Post by Dave D-Flipz on Jul 17, 2020 22:03:27 GMT -5
*It is July 12, 2020 and we open on Death Trap in his home in Seattle. He has set up a webcam apparently and it is recording himself sitting on his rather ordinary looking couch watching his nice but not extravagant TV.*
"I know I know, humble looking home but I like to live simply. My house is in an undisclosed area in the suburbs around Seattle. But all I really need is to be comfortable. I don’t need all this extra shit. I got my PS4 ready to stream the XHF Network for Overheated tonight."
*He sits back on the couch and pulls up a bowl full of Fritos. As he settles in he pulls out a 2 Liter bottle of Dr. Pepper. We hear the introduction of Overheated play out on the TV.*
"Here we go, this is going to be good. I have an predictions of who I’m going to be facing but this is where I find out for sure. I’m not going to lie, I am looking forward to getting some payback in on Hyperion. The asshole nearly beheaded me … three times … and tried to end my career. I have worked out strategies to neutralize Jack, Hype and Caffrey after my recent experiences with them all. You fans are in for a treat. I’ve been really buckling down in this week off from MCCW and training my body to withstand the rigors of another cluster match. Oh hey Rob Arnold. This dude is a treat to watch in the ring. He used to be more of a technician like Gravedigger but I suppose as he got older he changed his interests."
*A few minutes pass as DT is seen munching fritos and drinking Dr. Pepper from the bottle like a heathen. He is into the match and cheering along with the crowd. Finally we hear the announcers as the Caffrey/Rat match is next.*
"Caffrey … I know you are pissed that I have this title. But let’s face it … I was never going to tap out. Timeless may have cost you the match but it only saved you the shock of losing in overtime when I made you tap out. At Night of Champions I’ll set aside some time to prove it to you. It eats me up inside that people can even question the legitimacy of this title reign because we both know I would have beaten you once the ref reset us for OT. I’ve been studying your moves and coming up with creative counters for your stupid ankle lock. "
" Wait what? I don’t … I don’t believe after the crap he talked about me leading up to tonight that he blew it! God damn it Rat Bastard. I don’t know if I ever came out on top against him in our past meet ups. Dude always seemed to have my number. Ugh I … how am I supposed to prove to everyone I can make Caffrey my bitch if you took him out of the match! All the plans I made, out the window. I … ok it’s fine. I can handle this. Ratty is manageable. I have experience with this. This means nothing. Rat is a chaotic element in this match but I have handled similar in MCCW. Can’t let him live in my head. The past is the past, I am clearly his better now."
*DT sits back down and picks the Fritos up off the floor that he spilled when he stood up. He calms himself down and settles in for the next match. Ryan vs Jack was every bit the competitive spectacle it was expected to be.*
"Shit Jack is out too? Ok revenge derailed, I’m sure I’ll get a chance to kick his head off in the future. Don’t let the fact that he now gets to kick MY head off with no comeuppance get to you. Come on DT focus. Ryan is an intense challenger, knees for days."
*Who says that? He then watches Dylan win with boredom in his face as he finishes off the Fritos and Dr. Pepper. He settles in for Hyperion to face some unknown. As the match goes on however he gets more and more agitated.*
"No … no this man refused to go down against us. How can he be failing now? What is wrong with him!? I mean yes we had him beat and Jack saved him but I need closure. I have to feel his body shut down as I choke the life out of him in the Death Trap. I need to see him tap out in my clutch. He lost … he fucking lost. I … I don’t know what to say. All my plans, all my ideas heading into my biggest title defense … and the guys I wanted to destroy are already gone. What kind of shit is this universe? I have suffered at Jack and Hype’s hands, I have been questioned about the legitimacy of my win against Caff. How the fuck do I solve these problems now?"
*He grabs his neck and rubs it remembering the kick and clothesline combo that Jack and Hype used on him. He reaches for his phone and shuts it off.*
*We open up in the still quite deserted Boston Common the morning of July 15th, 2020. It’s the Wednesday of Voltage and DT and Mistress Discipline are both on the card. Still we find DT, MD, and Chaos all standing in the dawn light stretching. DT is in his wrestling attire with both his belts around his waist.*
"I don’t see why we had to wake up at the ass crack of dawn and come to a deserted public garden area instead of sleeping in! I have real life duties to prepare for back in North Carolina! Plus the libations from the Liberty Hotel are still catching up with me."
*She is wearing sunglasses in addition to her mask even though the light is barely getting bright.*
"Really Chaos, we spoke about this last night. We need the area to be without the throngs of fans who would surely affront us in a public location so we can perform an adequate photo shoot."
"I feel like I should be doing more opposition research and preparing for Leon Chant. Why did I agree to this photoshoot anyway?"
