Post by King Richius on Jan 15, 2017 2:27:55 GMT -5
WFWF Supreme Gauntlet 17: Night 1 RP
FIRST CLASS
featuring Frank Lynn
First Class
Boston, MA : Jan. 4, 2017
I hate airports, particularly the big ones like Logan International. Getting processed like a piece of meat is bad enough. Add in the thousands of other travelers making each step take forever and it becomes a very effective form of torture. Nothing like being forced to stand around in a crowd where there is always a loud complainer, a know-it-all who isn’t shy about telling everybody else what they are doing wrong, a “naturalist” who doesn’t bathe regularly, a few screaming babies, and a paranoid TSA guard who thinks everyone has a bomb in their shoe. I wonder if I should write a letter suggesting it to Homeland Security. I find it hard to believe water boarding can be any worse than this.
My fellow travelers give me more space than most. Some of it is due to my size and appearance (I do look like someone you don’t want to f*ck with), some due to my first class ticket (I need the room for my sore knee - thank you very much Trace), but mostly due to my infamy. My reputation as the wrestler who attacks people in public places precedes me.
I thought people would have forgotten about the Brick Harrison incident by now but there is always one person in the crowd with a long memory. It is usually a he of the basement dwelling smark type who smiles to my face as he asks me to autograph a half dozen pictures that will soon be for sale on eBay and then talks trash about me behind my back. He will tap anyone close by on the shoulder, point over at me, and whisper to them “You know who that is?” like it makes him special because he does know. He probably has the video saved on his phone just in case someone hasn't seen it. If anyone will listen, he spits out a highly condensed and very biased version of my life story waiting for a reaction. Get a life you pathetic piece of sh*t.
I sit by myself in the waiting area for my flight and pretend to read a book. I can see the people around me with their phones out pretending to have deep, meaningful conversations about a life or death matter. Almost all of them have their phones aimed directly at me and I know they are waiting for something to happen so they can be the first to record and post it.
Sorry you sad sons of bitches. Anger management works. I am most definitely pissed off right now but I know how to keep it under lock and key until I can use it for my benefit. All you’re going to record today is me reading… hell, what am I pretending to read? What book did I pick up on my way out the door? Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Son of a bitch! Must be a leftover from Becky’s stuff. There goes my tough guy image. At least I am holding it right side up. I’d rather be a sensitive lunatic over an illiterate lunatic. The fact that I don’t toss the book clear across the terminal is further proof that anger management works.
Much to my surprise, a young lady comes over and sits down in the seat next to me. She is cute, could even be quite sexy with the right hair style and outfit. Again much to my surprise, she initiates a conversation.
Hi. You’re Frank Lynn.
Not a question, a statement of fact. She knows exactly who I am. What is her game? A wrestling groupie looking to join the mile high club? Normally a quickie with a stranger is not my style but I wouldn’t say no. It has been a long time… not since Becky.
In the flesh. Hello miss…
Poppy Yates. I’m a writer for WFWF.COM. Would you mind answering a few questions while we wait?
That is disappointing. This is work related. Guess I’m not getting lucky today. Real question is did she get lucky or was this a planned ambush? Whatever. I might as well give her what she wants. I could use some good press.
Sure, go for it. Looks like we may be here a while and I’ve got nothing better to do.
Thank you Frank. Wrestlers aren’t always so eager to open up. I promise this will be painless.
That’s okay. I’m used to pain. I massage my sore knee to emphasize the point. Fire away.
First question: You look angry right now. What is making “Furious” Frank so furious?
I want to say “everything” but I suspect that would not satisfy her journalistic curiousity. Let’s give her the number one item on my current sh*t list.
I happen to be pissed off at Trace Demon. The bastard completely disrespected me before our match by saying I was a mediocre wrestler and a loser. That hurt. Then he came into the ring and proved it all to be true. He beat me. Not only did he beat me, but one of the most notorious rule breakers in the WFWF beat me clean. No manipulative plots, no weapons, no interference. Just one man taking another to school in front of the whole world.
Are you mad at Trace or yourself? Seems like you are the one to blame for coming up short.
Shots fired, not that I tried very hard to hide my disappointment with myself. Still, like a good reporter she prodded me in the right way to get past the bullsh*t.
I would have preferred if he had used his dirty tricks. Then I would have an excuse for losing. It’s something that has been bothering me lately anyway. The Thunderbirds lost to Drakz and Joshua Dean but that match was switched up to a no DQ and Drakz took full advantage. I lost the Golden Opportunity match at SuperBrawl but that was a six man clusterf*ck of a ladder match. Both matches were the typical WFWF freak show where skill doesn’t matter as much as deviousness and depravity. I lost because I am NOT a sick, twisted psychopath… at least not yet.
Not yet? Care to elaborate?
What I AM is an experienced amateur wrestler and MMA fighter. I am used to straight up one on one fights with clearly defined and strictly enforced rules where your only weapons are your hands, your feet, and your mind. I can write off those earlier losses as me being out of my element. The adjustment to the WFWF style of wrestling has been harder than I thought it would be. There are lines I’m not sure I want to cross but circumstances may force me to.
I pause to gather my thoughts. I’m on the edge of going off on a rant about the over the top violence at SuperBrawl - barbwire baseball bat shots to the head, the entire bloody Dex/Shannon match (which made my street fight against Mike Jette look like a pillow fight), and of course the slice and dice swordplay in the main event. I want to have a long career and retire with all my limbs intact. The thought of what I might do to keep someone from using a sword on me sends chills down my spine.
I don’t want this side of me going public. I have no interest in being perceived as yet another wrestler with delusions of changing the WFWF. I just want to be successful in my own safe corner of the WFWF. I take a calming deep breath and redirect away from the topic.
The match against Trace was me in my element. It was the perfect match for my skill sets yet Trace Demon was the better man. Damn that burns my ass. Every time I get into a WFWF ring for a big match, I come up short. This time there are no excuses. I wasn’t good enough. How many more losses before I have to admit defeat and crawl back to MMA?
You can’t be ready to give up so soon. You are in the Supreme Gauntlet 17 tournament. Aren’t you excited about that?
Part of me is, part of me isn’t (that would be the part that has to step into the ring with David Brennan in the first round). It depends on whether I am in a glass half full or glass half empty kind of mood. I wanted a higher level of competition to truly prove myself but I have gone from the children’s wading pool filled with the Mantis Toboggans and Danté Brooks of the WFWF to the deep end of the pool with the likes of Trace Demon and David Brennan. I’ve sailed straight to the edge of the map where it says rather ominously “Here there be dragons.” How do I phrase that so I don’t sound weak?
Yes, I have the Supreme Gauntlet tournament ahead of me. The list of entrants is impressive. There will be no easy matches.
Look at the group I am in. Right out of the gate I have the International Champion David Brennan, an unstoppable juggernaut in 2016. Waiting for their turn after Brennan are two former champions: Joshua Dean and Dex. And then there is Ante Whitner, my personal dream crusher. I will be the underdog in all four matches.
IF, and right now it is a mighty big IF, I can get out of Group B there is the winner of Group A to contend with. Who will it be? I now know first hand what Trace Demon is capable of. Joe Bishop is another unstoppable juggernaut. Then there are Austin Hayes and Sammy’s baby girl, Anna Ahriman. I wonder who Austin and Anna bribed or blew to get into the tournament. Guess it doesn’t matter now. They’re in and I may have to contend with them later.
What about the wild card?
