“Another night, another hundred thousand bucks” Gabriel says to himself with a smile.
A lot has changed for this once street thief con artist, a lot has somewhat improved his life after a chance meeting with Synn, but a whole lot more has changed since his former days in the world of wrestling. Once know as the brightest spark of a new generation of younger, more athletic wrestlers invading the AWA about a year ago, things failed to end well. His drive of greed pushed him to take the television and tag team championships, only to have them taken away by the owner for no reason. After Synn pulled Gabriel and Despayre from the AWA, what happened? Where did Gabriel go to satisfy his craving for greed? The only place in the world to go….. Where fools and their money are easily parted…. Vegas!
The camera rests upon a sign that shows the word “Luxor Hotel And Casino” Underneath the sign, an image of Gabriel is shown, his hand out with card flying in all directions are seen. Across the bottom of the poster. “Tonight - former AWA superstar, and original mind f*ck artist, Gabriel will be entertaining you from 9pm. This show is unmissable! Be there!”
The camera switches to a backstage area, where Gabriel is seen leaning against the wall behind a stage. A woman with a notepad is seen asking him questions.
“So Gabriel” She says softly “This is your last night out of a six month stint at the Luxor, what’s next for you?”
Gabriel runs his fingers across his chin, a smile on his face, his eyes full of life.
“I’ll still be doing shows, just not every night” he replies slowly “It’s been a great six months, I’ve earned more in this time then most will earn in a lifetime. I’ve met any beautiful women, yourself included in that and I’m ready to put my feet up for a while, drink a beer or two and come back bigger and better then ever. Always leave them wanting more”
“Will the Sins be around for your final show?” She asks Gabriel
“Oh yeah” Gabriel says with a smile
“Have you seen them lately?” The young lady asks
“Sure” Gabriel replies “Synn is still my business manager. He’s the one that set me up with this show here after I left the AWA. This is where I first ever met Synn and Shane. We’re still in the same city, just in different places. I live in the penthouse suite right here. Synn lives not too far away with Despayre. We’re all close still”
Gabriel runs his fingers through his hair, smiling at the woman
“Do you see Despayre as much as you used to?” She asks
Gabriel sighs. Despayre and Gabriel were an unlikely duo from the start, made worse by Gabriel’s mistrust after hearing about Despayre’s past. Growing closer as the days went on, Despayre had become as close as a brother to Gabriel as anyone else had ever done.
“I don’t see Despayre as much as before” Gabriel admits sadly “But I saw him earlier”
****EARLIER THAT DAY****
A busy stage is seen, people rush around Gabriel standing in the center of the stage, explains a trick to people standing around him.
“Listen up people” Gabriel starts confidently “Tonight, we go out with a bang. I got a brand new stunt.”
“Does it have something to do with these flamethrowers on stage” A voice says
“Yes it does” Gabriel replies sarcastically “Here’s the deal”
Gabriel strolls around and runs his hands across the top of one of four flamethrowers, all four pointing towards a center point. Gabriel steps in to the center and looks around the small crowd.
“Basically” Gabriel explains, before pausing “Screw it, get off my stage, lemme show ya how this is done!”
Gabriel points to the edge of the stage and the lights on the stage dim down. Gabriel nods again and heavy thumping music blasts through the sound system. A heavy beat shakes the stage as Gabriel walks to the center of it, just in front of the flame throwers. He puts his arms in the air and clicks his fingers. The flame throwers all ignite, the flames from all four meeting each other at a single point.
“Ladies and gentlemen” Gabriel booms out “Right behind me, we have four very real, very hot flamethrowers, each expelling hundreds of degrees of heat. My plan for you tonight is to stand at the point each of the four flame throwers meet and engulf myself in nothing but flames. Now to prove they’re legit flames, my assistant will show you”
Gabriel points to the edge of the stage and a young woman walks on holding a huge wooden stake. The woman walks behind the flamethrower and places the end of the stake in to the flame, instantly igniting it. She walks to the front of the stage, holding it above her head. Gabriel waves his hands towards the flames and the flamethrowers stop. Gabriel walks around behind the flamethrowers and takes a deep breath before stepping in the middle. Gabriel raises his arms in the air and drops them down violently, causing the flamethrowers to ignite once more. Gabriel stands still as the flames lick his body from head to toe.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” Is heard from off the stage
Gabriel put his arms straight out and pulls them across his face, causing the flames to turn to ice.
“YEAH!” Gabriel yells out “That’s how it’s done baby!”
From out of nowhere, a smaller man tackles Gabriel to the ground, shatter the ice around him, Gabriel pushes the smaller man off and looks at him.
“Despy?” Gabriel says surprised
“I thought that one was going wrong” Despayre says softly
Gabriel pulls himself to his feet and helps Despayre back to his.
