[Christian Underwood]

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

["Scumbag" Kevin Carter]

( Including this OOC message! This RP comes out to 4,995 according to docs. I’m more than aware I took some risks with the roleplay. Dove deep into the creative side of my mind for a change. It’ll probably fuck me over but lol. It was fun to write. Once again! Best of luck! Thanks for the hell of a story these last few months! )

Every surrounding was pitch black aside from the single light that was shining down on a playground. Making it visible in the night sky. Thanks to the light wind taking place the swing set could be seen moving about in the distance.



All of the sudden that light breeze sent a shivering cold chill up the spine of Carter. Oddly enough as the man was finding himself walking up to the playground. His face twisted up into utter confusion. Trying to make sense of this.

KEVIN CARTER
What the hell is going on?

No sooner than those words came out of his mouth. He felt his right hand being suddenly grabbed a hold of. Forcing him to look down to what had grabbed a hold of him. His eyes locked with his daughter Lacey. His eyes widened a little in shock and disbelief.

KEVIN CARTER
Lacey?

LACEY CARTER
Hi Daddy!

KEVIN CARTER
This isn’t real.
There’s no way this is real!

LACEY CARTER
Come on daddy!
I want to go on the swing!

She began to tug on his hand and sprint herself to the spooky swing set that was directly in the middle of the park. Based on instincts he found himself starting to run with her until they reached the swing set. She let go of his hand and instantly hopped herself onto the swing.

LACEY CARTER
Push me! Push me!

She was swinging her legs about. Carter found himself still looking as puzzled and confused as ever. It was almost as if he had no control over his body at that moment. Feeling himself walk right up behind his little girl in the swing and started to push it forward.

She went higher and higher in the air while sitting in said swing. Her giggling could be heard. While he couldn’t control his actions physically, he could still control his thoughts and his words. Speaking out loud to himself with each push.

KEVIN CARTER
She’s gone. She’s been gone.
This isn't real. This is all a dream.
You know what the harsh reality is!

Nothing was making sense, but he didn’t have time to focus on it. As he took notice of the giggling from the little girl changing. It went from sounding like a little girl to sounding like some type of demon. All while she began speaking to him again.

LACEY CARTER
Daddy...
Was it worth it?!

KEVIN CARTER
Huh?

LACEY CARTER
You heard me daddy. Was it worth it?
Was it worth not being there?
Was it worth it to let me die alone without my father there?
Was it worth letting mommy handle all the funeral arrangements on her own?
Was it worth Bubba growing up without his big sister?
Was it all worth it for your own selfish desires?!

And just like that he felt like he was in control of his body again. He stopped pushing the swing just as he watched his daughter turn her head all the way around on her shoulders. Her eyes glowing with every bit of the look of death over taking her expression. In shock Carter stumbled backwards and fell onto the concrete of the playground. Closing his eyes tightly hoping for it to go away.



He kept them real tight for a few seconds. However when he reopened them Carter discovered that he wasn’t on that creepy playground anymore. Instead he found himself in a completely padded room. Raising to his feet right away he began to touch the walls. Feeling that padded material but seemingly not seeing a way out.

KEVIN CARTER
Hello?! Can anyone hear me?!

No sooner than those words came out of his mouth. The door he couldn’t see came open leading to him taking a couple steps back. Entering that padded room at that point were three individuals. One of which was none other than Dr. Wynn. The other two were just two very big men for security purposes. Her eyes narrowed on him.

DR. WYNN
Mr. Car--- oh right.
You don’t want to be called that anymore.
Entity, that’s what you asked to be called. Wasn’t it?

KEVIN CARTER
No. It’s me. It’s really me.
I’m not that... thing anymore.

DR. WYNN
If you say so.
Makes no difference to me.
And here in a few seconds it won’t make a difference to you either.

KEVIN CARTER
What the hell is that supposed to mean?!
Look, this isn’t real.
Whatever is going on right now isn’t real.
It’s a dream or something!
Just listen to me, will you?! Please?!

DR. WYNN
You had plenty of time here to talk. Plenty of time to open up so we could help.
Plenty of time to let us treat you. But you didn’t and now the time has run out.
With the way you have carried yourself. The danger you’ve become to the staff.
The danger you’ve become to me. The danger you’ve become to yourself.
The state has just authorized us to do what needs to be done.
You will be euthanized!

KEVIN CARTER
Euthanized?! No!
This cannot fucking happen!

DR. WYNN
Gentlemen, please hold him down.

As those words came from her. She could be seen reaching into the pocket of her white coat. Instantly pulling out a long thick needle. Pushing on the end of it as it dripped with some kind of green liquid. Those two big men moved from behind her and started to approach Carter. Leading to him panicking more as he dropped to his back screaming at them.

KEVIN CARTER
No! Leave me alone! No! Stop It!

They towered over the man. He was trying to use his hands and feet to keep them back. Again closing his eyes tightly out of fear. Trying to keep up with the fighting. He felt those four pairs of hands grab a hold of him. His heart now pounding as he knew his demise was coming. All of the sudden he felt himself yanked to his feet to which he stumbled forward for a second or two.