"You are the double champion! It is your duty to perform publicity for the MCCW and XHF Network crews. We are simply here to … facilitate that publicity! And make suggestions on the best angles to use!"
"Right, facilitate … not ogle … got it."
*Discipline snaps her head around and glares at her. She sighs and turns back to DT who is struggling to get the belts to stay put and align correctly and missed the comment.*
"Really Chaos, we need to be professional here!"
"Because you look so professional in those short shorts honey."
"Where is my mute button …"
"So I can’t get the belts to look right. Why do I have to have them BELOW my stomach? It’s very unnatural. And they keep getting caught on the waistband of my wrestling tights."
"Could always lose the pants honey."
"HAHAHAH WHAT SHE MEANS … is … it is important for the fans to see your … *cough* … recognizable midsection absets … ASSETS!"
"Show off the tum tum."
"Seriously I get that I’m doing two title matches next week but I can’t look past Leon Chant. He is an associate of Rob Arnold and I could make a major statement by beating him convincingly. We need to do this fast."
"Oh do not worry, I budgeted us an hour for this photoshoot in our workout regimen this morning."
"Not very championship material to bow out after ten seconds …"
*They both shoot her a glare. She lowers her sunglasses and looks over them. She gives them both a “try me” stare*
"Ok now stand with your chest out and look fierce! Yes, work with the camera, it is your friend. Maybe we could lose the hat?"
*Discipline is taking pictures as Chaos sits on the grass watching some squirrels play in the distance.*
"The hat? Oh don’t tell me the X*Crown guys got in your head too! This hat has been good to me, it’s part of my wrestling persona! I can’t abandon it! Look you KNOW I’m not actually bald underneath it, you’ve seen me wrestle, I don’t wrestle with the hat. I don’t even have a receding hairline! I don’t have to impress anyone! Much less the 6 other dudes and a ref … who … will be in the ring … with me … in a major title… match … OH GOD NO I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON HERE!"
*He collapses onto the grass holding his head in the fetal position.*
"I … I am unfamiliar with what I am seeing here. Stop that. Why are you doing that?"
*She moves closer to him with only two poses having been completed. The squirrels meanwhile have noticed the trail mix in a baggie that Chaos has pulled from her pocket. They are approaching and Chaos seems confused but also too hungover to move. Boston squirrels are very friendly and will take food from your hand, especially on the Common.*
"Nice … rodents … why are y’all not running away from me?"
"I’ve been in this position before. Oh God it’s all flooding back to me. This is a set up! Mongo is doing this intentionally to fuck with me!"
"I am sure I have no idea to what you are referring. Can we please get back to the picture taking? If you are feeling restricted we could always get artsy and ditch the pants and use the belts as covering! Like a kilt!"
"You don’t understand, this is the biggest match of my career. Just like the last time I was top champion in Mongo’s XHF. He booked me in a match with seven other men AND a guest referee. It was all a ruse! They dogpiled on me. I was buried under eight other men and stripped of my title and my pride. Every title reign after that has seen me falter early on and lose the title as if I was some pathetic loser!"
"Ok so I am hearing a lot of repressed trauma in your voice. Do you think this deep seated fear of failure is rooted in this memory of Mongo … literally burying you under a mountain of man meat?"
*He rocks back and forth on the grass*
"Ok phrasing. How can I help you get through this? If you are reacting like this now, you are going to have an episode in the ring and become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You have to get through this block in your mind."
*The squirrels are now climbing all over Chaos as she shrieks and tries to get them off of her. They chatter and chitter and seem intent on getting the food despite the protests of their human climbing obstacle.*
"Squirrels aren’t supposed to be this social! THOSE ARE NOT CLIMBING OBSTACLES! This is my favorite sporting undergarment! DON’T GO IN THERE!"
*She begins to make noises like common squirrel predators. The squirrels peak out of her top confused and amused.*
"It’s the same situation MD. Mongo is a ruthless, unscrupulous, fat, angry, oversized control freak. And he hates me. I’m wearing an ECF title as his company’s top title. Clearly he is out to hold me down and see me fail. I can feel the burial coming! He’s done it to so many others! Dylan is allowed into this match with a metal robot hand, Yuki is apparently magic and immortal like that Doctor fellow on the TV!"
"Doctor? What doctor? Doctor who?"
"Right that one!"
*She is even more confused now. Chaos is now dancing around with squirrels in her pants. S.I.M.P. squirrels in my pants!*
"Oh God are y’all rabid? IS that why y’all are so friendly and unafraid of your predators?! I’M GONNA NEED A BOOSTER SHOT!"
"It all makes sense, using Ratty in his plans to spite him AND me is right up Mongo’s alley. Bringing Rob out of retirement, giving Dylan an easy in, the relative unknown ringer brought in to topple the main threat to his public image, and removing his dissenters and opponents I had answers for. It’s all Mongo … the bastard!"
