A Diamond Rumble Saga - Part Two

[Jack Diamond]

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April 6th 2020

XHF Headquarters - Minneapolis, MN

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The scene opens up inside of a huge conference room at the XHF Headquarters in Minnesota. Alone in the room, sitting at the head of the over sized mahogany table is Jack Diamond. He just stares at the camera before the corners of his lips curl into a smile.

Jack Diamond: It's fair to say that the last time I was in the very conference room... things did not go as planned. It was a time in my life that I thought everything was looking up. I had put the wrestling business behind me and the Diamond Lounge II was very close to opening. Since we were still putting the finishing touches on things, I needed a conference room to pitch to some high dollar investors. Mongo was thrilled to let me use this room. Bobby barely even approached him with the idea and he jumped at the chance to let me have my meeting here. I should have known then and there that something wasn't quite right with that. Sure, Bobby and I made Mongo a lot of money. Especially when we originally left the AWF to go "global" but when would Mongo ever let anyone take advantage of an XHF property in which he would see no return from.

Jack stands up and walks over near a projection screen. He clicks his tongue and shakes his head. He checks his surrounding and satisfied with where he is he continues.

Jack Diamond: I was standing right about here, wasn't I Mongo? I'm sure you've watched the security footage from that night. Right here... where you got your return right? Caffrey busted into the meeting, interrupted what was a huge investment opportunity, looking for me. He posed it off as trying to ask me some stupid ass question about Maverick, but that wasn't really why he was here, was it? No, by now you all know the story. A fight broke out and after a little back and forth, the little prick cheap shot me and then broke my ankle.

Jack hops a little on the ankle that was attacked the evening and smiles a bit.

Jack Diamond: Now Caffrey, don't for one second think you've gotten a pass on this. The only reason I haven't destroyed you yet was because your little bitch ass ran scared to a whole separate company when I rejoined AWF. Rest assured that their may be plenty people in the Rumble to try and blend in behind, but at the end of day your running will be limited. This isn't about you though. This is much more. This is about the puppet master that night.

Jack walks back over to the head of the conference table, the chair that would normally be reserved for some big wig such as Mongo and he sits down, resting his head in his hands for a moment. When he sits back up, there is anger on his face. He begins to talk in almost a whisper, gradually getting louder.

Jack Diamond: You, Mongo. This is all about you. Now, I know you are used to always getting what you want so when the Icons came and stood up to you and your precious network you didn't know what to do. You panicked. We both had our names in the history books as X*Crown champion, I was growing a successful hotel and casino chain at the likes that you could only have a wet dream about, and Bobby had moved his way into a corporate job as commissioner. The world as you knew it was no more and it scared you. Instead of adapting though, you tried to take me out. You hired a piece of shit to injure me and failed to realize his punk ass would not be able to finish the job. You failed.

Jack pulls out a cigar from his breast pocket, taps it on the desk and lights it. He leans his head back in the chair and savors it for a brief moment.

Jack Diamond: And here I am. Back and in the best shape of my life. The only difference is now I am motivated. What? You mean I wasn't motivated when I won the X*Crown twice and became one of the most talked about wrestlers in the entire network? Come on, you are all smarter than that. That was play time for me. I was living fast, spending cash, and just having a good time with friends while getting to fight in the process. Outside of that, there wasn't much else.... but now? All you did was pissed me off and refocused me. THAT is why I came back. That is why I'm here. It's why I entered the rumble. To show you, Mongo, that despite everything you've tried to do, all the bullshit scare tactics, the backhanded comments, you've failed to get what you want.

Jack takes another draw from his cigar, letting the smoke flow out slowly. Through the haze, he continues

Jack Diamond: I wish I could tell you that once I go into that Rumble match and reclaim the titles, this is over for you. I can't sit here and lie to you, Mongo. I think deep down you know this is far from over. You've tried to take everything from me and I intend to stop no less than doing at least that to you. The rumble? Oh that's the easy part. That is Jack Diamond in his element. The landscape of XHF has changed in the past year or so but the story is still the same. I'm going into that match with the deck stacked again me.

Jack grins

Jack Diamond: When has that ever been a problem though? Some of the competitors hate me. Cool. Some of them are going to try and make a name for themselves at my expense. Been there. The champion will be looking to do everything possible to retain. Sorry about your luck. Stack the deck however you damn well please, the fact remains that when the bell rings I will once again have ownership of those glorious fucking belts. I will once again claim my spot down in the vault. Again... that's the easy part.

Jack snuffs the cigar out right on the expensive conference table. He stands up, flipping the chair over as he steps towards the door.

Jack Diamond: That will be only the start of the problems for you, Mongo. You will sit in your office that night wondering where it all went wrong. How did it get to this point? Through gritted teeth you will have to talk to reporters about your new global champion, the one that will inevitably make you a lot of money, knowing that you've lost a piece of yourself in the process. It didn't have to be like this. You could have just let things be but you couldn't. Mongo HAD to have his way. I hope it was worth it.

Jack is standing in the doorway and looks back over towards the security camera once more

Jack Diamond: Not quite what you wanted to watch from this conference room this time was it? I'm sure you enjoyed the show better last time, right? Fuck you, Mongo.

With that Jack turns the light off and shuts the door. He walks down the hall and sees a light on in one of the offices and smiles. As he gets closer the begins walking as if he were sneaking to the fridge in the middle of the night. He motions for the camera man to be quite and leans in

Jack Diamond: I can't believe he is here. This is going to be good. Shhh.

