ISE RP {THE BEGINNING IS THE END}

2/13/12 22:55 LOADED


{By this point in the evening one would assume the fans would be tiresome from all of the craziness that has already occurred during the WFWF go-home episode of Loaded, but they reach deep down, much like the Superstars in their final minutes of their matches, and rise to their feet one final time. It’s time for the main event. Hit with a second wind, they shout as loud as ever for the returning Tabitha Owens and show their resentment equally for current WFWF World Heavyweight Champion, Michael Kyzer. The arena is deafening. Within a few minutes the match is underway and the audience hangs in the balance. Once the battle is over, the crowd falls in defeat with Owens. Kyzer has done it again. The game of tug-a-war is not over though. This celebration belongs to Kyzer but is short lived after an attack from Philip Schneider. Schneider technically would be the last man standing, but there are 20,000 others standing with him throughout the building in celebration as if each and every one of them had done something themselves. On this night, they have all won. The only loser is the fallen Kyzer, and this rallies the fans in hope that this could be a reoccurring image at IT’S SUPER EFFECTIVE! They are ready for a change.

Backstage, unbeknownst to the fans of the WFWF, another battle is set to take place, a give and take of sorts. There is always a calm before the storm. The door that reads, “WFWF CEO Xavier Pierce” swings open and out walks Raider and the current WFWF owner himself, Xavier Pierce. The two mutually shake hands and go their separate ways. Raider makes his way down the dark hallway passing different WFWF superstars and staff. He feels the eyes on him but pays no attention. He is not there to socialize, not today at least. He came in and did the segment that was asked of him, fulfilled his duties, and now it is time to go back to work, back to the gym. The time has almost arrived for his WFWF in-ring return and he will not be distracted. The eyes that follow him now will only be amplified come IT’S SUPER EFFECTIVE and he will not accept defeat. He is back to make a statement and put people on notice, and a loss is not the way to do it.

Finally he reaches the backdoor of the arena where the security guards are posted up. They open the door for him and he enters the private parking lot that is filled with production trucks, 18-wheelers, limos, as well as the wrestlers’ personal cars. He sets his sights on his 2012 Matte Black Camaro ZL1. His eyes shift from his car to the figure that is leaning up against it on the other side, back faced toward him. Who the hell is leaning on his car? Only staff and other wrestlers are allowed back here and the figure that leans on his car is not that of a man.}

RAIDER
Excuse me… Miss?

{She turns around. It takes a second to register, but he knows this woman. He walks towards her. It is Chelsea Rivers, the woman that used to be his secretary and sex partner. Well, they were technically dating back then, but he was dating other women too at the same time, she just wasn’t aware. She was his main squeeze though because of how close they worked together. The last time he saw her was almost three years ago when she walked out on him. The same day he was arrested for Insider Trading, among other things. He honestly thought he would never see her again. The Chelsea he once saw though is no more. The Chelsea he sees now looks worse for wear. She has put on some pounds and her clothes, all dull colors, look like she stole them from someone somewhere in a poverty driven third world country. Her face is bare and full of wrinkles. She looks into his eyes and he can see her anguish. She cracks a slight smile but it does nothing for her image. She is beyond repair.}

RAIDER
Chelsea? How’d you get back here? It’s… It’s good to see you.

CHELSEA
It’s good to see you too, Brad. After I heard a few days ago you were making your return to wrestling I had to come see it for myself.

{Her face lights up.}

CHELSEA
Well, I never got the chance to even get into the arena tonight, but that was because I spent the whole time trying to get back here. I had to do a favor for the security guard but he let me through after. He pointed me to your car and told me I could wait here for you. Nice wheels.

{She looks to his car and then to him. She remains excited but Raider’s expression says it all. Gross. He doesn’t mean for it to, but he always wears his heart on his sleeve and his emotions on his face. Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad if it were the smoking hot girl he knew years ago, but today that is not the case.}

CHELSEA
Anyway, I just wanted to come here and say how proud I am of you for turning your life around after everything. It seems you finally got a grasp on things... You look amazing.

{She looks him up and down, approving of what she sees.}

CHELSEA
…And I just wanted to say that I am sorry for the way things ended between us. I knew what was going on and should have been supportive; we’ve both been through so much. I still care for you but at the time I just didn’t know any other way of dealing with everything other than to leave and try to figure things out on my own. I had to look out for my career as well, you know.