"Um ok. So this last time, it was seven wrestlers against you and a wrestler as a guest ref. And all of them hated you and were at least willing to work with each other. Right?"
"Yes…"
"This time it is a normal referee, SIX other wrestlers, most of which hate each other or do not even know each other, and who, as far as I can see, have no qualms with you other than you having the belt they all want, which makes sense since it is the top title in the company. TOTALLY different scenario."
"I mean I guess that’s true."
*Chaos has shaken off the squirrels and tossed the food across the common letting them run off. She brushes herself off and makes sure there are no bites or scratches on her.*
"Blondes have more fun my delightfully well-toned ASS!"
"Furthermore, you seem to have a mental block on yourself. Look, you have had nothing but success since you returned to wrestling. You have been fantastic as an ambassador for MCCW and for XHF as a whole. You have evolved beyond being irresponsible and injury prone. You are one of the most consistent and reliable hands in XHF bar none."
"I mean … that’s true. I am much less a liability to Mongo making money than before. And I am in the best shape of my life. I know I can handle any opponent given the right strategy and that I don’t lose focus. Most of my losses are due to a bridging pin move which is just me losing my focus. If I stay focused, I can win easy. I am every bit as talented in the ring as Rob Arnold and Yuki Sakaraba. I’m healthier as a whole than Rat Bastard and Ryan Young. I’m far better at adapting than Dylan Black. Other guy I got nothing for … But I am the favorite going into this. It’s my belt. How do I stop myself from relapsing though? How do I stop letting my mind sabotage me?"
*He sits up and looks at her for guidance.*
"Ok. Close your eyes and relax. Sit still and breathe deep to the bottom of those abs. Feel the wind on your face and the grass under your derriere. You need to go inside your own mind and take control. Make it work for you. Silence the inner voice that replays these traumatic moments for you and get it to play moments with you in control. Your body and mind are as one and both are in your own power. No opponent can get in and break that link. No action will destroy that focus. Make your obvious weakness into a strength."
*He breathes deep and closes his eyes. He slows his breathing down and feels the wind on his face. He listens intently for his inner voice as he tries to get into a groove. As he sinks deeper into the recesses of his mind and tunes out the sound of Chaos stomping her feet to scare off the squirrels one last time … I can feel the expansion of my own diaphragm. I can feel the morning sun on my back and remembered I forgot sunscreen. I am the most accomplished disappointment in the world. I keep getting to the top, hell staying there, and yet never long enough for more than a cup of coffee. What is the worth of getting there if you can’t stay there? Wait … I need to drown that thought out. I have done more in my career than most of these other guys could dream of. Rob Arnold may be the most dominant X*Crown Champion of the return era but he is still only around part time now. He is also prone to violent outbursts and rage. Not the kind of guy Mongo would recruit. I can overcome him.
Rat Bastard and I have shockingly much in common. Between he, Rob and I, we are all told to retire. That we’re too old and out of touch. We can’t hang in this business anymore. But I know better. Rat is a tactician when it all breaks down. He wins when he has to. He is conniving and self-serving. But he’s also unpredictable. Which is why I’ve failed in the past. I need to adapt to his evolving offense. I may be the elder statesman in this match but I am not over the hill. I am peaking at the right moment. Rat normally would intimidate me with how he is able to skirt the rules and wrestle despite his body being riddled with alcohol and filth.
Dylan Black is a choke artist. He can spit the big game all he wants but he never gets over the top. The only worthy thing he ever did was hide his face and identity and get a good run in that way. All he cares about these days is violence for violence’s sake. I shake my head. That will never be a way to outdo me.
Ryan Young is in the same boat, all the talent in the world and yet he somehow keeps coming up short. I wonder if he knows he is permanently in the shadow of Seth Dillinger? Isn’t he just repeating all the beats Seth has had in his life? Betrayal, losing a loved one, coming back an asshole? If I can take out his knees he is worthless.
I am left to wonder what Yuki Sakaraba is trying to accomplish. It was a pretty bold move to use the CGI and get plastic surgery to run from Brad Swann. I mean that has to be the real reason her face is all different now. I mean it’s clear somebody just watches too much sci-fi and anime and is blowing their entire load on this one promo series for her. Should really get the number of her writer and effects guy. Might have a use for that in the future.
And Gordon Carlson, he has a wealth of experience and years under his belt. He’s going to play the underdog story, it’s obvious he has the ability after taking out Hyperion and robbing me of my revenge. But I can’t let that simmer in my mind. I am focused now. I am ready to do what needs to be done. And he has no clue what the XHF is really like. Yes Hyperion was a top dog. But I’m THE top dog around here. And impressive wins are just that. I bring a culture of winning. I have been a winner for years now. Let’s make him prove his worth … and fall short.
