Post by jdfranchise on Oct 14, 2014 5:27:36 GMT -5
"Surgery shouldn't take this long."
"It's probably due to how bad her arm's broken." Dave says, surveying the waiting room. "Besides, look at how many people are waiting."
"I find it odd you weren't allowed to go back with her." Penny shot out. "You're her husband, after all."
"They said at the nurses' triage it's for security reasons," I smirk. "Because I obviously look like a f*cking terrorist."
"Come on, if you were a terrorist they'd probably let you go back."
Penny's trying to use her quick wit to lighten the tension, but I'm not in a joking mood. Nikki's been back in the operating room for close to three hours and I'm starting to get worried. Compared to giving birth twice, this trip to the hospital is different. I don't doubt she's putting on a brave face, but it's scary to face the first major surgery of her athletic career without the support system she needs.
I know that because I know her, but I've been there multiple times. Anything can happen in surgery, and one wrong incision alters her life permanently.
Thinking about her request being denied by the doctors has me fuming because I'm creating worse case scenarios now. If it weren't for Penny and Dave making the trip down here, I'd be in even worse shape. The ends of my fingers are starting to bleed and hurt from the excessive nail biting I've been doing since the moment we arrived. All I want is hold her hand and tell her that it'll be ok, but its out of my control and I'm powerless to stop what hand fate decides to deal.
That's not a feeling I'm used to, and I don't like it.
"I'm glad you guys came."
"Of course," Penny said, walking to the soda machine. "This is family business."
"Yeah."
"Josh, Nikki is a very tough and determined woman." Dave finally chimes in. "I doubt there's anything that can keep her down."
"I know." I say in a low voice, dropping my head into my hands. "It just... she was starting to find her stride as a wrestler."
"Are you're afraid that it'll set her back?"
"Yeah, a little bit."
"You'll drive yourself nuts worrying about this." Dave says, cracking his knuckles which make me cringe. "We don't even know how long she'll be out."
The sound of Dave cracking his knuckles puts me back ringside. The bellows of Nikki's anguish as I held her arm, which had been reduced to jello. It's unfair expecting him to know what that did to me because he wasn't there. The walk back to trainer's room is still a blur after the fact, but one thing sticks out. The look on Trace Demon's face from the commentary position put me in this mood. The joy of seeing a member of the biggest threat to his coup injured. I saw his greedy eyes light up suddenly with just cause to strip a fighting champion of her well deserved title, and it brings fire to my eyes when I reflect on it. I can't wait to get him in the ring.
"You know, this is some kind of sick irony."
"How?" Penny asks, returning to her seat with a bottle of Hawaiian Punch. "I'm not following."
"You guys have been there to build me up after a loss, and now it's my turn to do that." I say, stroking my beard. "But I know I'm useless in that category because my mind is elsewhere."
"Do you think I need it?" Dave asks. "That I can't handle a loss, Josh?"
"Did those words come out of my mouth?" I retort. "No they didn't, so stop assuming."
"He's talking about Nikki's situation." Penny adds. "Dude, not everything is about you."
Well things just got a little more uncomfortable. I know Dave is going through his own struggle right now, but his attitude is starting to annoy me. He should've just stayed in Toronto acting like that. But maybe I should be more sympathetic to him.
"For what it's worth, I'm glad we're showing solidarity through a tough time." I say, adjusting to find a comfortable spot in my seat. "A lot of groups fall apart after a setback."
"Well I'd like to think we're stronger than that." Dave says. "But we better have a plan just in case she's out any length of time."
"Plan?"
"Maybe we should think about bringing someone in?"
"Don't you think that it's you're jumping the gun a bit?" Penny asks. "I mean let's at least wait til she gets out of surgery."
"Someone needs to think ahead." Dave says. "We can't let teams know that we're vulnerable."
Ok that's kind of f*cked up. Nice to know Nikki's concern for him during his injury is being returned in such a compassionate way. I shake my head, because I really don't want to believe what I'm hearing. The seconds feel like hours, and the days can't pass fast enough until I get Trace Demon in the ring. I'm going to knock that smirk off his face and put an end to this war before it gets started. That's the objective I need to focus on. Let the doctors handle their job and I handle mine.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone coming through the authorized personnel doors. The middle aged man scans the room for a moment.
"Dean." He says, which turns our attention to him. "All parties for Nikki Dean."