{Her smile vanishes as soon as her last sentence is spoken. Her eyes water, she is fighting back the tears and trying to remain strong. She knew this moment would not be easy. Coming to terms never is. Raider, trying to be supportive, leans in and gives her a big hug. He then steps back.}

RAIDER
Trust me, I understand and I didn’t want you to be involved. But that is in the past, and I have learned from my mistakes. I am trying to do things differently this time. I am glad you came here tonight and we should keep in contact and try to get together for coffee or something, but to be honest I gotta hit the road. I still have a few more days of training and then I have to catch a flight out to Tokyo for the pay per…

{She grabs him and kisses him passionately, cutting him off. She doesn’t taste as good as she used to. He pushes her away.}

RAIDER
Look… Chelsea… It’s good to see you and all but I am just trying to remain focused on my career and myself at this point… I’m not looking for any distractions or girlfriends right now.

{Dejected, Chelsea rears back and smacks Raider across the face. The tears she tried to hold back before now flow from her face. He takes it and just stands there.}

CHELSEA
How DARE you? What gives you the right to think you are better than me? I can see it in your face! This world truly is a f**ked up place when I see someone like you, so undeserving, back in the spotlight while the rest of us are in misery. You caused this, all of this, and somehow you are the one back on top. This is not how it was supposed to be. You should have rotted away in jail; you and all of those corporate a**holes for what you did. You still worked the f**king system, even in court and got a slap on the wrist bullsh*t sentence and now are back here, in the WFWF, signed to a lucrative deal. How the f**k does that work? What did I do so damn wrong that God has shunned me? If I didn’t know any better I would of thought it was ME committing all of those crimes and stealing from all of those people!

{She reaches in her purse and pulls out a tissue. She dabs her eyes. If she had on mascara, it would be running. She clears her throat.}

CHELSEA
After you went to jail I lost my job because I was associated with you. My career spiraled out of control and no body wanted to hire me after the scandal. I went on to drink my sorrows away night after night, spending the little money I had left and going home with whatever guy that would give me attention. One night, I ended up getting knocked up. And it gets better… Turns out the man I f**ked that knocked me up… The father of my child… Is gay! He apparently got too wasted and just wanted to get off and saw me as an easy target. So here I am now… Broke, miserable, and having to raise a kid all on my own while the father is running around playing dress up with other men. If I’d of known that this is the hand I’d be dealt, I would have ended things a long time ago.

RAIDER
You don’t mean that, Chelsea. I am sure you have a beautiful, smart kid that adores you. I can’t image you being a bad mother. But you need to go home to your kid now. You’ve said your peace and I am sorry that things turned out this way. I would have never wanted that for you but you were the one to leave me. I don’t blame you for it, as I have told you before, but we had a connection outside of our business relationship and you chose to walk. You hurt me deeply. Listen… When I get back from Tokyo I will do what I can to help you and your kid in anyway possible… that is the least I owe you.

CHELSEA
I don’t want ANYTHING from you! You have already done enough! I blame all of this, all of my misfortunes on you! And here I am, hoping that you’d changed. You are the same person as before! Always worrying about your career and what people think of YOU first. I thought there was a small hope of us reconciling and trying to make things work but here you are, shunning me, just like God and everyone else has done! You have ruined my life… YOU BASTARD!

{Through her tears she tries to slap him again but he catches her arm and stops her. She collapses in his arms, sobbing.}

RAIDER
Go home, Chelsea. Your kid needs you.

{Raider sees the security guards that were watching the door he exited out of earlier standing near by. Over the past few minutes they have watched what has occurred and are making sure things don’t get out of hands any more than they already have. He motions to them to come over. A few seconds later, the security guards grab her up and out of Raider’s arms. She tries to fight back but there is little fight left in her. The years have taken their toll on her just like this conversation has. They effortlessly restrain her.}

RAIDER
Thanks guys. Call her a cab and make sure she gets home safe. Whatever she needs, get it for her.

{Raider hands one of the guards a small roll of money. He then looks to Chelsea one last time. He knows that her shortcomings are not all his fault, but he is accountable to a certain degree. There is nothing else he can do though; the damage has already been done. She will never be the girl he knew years ago.}

RAIDER
Goodbye, Chelsea.