However the moment he felt the intense amount of heat. It forced himself to open his eyes again. Finding himself smack dab in the middle of the desert of Tucson. Despite the night fall taking place every bit of him still felt like he was as hot as it could get out there. Carter finds himself spinning around looking around trying to make sense of things.

Carter took notice of something that was in the distance. Something that had a very bright glowing ambience around it. Closer and closer it got until he was able to make out what it was. Floating in the air was the Entity mask that he had left behind. Stopping right before him. Carter’s eyes narrowing with hatred as everything was being pieced together.

KEVIN CARTER
You son of a bitch!

THE ENTITY
What’s the matter Kevin? Are you not having fun?

KEVIN CARTER
Fun?! You call this fun you sick fuck?!

THE ENTITY
Name calling? That’s just not going to do.

As soon as those words were spoken, Carter felt like his mouth was being glued shut. Unable to open it. Bringing his hands up and trying to pry at his lips, but it did nothing. The Entity mask came a little closing as the eye holes lit up with fire and glared him down.

THE ENTITY
You have been the single biggest failure to ever be born into mankind.
Every single aspect of your life has been a joke.
Every time you have tried to be something. You have fallen on your face.
And everyone, I mean everyone has seen it!
Including the very man that you have been fighting against this entire time.

Carter went to respond, but all it was were muffled sounds. All thanks to those lips of his being glued shut. Right then the glowing mask known as the Entity began to circle around his head. Again and again and again keeping him right where he wanted him.

THE ENTITY
Mark Ward has been the bane of your existence.
He was the reason why you were a failure the first time.
Or so you say... You say he held you back.
You say he didn’t want you to succeed. You say he didn’t believe in you.
You say he fought against everything you did. You blame him for all your losses.
And you blamed him for not resigning you.
But is he really the blame Kevin?

You say that he’s the reason for your mental breakdown.
You say he’s the reason you left your family behind.
You say he’s why you couldn’t be there for them and why you couldn’t provide for them.
You say he’s why you weren’t there the day your daughter died.
You say he is why you went to the psych ward. You say he’s why you created me.
You say he’s why you had to see Dr. Wynn. You say he’s why you were there for so long.
But again, is he really the reason? Are you sure he’s to blame Kevin?!

The tone of the mask was becoming more and more mocking. It was getting under the skin of Carter as he had to watch it circle him again and again. His eyes narrowed with hatred. So badly he wanted to respond but he couldn’t.

THE ENTITY
And even now...
When you had a chance to make him pay.
When you had a chance to prove him wrong.
When you had a chance to reclaim your throne.
You still have found a way to blame him for your shortcomings.
Claiming he’s set you up to fail again. Saying he’s not giving you a fair shake.
Accusing him of intentionally holding you back. Accusing him of favoring others.
But deep-deep within your soul Kevin.

You know every bit of what you are saying is one giant fabricated lie.
Just like you know that the real person to blame... The real person to point fingers at...
The only person that has ever been at fault for all of your shortcomings is... yourself.
It’s a fact. You just aren’t good enough. You never have been. You never will be.
And after what Mark said. He’s right. No one remembered you.
Because you were never good enough to be remembered. Your legacy never existed.
Now come High Stakes... Mark will EXPOSE you in front of the world!

Hearing those words was enough. It sent him over the edge. Somehow someway he found himself having the strength to break that glue that seemed to hold his lips shut as he began to scream at the top of his lungs in anger. The Entity knew what buttons to push as he began to laugh at Carter. That laugh gets louder and louder by the second. Causing Carter to scream louder to drown it out.

BEEP! BEEP!
BEEP! BEEP!

Carter found himself shooting up in bed still screaming at the top of his lungs. However with the beeping sound starting to register. His screams got quieter and quieter. Opening his eyes at that moment to see where he was. In the middle of his hotel bed. Covered in sweat. Nearly out of breath and his heart just pounding away. Angrily he rolled over and slammed his hand down on the alarm clock to silence it.

KEVIN CARTER
Fuck...

He sounded so defeated and completely deflated. Flopping down face first in that bed looking around the room for a couple of seconds. A lot of people would tell you to not put a lot of ‘thought’ into your dreams. They would tell you that most of them meant the opposite of what they were or that they didn’t mean anything at all.

Yet for that dream to be so vivid. For that dream to be so haunting. For that dream to affect him the way it did. Maybe just maybe the Entity was right. Maybe he was just never good enough to begin with and deserves to be forgotten.


The shot found itself opening up slowly. First thing that could be heard was the sound of a church bell ringing. Over and over again. With the shot becoming a little more clear the scenery was set inside the St. Augustine Cathedral there in Tucson, Arizona. Off in the distance the back of someone’s head and their broad shoulders could be seen hunched over in one of the Church’s benches.

Those cameras found themselves getting a little closer. As they took a wide shot to the side of the person to reveal that it was none other than Kevin Carter. His eyes were closed ever so gently with his hands placed in front of him in a bit of a prayer motion. Without even opening those eyes at all, he spoke with such a clear and authoritative tone.