I open my eyes and look around. The sun is now bright and beautiful. It must be almost seven AM at this point. We’ve used most of our recreation time. But this is a breakthrough. I tune back into the world around me. I can do this. I can control my own destiny. I can make my own bad memories into lessons to use to overcome at Night of Champions. I untie the anchor of my trauma from my brain and feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I stand up and adjust my title belts and hat.
"Well you certainly look better. Much more chipper. So … … how do you feel about that title belt artsy shot … and a calendar for the DT fan club?"
I see Chaos come back over to us. Where has she been? What has she been doing? Her shirt is all ruffled and her hair is all akimbo.
"Much as I’d love to see his bare booty and what that calendar does to Mongo when he sees it … I think we should leave, the squirrels might be rabid…"
I was thinking, “How did I get here? Why is this happening?” It was right about the time I took my fourth pop up choke powerbomb and I was staring at the ceiling. This had all gone terribly wrong. What was I doing? Just a month or so ago I had choked Leon out and it wasn’t even all that difficult. Now here I was being brutally manhandled by this wall of beef. Not BEEEEEEFFF mind you, just muscle and anger. It’s like Rob Arnold had pissed him off so much that he had no choice but to vent his frustration on whatever unlucky soul had stepped in front of him in a legal fight scenario or he’d explode and die from the rage. And here I thought he was British so it’d be a returning Desjardins. Ha, history joke … but the French coward ran off. Wait that’s kinda racist … or countryiest, let me rethink this.
I had many questions about this night. Why had I decided, in my infinite wisdom, to climb the ropes … twice? I am not a young man anymore. I don’t do the flying thing. What was I trying to prove? Was I trying to show off to Rob Arnold? Yessiree I showed HIM how to be an idiot and fail to adhere to the strategy. Sucking wind after landing on my gut sure was impressive! No wonder the ladies can’t keep away from me. As I sit here rolling my eyes at my own thoughts it occurs to me that I am still in a match. Carnegie has broken the pinfall because I blindly grabbed the ropes. Ok gotta move, snap suplex, give me a second to catch my breath and strategize. Ok well let’s go back to what works. Fist to the face, kicks to the face. Yes. … Am I just pissing him off more? Is that how I have to take this guy down?
Those slams really messed with my brain. OK DT just breathe and focus. Breakdown has him on the mat, let’s consider our options. He was trained by Rob Arnold but he’s not Rob Arnold. Rob is a vicious, no nonsense guy in the ring but he doesn’t have this raw power. Rob is a technician at heart, he knows how to work a match to his advantage. Leon is just a wall of meat. He’s going to go for power and he clearly has me scouted. So let’s show Rob I am no one trick pony. If I spike this monster on his head it should take him down. Let’s hope Rob is watching because his boy is about to get his brains scrambled.
Ok he kicked out, no surprise. Man is used to dealing with Rob in his ear all the time, he can take some punishment. Expectation would be to choke him out again, let’s play with that and give him something he doesn’t expect. Another power move. I almost feel bad about the headache that meatcake here is going to have … when he listens to Rob berate him for overpowering me and still losing. Because that’s what I do…
I walk into the post-show press conference. The reporters are masked and sitting 6 feet from each other. I take my place on the makeshift stage. I look around the room and everyone is staring at me waiting for a statement. I adjust the ice pack on my back. I think for a minute of what to say.
“Tonight … tonight I worked through some things in that ring. I have a bit of a history after winning titles that I know wasn’t helped by my match with Brad Swann two Voltages ago. And there are some who call me a PTSD case. How I’ve never been the same with any title since that day Mongo stole the XHF World Title from me in 2005. For fifteen years I’ve lived with the same questions, the same emotions, the same doubts. And I know that next week at Master Clash and then a few days later at Night of Champions there will be men (and women) looking to take advantage of that blip in my psyche, that crack in my armor.”
I shift uneasily in the chair, I need to be precise with my wording here. I’ve spent weeks going over this upcoming week in my head. I’ve run the scenarios and I’ve come through my own doubts. For the first time I allowed my tag team partner to mentor me. To work me through my issues. Because I cannot be the one who slips and falls this time. I can’t let the past bubble up and ruin the present. Because I don’t know how much of a future there is to do this again. Age may be just a number, especially when it comes to my success in the ring, but time is undefeated and I need to capitalize on my peaking performance while I have the ability. And my mind will NOT be the breaking point.
“So, I’ve taken steps. Tonight was a big one. I came in with my mind in other places. But I found my focus. I showed I can bring it back to where I need to be. I changed the playbook on the fly and I did something unexpected. Was it more brutal than usual? Yes. Was it necessary?”
