It could be said that Eddie Lyons and Finn Whelan were two sides of the same coin, warriors forged in fire whose paths seemed destined to clash. Their rivalry had been born out of ambition rather than hatred, a relentless drive to be the one on top of the mountain.
The two men carry themselves as Warriors both unyielding in their pursuit of glory but different in how they carried their burdens. Finn was methodical and calculating, a veteran who wore his dominance like armor. Eddie was the beacon of hope and light, fighting with heart and passion, showing resilience even in the face of adversity.
Finn had been the unshakable pillar of SCW for over a year, never being pinned or submitted. But in the span of one unforgettable moment Eddie did the unthinkable. He pinned Finn Whelan in the middle of the ring and won the Mixed Tag Team Championships.
It was that singular victory that was like a crack in an unbreakable wall, proof that Finn wasn't invincible. Proof that he could be beaten and Eddie Lyons had done it. Finn could blame Miles Kasey all he wanted, but the truth was Eddie Lyons had beaten him. Eddie had proven he could go to the distance against a man many considered untouchable. That victory was a bit of vindication for Eddie, a step closer to proving that he was the man destined to take the World Heavyweight Championship from Finn Whelan.
Then came the loss of the mixed tag team titles, and that stung Eddie deeply, not because of pride but because he did feel he and Victoria were potentially building something special as crazy as that sounded. It was a harsh reminder of how fleeting success could be sometimes. The Wolves of Gheimhridh won back tag titles and Eddie could do nothing but admit they deserved it. Victoria was once again taken to her breaking point by Kayla. Not pinned, not submitted but as Finn made clear during their meeting on Climax Control, a loss was still a loss. The Wolves had proven why they were one of the best teams in the history of the division.
However, it still remains true that Finn has not pinned Eddie, or made Eddie submit. For now the chapter of mixed Tag Team Championships are closed as the World Heavyweight Championship looms as the ultimate battlefield between Eddie and Finn. A chance for Eddie to cement his legacy, and a chance for Finn to prove why he is the dominant champion he has been for nearly a year now.
Heart vs. dominance and only one man can walk away as this Sin City wrestling World Heavyweight Champion.[/i]
___________
Eddie had decided to return home for his workout. He needed some peace and quiet away from the busy bustle of The Lyons Den. There was a new Talent initiative going on and sometimes things could just get a little hectic at the Family School.
The hum of the heater made it apparent that his father had still not properly fixed it but that hum was part of what made home home to Eddie. The gym acted as a sanctuary to Eddie. No cameras, No fans, no rivals. Just him and the honest labor that had carried him through his career to this point.
He tightened his grip on the bar of the dumbbells, the chalk dust clinging to his hands that were calloused and dirty.
Up.
Down.
Up.
Down.
The heaviness of the weights were nothing compared to the heaviness of the burdens on his mind. The burden of losing the mixed Tag Team Championships still lingering. The burden of being an expecting father and the burden of a world championship match against one of the best to ever do it coming up also weighing on his mind.
But he was unbreakable and his burdens were not going to break him. He continued to power through his sets straining his muscles with every rep. He could hear the sound of his own heartbeat. Amid all the burdens, only one name on his mind truly mattered right now.
Finn Whelan.
The incident on Climax Control had been Victoria's fault. He didn't want her to come out and do what she did and hit Finn with the low blow, but she didn't listen and they both ended up falling victim to the wolves.
“Fucking Victoria…” he muttered to himself knowing somewhere in the back of his mind that he should have known better. He didn't have the time to worry about Victoria now though he had to focus on Finn and the World Heavyweight Championship.
Finn Whelan wasn't just anyone and Eddie knew it. He was the guy who was never pinned or submitted in a year by anybody.
Except Eddie.
That moment when he pinned Finn clean in the middle of the ring was still vivid in his memory. It showed a crack in the armor of Finn Whelan, a reminder that he was not untouchable and he was not invincible and now it was time for Eddie to prove that it wasn't a fluke.
The Wolves were back on top again and riding the momentum of winning back the mixed Tag Team Championships. Eddie knew that Finn would use that as a mental edge. Likely taunting him about losing the belts and asking what makes him think he can win the World Championship if he couldn't even keep the tag championships.
Eddie exhaled as he curled a pair of dumbbells.
He thought about Sabrina for a moment and her face lit up and she told him the news of her pregnancy. That memory just for a moment somehow made the weights seem lighter.
He wasn't just fighting for himself anymore every punch he threw every kick everybody slam was for her for their future child and for the future he was building for them.
