WFWF Supreme Gauntlet '17 Night Five: Hang On To Your Ego

Okay, it's official, I don't get Joe Bishop.

---

I was wrong.

You know, I get the impression, that people thought I'd be ashamed to say that. Like being right means more to me than praising something that's good.

I don't do it often, but l went out there and spoke to the WFWF fans last week. And I didn't do it to get a leg up on anyone, I didn't do it to try and rile anyone up, I didn't do it for attention.

Mind games really aren't my thing. I'm confident enough of my ability inside that ring.

I did it, because it was the right thing to do.

Because I was wrong, and I'm not afraid of going out there and saying it.

If that makes me look weak, if that makes Trace Demon or whoever think they can smell blood, well frankly, I don't give a s***.

I was wrong about Hugh Jass, and I am so, so happy to have been proved wrong.

It means there's hope.

It means there's a chance, however slim, that this place can still attract real wrestlers. Real athletes. People who care about this sport, who care about proving themselves when they step between those ropes.

I could quite easily have lost that match. I could quite easily have paid for my error of judgement. When that bell rang and the match came to a close it's fair to say I was relieved. Because I know that it could have quite easily ended up going the other way.

But as I walked back through that curtain, I couldn't help but feel happy.

Because that, that was a real challenge. That was exactly what I wanted from this tournament.

It hasn't taken long though, for that happiness, for my excitement, to turn into disappointment.

See things have been going so well while this tournament's been ongoing that I was almost looking forward to having night four off. Looking forward to seeing a show filled with wrestlers going at it and finding out who's best.

I love professional wrestling, and if that's what the rest of the WFWF locker room is actually offering, then I really don't mind taking a back seat and soaking it all in.

Then a pensioner stuck a condom down the ref's throat and that sort of set the tone for the night.

See personally, I'm not the slightest bit interested in the hard on Philip Schneider's got for Ante Whitner. I'm not the least bit interested in seeing Dex go out there and get his ass handed to him for seven millionth night in a row. And I'm sure as hell, not even remotely interested, in Penny Shannon, Wayne McGurk and Trace Demon spewing crap at each other.

But you know, painful as all of that was to watch, it's difficult to be disappointed when you don't have any expectations. I don't expect anything other than Obo boring us with his take on Ante. I don't expect anything other than Dex laying on his back for whoever cares to f*** him this week. I don't expect anything other than a melodrama from Trace Demon.

None of those people disappointed me, they just matched my low expectations.

But Anna Ahriman...

She disappointed me.

She really did.

Only a few weeks a go I stepped into that ring with her, and my God did she have fight. I mean she threw absolutely everything she had at me, And yes she lost, but there was no doubt in my or anybody elses mind, that she belonged in a WFWF ring.

That she had something about her, that gave her a shot.

Everybody who comes up against Trace Demon spends a week listening to him say he's going to rip them apart. It's no secret that he's going to say that. And I really expected Anna not to be fazed by that. I expected her to come out swinging and show him, that she's not buying it.

Instead, I think it's pretty clear that, she let the mind games get to her. She let Trace Demon into her head. And the result, from there... well there is only one result when you let Trace into your head.

Defeat, and with a nice big side order of humiliation.

It hurt to watch that.

Not just because I expected so much more from Anna. Not just because I really did believe she could go out there and get the win. Not just because she let Trace Demon walk all over her.

But because it was a pretty sharp reminder, that once upon a time, that was me.

That not that long ago, I had Trace Demon ripping me apart. And I was consoling myself, telling myself it was close. Telling myself I'd put up a brave fight. Telling myself that Trace Demon is some incredible wrestler and a narrow defeat isn't that bad at all.

Excusing what was, what so many times has been, nothing but a failure. Defeat. Loss.

I believed his hype. And it made it easier to accept failure. It made it easier to accept not quite being good enough.

And that meant that I was doomed to repeat that failure over and over again.

Watching Anna Ahriman beginning that cycle of inadequacy, when she could be so much more, that really was a disappointment.

That really struck a nerve.

Fortunately, that disappointment doesn't have to last very long. I don't have to sit around moping over my previous defeats to Trace Demon, I don't have to keep feeling disappointed at seeing wrestlers like Anna Ahriman fall into the same trap I did all those years ago.

I just have to go out there and prove that when you don't buy into the mind games, when you ignore the self-promotion, and when you have the talent to do it.

'The King of Demons' really isn't so scary.

---

I guess it's usually pretty normal for a close friend to walk in on a professional wrestler playing the latest WFWF video game, eating popcorn and, if my eyes don't deceive me, being happy. But we're talking about Joe Bishop here, this all felt very, very strange.

Poppy Yates: Are you okay?

Joe Bishop: Yeah, I'm fine.

Poppy Yates: Yeah... that's kind of why I'm worried you might not be okay.

This certainly wasn't what I expected.

The last month or so, Joe Bishop has been a man possessed. Absolutely obsessed with preparing for every match he's had. He spent hours researching Anna Ahriman, Austin Hayes, Hugh Jass, hours sparring, hours training. He's devoted so much to it, to the point of disregarding his health.

And now here we are, in the build up to a match with Trace Demon that's gonna determine the winner of Block A, a match with the closest thing he has to an 'enemy'... and he looks like he doesn't have a care in the world.

And it's not just his actions, it's not just that he's giving himself the time to recuperate, to prepare for this match sanely, without running himself into the ground. He... he seems better in him self too. He's finally had a shave, he looks like he's taking care of himself. Even just talking to him, he's been less snappy. It's like being around a different guy from the obsessive revolutionary I've practically shared my life with these last few months.