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2/17/12 14:47 GLEASON’S GYM


{His phone vibrates again. It has been ringing nonstop for the past few hours and this has been going on for the past few days. Raider looks at the caller ID and it reads, “Aiden Frost.” Aiden was Raider’s agent but he was fired a few months ago. They were always close friends, almost like brothers, but since Raider fired him they hadn’t seen each other, much less spoken. Just like brothers who fight, it always takes some time to mend the wounds. Raider isn’t quite sure he is ready to see Aiden again but he starts to wonder if something serious has happened due to the amount of calls. There hasn’t been any voicemails though, so he figures it must not be too serious. Seconds later, the phone buzzes again. Raider finally decides to answer.}

RAIDER
Yo man, what’s up? I’m at the gym, everything all right?


Is this Brad?

{He doesn’t recognize the voice right away; it isn’t Aiden. The voice is that of an older man with a raspy undertone.}

RAIDER
Speaking.


Brad, this is Dirk Warren, owner of Warren Fortunes Agency. I was just wondering if I could have a minute of your time.

{Raider now recognizes the voice. He hadn’t had many conversations with Dirk, but he knows who he is because he is the owner of the agency that Aiden works for.}

RAIDER
Sure, Mr. Warren, how could I help you?

DIRK WARREN
Call me Dirk, Brad. Anyways, I’ll cut right to the chase. I know you fired Aiden back in November but we don’t want to lose you as a client here at Warren Fortunes. I also know you haven’t found a new agent yet and I was calling to see if I could set you up with a different agent. Would you be interested in coming in and having a meeting with me so we can discuss your options?

RAIDER
I appreciate the call, Dirk, but I am not looking for another agent right now. Aiden has been calling me and I am considering talking to him and see what he’s got to say before anything. I just needed some time to myself and not have anyone else influence my decisions. He’s been the best agent I’ve had even though he didn’t always make the best choices… But sometimes you have to give people another chance… If you understand where I am coming from. I give you my word though, Dirk, I am not considering going to another agency.

DIRK WARREN
I fully understand, Brad, and I respect your decision. But I do want to warn you… Aiden’s behavior in the past few months has been rather… Erratic. We have deferred all of his clients to other agents and I am in the process of trying to give him a leave of absence to let him clear his head, so to speak. That is why I called.

RAIDER
Thanks for the heads up; I will call him right away. He is a friend of mine but as you know we haven’t been on the best of terms lately. I’ll give him a call and try to figure out what’s going on. Will you do me a favor and give me some time with him before you make your move? Maybe I can help.

DIRK WARREN
I’ll see what I can do, but I can’t make any promises. He needs to get help, Brad. I’ll let you get back to your workout but I will be in contact with you in the next few weeks.

RAIDER
Sounds good.

{Raider ends the conversation. On the home screen to his phone, it shows that he has eight missed calls from Aiden and one new voicemail. He ignores the voicemail and hits send. There is no answer so he leaves a message of his own on Aiden’s voicemail.}

RAIDER
Aiden, it’s Brad… I’m ready to talk. Let’s me up for a drink at our old watering hole tonight around 11. If you can’t make it call me back, otherwise I’ll see ya then.

{He puts the phone down and gets back to his workout.}


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2/17/12 23:00 MCGUIRE’S PUB


{Raider walks in right on time. The bartender recognizes him and gives a nod. Raider responds by giving a two-finger salute. He goes to the back room of the pub where there are a few tables set up surrounding a fireplace. Although it is a Friday night and the main bar is busy, the back room is dead. It usually is busy during the day because business transactions are held there, but at this time of night it is empty. It’s the perfect place for him to meet Aiden, avoiding all distractions. He takes a seat at one of the tables. While he waits, he pulls out his phone and looks at the main screen. He realizes that he hadn’t listened to the voicemail Aiden left earlier, so he hits play.}

AIDEN
Hey man, I know you are ignoring my calls and it’s been a few months since we last spoke but I really wish we could meet up and talk. Things are getting out of control and I don’t know who else to turn to. Please, just give me a call back. Please, bro.

{There are other voices faintly heard in the background but Raider can’t make out what they are saying. He can tell something is wrong because of Aiden’s tone. Now he really wishes he had tried to call him back again earlier. What if something really is wrong? Raider starts to call Aiden when Aiden finally appears and walks up to the table. Aiden is dressed in a grey designer suit without a jacket; he looks skinner than he did a few months ago. Most of his muscle mass is gone and his bones bulge up in his skin. He takes a seat across from Raider.}

RAIDER
I wasn’t sure if you’d gotten my message… You look like crap, bro.