I hold my back.
“Oh hell yes. Leon Chant is no slouch, but he’s also no Rob Arnold. He’s no Rat Bastard. He’s no Yuki Sakaraba … I think … He’s … well ok he probably is on the level of Dylan Viper Black let’s be realistic here…”
A chuckle is elicited from the collection of faces behind masks and I begin to open up again. I begin to feel that familiar flow.
“The point is … Rob Arnold, I hope you were watching tonight like you said you were. I hope you take pride in your protégé putting me to the mat hard. And I hope you give him credit for what he did. But I also hope you took something away from this match about me.”
I raise the X*Crown title into the air with one hand, and the MCCW World title in the other.
“I … am the World Heavyweight Champion. I … am the X*Crown Champion. I am on top of the world for the first time in a long time. And these titles are the result of the past trauma I’ve had to overcome. These titles … represent that I am still the main goddamn attraction in XHF in 2020. More than I was even in the prime of my first XHF run. You were not lucky enough to cross my path then. But you are now. And I want you to understand. I am not afraid of going that extra step anymore. I am not going to let others dictate my future anymore. If you want my title … you will have to earn it. And I have no doubt you will put in the effort. I have no doubt that this time will not be like the first time. Whoever wins this belt will actually have earned it, be it you, Yuki, Ratty, Ryan, Carlson, Dylan or myself. My mind is sharper than it has ever been and that is the most dangerous thing. Because for so long that has been my breaking point. My body has stopped giving out, my stamina has become legendary, my endurance drives me harder than any other wrestler. But now my head is on straight.”
I lower the belts and lean into the mic to talk more softly and more focused.
“I am not going to sweep my past failures under the rug this time. I finally figured out to learn from my mistakes. I am finally at peace in my mind with the games that have been played with me both by Mongo and by the universe at large. I took a little inspiration from Brad Swann, I control my OWN destiny. I am the master of my own world and I choose how to take these adversities. Yes I won this title because Caffrey got knocked the fuck out by another man … but he didn’t SAVE me from losing. Yes I lost a match since winning the belt. It happens. We all lose sometimes. Dylan makes a habit of it. Hell even Ratty loses more than he wins and yet he gets those key victories to end up in this very match. I almost admire him. Almost.”
I shudder at the thought of some of Rat’s more … troublesome proclivities.
“As I sit here looking at these faces, into that camera, talking to the many fans watching at home and to you six wrestlers facing me at Night of Champions. I promise, I am no longer the victim, the trauma act. I am not the one who uses his past failures to excuse failure and brings about a self-fulfilling prophecy any longer. As you saw tonight … I am laser focused, and nothing will stop me on my path to victory. I will be the man who brings these belts even higher in value and prestige. I will walk into Night of Champions and finally put to rest the specters of the past. And chart my path into the future. I finally figured out how to cut the strings holding me back, stopping me from achieving the heights I so desperately craved. Thank you all for your time, but I have a world title match to get training for.”
I stand from the podium and walk off as flash bulbs go off. I hear Aleister giving a small speech closing out the press conference. I tune it out. My mind is finally focused, at peace, and ready to do what I need to do to give these fans what they truly desire. The echoes of the small masked crowd can still be heard in the recesses of the TD Garden. The cheers of M-C-C-Dub, the D-T chants, the wild applause as I hit the third Main Attraction driving Leon Chant’s face into the mat hard. In my mind the form of Leon shifts into that of Rob Arnold. A smirk crosses my face as I exit the talent exit of the arena and am greeted by a familiar bald man.
“You know, you probably didn’t need to try and concuss the poor bastard. But then if it were me in the ring I wouldn’t have been in trouble or needed to reach that deep.”
"Why did I invite you if you were just gonna rip on me like usual GD?"
“Because you’re a show off and you wanted me to see you holding two belts in the air as if it would make me jealous. You approval seeking bastard.”
"Yeah yeah, come on let’s go meet the ladies and celebrate our victories at some place that’s still open. I just finished working through some shit and I need food."
“Has Discipline hit you with a frying pan yet?”
"I know I know, humble looking home but I like to live simply. My house is in an undisclosed area in the suburbs around Seattle. But all I really need is to be comfortable. I don’t need all this extra shit. I got my PS4 ready to stream the XHF Network for Overheated tonight."
*He sits back on the couch and pulls up a bowl full of Fritos. As he settles in he pulls out a 2 Liter bottle of Dr. Pepper. We hear the introduction of Overheated play out on the TV.*
"Here we go, this is going to be good. I have an predictions of who I’m going to be facing but this is where I find out for sure. I’m not going to lie, I am looking forward to getting some payback in on Hyperion. The asshole nearly beheaded me … three times … and tried to end my career. I have worked out strategies to neutralize Jack, Hype and Caffrey after my recent experiences with them all. You fans are in for a treat. I’ve been really buckling down in this week off from MCCW and training my body to withstand the rigors of another cluster match. Oh hey Rob Arnold. This dude is a treat to watch in the ring. He used to be more of a technician like Gravedigger but I suppose as he got older he changed his interests."