“You know they say that judgment day will one day come.
They say that we will all be judged for our sins.
They say that only God has the right to judge us and make us meet our maker.
But I say... that’s not true. Not when it comes to my situation.
I’m the one that gets to bring judgment day on.
I’m the one that makes you meet your maker.
And therefore November 24th, 2024.
This all comes to an end!”

Once that last sentence left his lips. Carter opened his eyes and made direct eye contact with the recording light of the camera. Turning himself to be able to face it just a little more. Making sure he captured every last viewer’s attention.

“Eleven years of pent up frustration. Eleven years of disappointment.
Eleven years of pure regret. Eleven years of suffering.
And eleven years of hatred. It all comes to an end.
How fitting is it that it comes to an end at the biggest event of the year?
And High Stakes couldn’t be anymore of a fitting name for this scenario Mark.
Because that’s exactly what this match is. It’s full of nothing but High Stakes.”

Right then Carter pushed himself to his feet. Stepping out from the seating area of the church and began to walk down the long aisle. Specifically heading for the stage of the church. Cameras staying right in front of him as he continued to speak.

“There’s High Stakes for the both of us. So much to gain with a win.
But everything taken away from us with a loss.
You see I have always been a very self aware man.
Both as a person and as a professional.
I know what’s at stake for myself.”

“After everything I have done to you.
After everything I have said about you.
After all the chaos that I have caused Sin City Wrestling.
And after all the trauma I have caused this loyal base.
You along with all of them are banking on a loss for me.”

“You are praying for that loss.
And you believe you can be the one to hand it to me.
However, I know that if I lose. I look pathetic.
If I lose, everything I have done has been for nothing.
If I lose, then it shows that I have always been wrong.”

“And more importantly if I lose. My career is over!”

He found himself shaking his head a little bit from side to side. There was such a tone about those words that made one believe what he was saying. Even if that’s the last thing people wanted to do was believe in him.

“Now it isn’t over because it’s some stupid stipulation.
Nor  it isn’t over because you get to say it’s over.
No, if I lose to you Mark. My career is over, because I could never.
And I mean I could never allow myself to show my face again in SCW.
I could never allow myself to have another match or to exist at all with this company.
That would go against every single bit of my beliefs, values, and what I am fighting for.”

“But because I know the implications of that loss.
And because I am putting that pressure on myself.
I will not allow myself to come up short. I will dig as deep as I have to dig.
I will use every tactic that I know. I will cut every corner I need to cut.
I will be the biggest scumbag and low life to ever exist.
Just to get this win and to prove myself to be right.”

“That being said though. Because of your beliefs.
And because of your own ego Mark.
You haven’t even begun to come to terms with what’s on the line if you lose.
Not at any given point has it crossed your mind. How much you let this company down.
How much you let the people down.  How much you let those fans down who have supported.
How much you let Christian, your business partner now.
How much you let the locker room down.
And more importantly how much you let yourself down!”

That almost death-like glare that consumed his expression really helped set the tone to what he was saying. About that time Carter finally reached the church’s stage and found himself leaping up on it. In a matter of seconds he had taken the podium there. His hands pressed against either side of it and looking right back at the cameras.

“Before you try to deny that ego.
And before you try to deny how blind it has made you.
Let’s talk about the facts of that ego first.
Fact number one. That ego is why this match is happening.
Sure, you can say that I crossed a line with things I’ve said.”

“You can say I crossed the line with things I’ve done.
You can say that I had gone too far multiple times with multiple people on the roster.
You can say that I was a problem when it came to doing business.
And you can even say when I attacked you.
It was all good grounds to make this match happen.”

“But to that I will say. What about the things others have done, hmm?
What about the horrible things that a man by the name of Tommy Crimson said?
About you? About this company? During the time he worked here.
Hell, even the things he said well after he left. Those were far worse than me.
But you didn’t challenge him to a match. You didn’t try to make his life hell.

“He was a vile man and creature, but you didn’t feel the way you did about me. Wonder why.
Or better yet what about my fellow man, J2H. Hmm?
For years this man challenged your authority. For years he made business decisions difficult.
For years that man ruled hand over first with this company. Anything and everything he wanted.
He got it, and it was handed to him on a silver platter.”

“Now we all know that Christian had a lot to do with that.
But you allowed it to happen. You didn’t push back against it.
You didn’t put your business partner in check. You didn’t put J2H in check.
You did nothing, but stand there ideally and allow it to happen over and over again.
Why? Why didn’t this ego maniac that you are come out then?”

For a second there was silence. Just the cameras getting that narrowed expression from the man. Almost like Carter was waiting for a legitimate answer right then and there.

“It’s because that ego kept you in check then,
That ego told you, you couldn’t and wouldn’t stop Crimson.
That ego told you, J2H would break your fucking neck.
But oddly enough that ego is making you come out of retirement with me.
That ego of yours is making you feel the need to be relevant again.
It’s making you feel like you need to have people talking about you.
And making you feel like you need people to fear you.”

“That ego is making you think you stand a chance.
It’s making you believe you can stand across the ring with me.
It’s making you believe that you can compete in a match like this.
It’s made you think that a Street Fight is the way to go.
And it’s making you believe that you can actually defeat me.
And that’s a telling point in itself:
You NEVER saw any VALUE in me.”