{Aiden looks down at himself, his facial expressions don’t agree.}

AIDEN
It’s good to see you too… What took you so long to get back to me? I thought we were still friends after everything yet I haven’t heard from you since the day you fired me.

RAIDER
We are still friends, Aiden. I haven’t had much contact with anyone in the past few weeks. You know how much this all means to me. And you also know that if you ever needed me I’d be there, so here I am. What’s going on? Everything all right?

AIDEN
No, Brad, everything is not all right... The agency is breathing down my neck and monitoring my every move. If I didn’t know any better I’d think they were trying to fire me. I get it though, we all peak and after that, when they deem us not fit to their standards or someone else better comes in they toss us out like yesterdays news. I’m a victim of circumstance. And this sh*t all started with you. You know that. I put my neck on the line to get you out and the heat that I got from it still hasn’t subsided. A lot of the agents think I tarnished my name by working the system, taking the easy way out, and not doing what was right. But you are my friend first and I didn’t care about their opinions. I knew it would be an up hill battle to get my respect back but I figured when I got you out we’d work together and make things right. That’s why I told you I couldn’t have you f**king up anymore. And the thanks I get for that is you firing me. Everything has blown up in my face since then and I can’t get back control.

{Aiden wipes his nose with his right thumb and index finger, shakes his head, and takes a second to collect his thoughts before he continues. His tone gets heavier.}

AIDEN
You really did a number on me, bro… I try not to take it personally but I constantly question your choice. Everyday I run that conversation over and over in my head and try to figure out what went wrong. What changed in your mind while you were locked up to make this radical decision? I can’t take this sh*t anymore, Brad. I want a better answer than that bullsh*t you gave me. I deserve it. Do you really think you are that much better off now?

RAIDER
I can’t answer that. It’s not a question of betterment… I’m really sorry, bro, I didn’t expect things to turn out like this for you. I saw Chelsea the other day and I didn’t expect things to turn out the way they did for her, either. I can only control my fate, no one else. I do take responsibility for my actions with her, but man, you were right there with me. You knew what was happening. I appreciate you helping me and taking that chance, but you were the one who guided me to take those initial risks. It was wrong of me to just drop you like that. I just needed some time to clear my head. It was selfish of me. But in this business you have to be selfish to be successful and I needed to do what I felt was right to get back to where I once was all those years ago. This hasn’t been easy on me, either.

AIDEN
Enough of the sh*t, man. I came here hoping something had changed, hoping that you’d have realized the mistake you made. You wanted space to clear your head; I gave it to you. But I need you now, as a friend, like you needed me, as an agent, and you still only care about yourself. You are a bastard for what you did and now I look at you like I look to a stranger. I don’t even know who the f**k you are anymore. Sure, you cleaned up, lucky you… But you are still the same f**king tool I met years ago. That will never change.

{Steam seeps from Aiden’s pores. He has always been known to be a little hot headed and this time is no different. Raider takes the verbal beat down that he deserves. He stays calm.}

AIDEN
It’s apparent you don’t give a f**k about me or our friendship, I don’t know why I even bothered coming here or why I am trying to reach out to you. I guess the jokes on me.

{Aiden, letting his emotions get the best of him, gets up out of his seat. He takes a step toward the door. Coming here was a mistake.}

RAIDER
Yo man, sit the f**k back down. You might be done, but I’m not. I came here and took your sh*t but now it’s my turn. I didn’t come here for nothing.

{Aiden, hesitant, gives in and goes back to his seat after an awkward pause between the two. Aiden’s temperament soothes. Raider is right, the least he could do is listen to what he has to say before storming out.}

RAIDER
I got a call from Mr. Warren today. He told me how they were shuffling your clients around and how he wanted to give you a break. I told him before he did anything though to let me talk to you. He even offered me to come in and meet with him and interview other agents, but I don’t want another agent. I’m sorry for firing you. Call it selfish or whatever, but after spending 28 months in jail I wasn’t up to dealing with any of this sh*t. I’m off to Tokyo in a few days for my first match back and I need an agent again… Gotta make sure someone can clear all the paperwork with my probation officer. And the only man I see fit for the job is you. You just said your peace and after we walk out of this bar we put it in the past, leave it here at this table. I couldn’t help Chelsea but I will be damned to see you go down the same road. You’ve been there for me through thick and thin and you deserve another shot. I can’t do this on my own. No bullsh*t this time, though. Business first, friends second. You told me if I f**ked up one more time then you would be done with me… Well the same goes for you.

