The sunset cast a warm glow over the suburban Las Vegas neighborhood. The neighborhood was a place away from the glitz and glamor of The Strip where there were no neon lights, towering casinos or noisy tourists gambling away their life savings. It was a different side of Las Vegas, peaceful and unfamiliar to one's usual thought of Sin City.
“It's not much.” Eddie said, standing in front of the small home with his hands in the pockets of his hoodie, “But it's ours.”
“It's perfect.” Sabrina smiled from beside him, her fingers running across her growing stomach.
The house was nothing extravagant, a small single story home painted with muted earth tones. A small porch and a modest fenced in backyard. It contained three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open kitchen and a living area. It wasn't about luxury for Eddie, it was about stability and building something lasting.
He had spent the last few years on the road living out of suitcases and hotel rooms but now things were different and he had to start putting down his roots. The travel of course still made that difficult but moving his family to Las Vegas did mean he was at least near the home base of Sin City Wrestling.
“It still needs some work.” he told Sabrina as he let her into the living room “There's still furniture to set up pictures to put on the walls before it'll really start to feel like home.”
“We have plenty of time for all of that Eddie Lyons.” smiled Sabrina. "I'm just happy to have our own place. It really feels like we're really starting our lives together.”
Sabrina continued into the kitchen running her fingers across the countertop.
“I can see us in here cooking dinner and making memories.” she said “You do know how to cook right Eddie Lyons?”
Eddie grinned, it was always cute when she used his full name like that just one of the weird little traits he loved about her
“I guess I can make it pretty mean breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, you name it.” he said with a smile.
“Well then I guess I'll be handling dinner.“ Sabrina smiled back at him.
Eddie stepped up and put his arms on his shoulder pulling her closer to him.
“I'll always take care of you, you know. You and our baby.” he said “I mean it I'm here for the both of you.”
“I know.” she said smiling at him “You've already proven that.”
There is a moment of silence between them has they just looked into each other's eyes Eddie was feeling settled yet deep inside that fire was still burning he was building a life for them in their future but his work wasn't done yet.
He still had more he wanted to do. More he needed to prove and that meant he needed to become the SCW World Champion. The loss to Finn still weighed heavy on his mind. He had come so close he could taste it, but he just did not get the job done and he could sit there and blame Victoria for her involvement but at the end of the day it was him who lost the match and lost focus.
“I can see it in your eyes Eddie Lyons.” she said “You're thinking about it again.”
“Thinking about what?” asked Eddie
“Finn, SCW, the World Championship, everything you still want to do.” she said with an eye roll and a smile.
Eddie nodded with the side leaning against the counter
“Yeah you got me…” he said “I lost my shot and now I have a chance to earn it all over again and that's fine I'll do whatever it takes. But this also means that if I get past Aiden, I'm going to be entering the most dangerous match of my career in an Elimination Chamber.”
“Well I'd be lying if I didn't say I wasn't concerned," said Sabrina “But I believe in you. You're no quitter Eddie Lyons and that's one of the things I love about you. I know you have what it takes to be the World Champion and I'm here to support you every step of the way just as you do for me.”
Eddie looked to her with a smile.
“I'm going to do it." he said “I'm going to get into that elimination chamber and I'm going to walk out of it in one piece and as the SCW World Champion.”
“And when you do I'll be here cheering you on.” Sabrina smiled at him giving him a kiss on the cheek.
He took another look around the home. It really was going to be a great feature for him, Sabrina and their little cub. Even if he didn't manage to become World Champion, somehow he was still feeling like a winner.
“Come on let's go check out the yard.” he said taking her hand and leading her towards the sliding glass doors leading to the homes backyard.
_________
The camera fades in on Eddie Lyons standing in an empty alleyway with a rough and weathered concrete wall stretching behind him. The wall is cracked and stained, a symbol of its time and struggle. The dim glow of a flickering street lamp illuminates Eddie and casts shadows across the pavement. The faint hum of the city can be heard in the distance but here it is mostly quiet as though the world is standing still.
Eddie leans against the wall with his arms crossed dressed in a black hoodie and jeans.
He looks as though his thoughts have been running in his mind as much as he runs drills over at the Lyons Den. His eyes have that same sharp, determined look we've come to know as they lock into the camera.
“This wall behind me is nothing special, just a concrete slab beating down and cracked by time.” said Eddie “But it's still standing and when I look at this wall, I see more than stone and dust. I see survival and resilience, and I see the same thing I see every time I look in the mirror.”
He steps off from the wall his stance more upright and solid.
“Aiden Reynolds we both know about survival don't we?” continued Eddie “We've stepped into that ring and tested each other before. We both walked out winners and we both walked out knowing we had more to prove. But this time Aiden, it's a little different. This time I can't just walk away and say “good fight can't wait till we run it back again.” No, this time Aiden I have to win.”
