You thought you knew me....
It's been a while since you saw the man known as James Huntington-Hawkes III. A long time, going back to almost a year to the day. In fact, Sunday will be one year to the day that you last saw James Huntington-Hawkes III. Do you remember him from exactly one year ago? A man regardless of what he achieved, picking up two out of three SCW titles, he was ridiculed by the fans as a whining baby who got lucky. No classic underdog story, just a man looked down on because of age and looks, which, when you look closely enough, was a story of mass bullying from the fans in James' own eyes, was he really that wrong?
Last week, Climax Control 95, James' returned to the ring, attacking Equinox, clearly a very changed person. Gone was the undefined body muscle mass, replaced with a more cut body, gone was the clear skin, replaced with a tattooed look, gone was the boyish looks, replace with a more rugged style. Our boy had truly become a man over the last year. So much can happen in a year, want proof? Look at your life one year ago and tell me that it hasn't changed dramatically. I bet you can't even pin point what made it change so much, but James can, and you will hear the story over the coming weeks. Your saw one attack from new James, but let's see if he's really changed.
Remember that poor little bratty kid who completely sucked at straight up promos... let's see if he still does.
SCW PRE-SHOW - Fort Benning, Georgia.
A small training field next to the fort, usually reserved for maneuvers is a very different place tonight, as like all shows on the tour, Friday night becomes about fan interaction with the members of the military and their family. Most companies turn up, put on their show and move on, but not SCW. If you're in the area, then you go to these things, it's all in that small print of your contract. The fans are the people that put bread on your table, right? So you have to go put a little bit of joy back in to their lives.
People swarm the small field, many in military uniform, as loud music pulsates across the grassy area. A huge tent in set up in the middle of the field, clearly for fans to meet their favorite stars, as well as shelter from the October winds, should the need arise. The camera moves in closer to a second tent, where a sign hangs above the opening with the words "Refreshments" printed in big, bold, black letters. A wrestling ring is set up outside both tents, slightly away from them, where no doubt, exhibition matches will entertain the crowd, a cover and small lighting rig sit high above the ring, protecting it from the possibility of rain. Amongst the crowd, superstars are seen posing for pictures, signing autographs and shaking hands. An engine roars in the background, loud and full, cutting across the evening air and an inaudible song starts to play in the direction of the engine sound. As the engine get closer, the song is heard to be "Power" by Kanye West. The crowd turns towards the sound as the song gets louder and a US Army Jeep is seen speeding through towards the ring, shooting past bystanders. The camera moves in as the jeep slows down to show Mr J N Ringo, James Nathaniel Ringo, formerly known as Jimmy Ringo, behind the steering wheel, standing behind him with his hand in the air is none other than James Huntington-Hawkes III.... now known simply as J2H. J2H is wearing camouflage combat pants, a white tank top, showing off his newly formed upper body definition, and dog tags around his neck. Ringo stops the jeep outside the ring as crowds start to gather around the six sided battleground. Ringo hits a switch in the front of the jeep, ending the music as J2H climbs past him in the passenger seat and over on to the hood of the car. J2H steps over on to the ring and through the ropes as Ringo exits the car and pulls himself up on to the ropes. Boos are heard coming from the military personnel as J2H is seen a little closer, showing he has a microphone earpiece attached to his ear, with the thin microphone resting along the side of his face. He moves to the center of the ring, pressing a small button on the side of the headpiece and starts to speak to the crowd.
J2H: My name is J2H, this is Mr James Nathaniel Ringo. When we're around, you shut up and listen closely.
J2H points to Ringo with a thumb over his shoulder, not looking at his friend.
J2H: Now, Mr Ringo would like to speak to you all and tell you how worthless you all are, but he decided you are beyond worthless and don't deserve to listen to his words.
Ringo nods in agreement with J2H, his head slowly moving up and down as an arrogant smirk crosses his face.
J2H: But because I made this awesome impact last week, I think it's time you all shut up and listened to the man who is going to change the face of Sin City Wrestling.
J2H paces up and down the ring, looking out at the individual faces in the crowd in front of him.
J2H: Yeah, I'd be miserable like you lot if I had to wear these stupid clothes to go to work in too.
J2H grabs the leg of the camouflage combat pants, just to prove his point.
J2H: Now I know since I put this face back on camera last week, the questions have been flying around more than you lazy people have been moving. Oh why did James attack Equinox? Oh where has James been for a year? Why is James back? Let's get things clear. Number one.
J2H holds up a finger on a free hand, pointing it towards the crowd.
J2H: My name is no longer James, it's J2H, you will address me by that and only that. Number two...