I raise my hand and motion for him to come over. He shakes my hand as I stand to greet him.
"Hi, I'm Dr. Carlisle. I'm the surgeon who worked on your wife."
"Nice to meet you. So, how is she?"
"The surgery was a success," he begins. "I do have some specifics I need to go over with you about her recovery given your profession. She's in the recovery room down the hall. I'll change out of my scrubs, grab her x-ray, and meet you in there."
"Thank you, doc." I say, breathing a sigh of relief as I shake his hand again. "Come on guys."
All I can think about as we head toward the recovery room is keeping Nikki's spirits up. We'll make it through her recovery together. I just need to see her.
"Hi hun," Penny shot out as she enters the room first. "Glad to see you're awake."
"Penny" Nikki says, still groggy from the anesthesia. "It feels so good to see you."
"Hey sleeping beauty." I say as I walk in the room with a big smile on my face. "They gave you a purple cast."
"I know, right." Nikki says as she turns to face us." That was really nice of them."
"Yeah it was, now it'll match your outfit."
"You'll have to forgive me if I'm a bit loopy." Nikki begins. "They gave me strong medicine for the pain."
"I bet."
"It's ok honey." I interject. "We just need to see what the doc says and then we can go home."
My phone beeps. Pulling it out of my pocket I see that it's Lila Sleater. Her message is simple: "How is she?" I don't want to deal with this right now, but I know I have to. She's probably being pressured by Trace to find out all the answers so he can plot his next couple moves. Typical. I'll text her back in a few minutes.
"Hello," Dr. Carlisle says as he knocks on the door before entering. "Thank you for being patient."
There's a collective glance between the four of us. Just get to it, doc.
"So, what we did was put the radius and ulna bones back together using three titanium plates, which are held in place by four screws each." Dr. Carlisle begins as he places the x-ray of Nikki's arm on an LED board. "It's a common procedure for athletes in contact sports."
"So we just need to wait for the bones to heal then she's good to go?" Dave asks. "That's what you're telling us, right?"
"We had to fix some tendon damage to her arm that we discovered during surgery." Dr. Carlisle says while pointing at a spot just below her elbow. "Because we had to anchor the tendon to it's proper insertion point, her recovery is going to take a little longer than normal."
That explains why it took so long, but the worst news is yet to come. I just have a gut feeling.
"So what exactly does that mean?" I ask. "We need to know what to expect."
"Nikki can not move her arm for a minimum of two months, at which point we'll take some more x-rays." Dr. Carlisle points at Nikki's cast and sling. "After the bone structure is stabilized, we can start rehabilitation for her tendons."
"Can you give us a timeline?" Penny asks. "That's what is important, doc."
"I've seen athletes come back from this injury in two months." He pauses, which is never a good sign. "But taking into account she started wrestling at a later age than most in your profession, her healing time could be significantly slower. I wouldn't expect less than a four to six month window before she is cleared to return to the ring."
In one swoop, any hope of dodging a bullet with Nikki's injury just vanished. I struggle to catch my breath, because I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. But this fight we're encountering isn't a sprint. Knowing Trace Demon's predictable ways, he will keep coming until we break. Nikki has been the glue that has kept us operating on all cylinders. Her nurturing demeanor has us embracing fighting for each other the way a family should. Without her, The Saviors of Salvation resemble the glass house that is the Final Revolution. I shudder making the comparison, but I hope that we don't end up broken like her arm.
Josh Dean Presents
The Look
"I think that doctor is full of sh*t."
"Four to six months ain't that bad."
"Not bad at all considering that I pretty much shattered both bones in my forearm." Nikki says, flashing a reaasuring smile. "I'm just glad I don't feel anything right now."
"Two broken bones. Should be back in no time."
"Right, because the doc's just gonna clear her."
"Sometimes we don't need the doctor's clearance. I won my International championship with a concussion."
Are you listening to yourself, Dave? It's ten wonders you didn't get severe brain damage with that stunt. We want Nikki to come back at one hundred percent, remember?
"Yeah, and do you know how dangerous that was?" Penny shot out, knocking back the remaining contents from her Hawaiian Punch bottle. "You just had to tell a doctor that there were no more symptoms or headaches."
"She's right, Dave." Nikki added as she sits down on the couch. "My arm's pretty much bionic now. The doctor has to take multiple x-rays of the bones before he'll remove the plates or screws."