He pauses for a moment to let his words sink in.
“It's about getting to the fight that matters. The Elimination Chamber," said Eddie,"The most dangerous career shortening match this business has to offer. The kind of match where even if you win you're going to leave broken.”
A sly and confident grin creeps onto his face.
“But you have to remember I'm the one they call unbreakable.” said Eddie “And it's going to take more than a structure of steel, chains and glass to stop me from my goal of becoming world champion. I know this is a match that breaks men down to nothing and dares them to keep standing, and I'm ready for it. The only thing standing in my way of getting there is you Aiden.”
His voice remains firm and his posture confident.
“I know what I'm going to have to walk into if I beat you Aiden the hell the chamber is going to bring.” said Eddie “I will have step into that structure with Finn Whelan and four other men and I need to be ready to give up a piece of myself just for the chance to walk out as a champion……. and that's exactly why I need to be there.”
He pauses for a moment and cracks his neck.
“I faced Finn once before. I fought him with everything I had and I lost.” said Eddie
He pauses again letting the words linger. He knows it's the truth but that's okay because the truth is what drives someone like Eddie Lyons.
“And since that night since my Shoulders hit the mat and I heard the three count I've had to carry that loss with me but I don't carry it as a burden I carry it as a reminder.” Eddie continued “Now when I step into that ring with you Aiden I'm doing it with one thing in mind to get back to Finn Whelan, and I will get back to him again and then next time I do I'm going to win.”
He lets out a heavy exhale.
“But if I want to do all of this I have to get through you first Aiden and I know that won't be easy.” said Eddie. “But you need to understand something I'm not going to lose this match. Not because I think I'm better than you or because I think it's going to be easy, but because I can't afford to fail. I need to be in that chamber I need to get back to Finn Whelan, and I need to become the SCW world champion.”
He pauses a moment and looks up to the sky before glaring back at the camera.
“I'm going to be a father you know.” said Eddie “You have kids so you understand what it feels like to want to be in this fight for your kid, you want to be an example of honor and never backing down. I know you've been down the road of fatherhood but this is my first time, my first child and I need my little boy or girl to know that their daddy is not a quitter and stops at nothing to achieve his goals.”
Eddie exhales with a slight nod as he continues on with confidence.
“When that bell rings we both know what's coming it's going to be a fight plain and simple.” said Eddie “We've already been down this road together and we know we're going to hit each other harder than we ever have, and push each other to the limit and at the end of the day only one of us is walking away with a spot in that chamber.”
He takes a few steps forward closer to the camera.
“And it's going to be me.” he said his voice not wavering. “Your next SCW world champion will be “Unbreakable” Eddie Lyons.”
Eddie takes one final breath and steps back as he walks off the left side of the camera his boots echo into the night as the scene fades to black.
__________
Inside coach Kaiser's office at The Lyons Den Eddie Lyons sat across from his coach with his hands clasped together as he rested his elbows on his knees. Across from him on the other side of the desk Coach Kaiser leaned back in his chair, arms crossed studying his student.
“How you been feeling Eddie?” asked Coach Kaiser “You look like you have a lot on your plate.”
“I guess that's one way of putting it.” Eddie replied shaking his head slightly.
“I've noticed that the past few weeks you've been carrying yourself different.” Coach Kaiser replied, “More weight on your shoulders. I'd say it's because of your match but I know better. It's about the baby isn't it?”
Eddie nodded and lean back in his own chair.
“Yeah…, but it's not like I'm not happy about it.” said Eddie “I'm really happy about it, truly looking forward to it, but it's going to be a lot. Wrestling already takes so much of There's training, travel, matches, media appearances. Now this new responsibility, and I just have to wonder how am I going to balance it? How do I make sure I don't fail at either one?”
Coach Kaiser exhaled and shrugged.
"I won't lie to you Eddie it's not going to be easy" Kaiser said "And I wish I had a better answer for you but the truth is when I had my first child, when Erin was born, I was already at the end of my career so walking away wasn't the hardest decision.”
He pauses for a moment and looks at Eddie across his desk.
“But you…” Coach Kaiser continued “You're still climbing, you haven't even hit your peak yet. I know retirement's not even anywhere on your radar, you're not looking to slow down. I get that, so you shouldn't be asking can I do both, you should be asking, how do I make it work?”
Eddie nodded as he continued to listen.
“You're going to have to make sacrifices” Coach Kaiser continued “There's no way around it. Maybe you can't take every booking, maybe you miss a few opportunities you'd normally jump at. But that's not going to stop your grind, it just means you're learning to pick your battles.”
“I just don't want to let anyone down.” said Eddie “Sabrina, the baby, myself. I want to be the best father I can be but at the same time I can't put my career on hold. I can't just stop fighting for the things I still want to achieve in this business.”