. . . So what’d ya say?

{Raider smiles at Aiden and offers his hand. Aiden lets out a deep breathe, the tension released. After another pause he puts his hand out as well and the two shake in agreement.}

AIDEN
I’ll speak with your probation officer first thing tomorrow morning and get everything sorted. Once you get back from Tokyo we can go over the rest of the paperwork.

{Raider’s smile widens, he loves how Aiden can switch right into business mode. But business aside, it’s time for the two friends to rekindle their relationship.}

RAIDER
Sounds great, brother. Now how about we get a celebratory drink?

AIDEN
I’ve been waiting this whole conversation to hear that. Drinks are on me… I’ll be right back.

{As Aiden finishes his sentence his nose starts to run. Even though he looks sickly, he doesn’t have a cold. His nose is bleeding. Aiden quickly takes his hand and tries to wipe his nose but it is too late. He has smeared blood on his hand and fresh blood still runs from his nose.}

RAIDER
You okay, bro?

AIDEN
Yeah man… Dry skin… You know how this weather goes. Let me run to the bathroom and take care of this and then I’ll be back with the drinks.

{Aiden gets up and walks away. Raider knows what is going on, but he isn’t going to pry at the moment. His actions in the past have caused harm to the ones he loved and he couldn’t save Chelsea from her own fate. He is uncertain if rehiring Aiden is the right move, but he knows his friend needs him and the conversation with Dirk Warren earlier in the day is still fresh in his mind. Everyone deserves a second chance.}


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2/28/12 19:32 ライオンカフェ

{After a week long process of getting the paperwork to leave the country for business from his probation officer, obtaining his work visa and other documents, Raider finally landed in Tokyo, Japan, the host city of WFWF’s first pay per view of 2012, IT’S SUPER EFFECTIVE. After a somewhat rocky and extremely long flight he arrived at the Park Hyatt Tokyo Hotel and checked in. Raider goes straight to his room and takes a nap, trying to recover from the jet lag. A few hours pass and he is up and moving, ready to explore the city. He has been to Tokyo a few times in the past for business, whether it was for wrestling or Goldman Sachs. He isn’t the biggest fan of Tokyo but never had time in the past to explore the city so with a few sparing days before the big event he decides to make the most of the situation.

Close to the hotel is the Meiji Jingu Shrine, one of the most popular shrines in Tokyo. He spends his afternoon walking through the Shrine and paying respect to the Asian culture. He takes everything he sees in, reflecting on how the people live their lives in such peace through meditation. Everything is so tranquil and soothing. After the events in Raider’s life over the past few months, much less the past few years, this moment is almost surreal. He takes a seat, sits Indian style and does some meditating of his own.

Time passes, he can feel himself becoming centered and ‘one’ with the spirits around him. He never was big on soul searching or meditating but at this moment, it just feels right. Stricken by hunger, he decides to wonder on and further his exploration.

Heading south, he finds himself in the dark heart of Shibuya’s seediest district, Maruyamacho. Amidst the love hotels, used underwear shops, and sexual service advice centers lies an oasis of calm, ライオンカフェ, or as it would be called in the English language, The Lion Café. Raider is hesitant at first to go in because this is the type of place he could see scum like Drakz or Michael Kyzer hanging out, but the sign grabs him and his spirit leads him in. Tourists refer this place as Tokyo’s worst ‘best kept’ secret. It isn’t advertised in guidebooks or ‘things to do’ lists, but if you know of this place or are lucky enough to stumble upon it, you are in for a treat. Originally built in 1923 and rebuilt with the same design in 1950 after it was destroyed from fires caused by bombings during World War II, the interior of this two-story café is a true step back in time. All seats face the same direction toward a huge wooden speaker system and an enormous collection of vinyl and compact discs that adorn the front wall of the café. Never full but always scattered with people, they sit in silence as advertised on the front door with a sign that reads, “話がありません,” meaning there is no talking allowed. Classical music plays softly in the background while patrons sit and read their books, newspapers, or just come to enjoy a nice cup of tea. The staff doesn’t speak higher than a whisper as they bring over a menu and later return to see what one has decided to try, whether it is a light snack or drink.