“That’s fact number two about your ego.
It has blinded you to the real talent that I am.
And it’s been that way for years.
It’s the very reason you thought you were clever and entertaining a few weeks ago.
With the little comments about getting no pop.
With calling me one of the worst champions in this company’s history.
And with saying no one has ever remembered me.”

“If you want to talk about people getting no pop.
Let’s talk about the shitty ass people you continue to sign.
The people that bring nothing to the table. That never connects with fans.
I’m talking about people like Caleb Storm, Bill Barnhart, and Justin Smith.
Those are people that get zero pop and should have never been here.
And as far as some the Worst Champion in history?
Did you forget that Goth was champion -- twice?!”

“You know a man that was begging for world title matches by the end of his career.
He held your richest prize and this company never recovered from it either time.
Or what about previous champions like Kain, Lord Raab, and Senior Vinnie?
People don’t even speak their names and when said name is brought up.
It’s always met with a gigantic, who?!
I think it’s safe to say those men were worse champions than me.
And it’s clear your ego not only made you dumb, but made you a delusional try hard as well!”

His tone of voice just sounded overall disappointed in that moment. Shaking his head from side to side for a couple of seconds.

“Now I could go on all day long about your ego.
I could go on all day long about the things you’ve cost me.
All day long about what you have done to me and how much my life has been hell.
Because of you, but there’s no point. Not when we are this close to the finish line.
As you see this goes back to being self aware and knowing what I gain from a win.”

“This win vindicates me in the best way possible.
It makes all the wrongs done to me right.
It proves that everything that I have ever said and have ever done...
Was without a doubt justified and warranted.
But the biggest thing about this win Mark.
Beating you gives me the keys to Sin City Wrestling!”

Such a devious smirk began to spread across his lips. That was a telling sign and a frightening one on where this was going to go.

“In defeating you...
Sin City Wrestling is essentially mine to do with what I want.
I can make this locker room’s life miserable.
I can be the biggest thorn in Christian’s side.
I will be able to make sure these shows are no longer sold out.
Because none of these fans will ever want to be in the building because of me.”

“Brick by brick. I will tear down the house you had a major hand in building.
All the hard work. All the dedication. Everything you did for SCW.
It will ultimately mean nothing in the end.
Your name. The name of this company. It will all be forgotten.
Your legacy and the entire legacy of SCW. It will vanish.
All thanks to me.”

Every word that came out of his mouth at that moment. It was clear he was feeling himself and truly believed in his own hype. His smirk had only spread more.

“I told you months ago Mark.
I would get the last laugh.
I’m always a man of my word!”

Following those words. Carter took a step back from the church podium and held his hands out at his side. Living in this moment as if it was the prelude to the ultimate celebration he would be gaining in just a few days time. That was the last image before the shot found itself fading out to black just a few moments later.


Carter found himself gripping that mask tightly in his hand as he marched across the concrete ground. Seconds later he found himself approaching an old metal trash can. With the hand that wasn’t holding the mask, it was revealed to have a can of gasoline in it. Tilting the can upside down he began to pour the gasoline into the metal trash can.

Once about half if it was dumped he threw the rest of the container holding the gas in. Before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a box of matches. It didn’t take long at all for him to strike a match, toss it down into the trash can, igniting the gas, and having it flare up. Carter took just a couple of steps back but lifted his hand up with the mask in it. Holding it over the fire causing it to be a trigger for the mask bringing it back to life.

THE ENTITY
What the hell do you think you’re doing?!

KEVIN CARTER
Something I should have done a long time ago.

THE ENTITY
You won’t do it, Kevin.
You don’t have the ability to stand on your own two feet.
You cannot go on without me. You created me for a reason.
Simply put, Kevin. You need me!

KEVIN CARTER
That’s where you’re wrong.
I don’t need you. I never needed you.
I made a grave mistake in creating you.

His eyes had shifted into a full on glare of pure hatred. Letting them focus on that mask as he kept it hovered right over the fire. Feeling those flames heating up his hand.

KEVIN CARTER
I’ve thought about it over and over again.
Maybe just maybe Mark is right.
Maybe, I wasn’t as good as I thought I was.
Maybe, I was never good enough to be remembered.
Maybe, I never had a legacy to begin with.
And maybe all the bad things that happened to me.
I deserved them after all.

THE ENTITY
Ahhh there it is.
He’s breaking you. He’s gotten inside your head.
He’s won the mental war, Kevin.
You’re as weak as you’ve always been.
And it’s showing right now.

KEVIN CARTER
Shut up!

He quickly dropped his arm down closer to that fire. To the point he could get a small smell of burnt hair from his arm starting to fill the air. The Entity quickly silenced himself. Carter kept glaring at the mask in his hand.

KEVIN CARTER
If all of that turns out to be true.
Then that’s on no one other than me.
I’m the one to blame and I’m also the only one that can fix it.
But creating you isn’t going to fix it.
Believing in you isn’t going to fix it.
Allowing myself to foolishly think you would be the one to turn it all around.
That isn’t going to fix either.
And in retrospect... you’ve become just as bad as Mark.