“That's what makes you different you know.” said Coach Kaiser. "You have that fire, that drive. You will make it work, and you know what you're going to screw up sometimes, all of us do. But you'll figure it out remember you and Sabrina are in this together. Lean on each other and when the kid comes you'll find out real quick you're stronger than you ever thought you were.”
Eddie took a deep breath and relaxed his shoulders taking the words in.
“So the other weight on your shoulders.” said Coach Kaiser “You've got Aiden Reynolds coming up, win that and you get to go into the chamber and once again have a shot to become the SCW World Champion.”
“Aiden's one of the toughest guys I've ever faced.” said Eddie “We've gone back and forth more than once and we both know what each other is capable of. I have all the respect in the world for him but I need to win this match. I need to get into that chamber.”
“The chamber is a different animal kid.” said Coach Kaiser “I'm sure you're fully aware of that. It's not just going to be about skill but about survival. You can be the best wrestler in the world and still get eaten alive in there. Six men locked in a cage trying to beat the hell out of each other and all you can do is hope to survive.”
“And the chamber is where Finn will be waiting.” said Eddie
“Still hung up on that loss?” asked Coach Kaiser
“I don't know about hung up.” Eddie scoffed “But yeah I guess it's still resting in there. I lost to him that's the reality, but I know I can beat him and I will beat him. I just need to get to him first.”
"Are you concerned Victoria and may mess this up for you again?" asked Coach Kaiser
“No, not really.” Eddie shook his head “She's got her hands full with Vincent doing her own thing. Whatever she's got going on it's got nothing to do with me. For once I can actually focus on Finn without having to worry about her.”
Eddie paused and then looked at his coach across the desk.
“I am however worried about someone else.” He said shifting in his seat “I'm a bit worried about Aaron Asphyxia..”
There was a noticeable shift in Kaiser's expression as Aaron's name was mentioned.
“Aaron…” Coach Kaiser said with a nod yeah “She's been running with Finn lately or something and I don't know exactly what's going on. I can tell you she's always been a wildcard even back in our day and dangerous as hell too. If she's looking to back up Finn, that means trouble no way around it.”
“You know her better than most.” said Eddie "You named your first born child after her. You and her go way back. What is she really after?”
Coach Kaiser shrugged.
“I wish I could tell you Eddie..” said Coach Kaiser “But Aaron has always played by her own rules. Even back when we were thick as thieves teaming as Rabbits are Roadkill I never knew what she was thinking. But there is something different about her now, I can see it she's not just helping Finn. There's something more. I don't know what, but I can feel it.”
“So what do we do?” said Eddie leaning forward
“We wait.” Coach Kaiser replied “We play it by ear. I'll tell you this though I don't care how long I've known Aaron, If it comes down to it my students come first that's you, Victoria, Vincent, Cleo, Alex, all of you. I back my own, always."
Eddie nodded and felt some of the weight he's in his chest he knew his coach was a man of his word.
“Right now you just focus on Aiden and getting into that chamber.” said Coach Kaiser “Whatever Aaron is planning, if it gets to the point where it involves you trying to defeat Finn, we'll deal with that when the time comes.“
"Yeah we will" said Eddie with the nod and a confident smile
There is a different energy in the air, the conversation that started with some doubts and questions but now Eddie was filled with more certainty he was ready to get past Aiden and get into that chamber to become the world champion.
He was ready now he just had to go out there and do it.
__________
Their new Suburban Las Vegas home was starting to come together the living room furniture had arrived and Eddie sat relaxing on the couch with Sabrina watching the final season of Cobra Kai on Netflix.
“Does Coach Kaiser get his training style from Johnny?” asked Sabrina, “The whole strike hard, strike first, no mercy feels very Lyons Den reminiscent.”
“Perhaps a little.” Eddie laughed “But he just likes us to work hard, and be the best we can be. He wants to bring stuff out of us that even we didn't know we had.”
“I see..” said Sabrina as she studied Eddie for a moment, she could tell something was on his mind “You're overthinking again aren't you?”
“What gave it away?” asked Eddie
“It's written all over your face.” said Sabrina “I know that look, you're trying to solve every problem at once.”
“I just got along in my mind babe.” said Eddie running his hand over his face “The match with Aiden, the chamber, trying to get this next shot at Finn and we have a baby on the way I just want to make sure I do right by both of you.”
“I told you Eddie.” said Sabrina “You're not doing this alone. You don't have to figure out everything by yourself. You're going to be an amazing dad, I know that. I know you're going to have a crazy schedule and we'll have to make it work, but you know what we will make it work.”
Eddie nodded in silence as he listened.
“You're a good man Eddie Lyons.” Sabrina continued "You're the kind of person that fights for what matters to him most and no matter how busy or hard things get you never stop showing up.”
“Your dad said something similar at lunch the other week.” said Eddie
Sabrina paused for a moment and blinked.