"You ever hear of the Bionic Elbow? Great finishing move." says Dave with a chuckle.
"Too soon, Dave."
"Just trying to add a bit of humor. You've been acting weird since you picked me up from the airport, Josh."
Me acting weird? Look in a f*cking mirror, pal.
"I've had a lot on my mind, so forgive me if I'm not all smiles."
"I don't know what you were expecting coming down here," Penny shot out. "You knew Nikki was having surgery."
"I also know that we're down a person in this war." Dave retorts. "How are we supposed to save this federation when we're down a solder. Let alone one of our champions?"
"We'll manage," Nikki interjects. "Let's look at it like this, we've still got our three most experienced members. Plus with Josh finally starting to get his stride back in the ring, we'll be fine until I'm cleared."
"You know as well as any of us that you become forgotten when you're gone." Penny says before sitting down and putting an arm around Nikki. "And with Nikki's talent, it would be a big mistake to forget about her."
Nikki smiles and leans her head onto Penny's shoulder. It's nice to see at least one of our friends is doing the right thing during this mess. Dave isn't the only one who should work on his interpersonal skills. Isn't that right, Trace?
"That is what I am getting at. We are three established wrestlers, with footage of us circulating around the Internet." Dave begins. "Nikki is a dark horse. Nobody knows her full potential or skills. She could be the difference between us losing by an inch or winning by a mile."
"But at this point, we need to take our minds off business for a second." I break my silence. "We're friends above everything else, and one of our friends needs our support."
"We'll wear ourselves down if we're in business mode all the time." Penny says, switching to hold Nikki's free hand. "We really need to conserve our energy since we're a three person team for now."
"We'd have a lot more energy being a four person team." Dave retorts. The look on his indicates a lack of care with how he's coming across "And don't forget that this business is what brought us all together in the first place."
"Nobody's disputing that." I interject, trying to bite my tongue, but this Trace Demon like attitude is pushing my buttons. "But even if we considered a fourth to replace Nikki for the moment, who's to say they'll be the best fit. We're a unique team."
Logical thinking. Come back to the side of logical thinking while you have a chance, Dave.
"We are the unique team here, but we also have to watch our backs. When other teams come out swinging with more people than us, we will be the ones to get hurt."
"Who outnumbers us, Dave?" I ask, trying to understand Dave's point of view. "Tell me who, because I'm really interested in knowing who has the numbers edge."
"We have a very tight-knit group, but Trace has the ultimate checkbook at his hands to get whoever he wants to join him." Dave says. "Nobody knows what's going to come of that group. Trace corrupted Kyle Matthews, the kid who was sought out to be a next big good guy. Money corrupts people's minds."
I don't think it's crossed Dave's mind that I've been there. I know money talks, because it talked seven years ago when I left WFWF. Dave's attitude is making me see his fear of The Final Revolution. I don't know if he thought they would just go away after the Garden or if he severely underestimated their conviction, but something changed his tune. I wasn't here during his time as a member of Demon's group, but I'm starting to think that Trace is holding something over Dave's head. I do know this isn't the same guy I agreed to take up arms with in this battle.
"Trace doesn't have that much money." Penny interjects. "Remember that I worked with him to get the title from Scarlett. He's full of empty promises. Or did you forget that?"
"I remember that." Dave says, shooting Penny a sneer. "Remember that I was pro-Trace during that time against Xavier Pierce. He is a charismatic leader and he will corrupt the minds of those wanting to get ahead in this sport. You did it Penny, I did it." Dave lowers his head, almost in shame of his past. "Now Kyle Matthews is doing it. Trace can get anybody to pray to his name. You see what he did at the end of the last show?"
"No I didn't." I say, pacing around the living room. "I have more important things to worry about than obsessing over Trace Demon's every move."
"When you have an entire arena chanting 'We Want A Revolution', it's quite hard to ignore."
"I can ignore it when it's coming from a desperate guy in his hometown."
Dave refuses to see the desperation in the eyes of Trace Demon. That schtick he's been doing for years only work on the weak, and I know Dave is better than that. Trace knows we're coming to destroy them. More importantly, he know that I will make him pay for the sins commited against Nikki at Takeover. If only Dave would open his eyes instead of moping and lashing out at the people who care.
"Well, I didn't. It's a sign. They are going to become even stronger with Nikki out. This is the nature of the business."