That meant a lot he had to get his own place. A home for Sabrina and his child to stay in while he was on the road and he had to get a ring because he didn't want his child to be born to an unmarried couple.
I wasn't about revenge or redemption or even proving that you still have it. It wasn't even about proving Finn wrong or silencing any of Eddie's doubters. It was now about showing his future child that no matter how many times you get knocked, down no matter how many times you get hit, you keep fighting, you push through no matter how heavy the weight may be.
With another exhale Eddie continued to work on his curls. The World Heavyweight Championship was within his reach, and when the bell rang on December 22nd Eddie Lyons was going to be ready, and Eddie Lyons was going to take the championship from Finn Whelan.
__________
The cameras open on a dimly lit room, a single spotlight shining in the center. The camera stays steady and focus as Eddie Lyons steps in the view, dressed simply in jeans, sneakers and a halfway zipped up SCW hoodie. The camera's linger for a moment as he speaks.
“Finn Whelan, the man, the myth, the champion. For the past year you've stood atop this company as an untouchable force climbing to the very peak of the business.” Eddie began intensity and determination showing in his voice. “Every other challenger that came for you from Miles Kasey to Kris Ryans to Michael Harris. You let all of them know where their place is. That your throne is as far above them as it can possibly be but on December 22nd that is all about to change “
He remains calm as he speaks, but with a fire behind his words as he takes a step forward, his eyes burning with more than confidence. This is a man who's almost certain that the end of Finn's reign is coming at his hand.
“You took back Mixed Tag Team Championships.” said Eddie, “That I will not take from you. But now now I have nothing to lose Finn. I have no championship and if you beat me, then what? I'm just another challenger who lost to Finn Whelan. I'm sure some will even expect it, but I'm ready to break expectations."
Eddie pauses for a moment with a slight shake of the head as a short laugh exits his lips.
“You've been the world champion for so long that it's practically part of your identity,” said Eddie. “You've dispatched challenger after challenger time and time again like clockwork. You surrounded yourself in so much success that you think it's something that can't be taken away “
A confident grin grows on Eddie's face.
“But someone did, didn't they?” he said “If even only for a moment, those mixed tag titles were taken from you, and who did it? Not some team that's been working together for years and years but a random thrown together team of two family members that struggle to get along. You almost didn't get them back either. Can you imagine what we could have done if Victoria and I were able to be on the same page?”
Eddie shrugs, At the end of the day they did still lose the mixed tag titles but he couldn't worry about that anymore because the world championship was a much bigger opportunity.
“The problem is Finn.” said Eddie. "You act like you've won this match before it even happened. You've already dismissed me and that's where you made your mistake. You've let your dominance cloud your vision and you've let yourself believe that no one is close to even being able to challenge you.”
He pauses again to let the words settle in on the listener's ears.
“You can wear that smug expression on your face all you want.” Eddie continued. “And you can go on and talk about how no one's come close to stopping you. But that's the thing I'm not like everyone else, I’m the guy who pinned you. The guy who did what nobody else thought was possible I took you down in the ring and I won. Sure others like Kris Ryans have beat you in the past, but we all know that you're a different Finn Whelan today. You said as much yourself. You're the best Finn Whelan you've ever been and the Finn of today would run circles around the Finn that lost to Kris Ryans.”
Eddie exhales heavily the camera stays steady on him as the light covers him with its glow.
"You become comfortable at the top Finn. You've gotten used to it and that's led to complacency.” said Eddie “And that's where you've gone wrong you've gotten complacent and you've let your guard down. You've started to believe that your time as Champion is permanent.”
Another grin grows on Eddie's face.
“But nothing in this business is permanent, Finn. Legacies, Champions, Empires. They all meet their end.” Eddie said. ”And come December 22nd you're going to learn this the hard way, because I'm not just another opponent I'm the man that's going to end your reign, take your World Heavyweight Championship and make it mine.”
Eddie pauses again the words he's speaking, filling himself with confidence.
“I understand the pressure and the weight to carry a championship.” said Eddie “But I also know what it feels like when it's ripped from you. That's what you're going to feel Finn. You're going to feel loss and when you do you'll finally understand that the one thing that's been holding you up is nothing but an illusion. There will be no more hiding behind your dominance and no more leaning on this idea that you're untouchable. It will be you and me and when the dust settles I will be the one with the World Heavyweight Championship.”
Eddie's fist clenches tightly, an undeniable fire growing in his eyes looking more and more determined as he continues speaking.
