send your ass flying like everyone else.”

He takes another short pause, before he continues.

“Aaron Matthews, you seem quite confident.” Eddie continued, “You seem confident and ready for this. I’m just not sure what you’re really looking to gain. Maybe you just want to finally make a name for yourself. You said yourself not many know who you are. Maybe you want to make up for what you feel was a disappointing run. The problem I have is, this is MY run right now and you like everyone else don’t get to just come in and take it. I won’t let it happen and you like all your old friends will get a taste of what the new school in SCW is all about.”

He pauses again, the confident gaze in his eyes never wavering.

“Justin and Bill..” he shrugged, “I mean you do try at least. But what am I supposed to say? Especially about Justin. It’s just not their match to win, much like most of their matches. At the end of the day only one man will emerge the winner, my friends. We might even have a few more surprises in store, you never know.”

He shrugs.

“But I’ll stand an die on this hill, that none of you deserve this more than I do.” said Eddie. “And I will fight to earn my right because that’s what I do. No number of returning former talent will change that. I’ve been here, hell at least Bill and Justin have been here. But nobody in this match has been fighting as hard as I have, and you ALL will find out why I was the man who killed Finn Whelans unpinned streak. You all  know I’m someone to watch out for, you all said it yourselves. Now you can all watch, as I ascend to the next level when all of you get thrown out, and I’m the one who gets the championship match. Then you can all tune in this December to watch me dethrone Finn Whelan for good. So my friends, you better come with everything you have, because if any of you show even the slightest hint of ring rust  you will be destroyed. I have all the momentum  on my side, with all due respect nobody wants to see Finn go against any of you. I’m the match the people want, and I’m the champion the people want. It’s time I give it to them, and as I always do it will be done with HONOR BEFORE GLORY.”

He keeps his usual confident stare on as the scene fades out. A man who is always about may the best man win, and while that still may be the case he’s more focused on the win, and the prize at the end of the road in December. He sees no other option than winning, and isn’t going to let any amount of former talent come in and stop him. He went through that with Kris Ryans already, and had no intention of it happening again.

__________

As the days grew closer to High Stakes, Eddie found himself getting more and more restless. He wanted this opportunity more than anything. It had slipped from his grasp a few times before and it happening again just wasn’t something he had in the cards.  He only saw one possible option, and that was winning.

He sat, thinking to himself about the match. As he had been doing for the past week. He knew as long as he got to Finn Whelan, that he could do it. He could defeat him and become the new SCW World Heavyweight Champion.

Was he overlooking Miles Kasey? Perhaps a little, but for Eddie it was more about being the one to dethrone Finn. He had all the respect in the world for Miles Kasey, but it was Finn Whelan he truly wanted to face. Should it end up being Miles, then so be it. But Finn Whelan was whom he had his focus on.

He was the only one in the match who had been putting in consistent work week after week. Winning matches and always giving it his all.  All these comebacks be damned. They left and Eddie wasn’t too keen on letting any of them fast track their way to the top, irregardless of what they did in the past. This was his time and he was going to go out there and take it.

“There you are. I’ve been looking for you.” the voice of his tag partner, and cousin Victoria Lyons echoed through his head. He hadn’t chosen her as his partner, but so far it hadn’t been too bad and the two were to the point where they could at least be cordial with one another.

“Oh, hey Victoria.” he said, “What’s up?”

“I wanted to ask you this time.” she said, “You want to have a guest spot in my next promo? Say something to Luna on my behalf?”

Eddie paused and looked at his cousin curiously.

“Why do you want me to talk on your behalf?” he asked.

“Well, we need to show that we’re still a team. Even when we have our singles matches.” she explained, “We need to show the world that we have each others backs.”

That, actually made some sense. They were the mixed tag team champions and they did need to establish themselves as a team, and show that despite their differences, they did have unity.

“I suppose, next you’re going to ask to take part in mine.” he said.

“Only if you want me to..partner.” she grinned at him.

“I guess it couldn’t hurt.” Eddie replied, seeing no real harm in the idea.

“Good, because those geezers need to learn their place.” said Victoria, “It’s not their time anymore, it’s ours. Nobody deserves a world championship match more than you.”

“I know.” said Eddie, “Don’t worry, they’ll learn real quick that I’m next up, and perhaps they should have stayed their ass at home.”

Victoria laughed, “That they should have. That they should have.”

“So, how about you?” said Eddie, “How’s preparing for Luna going?”

“It’s going.” said Victoria, “I just hope I get the real Luna, and not the one that dropped the ball to Cassie Wolfe.”

“Really nailing that point home aren’t you?” asked Eddie.

“Can’t help it.” said Victoria, “Had she lost to someone like Alexandra Calaway or Bella 8Madison, or even Harper Mason maybe it would be different, but Cassie Wolfe is basically the Justin Smith of the Bombshell division.”

“Well, you know damn well she’s still going to be a tough fight.” said Eddie

“I know.” said Victoria, “But I have to build my confidence in my own way. Rubbing things in someone's face just motivates me more, maybe it’s not everyone’s way, but it works for me."

“Fair enough.” said Eddie.

“At the end of the day, the future looks bright for us both.” said Victoria. “Let’s go get it done, let’s go into the new year as both dual champions and the top team in all of SCW.”

“I like the sound of that.” Eddie grinned.

Perhaps a more unorthodox team. Eddie always fighting with honor, while Victoria fights with anything but. Eddie always remains as respectful as possible, while Victoria prefers to be as cruel as she can. But they are the mixed tag team champions, the light and dark. The Yin and Yang of SCW. They are…….

THE LYONS DEN

________

Darkness opens the scene and out of the shadows emerges Victoria Lyons. She has her usual cocky smile on her face and both of her championships displayed proudly on each shoulder.


“Hello boys” she said “Are you sure you're actually ready for what's ahead of you? Are you sure this is where you all want to make your return? You think you're going to stand a chance against a fully determined Warrior of light, my cousin and my tag team partner Eddie Lyons?"

She laughs to herself as if humored by the idea.

“So silly and so selfish,” she said, “You really going to come back and try to take an opportunity away from my cousin? My cousin who's been fighting over a year to get his world championship match with Finn Whelan?”

She shakes her head in disgust and scowls at the camera.

“Real pathetic if you ask me.” she said, "What you did in your careers wasn't good enough? So you have to come back and try to make yourself feel important again? No! You left, your time is done, stay away, stay out of my Queendom and stop trying to steal from my family or you will have to deal with the wrath of the queen and you know all about that don't you guy with a cape?"

She grins at the camera and adjusts her crown slightly as if to remind the king that SCW actually belongs to a queen.

"But I suppose you can't just hear me rag on you all day you want to hear from the man of the hour." She continued “You want to hear from the man that will throw all of you out and go on to become the next world champion ,The Warrior of Light, My cousin Unbreakable Eddie Lyons.”

Suddenly there's a bright flash of light and everything becomes illuminated again and we can see Eddie Lyons standing right there next to Victoria with his championship on his shoulder.

“The Queen is right you know, and I don't agree with her often but none of you deserve this I am the most deserving.” said Eddie “I absolutely refuse to let anyone come back and try to relive their former glory while I've been fighting to achieve mine.”

“Especially you Guy with a Cape.” said Victoria, “You may not have been gone as long as some of the others who are making a comeback but you're the one that mentioned my name disgracefully. So what you're still mad about that swift kick to the family jewels? All I did was give you what you deserved because SCW is a Queendom and my Queensguard is coming for your head for speaking about me like that.”

“Well I wouldn't put it quite like that.” said Eddie, “But I am coming for your head, but it's because I want my World Championship match and you are in the way of making that happen. I'm sick and tired of coming up short and I just can't let it happen again. I won't let it happen again, so blame me all you want for what my cousin did to you. At the end of the day your blind rage will be your downfall.”

Victoria looks a little annoyed at Eddie not completely agreeing with her but says nothing and just let it go.

“Anyway the point is nobody's going to be taking this from my cousin.” Victoria said, “This means more to him than it means to any of you. Ben Jordan seems to think that this is going to be fun or it's something to look forward to.  Because you're going to get hurt Ben,  because my cousin is angry and you will realize that getting in the ring with him is anything but fun and certainly not something to be looking forward to.”

“Again not exactly how I would have put it.” said Eddie, "But she does speak some truths. Understand, with all due respect, that I'm not here to listen to your praise of how much I've impressed you. I'm here to win a championship opportunity against the World Champion. So if you're here just to see how good I am well you're going to find out when I send you flying over the top.”

“Well said cousin.” Victoria laughed "They all want to come back and make a comeback off your name, off your hard work, and you're not going to let that happen are you because you're better than that. You’re “Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons and you deserve this more than anybody else right now. You know that Alex Jones idiot said you were not ready for this how does that make you feel Eddie doesn't that piss you off?”