"You don't need to convince me about this business." I retort. "I left this business in large part due to the nature of the business." I throw my hands up in a desperate plea. "I don't get it Dave, so help me understand. One empty trip to Calgary and all of a sudden you lose faith in everything."
"Oh boy." shot out Penny.
"Josh, don't you go there."
"Why?" I stop dead in my tracks and face Dave. "Because I'm telling the truth. I'm not the one considering altering a successful team just because Nikki's hurt. How the f*ck do you think that makes her feel, or did you even think about that?"
"It's not altering, Josh. It's adapting. We have been handed a terrible hand, but we don't just fold. We adapt."
Keep telling yourself that, Dave. You have no idea what adapting means in this situation.
"No, it sounds to me like you're trying to justify dropping her." I say, getting closer to Dave. "Oh sh*t, she's damaged goods, we need to get Kirkbride in here to keep us from getting our asses kicked. Did you think that word wouldn't get back?"
"I shake one man's hand and the world thinks I've personally sent him a golden invite to join us in our mission to save professional wrestling?" Dave huffs, clearly becoming more angry with me. "Jeez. And I wouldn't drop Nikki. She's our dark horse, and she can win matches."
"Ok, I can't take any more." Nikki says, pushing up from the sofa. "I'm going to lay down."
What the f*ck is your problem Dave, she's been sitting here this whole time. Your lack of spatial awareness is going to wind up bad for you if you keep running that mouth.
"Good job, Dave!" I exclaim, crossing my arms. "You know you're starting to sound like Trace. You don't give a damn who you crap on if they no longer serve your grand purpose. I guess we're starting to see who Dave Demento really is."
"My grand purpose is to save professional wrestling. And everybody in this house right now is with me on this mission. We are equals. You know that, Josh? I think of all of us as equals. We are an entity."
Really? Could've fooled me by how you're conducting yourself. Complete contradiction. Be very careful picking your next few words Dave, you won't like what I have to say in return.
"And I'll be straight with you, I did ponder bringing Kirkbride in. He will be a franchise player in due time. This isn't about me, this isn't about Nikki, and this sure as hell isn't about you. This is about the sport that I love! And yes, my entire trip to Calgary amounted to nothing. I don't have a daughter like you have two sons. I don't have a family like you do. I don't have the nice house, the respectable community and the nice clothes that you have. But guess what Josh, life goes on. Life goes on when I don't have my daughter. Life goes on when I'm all alone at the end of the day. Life will go on when the Saviors of Salvation are an afterthought in years to come. Do you understand that? Huh?"
"First off, don't come into my house and talk to me like I'm a ing moron!" I explode right into Dave's face. "I know what the purpose is for this group. And secondly, that is my wife you insulted by even considering replacing her. Hasn't she been through enough since Takeover, Dave?! She just got stripped of a title she worked her ass off to earn because of a freak accident. I know you feel like sh*t because you didn't get the feel good moment you wanted with your daughter, and I'm sorry that you went to Calgary for nothing."
I point the finger at Dave. His face shifts into rage, but I don't care. He needs to hear this. A good friend isn't afraid to hurt your feelings to tell you the truth. Time for an education.
"But it's kind of your fault that you couldn't find her. You left and your ex had to raise her to the best of her abilities, so of course you weren't involved in her living arrangements. You may not like her mother's lifestyle, so what? Nikki doesn't like her ex and his lifestyle, but she at least attempts to work with him because that's still Drake's father." I take the finger and poke Dave's chest with it. "Do you think I like sharing a nine year old boy's love and admiration with a guy who doesn't deserve it? I don't! I may have all this stuff you see in front of you, but I went through my own hell to get it. So don't give me that woe is me bullcrap because you won't get any sympathy from me. I lost everyone close to me at a very early age and was forced to get over it."
Like a stick dynamite exploding Dave shoves me onto my couch. Has he lost his mind? Who in the hell do you think you are? The berating, condescension, and back handed insults are too much. I'd expect these kind of antics out of Trace Demon as a ploy designed to take me out of my focus. Dave just wants the rest of us to feel as miserable as he's feeling. I can't see faces, just one color.
Red.
Before I realize that I have him by the shirt, Penny is between us, trying to diffuse the situation before I drop Dave where he stands. I'd be doing him a big favor if I realign his jaw by knocking sense into his dense skull. All of the stress on my mind coming to the surface in my right hand, just looking for the target. Penny wraps me up.
"Come on guys!" She shouts. "We don't need this!"