It's refreshing in some ways. I mean, I don't think he could have hoped to carry on the way he has been. I couldn't be happier that he seems to have seen sense, trusted that he's got enough about him to do this without killing himself.

But it's fair to say I'm absolutely flabbergasted that he has.

Positive as it is, it's very out of character...

Joe Bishop: I really can't win with you can I?

Ha! He's got a point I suppose.

Poppy Yates: No.

Joe Bishop: Thought not.

I felt half a smile creep across my face and before I could stop it he reciprocated.

Poppy Yates: I just want to make sure you're okay. I know this match is a big deal for you, just need to be sure your head's in the right place.

Joe Bishop: I'm fine, honestly. I'm excited about it.

I didn't even know he did excited.

Poppy Yates: Yeah?

Joe Bishop: Yeah. It's a huge match, there wouldn't be much point doing it if you can't excited for this kind of occasion.

Poppy Yates: Wow. You're sure you're not coming down with something?

Joe Bishop: Ha! I'm really not.

Poppy Yates: O..kay...

I really did try to sound like I didn't have any reservations about his new found positivity, honestly I did. It just came out a little shaky.

He paused his game and shot me a derisive smile.

Joe Bishop: Here, take this...

He replied thrusting a second controller into my hand.

Joe Bishop: And stop worrying. I'll prove I'm in ass kicking mood.

This is the strangest thing that's ever happened.

After a minute or two of playing f***ing video games with Joe Bishop of all people, I decided I should probably try to take advantage of his bizarre mood.

Poppy Yates: You want to do my podcast later? Could be a good chance to help build up this match.

Joe Bishop: Sure, sounds fun.

Sounds fun?

You'd have thought I'd have remembered falling through a rabbit hole.

Poppy Yates: Who are you and what have you done with the real Joe Bishop?

He laughed.

I wasn't joking.

---

Andy Yates: Ready for this then?

Joe Bishop: Of course.

Andy Yates: It's just you seem a bit...

Joe Bishop: Spit it out.

Andy Yates: Blasé.

Okay then...

Joe Bishop: Not sure that's fair.

Andy Yates: Well how would you put it?

Joe Bishop: I'm feeling confident.

And why shouldn't I be?

Andy Yates: Yeah? I wish I was.

I really don't know what I've done to get him so worked up to be honest. The poor guy looks like I'm torturing him by being in his presence. I'm feeling extremely confident about this match, about going out there, beating Trace Demon and moving the WFWF towards being what the two of us want. And I'd had no reason to doubt Andy's confidence up until this.

Joe Bishop: I've no idea why you wouldn't be... I don't think I've ever been better than I am right now.

Andy Yates: Maybe. But then you've never beaten Trace Demon, so being the best you've ever been might well not be good enough.

Joe Bishop: Can we skip to the point?

Andy Yates: Sure. What are you doing here?

Joe Bishop: ...Nothing...

Andy Yates: Nothing?

Yep.

Andy Yates: We're days away from the biggest match of your life and you're doing nothing?

Joe Bishop: Yep.

Andy Yates: And you're not sure why I'm losing my confidence?

Joe Bishop: You've spelt it out well enough, I just think you're wrong.

He shakes his head, bemused. It's amazing really, I was almost certain that he'd get it.

Andy Yates: I hope you're right. I really do.

Well that's something.

Andy Yates: But I look at you there, sitting on your arse, doing nothing to prepare for this match, and I can't help but think, 'This isn't the next World Champion'. 'This isn't a guy who's about to beat Trace Demon'. Whatever you or I might think of him, Trace Demon is pretty damn good at winning wrestling matches. You of all people should know that.

Ouch.

Andy Yates: I'm starting to wonder whether you've got it in you to beat him to be honest.

Joe Bishop: You really don't think I can do this?

Andy Yates: I'm not sure I do any more. No. Sorry.

I suppose he can't be right about everything.

Joe Bishop: Oh well.

Andy Yates: Oh well? That's it?

I nod.

Andy Yates: Wow.

I haven't got time to tell him exactly how wrong he is. I've got a podcast to do. Woo...

Okay so I'm less excited about that than I might have let on, but it has its purpose. I want as many people as possible to watch me defeat Trace Demon and maybe, just maybe, Poppy can help me put asses in seats.

However whiny Andy gets, I know he'll be tuning in.

---

I thought I'd seen everything there is in this sport. You spend 16 years behind that barricade cheering on your heroes, 20+ years in that ring being a part of it, and a decade or so training the next generation. After all that, you kinda feel like there's not much left that could surprise you.

I've seen things in that locker room, in bars up and down just about every country in the world and in that ring, that'd make your skin crawl.

I've seen all kinds of s***.

And I've seen all kinds of different people. Guys who really are capable of doing just about anything. Masochists, psychopaths, circus freaks, ultraviolent hobos, you spend that long in this sport and you'll see just about everything.

And yet, after all that, Joe Bishop's still managed to surprise me. He's managed to... to make my heart sink just a little.

Because I really thought he was different. I really thought that he was gonna grab this tournament by the balls and not let go until that title was round his waist. I didn't even think that was gonna stop him, I thought he was gonna skyrocket this sport and that promotion to heights professional wrestling's never seen before. I thought he was gonna make pro wrestling respectable again.

The hours of training, the sleepless nights, the tireless scouting of his opponents, that gave me that confidence. Because I knew he cared so f***ing much about it.