“Oh it doesn't piss me off.” said Eddie, “What it does is motivate me, because I intend to show him how wrong he is. Then I'm going to go on to show him how even more wrong he is when I defeat Finn Whelan and become the new World Champion. He thinks Finn would eat me alive? Need I remind you Mr Jones, I'm the one that ended Finn Whelan's undefeated streak. I'm the one that brought the mixed tag titles to The Lyons Den I pinned Finn Whelan, and I can do it again. I know it, you know it, and Finn Whelan knows it.”

“You know Aaron Matthews seems to be content with making this a potential one-night thing. He just wants to see if he could still get down like he used to.”  said Victoria, “Do you really think that makes the mark of a future champion or someone who deserves this opportunity? He didn't even bother to learn anybody's name let's just show how little he really cares about this opportunity.”

“You might be right.” said Eddie, “But he'll find out exactly who I am real quick. He will learn the name Eddie Lyons by the end of this match and he will learn why I'm the one that is going to win the championship opportunity and why I will challenge the world champion on December 22nd.”


“And then there's the rest of you,” said Victoria, “I say it like that because that's what the lot of you are. Caleb Storms,  Justin Smith Bill Barnhart I don't think anybody expects any of you to win this match sure you may show some fight but not as much as some of the others certainly not as much as my cousin.”

“Look I've dealt with Justin and Bill both plenty enough times to know how to beat them they're not high on my list of people to be concerned about.” said Eddie, "Caleb storms you are an unknown quantity to me but something about what I've seen from you tells me that you're just excited to be here and you're not taking this as seriously as you should. You think my cousin Victoria is scary? She's not what you should be afraid of right now.  You should be afraid of what I'm willing to go through to win this match and how hard I'm going to fight to win this match because I promise that you don't have the motivation behind you that I do.”

“Oh but you should be afraid of me.” Victoria grinned, “You don't want to get on the wrong side of the Mad Queen.”

Victoria laughs as Eddie looks at her and rolls his eyes.

“Look fellas at the end of the day all I'm saying is you're going to have to bring everything you possibly can to win this match.” Eddie said “You're going to have to come better than you were before because the landscape has changed and the competition is a hell of a lot more tough. How many of you  even plan on sticking around after this match after you lose? If you don't plan on hanging around after losing this match do you even really deserve to be in it? Just some food for thought fellas because I can tell you for sure that Eddie Lyons will be sticking around after this match, even if I do somehow lose I will still find my way back to the top and will stop at nothing to get what I deserve.”

“But he's not going to lose.” said Victoria her tone annoyed, “And he needs to keep that word out of his vocabulary.  Eddie Lyons is going to win this match he is going to bring the World Championship to The Lyons Den and WE are going to run this company in the next year.”

“You know you're right I need to keep that word out of my vocabulary.“ said Eddie, “I am going to win this match and we'll see if any of you making your comebacks have what it takes to stick around. If you have what it takes to hang with the new SCW talent because there's others out there like Aiden Reynolds and LJ Kasey who are just as tough as I am and if you're going to stay you probably have to deal with them too. Again just some food for thought but right now you need to focus on me and how you're going to get through the most determined and most deserving person in this match because spoiler alert you're not going to this is my time and I'm taking it.  You can come try and take it from me or you can try but it ain't going to happen. My name is Unbreakable Eddie Lyons and I'm not some relic of SCW's past, I am its future and I am its next world champion.”

Eddie Lyons remains focused and determined to win the Superstar Rumble and continue towards his goal of becoming World Champion. In a way he seems almost consumed by the idea or perhaps it's just the influence of teaming with his less than popular cousin making him more aggressive. Whatever it may be, the others in this Superstar Rumble better take note because Eddie Lyons is going to stop at nothing to prove that he is next in line and that he will be the next World Heavyweight Champion.

[JustinSmith]

he scene opens up with Justin Smith standing in Tucson outside the Tucson Convention Center Arena to watch the Tucson Roadrunners play. He stops before going to ask for tickets to call his friend and former trainer Casey Williams.

Justin-Hey Casey, looks like Ben Jordan, Caleb Storm, Aaron Matthews and Guy entered themselves into the battle royal as well. Any thoughts?

Casey-Im looking forward to it.

Justin-Why?

Casey-You have an match that you can use your unique power and move set to get the upper hand and a win.

Justin-I hope so, but could use extra ring work.

Casey-I would love to help you, but I’m distressed right now. I’ll send Dying Breed and  Hitamashii to train with you.

Justin-Whats up?

Casey-You remember me telling you about Jeremiah Hardin and R.O.A.R. back when I was active in SCW?

Justin-Yeah, what about them?

Casey-Well, I just heard Jeremiah passed away.

Justin-Oh shit, I’m so sorry.

Justin waves off the cameraman, asking him to leave so Justin can continue his conversation as the scene fades to black.

The next day, Justin is seen at his hotel room, getting ready to go to the gym to get a workout in, but turns to call out his opponents in “Bulldog” Bill Barnhart, Alex Jones and “Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons, Ben Jordan, Aaron Matthews, Caleb Storm and Guy.

Justin-Bill, Alex, Eddie, Ben, Caleb, Aaron, Guy: I am looking forward to stepping inside that ring again to face you guys and prove that any victory you may have over me is a fluke.  There is nothing you guys can say that I haven’t already heard or do inside that ring that I haven’t been through before. I will prove my dominance by eliminating each and every single one of you guys single handed and emerge victorious by any means necessary.  I don’t care what needs to be done to win, but know I’m willing to do whatever it takes to not be eliminated. I will survive by being gritty and nobody knows gritty like me.

The scene fades to black with Justin cackling as he leaves the hotel room to go to the gym.

["Scumbag" Kevin Carter]

In less than five days High Stakes was set to take place. The entire city of Tucson was embracing everything that was coming with the event. From the thousands upon thousands of fans flying in for the mega event. To all the traffic that certain businesses were getting just from seeing one of the Bombshells or Superstars in the area. It was a lot to take in, but this is what happens when you had one of the biggest wrestling events in the world taking over your city.

This particular moment the shot was rolling into a very large building. Rows upon rows upon rows of fans were seated and waiting for something major. In front of those fans were rows upon rows of all kinds of media. Some wrestling related. Some locals. Some just wanted to be in on the action because it was taking place. And in front of that was a very large stage with a couple different podiums set up. About that time a man could be seen taking the center podium. Clearing his throat a little.

JUSTIN DECENT
Ladies and gentlemen! I want to start off by thanking each and every single one of you.
Thank you for being here today. Thank you for taking time out of your day to see us.
Thank you for using your platforms to help us out. It is truly an honor.
And I know there are several men and women back there that feel the same.
So without further ado welcome to the High Stakes press conference!

Nearly every single person that was in that building responded. From those rowdy wrestling fans screaming out in excitement. To the very professional media people in front clapping their hands together.

JUSTIN DECENT
As each of you know. This is the biggest night in Sin City Wrestling’s history.
The biggest night, the biggest event of the year, and the event with the most at stake.
This time of year is truly. . .

Before the man could even finish his statement. There was this loud sound that could be heard. Almost like someone was taking their hand and just smacking it against the top of a microphone. That was followed up with someone rudely interrupting.

“Would you shut the hell up and get off stage?!”

As soon as those words came echoing through the building. Mere seconds later KEVIN CARTER had emerged from behind the curtain that separated the stage and the talent in the back. The very second the man was seen, those fans that were in attendance began to let it be known how they felt about him. By no means at all was it in a positive light.

KEVIN CARTER
Yeah, yeah.
You can all kiss my left nut and make the right one jealous!

His attitude oozed out of him while he walked right over to Justin. With no care at all for the man, he proceeded to push him out of the way. Forcing the man to take a seat behind him in one of the chairs. Standing right there center stage, Carter glared out at the people in front of him.

KEVIN CARTER
I know what you idiots here in the front row were promised.
You were told you could ask all the questions you wanted.
And you were told you were going to get all the answers to those questions.
That we were all going to have to be professional.
Well, you’re in for a rude fucking awakening.
I’ve got no desire to be professional. I’ve got no desire to play nice for this company.
And I’ve really got no desire to answer any of your dumb ass questions!

Again the boos rang out pretty heavily and aimed in the man’s direction. So much as getting a little bit of a response from those on the media side of things. Some of them looked at each other in confusion and even a little bit of shock.

KEVIN CARTER
And honestly folks...
Why should I be professional? Why should I play by the rules?
What has this company done for me as of late to make me want to make them look good?!
For those that are a little on the slow side.
The answer is nothing. They’ve done absolutely nothing for me.
Nothing but hold me back and aim to make me look bad.
For crying out loud. Take today for example.

I was told I had to be here. I had to do this.
I had to maximize the minutes given to me.
And then I had to get the hell out of the building before Mark showed up.
A man that shouldn’t be making it all about because he owns the company.
A man that shouldn’t have been allowed to abuse his power.
And make a match between the two of us in the first place.
Not even giving me a proper platform to speak my mind!