I haven’t forgotten about the wild card entrant. It could be anybody from Dr. Mantis Toboggan to Michael freakin’ Kyzer. Well not really as I doubt Mantis could win a battle royal against a bunch of inflatable sex dolls. Kyzer said he has no interest in titles, just in tying up loose ends - of which I am grateful to not be one. For once, I appreciate the relative anonymity that comes with being the new guy. More realistically, the wild card could be someone like Cameron Stone or Lucas Crowe which is a scary enough proposition.
What happened to “Get the f*ck out of my way”? You don’t sound like your usual confident self.
Ms. Yates has done her homework. She knows the closest thing I have to a catchphrase and how I am not representing it very well right now. Maybe I should change it to “Excuse me sir but would you mind stepping aside please.” Yeah, sure, that will put the fear of Frank Lynn into my opponents.
Maybe a little, but its more that every one of us will be going all out to claim Drakz’ vacated WFWF Championship. That is very intimidating. The best of the best all trying to do their best. The hype writes itself. Even the WFWF marketing geniuses behind the incredibly catchy name 2016 End of Year Show can come up with something dramatic like There can be only one! as a tag line for the Supreme Gauntlet 17 posters.
Sorry, went off on a tangent there. I actually complained to marketing and they told me to shut the f*ck up. I’m not very good at that. Do me a favor and forget I said anything.
She nods yes. I have a hard time trusting anybody much less the press but this is such a minor deal that I am not worried. I doubt Poppy or the WFWF.COM readers care how I feel about the WFWF Marketing Department.
To answer your question, the tournament is the brass ring that has eluded me so far. Every match in the gauntlet will be a big match. Exactly the type of match I excel at losing. There isn’t a market for Epic Failure Frank t-shirts so the losing has to stop. You could say I lost some of my confidence. Or you could say I’ve gained a new inspiration to win. This time I have to grab that damn brass ring with both hands and never let go.
Can you? Grab the brass ring?
I don’t get to answer her last question as finally they call for passengers to start boarding the plane.
The answer she won’t get is “I’m not sure.” That is why I am flying to Atlanta - home of the Braves, the Falcons, the Hawks, and the Franchise. Guess which one I’m going to see? Ever since Paulie was killed, I’ve been training myself. I thought I could do this alone. That hasn’t worked out so well. It’s time to switch it up. Joshua Dean says he can make me great. Fine. Time to get to work. Come on Josh, be my first class ticket to the top of the WFWF.
I make a quick apology to Poppy for cutting the interview short before gathering my carry ons and make my way over to flight attendant not so patiently waiting to check boarding passes. Another benefit of traveling first class - I get to board first. Let all the morons with their phones out get one last shot of my ass as I go down the ramp before them. There will be no freak show for you today. If you want to see me get in a fight, you’ll have to watch the next WFWF show. I hope it’s me doing the ass-kicking and not David f’n Brennan.
The Lesson
Atlanta, GA : Jan. 5, 2017
TWEET
I’m starting to hate that f*cking whistle. Every time it sounds, another assh*le charges at me trying to do me bodily harm. I won’t be able to watch the NFL playoffs without cringing after every play.
Here comes the big brawler that I have dubbed “Bear”. His approach is fast and furious but uncontrolled. It is all too easy for me to side step, then hit a drop toe hold and quickly transition into a STF. No matter how big and strong he is, Bear cannot escape and taps the mat.
No, you already used the STF! You're gonna get caught if you keep going to the well!
That unhappy voice would be Joshua Dean, my taskmaster for this oh so enjoyable morning of torture. I’m starting to hate him again.
No time to worry about him now, here comes that f*cking…
TWEET
…whistle again. Up next is a smaller fighter, much more cautious and technical. I’ve dubbed him the “Fox” because has a lot of tricks. Unlike the brute force approach of the Bear, Fox circles and sizes me up waiting for an opening. I’m not in the mood to dance with him so I feign a move to my left. Fox takes the bait and makes his move, going low for a takedown. I spread my legs for a stable base to resist the takedown and wrap an arm around his neck. Once I’ve got the choke locked in I fall backwards and throw my legs around Fox’s waist locking them tight around him. Five seconds later he taps.
TWEET
Words cannot describe how much I want to shove that whistle up a certain somebody’s ass until it sounds like he is whistling Dixie whenever he farts.
No time to catch my breath. Here comes my next challenger - a cruiserweight who loves to fly that I call “Hawk”. I can relate to the high flying but he goes too far, taking unnecessary risks before he has worked his opponent over enough that they can’t counter his moves. Hawk comes flying off the top turnbuckle attempting a cross body splash.
The last time he did this, I countered by using his own momentum against him, letting him think he hit me but rolling through and standing right up with him in my arms. I dropped him onto my knees for several backbreakers before tossing him aside with a fall away slam.
I know not to try the same trick twice or I will get yelled at again. Besides, I’m taking a beating and doubt I can pull it off again. Better to keep it simple. I step aside and swat at Hawk’s feet. He spins around in the air and crashes to the mat hard. I grab a leg, twist around and lock him in the figure four. Best way to deal with a high flyer is to ground his ass. He taps.
TWEET
Bear’s turn again. The burly man is more cautious this time. He approaches slowly. I circle and wait, looking for an opening. We get into a collar and elbow tie up and push each other around the ring. I hear Josh’s voice shouting at me.
Goddamnit, stop thinking so much! You should be on autopilot!
I can feel the muscles in Bear’s arms trying to twist me around for a full nelson, probably to be followed by a powerful slam or throw of some kind. I flow with the twisting pressure and counter the attempted hold with a stunner. I quickly get up and bounce off the ropes for a basement dropkick that catches Bear on the jaw. I cover him and get a 1-2-3.
TWEET
The pattern repeats. Fox comes at me, I either pin him or make him tap, the whistle blows, then it is Hawk’s turn, then Bear, and so on for what feels like forever. Sweat is dripping off my aching body and my brain is swimming in a haze. Josh isn’t pulling any punches in this session. He is going to keep throwing these three at me until I drop.
Work through the fatigue! There's no rounds in wrestling!
Sometimes I take one out quickly, other times it takes five or more minutes, but I keep on winning each “match”. I reach the point where I am “in the zone.”
TWEET
Here we go again. Josh didn’t even give me time to get up this time. Still on my hands and knees, I can see the boots of Bear approaching me from behind. No hesitation. I spring up and aim a super kick at where I think his head should be. I got it right and am rewarded with a loud THWAK as my boot connects knocking him to the mat.
OH SH*T!!!
It wasn’t Bear! It was Josh! I damn near knocked his head off! He is as fresh as a daisy, albeit a daisy with a nasty f*cking headache, while I am ready to drop from over an hour of high impact sparring. I am in serious trouble now.
No time for apologies. Josh kips up and scowls at me. He dives in for a double leg takedown. I block it and back against the ropes. Come on Josh, you can’t take an experienced MMA fighter down that easily. My mistake. He never intended to take me down. He wanted me against the ropes. He releases his grip on my legs and clotheslines both of us over the ropes.
I grab the top rope with both hands controlling my descent while Josh puts one hand on the apron and flips to a standing landing on the floor. I flip off the apron and hit a moonsault. I fight the exhaustion and pick up Josh to get him back in the ring. I slide in after him but he is back to his feet and kicks the back of my head multiple times.
Ouch! That f*cking hurts, you bastard. How the hell is concussing me going to make me a better wrestler?