Don't get me wrong, you know, I had concerns. Of course I did. I was a little worried that maybe it was a bit too much, that he might not be able to keep it up. Well I guess it was a case of Poppy managing to plant some of her concerns in my head, anyway.

I thought maybe he could afford to ease up a little.

But this?

This isn't what I expected. This isn't the Joe Bishop I could see taking professional wrestling by storm. This isn't the Joe Bishop we've all been watching these last few months.

This is the Joe Bishop I expected the first time I met him. The Joe Bishop I expected having seen him lose time and time again at the end of his last stretch in the WFWF.

This Joe Bishop doesn't seem all too concerned about doing what it takes to win. To win the most important match of his career, against a man who has time and time again upstaged him.

I don't know if it's arrogance or denial or what the f*** it is. If it's just that Trace Demon's even more in his head than any of us could have imagined, or if Poppy's got to him. I don't know.

But I don't like it.

Not one bit.

He seems to have convinced himself that Trace Demon isn't going to pose much of a threat, and anybody who's looked at their head to head record, let alone seen the two of them in that ring, knows that's a f***ing huge miscalculation. Right now Joe Bishop is treating this like he can just walk into that ring, cool as anything, and walk out victorious. Like he can forget everything it took to get him to this point.

That's a dangerous game, a very dangerous game.

It's not one I can see ending well.

And when Trace Demon beats Joe Bishop in a fourth successive one on one match, when Trace Demon takes a step towards the WFWF World Championship that Joe Bishop craves. When it dawns on him that Trace did it not because of his own ability, but because Joe Bishop didn't take him seriously enough.

Well, I'm not sure he's going to be able to cope with that..

---



Poppy Yates: Hello folks, Poppy Yates here again with another instalment of Poppy's Perspective and I'm joined, for the second time, by WFWF superstar Joe Bishop. Thanks for joining us Joe.

Joe Bishop: Thanks for having me.

Poppy Yates: Ultimate Supremacy is, of course, right around the corner and the WFWF universe waits with bated breath to find out which too men are going to be competing for the WFWF World Championship, the greatest prize in professional wrestling. Is one of those two men going to be Joe Bishop?

Joe Bishop: Starting with an easy one huh? Absolutely, yes.

Poppy Yates: Of course to get there, you're going to have to beat your former Final Revolution compatriot Trace Demon, a man who's beaten you three times in three singles matches and countless times in various tag matches. If you don't mind me saying, there's more than a few who'll find your confidence a little bizarre.

Joe Bishop: I don't think you'll find many wrestlers who find it bizarre, there'd be little point going out there if I didn't think I could win. But I think there's a pretty good objective case for my chances, I don't think anybody would say the Joe Bishop who lost at End Game two years ago, is anything like the Joe Bishop who's been steamrollering through Block A of this tournament.

Poppy Yates: I'm sure they wouldn't, nonetheless your head to head record must make a match like this a little unnerving?

Joe Bishop: Not really. You know I'd love to have beaten Trace Demon every time I've stepped in the ring with him, but as I say, I'm not the same wrestler I was. I've learnt from those experiences and I'm more than ready for this.

Poppy Yates: And, if all goes to plan then, you'll be competing with Ante Whitner or David Brennan for the World Championship. Do you have a preference?

Joe Bishop: Yes.

Poppy Yates: Care to share it?

Joe Bishop: No.

Poppy Yates: Fair enou...

Joe Bishop: I just want the better man to win to be honest. I want the main event of Ultimate Supremacy, for the WFWF World Championship, to be a showcase of the best athletes this promotion has to offer. And I'm sure that, whoever comes out on top, will have deserved it. They've both put in some very impressive displays so far.

Poppy Yates: Have you seen a lot of the Group B matches then?

Joe Bishop: Absolutely. I like to watch as much wrestling as I can, and I've enjoyed seeing them go at it. I've enjoyed Frank Lynn's efforts and I'm pretty confident that, even though this tournament's come a little too soon for him, he's got a pretty bright future. He's got an incredibly bright future if he's willing to persevere and learn the lessons that come your way when you're a WFWF wrestler. What happened to Josh is a shame, for him particularly. And I think Ante went too far, really, but I'm sure Josh will be back and I hope he comes back on top form. Whatever you want to say about him, I think he's a guy who cares about this sport and ultimately that's what you want to see in a WFWF athlete.

Poppy Yates: So you've been impressed with what you've seen.

Joe Bishop: Yeah, definitely. The only sour notes, really, have been former wrestler Dex's impression of a punching bag and Philip Schneider's unwelcome attention seeking. But aside from that it's been most impressive.

Poppy Yates: Not a big Obo fan?

Joe Bishop: You know I'm not.

Poppy Yates: Our lovely viewers might not know.

Joe Bishop: I'm pretty sure all two of them know.

Poppy Yates: Too close to home Joe. Now - obviously you take a real sort of... erm... interest in the health of the WFWF. And the way events in the promotion, effect the sport. With that in mind I'd be interested to hear what you've made of the Supreme Gauntlet, do you think it's impact's going to be good, bad, indifferent?

Joe Bishop: The impact depends almost entirely on the winner. Me? I think the winner's going to be Joe Bishop, and I think the impact is going to be overwhelmingly positive.

Poppy Yates: What's been really interesting for me, is seeing how the new arrivals, Hugh Jass, Anna Ahriman and Austin Hayes have taken to the WFWF. A harsh critic might call them failed experiments, how would you assess their performances? You've been in there with all three of course.