Visibly frustrated, Carter shook his head from side to side.

KEVIN CARTER
For eleven years that man has held me down.
He has held me back at every turn.
He has been determined to make my life hell.
And he’s been allowed to get away with it.
With no end seemingly in sight.

Like I said he shouldn’t have been allowed to make this match.
And with being the main event level caliber star that I am.
I should be competing at a different level. I should be competing for championships.
I should be in a position to showcase my raw talent.
Be in a situation where I am able to better myself.

Not being forced to beat down an old man.
Which is going to do nothing for me in the end.
And the worst part about all of this is.
Being forced into this match. It’s not even the true slap in the face.
No, the real slap in the face is the High Stakes Rumble!

The frustration was so deep within the man. That his voice cracked for a brief moment. He was truly at his breaking point and he was letting it all out in front of everyone. Whether or not, it would do any good. That wasn’t the point for him. He was going to have his voice heard after being suppressed all this time.

KEVIN CARTER
They’re going to hold a battle royal.
And the winner gets a championship shot of their choosing.
Before the new year.
They’re allowing names like Bill Barnhart and Justin Smith to be apart of it.
Those two men are nothing more than clowns and shouldn’t ever get that kind of opportunity.
Especially not over someone like me!

They’re letting someone like Eddie Lyons.
Once again, he has an opportunity to prove himself.
Letting him once again have a shot at becoming champion.
Something that has happened month after month after month.
And all he’s ever proven is at best, he belongs in the Roulette Division.
Meanwhile I haven’t been given a single opportunity at a championship.

Not a single one, but Eddie? He can get them all the time?!
And that’s just the people that they have confirmed that will be in the match.
That doesn’t include the fact that they have made this match open to anyone and everyone.
If you used to be a former talent for the company. It’s a free invite to come back.
Don’t have to do anything. Don’t have to prove yourself at all.

Just come back to a possible free championship shot.
Even if you aren’t a former talent. Even if you don’t have a contract with the company.
This is also an opportunity for you to come in and be handed something.
Come right on in. Take away from people that have been busting their asses here.
Just come right on in and take away a spot from someone like me!

The vein in the middle of Carter’s forehead looked like it was about to burst at any given moment. He had gotten himself so upset that it was becoming unsettling to watch the man unravel right before their very eyes. At this point though, he couldn’t stop himself.

KEVIN CARTER
Take right off my fucking plate. This is insane. It’s gone too far!
Are you people truly this blind?! Are you that stupid?!
Do you truly not see with your eyes what Mark is doing to me?!
Can you not see that everything I have ever said is turning out to be true?!

JUSTIN DECENT
Alright Kevin. I think that’s. . .

KEVIN CARTER
No! No! I will not be silenced any longer!
Is your hatred for me that deep that. . .
You’re okay with what is happening right before your very eyes?!
I’m being held back. I’m being suppressed.
They won’t let me be who I am meant to be!

JUSTIN DECENT
Come on Kevin. Calm down for a second.
This isn’t the time or the place for all of this.

By then Justin was getting out of the chair he had taken a seat in. Being the host of the presser and being one of the many trusted hands in the company’s history. It was up to him to rangle this kinds of things in. Approaching Carter who was now pacing the stage like a mad man.

Justin gently reached out and touched him on the shoulder. Carter immediately spun around and MUFFED the man across the jaw with his open hand. Justin was pushed down to the floor of the stage pretty harshly. As soon as he fell there was a collective gasp of shock from the people watching.

KEVIN CARTER
Look me in my eyes. Look me in my eyes Mark!
This ends here. This ends once and for all.
You’re not going to silence me and hold me back any longer!

Clearly at that point Carter had proven to be off his rocker. If he thought the man he had just knocked to the ground was the boss himself. Justin just looked on shocked and confused, but about that moment the right thing was being done.

Several members of the SCW security team could be seen rushing the stage. Carter attempted to fight them off, but he was very quickly overpowered. Starting with them yanking the microphone out of his hand so he couldn’t further cause a disturbance from a verbal standpoint.

Within a matter of seconds. They were able to bound Carter’s arms behind his back and start to carry him off the stage. He was fighting the whole way trying to scream out, but one of the security guards was pushing down on his head to keep him from doing so. Escorting the seemingly deranged man off the stage.

JUSTIN DECENT
Wow! Just wow.

About that time Justin was starting to pick himself up off the stage. That look of pure shock still covered his entire expression. Once he was finally back on his feet, he took a couple of steps back over to the podium at the center of the stage. As he looked out at the crowd he could see their equally shocked expressions.

JUSTIN DECENT
I want to be the first to apologize for what you just saw.
That was not something that was planned. Nor was it a part of any show we put on.
There’s something disturbingly wrong with that man.
And he chose the wrong place to let that out.
Again, I apologize for what you saw.
Let’s just try and move forward with the agenda today.

That was going to be a lot easier said than done. They had all just watched a man lose his mind in front of them. The same man that was set to compete against the boss in a few days time. If he was that unhinged now. There was no telling what he would be like in a few days' time. That couldn’t be anymore frightening for Mark Ward or the entire state of Sin City Wrestling.


“Is this how pathetic this company has gotten?”

As the shot found itself opening up. The voice sounded very familiar. Once things became a little more clear. Sure enough there was the familiar face of the one they called the Entity. Carter just sitting there on the ledge with a scowl on his expression and glaring at the camera before him.

“We are closing in on the biggest event of the year.
The most sought out supercard of the year.
People from all over the world are flying into shitty ass Tucson, Arizona for this event.
And this company decides to not hold one, but two battle royals?
Two battle royals where any Tom, Dick, and Harry with zero talent can show up.
Throw their name in the hat, and fumble around the ring hoping.
Just hoping that they are lucky enough to go the distance to get a championship match.
Pathetic might not even be the word for it.”

His sour expression seemed to only worsen. Finding himself just shaking his head about. Before pushing his hands against that concrete ledge and pushing himself off. Landing on his feet. Starting to take a couple of steps towards the cameras.

“See, this is what’s wrong with Sin City Wrestling.
They continue to cater to the less than talented.
They have always favored those who aren’t good enough to be employed.
And they put the trash first over the actual talent.
Time and time again by doing shit like this.
They show the entire wrestling community.
This place isn’t serious.”

“It’s not about having the best of the best.
It’s not about being a legitimate threat.
It’s not about being a juggernaut to the wrestling business.
Yet, they wonder what they have the reputation they do.
And they wonder why they can’t get new talent in this place.
Why would anyone want to come here and put in the effort. . .”

“When they see someone like Bill Barnhart being put in a battle royal
Where he could get lucky enough to earn a title shot and then make us all suffer
The moment he goes to challenge for the Heavyweight Championship.
Or why would they want to ink their name to a fresh deal.
When they’ve got to see someone like Justin Smith be on this roster?!
Someone that is without a doubt the single biggest joke employed by this company!”

“Everyone and their mother knows that Justin serves no real purpose.
Everyone knows that when it’s time for someone to get a much needed win.
They get fed Justin and leading up to the entire match.
You have to question whether or not he is on some kind of hard drug..
Shrooms... Meth ... PCP. Something to make him as delusional as he comes off.
As he believes he’s going to win the entire time. Only for him to get his ass handed to him!”

Carter’s words sounded more and more bitter with every one that was spoken. The man truly sounded annoyed that the existence of Bill Barnhart and Justin Smith were even a thing.

“You are shooting yourselves in the foot.
And further making this company seem less and less like a threat.
By keeping men like that under the contract.
Then it only gets worse when you try to appeal to the masses.
For the sake of not being canceled.
It’s the only explanation for allowing Guy to come out of nowhere.
And be part of this battle royal. He has clear special needs issues.”

“It should be a fucking liability to allow someone like that to be in this match.
Let alone be a wrestler in general!
Could you imagine how shit this place would become if he won?!
Or could you imagine the black hole this company would be in. . .
And couldn’t crawl out of if he became a champion around here?!
God, we’d all be living in hell.”

“And what about the so-called veterans that are returning.
You think that anyone is going to want to come here and try their luck.
When people consider Ben Jordan, Aaron Matthews, and Caleb Storms.
Veterans around these parts. Men that set the standard for this company.
What the hell did they ever do to get that status?
That’s not even being the vile hating prick that I am.
It’s a legitimate question.”

“Caleb Storms was the Internet Champion.
And the only reason he got to make that claim was because of J2H.
The man decided to move on because he was bored and he handed the title to Caleb.
Do you know how much of a shitbag you have to be to just get a title handed to you. . .
And then go on to act like you were something special? Dude is a fucking clown.
And if you even think about trying to rebuttal things
By saying you held the Roulette Championship. Go ahead and swallow bleach.
That reign was just as big of an abomination as the Internet Championship run.”