I grab his foot and stand but he hits me with an enziguri. I’m back down on the mat. Josh bounces off the far ropes and comes at me. It looks like he is going to hit a curb stomp but I am not there anymore, having rolled to the floor. I do my best to signal that I’ve had enough. I’m too tired and sore to keep going.
Josh doesn’t take the hint. He flips over the top rope and crashes down on me.
I look up expecting more and not having any fight left in me. Josh steps back and extends a hand to me, helping me back to my feet.
I'll never question your conditioning again. The good news is I think that you're really starting to make some strides.
Thanks. I haven’t been pushed that hard since my workouts with Paulie.
I try to hide my relief that the training session is finally over. Josh and I walk over to a bench where some towels and Gatorade® are waiting for us. Bear, Fox, and Hawk get an approving nod from Joshua before heading to the showers. Josh never gave proper introductions which I think was on purpose. Put a name to the face and it can become personal. As it was, those three were just anonymous and autonomous punching bags for me.
He was a smart man. Think about how you used to train for fights. The drills, the sparring, all of it was live when you were in camp.
Josh is so damn intense but he also happens to be right. As exhausted and sore as I am, it also feels good.
One thing the building process is good for is purging bad habits, and you have some that guys like Jenkins aren't good enough to expose. But that's about to change because the level of competition is better than before.
I know that… “Here there be dragons.” And those dragons are named Brennan, Dex, Whitner, and yes, even Dean.
Well you sure worked my ass off today. But I have a question. Other than finding my physical limit what was the point? Bear, Fox, and Hawk aren’t exactly high level competition.
Josh gives me a puzzled look before he quickly realizes those were my nicknames for the sparring partners. He lets it pass and goes back into trainer mode.
I know. The point wasn’t to learn new skills.
What was the point?
I get butterflies in my stomach (or maybe I pushed too hard and need to puke). This is why I am here. Josh promised to share his wisdom and experience with me. What is the first lesson?
You already know the moves and counters, but... you're too slow and clumsy in executing them. And honestly it's because you're either gun shy or unsure, because you're spending too much time analyzing. Today we started teaching your body to react on instinct. Trust me, you'll need to pick up on that quick in this tournament.
F*ck! So obvious yet I had missed it. I’ve been fighting like a mixed martial artist in a professional wrestling match. I won’t be a real wrestler until I can do the wrestling moves without thinking about them first.
It took a while but you started to get it at the end, once you were too tired to think. When I came at you from behind, you cracked me with that kick and I didn’t see it coming. That was your instinct taking over.
Okay, I get your point. I wish there was an easier way than working me to the brink of collapse though.
It was butterflies… thank God. I doubt Josh would appreciate me puking all over him halfway through our first day of training together.
It will come with practice. When you go back to Boston, I want you to do three sessions a week exactly like this one. Grab a few of those Legacy wrestlers and get them to work you over for at least an hour straight. I’m trusting you to not take any breaks or let them go easy on you.
Aye aye captain. Even if I wanted to cut corners, I’m sure you’ll pass those instructions on to Daphne to make sure I follow them to the letter.
It's for your own benefit.
There you go Daphne, an excuse for Joshua to talk to you. She can thank me later. It is obvious she likes the guy. I’m not so sure about how Josh feels but Daphne is a big girl. She can take her shot and deal with the consequences.
Now back to me and how I can improve in the ring.
Is this going to be enough to get me over the hump?
Listen, I've been in the ring with Trace and Brennan, and unfortunately I haven't scored a pin on either guy, yet. Sure there's an asterisk beside those matches but that'll be a point of contention during all the media scrums this week. Don't worry about that. I'll deal with them in time. Now both guys are very good at pressure, and you know the type from your fighting days. The ones who physically and mentally grind you down with their specialities.
Josh pauses for effect and I nod in agreement as his analysis of my match with Trace is spot on. I was looking for excuses earlier but that is the fool’s way.
You got a tough draw in getting Brennan first. He has one speed and one direction: full speed, straight ahead. You must react quickly and decisively. Most importantly, you cannot fight him defensively. You have to get him on his heels early and not let up.
Josh has avoided going into details of his own personal history with Brennan and the New Epoch. My best guess: he is trying to keep me isolated from his own personal history with Brennan. Part of our deal was that he wouldn’t use me to fight his battles and he is being good to his word. As he said, he will get his own turn against Brennan soon enough. He is keeping this match all about me.
What if he pulls out one of his tall boys while the ref isn’t looking? Or if he tries some other underhanded tactics?
He didn’t against Lucas Crowe. That doesn’t mean he won’t do it against you if he feels the match slipping away. But if he does try something stupid, I’ll be there to shut that sh*t down.
Whoa! Josh breathing a little fire. It reminds me of when he came to the ring with his barbwire baseball bat threatening the Thunderbirds. I’m glad he is on my side this time.
That’s good to know. Maybe you should keep an eye out for LeeRoy Jenkins too. He cost me the Golden Opportunity and who knows what he might try now that I am in the Supreme Gauntlet and he isn’t. I don’t need that jealous redneck screwing me again.
Don’t worry about Jenkins. Stay focused on Brennan. For the next ten days he is the only person I want you thinking about. Get inside his head so you know what he will do before he does it, which frankly isn't very hard.
Josh pauses again. He is a good teacher, knowing when to talk and when to shut up so I can fully absorb his words.
I'm confident you can win, but I’m not going to make any guarantees. You are one of the least experienced wrestlers in the tournament, so you have an uphill battle ahead of you. But you're a fighter and don't forget that.
Thank you for the “win one for the Gipper” moment. I needed that. I can do this. I am a fighter and I will bring the fight to David Brennan.
It might be best if you stick to an MMA base in your matches. Drop the high flying stuff until you fully develop your wrestling instincts. Work a strong style with hard punches, kicks, and especially ground and pound. Rough him up everywhere and if you can isolate a joint, then do it and pick a body part like Trace did to your knee. Brennan is a brawler so there will be openings for short counterstrikes if you fight smart during exchanges.
That is not what I wanted to hear. I like the high flying moves. I like to hear the crowd go wild. Part of the allure of the WFWF is entertaining the fans. At least Josh isn’t sugar coating anything. He’s telling me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear, so that I have the best chance of winning. I just have to be smart enough to listen and learn.
I hope it is enough. I need some wins in the Supreme Gauntlet tournament or it could be over for me. I crawl back to MMA with my tail between my legs.
The next thing we're working on is your patience. This isn't an instant gratification sport, and you need to understand that.
Josh really is invested in me. Today I learned an important lesson and he is already planning future lessons. Any lingering doubts I have are gone. I’m all in. I really do want to be here more than I want to go back to MMA and Josh can help make that happen.
I can’t wait to see how you do that.
*laughs* You’re even impatient about learning patience. This could be harder than I thought.
Yeah, you got me there. It’s just that I need to see some results in the ring soon or all this work is for nothing.
In that case we need to keep make sure you don’t lose. The aerodyne awaits. Josh points to the far side of the gym to make sure I know my next destination. Then shower and meet me in the film room. I have some more tapes on Brennan for us to review.
As we start to walk in opposite directions, I pause and turn to ask Josh one more question.
Hey Josh… does it bother you that there are so many sadistic bastards in the WFWF whose top priority seems to be inflicting pain and injury on others?
Josh stops and thinks about it for a long moment. He has a strange look on his face that I can’t quite read. I think I’ve touched on a nerve. Is he picking up on my worries about the ultra violent side of the WFWF or is it something else?