“Who told you that?” Gabriel asks
“Angel” Despayre replies
“Ask a stupid question I suppose” Gabriel mutters to himself
The sound of clapping echoes from the corner of the stage. Gabriel turns around to see Synn walking across the stage, holding Angel in his arms. Synn reaches Gabriel and Despayre and hands Angel back to Despayre.
“Impressive” Synn says hugging Gabriel
“That’s why people pay me the big bucks baby” Gabriel says with a smile
Synn flashes Gabriel a wicked smile
“I have some business for you” Synn says “A phone call from Christian Underwood”
“THE Christian Underwood?” Gabriel says rubbing his head
“He has a new wrestling federation” Synn replies
“And we’re gonna be champions again!” Despayre says excitedly “Angel told me so!”
Gabriel looks at Synn
“That bear don’t lie” Synn says confidently
Gabriel smiles at Synn.
“Do I presume a deal is already in place and all I have to do is sign?” Gabriel says with a shrug
“Yes” Synn replies, pulling a contract out of his inside pocket
“I don’t want it unless Angel negotiated it” Gabriel replies quickly
Synn laughs
“What?” Gabriel says seriously “That bear got me a cracking deal in the AWA”
Despayre smiles widely at Gabriel
“Angel said he’ll do your next contract” Despayre says excitedly
“Good enough” Gabriel replies, taking the contract in hand.
Synn hands Gabriel a pen and turns around. Gabriel unfolds the contract and puts it on Synn’s broad back and signs his name. Synn turns around and Gabriel hands the contract back to Synn, who refolds the contract and put it back in his inside pocket.
“Glad you signed that, you’ve already been booked” Synn says with a grin
“But I only just…” Gabriel says confused “… ah never mind”
“I will get you the info of your opponents later…” Synn says
*****
Gabriel’s train of thought jumps back to present as a stage hand walks towards him, Gabriel acknowledges him with a slight nod.
“Thirty minutes till show time boss” The stage hand says “And a guy called Synn left this for you”
Gabriel nods again and takes a folder from the stage hands palms.
“Thanks” He quickly says
Gabriel quickly clears his throat
“If you’d excuse me miss” he says to the young woman “I have to get ready for this show”
The woman nods and Gabriel strolls away, opening and looking at the folder
“Team Viagra?” Gabriel says “Really?!?”
***LATER THAT NIGHT***
The show is now a distant memory, Gabriel stares out on to the Vegas strip, looking out of the window from his hotel suite, high in the sky in the Luxor hotel. Bright lights fill the sky, reflecting off glass buildings. Gabriel takes a deep breath, just looking down at the life below him.
“Who woulda thought when I came to Vegas to entertain the fans again, I’d end up in a wrestling ring again?” Gabriel asks himself “Sin City Wrestling, owned by two legends, fighting right out of Vegas, around people who simply can not wait to give their money away, so fitting for a Sin invasion really.”
Gabriel smirks
“A glorious occasion, and a honour to most, to be there on day one, to be starting to a build a legacy, not many people get the chance to say I was there from day one and will be there for a long, long time” Gabriel says softly “But I can and I will.”
Gabriel sits down on a chair, still gazing out the window
“Now Vegas” Gabriel says with a smile “It’s the perfect setting you see, gold, fame, fortune, sex, a place where you can get a cheap thrill for a cheap price… it’s heaven. Getting back in to wrestling, even better. I’ve spent a lot of time in this city, I know it pretty damn well, but now, now I get to put myself on the top of the pile again in the wrestling world, as well as the entertainment world. The Sins do their homework, as soon as a contract is signed, we take it upon ourselves to learn all we can about each and every person, take it upon ourselves to find out each and every ones weakness, it’s what makes up the best, it really does, we’re fucking good that way”
Gabriel winks towards the camera
“And I see Hot Stuff Mark Ward and Christian Underwood have gone out and attracted some of the finest free agents in the wrestling world” Gabriel says with an impressed nod “I see guys I used to watch on GCW and GXW television when I was growing up. I see Matt Ward and Tom Dudely, two guys I admired in the ring long before I ever laced up the boots. I see people here I haven’t seen on television in a long time. I see new fresh blood trained by these top guys, so you know they will look good, but the most important signing made was The Seven Deadly Sins”
Gabriel pauses for a second
“Arrogant of me to say maybe but no, it’s put truth.” Gabriel says while nodding “Pure truth, because what we bring, is gonna bring people in. The second we signed those deals, the competition got a damn sight better. We didn’t come here to play second string to any team, and I already see a couple of strong teams out there, but boys, it’s now time to meet the best team in Sin City Wrestling“
Gabriel looks deep in to the camera, his eyes narrowing
“See, Despayre and I…” Gabriel says with gruffness in his voice “We never lost the AWA Tag Team Titles, they were taken from us by a little bitch that didn’t like his company being taken over. We beat teams week in and week out for three long months before someone threw his toys out of the pram and we intend to take the tag titles in this federation too, and it all starts with a team with maybe the stupidest name in wrestling today, Team Viagra”
Gabriel scoffs at the name.