Raider walks in and takes a seat toward the back of the café on the first floor. After his nap and time at the Shrine this is the perfect way to cap off his first day in Tokyo. He orders a coffee and small sandwich and begins to read a publication on the history of Shrines in Tokyo that sits in front of him. His head has been clear up to this point. Thoughts begin to run rampant through his mind and the dots in his head begin to connect. People, places, events… Everything starts to make sense. This is his fate, his destiny, and apart of the bigger picture. All the roads he has been down have led him to this point. Emotion grabs him like a thief in the night and he can’t bare it. His eyes water and a few tears start to stream, his appetite gone within seconds. He tries to hide his face with his hand from the others around, but quite fittingly enough, there is no talking allowed here so he knows he will not be bothered. He tries to gather his thoughts as best as possible.}

Hell or glory, I don’t want anything in between.

This is my second chance and if I f**k it up all that is left is normality. Pack up my bags, go home, get a dead-end job and accept the fact that I am not who I once was or will ever be again. To settle for something less than what I know I am capable of. I am not usually an emotional person but all of these thoughts are cutting me deep. The mistakes and regrets can’t be changed; the past will forever go unaltered. I can only influence my present and hope that my future is what I see in my dreams. Fate… Destiny… I know I have one, but I am just not sure what it is.

I have been in hell for most of my life, with snapshots of glory. I am tired of this bulls*t and I want glory for the rest of my days. Deep down inside I am a good person and I have tried to do what is right most of the time. The devil rode on my back many years and led me off the beaten path, but through the nights I have fought and found my own way, I hope.

Yes, I do have a bit of doubt, even as confident as I know I should be. I have a reputation to live up to, quotas to be met. I would love to say that at IT’S SUPER EFFECTIVE I will walk out with my first match under my belt and a win to boot. I am not bothered by records like I told the world a few days ago at Loaded, but I am here for war and ultimately I have to be the victor. Anything less than glory is unacceptable.

Matches are won before they even start.

But am I the winner? There is so much riding on the line, especially going against a guy like Ace Bennett, who is dealing with his own struggles to rise to the top and find the glory he feels he deserves. Is it his fate to walk out with his hand raised? Is it mine?

He has had his ups and downs and I have seen his struggles. Recently he has hit what I would say is the lowest point in his career… Nothing has gone right for him. Every opportunity has slipped between his fingers. He has what it takes… He has the look, the skill set, and the persona, but his destiny was not meant for him to win those matches. Everyone bounces back at some point and I know he is scratching and clawing to get back to that point. To him, records do mean something and he just unbalanced himself into the negative. I am sure he doesn’t want to dig the grave any deeper.

My work in recent months to return has been a success, but I can say I have been riding on the negative for years now. He might only be down a few weeks or months, but my efforts have been nothing memorable in the past several years. Hell, how can you be positive and achieve success when you are jail? He needs a win to get back on the road to success here in the WFWF. I need a win to get back on the road to success in life.

{He wipes his face. His confidence returns and the uncertainty is no more. The petite waitress brings over the coffee and the sandwich with a smile. She is unsure of what is going on with him but with that smile brings warmth and it radiates. He feeds off of it and lets her affection enter his soul.}