Yeah, it does. But we can't stop it if you're blowing up five minutes into a match. So go on and get an extra five miles in before you come upstairs. I can't have you stalling.
Sh*t! An extra five miles for asking a simple question? This isn’t about my conditioning though, which he said he would never question again. It’s another lesson: It is going to take a lot of hard work to get what I want.
Yessiree, Captain Intensity is living up to his reputation. I can’t complain. I did say that Frank Lynn doesn’t take days off. Joshua Dean is making damn sure of that.
Gold Star
Boston, MA : Jan. 13, 2017
Another long day of training done. Time to head home and watch more of Brennan’s greatest hits. I’m almost to the door when a whirling dervish of blonde hair clamps me in a bear hug. Daphne is very excited about something. I pry her off of me so I can breathe.
Congratulations Tiger!
Thanks. For what?
It was just posted on WFWF.COM. You won 2016 WFWF Rookie of the Year!
She shows me the 2016 WFWF Awards page on her iPhone.
Well I’ll be damned! This just became a glass more than half full day. I wrote my name in the history books, not in the way I expected but still this is something. Rookie of the mother f*cking Year! Nobody can ever take that away from me. It’s not a championship but it will do… for now.
Pop Quiz
Chicago, IL : Jan. 15, 2017
I have spent the last ten days in non-stop training, applying Josh’s lessons against the entire Legacy roster, who all took sadistic joy in beating the hell out of their boss, while Daphne cracked the whip. I suspect she was reporting back to Josh every day and acting as his proxy in my training because she worked me every bit as hard if not harder than Josh did in Atlanta. It is hard work but it is worth it. I’m reacting faster and smoother than ever.
When not training my body, I’ve been training my mind by watching film. Don’t ask me what has happened on the news the past two weeks. I have no f*cking idea. Ask me what did David Brennan do at the 3:38 mark of his match against Lucas Crowe and I can not only describe it, I can re-create it perfectly. Josh said get inside Brennan’s head. It must be working because when I want a drink I’m craving whiskey instead of tequila.
I am as ready as I can be to take on the unstoppable juggernaut named David Brennan. Drunk or sober, he is the toughest bastard in the WFWF. With Drakz no longer the World Heavyweight Champion, International Champion David f*cking Brennan is the top of the food chain. He hasn’t lost a match in a year. He pinned Drakz! Some people are already placing the vacant WFWF championship around his waist.
Those people need to shut the hell up. They are the stupid sh*theads who don’t take me seriously. They agreed with Drakz when he didn’t consider it worth his time to learn my name - just call me half a Thunderc*nt and move on. They agreed with Trace Demon when he said signing me was his biggest failure as owner of the WFWF. And they will agree with David Brennan when the egotistical bastard continues the disrespect thrown my way by all the veterans, icons, legends, and other WFWF assh*ts I have to deal with.
There is no denying it, Brennan is a beast in the ring. Getting sober has done wonders for him too as he is carrying around two title belts. He is such a force that by pure power of will he has convinced the world he is still the tag team champion despite not having a partner and having been stripped of the titles moments after winning them. Lila Sleater should take the belts away from him but she is too afraid of him. She's content to let the inmates run the asylum.
I don’t buy it. Brennan isn’t the tag champ. Nobody is. It is Brennan’s huge ego that drives him to carry around a belt that isn’t his. That ego is his Achilles Heel.
See, Brennan is convinced that he is the best. Recent results definitely place him as the baddest mother f*cker in the room. The media hype like when that Hickenbottom hack had him as the highest ranked full time wrestler on the roster is feeding into Brennan’s ego even more. I can’t be the only person to see it. David Brennan acts like he is the only human being on the planet that matters and the rest of us exist merely to amuse him. I think David really believes he can walk on water.
Certainly, a certified water walking son of a bitch like Brennan won’t have to worry about a match against me. I’m the guy who can’t win the big match. Ask Drakz, Ante Whitner, and Trace Demon. They all know that I come up short when it really counts. Brennan probably thinks I’m the sacrificial lamb in Group B so that everyone else can get at least one win in the tournament. I am a glorified sparring match for Brennan before he has to get down to business against the real contenders.
Keep believing that Davey boy. It will be your downfall.
The difference between David Brennan and Frank Lynn is that David has peaked. He is as good as he will ever be, which admittedly is pretty damn good. If this was a pissing contest, we all know exactly how far Brennan’s stream will go. I haven’t even unzipped my pants yet. Nobody knows what my peak is and what I will be capable of when I reach it. Brennan is preparing for a mangy alley cat when he may end up facing a full grown, man eating tiger.
I can guarantee you David Brennan won’t be facing the Frank Lynn who lost at SuperBrawl and then to Trace Demon. I’m faster, stronger, smarter… better in every possible way. That’s what a few weeks under the tutelage of Joshua Dean has done for me. That’s right Trace Demon - Josh is not an anchor dragging me down, he is a rocket propelling me higher. F*ck you and your moronic opinions. Do all of us a favor and row your little dingy over the nearest waterfall.
Picture this: take all the experience Joshua Dean has gained from years of wars in the ring, put it in a young body that doesn’t have any of the aches, pains, and injuries those ring wars caused, add in my own MMA experience and my undeniable heart and desire to win. The result is one badass wrestler. That’s what I will be when I reach my peak. That’s what I’ve taken huge steps towards becoming in the past few weeks.
I know this is just the first match in the tournament and that there will be other tough opponents to face after Brennan. I have been in tournaments before in amateur wrestling and MMA fighting. You have to approach it one match at a time. You can’t win a tournament in the first round but you can certainly lose it in the first round. I am entirely focused on David Brennan. I’ll worry about the next match after this one is over.
Can Brennan say the same thing? I don’t think so. I think he and his ego have already claimed the WFWF World Heavyweight Championship and he is basking in the cheers and/or boos of the WFWF fans as he enters the ring with three title belts, one around his waist and two over his shoulders. Do you understand what I’m saying? David Brennan is not going to give this match the attention it deserves because he is distracted by the glittering gold. The race hasn’t even started and he is already eyeing up the finish line.
Bottom line, I am the underdog yet again but I am coming in with an edge. I know what to expect from David Brennan and am one hundred per cent focused on what I have to do to win. Brennan has no idea who he is stepping into the ring with and is likely looking past me to his matches against the rest of Group B if not the winner of Group A.
I have one more edge. I just won 2016 Rookie of the Year (suck on that LeeRoy Jenkins, Maxwell Dachs, Big McLargehuge, and company) but that is not enough. I cannot fall victim to the sophomore slump. I cannot afford to lose a third match in a row. If I do, then everything I’ve achieved so far is meaningless and I am in danger of becoming a flash in the pan on his way to becoming an EX-wrestler.
Brennan can lose the match… hell, he can lose every match in the tournament and he will still have the International Championship as well as the respect of the rest of the WFWF roster.
For me, it’s not just about advancing in the tournament and winning the World Heavyweight Championship. I already have two strikes against me - the tag title match loss and the Golden Opportunity match loss. I’m fighting for my WFWF life now. The championship is secondary to getting the respect of the veterans. I have to shut up all the naysayers who still disrespect and disregard me. I have to show that the Rookie of the Year is ready for the next level. The only way to do that is to win a big match. Brennan is the biggest dog in the yard so beating him will leave no doubts - I am exactly where I should be.
I will shock the world.
I will beat David Brennan.
Or die trying.