A second finger from J2H's free hand goes up.
J2H: Where I was or what I did, is none of your damn business. I will tell you when I'm ready to tell you and not a minute sooner. Clear? And three.
A third finger cuts through the night air.
J2H: Why did I come back? It should be obvious even to you clowns who have no discernable skills other than to run and shoot at the same time.
Cheap heat brings the boos from the military crowd as J2H mocks their profession.
J2H: It's easy, we are here to save you from meritocracy, the embarrassment of what you've put up with over the last year. Have you seen this lame roster lately? You have a champion in the form of Drake Green that sticks his dick in anything with a pair of tits, a Roulette champ in Equinox, who thinks it's Halloween every day of the year, you have tag champs, who one still hasn't evolved past childhood stages and the other who hasn't evolved past caveman stages! Look at the supporting cast these people have too! Sean Jackson, all hype and no end product, Steve Ramone who looks like an extra out of the Bill and Ted movies! Rage, who clearly had someone shave his ass and super glued it to his head. Gabriel, who believes in so much conspiracy, he's forgot about reality, Jon Dough, who hides behind a mask because he's too damn ugly to take it off and these new guys! Don't get me started on those, an old German fighting with himself, and a man who you wouldn't trust to look after your pets while you're on vacation! It's not just the male roster, look at the Bombshell one too!
J2H takes a deep breath, looking at Ringo, who nod encouragement at the younger man.
J2H: You have Misty, who wouldn't know what a tan was if it slapped her in the face yelling 'Hi! I'm a tan!', A superhero who couldn't take a title away from a bunch of Mean Girls with one hashtag between them, thus saving the whole women's division. One of those Mean Girls even has a dodgy French accent, but don't be fooled, she was probably born in Wyoming or something. You have a mob boss in Joanne Canelli, who can barely hit a finisher on someone let alone put a hit on someone, a mummy lady in Necra that let's more souls go than she actually controls. You have Amy Marshall, who has had so many of the SCW roster up her, you could probably send a marching band up her and they wouldn't even touch the sides. Jessie Salco, who has the worst taste in music known to man, a freakin' nurse! A nurse wrestling!
J2H shakes his head in disappointment.
J2H: These are the people you call your heroes, these are the people you pay to watch. This forgetting about those idiots that show up for two weeks, and can't hang out here so they go crying all the way home, never to be seen again.
Another shake of the head from J2H further shows his disappointment.
J2H: We're here to save you from this shit that you're forced to watch all the time. Look at the old days, Jordan Williams, Nick Jones, Tom Dudely, these old geezers could wrestle and keep you interested. When Casey Williams and Kain were beating the hell out of everyone, they made things interesting, but the people on your screen these days are killing everything people before them created and you are letting them by accepting their meritocracy and complacently! You're to blame!
The people watching boo J2H, but J2H just paces up and down the ring.
J2H: We're back to save you from that, to give you some real talent in the ring. SCW turns three years old, but without us, it won't make it to three and a half because these people you have in front of you have got lazy, they just don't care anymore. They turn up, they take their money and they go and fuck someone else on the roster. We returned to save you from those, we returned to make things interesting instead of the baby drama soap opera that Gabriel, Odette, Spike and Vixen are about to create. Oh yes, they will do that. They're probably planning a feud already before they've even popped out. Staggs Vs Stevens, who will win in 20 years time... We are saving you from that! You ungrateful people should be rejoicing in the fact, that we're saving you from watching Days Of Our Lives with chairs!
J2H walks over to the ropes and puts a foot on the middle rope, elevating himself higher than the ring canvas. An arrogant look crosses his face as he looks around at the different faces.
J2H: So why Equinox, what made him target number one. You Equinox, you have destroyed something that was once so precious to me. You have taken it and ruined the legacy of it! You ruined my damn Roulette title Equinox! Everyone looks at you as a champion that has done well, well I call bullshit Equinox, I'm calling it now, I'm calling it because it is bullshit. When I was champion, I defended it over and over and even in non title matches, I still won! In tag matches, I still won! You only ever win when the title is on the line! You're a joke! You are making a title I gave credibility to, look stupid! You! You!
Ringo steps forward, putting his hand on J2H's shoulder, causing him to snap his head around to Ringo, looking at him as he listens to soft spoken words coming from Ringo's lips. J2H nods his head, the words stopping him from turning in to the J2H of old. J2H steps off the ropes and in to the middle of the ring.
J2H: You're right J N, focus.
J2H takes a deep breath away holding his hand over the microphone, before lifting removing it once more and continues to talk.