I finally let go of Dave's shirt. Looking into his eyes, I don't see the same fire in the man I forged this brotherhood with. I don't see anything but the same darkness that fills Trace Demon's eyes. This is my house, but I need to get away for a little while with Nikki. After everything she's been through, I need to take her to a happy place.
"Nikki, let's go." I say as I turn to grab my jacket. "You guys watch the house, and maybe Dave will cool down."
*****
Tybee Island
[/b]Tybee Island
Savannah, Georgia
"Why are we we here?" Nikki asks, seeming confused by the familiar location. "Seems like a long way out of the way just to cool down."
"It is," I respond with a chuckle. "But I figured you would feel better if we went somewhere that reminded you of happy times."
"Thank you." Nikki says as she gives me a warm, gracious smile. "I always love coming here. So peaceful."
"I almost feel bad for selling the beach house."
"You're silly," Nikki jabs me in the arm with her free arm during her rebuttal. "Besides, we weren't getting use out of it."
"True." I say. "Life throws you curveball sometimes."
We stop in the middle of the beach and listen to the wave crash into each other before cascading to sand. The moonlight reflects down on us and I can see Nikki's eyes begin to form tears in its soft glow. I don't know if it's because of the happy moment this very spot represents or the mounting pile of sh*t that life has thrown us in the past couple weeks. But as she embraces me, I find myself not worrying about the outside world.
"I knew better than to go for the clothesline."
"Shhh." I whisper to her gently. "Let's not worry about that now."
"Josh, I feel like I let everyone down." Nikki says, freely letting tears fall. "You, Penny, Dave, the fans. My supporters who look to me for inspiration to live through."
"And they'll support you even more."
"How am I supposed to show perseverance while I'm gone?"
"By getting back." I begin. "Don't let the Trace Demons of the world tell you that you're better off gone."
"It's not Trace." Nikki slumps to a seated position in the sand. "Josh you almost came to blows with Dave because of this, and he's on our side."
"Dave plays a cool exterior, but he worries more than you do."
"Don't you think he has reason?" Nikki asks as she invites me to join her in the sand. "Some of the things he said were true. They don't know me, but they know you guys."
"So."
"So doesn't that worry you that we can be better scouted now."
"No," I respond. "Because scouting a person and actually seeing what they can do first hand are two different things."
I take Nikki's hand into mine, just like I did in this very same spot a year and a half ago. She turns to face me. I can see by the pain in her facial expression that I need to avenge her. I have to gain retribution in response to Trace's actions. I am her protector, and she needs that more than ever and it is what I promised her. Even though he didn't lay a finger on her, his presence was enough. Stripping Nikki of her title was to send a statement to remind us of the power he still wields. Despite all that he has followers but no family, and being here with Nikki reminds me of the very power we hold over him if he cared enough to recognize someone other than himself.
Maybe that was the reason I had my spat with Dave earlier, so he could break the chains of coercion that bind him into his paranoia and waning confidence in our chances of victory
[/b]. [/span][/div]"You know I didn't plan on going off the road."
"I figured." I say. "Which is why I tried to tell Dave he was being paranoid."
"Would you guys have replaced me?"
"Absolutely not."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because you and I come as a package deal." I begin. "If you were removed, that means that I would be gone too. I don't think Dave is so delusional to dismiss that. He knows that I value our friendship, but I value our marriage before anything else."
"You've told me that this business tears families apart and I-"
"We're not like the other married couples that have come into this profession." I interrupt, squeezing her hand gently as a symbol of the give and take of our relationship. "Unlike those unfortunate statistics, I believe in and will defend the vows we took in this very spot with my life."
"I know." Nikki says as she kisses me on my cheek.
She didn't need to say anything else. The way her head rests on my shoulder is enough for me to know that she will take this setback in stride and come back stronger. I truly feel for whomever wins the belt in her absence, because their reign will be a footnote in her dominance of that division. As for me, I have bigger fish to fry.
*****
I feel you should know that what happens to you at Monster and Men is your own fault, Trace.
But before I indulge you with the sordid, volatile details of the beating I'll inflict on your soulless carcass, you should know that said beating won't mean that much to me if we're being honest. Sending a message to your lapdogs that each of them will be euthanized once I'm done with you doesn't make a damn difference to me. It's a necessary beating, however, to ensure that this company continues to get better and have a future. Just like it's necessary to teach our children right from wrong to ensure their future.