“Aaron Matthews was nothing more than a tag team champion.
For a couple of weeks with a man that couldn’t come up with a better name than Jon Dough.
And just as quickly as they won the titles. They lost them.
Ultimately leading to the man, walking away like a little bitch,
People can say what they want about me,
But at least I actually had some type of effect on this company.
I actually mattered. He didn’t. Yet he gets veteran status.
Fucking laughable.”

“Ben is about the only one out of those three that can say he is a veteran.
Being a former Heavyweight, Roulette, and Tag Team Champion.
His name carries some weight. His name carries some value.
But at the same exact time. He’s overhyped. He’s overrated.
And forever favored. The man can be gone for six months or more.
And just be allowed to walk back into the fold whenever he feels like.”

“As it is, we have enough self entitled pricks that work here.
Who think they can come back and do whatever they want.
Who believes everyone shows bow at their feet.
Ben doesn’t need to be another one on that long list of people.
And what kind of message does it send to the folks outside these walls. . .
That you’re so desperate to bring in when you allow Ben to do what he’s doing?!”

Not even for a second had his expression let up. Sour and bitter to his very core. Even when it came to something that had nothing to do with him. He was trying to make it appear as if the company was doing poorly and by its own decisions.

But it was all a ploy just to boost his own ego. Everyone already knew that about the man. Nothing would ever change with that. Carter just paced back and forth for a couple of seconds. Trying to find those next set of words.

“In case it isn’t sinking in yet gentlemen.
With everything that is going on.
I am taking it upon myself to become a part of this Battle Royal.
I am forcing my way into this thing.
And I’m going to take what should have been mine a long time ago.
A shot at the championship that should have never left me.
And the best part about this. There’s no one that can stop me.
Not even you, Eddie Lyons!”

His eyes found themselves narrowing a little bit more. With his focus finding its way to another one of those men confirmed for the man.

“Have you really thought I haven’t paid attention?
Did you really think I haven’t heard the things you’ve said?
Or seen the little pot shots you have taken from time to time?
Were you really under the impression that you could bad mouth me
And think that it wouldn’t ever get back to me?
I see it all. I hear it all. I feel it all.
I just don’t always address it until the right moment comes along.
And this right here, it’s the right moment.”

“It’s just funny to me that with all you had to say.
With feeling so strongly about the things I have done.
With the group that myself, J2H, and Alexander has formed.
And with the way we have taken over this company.
Not once did you ever step up to me. To none of us.
At no point did you ever take a stand and try to stop us.
You like so many others. You want to get people behind you.
Make them think you can make a difference. But in reality you know you can’t.”

“You want to play the role of the big bad wolf.
But in reality you’re just a scared little piglet.
In which you’re just wishing, hoping, and praying that the true big bad woif. . .
Doesn’t start poking his head around. Because you’ll just end up being his dinner.
Sadly for you though, Eddie. It’s far too late.
All that hoping. All the wishing. All the praying isn’t going to make a difference.
You’re in my crosshairs now. You are about to be eaten alive.
Right in front of all the people that have supported you and believed in you.”

Taking the moment to pause and let that sink in for Eddie. Carter let a little nod escape his head. Further just proving that everything he said, he believed in. No matter how logical or insane it might have sounded to the rest.

“This entire thing that’s going on right now.
Allowing this to happen. Allowing a battle royal.
And allowing these men to just come into a title shot they didn’t earn.
Allowing these men to think, believe, and say what they want.
With zero consequences for their actions.
It’s what’s wrong with Sin City Wrestling.
Which is why I have to be the one to take a stand.
I have to be the one to make it right.
I have to be the one to fight against injustice.
And I have to be the one that makes Sin City Wrestling what its meant to be.”

“You see I made it clear with this match I’m having with Mark.
That once he’s been defeated. Once I’ve broken the man’s neck.
Once I have beaten him to a purple and left him lying in a pool of his own blood.
Once I rendered him completely useless. As far as I am concerned.
Sin City Wrestling is mine. It’ll be my own personal playground.
All the good I want to do. I can do just that.
All the bad I want to do. I can also do that.
All the chaos I want to cause. I’ll be free to do that as well.
Basically, whatever the hell I want to do with SCW. I can do it.
And no one can stop that from happening.”

“It couldn’t be more fitting that on the same night I get in the ring with Mark.
On the same night I end his career. Take his throne as the ruler of SCW.
And go on to erase his legacy like he did mine.
It’s also the same night I pull double duty. It’s the same night I stand against those that hate me.
I take their best shot and reveal to them it wasn’t good enough.
It will never be good enough. Before going on to one by one.
Toss them over that top rope. Until there is just one man left.
And that one man will get scooped up onto my shoulders.
They will get dropped on their neck. Then be pinned in the center of the ring.
Giving me that title shot I should’ve had long ago!”

In taking another long pause. Staring off into the distance. It was clear their wheels were turning in that man’s head. He was getting very lost in what the future was going to look like. It was bright for him, but bleak for so many others. That hardened expression of his finally coming back to reality.

“With great power. Comes great responsibility.
Having everything that I have ever wanted.
From Mark being gone. To the title shot I’ve always deserved.
It puts me firmly in the driver’s seat where I belong.
And in that driver’s seat is where I can make the biggest difference.
It’s when I can truly begin to put SCW back on the map.
That’s when I can make this company mean something again.
And that’s when I can make this company not only the most desirable place to be.
But also make it the most feared place to be.”

“I understand that people do not want to see me in power.
As well as understand that people will fear me being in power.
But they’ll learn to get over it or they’ll find themselves without a job.
No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
I know for a fact that my outlook and my vision for Sin City Wrestling.
Is better than anything you have ever seen
And is better than anything Mark and Christian could ever come up with.
This will be the greatest journey you’ve ever been on folks.”

As he stood there looking at the camera before him. That devious trademark smirk of his began to spread from ear to ear. Those words he spoke were scary to everyone else. Considering he was the only one that benefited from it, there should be no surprise to that. Because that’s just who he was. It was all about him and only him.

“Now by no means am I clueless. Not like some of the people that walk around here.
Nor am I completely delusional like so many men I have shared the ring with.
Like I said before. I know people are scared of power means for me.
They’re not going to be open to my ideas. Which is why I said they will be without a job.
If they don’t hop on board, but it’s not going to be just that simple either.
You’re going to stand against me. You’re going to fight against me.
Not very many of you are just going to go down and stay down.
I’ll have to put you down and make you stay down!”

“So many of you are going to try and foil my plans.
And find any way that you can to make sure it never becomes a reality.
I’d even be willing to bet the moment you see me coming in this rumble.
You all stop what you’re doing. You put your differences aside.
Stand side by side in unison and then attempt to hang up on me.
All for the sake of making sure what I need to happen doesn’t happen.
And that’s fine gentlemen. It’s your right to do so. . .”

“But there is a couple of key factors. You should keep in mind.
Starting with the fact that none of the men confirmed for this match are as good as me.
Some of you I have already beaten easily. Some of you I haven’t been in the ring with.
But you could also be beaten easily. Then for all those that might try their hands.
Might just show up for a quick payout and for what they think is a free shot at the top.
You are also not as good as me, but it’s not even just that.
I’m not letting some nobody take my spot or take off my plate.
This is my fucking house. I’ll make that clear.
Sooner you understand the better off you’ll be!”

“However the other thing to this is there’s a little something called destiny.
That is something that can’t be fought, can’t be turned away,
And more importantly can't be stopped!
Sure, I know that someone. Someone isn’t going to listen to that.
There’s going to be at least one of you that thinks you can stand in the way of destiny.
At least one of you that thinks you can stop destiny.
Stop what is already written in stone.
That one that makes that mistake will have an example made out of them.
You will end up being the ultimate sacrifice for me in this Rumble.
That way the rest of them know. To just crawl into their hole and die!”

Again those words were so harsh and so bitter. The way he disregarded human life said more than enough about who he was as a human being. He found himself inching closer to the cameras though. Little did they know these next words would prove to be his final.

“Sin City Wrestling. It is time to meet your maker.
It is time to say goodbye to the old. Embrace the new.
It’s time to start praising and following behind your new leader.
Allow me to take us to the places we have never been before.
Time for you to stand by what what greatness can do
And witness true history being made for the first time in your lives.
For I from this day on. . . will forever live in infamy!”

Following those very words. Carter found himself dropping down to his knees. Each of his arms coming out to either side of him and stretching wide. His head tilted back just a little bit as he looked up to the sky above him. It was almost as if the man was giving himself up to be praised.

Maybe even giving himself up to be sacrificed depending on how one looked at it. With the warped and twisted mind of this man. No one could ever truly know what he was thinking at any given point. This would be the lasting image of the Entity before the shot found itself fading to black once again.