Ace Bennett, you’re a guy that I got a chance to study while I was locked up. There wasn’t many television programs we could chose from or all agree on during recreation time, but one of them was WFWF shows. Every guy loves to see a good fight. I hated it at first because of my ties to the industry so I just spent my days walking around and working out in the open area outside. I didn’t want some schmuck coming up to me, recognize me, and reminisce of the days gone. One day though, I finally sat down and decided to tune in, just to see what the current product was like. I saw all the crap that was going on but you were one of the few kids that seemed to truly want to be successful and do it without the devils help. I admired that about you. You were an inspiration to me and you reminded me of myself when I first broke into the industry. After following the product for months, the passion and love I had for wrestling returned and one day I woke up and decided I wanted to return to the WFWF. I wasn’t looking to make friends or go party with anyone though. I just wanted to be successful again and make my way back to the top. To entertain all of the fans and give them a great show. I stayed focused in jail and worked out harder each and every day counting down the days to my release. Once I got let out of jail I cut myself off from even my closest friends… The past few months have been all about me. The change that I thought I had made wasn’t full circle yet. I realized I could potentially begin to slip again because I refused help. You see, it’s hard to change, to stop doing the drugs, to stop lying and using people. It’s not something that you wake up one day and it just happens. But I’ve had the time to work at it and I am still working, it’s a day-to-day struggle. And just a few days before I came back, after signing all the paperwork with Pierce, I realized I needed to go back and make peace with my friends and enemies in the past, as well as begin to build new relationships. The Devil has formed his army in the WFWF and there needs to be a counterpart, a protagonist to balance the equation. But I can’t do it on my own. Ace, you were the first person that popped in my mind after reflecting back on the footage I used to watch. Before I can commit to having you on my side though, in my cadre, I need to make sure that you can past the test. You need to prove to me and to the world that you can hang with the best. You are hungry, you seek retribution, and you refuse to fall in the ranks. A loss will not falter you though, it will only make you stronger and I need strength for this war. Regardless… As I said to you at Loaded… After our match is over with, a new age begins and a new bond forms. The cadre will grow stronger.

{Raider takes a sip of his coffee. His appetite finally returns to him and he takes a big bite out of his sandwich. It is almost gone in one bite. Why are portions in Japan so small? As thoughts drive down different circuits in his brain he feels himself getting stronger with memories of his past, reminding him how he became the person he is today.}

When I was a kid, I remember my mom taking me to the zoo. We spent the day there and got a chance to see all of the exhibits. I was amazed, each and every creature different in looks and nature, all together in one confined place. Some of my favorites were the monkeys, the penguins, and the snakes. But the one mammal that caught my eye, the one I just couldn’t get away from, was the lion. I stood there, watching him for what felt like hours. He laid still for a while but he moved around from time to time. He even came over to where the fences where that separated the visitors from his den, as if he just wanted to say hello or even put on a little show. He had everyone captivated, but rightfully so; after all he is the king of the jungle. I was so young then I don’t even know if it really happened but I remember catching his eyes for a second and I could feel my spirits pick up. My bones tingled. No words were spoken, no roars were heard, but in that moment I could tell he was connecting with me. It was one of the few times in my life that truly felt like an out of body experience. As I was transfixed on this amazing creature, I felt a yank on my arm and seconds later I snapped out of it to realize my mom was telling me it was time to go. On the way out I even begged her to buy me a stuffed animal of a lion in the gift shop. I kept that thing and took it everywhere with me for months. Although the actual mammal itself wasn’t with me, his spirit was and our souls were forever intertwined. I went on about it to my mom the whole way home and for months later. She tried to be funny and tell me how I was born in July and I was a Leo and the sign of a Leo is a lion so it was meant to be but I don’t really believe in all of that horoscope crap. If I got a chance to do show-and-tell at school or give a speech, it was always related to the lion. I was so infatuated with it all that I took a trip below the Sahara to South Africa right after I graduated high school to get an opportunity to see the lions in the wilderness, in their true environment. I wanted to see them in their natural habitat and see how they proved to truly be the king of the jungle. One of the tour guides I met while I was down there was a local and he talked to me in extreme detail about the life of a lion. He explained to me everything I wanted to know and I was so excited. I felt like I was a kid at the zoo all over again.

Finally after several days of touring and riding around in SUVs to observe different species and the ground they lived on, my tour guide asked if I would like to go camping out in the wild for a night. He said it is very dangerous but they do have an area that is monitored that would be safe, if I were up to it. Locals did it, the people that were ‘one with their spirits’ and ‘the animal spirits’ as well. They could see into these species eyes and connect with them. They could communicate and know if the different mammals would either allow them to stay or give some type of sign that the time wasn’t right and they shouldn’t be there; they were invading their territory. The tour guide told me that some people who practice this belief were successful and others got too close in their ways and ended up paying the ultimate price… Their life. The guide also said tourists aren’t allowed to partake in these camp outs, but after he saw the light in my eye, he felt I had something inside of me that was similar to that of these practitioners he knew and he wanted me to meet them. He also wanted to give me the opportunity to possibly have a connection that I felt I was yearning for during this trip. So, I thought about it for a little bit and decided I would put my fear aside and embark on this journey. I was young and needed some type of guidance anyway, so what better way to do this than to go on a soul-searching experiment that could potentially lead to an out of body experience, similar to what I felt that day at the zoo. I didn’t think I would ever get another opportunity like this, so I agreed and off we went. We set up camp and got a fire going just as the sun fell. We cooked dinner and told stories around the campfire. It was so cool to hear everything the locals were saying about their experiences with different species and the connections they had. Time passed and the night was winding down when all of a sudden one of the guys that were on look out gave everyone an alarming signal that danger was on the horizon. After we heard the signals, the locals all began to frantically pack up camp and load their SUVs. The man on watch ran towards us, gasping for air. After a few seconds his statement of broken words became clear. A lion was on the prowl and the watchman realized that he had picked up a scent from our camp. We didn’t have much time. I was freaking out at the thought of being eaten but I was also calm in my mind because I think I would be okay with that. After all, I had loved lions all my life and they were my favorite species.