*A few minutes pass as DT is seen munching fritos and drinking Dr. Pepper from the bottle like a heathen. He is into the match and cheering along with the crowd. Finally we hear the announcers as the Caffrey/Rat match is next.*
"Caffrey … I know you are pissed that I have this title. But let’s face it … I was never going to tap out. Timeless may have cost you the match but it only saved you the shock of losing in overtime when I made you tap out. At Night of Champions I’ll set aside some time to prove it to you. It eats me up inside that people can even question the legitimacy of this title reign because we both know I would have beaten you once the ref reset us for OT. I’ve been studying your moves and coming up with creative counters for your stupid ankle lock. "
After a few minutes, Rat Bastard breaks the hold. He stands up, pulling Caffrey up with him. He lifts Caffrey up into a power bomb position and his right ankle gives out on him so that he drops Caffrey onto the back of his neck! He goes for the cover!
One
Two
Three!
King: Rat Bastard for the win with a botched Bastard Bomb!
Hawke: I hope he didn't break Caffrey's neck trying to get into Night of Champions.
Bonnie Jenkins: Winner of the match and going on to the X*Crown match at the Night of Champions...Rat Bastard!
One
Two
Three!
King: Rat Bastard for the win with a botched Bastard Bomb!
Hawke: I hope he didn't break Caffrey's neck trying to get into Night of Champions.
Bonnie Jenkins: Winner of the match and going on to the X*Crown match at the Night of Champions...Rat Bastard!
" Wait what? I don’t … I don’t believe after the crap he talked about me leading up to tonight that he blew it! God damn it Rat Bastard. I don’t know if I ever came out on top against him in our past meet ups. Dude always seemed to have my number. Ugh I … how am I supposed to prove to everyone I can make Caffrey my bitch if you took him out of the match! All the plans I made, out the window. I … ok it’s fine. I can handle this. Ratty is manageable. I have experience with this. This means nothing. Rat is a chaotic element in this match but I have handled similar in MCCW. Can’t let him live in my head. The past is the past, I am clearly his better now."
*DT sits back down and picks the Fritos up off the floor that he spilled when he stood up. He calms himself down and settles in for the next match. Ryan vs Jack was every bit the competitive spectacle it was expected to be.*
"Shit Jack is out too? Ok revenge derailed, I’m sure I’ll get a chance to kick his head off in the future. Don’t let the fact that he now gets to kick MY head off with no comeuppance get to you. Come on DT focus. Ryan is an intense challenger, knees for days."
*Who says that? He then watches Dylan win with boredom in his face as he finishes off the Fritos and Dr. Pepper. He settles in for Hyperion to face some unknown. As the match goes on however he gets more and more agitated.*
"No … no this man refused to go down against us. How can he be failing now? What is wrong with him!? I mean yes we had him beat and Jack saved him but I need closure. I have to feel his body shut down as I choke the life out of him in the Death Trap. I need to see him tap out in my clutch. He lost … he fucking lost. I … I don’t know what to say. All my plans, all my ideas heading into my biggest title defense … and the guys I wanted to destroy are already gone. What kind of shit is this universe? I have suffered at Jack and Hype’s hands, I have been questioned about the legitimacy of my win against Caff. How the fuck do I solve these problems now?"
*He grabs his neck and rubs it remembering the kick and clothesline combo that Jack and Hype used on him. He reaches for his phone and shuts it off.*
*We open up in the still quite deserted Boston Common the morning of July 15th, 2020. It’s the Wednesday of Voltage and DT and Mistress Discipline are both on the card. Still we find DT, MD, and Chaos all standing in the dawn light stretching. DT is in his wrestling attire with both his belts around his waist.*
"I don’t see why we had to wake up at the ass crack of dawn and come to a deserted public garden area instead of sleeping in! I have real life duties to prepare for back in North Carolina! Plus the libations from the Liberty Hotel are still catching up with me."
*She is wearing sunglasses in addition to her mask even though the light is barely getting bright.*
"Really Chaos, we spoke about this last night. We need the area to be without the throngs of fans who would surely affront us in a public location so we can perform an adequate photo shoot."
"I feel like I should be doing more opposition research and preparing for Leon Chant. Why did I agree to this photoshoot anyway?"
"You are the double champion! It is your duty to perform publicity for the MCCW and XHF Network crews. We are simply here to … facilitate that publicity! And make suggestions on the best angles to use!"