FIRST CLASS
featuring Frank Lynn
First Class
Boston, MA : Jan. 4, 2017
I hate airports, particularly the big ones like Logan International. Getting processed like a piece of meat is bad enough. Add in the thousands of other travelers making each step take forever and it becomes a very effective form of torture. Nothing like being forced to stand around in a crowd where there is always a loud complainer, a know-it-all who isn’t shy about telling everybody else what they are doing wrong, a “naturalist” who doesn’t bathe regularly, a few screaming babies, and a paranoid TSA guard who thinks everyone has a bomb in their shoe. I wonder if I should write a letter suggesting it to Homeland Security. I find it hard to believe water boarding can be any worse than this.
My fellow travelers give me more space than most. Some of it is due to my size and appearance (I do look like someone you don’t want to f*ck with), some due to my first class ticket (I need the room for my sore knee - thank you very much Trace), but mostly due to my infamy. My reputation as the wrestler who attacks people in public places precedes me.
I thought people would have forgotten about the Brick Harrison incident by now but there is always one person in the crowd with a long memory. It is usually a he of the basement dwelling smark type who smiles to my face as he asks me to autograph a half dozen pictures that will soon be for sale on eBay and then talks trash about me behind my back. He will tap anyone close by on the shoulder, point over at me, and whisper to them “You know who that is?” like it makes him special because he does know. He probably has the video saved on his phone just in case someone hasn't seen it. If anyone will listen, he spits out a highly condensed and very biased version of my life story waiting for a reaction. Get a life you pathetic piece of sh*t.
I sit by myself in the waiting area for my flight and pretend to read a book. I can see the people around me with their phones out pretending to have deep, meaningful conversations about a life or death matter. Almost all of them have their phones aimed directly at me and I know they are waiting for something to happen so they can be the first to record and post it.
Sorry you sad sons of bitches. Anger management works. I am most definitely pissed off right now but I know how to keep it under lock and key until I can use it for my benefit. All you’re going to record today is me reading… hell, what am I pretending to read? What book did I pick up on my way out the door? Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus. Son of a bitch! Must be a leftover from Becky’s stuff. There goes my tough guy image. At least I am holding it right side up. I’d rather be a sensitive lunatic over an illiterate lunatic. The fact that I don’t toss the book clear across the terminal is further proof that anger management works.
Much to my surprise, a young lady comes over and sits down in the seat next to me. She is cute, could even be quite sexy with the right hair style and outfit. Again much to my surprise, she initiates a conversation.
Hi. You’re Frank Lynn.
Not a question, a statement of fact. She knows exactly who I am. What is her game? A wrestling groupie looking to join the mile high club? Normally a quickie with a stranger is not my style but I wouldn’t say no. It has been a long time… not since Becky.
In the flesh. Hello miss…
Poppy Yates. I’m a writer for WFWF.COM. Would you mind answering a few questions while we wait?
That is disappointing. This is work related. Guess I’m not getting lucky today. Real question is did she get lucky or was this a planned ambush? Whatever. I might as well give her what she wants. I could use some good press.
Sure, go for it. Looks like we may be here a while and I’ve got nothing better to do.
Thank you Frank. Wrestlers aren’t always so eager to open up. I promise this will be painless.
That’s okay. I’m used to pain. I massage my sore knee to emphasize the point. Fire away.
First question: You look angry right now. What is making “Furious” Frank so furious?
I want to say “everything” but I suspect that would not satisfy her journalistic curiousity. Let’s give her the number one item on my current sh*t list.
I happen to be pissed off at Trace Demon. The bastard completely disrespected me before our match by saying I was a mediocre wrestler and a loser. That hurt. Then he came into the ring and proved it all to be true. He beat me. Not only did he beat me, but one of the most notorious rule breakers in the WFWF beat me clean. No manipulative plots, no weapons, no interference. Just one man taking another to school in front of the whole world.
Are you mad at Trace or yourself? Seems like you are the one to blame for coming up short.
Shots fired, not that I tried very hard to hide my disappointment with myself. Still, like a good reporter she prodded me in the right way to get past the bullsh*t.
I would have preferred if he had used his dirty tricks. Then I would have an excuse for losing. It’s something that has been bothering me lately anyway. The Thunderbirds lost to Drakz and Joshua Dean but that match was switched up to a no DQ and Drakz took full advantage. I lost the Golden Opportunity match at SuperBrawl but that was a six man clusterf*ck of a ladder match. Both matches were the typical WFWF freak show where skill doesn’t matter as much as deviousness and depravity. I lost because I am NOT a sick, twisted psychopath… at least not yet.
Not yet? Care to elaborate?
What I AM is an experienced amateur wrestler and MMA fighter. I am used to straight up one on one fights with clearly defined and strictly enforced rules where your only weapons are your hands, your feet, and your mind. I can write off those earlier losses as me being out of my element. The adjustment to the WFWF style of wrestling has been harder than I thought it would be. There are lines I’m not sure I want to cross but circumstances may force me to.
I pause to gather my thoughts. I’m on the edge of going off on a rant about the over the top violence at SuperBrawl - barbwire baseball bat shots to the head, the entire bloody Dex/Shannon match (which made my street fight against Mike Jette look like a pillow fight), and of course the slice and dice swordplay in the main event. I want to have a long career and retire with all my limbs intact. The thought of what I might do to keep someone from using a sword on me sends chills down my spine.
I don’t want this side of me going public. I have no interest in being perceived as yet another wrestler with delusions of changing the WFWF. I just want to be successful in my own safe corner of the WFWF. I take a calming deep breath and redirect away from the topic.
The match against Trace was me in my element. It was the perfect match for my skill sets yet Trace Demon was the better man. Damn that burns my ass. Every time I get into a WFWF ring for a big match, I come up short. This time there are no excuses. I wasn’t good enough. How many more losses before I have to admit defeat and crawl back to MMA?
You can’t be ready to give up so soon. You are in the Supreme Gauntlet 17 tournament. Aren’t you excited about that?
Part of me is, part of me isn’t (that would be the part that has to step into the ring with David Brennan in the first round). It depends on whether I am in a glass half full or glass half empty kind of mood. I wanted a higher level of competition to truly prove myself but I have gone from the children’s wading pool filled with the Mantis Toboggans and Danté Brooks of the WFWF to the deep end of the pool with the likes of Trace Demon and David Brennan. I’ve sailed straight to the edge of the map where it says rather ominously “Here there be dragons.” How do I phrase that so I don’t sound weak?
Yes, I have the Supreme Gauntlet tournament ahead of me. The list of entrants is impressive. There will be no easy matches.
Look at the group I am in. Right out of the gate I have the International Champion David Brennan, an unstoppable juggernaut in 2016. Waiting for their turn after Brennan are two former champions: Joshua Dean and Dex. And then there is Ante Whitner, my personal dream crusher. I will be the underdog in all four matches.
IF, and right now it is a mighty big IF, I can get out of Group B there is the winner of Group A to contend with. Who will it be? I now know first hand what Trace Demon is capable of. Joe Bishop is another unstoppable juggernaut. Then there are Austin Hayes and Sammy’s baby girl, Anna Ahriman. I wonder who Austin and Anna bribed or blew to get into the tournament. Guess it doesn’t matter now. They’re in and I may have to contend with them later.
What about the wild card?