That's what you feed your followers.
That's what you tell your daughter.
But me, I know better. I mean Trace, it's easy to fool those people in your hometown. They'll follow along with any chant if said with enough conviction, especially if it comes from the local boy playing the returning hero. But all a chant is words Trace, an empty proclamation designed to give those who can't think for themselves something to buy into. And boy you picked a good army of drones. Joe Bishop, a kid who used to despise you with every fiber in his being is now drinking the Kool-Aid. Kyle Matthews, well, a kid trying to chase his dream is like shooting fish in a barrel right? But what happens when it comes time for action, and all those people are asking for what they were promised by you?
They get left with a hell of a case of blue balls, don't they?
You're welcome, by the way, for me being so kind to expose the pitfalls in your revolution so that maybe you can fix the cracks, make it a little more challenging for the Saviors of Salvation to stop you. You see Nikki's injury as a chink in our armour. That we will implode with in fighting without our glue. Brothers fight, but I can assure you that despite mine and Dave's difference in opinion on how we should progress moving forward, we will band together for the objective we've set because that's how a family handles a tough situation. We're giving you ample time to fix your mistakes until our groups inevitably go to battle, and maybe you'll learn to lock the door next time so that you won't get caught with your pants around your ankles while you and Anders do your 'scheming', or whatever the hipsters you try to emulate call it.
That's all this revolution is Trace, the chance to sit at the cool kids table for once. The year was 2007, and I was this company's International Champion, on one of the biggest rolls of my life, dominating the House Show circuit and blowing the roof off with the Phillip Schneiders, the Wayne McGurks, and the Thunders of the world, and I remember seeing a young upstart with no direction playing with Ouija boards and praying to a pentagram just to stand out from all the other upstarts doing the exact same thing. I walked by that kid and shook my head thinking that he wouldn't last the month. Fast forward seven years later when I strolled into Phoenix for SuperBrawl, this same upstart traded in his dog collar and skirt for a business suit and a crackpot staff of leeches suckling at the teet. The skirt's been tailored to make him look edgier, and the guyliner is still a staple of his look. But something was different. He had this elitist attitude that annoyed me to no end. He flashed me a smug look and walked on by.
I should've punched your teeth out back in April, but I'm a true professional so I went on about my day. I knew this day would come.
The point of the story is that you ascended the industry and now stand as one of the most powerful men in the sport. Congratulations.
You're still that mediocre upstart to me, however. How you got to the top doesn't surprise me, because it was your only option. You were never the biggest, strongest, or the best athlete, so your athletic merit wasn't going to get it done. But you weren't afraid to get your hands dirty or embarrass yourself to get attention, so I see that part hasn't changed. The people still chant for men like EBR, Alex Sean, Michael Kyzer, Reverend Shadow and I believe I heard a couple Raider chants not too long ago, so that hasn't changed either. That's despite the blatant abuse of power that keeps you a fixture in the title picture. Your match with Drakz is set for London, and I don't see that as an accident. What's hilarious to me about it is that you weren't the first choice to challenge Drakz, you just happen to be the most obvious convenient choice of axes to grind.
Speaking of axes to grind, that's why I'm so glad to finally fight you at Men and Monsters, because the problem I have with you stems from the injury that my better half suffered. It made you tingle inside to assert that authority to strip her of the title, although truthfully between you and me, it really makes you look weak. I mean I'd expect a guy with your position of power and track record to fire whoever opposed you, appoint whatever champions you wanted and be done with the whole thing, making this war pointless. It's so simple even you can't f*ck it up, that is until you affected my wife's livelihood with your decision. You picked a fight with a guy that can and will bury you where you stand.
And I'm going to enjoy this, very much, because your hands are tied if you even think about terminating my contract after this match. I will own the company faster than Zmey can clear an all-you- can-eat buffet if you get butt hurt and make a stupid decision. I know you aren't that stupid though, because you know I'm good for business. So all that's left is getting in the ring and getting the beating you so richly deserve.
You've been warned about what's coming to you, Trace.
And all it took was you giving my wife and I that stupid look. So when I make your face look like a Picasso painting, just know I gave you the common courtesy of informing you beforehand.
You're welcome.