J2H: I built something special with that title belt Equinox, I overcome huge odds to hold on to that title when no one gave me a chance and you think it's cool to just show up and put on a show when you want? This is not how it works, it works by giving people a real champion, but you're a fraud, a phony, a loser with a capital L, yet you walk around trying to be the face of that division. Well that stops soon, because I will do everything in my power to make sure you lose that title to someone else, and I don't care who. You are undoing all the work I did with that title, you're making it look as stupid as your face paint! You drew the target on yourself because you're the worst champion ever! In the history of champions everywhere, you're like the worst there's ever been.
A serious look passes on the twenty year olds face.
J2H: There's been a lot of people who can wear that crown but it's you that wears it Equinox because you're a loser and that title deserves to be with someone better, anyone better. Every day you wear that title, you rip apart any hope of that title being serious again. Even these gun toting, too dumb to get a real job people know that.
The military men and women instantly respond with boos towards J2H, but he rolls his eyes.
J2H: Like I didn't expect that reaction. You people hated me when I was the underdog, because you knew how special I was, now I'm dripping with bitches, and making bitches drip, I don't expect anything less from a bunch of people programmed to hurt another man's family.
More boos echo at J2H as he turns to Ringo. Ringo nods his assurance to J2H and he continues.
J2H: People like Equinox should not be involved in SCW or anywhere else. He is poison to a company, he loses matches he don't see as important, this is the crap you're paying for people, this is the crap you're accepting as gospel. You should all be embarrassed to be you for supporting worthless people like him. This is what our power...
J2H points to Ringo, standing cross armed near J2H.
J2H: Will save you from. If you think Equinox is the only one we'll be targeting, you can think again because no one in SCW is safe. No one can out run any target we choose to go after and Equinox will be the first example of exactly what we can do. He will be the first to see up close and personal what this new and improve me can do.
J2H casually runs his finger across his head, wiping a bead a sweat from his forehead.
J2H: I didn't change because it had to be done, I evolved because that's what real stars do. They evolve, they get better. On Sunday, we shall be reborn. There will be no more mention of Jimmy Ringo or James Huntington-Hawkes III, there will only be Mr James Nathaniel Ringo, and J2H. When I'm done with you Equinox, you won't forget my name and neither will anyone else in SCW, the wrestling world, heaven or earth, because we're bringing the power, and you, you face painted freak, you won't be able to handle what we bring.
J2H moves over to the top rope, leaning an elbow across it.
J2H: That's real talk bitches, deal with it!
J2H smirks towards the booing crowd and turns back to Ringo, as the scene fades.
Party like a rockstar...
Well, I think we can safely sit here and say James... ahem, J2H's promo skill have vastly improved since you've last seen him. More of an edge, more of a point, not just random babbling thoughts from a teenage mind. Did that answer the question of what changed him? Not in the slightest, nor does it answer where he got those promo skills from. I'm sure he'll answer those questions himself at some point, but now it's time to look past that and catch up with what J2H is doing right about now.
11.58pm Friday night.
The thumping beat of heavy music blasts through the dimly lit building that the scene starts in. Green neon lazer lights cut through the darkness, instantly giving the distinction of a nightclub of some sorts. The thumping baseline to Ed Sheeran's "Sing" plays in the main room as the camera cuts towards it, showing off more green lazer lights switching through the room where party goers dance their night, and their stresses away. A foursome of women down clear shots at a bar before letting out a high pitched screeching sound in celebration, a common thing around the world for women who seem to think that they are the only one to have ever partaken in such a task. The camera turns to the dance floor, showing a couple getting hot and heavy towards each other, hands moving up and down each others sweat ridden bodies. The camera moves to a more secluded area of the club, a more quieter area to the left hand side of the room. A red velvet rope covers the door opening and a huge looking bouncer, complete with black suit and earpiece stands to one side. The camera moves past the man and in to the room where scantily clad waitresses, dressed in shorts and very tight shirts move drinks to table, surrounded with sofa's. The camera spies familiar faces at the end, in the form of J2H, Mr James Nathaniel Ringo, and handing behind J2H, tall and rigid, we see Simpson.
You remember Simpson, right? The only man stupid, or loyal enough to stand next to J2H from birthday, he is to J2H, what Alfred is to Bruce Wayne, except not English, and a whole lot bigger.