"Right, facilitate … not ogle … got it."
*Discipline snaps her head around and glares at her. She sighs and turns back to DT who is struggling to get the belts to stay put and align correctly and missed the comment.*
"Really Chaos, we need to be professional here!"
"Because you look so professional in those short shorts honey."
"Where is my mute button …"
"So I can’t get the belts to look right. Why do I have to have them BELOW my stomach? It’s very unnatural. And they keep getting caught on the waistband of my wrestling tights."
"Could always lose the pants honey."
"HAHAHAH WHAT SHE MEANS … is … it is important for the fans to see your … *cough* … recognizable midsection absets … ASSETS!"
"Show off the tum tum."
"Seriously I get that I’m doing two title matches next week but I can’t look past Leon Chant. He is an associate of Rob Arnold and I could make a major statement by beating him convincingly. We need to do this fast."
"Oh do not worry, I budgeted us an hour for this photoshoot in our workout regimen this morning."
"Not very championship material to bow out after ten seconds …"
*They both shoot her a glare. She lowers her sunglasses and looks over them. She gives them both a “try me” stare*
"Ok now stand with your chest out and look fierce! Yes, work with the camera, it is your friend. Maybe we could lose the hat?"
*Discipline is taking pictures as Chaos sits on the grass watching some squirrels play in the distance.*
"The hat? Oh don’t tell me the X*Crown guys got in your head too! This hat has been good to me, it’s part of my wrestling persona! I can’t abandon it! Look you KNOW I’m not actually bald underneath it, you’ve seen me wrestle, I don’t wrestle with the hat. I don’t even have a receding hairline! I don’t have to impress anyone! Much less the 6 other dudes and a ref … who … will be in the ring … with me … in a major title… match … OH GOD NO I KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON HERE!"
*He collapses onto the grass holding his head in the fetal position.*
"I … I am unfamiliar with what I am seeing here. Stop that. Why are you doing that?"
*She moves closer to him with only two poses having been completed. The squirrels meanwhile have noticed the trail mix in a baggie that Chaos has pulled from her pocket. They are approaching and Chaos seems confused but also too hungover to move. Boston squirrels are very friendly and will take food from your hand, especially on the Common.*
"Nice … rodents … why are y’all not running away from me?"
"I’ve been in this position before. Oh God it’s all flooding back to me. This is a set up! Mongo is doing this intentionally to fuck with me!"
"I am sure I have no idea to what you are referring. Can we please get back to the picture taking? If you are feeling restricted we could always get artsy and ditch the pants and use the belts as covering! Like a kilt!"
"You don’t understand, this is the biggest match of my career. Just like the last time I was top champion in Mongo’s XHF. He booked me in a match with seven other men AND a guest referee. It was all a ruse! They dogpiled on me. I was buried under eight other men and stripped of my title and my pride. Every title reign after that has seen me falter early on and lose the title as if I was some pathetic loser!"
"Ok so I am hearing a lot of repressed trauma in your voice. Do you think this deep seated fear of failure is rooted in this memory of Mongo … literally burying you under a mountain of man meat?"
*He rocks back and forth on the grass*
"Ok phrasing. How can I help you get through this? If you are reacting like this now, you are going to have an episode in the ring and become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You have to get through this block in your mind."
*The squirrels are now climbing all over Chaos as she shrieks and tries to get them off of her. They chatter and chitter and seem intent on getting the food despite the protests of their human climbing obstacle.*
"Squirrels aren’t supposed to be this social! THOSE ARE NOT CLIMBING OBSTACLES! This is my favorite sporting undergarment! DON’T GO IN THERE!"
*She begins to make noises like common squirrel predators. The squirrels peak out of her top confused and amused.*
"It’s the same situation MD. Mongo is a ruthless, unscrupulous, fat, angry, oversized control freak. And he hates me. I’m wearing an ECF title as his company’s top title. Clearly he is out to hold me down and see me fail. I can feel the burial coming! He’s done it to so many others! Dylan is allowed into this match with a metal robot hand, Yuki is apparently magic and immortal like that Doctor fellow on the TV!"
"Doctor? What doctor? Doctor who?"
"Right that one!"
*She is even more confused now. Chaos is now dancing around with squirrels in her pants. S.I.M.P. squirrels in my pants!*
"Oh God are y’all rabid? IS that why y’all are so friendly and unafraid of your predators?! I’M GONNA NEED A BOOSTER SHOT!"
"It all makes sense, using Ratty in his plans to spite him AND me is right up Mongo’s alley. Bringing Rob out of retirement, giving Dylan an easy in, the relative unknown ringer brought in to topple the main threat to his public image, and removing his dissenters and opponents I had answers for. It’s all Mongo … the bastard!"