That was painful to admit deep down, but it was the truth. Shaking his head a little bit trying to put the thought back out of his mind.

KEVIN CARTER

Like I said, I have to fix this on my own.
I’m either going to go down as a failure.
As a man that doesn’t deserve to be remembered.
As a man that never had a legacy.
Or I turn it all around.

I proved to be as good as I thought.
I show that I deserve to be remembered.
I prove that I have always had a legacy.
And I beat the holy hell out of Mark Ward.
To make everything that’s ever been done to me right.

Those are the only two options.
But no longer will I let that man control me.
No longer will I let him have any kind of influence over me.
Just like I will no longer let you influence me.
I will no longer let you control me!

THE ENTITY
Don’t be a fucking fool, Kevin.
You know deep down without me. You are nothing.
Without me you don’t stand a chance.
And without me you take a crippling loss you don’t recover from.
Be realistic for once in your life!

KEVIN CARTER
I am being realistic.
I’d rather go down and die on my own as a man.
Than to stand up and win -- with something like you.
Goodbye, Entity.

Without any type of hesitation at all. Carter opened up his hand and let the mask fall right out of it. Into the burning flames of the trashcan. For a brief moment he could hear the screams of agony and pain of the Entity. Carter just stood there his eyes narrowed and watched the mask start to disintegrate into ask with the flames consuming it. A slow nod began to consume the man as he turned himself around to walk away. Speaking to himself as he did so.

KEVIN CARTER

It has always been me.
Against the world.
And it’ll stay that way!

Each step got him further and further away from that burning trash can. The flames had risen to an all time high rising out of the trashcan a little bit as they burned. In his mind this was the only way to handle the situation, but would it make a difference?

[Mark Ward]

4th November.

It was a typical day in the office on a Monday for Mark Ward and Christian Underwood as the duo had headed back to Las Vegas from Arizona after another successful Climax Control. Hot Stuff sat in the common area of the office, his eyes reading some paperwork as he put his feet up on the sofa. He could hear footsteps approaching, but kept his eyes on his work.

HS: What have I told you about lurking around on me, Christian? It's a bit creepy to say the least, very damn creepy at most.

Hot Stuff was right with his guess as Christian Underwood stood nearby, looking over to Hot Stuff.

Christian: It's not lurking, you just never gave me time to announce myself.

Hot Stuff kept his eyes on the paper in his hand.

HS: You'd make a lousy stalker.

Christian looked up with a thoughtful look on his face.

Christian: Well I haven't been caught yet.

Finally Hot Stuff looked up and in the direction of Christian, his face frowning at his business partner.

HS: Say what?

Christian: Nothing.

Christian tried to put his best innocent face on but Hot Stuff looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

HS: You didn't come out here to just stare at me while I was reading away at the schedule, did you? I can tell when something is running around that dome of yours.

Christian sighed as he moved forward, sitting at a chair nearby Hot Stuff. He looked at him with worried eyes.

Christian: It's about High Stakes.

Hot Stuff pressed his hands together as he looked towards Christian.

HS: What about it?

Christian bit his lower lip, trying to find the right words in his head as he looked towards Hot Stuff.

Christian: It's this match with Kevin Carter. Are you sure you want to do it?

Hot Stuff scratched his chin, looking towards the floor for a few seconds before looking Christian directly in the eyes.

HS: Yes.

With that one word answer, Hot Stuff looked down at the paper in his hand causing Christian to frown.

Christian: That's it?

Without looking up, Hot Stuff simply responds to Christian.

HS: Uh uh.

Frustration passed over Christian's face as shuffled forward in his seat.

Christian: Mark, seriously. It's been years since you've been in a ring and wrestled. It's been over a decade and you think you can't just pick it up just like that again and just go back to how it used to be?

Hot Stuff looked up, putting the paperwork down and stared at Christian.

HS: You're right, I haven't been in the ring for years, been a long, long time. I'm not stupid princess, far from it... This is why I'm not doing it in the ring and doing it in the street instead.

Hot Stuff flashed a cheeky grin in Christian direction but Christian just rolled his eyes at Hot Stuff.

Christian: That's not funny.

HS: Nope, it's hilarious. Look, I get your concern and I'm sure everyone is gonna be concerned, but I'm not over the hill yet at forty three. There's guys much older then me doing this at a good level, and everyone who comes back for one more match is older then me. Chill Winston, I got this.

Christian looked confused at Hot Stuff's last line.

Christian: Huh?

HS: Movie reference. We don't all watch horror films older then our grandparents you know. Honestly, you got nothing to be concerned about, I'm not even concerned about it. I'm relaxed, I'm calm, I'm alright. This is just another day at the office, except the office is the street and I get to smack some bitch in to the middle of next month. It will be like riding a bike. People take years off from this and come back better then ever. 

Christian: You're not a young man anymore.

A look of false offence passed Hot Stuff's face.

HS: How dare you! Only as old as the woman you're feeling which makes me about twenty four judging by the other night.