I haven’t forgotten about the wild card entrant. It could be anybody from Dr. Mantis Toboggan to Michael freakin’ Kyzer. Well not really as I doubt Mantis could win a battle royal against a bunch of inflatable sex dolls. Kyzer said he has no interest in titles, just in tying up loose ends - of which I am grateful to not be one. For once, I appreciate the relative anonymity that comes with being the new guy. More realistically, the wild card could be someone like Cameron Stone or Lucas Crowe which is a scary enough proposition.
What happened to “Get the f*ck out of my way”? You don’t sound like your usual confident self.
Ms. Yates has done her homework. She knows the closest thing I have to a catchphrase and how I am not representing it very well right now. Maybe I should change it to “Excuse me sir but would you mind stepping aside please.” Yeah, sure, that will put the fear of Frank Lynn into my opponents.
Maybe a little, but its more that every one of us will be going all out to claim Drakz’ vacated WFWF Championship. That is very intimidating. The best of the best all trying to do their best. The hype writes itself. Even the WFWF marketing geniuses behind the incredibly catchy name 2016 End of Year Show can come up with something dramatic like There can be only one! as a tag line for the Supreme Gauntlet 17 posters.
Sorry, went off on a tangent there. I actually complained to marketing and they told me to shut the f*ck up. I’m not very good at that. Do me a favor and forget I said anything.
She nods yes. I have a hard time trusting anybody much less the press but this is such a minor deal that I am not worried. I doubt Poppy or the WFWF.COM readers care how I feel about the WFWF Marketing Department.
To answer your question, the tournament is the brass ring that has eluded me so far. Every match in the gauntlet will be a big match. Exactly the type of match I excel at losing. There isn’t a market for Epic Failure Frank t-shirts so the losing has to stop. You could say I lost some of my confidence. Or you could say I’ve gained a new inspiration to win. This time I have to grab that damn brass ring with both hands and never let go.
Can you? Grab the brass ring?
I don’t get to answer her last question as finally they call for passengers to start boarding the plane.
The answer she won’t get is “I’m not sure.” That is why I am flying to Atlanta - home of the Braves, the Falcons, the Hawks, and the Franchise. Guess which one I’m going to see? Ever since Paulie was killed, I’ve been training myself. I thought I could do this alone. That hasn’t worked out so well. It’s time to switch it up. Joshua Dean says he can make me great. Fine. Time to get to work. Come on Josh, be my first class ticket to the top of the WFWF.
I make a quick apology to Poppy for cutting the interview short before gathering my carry ons and make my way over to flight attendant not so patiently waiting to check boarding passes. Another benefit of traveling first class - I get to board first. Let all the morons with their phones out get one last shot of my ass as I go down the ramp before them. There will be no freak show for you today. If you want to see me get in a fight, you’ll have to watch the next WFWF show. I hope it’s me doing the ass-kicking and not David f’n Brennan.
The Lesson
Atlanta, GA : Jan. 5, 2017
TWEET
I’m starting to hate that f*cking whistle. Every time it sounds, another assh*le charges at me trying to do me bodily harm. I won’t be able to watch the NFL playoffs without cringing after every play.
Here comes the big brawler that I have dubbed “Bear”. His approach is fast and furious but uncontrolled. It is all too easy for me to side step, then hit a drop toe hold and quickly transition into a STF. No matter how big and strong he is, Bear cannot escape and taps the mat.
No, you already used the STF! You're gonna get caught if you keep going to the well!
That unhappy voice would be Joshua Dean, my taskmaster for this oh so enjoyable morning of torture. I’m starting to hate him again.
No time to worry about him now, here comes that f*cking…
TWEET
…whistle again. Up next is a smaller fighter, much more cautious and technical. I’ve dubbed him the “Fox” because has a lot of tricks. Unlike the brute force approach of the Bear, Fox circles and sizes me up waiting for an opening. I’m not in the mood to dance with him so I feign a move to my left. Fox takes the bait and makes his move, going low for a takedown. I spread my legs for a stable base to resist the takedown and wrap an arm around his neck. Once I’ve got the choke locked in I fall backwards and throw my legs around Fox’s waist locking them tight around him. Five seconds later he taps.
TWEET
Words cannot describe how much I want to shove that whistle up a certain somebody’s ass until it sounds like he is whistling Dixie whenever he farts.
No time to catch my breath. Here comes my next challenger - a cruiserweight who loves to fly that I call “Hawk”. I can relate to the high flying but he goes too far, taking unnecessary risks before he has worked his opponent over enough that they can’t counter his moves. Hawk comes flying off the top turnbuckle attempting a cross body splash.
The last time he did this, I countered by using his own momentum against him, letting him think he hit me but rolling through and standing right up with him in my arms. I dropped him onto my knees for several backbreakers before tossing him aside with a fall away slam.
I know not to try the same trick twice or I will get yelled at again. Besides, I’m taking a beating and doubt I can pull it off again. Better to keep it simple. I step aside and swat at Hawk’s feet. He spins around in the air and crashes to the mat hard. I grab a leg, twist around and lock him in the figure four. Best way to deal with a high flyer is to ground his ass. He taps.
TWEET
Bear’s turn again. The burly man is more cautious this time. He approaches slowly. I circle and wait, looking for an opening. We get into a collar and elbow tie up and push each other around the ring. I hear Josh’s voice shouting at me.
Goddamnit, stop thinking so much! You should be on autopilot!
I can feel the muscles in Bear’s arms trying to twist me around for a full nelson, probably to be followed by a powerful slam or throw of some kind. I flow with the twisting pressure and counter the attempted hold with a stunner. I quickly get up and bounce off the ropes for a basement dropkick that catches Bear on the jaw. I cover him and get a 1-2-3.
TWEET
The pattern repeats. Fox comes at me, I either pin him or make him tap, the whistle blows, then it is Hawk’s turn, then Bear, and so on for what feels like forever. Sweat is dripping off my aching body and my brain is swimming in a haze. Josh isn’t pulling any punches in this session. He is going to keep throwing these three at me until I drop.
Work through the fatigue! There's no rounds in wrestling!
Sometimes I take one out quickly, other times it takes five or more minutes, but I keep on winning each “match”. I reach the point where I am “in the zone.”
TWEET
Here we go again. Josh didn’t even give me time to get up this time. Still on my hands and knees, I can see the boots of Bear approaching me from behind. No hesitation. I spring up and aim a super kick at where I think his head should be. I got it right and am rewarded with a loud THWAK as my boot connects knocking him to the mat.
OH SH*T!!!
It wasn’t Bear! It was Josh! I damn near knocked his head off! He is as fresh as a daisy, albeit a daisy with a nasty f*cking headache, while I am ready to drop from over an hour of high impact sparring. I am in serious trouble now.
No time for apologies. Josh kips up and scowls at me. He dives in for a double leg takedown. I block it and back against the ropes. Come on Josh, you can’t take an experienced MMA fighter down that easily. My mistake. He never intended to take me down. He wanted me against the ropes. He releases his grip on my legs and clotheslines both of us over the ropes.
I grab the top rope with both hands controlling my descent while Josh puts one hand on the apron and flips to a standing landing on the floor. I flip off the apron and hit a moonsault. I fight the exhaustion and pick up Josh to get him back in the ring. I slide in after him but he is back to his feet and kicks the back of my head multiple times.
Ouch! That f*cking hurts, you bastard. How the hell is concussing me going to make me a better wrestler?
I grab his foot and stand but he hits me with an enziguri. I’m back down on the mat. Josh bounces off the far ropes and comes at me. It looks like he is going to hit a curb stomp but I am not there anymore, having rolled to the floor. I do my best to signal that I’ve had enough. I’m too tired and sore to keep going.