[GUY]

Guy and Ollie had just returned from the adventure. In both of Ollie’s tiny hands were a banana milk smoothie. He needed two logically in Guy’s eyes for he was a growing boy. Guy himself was carrying his own smoothie just sipping away on the straw as the two approached the front door. Through the wooden door the conversation on the inside could be heard loud and clear.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Vanellope! That’s not an excuse to punch someone in the face!

[ V A N E L L O P E ] -- Good enough to me.

[ C A L V I N ] --  We have taught you to stand up for yourself. But...

[ V A N E L L O P E ] -- ...But that’s exactly what I did!

By that point both Guy and Ollie had managed to make their way into the house. Both of them sipped on their straws in unison. All of the sudden Ollie let out a refreshing sigh from the smoothie. Before a smile crossed his lips and allowed himself to be what most younger siblings can be, a little on the annoying side.

[ O L L I E ] -- Ooooh someone’s in troubleeeeee!

Right away the boy’s older sister spun herself around. Nasty little glare in the pre-teenager’s eyes.

[ V A N E L L O P E ] -- You want to be the second person I deck today?!

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Absolutely not! Vanellope got to your room!

[ V A N E L L O P E ] -- What?! He started it!

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Go now!

[ V A N E L L O P E ] -- You always take his side! Ughhhhh!

Following the frustrated sigh. She found herself storming out of the room. Every violent stomp of hers could be heard as she went up the steps.

[ C A L V I N ] --  Oliver. You know that antagonizing your sister isn’t right either. You need to go to your room as well.

[ O L L I E ] -- I wasn’t!

[ G U Y ] --  Nope! Nope he sure wasn’t. Guy was standing right here. Not antagonizing going on at all.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Guy. All due respect this isn’t your place to be butting in.

[ C A L V I N ] --  What are you even doing here anyway?!

Right away the agitated tone from Calvin was picked up on by everyone in the room. Alessandra just looked at Oliver as the little boy sighed to himself and began to storm off as well. Leaving the adults alone, but Alessandra making it clear she wanted no part of this conversation either.

[ A L E S S A N D R A ] -- Sounds like the two of you have some catching up to do. Have at it.

Not even bothering to give either one of them a chance to say anything to her to rope her into this conversation. Alessandra exited the living room area leaving both men. Calvin’s eyes narrowed and his arms folded across his chest.

[ C A L V I N ] --  Care to give me an answer?

[ G U Y ] --  Always so grumpy!

[ C A L V I N ] --  I think I have a reason to be grumpy with you. Last time I saw you. You slapped me across the face, put me in a position I didn’t want to be in, and made me do something I didn’t want to do.

[ G U Y ] --  Pfft. You’re still holding into that?! That’s silly. We both know Guy stopped you from making a silly decision. Retirement was never the option. The people didn’t want it to happen. Guy didn’t want it to happen and deep down you didn’t either.

[ C A L V I N ] --  It wasn’t your call to make!

The frustration was visibly all over the face of Calvin. Guy stood there just shrugging his shoulders. As the man didn’t seem to understand at all where his friend was coming from.

[ G U Y ] --  Guy says let bygones be bygones. Everything worked out for the best. You’re not retired and you’re about to be in the High Stakes Rumble with Guy. Well... Guy has a better name for it and a better plan for the winner but we can talk about those details in a bit.

[ C A L V I N ] --  What the hell are you talking about now? I’m not in that Battle Royale.

[ G U Y ] --  Oh now you’re just joshing! Guy has seen your face all over the flier. You are in the match and that’s wonderful. For Guy has a master plan and a way for you to pay back the favor of Guy talking you out of retirement!

[ C A L V I N ] --  Yo! Look at me. Look at me, you ADHD having freak!

Calvin was snapping his fingers for a second before Once he saw that Guy was making eye contact with his fingers he began to point right to his eyes. Dragging Guy’s gaze right over to him. It was sad he had to treat him like one of his children, but sometimes the only way to make the man actually pay attention and listen.

[ C A L V I N ] --  Now listen to me loud and clear. I don’t know what on earth you thought you saw. I don’t know what your imagination has or has not created. But I am not in any kind of battle royal. I’m not even going to be in Arizona next weekend. I’ve got other shit to do!

For a second or two there was silence amongst the two of them. Guy lifting his eyebrows a little bit in a questioning manner. Seemingly really studying the face of Calvin.

[ G U Y ] --  Are you really-really most positively sure?!

[ C A L V I N ] --  Yes! Yes I am fucking sure!

[ G U Y ] --  Hmmmmmm!

The confused expression of his very quickly turned to a soured one. Shaking his head from side to side in a little bit of a panic.

[ G U Y ] --  Gosh dangit! What the frick is Guy going to do now?! He only said he was going to be in the Rumble because he thought you were in it!

[ C A L V I N ] --  I don’t know what you’re going to do. It’s very much a you problem and not a men problem. You played the fuck around and find out game. Now you’re finding out!

[ G U Y ] --  Sir! This is not the time to be making jokes. King Guy is in a dilemma here. You’re his right hand jester. And did you forget about the wonderful tag team of Two Guys One Cape? Guy’s problems are your problems. Your problems are Guy’s problems. We’re a unit. A team. The bestest team in all the land!

[ C A L V I N ] --  Two Guys, One Cape isn’t a team. It’s never been a team. It’s never going to be a team!

[ G U Y ] --  Pfffffffffffft! You don’t mean that silly, boy!

[ C A L V I N ] --  Oh but I do!

Guy still did not believe what was being told to him. The innocence of the man in a cape really shining through as he shook his head about. Calvin took a couple of steps towards him and planted a firm hand on his shoulder as he leaned in.

[ C A L V I N ] --  If I were you. I’d really start figuring out what the hell you’re going to do. You’re on your own and once they know you’re in this thing. I can guarantee you that you’re going to instantly have a major target on your back.

[ G U Y ] --  On his own?! Guy can’t be on his own. You’ve got to be there to help!

[ C A L V I N ] --  Good luck bud. You’re really going to need it!

That smirk on Calvin’s lips was a little telling. It appeared at least for the time being he was kind of enjoying seeing Guy being in a bit of a predicament. Which that mindset was kind of justified due to all the predicaments Guy had gotten him into over the last year or so. He took his hand off the shoulder of his friend and walked away leaving him just standing there alone.

[ G U Y ] --  Frick! Frick! Frick!

Guy had his fists balled up tightly as he shook them about. This was not what the mischievous man had in mind. Not by a long shot. And now it was far too late for him to back out. This turned out to be a brand new world that he was going to experience and he was going to have to do it all on his own. Chances are this was going to have an ending like no other.


“Hey man! What’s the big idea?!”

The familiar face of Scott Oliver could be seen as he found himself walking down the hallway. His focus on the painted warrior himself, Guy. Right away the man in the cape looked right up at him.

[ S C O T T ] -- Was that some kind of joke or something?!

[ G U Y ] --  Hello funny smelling man! What’s your issue with Guy?!

[ S C O T T ] -- My issue?! My issue is you sold me a bag of oregano. Instead of ... well you know!

[ G U Y ] --  Are you sure it was oregano? Maybe just maybe you were wrong!

[ S C O T T ] -- Dude! I know the difference between that and weed!

[ G U Y ] --  Ooooh! He’s talking about drugs over here!

It was very obvious he was trying to draw attention to Scott and his bad habits. Scott could be heard shushing him as soon as those words came out of his mouth.

[ S C O T T ] -- Man! Chill with that. Not everyone is so cool with recreational activities

[ G U Y ] --  Well maybe this is karma for not following through with your promise to Guy. Have you ever thought of that?! Hmmmm?!

[ S C O T T ] -- What promise?!

[ G U Y ] --  You told Guy! You would get Mr. Dingleberry and Mr. Too Old To Be Hot to change the High Stakes Rumble and make it Guy’s Cash Money Rumble!

[ S C O T T ] -- I did not! There’s no way I could influence Mark or Christian to do anything!

[ G U Y ] --  Liiiiies! All lies! You said Guy had a brilliant mind and calling it that would be awesome!

[ S C O T T ] -- I might’ve said that, but that’s not the same as saying I’d get them to change the name or get them to make any kind of change at all.

[ G U Y ] --  Yes it is!

[ S C O T T ] -- No it is not!

The two had every intention of going back and forth with one another. Based on how it was going and their entire posture but before it could get to that point. There was a little sound of someone clearing their throat. Both men turned their attention to where it had come from. Justin standing there not too far from them.

[ J U S T I N ] -- Hate to interrupt but Guy! You are meant to be on stage right now.

[ G U Y ] --  Oh no! My minions! They’re awaiting me!

[ S C O T T ] -- We’re not done with this. I want my money back!

[ G U Y ] --  Psht! That’s Guy’s monies now. No refunds, nerd!

[ S C O T T ] -- You little...