"You will see Finn. The end of your reign is inevitable, because no harder many walls you build, no matter how many challengers you crush.” He said, “When everything's all said and done I am your reckoning and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Be prepared Finn, be prepared to lose that championship and be prepared to HEAR ME ROAR.”
Keeping his confident gaze on the camera it slowly fades out, the spotlight dissipates and everything fades to black.
_________
It was late afternoon at The Lyons Den and the gym was as busy as ever with Coach Kaiser's new talent initiative. Eddie Lyons sat on the edge of one the rings, his expression one of frustration with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his hoodie as he watched Victoria finish up a set on a punching bag.
“You going to say something or just sit there staring at me?” said Victoria delivered another punch to the bag.
“You know exactly what I want to talk about.” said Eddie, the annoyance clear in his tone.
Victoria rolled her eyes and exhaled.
“Oh you're still mad about what happened on Climax Control.” said Victoria. “Well news flash Eddie you called out Finn Whelan and he reminded you who the hell he was. I just was trying to help you even the playing field.”
“Even the playing field?!” Eddie replied. “No you embarrassed me Vicks. That was supposed to be a moment between me and Finn. We were both to say our piece and then I was going to offer a handshake but you messed it all up when I asked you to stay in the back and not get involved. I don't need you messing with my credibility or my reputation.”
"Reputation?! Credibility?!" Victoria said stepping away from the bag. "That's what you're worried about? Not the fact that Finn and Kayla were likely seconds away from blindsiding you the moment you let your guard down? I just struck first. You're so caught up with being honorable that you're forgetting what's actually at stake here.”
“They weren't going to do a damn thing and you know it.” said Eddie, “You did that because you wanted to, without any regard for what I wanted. We're supposed to be a team here, remember?”
“And what do you think I was out there doing?” said Victoria “I was helping you. I gave you an opportunity to weaken Finn before your match to help you become the World Heavyweight Champion because we are a team and we should be helping each other! Again think about what's at stake here Eddie!”
“I know exactly what's at stake here!” Eddie retorted. “But I don't want or need you interfering and making it look like I need any type of backup. If I'm going to beat Finn and become the World Heavyweight Champion it's going to be because I earned it not because my cousin decided to play hitwoman for me.”
“Oh come on Eddie.” Victoria said rolling her eyes. “You act like this is some fairy tale where the knight in shining armor wins because he's the better man. But that's not how it works. You have to be willing to get your hands dirty In case you haven't noticed one of us is still a champion and I've held Rue for a while now. Maybe you should listen to the champion between us.”
“You can be whatever type of champion you want to be.” said Eddie “But this is my match, and this is my championship to win. I'm going to do it my way. I know it's an uphill battle, but I like it that way and when I do win I know I'll have done it the right way.”
“Do you really think Finn cares about honor?” said Victoria. “Will the crowd remember how you won as long as you won? The only thing that matters is holding that championship at the end of the night but you're so stubborn that you'd rather lose with pride than when with a little strategy.”
“You don't get it Vicks.” said Eddie. "I'm not like you, I don't need shortcuts and I certainly don't need you making decisions for me. If I can't beat Finn on my own then I don't deserve to be champion.”
“If you think Finn is going to give you that chance you're delusional.” said Victoria “You're not just fighting Finn, you're fighting everything he's built around himself and if you're not willing to bend the rules he will break you.”
“Then let him try.” said Eddie “Because I'm not bending. Not for Finn, not for you, not for anybody. This is my fight Vicks and I need you to stay out of it.”
There was a moment of silence with the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. They both stared at each other jaws clenched until finally Victoria stepped back shaking her head.
“You're making a mistake Eddie.” she said “You're walking into a war with one hand tied behind your back and when Finn proves me right don't say I didn't tell you so.”
“I won't need to.” said Eddie, "Because I'm walking out as the World Champion and I'm doing it my way.”
Victoria shook her head and grabbed her nearby Bombshell Roulette Championship and slung it over her shoulder.
“Fine, do it your way.” Victoria said “But like I told you, don't say I didn't warn you….partner."
Without another word she turned and walked away out of the gym and out of sight leaving Eddie alone he sat there for a moment before slowly rolling back into the ring feeling his resolve hardening.
He would win the World Heavyweight Championship, but he would do it his way and he would do it on his terms with Honor before Glory.
__________
The camera finds Eddie Lyons inside of The Lyons Den, the family training school started by his late uncle, Victoria's father. The walls are adorned with championships and photos of the superstars of the past Lyons Den including Eddie's father Ray Lyons, Victoria's father Vincent Lyons Sr, and their other Uncle Zachary Lyons who might possibly have more kids than Nick Cannon scattered about the world giving his lifestyle as a young wrestler. Among them was also coach Kaiser and other names of stars that have came through, even Finn's ex wife Aaron Asphyxia had some images of her as a young girl.