The huge bald man, known as Simpson, J2H's bodyguard, plus man servant stands tall, his chest barreled out and hands held together, left on top of right as he stands behind J2H. The camera moves closer to the trio, moving past other patrons who sit at their private tables around the room, deep in conversation. The camera stops next to the three, looking down at the table to show a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket in the middle of the table, with two half filled glasses, plus an orange juice near J2H. J2H reaches down and picks up the closest champagne flute and raises it to his lips, taking a sip before placing it back down, and looking across the table at Ringo.
Ringo: How did you know about this...
Ringo looks around the private VIP section, his eyebrows lowered.
Ringo: I wanna call it a shit hole but that's being too kind to this third rate place.
J2H smiles back at Ringo, as Ringo reaches down to the glass in front of him.
Ringo: Guys like us deserve better than whatever the hell this place is trying to be.
J2H: I found it a while ago. I spent some time here in Georgia, and well, this place was the only place to see how cool J2H is. This place was the only place that saw it needed a guy like me to lift it's image up higher.
Ringo: Only place that would let you in, eh?
J2H rolls his shoulders back, tilting his head to the right as he looks back across at the smirking Ringo.
J2H: Not the only place, but the only place worth going to.
Ringo raises his glass to his lips, sipping the cold champagne.
Ringo: I doubt that man, I mean look at this place, there's only two celebrities in the place and they're both sitting at this table.
From behind J2H, Simpson clears his throat, causing the two men to turn around, James looks up at the big man.
J2H: No Simpson, you are not a celebrity, I'm a celebrity, J N is a celebrity, you or not a celebrity. People only know your name because they see you riding my coat tails all the time.
Simpson: No sir, I was just wondering if.
Simpson points down to the glass of orange juice next to J2H with a sympathetic look across his face. J2H waves his hand around, before pointing to the glass. Simpson nods his head and moves his beefy hand to the glass, picking it up and taking a gulp. He places the glass back down on to the table.
Simpson: Thank you sir, most refreshing.
J2H rolls his eyes as he looks away from Simpson.
J2H: Yeah, yeah, whatever Simpson.
Ringo: Yo man, maybe you should be getting on your phone about now and checking out to see if that punk Equinox has a promo airing now. The deadline has like just passed, should hear what the condemned man has to say.
J2H squeezes his lips together, pressing them tightly together as he shakes his head firmly.
J2H: What's the point? That bitch is always late with his promo work, I'll check back in like three hours and he might have it already sent in.
Simpson: If I can interject sir, Mr Equinox may already have a promo airing. It has been some time since we checked the SCW site.
J2H snaps his head around at Simpson, looking up at him through narrowed eyes and his jaw tightly clenched. He speaks through gritted teeth.
J2H: No one asked you Simpson! Did you ask him J N?
J2H turns to Ringo who throws his hands up in the air, feigning innocence. J2H turns back to Simpson, still with a stern look on his face.
J2H: See, no one asked you Simpson, but if you're so interested in knowing what that loser has to say, then if that five year old phone, that you have in your pocket has any kind of Internet on, go on it and check for yourself, because it doesn't matter what that freak has to say, it's not gonna stop me from kicking the paint right off his face!
Simpson: I will check out of the interest of yourself sir.
J2H: Oh believe me Simpson, I have no interest in this guy, but you check anyway, we'll call this your break.
Simpson reaches in to his pocket, pulling out a mobile device and turning away from J2H and Ringo and looking down as he hits a button to light up the screen on the old looking phone. J2H turns back to Ringo, before the conversation can continue, a waitress moves next to them, her long dark hair running loosely over her shoulders and on to the front of her body, resting freely on her ample chest. She looks at Ringo first.
Waitress: I hope you're having a pleasant time gentlemen, is there anything I can do for you.
Ringo: That's a loaded question if ever I heard it, but you can bring us another bottle of this.
Ringo points towards the champagne bottle, still resting in the watery ice bucket.
Ringo: And bring two more glass, we're expecting a couple of business associates to be here very shortly.
The waitress nods and attempts to walk past but J2H put his hand up, stopping her dead in her tracks.
J2H: Where do you think you're going?
The waitress stutters with her reply, clearly taken off guard.
Waitress: I'm sorry, ummm, is there anything I can do for you?
J2H: Yeah, first, you can move your hair out of the way, it's covering up something that you've obviously paid serious money for. If you pay for them, you should let the world see them. Secondly, your phone number would be good because I can think of lots of things we can do, and none of them clean.
The waitress blinks her eyes, not dignifying J2H with a response as she walks past. Ringo covers his mouth, holding in a laugh, but J2H just leans back on the sofa, his arms spread across the top. Ringo tries to straighten his face and looks across at the younger man.
Ringo: I think that's called striking out my friend.
J2H confidently shakes his head before turning his face away from Ringo, a smile across his face.