Minutes later, we were packed and ready to leave and I could see the shadow grow in the distance, and it was getting bigger at a rapid pace. Other SUVs were already gone by this point and we were the last to go. The only problem was my feet were frozen in the ground… I wanted to jump in the back and go but I couldn’t move. My tour guide and his friends were probably cursing me in their native language but I couldn’t make out what they were saying and didn’t really care at that point.

The lion came within twenty feet of me, screaming voices heard faintly in the background, but all I could see was him. Everything else just went away. His aggressive approach was no more; he just stood there and looked on solemnly. He looked directly to me. I really was going to be his dinner. There was a hold on me, something had come up and grabbed me and I could do nothing but look back at him, right into his eyes. He was one of the biggest lions I had ever seen and he had a very attractive mane for a lion. He had to be the leader of the pack. Just like the time at the zoo, I felt like eternity had came and gone although it was only seconds. He took a few steps toward me and I did the same. What the f**k am I doing? I thought to myself, but the other thoughts going through my head were stronger than that notion and kept me captivated. I looked to my right hand and it was straight out, reaching, my fingers slowly moving like I was going to grab something. What is going on? I was still about six or seven feet from him and he continued to lock eyes with me. Electricity was running through my fingertips into my veins. I had never felt so alive in my life. My heart was racing. The lion turned his head slowly, he let out a thunderous roar, and seconds later he was gone back into the night. I almost sh*t my pants.

I slipped back into reality and the screams I heard from the guys in the SUV were no more. There was nothing. Silence. I turned and looked at their faces. They all looked like they had just seen a ghost. I jokingly broke the ice by asking if they wanted to set camp back up but they said no, so I jumped in and we rode off. Once we got back to the village, the others told the story to their friends that were with us earlier in the night. Of all the stories I had heard and the others had experienced, nothing had matched mine. One of the guys turned to me and said the lion was my true inner animal and that I was king of the jungle. They even laughed at the statement because they couldn’t imagine saying something like that to a white boy. After all, these people had been doing this and studying these creatures their whole lives and never had such an experience. After a few more days there and hearing others tell my story over and over it was my time to go home, so I packed up and flew back to the states. They all gave me hugs and wished me the best in my life and told me how special I was. They said to never forget where you have been because that is the only way to figure out where you will go.

So I as sat here and read this publication on shrines, I read about the shishi and komainu, or in English, the lion and the dog. They are a pair of statues that I had seen earlier in the day and they are usually placed outside of a shrine at the entrance to guard off evil spirits. I read a part that talked about the symbolic meaning of the statues. The statue on the left side, called the shishi, has an open mouth to pronounce the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet, which is pronounced “a”, to represent the beginning of all things. The other statue on the right has a closed mouth, called the komainu, and utters the last letter of the alphabet, pronounced “um”, and represents the end of all things.

At IT’S SUPER EFFECTIVE, it will be the beginning of the end for me and for Ace Bennett. But who’s end will come first?

{As his mind scattered about… People, places, things, past, present, future… This was all apart of his story. The emotion was gone. The only thing left was raw feeling… What he had known since that day at the zoo and that night he spent out in the desert. The start of a new chapter in his life begins with the sound of “a” and the guidance of the lion’s spirit. When this chapter ends it will happen with the corresponding “um”, whenever that may be. Matches are won before they start and this was his match to win.}

I am back and I am on the prowl… Fear my roar, for I am the King of the Jungle.