Christian shivered and cringed at Hot Stuff's comment.

Christian: Dirty old man.

HS: Proud of it, but it proves there's life in this old dog yet. I mean am I gonna be jumping off buildings on to people like I did in the past? Absolutely not. Am I gonna play stunt man? Who knows, but I know I'm gonna wrestle smarter. Carter is all huff and puff, style over substance, wrestling brain the size of a dodo and we all know what happened to them. I'm seriously not worried about this one at all and you shouldn't be either.

Christian: But a street fight of all things?

Hot Stuff smiled and shrugged towards Christian.

HS: Sure, why not?

His nonchalant attitude wasn't lost on Christian as he started to massages his own temples.

Christian: Nothing I'm gonna say is gonna change anything, is it?

HS: Not a thing.

Christian sighed, giving up the battle before walking away. Hot Stuff shook his head.

HS: Dude needs to get laid. I should probably give Scotty a call...

The camera fades.


19th November.

Days away from SCW's biggest show of the year, it was time to make the world buy what SCW was selling. Everyone on the roster had been going from event to event, talking about High Stakes XIV. It was tradition for SCW to have press conferences before and after shows and this was no different as Hot Stuff Mark Ward sat at a table with reporters all around him. 

HS: Hey everyone, thank you all for coming as we head towards High Stakes XIV. Please understand time is a bit limited and I won't be able to get to all of you, but lets see how many we can get through.

Hot Stuff pointed to a reporter.

Reporter: Hi Mark, this show has always been known as the biggest show in the SCW year, how do you feel the build up has been this year?

Hot Stuff cleared his throat.

HS: Honestly it's been a bit up and down with some uncontrollable things, but people have worked hard, they've taken everything in their stride and moved on. From a commercial view, everything has gone smooth, our wrestlers have been out and about in their home states, cities and even our guys from outside the United States have been working their arses off getting it out there and doing what they do best, so I feel the build up has been ok.

Hot Stuff pointed to another reporter.
 
Reporter: In terms of comparing this High Stakes to past High Stakes, where do you think this one will rank?

HS: I think this one will be right at the top. We've done everything to book a very solid card, not only for this show, but to lead on to future shows. I mean the invitational thing, which you guys know, it's common knowledge that I'm not a fan of battle royals, rumbles or gauntlet matches was done to lead on to our last show of the year, which is the twenty second. It's there so we can build towards that holiday show. I think that adds some excitement to things plus we obviously have a lot of great stuff on the show with big implications.

Reporter: Let's ask about the Hall of Fame. Necra has to be one of the biggest surprises in years considering she seemed to hall off the map.

HS: You're not wrong. Christian and I have had a list of names for people for years that we would like to have in the Hall of Fame and she was high on that list, but yeah, hard to find until Christian had some luck. People like Necra built this place years ago. Without people like her, we might not have got this far. I feel that it was great that we found her and that she's gonna be back on the screen again at High Stakes.

Hot Stuff nods towards another reporter.

Reporter: A lot of people have found it strange that a World Championship match isn't headlining the show, can you explain why?

Hot Stuff rolled his eyes.

HS: People on the internet find everything strange, let's be honest but I can explain that. It's a new direction for us, breaking the traditions a bit, that we've put in over the last few months where championships spoke for themselves and didn't need to end the show. It's about giving people the chance to step up. For me it's a way of saying put in the work, put in the effort and anyone can headline things. It's no slight on any of the champions we have and you need to see this isn't an ordinary match. There's a lot on the line for this so it's not random. This match was meant to happen a year ago at this show so it's not like we've just thrown something together. Over a year of hard work has gone in to this, little stories woven in to one. I'm comfortable with the choice and after the show, I think others will be too.

He pointed at someone else.

Reporter: Will there be many surprises at this show?

HS: There always is. I mean we don't always go for shock value but it's High Stakes and everyone is invited here. The door is open at High Stakes for anyone past or present to walk in. It's our thank you to everyone who got us this far so you never know who you might see on camera. You will see a few faces in the rumble that you might not expect, but yeah, anyone can appear on camera.

Reporter: Let's talk about you. Your first match in a long time, do you feel any nerves knowing we're days away?

Hot Stuff smiled at the woman asking the question.

HS: None at all, very calm, very chilled out, not worried about it at all. Already planned the victory party afterwards. If possible, can we keep this about the show and not me. I got plenty to say in a day or two about it all.

Reporter: Do you feel there's a match on the card that can steal the show?

HS: Pretty much any of them to be honest. It's great from top to bottom. Anyone can step up at this point and show what they've got. We always say this is a soft reboot of things, where it's a new dawn for the company after this so anyone can impress now and it will set them up. Everyone in the back knows it so I think any match, or any person can get out there and impress me any everyone here.

Hot Stuff pointed at someone else.

Reporter: Christian teased on social media about maybe award winners might be revealed early. Can you reveal any winners now?

Hot Stuff smiled at the question.

HS: You pretty much summed Christian up there. He teased, he is a big tease but I doubt very much he would leak anything to anyone about who has won what. You've seen him for years, he loves to do that but as for any winners being announced early, no, can't see that happening, but glad it got noticed. His job is done there.