He couldn’t even finish his statement as Guy had always begun to hightail it away from where they stood. Rushing down the hall as quickly as his legs could carry him. Before stopping right at a tiny pair of steps, he marched up them and then went right to the black curtain.  Brushing it to the side, Guy stepped out onto the stage. And soon as the people saw him.

They showed their true support for him and instantly met him with a massive uproar of cheers. Guy instantly felt their energy as he raised his hands into the air to show his excitement for them. His black painted lips spread into a wild smile as he approached the podium there on the stage. Guy tapping the top of the mic to make sure it was on.

[ G U Y ] --  Huzzah! King Guys is here!

That smile of his seemingly getting a little bigger. At that very moment the fans in attendance began to hit him with the “HUZZAH” chant. Again and again it was chanted. More and more people are joining in. causing it to get louder. Guy standing there nodding his head a little in unison with that chant.

[ G U Y ] --  iiiis! Yiiiis my minions. Let the world know who your master is!

Right away he took a step back from the podium and grabbed each side of his cape. Lifting it up as he posed right before the crowd. Their loud response and support showing a little more, but quickly he regained his spot on the podium.

[ G U Y ] --  Now it was told to Guy. That there are some of you minions that have questions for me. Guy is here to tell you now. He doesn’t answer boring questions. He doesn’t answer lame questions. He expects that you have done your research like a good minion and will ask all the best questions. Who wants to be first?!

Right away every single hand in that building went up. They were all eager to ask their questions, to have their fifteen seconds of game, and maybe more importantly than anything else. They were eager to get the attention of the man standing before them. Guy finally found himself pointing to someone before him.

[ G U Y ] --  Ahhh yiiiis! You with the Two Guys, One Cape merch. You deserve to ask a question more than anyone else. You lined Guy’s pockets very nicely with money. Please ask your King whatever your little heart desires!

The woman he happened to be talking about had a huge smile on her face. Gripping the front of her shirt and flashing it around a little bit showing she was a fan. Only to take a step forward as she began to speak to him.

[ M I N I ON # 1 ] -- I feel like I’m going to pass out right now. Oh my goodness! I didn’t think this would even be a possibility right now.

[ G U Y ] --  Anything is possible in the Kingdom of Guy! For King Guy always puts his minions first!

[ M I N I ON # 1 ] -- We are so grateful to have a King like yourself. That being said though my question for you is. Since it has been announced that you will be in the High Stakes Rumble. There have been several men in the match that have expressed interest in not wanting you in the match and are claiming that you don’t have any right to just come back now. Do you have anything to say to them? Any feelings at all about those men?

[ G U Y ] --  They sound big mad!

There was a nonchalant shrug that left his shoulders.

[ G U Y ] --  Guy isn’t worried about haters. Haters are going to hate. It's the only thing that makes them feel any kind of joy. This doesn’t bother Guy. Not even in the slightest. But what they need to understand is Guy does whatever Guy wants to do. This is the Kingdom of Guy. Guy is the King. Guy is the master of the universe. Guy is the one that makes all the decisions. So, it doesn’t matter if Guy is gone three weeks, six weeks, or eighteen billion years. When Guy wants to come back and be the bestest wrestler alive. He will. Stay mad!

As soon as he had finished speaking the woman nodded her head and took a few steps back. That’s when everyone’s hands went right back into the air. They were wanting to be the next one to get a chance to answer their question. Guy peering out into the crowd. Seeing a young boy wearing a cape around his shoulders.

[ G U Y ] --  Huzzah! The Boy in the Cape! King Guy wants to hear your question. Capes make you superior to everyone else. Please come, come ask your question!

Right away excitement overcame the young fan. He found himself rushing forward causing his cape to sway in the wind behind him. He was making a mad dash for the stage which led to Guy coming around the podium and flopping down on his bottom to meet the child right there at the edge of the stage.

[ M I N I O N #2 ] -- Hiiii!

[ G U Y ] --  Hello young minion! What is your question for King Guy?!

[ M I N I O N #2 ] -- Um... uh.... Oh! Who do you think is the toughest?!

[ G U Y ] --  Who does King Guy think will be the toughest in the rumble?!

[ M I N I O N #2 ] -- Mmmhmmm!

[ G U Y ] --  Huzzah! What a brilliant question boy with a cape! See, he told you people in capes are superior!

He proceeded to pat the young fan on the head before standing himself back up on the stage. As the child began to journey back over to his mother. Guy took his spot back there on the podium.

[ G U Y ] --  This is a question that is making Guy think. There’s a chance that maybe the toughest is the Bulldog. That’s not even a human Guy is having to fight. If he decides to bite down on Guy’s ankle and ragdoll him across the ring like the viscous mutt he is. Then that could spell trouble, but Guy is coming with extra doggo treats. So that won’t be a problem. Oh maybe it’ll be Ben Jordan! Yeah maybe he’s going to be toughest for Guy.

Taking a second to pause. Guy tapped his finger against his chin a little bit. Trying to mow over all the possibilities in his head.

[ G U Y ] --  He has won the Heavyweight Championship before. Which is more than like ninety five percent of the weirdos that are in this match but.... Guy also heard he is best friends with a donkey. The two of them like to sit down and get super duper drunk together. First and foremost. That’s animal cruelty. You should never get a donkey drunk. Like that’s just a recipe for disaster! And if he’s always drunk. How the heck does he think he can take on King Guy?! King Guy is all about that sober living. No drugs. No alcohol. No prematerial sexi-times. Just don’t look at Guy’s browser history with the last one!

Bringing his finger to his lips like he was trying to get people to be behind him and keeping things a secret.

[ G U Y ] --  So maybe Ben isn’t the toughest one for Guy. Frickin’ heck. This is a very hard question that’s been asked. But maybe just maybe it’s Eddie Lyons. He kind of sounds like he’s got sand in his vagina here lately. Talking about this is his time, this is his match, this is his chance to do this and that. All attitude and grr faced. Probably because he’s got that twat-wafffle ass fake queen hanging around him. She rubbed off on him and made him unbearable. That’s going to be Guy’s pick. Sandy Vagina Eddie will be the toughest for King Guy, but no matter how tough he might be. He’s going to bow before King Guy like everyone else on his way to a massive Royal Rumble win.... Wait?! Why isn’t it called the Royal Rumble?! It’s so fitting for a King!

Guy found himself looking around for someone to direct that question to. However as soon as he made eye contact with one of the stage hands helping with the event. They were motioning for him to wrap it up as his time was coming to an end. Guy just spat his tongue out and gave a thumbs down.

[ G U Y ] --  This nerd over here is telling Guy. He has to wrap it up. Shame him and boo him. Let him know he doesn’t get to tell your King what to do!

They did exactly what he had asked them. Everyone focused on that stage hand as they began to boo him heavily in support of that King. Guy standing there just beaming with pride while holding a thumbs down right at the stage hand. They were looking back at Guy just shaking their head realizing there wasn’t much they could do about this situation.

[ G U Y ] --  Once again minions. Your king is forever grateful for your support and your love. This is why King Guy does what he does. He does it all for you. The High Stakes Rumble will be no different. My minions want to see High Stakes? Well Guy is all in!

In true Guy fashion, he took a couple of steps backwards and grabbed his cape once again with both hands before lifting them up to pose for the audience. The loud cheers rolled in once again. With the most odd and most unique to come around these parts in recent times found himself turning to make his exit from the stage. Leaving as he would call them his minions to wait and wonder for that fateful night of High Stakes. For it was bound to be history making.


Exactly three hours from now High Stakes would be officially underway. The biggest event of the year for Sin City Wrestling was going to have all eyes on it and rightfully so. At that moment the cameras found themselves rolling inside of the TCC Arena. For the most part the building was very quiet. Aside from the little bit of last minute maintenance going on to make sure the show would really be a go.

With the cameras finding themselves down at the ringside area there was a familiar face awaiting them. Guy with his cape on standing in the middle of the ring. The bright lights shining down on him. The High Stakes logo hanging from the rafters. As one should have expected his strange behavior wa going to be on display with that wide smile crossing his lips,

“Back when Guy was a youngster. He was always told he was just a little bit different.”

A small nod escaping the man in a cape.

“Because Guy was different. Because Guy was unique. Because Guy was just a little ball of special. He often struggled to make friends. He struggled to be included in things. He struggled to be accepted. He struggled to just feel like he was part of something. As a youngin Guy was told he had to learn to be normal. He had to learn to not be strange. He had to learn to be what everyone else was if he wanted to be accepted. And he won’t lie to you. That hurt Guy’s feelings then...”

His hands were groping that top rope ever so tightly. To the point that his knuckles were turning white. Still just nodding his head a bit.

“But now as Guy stands before you as a King. As Guy stands before you as one of the most stylish men in all the land with his glorious cape. As Guy stands here before you with the support of millions upon millions of minions. He knows that he made the right choice in being who he always felt like he needed to be. Never changing and never feeling he had to be normal was the best thing for Guy, but there’s one thing that Guy has to credit for that happening.