Joe Bishop: Well I won't assess Austin Hayes' performance because it would serve no purpose, he's given up already and I'm never heartbroken to see someone give up that early because they don't belong here. Anna really impressed me when we went head to head, since then she's struggled. I hope she can find more performances like the one she put in against me, and less like her effort against Trace Demon. As for Hugh, on the basis of our match two weeks ago, I can't speak highly enough of him, I thought he was great. The question mark is over whether he can keep that level up, I guess his match with Anna should give us a good idea of how things are gonna go for him. If he can though, man what an addition, I think it's say a lot if the recruited 'superstars' flop like this, and the one guy with the balls to walk in off the street can make a real impact here.

Poppy Yates: Of course you had a few choice words about the WFWF recruitment team on night four of the tournament of. So it'd be remiss of me not to ask you to expand. I'm sure they'd say it's not an easy job, what is it you think they should be doing?

Joe Bishop: It really is an easy job. There's an absolute wealth of incredible wrestlers out there, all over the world. I know, because I've spent a year wrestling them. The problem is that far too often WFWF scouts aren't looking for talent. I could write a f***ing essay on the topic but basically they're far more concerned with how you look, than how you wrestle, that's the biggest problem this promotion has.

Poppy Yates: How did you end up there then?

Joe Bishop: Oooo, that really hurt.

Poppy Yates: If you interacted with the press a little more you'd develop a thicker skin.

Joe Bishop: Yeah... no thanks. I think I can cope with being called ugly once in a blue moon.

Poppy Yates: Seriously though, I mean you're not exactly huge are you, it doesn't really ring true.

Joe Bishop: I think I'm one of a few exceptions to the rule. I'm sure there are talent scouts who share my take on things, it's just that the majority do what they're told by the business people and the higher-ups and that's bring in what those people think will sell.

Poppy Yates: Can you really see it changing?

Joe Bishop: Sure. I think my World Championships victory is going to force a lot of people to re-think their strategies.

Poppy Yates: Ha! You know a few of our commenters have been suggesting this arrogance isn't going to do you any favours against Trace Demon.

Joe Bishop: I don't really care.

Poppy Yates: Okay then, thanks for joining me.

Joe Bishop: No problem, and I hope everyone tunes into Night Five of the Supreme Gauntlet, it's gonna be a good one.

Poppy Yates: I've no doubt it will.

---

About an hour after Joe had finished doing her bidding, Poppy came out, having finally finished her own ramblings on all things WFWF. And as always I was greeted with...

Poppy Yates: Hey Dad, want to watch it?

The answer was no. The answer is always no. Unfortunately I don't get to answer.

Instantly the laptop was thrown onto my lap and I was about to be subjected to another lengthy edition of 'Poppy tells everyone the WFWF's never been better'. Although to be honest that bit wasn't what I was most dreading this time. I was most dreading Joe Bishop undoubtedly continuing his egotistical proclamation that he's going to beat Trace Demon and win the World Championship, when right now, he's doing nothing to make that happen.

Andy Yates: I'm not in the mood.

Poppy Yates: Oh you're never in the mood.

Andy Yates: Please...

I don't want to have to sit through this s***.

Poppy Yates: What a supportive Dad I've got.

Andy Yates: Come on, that's not fair.

Poppy Yates: Isn't it?

Andy Yates: Look, I'm worried about Joe okay. At the risk of sounding like... well... you, I really don't think his head's in the right place.

Poppy Yates: Seriously?

Andy Yates: Yeah. Aren't you worried about him?

Poppy Yates: No.

She didn't really need to say that, I got it from the dismissive laugh that preceded the answer.

Poppy Yates: This is probably the first time in months I've not been worried about him. He's finally got that he was killing himself over this tournament. He needed to ease up if he wanted to keep going and he's done that. I couldn't be happier.

Andy Yates: You don't think his behaviour's odd?

Poppy Yates: I didn't say that. I mean it's a bit unexpected, but it's a lot better than the alternative.

Is it?

Andy Yates: His head's not in the right place. And this is just the worst possible time for that to happen. You can't tell me you aren't concerned about how he's going to react when he loses this.

Poppy Yates: He's not going to lose.

Andy Yates: Yeah? You're really confident of that? There's no niggling doubt?

Poppy Yates: I.. don't know what you expect me to do about it? Of course I'm a bit nervous, but all we can do is support him. He's very capable of winning this.

I used to think so to.

Andy Yates: I don't know.

Poppy Yates: If you're so concerned just talk to him about it. He basically hangs on every word you say, you've done a good enough job being the guy who's always right. I'm sure he'd listen.

Andy Yates: I tried that, he didn't give a s***.

Poppy Yates: Look, I'll talk to him. But I don't think what he's doing's wrong, if you can't change it you need to accept it.

Andy Yates: And pick up the pieces when it predictably falls apart... what did I do to deserve a second child round the place?

Here comes the faux outrage...

Poppy Yates: Hey!

An uneasy silence followed, which I broke with a word of warning.

Andy Yates: Please... don't, don't tie yourself to Joe's emotional state. If this all goes tits up... I don't want you getting hurt too.

Poppy Yates: Stop worrying.

If only I could.

---

And then there were four.

I suppose, outside of Ante putting Josh Dean completely out of action, this tournament's been characterised by its lack of surprises.

I mean sure, Frank Lynn and Hugh Jass put up way more of a fight than most were expecting. They've both, I think, shown a lot of promise having been thrown into the deep end. And I have an enormous amount of respect for the way they've kicked off their battles with the established names in this tournament.