“When did you go to lunch with my dad?” she asked, eyebrows raised.
Eddie paused and got a deer in headlights look. That wasn't supposed to slip out.
“Eddie Lyons?” Sabrina continued her voice a little more stern.
“Oh I…uh..” said Eddie scratching the back of his neck “It was just I ran into him the other week while I was in Orlando for that podcast interview, and we grabbed some food, it was nothing major.”
“And you just mention it now?” asked Sabrina, “Dad didn't say anything about it when I talked to him the other day either.”
"I guess it just didn't seem like a big deal." said Eddie “We just talked about how things change, and how you got to step up and things happen Told me how much I'll love being a dad and just gave me some of that old dad wisdom.”
“You sure that's all?” asked Sabrina
“Positive.“ said Eddie
“Well I'm too tired to press you anymore, so I'll let you off this time.” Sabrina replied.
“I just don't want to screw this up.” Eddie exhaled “The balance, wrestling, being a dad, being there for you it's going to be a lot”
“It is.” Sabrina agreed “But you're not going to fail. You don't have to be perfect Eddie. You just have to be there for our family, You have to be on our side, and I know you will be. I know there's going to be times where you might be gone for a while but I know it's only because you're out there fighting for our baby's future.”
There was a short pause and then Eddie felt Sabrina's hand clasp with his.
“Together.” she said “We do this together.”
“Together.” Eddie echoed with a nod
As you looked at Sabrina with that cute smile of hers it felt good and for the first time in several weeks he really did feel like everything was going to be okay whatever came their way in the future he and Sabrina would make it work.
__________
The cameras open in the backyard of the home of Eddie Lyons. It's evening in the last bits of sunlight are fading beyond the horizon. The backyard isn't huge, a small space with a sturdy wooden fence enclosing it, a patio off to the side next to a grill waiting for a future family cookout.
The camera catches Eddie leaning against the deck railing dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans. There's a sharpness in his eyes as he looks at the camera but also a calmness, a confidence that perhaps wasn't quite as settled the last time he spoke.
“When I spoke to you before Aiden.” Eddie said “In front of that lifeless concrete wall, I was trying to convince myself that I was ready for this and that I had what it took to to truly become the SCW World Champion.”
He looks back at the home behind him with a smile knowing that this is the place he fought to earn this whole past two years. This is where his child will take their first steps, this is where he will return to after every war he fights in the ring and this is where he'll bring the SCW World Championship home to.
“But now..” said Eddie. "Now I know I am. Now I'm fighting for more than just myself. Every match I take, every hit I endure, every decision I make. It all leads back to this home behind me, to the family I'm building and that changes everything.”
Eddie pauses for a moment.
“At first I was thinking about this match as just another step to the Elimination Chamber." said Eddie “But it's much more than that, it's about setting the tone. It's about making sure that when I step inside that chamber I'm not the same guy who lost to Finn Whelan last time."
Eddie lets out a small exhale.
“Even a few months ago I'd be worried overthinking questioning myself.” said Eddie “I'd run a thousand different scenarios through my head, but my coach sat me down and made me realize something. I can't afford to second guess anymore. I'm building a family I have a child on the way, I don't have the luxury of hesitation.”
Keeping his attention on the camera Eddie straightens up his posture some
“And Sabrina….” he said “The mother of my child. She’s got more faith in me than I have in myself. She told me that she knows I'll make this work, and that I'll be able to balance wrestling and fatherhood. That I will be the man I've been working so hard to become. When you have someone that believes in you like that, you don't let them down.”
Eddie takes another short pause keeping his look of confidence.
“You know I respect the hell out of you Aiden.” said Eddie “I know what you bring to the ring but this isn't about you, this isn't even about me. This is about everything I'm fighting for. We've always gone back and forth you and I. I've said it before we're just about as even as it gets, but this time I don't just want the win, I need the win. I'm not just chasing a spot in the chamber I'm chasing a championship, I'm chasing a legacy and a future.”
There's another pause this time a slight look of concern can be read in his eyes.
“Then there's the chamber itself.” said Eddie “And I know the kind of hell I'm walking into. There’ll be nowhere to run and there'll be no mercy to be found. This match is going to test not just my skill but my soul. But I can't back down I have to do it, I have to go in there and I have to fight like I've never fought before."
Eddie exhales as he continues
“I refuse to let this opportunity slip through my fingers.” said Eddie “And that means going through you. That means fighting harder than I ever have. That means hitting you harder than I've ever hit you in the past and then going on to win….., no to survive the elimination chamber and become the SCW World Heavyweight Champion. So bring your best like I know you will Aiden, but understand I will not lose because I can't. It's just not an option this time."
Eddie takes a step back looking around the backyard, his new foundation. His new reason for fighting and his new future. This is where his new beginnings will start.