Reporter: There's been a lot of talk in wrestling lately, not aimed at SCW, but in wrestling in general, about safe working environments. How do you rank SCW's working environment?

Hot Stuff frowned at the question.

HS: Bit of an odd question, one to stir up some controversy. Everyone will sit and tell you their locker room is the safest in the land but ours actually is up there. Christian and I won't tolerate a single thing out of place. We've built a reputation on being safe, on being comfortable to work with. You didn't aim it at SCW, but if you speak to anyone in SCW, if your connections are deep enough to know people in that locker room, they'll tell you the exact same thing. People love coming to work, they feel safe doing so and if they didn't, it would very much be dealt with and it will be safer then before. Like I said, odd question, can we have one a little more normal? 

Reporter: What does the future look like for SCW?

HS: Much better question. It look bright, we will be having a tribute show on our next Climax Control for someone who passed recently and every time we have to do this, it breaks my heart. We've lost so many people over the years and it don't get easier, but we will do it. We have of course two tours to work on and finalize and well, you all know that we have the roster to push on and do great things. We'll get through High Stakes, we have our plans set, we'll make them all more solid and go from there. The beauty about a show like High Stakes is everyone steps up and could change the mindset. There might be new champions that will change the look of their divisions, there could be new faces, new challenges, but either way, the future is very, very bright.

Hot Stuff looks at his watch.

HS: Well, thank you all for coming out. We are out of time here so need to cut this off. I'll see you all at High Stakes wandering around with those golden ticket press passes.

The scene fades to black


21st November

The camera opens up on the face of Hot Stuff Mark Ward as he sits on his desk, wearing a black suit and white shirt with a light blue tie. He wears glasses on his eyes as he looks through them and down the camera.

HS: How do you see me?

He straightens up his suit jacket and flashes his smile as he picks up a coffee cup.

HS: This is how you see me, isn't it Kevin? The guy in the office, the guy with his expensive suit, sitting behind a desk, nice, safe, not able to get his hands dirty. It's funny how the view of the businessmen, the view of how people like me are seen can be so damn misleading, that you can't see the wood for the forest. People who sit behind desks are seen as weak, as nothing, as fellas who wouldn't say boo to a goose and would run away from everything because they just don't have it in them to be a man who can get out there and get his hands dirty. People like you Kevin, you fail to see the leadership, you fail to see that the most powerful thing in the human body is the brain. Great leaders build things, create, they see things that others don't, people like you take orders because you're not strong enough to see that mentally, they're the weak ones.

Hot Stuff taps the side of his head.

HS: Christian and I built something that allows you to put food on your table, that allows many to live the life they've always dreamed of. We've done something that's entertained people for years, we've brought that little bit of joy in to people's lives that gives them a break from reality and the way this world is, we all need that little break from reality. You look at that as weakness, but you don't see the shit we have to do to keep that going. You think it's as simple as putting on a show and getting paid, you see that as coming to work and earning a few bucks to live the life you want to live. You don't see the hidden side to it all. Your small mind sees it in the simplest of terms, you don't see the sacrifices or the drama or the fact we have to put up with dicks behind the scenes trying to make my life miserable when all I'm trying to do is give people what they want. Because I wear the suit, because I sign my name on documents and pay checks and shit, that's weak in your eyes.

Hot Stuff shakes his head.

HS: No pal, that's real strength. That's me doing more in my life then you could ever do in yours. That's being strong, but I can see why you targeted me Kevin.

Hot Stuff takes a sip of the coffee in his hand.

HS: See you and that little circle jerk group of yours, your whole thing is to pick on people who are weak, well, people you think are weak. The young up and comer with a bright future but a bit to learn, you saw him as weak. You went for the guy who was happy and settled in his life, content with a career well done, because you saw that as a sign of weakness. Now you've come for me because I spend my time behind a desk. You see that as not being strong enough. It's a gang tactic, it's a bully tactic, you try to pick off the weak because you see them as nothing. That's where you're wrong. Michael and Jayden Harris were not weak, I was never weak, but us three do have something in common. You saw us as threats, threats to you running around trying to take over something you never will. You knew Jayden had no fear and could dent your plans, you knew Michael is an unpredictable, crazy bastard and could come back any time and throw you in to irrelevance and put all eyes back on him and you knew I could make that happen anytime.

Hot Stuff tilts his head and smiles.

HS: You knew all that was possible that we could piss on your cornflakes at any time so you tried to pick us off with the schoolyard mentality. All because of the twisted way you see us, the way you see me, but the pen pushing, contract signing, paying your wages guy isn't gonna be the man you're facing on Sunday at High Stakes, Kevin.

Hot Stuff slowly shakes his head.

HS: You and your Mr Magoo version of your mind seems to have forgot that I'm not just Mark Ward, I'm Hot Stuff Mark Ward, one of the best wrestlers to lace up the boots and win championships all over the world. I'm the guy that has been in matches that you can only dream of doing, wrestled in places that's not on the map for people like you, I'm still that guy and you can say I haven't done it in so long, I'm not who I was... Well, you'd be wrong.