It's proven for both to be too big a challenge, but I have no doubt they'll both be right back in the mix sooner rather than later, because having stepped into that ring with one, and spoken at length with the other, I can tell they both care. That this sport means as much to them as it does to me.

Elsewhere there have been some unimpressive displays. Anna made such a promising start but she let Trace Demon tear her apart, Austin Hayes has chickened out bringing to a close a pretty unimpressive WFWF career and the less said about former World Champion Dex, the better.

It's a huge shame those people were allowed to put in the less than impressive showings they've put in, but I think it pretty much affirms that the WFWF desperately needs change. And that change needs to be positive.

The good news, is that three of the four men competing for a spot in the World Championship match at Ultimate Supremacy, we're not meant to be here.

David Brennan, Ante Whitner, Joe Bishop, each very talented wrestlers, each believe they can carry the WFWF on their shoulders. I'm not saying they're all flawless options, but none of them are the status quo.

Any one of the three of us, would offer a new direction for the WFWF. Any one of us, would be leading the WFWF into a brave new world.

The same can't be said of the road that lays ahead, if at the end of the Supreme Gauntlet, Trace Demon is standing tall lifting the WFWF World Championship high in the air.

What do these four paths offer?

One, offers a better WFWF. A WFWF focused simply on what happens between those ropes. A WFWF that brings together the best wrestlers in the world and lets them compete in a promotion that I'm absolutely certain would be a hell of a lot better for it. That's the path I intend to make sure we follow.

The first of the three hopefully irrelevant paths, is the worst case scenario. In the event of a Trace Demon victory, the WFWF is once again at his mercy. The man who has engineered and lost more World title shots than Ante Whitner, David Brennan and Joe Bishop have had combined, sits atop professional wrestling. And pushes it deep down into the dirt, just so he can be sure, that he stays on top of it.

Perhaps most worryingly, he'd sit atop the WFWF without an opposition that has any credible power. If I lose to Trace Demon again, there'll be nothing credible about me. And where previously Lila Sleater was a powerful counter-balance, she'll now be a powerless figure, forced to bend to the whims of Trace Demon and whoever his puppet owner is.

Thankfully that's the path I can close off first, and I look forward to doing it.

The second eventuality, an Ante Whitner victory, looks to be – through no fault of his own – equally troubling.

See Philip Schneider's taken an interest in Ante Whitner. Now I don't know exactly what that means, but I fear it probably means he's here to stay. And that he's going to be attaching himself to the career of somebody who might actually have achieved something. Who had the potential to do something with his career. But instead, it seems, he's going to be shackled to a past-his-prime sociopath, who chose to spend his career attempting to cripple people rather than focusing on winning wrestling matches.

Either way Philip Schneider is going to be sticking around. And he'll be hoping to see Ante Whitner come out of the Supreme Gauntlet as the WFWF World Champion. Which means the WFWF will be a lot better off if Ante Whitner doesn't come out of this tournament the World Champion.

The last thing this sport needs is Obo anywhere near the top of the WFWF.

The final possibility is the one that feels, to me at least, the most uncertain.

Because I honestly don't know if David Brennan as World Champion would be as good as Joe Bishop, or as bad as Trace Demon.

On the one hand here's a guy who the establishment won't want as the face of the 'company', any more than they want me to be winning this tournament. A guy who's not just going to do or say what he's told to do or say.

And yet there's also plenty of reasons to have reservations. It's difficult to trust someone who threw his lot in with Drakz and Michael Kyzer. Still I threw mine in with Trace Demon not all that long ago, glass houses and that I guess.

Right now, I don't know what to make of David Brennan. Maybe on the back of a semi-final with Ante Whitner it'd all become a bit clearer. Maybe were our paths to cross in the final of this tournament, I'd find out for myself what kind of champion he might theoretically be.

Who knows.

They're all interesting scenarios. And I'm sure, one day, the counterfactual historians will have a field day with the last three. Heck even I'm enjoying theorizing, just a little. Because to be honest, it doesn't feel too risky.

The truth is, there's only one way this sport's going. Up. If you don't believe it now, you will when I'm finished.

---

Poppy Yates: So what's the plan then?

She asked, taking an uninvited seat beside me.

Joe Bishop: Face Trace Demon, beat Trace Demon. Face Ante Whitner or David Brennan, beat Ante Whitner or David Brennan. It's not a complex plan.

Poppy Yates: Hmm. I assume you've got a tactic?

Joe Bishop: Of course, but I figure it's best to leave it a surprise. Don't want you accidentally leaking my game plan to your entire audience.

Poppy Yates: I wouldn't!

Joe Bishop: I know.

God she's sensitive.

Joe Bishop: I'm ready. I mean I wasn't just playing up for the cameras on your podcast. I really do think I'm gonna win this, and I think it's going to play a key role in making the WFWF so much more than it is right now.

Poppy Yates: I think so too.

Joe Bishop: Good. I'm glad. Just got to convince the rest of the world now. Amazingly, after all this, I think your Dad's gonna have the toughest time buying into it.

Poppy Yates: He'll come round.

Joe Bishop: You think?

Poppy Yates: Of course. He wouldn't say it but he's your biggest fan, he just needs to see this work against Trace and he'll buy into it...

I hope so.

Poppy Yates: It is going to work isn't it?

Joe Bishop: I don't think I could have made the point any more clearly than I have.

Poppy Yates: I know, I know, I'm just worried about you. Everyone knows this one's really important for you, we just don't want you to come away from it, feeling like you've let yourself down.

Joe Bishop: I won't.

Poppy Yates: Good. Good luck out there.

Joe Bishop: I don't need it.