Eddie looked at it all with pride this is something that his uncle had built with his father and their other uncle. One day he hoped to be up here and be part of this wall, this wall of champions, these people were the foundation of The Lyon's Den the ones that helped start it all. Maybe names like Josh Lazlow, Stephanie Styles, Sanjay Baral, Marcus Richardson, Scooter Zion or Taurus mattered to the SCW audience or even in the grand scheme of Eddie's career but they meant something to The Lyons Den because they were part of what started it all.
“I know none of the people here matter to you Finn.” said Eddie, “Well maybe one of them does, or used to. But like I told you this isn't about my coach's relationship with your ex-wife. Although I do respect her and everything she's done in this business. She was a part of the early days of Lyons Den before she moved to have an amazing career if her own, eventually joining Wolfslair. Of all the talent from that time period her and Coach Kaiser are easily the most successful. Really the only ones who carried on through the years.”
Eddie continues to admire the history for a moment before turning to the camera.
“But now it's a new era.” said Eddie “And the talent that The Lyon's Den produces today the talent that coach Kaiser produces today is better than any of the talent that has come through here in the past. They were the foundation and now we are the ones making it great. Myself, Vincent Jr, Victoria, My cousin Alexander, my good friend Cleo Phillips. We have been working hard to put credibility on the name Lyon's Den. But one little thing has bugged me since Coach Kaiser started pushing out his new talent some eight years ago now with Vincent Jr and Victoria. One thing has been consistent, no Lyons has been able to take home a world championship.”
Eddie pauses for a moment letting the thoughts move through his brain. He wants to be the one to break this trend, and what better way than by dethroning one of the very best in the Seattle Saint.
“Of course Cleo, she's won herself a world championship twice now, but I'm talking about my blood. The name LYONS, the name that's on the school. One of us needs to get it done. We need a LYONS as world champion.” said Eddie, “And I swear to you then I'm going to be the one to do it and I'm going to do it by beating you.”
You can almost feel his determination through the camera. There is no doubting that this man truly feels he is the next SCW World Heavyweight Champion.
"I've been pondering trying to think about what makes you tick.” said Eddie “The brooding demeanor? The endless amounts of skinny jeans? Or is it because you walk around like you're the final boss of a game nobody wants to play?"
With a chuckle Eddie smirks to himself.
“Make no mistakes about it Finn, you're good. Real good. Anyone with half a brain can see that.” said Eddie “But there's a fine line between being dominant and being delusional and I feel like you've been blurring that line since I pinned you in that ring. You can act like it doesn't bother you, but it does. You came so close to a perfect 2024 and that one blemish on your perfect 2024 record is because of me. Even if you do retain your championship like you've done against so many challengers in the past, you'll still have that one blemish making your almost perfect 2024 just slightly imperfect. I caused that. Me. EDDIE FUCKING LYONS."
The fire and intense aura around him continues to grow.
“I know what you're thinking Finn.” said Eddie “You think I'm being too confident, too cocky. I'm letting one pin get to my head, and perhaps you're right. But my confidence is not backed up by arrogance my confidence is backed up by results. I earned my right to face you and I'm going to capitalize on it in the greatest way possible. See I felt it all from you then the intensity your fire the skill that makes you one of the best but I've also felt you falter I felt that moment when the cracks in Finn Whelan start to show and on December 22nd I will exploit every single one of those cracks until the foundation of Finn Whelan comes crumbling down."
Eddie takes a short pause.
“The truth is you've been champ for so long it's starting to get a little bit boring isn't it?” said Eddie. “It's like when I would play Monopoly with Victoria as a kid and she would hoard all the properties and keep anybody else from having fun. But I'm flipping the board this time and taking the dice, the money and even that tiny little hat piece because that's my favorite one.”
Eddie smiles at the camera. A look of confidence and determination
“December 22nd is the night the Seattle saint becomes another chapter in the story in the rise of Eddie Lyons.” Eddie went on, “When people look back on this era of SCW, they won't just remember Finn Whelan's legendary reign, they'll remember the Night Eddie Lyons ended it. And that's going to be one hell of a story. I'll see you soon Finn, and Merry Christmas."
The camera lingers on Eddie his determined aura continues to linger has to seen all fades to black. He is ready for his huge championship match with Finn and win or lose, Eddie Lyons is going to give it his all so he can walk into the new year of 2025 as the World Heavyweight Champion.