Hot Stuff waves a finger at the camera.

HS: See, you see me as this all business type, and that I just don't have it anymore, but that isn't me. This is me.

Hot Stuff takes a few steps to the right and the scene changes completely. No longer is he wearing the suit, but smart jeans and a bright shirt opened down by a few buttons, the coffee cup has been replaced by a glass of whiskey and a party appears around him. Men and women dance around him, holding drinks in their hand of various colours and types, music plays in the background as a pool party rages on. He sits down in a nearby chair, resting the whiskey on a table next to him.

HS: This is who I was Kevin, this guy, this is the guy that used to beat the unbeatable, this is the guy who used to beat people who would go on huge win streaks and looked like they couldn't be beat. This is Hot Stuff Mark Ward, the man who used to go out there and give the world what it wanted and be the best wrestler that ever lived.

Hot Stuff looks at a woman as she passes him in a thong bikini.

HS: And this is the guy you're gonna get on Sunday. You're getting the classic, you're getting the original, you're getting someone that you might have thought was long gone, but nah, he was always there in me waiting to come back. I'm not nervous like most would have been after not wrestling for all those years. I'm not worried about anything at all like that. I'm actually looking forward to smashing you around that ring like no one else ever has Kevin. I have no fear of you, or the world shittest boy band you knock around with. I'm not worried about that in the slightest. You woke up that guy who was asleep for a long time, you woke him up and now he's ready to come out and play once more.

Hot Stuff picks up the whiskey and takes a sip.

HS: The second your bony little hand connected with me, it woke me up and I didn't just randomly think about a street fight, I knew it was the way to go because I don't like getting woke up, I'm a bastard when you wake me up and I'm ready to tape the fists, I'm ready to fight like my life depends on it because I know my life does depend on it. My company depends on it and I will make sure that I do this for everyone in SCW, everyone who is sick of being put under the boot by people like you. I will do it for every single person who wants to stand up and be heard. I will do it for them, because you three bitches are not taking over what I built. You three bitches will not be destroying everything Christian and I worked so hard for.

Hot Stuff places the whiskey back down.

HS: You don't get to come in with a mask, hiding away in the shadows and think you can take over, it don't work that way pal. It works the way I say it works and it works the way I want it to work and how I want it to work is me whooping seven bags of shit out of you. It works with me beating the ever loving snot out of you. I took it to the streets because it was my choice, because you don't deserve to stand in my ring, because this is about me making you pay for your sins on a tab you've been rattling up for months. You've been pushing this higher and higher and it's time to pay the piper and I'm the horrible one playing the tune.

Hot Stuff mimics playing a flute in front of him.

HS: No rust on me, I've been ready for this one for a while, I've been working my arse off to be ready for this. This is non stop for me and I will be stopping you from all those little evil plans in your head. I will take whatever game plan you've come up with and shove it right up that place where you think the sun shines from, but really doesn't. I'm not coming out here to mess around, I'm coming out there to put you in your place, to get rid of whatever this thing is that you're doing, or think you're doing.

Hot Stuff puts his hands out in front on him and shrugs his shoulders.

HS: I don't know what you think you're doing, and I don't know what your end game is but it doesn't matter, because it ends when I get you out on those streets and beat you like your daddy should have done. All your plans go to shit as soon as you square up to me, cause it all ends there and then, it's all over at that point for you. You putting your hands on me is the biggest mistake you will ever make until you face me and that time is getting closer Kevin, High Stakes is getting closer, the end of your little trio of misfits is getting closer and closer. It will be game over for you Kevin.

Hot Stuff stands up from his chair.

HS: You're not getting a beaten down old man, you're not getting someone wet behind the ears, you're getting me, you're getting all of me, everything I can possibly give, that's what you're getting. You're getting the real me and many people bigger then you, better then you, stronger, faster, smarter then you have tried to take me down over the years. All tried to get the best of me and failed miserably. What makes you think you of all people are going to do anything differently? Because you got your little friends about?

Hot Stuff scoffs.

HS: Let me tell you about friends pal. It's well known I'm friends with Austin Parker. Many years ago, there was a death match and I ended Austin Parker's full time in ring career. Now you can put on all the hype, all the glitz and glamour that you want but behind the camera, Austin and I, real good friends. Now I did that to him, I didn't have to but I did that to him. If I'm willing to do that to my friend, what do you think I'm gonna do to a little shit stain on society like you?

Hot Stuff smiles and takes a few steps to the left, half the screen showing Hot Stuff in a suit and back in the office, the other half in his party clothes at the pool party.

HS: It's time for you to really start worrying Kevin, because what you thought you was gonna get, is not the person who will be taping up his hands and coming for your head on Sunday at High Stakes. The pencil pusher you thought was just that, is not what he seems. All your little attacks like at the last Climax Control brought the real Hot Stuff back, it brought the man back that you really don't want back. You know who that man is?

A serious look appears on both sides of the screen.

HS: That man is Hot Stuff Mark Ward and he's too damn hot for you to handle!

Hot Stuff puts his hands together from both sides of the screen as the scene fades to black. >