Poppy Yates: I know.

She starts to stroke my arm.

Poppy Yates: I'm really glad you listened to me. You know the way you've been throwing yourself into this tournament, it's not been healthy. You've got the talent to win it, you just need to trust yourself. I'm glad you're trusting yourself.

Okay...

Joe Bishop: Yeah, well, I always did.

Poppy Yates: I know, I know. I just, you know, I think easing up was a good idea.

It's funny really. She seems to think that the build-up to this match has been significant. That it's been me conceding that she was right all along. And to be honest, I'm quite happy to let her believe that. It's a damn sight easier than listening to her daily complaints.

Poppy Yates: Take care out there. We all know you can do it, that you will do it. But Trace has always got a trick up his sleeve. Be ready for it.

Like I needed telling.

Poppy Yates: I don't want you getting hurt.

She signed off with a peck on the cheek, which I really haven't got time to analyse.

It's sweet that she thinks she's changed me, and that it means that much to her.

Maybe best not to tell her the real reason I haven't been working quite so tirelessly in the run up to this one...

---

You know, I've prided myself, since I came back to the WFWF, on knowing everything there is to know, about everyone I've stepped in that ring with.

I've succeeded, because I've worked tirelessly to make sure that I'm ready for whatever's coming my way.

That's not something that you can do, without making sacrifices. Without risking a lot, personally and professionally.

You have to put in an awful lot of hours, withstand a hell of a lot, to keep performing at that level. Week in, week out. You have to risk alienating yourself from everyone around you. Because ultimately, nobodies going to hand you a World Championship.

Okay... that's not necessarily true...

But nobody should.

And I sure as hell wouldn't take one like that.

If you want to win one, fairly, in a tournament like this, you have to dedicate yourself to it 24/7. You have to be ruthlessly focused on it. Unwavering.

I spent hour after hour scouting Anna Ahriman, preparing for Austin Hayes, preparing for Hugh Jass, because they were unknown quantities. Because I knew I had to find those weak spots, make sure that I had every single base covered, and I had to do it in a pretty limited time frame.

I had to put in those hours, to beat those guys.

You Trace?

There's no need for any last gasp preparation for you, because this, this is exactly what I've spent two years working for. If anything too much work, thinking too hard about it, would throw me off my game.

It's no secret that I want to make the WFWF better, that I want to change this place, make it so much more than it is right now.

But I'm not gonna stand here and pretend I'm completely selfless. Nobody is.

When you beat me, at End Game, to make it 3-0, that hurt.

It hurt, for so many reasons. It hurt because I knew it meant that I wasn't going to be taken seriously, not in the way I wanted to be. And so, I knew, that I couldn't make any meaningful change.

It hurt, because I desperately wanted to be the best wrestler in the world, and there I was, tasting defeat at the hands of a man who'd spent a good couple of years being put in his place by a walking corpse and a man with a twiglet for a spine.

I went away, and yeah, I thought I was done with this place. I thought I was done with the politics and this bulls***. But I think, deep down, I always knew, that the hours of training, the hundreds of matches all across the world, the sleepless nights and the moments of agonising pain, it was about more than just enjoying myself.

It was about more than just rekindling my love for this sport.

It was about making sure, that the next time I stepped into a WFWF ring, I was gonna do it as the best wrestler in this promotion.

As a man who could step into that ring with Trace Demon, and prove to all the doubters, that I am the better man. And not to let there be any ambiguity about it all, no cheating, no weapons, just two men stepping into that ring, and only Joe Bishop standing at the end of it.

I know you Trace. We've been in that ring, as partners and opponents, more times than I care to remember. My career has always been linked to yours. And I know that, to you, I've always just been an annoyance. A guy you have to step into that ring with and put in his place time and time again, because he's good enough to earn matches with you, but not quite good enough to pose any serious threat. A fly that buzzes around a lot and pisses you off, but isn't exactly a huge concern.

I've always known your weaknesses. I've always known where the chinks in the armour are. I don't need to spend hours looking for them, because to me, they're obvious.

What's always stopped me, is that I've either not had the ability to get the job done, or I've not had the mental strength to deal with your mind games.

I have always been way behind you. Never much more than an irritant. I'm not denying that. I really was just a fly, buzzing round, pissing you off, but not posing any genuine threat.

But a lot can change in a couple of years. And in those two years, I have become unrecognisable from the Joe Bishop who was your whipping boy. Unrecognisable from the minor annoyance I used to be.

For the first time, I'm stepping into that ring with you, as a wrestler who's good enough to exploit those weaknesses. A wrestler with the mental toughness to deal with the s*** that comes alongside facing Trace Demon.

A wrestler talented enough, to take advantage of your frailties.

There's not a thing that you can do that's going to stop me proving that. No scheme. No mind game. No plot. Nothing.

I am going to walk into that arena, beat you, and walk out, ready and raring to go for Ultimate Supremacy.

I'm not going to be doing it because of you. I'm not going to be doing it for the sake of revenge.

I'll be doing it because I need to. Because the WFWF needs me to.

This match, it's about me. It's about proving to the whole world, what I already know.

That I am the best wrestler in the WFWF. The champion that this promotion, this sport, needs. It's about proving to the whole world, that I'm not just full of hot air.

That I'm not just saying the things I'm saying because it's good for me, or just because I believe it, but because it's the truth.

Because professional wrestling needs somebody to lift it out of the doldrums and I am the athlete who can do that.

This tournament has only ever been about proving that.

But beating you? Ending your hopes of reclaiming the WFWF World Championship?