Josh doesn’t take the hint. He flips over the top rope and crashes down on me.
I look up expecting more and not having any fight left in me. Josh steps back and extends a hand to me, helping me back to my feet.
I'll never question your conditioning again. The good news is I think that you're really starting to make some strides.
Thanks. I haven’t been pushed that hard since my workouts with Paulie.
I try to hide my relief that the training session is finally over. Josh and I walk over to a bench where some towels and Gatorade® are waiting for us. Bear, Fox, and Hawk get an approving nod from Joshua before heading to the showers. Josh never gave proper introductions which I think was on purpose. Put a name to the face and it can become personal. As it was, those three were just anonymous and autonomous punching bags for me.
He was a smart man. Think about how you used to train for fights. The drills, the sparring, all of it was live when you were in camp.
Josh is so damn intense but he also happens to be right. As exhausted and sore as I am, it also feels good.
One thing the building process is good for is purging bad habits, and you have some that guys like Jenkins aren't good enough to expose. But that's about to change because the level of competition is better than before.
I know that… “Here there be dragons.” And those dragons are named Brennan, Dex, Whitner, and yes, even Dean.
Well you sure worked my ass off today. But I have a question. Other than finding my physical limit what was the point? Bear, Fox, and Hawk aren’t exactly high level competition.
Josh gives me a puzzled look before he quickly realizes those were my nicknames for the sparring partners. He lets it pass and goes back into trainer mode.
I know. The point wasn’t to learn new skills.
What was the point?
I get butterflies in my stomach (or maybe I pushed too hard and need to puke). This is why I am here. Josh promised to share his wisdom and experience with me. What is the first lesson?
You already know the moves and counters, but... you're too slow and clumsy in executing them. And honestly it's because you're either gun shy or unsure, because you're spending too much time analyzing. Today we started teaching your body to react on instinct. Trust me, you'll need to pick up on that quick in this tournament.
F*ck! So obvious yet I had missed it. I’ve been fighting like a mixed martial artist in a professional wrestling match. I won’t be a real wrestler until I can do the wrestling moves without thinking about them first.
It took a while but you started to get it at the end, once you were too tired to think. When I came at you from behind, you cracked me with that kick and I didn’t see it coming. That was your instinct taking over.
Okay, I get your point. I wish there was an easier way than working me to the brink of collapse though.
It was butterflies… thank God. I doubt Josh would appreciate me puking all over him halfway through our first day of training together.
It will come with practice. When you go back to Boston, I want you to do three sessions a week exactly like this one. Grab a few of those Legacy wrestlers and get them to work you over for at least an hour straight. I’m trusting you to not take any breaks or let them go easy on you.
Aye aye captain. Even if I wanted to cut corners, I’m sure you’ll pass those instructions on to Daphne to make sure I follow them to the letter.
It's for your own benefit.
There you go Daphne, an excuse for Joshua to talk to you. She can thank me later. It is obvious she likes the guy. I’m not so sure about how Josh feels but Daphne is a big girl. She can take her shot and deal with the consequences.
Now back to me and how I can improve in the ring.
Is this going to be enough to get me over the hump?
Listen, I've been in the ring with Trace and Brennan, and unfortunately I haven't scored a pin on either guy, yet. Sure there's an asterisk beside those matches but that'll be a point of contention during all the media scrums this week. Don't worry about that. I'll deal with them in time. Now both guys are very good at pressure, and you know the type from your fighting days. The ones who physically and mentally grind you down with their specialities.
Josh pauses for effect and I nod in agreement as his analysis of my match with Trace is spot on. I was looking for excuses earlier but that is the fool’s way.
You got a tough draw in getting Brennan first. He has one speed and one direction: full speed, straight ahead. You must react quickly and decisively. Most importantly, you cannot fight him defensively. You have to get him on his heels early and not let up.
Josh has avoided going into details of his own personal history with Brennan and the New Epoch. My best guess: he is trying to keep me isolated from his own personal history with Brennan. Part of our deal was that he wouldn’t use me to fight his battles and he is being good to his word. As he said, he will get his own turn against Brennan soon enough. He is keeping this match all about me.
What if he pulls out one of his tall boys while the ref isn’t looking? Or if he tries some other underhanded tactics?
He didn’t against Lucas Crowe. That doesn’t mean he won’t do it against you if he feels the match slipping away. But if he does try something stupid, I’ll be there to shut that sh*t down.
Whoa! Josh breathing a little fire. It reminds me of when he came to the ring with his barbwire baseball bat threatening the Thunderbirds. I’m glad he is on my side this time.
That’s good to know. Maybe you should keep an eye out for LeeRoy Jenkins too. He cost me the Golden Opportunity and who knows what he might try now that I am in the Supreme Gauntlet and he isn’t. I don’t need that jealous redneck screwing me again.
Don’t worry about Jenkins. Stay focused on Brennan. For the next ten days he is the only person I want you thinking about. Get inside his head so you know what he will do before he does it, which frankly isn't very hard.
Josh pauses again. He is a good teacher, knowing when to talk and when to shut up so I can fully absorb his words.
I'm confident you can win, but I’m not going to make any guarantees. You are one of the least experienced wrestlers in the tournament, so you have an uphill battle ahead of you. But you're a fighter and don't forget that.
Thank you for the “win one for the Gipper” moment. I needed that. I can do this. I am a fighter and I will bring the fight to David Brennan.
It might be best if you stick to an MMA base in your matches. Drop the high flying stuff until you fully develop your wrestling instincts. Work a strong style with hard punches, kicks, and especially ground and pound. Rough him up everywhere and if you can isolate a joint, then do it and pick a body part like Trace did to your knee. Brennan is a brawler so there will be openings for short counterstrikes if you fight smart during exchanges.
That is not what I wanted to hear. I like the high flying moves. I like to hear the crowd go wild. Part of the allure of the WFWF is entertaining the fans. At least Josh isn’t sugar coating anything. He’s telling me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear, so that I have the best chance of winning. I just have to be smart enough to listen and learn.
I hope it is enough. I need some wins in the Supreme Gauntlet tournament or it could be over for me. I crawl back to MMA with my tail between my legs.
The next thing we're working on is your patience. This isn't an instant gratification sport, and you need to understand that.
Josh really is invested in me. Today I learned an important lesson and he is already planning future lessons. Any lingering doubts I have are gone. I’m all in. I really do want to be here more than I want to go back to MMA and Josh can help make that happen.
I can’t wait to see how you do that.
*laughs* You’re even impatient about learning patience. This could be harder than I thought.
Yeah, you got me there. It’s just that I need to see some results in the ring soon or all this work is for nothing.
In that case we need to keep make sure you don’t lose. The aerodyne awaits. Josh points to the far side of the gym to make sure I know my next destination. Then shower and meet me in the film room. I have some more tapes on Brennan for us to review.
As we start to walk in opposite directions, I pause and turn to ask Josh one more question.
Hey Josh… does it bother you that there are so many sadistic bastards in the WFWF whose top priority seems to be inflicting pain and injury on others?
Josh stops and thinks about it for a long moment. He has a strange look on his face that I can’t quite read. I think I’ve touched on a nerve. Is he picking up on my worries about the ultra violent side of the WFWF or is it something else?
Yeah, it does. But we can't stop it if you're blowing up five minutes into a match. So go on and get an extra five miles in before you come upstairs. I can't have you stalling.