Jack stealthily approaches the office and just before he gets there...

Bobby Barratt: BOO!

Jack jumps back almost losing his balance as Bobby Barratt hits the floor laughing. Jack's face relaxes as he catches he breath, realizing that Bobby got him before he could do the same.

Jack Diamond: Asshole.

Bobby stands, still laughing and pats Jack on his left shoulder

Bobby Barratt: Oh man you should have seen your face.

Jack Diamond: Yeah yeah...

Bobby Barratt: The best part was watching you sneak down the hall way like Elmer Fudd. Come on man, you know Mongo has this place under all kinds of surveillance. That was too good.

Bobby motions Jack to follow him into his office. He walks behind his desk where the monitors or showing the security footage from the hall as well as the conference room where Jack just came from. Bobby turns the monitor where Jack can see it.

Bobby Barratt: Poking the bear I see?

Jack Diamond: So it seems.

Bobby Barratt: You've been talking in riddles lately, mate. I know we haven't spoken much since this whole COVID-19 thing went crazy, how you holding up?

Jack goes to sit down across from Bobby but Bobby holds up a hand

Bobby Barratt: Six feet away is good man

Jack scoffs a bit and shrugs, straightening his jacket a bit.

Jack Diamond: Whatever, yeah I'm doing alright man. Dakota is good, I've got her staying back home in Cherokee, I figured it'd be best to kind of keep her isolated since I'm still out doing some business.

Bobby Barratt: Fair play, shes not too far from due date right?

Jack Diamond: Yeah man, we are like a month away or so from me being a dad... wow

Bobby Barratt: Yeah that's insane man. You have all that going on yet you signed up for this rumble. I was kind of surprised.

Jack Diamond: Well, we've talked a bit about this since I came back. This is part of the path I needed to take to get what I wanted.

Bobby Barratt: The crown? I thought you said that wasn't the end game.

Jack Diamond: It's not. Just a nice find along the way. I know I haven't laid it all out for you but it'll be clear soon and I think you will really enjoy it.

Bobby stares at Jack, trying to get a read..but damn the man does have a good poker face. Bobby just smiles.

Bobby Barratt: Ok I get it, secretive Jack.. some things never change. So this rumble, are you ready? I mean you are going hard on Mongo but it's not him you will need to worry about I'm this match. A lot of people replied back to my video. A lot of them you have a history with.

Jack Diamond: Rumbles are my kind of matches man, I'm not that worried. To be honest I haven't paid much attention to all the competitors, I know there is like 40-some people and I know Caffrey is one of them and the champion is another. That's basically all I know.

Bobby Barratt: You should take a better look man. I feel like things have changed with us to where instead of you always telling me to not take my opponents lightly, I'm having to tell you. People like Rat Bastard who also wants those titles a third time. Michael Storm who we know isn't all there in the head and who...unfortunately, has a victory against you with the X*Crown on the line. Card and Recoba who is already a thorn in our side and will inevitably look to target you. LGBTKO, Swann, Dylan...who you had bad luck with last time you faced him on that stupid barge...

Jack yawns, very animatedly. Bobby stops talking and frowns a bit.

Jack Diamond: Relax man. I joined the match knowing damn well that with me in it, I'd have a target on my back. Dylan doesn't have his dolphin fingering daddy with him, Swann is Swann, he'll always be the hand picked protege that couldn't live up to the Icon life. Cross, Card, Young and Fox? Well... they could propose a problem as their is no love lost there but I'm ready for whatever they throw at me, as I've always been. Now Rat, I respect what hes done and I've had a beer with him recently, we are cool but we both know we will throw fists with each other if it means winning a third reign. As for Storm, maybe this time I will finish the job I started back then. Those guys, all the others, I know what it takes to be there at the end and none of them will stop me.

Now it's Bobby's time to overreact with a yawn as Jack just grins, turn about is fair play , after all.

Bobby Barratt: Look man, I know you are ready for this. I know you can hold your own. Just watch your back, mate, that's all I'm saying. If this virus wasn't wreaking havoc I'd be in there to help throw them all out then you and I could go one on one for those belts once again. Sorry I won't be of any help though.

Jack thinks a bit on what Bobby said.

Jack Diamond: Maybe there is a way you can help me.

Bobby Barratt: How so?

Jack Diamond: Do you happen to have anything around here with Mongo's signature on it?

Bobby looks confused and Jack picks up on it. He smiles.

Jack Diamond: I mean, as you've seen..I'm quite the fan. Since I can never catch Mongo these days to get an autograph I figure this is the next best thing. Anything?

Bobby stares a bit, again trying to get a read and again nothing. He begins shuffling through some paperwork on his desk. Bobby picks up a letter, looks it over and hands it to Jack. Jack looks at the letter and nods

Bobby Barratt: That is the letter Mongo had me send out to some of the exec's, claiming we are "essential". Load of bull shit if you ask me but it is signed by the high king himself.

Jack folds up the letter and tucks it away in his breast pocket. Bobby still looks confused

Jack Diamond: That's perfect man, I appreciate it. Look I gotta go take care of a bit more business but I'll catch you later ok?

Bobby Barratt: Sure thing Jack...

As Jack begins to leave Bobby speaks up once more.

Bobby Barratt: Again buddy, watch your back... not just in the Rumble...

Jack turns and smiles, patting his breast pocket.

Jack Diamond: I've got it all under control bro.

Jack turns and leaves, leaving Bobby there to shake his head as the scene comes to an end.