I'd be lying if I said that isn't a perk.

---

Andy Yates: Seriously, what the f*** is this?

Ah what joy.

At least now I know where Poppy got this incessant need to bug me from. It's genetic.

Joe Bishop: What the f***'s what?

Andy Yates: You treating this match like it's not a big deal, like you're good enough to just turn up and it'll all go exactly to plan.

Sigh, he really doesn't get it at all does he.

Joe Bishop: That's really not what I'm doing.

Andy Yates: Isn't it?

I shook my head. I know that almost certainly won't shut him up, but it's worth a try. I'm really gonna have to stop hanging round his training school if he's gonna keep this s*** up.

Andy Yates: You know why I said I'm doubting you can win this match?

Joe Bishop: Enlighten me...

Andy Yates: Because I wanted to light a fire in your belly. Light that spark. I wanted to make you get up off your arse and start doing something to make sure you're ready for this match. And instead, you've done nothing. I've been the one guy supporting you for the last couple of years and even I'm worried that you can't do this. But you? You've suddenly decided that you're so far above Trace Demon you don't even have to put the f***ing work in. It's a f***ing fantasy.

Joe Bishop: I've already put the work in.

Andy Yates: No. It's doesn't work like that. You can't just take your foot off the pedal because you've won a few matches and expect to come out on top against Trace f***ing Demon. You do that and you're gonna get your f***ing head kicked in. And it's me and Poppy who are going to have to pick up the pieces.

Joe Bishop: I've done more preparation for this match, for Trace Demon, than I have for any opponent I've ever had. Going on a treadmill a day before is not gonna make a difference.

He sniggered at that, I've no idea why, it's true.

Andy Yates: You know I'd always wondered why you've spent your career being the perennial nearly man. How you can keep getting so close to achieving something in professional wrestling, and then just land flat on your face time and time again. I think I'm starting to get it now.

Joe Bishop: Yeah?

Andy Yates: Yeah. You win a few matches, you get on a roll, and you turn into the biggest f***ing ego on the planet. You forget what it is that made you successful in the first place.

Joe Bishop: Is that so?

Andy Yates: I think so. I think for all the s*** you give guys like Trace, Drakz, Schneider, Kyzer, about being arrogant, self obsessed, motivated purely by stroking their own ego, you're every bit as bad as they are. You're almost exactly like them, the only difference being, they step in that ring when the big occasion comes, and they prove they've every reason to be that arrogant. You, you go in there, and you blow it time and time again, because you forget that you're not f***ing special.

Joe Bishop: Finished?

Andy Yates: No, I'm not f***ing finished.

Oh wow, that got a shove, I've really irked him.

Andy Yates: A champion works there f***ing bollocks off, night in, night out, to make sure that they stay on top. They don't sit around eating popcorn and trying to get into their friends pants.

When did that happen?

Andy Yates: By all means keep doing your little podcasts, keep playing your video games. Keep imagining what it'd be like to celebrate beating Trace Demon, to celebrate becoming the World Champion, because the way you're going, that's the best you're gonna get.

Joe Bishop: You're wrong.

Andy Yates: I hope so, I honestly do. But I've seen this so many times before, I've seen people think they've done the work already and now they're just gonna get the glory.

Joe Bishop: Oh f*** off, that's not what I'm doing. I know that I've got a lot more to do to get the WFWF where I want it to be.

He's not buying it of course, to be honest though, I'm struggling to give a s*** what he thinks right now. He's so far off the mark it's not even funny.

Joe Bishop: But beating Trace Demon, that depends on me being calm, being relaxed. Not getting sucked into his game like I have the last three times. I'm confident because I'm avoiding making those same mistakes.

Andy Yates: No you're not. You're making exactly the same mistake you've been making your whole career. You're massively overestimating your own ability. And massively underestimating the amount of work you need to do if you want to be the champion you think you already are.

Joe Bishop: I haven't got time for this.

Andy Yates: Oh sorry, what, you got another Legacy event to show your face at? That'll get you prepared for Trace Demon.

Joe Bishop: Piss off.

He grabs my arm and keeps me in earshot. FML.

Andy Yates: God forbid you fluke your way to that title. Because you aren't gonna make this place better. You somehow win the belt acting like this and you might be the final nail in the coffin.

Ever had that feeling where you know you're gonna regret what you're doing, but you can't stop yourself?

For the last month or so, Poppy has been prodding and prodding and prodding, always finding something, about the way I'm approaching this tournament, to complain about. And I've struggled to hold it together but I've managed it, perhaps because I don't expect her to know what she's talking about.

But f***ing hell Andy just wouldn't stop prodding.

And it's not that I think there's any truth in it, I don't. I'm just sick to f***ing death of being told where I'm going wrong. No matter what I do.

It's ironic really, that when I finally snapped, when I just couldn't take it any more, it was him and not Poppy standing in front of me.

It was his face I saw my fist flying in to.

And then...

THUD.

He hit the floor.

S***.

There's not really a way to put that right. Not in the immediate aftermath. I suppose a good start would have been to check he's okay, but I didn't do that. There'll be someone along to do that almost instantly, of that I'm sure.

Without wanting to sound cold, this is a mess I can clean up later.

Right now, I honestly don't have time.

A day away from meeting Trace Demon, I do realise that I've got to be focused entirely on him. On making sure I get the win I've spent years working for.

It might seem callous, but for the sake of professional wrestling. For me, for guys like Frank Lynn and Hugh Jass, even for Andy...

I can't worry too much about the friend I've just put on the floor. I've got to be completely focused, on putting Trace Demon there.