Guy has to credit the world of professional wrestling. From when Guy saw it as a youngin and falling in love with it. Because of all the action and because of all the cool characters that existed. All the way to when Guy became a man and decided to go after his dream of being a professional wrestler. The wrestling business always accepted Guy for who he was. The wrestling business has always wanted Guy to be different and to be special. The wrestling business has given Guy the best set of tools to succeed.

And because of those things. Guy will forever be in debt to the wrestling business. It will be a business he’s always a part of. Even when he’s the oldest man to ever live. He’ll still walk down the ring with his walker in nothing more than depending on and hand some young whippersnapper their butt on a silver platter. Doing it just in time to get back to the Nursing Home to watch Wheel of Fortune. Simply put Guy is professional wrestling!”

There was such a level of excitement that came out of his mouth. Letting go of the ropes finally and finding himself backing up to the middle of the ring. The cameraman finds themselves taking a step up onto that apron to get better focus of the self proclaimed King.

“Guy knows that the bond he has with professional wrestling and the way it has allowed him to be himself. It’s a bond that cannot be broken and a bond that is far more special than any of the other men in this match have with wrestling. Guy sees it with his own eyes. He can see how each of them views this business. He can see how their relationship is with this business. Take Justin Smith for example. Guy sees it plain as day. He sees what the business is and what it means to him.

The only connection that Justin has with this business comes to physical punishment. Granted he thinks he’s good enough to dish it out and that’s what motivates him, but in reality he’s just the one that ends up taking the punishment. He is the one that ends up taking a beating. It’s something that he’s become addicted to. It’s something that he likes to experience. But it’s not a genuine connection. Justin could break his noggin open tonight and it would all be over for him. Something he would just be okay with.

Or what about Ben Jordan’s connection and relationship with professional wrestling? Sure, it’s a way for him to get physical. It’s a way for him to get some aggression out and it’s a way for him to be the fighter he thinks that he is. But in reality, he only does it to be able to travel city to city. Country to country. On the company’s dime to be able to experience all the fine beers that exist out there. If there wasn’t travel involved with wrestling and a way to support his bad habits. Then wrestling wouldn’t mean much to him.”

No denying at this point the man that called himself King was treading on thin ice. His claims were all opinion based and were surely bound to upset someone. Might even upset everyone and make him the biggest target in the match. Guy showing no fear of what could happen.

“Caleb Storm. His only connection to professional wrestling is glory chasing. He is no different than quite a few people that exist in this business. They only do it for championships or money which don’t get King Guy wrong. He loves his money, but that’s not everything to Guy. Caleb only came back because this was a freebie situation. Once he loses the Rumble. Guy will bet all seven hundred billion dollars he has that Caleb will end up just leaving again. It’s not true love for wrestling. It means nothing to him.

As far as Eddie Lyons goes. He might be the only one that has a deeper connection to wrestling than any of the others. That’s only because it was something he was born into. It’s something that everyone he knows is involved. Basically his entire family has their grimy paws on the wrestling business, but just because you were born into it doesn’t mean you love it or have that deep connection. If anything you just expect things to be given to you or handed to you because you were born into it.

That much has already started to become obvious with Victoria. It won’t be long until the same happens to Eddie, but he doesn’t have a deep appreciation for it. He doesn’t have a deep love for wrestling. He didn’t have to go through discovering it, falling in love with it, and then going through all the hardships to get good at it. Take it however you want Eddie, but Guy sees right through you and sees right through all the bullshit you’re trying to tell my minions.”

Guy’s painted eyebrows found themselves narrowing just a bit.

“King Guy could go on and on about these men, but the truth is. They do not have the connection that Guy has with wrestling. That gives Guy the edge. And after everything that’s gone down. After the way wrestling embraced Guy, welcomed Guy, and let Guy be himself. It’s time for Guy to finally give back. Time for Guy to make the wrestling business feel proud of him and show that giving him all you minions wasn’t for nothing. It’s not a waste. And the only way for him to do that is by winning the High Stakes Rumble. Not just win it, but go on to become a champion. That is the goal. Guy will not be denied!”

That look of determination covered Guy’s expression. From there the cameras started to fade out once again.

[Aaron Matthews]

- - - - -

Over the last few days. I had taken it upon myself to get out and go sightseeing. I had taken the chance to actually enjoy the city. Not very often that I even left my own house, let alone left the state I lived in. Might as well soak it in while I can. But even with all the sight seeing and being able to unwind a little. There was that part of the back of my brain that's keeping me focused on what I was here for anyway.

Sin City Wrestling’s High Stakes event and the Rumble. That’s what this entire journey was for. Forty eight hours from now I would be inside the TCC Arena under all those bright lights. Hopefully, I would be competing at a high level and not gasping for air. Only time would tell though. However, it was time for me to check in on all those wonderful SCW faithful.

I had my phone in hand while I sat there at the pool side area of the hotel I was staying at. With the camera app opened up on it. I hit the record button and began to address everyone.

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Man!

A slight smirk began to form on my lips while shaking my head from side to side.

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I would have never thought that by announcing that I was going to be in the High Stakes Rumble would be something that ruffled feathers. After all, I already said it about myself once before. It’s not like I ever did anything of any significance. My time in Sin City Wrestling was very forgettable. I realize that, but it seems like it’s a little bit of a problem for some that I’ve decided to throw my name in the hat.

I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t say this was a little bit of a shock. I didn’t expect anyone to bat an eye when it came to my announcement of being in the match. I fully expected everyone to ignore me, but I guess I had more motion than I thought I did. Or at least that’s the way it appeared.

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I guess more than anything it’s a problem for you, Eddie. You had quite a bit to say about me being part of this match. You seem like you are very offended that I chose the High Stakes Rumble as a chance for me to knock off some ring rust and see exactly what it is that I am made of after all these years. Not once did I flat out say that I was going to win the thing. Not once did I really throw any shade towards you. I didn’t throw any dirt on your name. Nothing like that. I didn’t have a reason to do that.

Not to mention if I am being honest with you here. I wasn’t even familiar with who you were, what you stood for, or what you can do inside the ring. I have since done a little bit of studying. Done my research if you will. Something I wouldn’t have done regardless, but with how offended you were. It sounded like I was stepping in the ring with THEE champion. Sounded like I was getting in the ring with some kind of LEGEND. You made it sound like you were the TOP DAWG in Sin City Wrestling these days.

Letting my eyes narrow some. That was a telling sign that I was about to really buckle down and let this man have it. It had been far too long since I had dug into my bag. Eddie was about to play the fuck around and find out game in the worst way.

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However, in doing my research I am starting to find out that’s not true. Not even close to being true. At no point have you ever held the Heavyweight Championship. At no point have you reached a certain pinnacle where you are considered to be the top guy around here. You are certainly by no means at all a legend. Got a long way to go before that’s a status that you ever claim Mr. Eddie. And that’s not me trying to sling shade in your direction. It’s just a fact.

But you want to know the one thing that really stuck out to me when it came to doing my search, bud? You have a specific little catchphrase that you like to repeat like a parrot in every promo you cut. I believe it’s something along the lines of Honor Before Glory. And the way I interpreted that as you are a man with great respect. Respect for the business. Respect for the art of professional wrestling. Respect for any and every man that may get in the ring with you.

Because while your backgrounds, views, and all of that. It may be different from one another. There’s still respect for a man to be able to get in the ring and do what we do. You value having great matches with fantastic opponents over competing for championships against the shadiest of individuals. You value the integrity of what we do over cutting corners and taking shortcuts just for the sake of having some type of glory to your name. Now like I said that’s how I took it, but clearly I’m wrong.

Taking a second to pause. I wanted that to sink in a little. I wanted the man that I was addressing to really start to think about the path he was heading down. I saw things that most people didn’t. There were cracks in his armor and it was about to be exposed.

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Because if you were a man that was about honor. Then you wouldn’t have been as offended as you are. It’s not like I tried to blindside anyone by tossing my name into the match. I’m not being a coward and waiting till the day of the event to show up. No, I let it be known I’d be there. I am giving everyone a fair shake to do their research on me. To understand what I am about and to have knowledge of what I am capable of between those ring ropes.

If you were a man that was about honor. You wouldn’t have met with so much blatant disrespect. You wouldn’t have taken some cheap jabs. You wouldn’t have made fun of me for being old and trying my hand at this one last time. No if you were about honor. You’d been one of the first to want to shake my hand. You’d been one of the first to welcome me back. You would have been one of the first to tell me what an honor it would be to share the ring with me. Regardless of what I have or haven’t done.

But see that’s the problem with the younger generation. You will say one thing. Yet do the complete opposite. You will say you have respect, but the moment that someone or something doesn’t align with what you want for yourself. You are quick to disrespect them. As long as everyone is willing to put you on a pedestal and grovel at your feet. You’re willing to be their best friend. Because it benefits you, but if they won’t do it. If it doesn’t benefit you. Then it’s to hell with them.