Sh*t! An extra five miles for asking a simple question? This isn’t about my conditioning though, which he said he would never question again. It’s another lesson: It is going to take a lot of hard work to get what I want.
Yessiree, Captain Intensity is living up to his reputation. I can’t complain. I did say that Frank Lynn doesn’t take days off. Joshua Dean is making damn sure of that.
Gold Star
Boston, MA : Jan. 13, 2017
Another long day of training done. Time to head home and watch more of Brennan’s greatest hits. I’m almost to the door when a whirling dervish of blonde hair clamps me in a bear hug. Daphne is very excited about something. I pry her off of me so I can breathe.
Congratulations Tiger!
Thanks. For what?
It was just posted on WFWF.COM. You won 2016 WFWF Rookie of the Year!
She shows me the 2016 WFWF Awards page on her iPhone.
Well I’ll be damned! This just became a glass more than half full day. I wrote my name in the history books, not in the way I expected but still this is something. Rookie of the mother f*cking Year! Nobody can ever take that away from me. It’s not a championship but it will do… for now.
Pop Quiz
Chicago, IL : Jan. 15, 2017
I have spent the last ten days in non-stop training, applying Josh’s lessons against the entire Legacy roster, who all took sadistic joy in beating the hell out of their boss, while Daphne cracked the whip. I suspect she was reporting back to Josh every day and acting as his proxy in my training because she worked me every bit as hard if not harder than Josh did in Atlanta. It is hard work but it is worth it. I’m reacting faster and smoother than ever.
When not training my body, I’ve been training my mind by watching film. Don’t ask me what has happened on the news the past two weeks. I have no f*cking idea. Ask me what did David Brennan do at the 3:38 mark of his match against Lucas Crowe and I can not only describe it, I can re-create it perfectly. Josh said get inside Brennan’s head. It must be working because when I want a drink I’m craving whiskey instead of tequila.
I am as ready as I can be to take on the unstoppable juggernaut named David Brennan. Drunk or sober, he is the toughest bastard in the WFWF. With Drakz no longer the World Heavyweight Champion, International Champion David f*cking Brennan is the top of the food chain. He hasn’t lost a match in a year. He pinned Drakz! Some people are already placing the vacant WFWF championship around his waist.
Those people need to shut the hell up. They are the stupid sh*theads who don’t take me seriously. They agreed with Drakz when he didn’t consider it worth his time to learn my name - just call me half a Thunderc*nt and move on. They agreed with Trace Demon when he said signing me was his biggest failure as owner of the WFWF. And they will agree with David Brennan when the egotistical bastard continues the disrespect thrown my way by all the veterans, icons, legends, and other WFWF assh*ts I have to deal with.
There is no denying it, Brennan is a beast in the ring. Getting sober has done wonders for him too as he is carrying around two title belts. He is such a force that by pure power of will he has convinced the world he is still the tag team champion despite not having a partner and having been stripped of the titles moments after winning them. Lila Sleater should take the belts away from him but she is too afraid of him. She's content to let the inmates run the asylum.
I don’t buy it. Brennan isn’t the tag champ. Nobody is. It is Brennan’s huge ego that drives him to carry around a belt that isn’t his. That ego is his Achilles Heel.
See, Brennan is convinced that he is the best. Recent results definitely place him as the baddest mother f*cker in the room. The media hype like when that Hickenbottom hack had him as the highest ranked full time wrestler on the roster is feeding into Brennan’s ego even more. I can’t be the only person to see it. David Brennan acts like he is the only human being on the planet that matters and the rest of us exist merely to amuse him. I think David really believes he can walk on water.
Certainly, a certified water walking son of a bitch like Brennan won’t have to worry about a match against me. I’m the guy who can’t win the big match. Ask Drakz, Ante Whitner, and Trace Demon. They all know that I come up short when it really counts. Brennan probably thinks I’m the sacrificial lamb in Group B so that everyone else can get at least one win in the tournament. I am a glorified sparring match for Brennan before he has to get down to business against the real contenders.
Keep believing that Davey boy. It will be your downfall.
The difference between David Brennan and Frank Lynn is that David has peaked. He is as good as he will ever be, which admittedly is pretty damn good. If this was a pissing contest, we all know exactly how far Brennan’s stream will go. I haven’t even unzipped my pants yet. Nobody knows what my peak is and what I will be capable of when I reach it. Brennan is preparing for a mangy alley cat when he may end up facing a full grown, man eating tiger.
I can guarantee you David Brennan won’t be facing the Frank Lynn who lost at SuperBrawl and then to Trace Demon. I’m faster, stronger, smarter… better in every possible way. That’s what a few weeks under the tutelage of Joshua Dean has done for me. That’s right Trace Demon - Josh is not an anchor dragging me down, he is a rocket propelling me higher. F*ck you and your moronic opinions. Do all of us a favor and row your little dingy over the nearest waterfall.
Picture this: take all the experience Joshua Dean has gained from years of wars in the ring, put it in a young body that doesn’t have any of the aches, pains, and injuries those ring wars caused, add in my own MMA experience and my undeniable heart and desire to win. The result is one badass wrestler. That’s what I will be when I reach my peak. That’s what I’ve taken huge steps towards becoming in the past few weeks.
I know this is just the first match in the tournament and that there will be other tough opponents to face after Brennan. I have been in tournaments before in amateur wrestling and MMA fighting. You have to approach it one match at a time. You can’t win a tournament in the first round but you can certainly lose it in the first round. I am entirely focused on David Brennan. I’ll worry about the next match after this one is over.
Can Brennan say the same thing? I don’t think so. I think he and his ego have already claimed the WFWF World Heavyweight Championship and he is basking in the cheers and/or boos of the WFWF fans as he enters the ring with three title belts, one around his waist and two over his shoulders. Do you understand what I’m saying? David Brennan is not going to give this match the attention it deserves because he is distracted by the glittering gold. The race hasn’t even started and he is already eyeing up the finish line.
Bottom line, I am the underdog yet again but I am coming in with an edge. I know what to expect from David Brennan and am one hundred per cent focused on what I have to do to win. Brennan has no idea who he is stepping into the ring with and is likely looking past me to his matches against the rest of Group B if not the winner of Group A.
I have one more edge. I just won 2016 Rookie of the Year (suck on that LeeRoy Jenkins, Maxwell Dachs, Big McLargehuge, and company) but that is not enough. I cannot fall victim to the sophomore slump. I cannot afford to lose a third match in a row. If I do, then everything I’ve achieved so far is meaningless and I am in danger of becoming a flash in the pan on his way to becoming an EX-wrestler.
Brennan can lose the match… hell, he can lose every match in the tournament and he will still have the International Championship as well as the respect of the rest of the WFWF roster.
For me, it’s not just about advancing in the tournament and winning the World Heavyweight Championship. I already have two strikes against me - the tag title match loss and the Golden Opportunity match loss. I’m fighting for my WFWF life now. The championship is secondary to getting the respect of the veterans. I have to shut up all the naysayers who still disrespect and disregard me. I have to show that the Rookie of the Year is ready for the next level. The only way to do that is to win a big match. Brennan is the biggest dog in the yard so beating him will leave no doubts - I am exactly where I should be.
I will shock the world.
I will beat David Brennan.
Or die trying.
Notes:
No deep thoughts about this RP, just a comment that this may be the RP people wanted to see last time. It was part of my plan that events play out in a specific order. Slow burn…
Huge thanks to jdfranchise for the use of Joshua Dean and Markw for the use of Poppy Yates.
I dont know good luck 