“Team Viagra? Really?” Gabriel bellows out, with a smirk “What the hell were you two idiots thinking? You’ve left yourself wide open for so many damn jokes, it’s not even funny. You basically asked for intelligent guys like me to rip you apart for hours just on that name alone. You guys really didn’t think this one through, did ya?”
Gabriel rolls his eyes
“As I said earlier, we do our homework here and we like to have a little look at the competition, and as soon as we found out who would be our first opponents and sadly, victims, we did some work learning a little about you.” Gabriel says looking away “You Virgil, lets start with you”
Gabriel pauses for a second
“See with you Virgil” Gabriel starts with a smile “I like the way you think, can’t help but love someone who will always try to make their opponents scream out in pain as a way to win a match. I mean it’s a good feeling to sit there and watch someone tap like crazy, just to prove your manhood to yourself. I can respect that but sadly for you, I don’t think you have much of a chance making me scream and pound the mat. I can’t see how you will get me in to a position where I’ll be your bitch, I’m no one’s bitch. You can have all the moves in the world, know a million reversals, but I am one challenge you will not be rising to!”
Gabriel shrugs
“Yeah, first Viagra joke, thought I could hold out a little longer, but hey, it was always gonna come” Gabriel smiles “Viagra joke and a penis joke within seconds. I’m pretty good today”
Gabriel smiles
“Ok, I can’t promise a couple more won’t slip out, but let’s be serious” Gabriel says with a nod “I read your bio, I don‘t get why you‘d prefer to have that intelligent brain of yours damaged by people like me. For a smart man, stepping in the ring with guys like me, is not a very wise choice. See, I‘m the Sin of greed and although I may seem a laugh and a joke and well, a bit of a jack the lad…. As an Englishman, you should know what that is genius, but I have this urge, this craving to go on to bigger and better things, when that craving kicks in, it‘s hard to stop, and beating you put me in line to be part of the best team in Sin City Wrestling, put me and Despayre on top of the pile, nothing will stop me from getting there. Be a wise man Virgil, step away from this one”
Gabriel looks seriously down the camera
“It’s a little clear you have a couple of anger management issues” Gabriel starts “A smart man will see that that will indeed be your downfall. Your focus should be on, your focus should be on Despayre, not on what other people say and do, this is where your focus should be . You need to see that IF you wanna be taken seriously, and that’s a big IF, then you need to defeat the Sins. Have you seen our record? It’s pretty damn impressive, you need your focus right here. We wasn’t given the tag of best tag team the place has to offer, just because we asked for it, we got it because we are the best. You need to keep your eyes on the prize, defeating Despayre and I is the prize, it will make you number one, it will push you to the top. Time to put those eyes forward see the challenge ahead”
Gabriel clears his throat, pausing for just for a second
“I won’t doubt that you two could make a formidable team” Gabriel says quietly “You have the technical ability and you Eddie G, you just come across as a monster. Strong, powerful, just another man that like’s to beat on opponents to make yourself look good, but unfortunately, I think you have a little bit of a downfall. It’s clear you like to beat your opponents within an inch of their lives, but advanced warning for you my muscle bound friend, you will not have it all your own way in this one”
Gabriel stands up, turning around, the Las Vegas skyline in the background
“I’ve seen people with cold dead eyes like that before” Gabriel says seriously “I’ve seen people with the stare that burns a hole in a mans soul, especially when I watch those TV prison shows, where everyone is trying to be a bad ass, where everyone is fighting for survival and respect. If that’s what you feel you need to do, then you better bring you’re a game”
Gabriel tilts his head slightly
“Clearly though, you are all muscle, no brains up there I can say with confidence” Gabriel says with a smirk “Why? I mean why would anyone with muscles and strength, clearly a guy who gives a damn about his looks, about his reputation, why would anyone like that want to be associated with Viagra?”
Gabriel laughs to himself
“I mean, wouldn’t that make you look like you’re half a man?” Gabriel asks “A big muscle bound guy, putting himself in the same bracket as a little blue pill that will make someone rise to the occasion. Clearly, you’re not the sharpest knife in the drawer, just another guy who wants to beat on someone”
Gabriel runs his fingers across his chin
“Sadly, you won‘t be beating on me” Gabriel says confidently “Gentlemen, welcome to Sin City Wrestling, sorry that your first foray in to this ring, will not be successful”
Gabriel turns around and walks away from the camera, leaving the scene to fade out from the beautiful Vegas skyline