My words were coming off stronger and stronger with each one. No doubt I wanted them to sting and hit the man right at his core as they were spoken.

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And I hate even being one of those old heads that say this type of shit. I never wanted to be one of those ‘back in my day’ kind of guys. Never wanted to be that dude that looked down on a different generation or say certain generations were self entitled. Hated hearing it when I was younger and coming up in this business. However, I am someone that digs into the facts and that’s what it is. You have allowed yourself to become a disrespectful self entitled prick.

Sad part about it is. You didn’t always used to be like that. I’ve watched some of your older matches. I’be listened to quite a few of those earlier promos Eddie. You were a respectful man. You were truly about honor, but as time went on. You started to change. As you started to take major loss after major loss. As you started to fade away from the Roulette Division as one of its promising stars. As you continued to be passed up for certain opportunities. You started to become bitter. You started to become angry.

You started to abandon everything you once stood for. You became a little less about honor. You became more about glory. And if that’s the way you want to be these days Eddie. That’s fine. No one can tell you otherwise. At least have the balls to admit it. Have the balls to admit to everyone that did support you. That you’re a changed man now and you are like everyone else. Quick to jump off a sinking ship instead of being a captain that goes down with it. That’s some punk bitch shit if you ask me.

There was a little shrug that left my shoulders. Nothing would piss a man off more than to question their manhood and to call them a bitch. I fully expected Eddie to lash out over that, but at the same time it’s exactly what I wanted. I needed him to lash out so I could shut him down.

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Though now I understand why I was catching so much shade. You are actually afraid of what I am going to bring to the table. You are afraid that when you step into the ring with me. You might find your teeth getting kicked down your throat. You might find yourself getting tossed out of the ring on your ass and being forced to come face to face with reality. That once again you just aren’t as good as you think you are. Once again have to see an opportunity slip right through your fingers.

And once again you’ll be humbled by being forced to accept that you’re not good enough to face the Heavyweight Champion. You’re not good enough to compete on the level of Finn Whelan. You’re not good enough to be the one to take that championship out of that man’s grasp. Because let’s face it. Even if you did win this thing. He’s got a stranglehold on that championship. Hell, he’s got a stranglehold on this entire company. What the hell makes you think you are any different?

What is going through your mind that makes you believe you can be the dude, my guy? Cause the way I see it. If you’re so threatened by me. Someone who essentially never did a thing around here worth mentioning. If you’re that afraid of me that you are willing to lash out like a teenager with anger issues. Then trust me when I tell you. You’re just as unprepared mentally and emotionally as you are physically to compete for the Heavyweight Championship!

Once again shaking my head from side to side. I didn’t feel in my heart of hearts that I was wrong for what I was saying. I may not have reached the level I wanted to in SCW. However I had been around wrestling for a long time. I knew when someone was built differently and Eddie wasn’t one of those guys.

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It’s alright to be threatened by me. It’s alright to be scared of me. I understand why you decided to lash out at me. However, let me go ahead and tell you. That making that mistake has officially put a major target on your back. See not only am I lacing up my jordans just to see if I can still do this. Not only am I hitting that ring on Sunday to see how I will fair in today’s atmosphere. I am not hitting that ring with every intention of handing you your ass on a silver platter, kid. You are about to find out. I might be an old man but I am still very much about that life. Talk shit. Get hit.

The reality is I was a thirty five year old man. I had no business trying to legitimately scrap with someone. Especially someone that happened to be younger than men, but I didn’t tolerate disrespect. That’s how I was raised and that wasn’t going to change about me. Eddie just better hope for his sake that he’s able to back up his words.

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I have a feeling that maybe just maybe Eddie might be the only one willing to make that type of mistake and come at me with that type of disrespect. However, if there happens to be anyone else that feels some type of way. If there’s anyone else that is offended by the fact that I decided to come out of retirement for this match. If any of you feel so strongly about the fact that I want to try my hand at this and see where I stand. Then go ahead and speak up, but do so in the right manner. Cause I ain’t got no problem kicking others right in their mouth!

I licked my lips. Feeling myself becoming a little more motivated with every word that was coming out of my mouth.

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I would love nothing more than to get in the ring with Ben Jordan and throw hands. Just an old fashioned fist fight amongst two men. Showing this young generation that fists go a lot farther than all these flashy moves. As well as just showing there’s nothing wrong with two men fighting each other out of respect and out of the spirit of competition. But if you want to take it farther than that my guy? Then, I will come prepared. I’ll make sure my old ass is ready to drop you on your head if that’s what it takes.

Being in the ring with someone as different and unique as Guy. That’s a challenge that I welcome. It’s something that makes me feel like I really have to be on my A Game. I have to be someone that’s going to expect the unexpected. Type of dude to try and give you a wedgie or make you fall onto legos. A wild and creative person from what I gathered. But if ol’ boi thinks he’s going to be slick with it. Rest assured I can take that cape and shove it right up his ass. While sending him backing from the ring.

Bill Barnhart might be a man that not too many people respect. He’s a man that ends up being the butt of people’s jokes. People take every chance they can to push that man around. So, I am sure he is just looking to unleash some of that pent up frustration. Got no problem being that man to punch him in the face to let him know it’s alright to lash out and let it go. Got no problem getting tossed around by the big man for the sake of him standing up for himself. As long as he knows I’m going to get back up.

It’ll take a lot for someone to keep me down. Even someone of his power and size. But if he wants to take the other route. If he wants to try and make jokes at my expense. If he wants to try and push me around. If he wants to try and bully me the way people have bullied him. Then bet your ass homie. You’re going to bet in for a very rude awakening. Aint nothing you can say that’s ever going to make me feel bad about myself. However it’ll be hard for you to say anything with a broken jaw.

I could see myself having a good competitive back and forth with someone like Justin Smith. Not very many people put a lot of stock into the man. But wins and losses aren’t everything as I’ve said before. Sometimes just being a fighter at your core and being someone that can take a good punch but stand back up goes a long way with me. I can see that man hitting me with the same type of energy and same type of fierceness I’d hit him with. I welcome that type of thing man.

But if he wants to try and cut my legs out from under me. If he wants to be the type of man that tries to make it appear as if I’m nothing special because I’ve been gone too long or because I’m old. Then you can bet your ass. I’ll take this grandpa looking dude out behind the shed and put him down just like they did old yeller. Point, I am trying to make here folks. I might be older, I might be slower, and I might not be who I was ten years ago. But push me enough and you’ll find out who real I can still be when a line is crossed!

Once again I let a little shrug leave my shoulders. I had all the respect in the world for the men that were going to be in this match. I had no intention of crossing a line that couldn’t be uncrossed or coming off as someone that people weren’t going to like. However, at the same time they needed to understand. I was the type of man to stand on business. They wanted to make their own mistakes and I’d be on their ass over it from start to finish.

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You know it’s crazy to think about where I have come from and everything I have allowed myself to become. Growing up in the southside of Chicago. Having a father that was a high ranking man of the military who instilled respect into me and taught me what it was to be a man. Stern and ruled with an iron fist. Made sure that I understood he expected nothing other than my best. There was no excuses. I wanted something. I had to work for it. Despite how things were I’d change nothing about my pops.

And my mother was a lawyer and had to make some of the most difficult decisions ever for the future of people. Something that she constantly reminded me of. She always taught me to have love and compassion for people. Because the people she dealt with didn’t have that. But at the same time she made sure I understood that one mistake. One time of acting on emotion or not thinking an action through was the difference between being behind bars or being free.

Sometimes it was the difference between life and death. Values that the two of them taught me is why I turned out to be the man that I am. It’s why I carry myself a certain way and don’t judge people, but it’s also why I let people know I’m not a pushover. I’m not someone you’re going to look down on or disrespect. You have to stand up for yourself to achieve success. You have to fight with everything you have for success. And you can’t make excuses if you want success.

Each word that was coming out of my mouth had my eyes glowing a little bit with a sense of pride in them. Whether or not people understood where I was coming from. That wasn’t really for me to make a statement on, but at least they knew what to expect.

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There’s no denying that these stakes are as high as they can possibly be. It’s truly going to come down to which one of us men are willing to go all in on ourselves and see to it that we walk out on the other side the first ever High Stakes rumble winner. I don’t know about y’all but I know I don’t plan on coming this far just to let it all slip through my fingers. Good luck gentlemen. You’re all going to need it!

Throwing up the deuces with my right hand. I proceeded to hit the end record button on my phone causing the video to end and save right into my galley. That was something that I could get out to the people in a few hours. For now I wanted to spend this last little bit of being able to relax and take the time to soak in the experience. After all, in forty eight hours. It would be officially go-time and time to show everyone what A-Matt was all about.