Once that's done, I can worry about fixing this.

---

Everybody's been so concerned about little old me.

About what this, apparently inevitable, defeat is going to do to me. How I'm going to react to coming up short, for a fourth time, against Trace Demon. It's funny really, I couldn't be more calm about this match. It's everyone else's response to it that's been pissing me off. I suppose the people I really care about, won't be too concerned any more.

There is a consensus though, among many WFWF fans, my fellow wrestlers, the press, practically everyone, that I can't win this. And that I won't be able to cope with that.

But you know, things change.

It's not that I don't appreciate the concern, honestly it's not, it's just that it's so unnecessary. Because there's not going to be a fourth defeat. There's not going to be a meltdown. There's not going to be a downward spiral to follow a loss that isn't happening.

The WFWF might not have changed all that much since I last stood toe to toe with Trace Demon, one on one. The faces have changed, the names have changed, but nothing else has. It's still jokes and egos competing to see who can get the camera on them for the longest. It's still an exercise in making more money for corrupt business people.

It still isn't wrestling, not really.

But something has changed.

Me.

I'm not the same man I was all those years ago. I'm not the potential threat Trace Demon was concerned with managing. Holding down.

Now? I'm a very real threat.

Not just to him, but to those fat cats getting rich off of our hard work. To everybody who has a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

The press, the business people, their stooges, they're all making out that I can't possibly win this match. And most are doing it, not because they believe it. Not because of our history. They're doing it, because they want it to be true. Because they want to believe that I can't do it. Maybe, just maybe, they're hoping it'll make me doubt whether I can. Maybe they're trying exactly the same thing Trace has been trying, to throw me off my game.

Because they know, if they don't, I'm winning this tournament. I'm winning that title, and I'm not going to be satisfied with that.

I'm not going to be satisfied with becoming the WFWF World Champion.

I want being the World Champion to mean something. I want this organisation to mean something. I want to make this sport everything I know it can be. And that scares people.

Well, those people, they're gonna have to keep living in fear.

Because the mind games, they're not going to stop me. The doubt, I left that behind a long time ago. This isn't a threat that you can manage any more Trace.

What's this loss gonna do to Joe Bishop?

Pah!

The question people ought to be asking themselves is, what's losing to Joe Bishop gonna do to Trace Demon?

See, I'm not the only one, who's changed.

I'm not the only one, who's very different from the competitor who took to that ring at End Game.

The Trace Demon who beat me in that ring. The Trace Demon who destroyed Solomon Crow's life. The Trace Demon who truly believed in his heart of hearts, that he's 'The King of Demons'...

He's dead.

Isn't he Trace?

You talk a big game, you make sure that everybody has heard just how sick Trace Demon is. You feel the need to tell everyone that you'll break an arm or slit a throat or do whatever it is you have to do to come out on top.

But for the all the talk, how much coming out on top have you really done of late?

You had more shots than anybody to end Drakz's run with that belt – and not only did you fail in the ring, you failed to make him suffer for it.

You're the sick twisted demon who breaks people, but you weren't the one to herniate that disc were you?

Samael Ahriman and Drakz got past you in the main event of SuperBrawl, for the World Championship, and you did nothing. You just sat there and watched Michael Kyzer do in 5 minutes what you've spent months saying you'll do. What you've spent a career saying you always do.

You told Austin Hayes you were gonna put him in a hospital bed, and he stunk up the place for another couple of weeks.

At End Game you told me you'd end my career... and here I am, two years on, about to win 'your' title.

So forgive me if, when the threats come, I'm not quaking in my boots.

I wouldn't be taking so much glee from it if it was anybody else. Honestly, I wouldn't, it's sad if anything.

But it isn't anybody else.

I like to approach matches, nowadays as though they're all the same. Different opponents, different tactics required, different strengths and weaknesses obviously. But at the end of the day, they're all just opportunities to take another small step towards the WFWF I want to be a part of. That's true of this match too, of course.

But there's no getting around the fact that this one, it's a lot more than that. It's personal.

I tried to detach myself from that at The Gate. I tried to contain myself, to deny the very real anger that's in me. And the end result? I had to watch you pin Ante Whitner, and hand me the only defeat I've had since coming back from my world tour.

This time?

I'm gonna run with it.

Because ultimately, I've every reason to hate you. Not just because of our history, not just because of the impact you could have had on my career if you'd had your way. But because of what you are doing to this sport. You are the problem, and if the history between us wasn't there, I'd still hate your guts for it.

You are a blight on professional wrestling and a blight on the WFWF, and I, I've got a chance to stop you. To make you confront what everybody else should already know.

That the demon, it's a facade. It's a defence mechanism. It's your way of denying the fact that your time has come and it's past. You clung on for a good long while, you really did, and you did a lot of damage to this place clinging on. But it's over Trace.

It's time for you to stop flirting with mediocrity, and time to embrace it. Because like it or not, it's your future.

If you don't realise it already, you sure as hell will when that bell rings and Christa Adina leaves you with the words that are going to haunt you for the rest of your career, 'Here is your winner, Joe Bishop'. The moment when you won't even be able to say, 'At least I'm still better than him'.

Honestly, I'm just interested in how you deal with that. That's all anybody should be interested in as far as you're concerned.

How's that lifetime contract gonna feel when Trace Demon realises he'll be spending it in my shadow?

How good will the money really feel, when it's my wage he's matching?

What's watching me take on David Brennan or Ante Whitner, for the World Championship, gonna do to 'The King of Demons'?

I can't wait to find out.