But before I indulge you with the sordid, volatile details of the beating I'll inflict on your soulless carcass, you should know that said beating won't mean that much to me if we're being honest. Sending a message to your lapdogs that each of them will be euthanized once I'm done with you doesn't make a damn difference to me. It's a necessary beating, however, to ensure that this company continues to get better and have a future. Just like it's necessary to teach our children right from wrong to ensure their future.
That's what you feed your followers.
That's what you tell your daughter.
But me, I know better. I mean Trace, it's easy to fool those people in your hometown. They'll follow along with any chant if said with enough conviction, especially if it comes from the local boy playing the returning hero. But all a chant is words Trace, an empty proclamation designed to give those who can't think for themselves something to buy into. And boy you picked a good army of drones. Joe Bishop, a kid who used to despise you with every fiber in his being is now drinking the Kool-Aid. Kyle Matthews, well, a kid trying to chase his dream is like shooting fish in a barrel right? But what happens when it comes time for action, and all those people are asking for what they were promised by you?
They get left with a hell of a case of blue balls, don't they?
You're welcome, by the way, for me being so kind to expose the pitfalls in your revolution so that maybe you can fix the cracks, make it a little more challenging for the Saviors of Salvation to stop you. You see Nikki's injury as a chink in our armour. That we will implode with in fighting without our glue. Brothers fight, but I can assure you that despite mine and Dave's difference in opinion on how we should progress moving forward, we will band together for the objective we've set because that's how a family handles a tough situation. We're giving you ample time to fix your mistakes until our groups inevitably go to battle, and maybe you'll learn to lock the door next time so that you won't get caught with your pants around your ankles while you and Anders do your 'scheming', or whatever the hipsters you try to emulate call it.
That's all this revolution is Trace, the chance to sit at the cool kids table for once. The year was 2007, and I was this company's International Champion, on one of the biggest rolls of my life, dominating the House Show circuit and blowing the roof off with the Phillip Schneiders, the Wayne McGurks, and the Thunders of the world, and I remember seeing a young upstart with no direction playing with Ouija boards and praying to a pentagram just to stand out from all the other upstarts doing the exact same thing. I walked by that kid and shook my head thinking that he wouldn't last the month. Fast forward seven years later when I strolled into Phoenix for SuperBrawl, this same upstart traded in his dog collar and skirt for a business suit and a crackpot staff of leeches suckling at the teet. The skirt's been tailored to make him look edgier, and the guyliner is still a staple of his look. But something was different. He had this elitist attitude that annoyed me to no end. He flashed me a smug look and walked on by.
I should've punched your teeth out back in April, but I'm a true professional so I went on about my day. I knew this day would come.
The point of the story is that you ascended the industry and now stand as one of the most powerful men in the sport. Congratulations.
You're still that mediocre upstart to me, however. How you got to the top doesn't surprise me, because it was your only option. You were never the biggest, strongest, or the best athlete, so your athletic merit wasn't going to get it done. But you weren't afraid to get your hands dirty or embarrass yourself to get attention, so I see that part hasn't changed. The people still chant for men like EBR, Alex Sean, Michael Kyzer, Reverend Shadow and I believe I heard a couple Raider chants not too long ago, so that hasn't changed either. That's despite the blatant abuse of power that keeps you a fixture in the title picture. Your match with Drakz is set for London, and I don't see that as an accident. What's hilarious to me about it is that you weren't the first choice to challenge Drakz, you just happen to be the most obvious convenient choice of axes to grind.
Speaking of axes to grind, that's why I'm so glad to finally fight you at Men and Monsters, because the problem I have with you stems from the injury that my better half suffered. It made you tingle inside to assert that authority to strip her of the title, although truthfully between you and me, it really makes you look weak. I mean I'd expect a guy with your position of power and track record to fire whoever opposed you, appoint whatever champions you wanted and be done with the whole thing, making this war pointless. It's so simple even you can't f*ck it up, that is until you affected my wife's livelihood with your decision. You picked a fight with a guy that can and will bury you where you stand.
And I'm going to enjoy this, very much, because your hands are tied if you even think about terminating my contract after this match. I will own the company faster than Zmey can clear an all-you- can-eat buffet if you get butt hurt and make a stupid decision. I know you aren't that stupid though, because you know I'm good for business. So all that's left is getting in the ring and getting the beating you so richly deserve.
You've been warned about what's coming to you, Trace.
And all it took was you giving my wife and I that stupid look. So when I make your face look like a Picasso painting, just know I gave you the common courtesy of informing you beforehand.
You're welcome.