J2H: You'd think that, huh?
Ringo nods confidently back, reaching in to the top pocket of his shirt and pulling out a pile of notes, folded together by a gold money clip.
Ringo: Five hundred says you just struck out.
J2H turns back to Ringo as he pulls out a five hundred dollar bill from the money clip and placing it on the table. J2H reaches in to his pocket and pulls out a five hundred dollar bill, leaning it forward and placing it on the table next to Ringo's note.
J2H: You don't expect to come to a club and walk out with a profit, but I'm gonna tonight.
Ringo: Yeah, yeah, keep talking little man, that note will be joining the rest of mine very soon.
As the two men exchange confident looks, a random man, about six foot two, stumbles towards the two, clearly under the influence of alcohol. The man stumbles in to the table, causing Ringo and J2H to look up.
Ringo: Whoa! Easy man!
J2H: Watch where ya going idiot!
With both J2H and Ringo instantly on guard, the man talks to them in loud, slurring words.
Man: I know you two.... two... shorry excuses of humans! I whas at the show earlier and yoush two shuch so bad.
Ringo puts his arm on the side of the sofa, ready to stand up, but J2H puts a hand up to Ringo, stopping Ringo from standing to confront the inebriated man.
J2H: You have two choices drunky, you can walk away now or get thrown away now.
The man reaches down to J2H, grabbing his hand.
J2H: That's a mistake.
Man: Whosh gonna make me?
J2H: Him.
J2H points his free hand behind him, jetting his thumb in the direction of Simpson, who has moved directly behind J2H with a very angry look on his face. J2H calmly speaks.
J2H: Simpson. This idiot has just puts his dirty little hands on me.
Simpson: No need to say another word sir.
An unusual angry tone rolls from the mouth of Simpson as he reaches towards the man, putting both hands on the man shirt and lifts him with one quick movement and throws the man behind him. A loud sickening thump is heard.
Ringo: I guess you wasn't the only one to learn a trick or two in the last year.
J2H smiles and shakes his head.
J2H: Simpson did learn something in the last year.
Another off camera thump is heard as Ringo, who is facing the action, winces in mock pain.
Ringo: That one had to hurt.
Seconds later, Simpson returns to the side of J2H and Ringo, dusting his hands off. The camera turns slightly to see the man being carried away by bouncers.
Simpson: I'm sorry you had to see that gentlemen.
Ringo: That was impressive stuff.
J2H: He touched me Simpson so...
Simpson: Of course sir.
Simpson reaches in to his jacket pocket, pulling out a small bottle of hand sanitizer. J2H puts his hand out and Simpson sprays the clear gel on to his hands. J2H viciously rubs his hands together, letting the gel sink in. Ringo leans back in to his chair and looks at J2H.
Ringo: Really... with the hands thing....
Ringo holds his hands up to prove a point.
J2H: Of course. How do I know he didn't just come back from the bathroom and pissed all over his hands? I don't want his piss on my hands because he is too lazy to take less than a minute to use basic human hygiene measures.
Ringo shakes his head as J2H looks serious. Before more words can be exchanged, the waitress from earlier returns with a fresh ice bucket with champagne in and two extra glasses, balancing evenly on a tray. She looks at J2H as she walks past, placing the tray on the table for balance, and removing the glasses one by one. Ringo grabs the bucket with both hands lifting it off and placing it on the table, and giving the dark haired beauty a wink. She stands up and looks at J2H, walking past him, causing Ringo to smile. He reaches over to the two five hundred dollar bills, but J2H put a finger up. Ringo rolls his eyes at J2H.
Ringo: What now?
J2H: Wait for it...
The waitress returns to the tab, her hair visibly removed from her chest now. She reaches down, placing a folded piece of paper in to J2H's hand. She turns and walks away as J2H unfolds the paper and turns if to Ringo, showing a phone number.
Ringo: Mother fucker!
A smug look crosses J2H's face as he reaches across the table and picks up the bank notes, holding them up and looking at them.
J2H: This is what power does, it attracts them all, leaving us dripping with bitches.
Ringo: Yeah, yeah.
J2H: Now, how to spend this...
Ringo clears his through, pointing behind J2H. Both he and Simpson follow Ringo's finger, looking in the direction it's pointing.
J2H: Ah, they're here, must have shared a taxi or something.
The camera turns around but fades out before we can see J2H and Ringo's companions for the night.
So SCW, you've seen just who this young man has matured in to. This does leave more questions than answers if you watched closely. You won't see the answers but who knows, maybe next time, you just might. Until then SCW...