"Um ok. So this last time, it was seven wrestlers against you and a wrestler as a guest ref. And all of them hated you and were at least willing to work with each other. Right?"
"Yes…"
"This time it is a normal referee, SIX other wrestlers, most of which hate each other or do not even know each other, and who, as far as I can see, have no qualms with you other than you having the belt they all want, which makes sense since it is the top title in the company. TOTALLY different scenario."
"I mean I guess that’s true."
*Chaos has shaken off the squirrels and tossed the food across the common letting them run off. She brushes herself off and makes sure there are no bites or scratches on her.*
"Blondes have more fun my delightfully well-toned ASS!"
"Furthermore, you seem to have a mental block on yourself. Look, you have had nothing but success since you returned to wrestling. You have been fantastic as an ambassador for MCCW and for XHF as a whole. You have evolved beyond being irresponsible and injury prone. You are one of the most consistent and reliable hands in XHF bar none."
"I mean … that’s true. I am much less a liability to Mongo making money than before. And I am in the best shape of my life. I know I can handle any opponent given the right strategy and that I don’t lose focus. Most of my losses are due to a bridging pin move which is just me losing my focus. If I stay focused, I can win easy. I am every bit as talented in the ring as Rob Arnold and Yuki Sakaraba. I’m healthier as a whole than Rat Bastard and Ryan Young. I’m far better at adapting than Dylan Black. Other guy I got nothing for … But I am the favorite going into this. It’s my belt. How do I stop myself from relapsing though? How do I stop letting my mind sabotage me?"
*He sits up and looks at her for guidance.*
"Ok. Close your eyes and relax. Sit still and breathe deep to the bottom of those abs. Feel the wind on your face and the grass under your derriere. You need to go inside your own mind and take control. Make it work for you. Silence the inner voice that replays these traumatic moments for you and get it to play moments with you in control. Your body and mind are as one and both are in your own power. No opponent can get in and break that link. No action will destroy that focus. Make your obvious weakness into a strength."
*He breathes deep and closes his eyes. He slows his breathing down and feels the wind on his face. He listens intently for his inner voice as he tries to get into a groove. As he sinks deeper into the recesses of his mind and tunes out the sound of Chaos stomping her feet to scare off the squirrels one last time … I can feel the expansion of my own diaphragm. I can feel the morning sun on my back and remembered I forgot sunscreen. I am the most accomplished disappointment in the world. I keep getting to the top, hell staying there, and yet never long enough for more than a cup of coffee. What is the worth of getting there if you can’t stay there? Wait … I need to drown that thought out. I have done more in my career than most of these other guys could dream of. Rob Arnold may be the most dominant X*Crown Champion of the return era but he is still only around part time now. He is also prone to violent outbursts and rage. Not the kind of guy Mongo would recruit. I can overcome him.
Rat Bastard and I have shockingly much in common. Between he, Rob and I, we are all told to retire. That we’re too old and out of touch. We can’t hang in this business anymore. But I know better. Rat is a tactician when it all breaks down. He wins when he has to. He is conniving and self-serving. But he’s also unpredictable. Which is why I’ve failed in the past. I need to adapt to his evolving offense. I may be the elder statesman in this match but I am not over the hill. I am peaking at the right moment. Rat normally would intimidate me with how he is able to skirt the rules and wrestle despite his body being riddled with alcohol and filth.
Dylan Black is a choke artist. He can spit the big game all he wants but he never gets over the top. The only worthy thing he ever did was hide his face and identity and get a good run in that way. All he cares about these days is violence for violence’s sake. I shake my head. That will never be a way to outdo me.
Ryan Young is in the same boat, all the talent in the world and yet he somehow keeps coming up short. I wonder if he knows he is permanently in the shadow of Seth Dillinger? Isn’t he just repeating all the beats Seth has had in his life? Betrayal, losing a loved one, coming back an asshole? If I can take out his knees he is worthless.
I am left to wonder what Yuki Sakaraba is trying to accomplish. It was a pretty bold move to use the CGI and get plastic surgery to run from Brad Swann. I mean that has to be the real reason her face is all different now. I mean it’s clear somebody just watches too much sci-fi and anime and is blowing their entire load on this one promo series for her. Should really get the number of her writer and effects guy. Might have a use for that in the future.
And Gordon Carlson, he has a wealth of experience and years under his belt. He’s going to play the underdog story, it’s obvious he has the ability after taking out Hyperion and robbing me of my revenge. But I can’t let that simmer in my mind. I am focused now. I am ready to do what needs to be done. And he has no clue what the XHF is really like. Yes Hyperion was a top dog. But I’m THE top dog around here. And impressive wins are just that. I bring a culture of winning. I have been a winner for years now. Let’s make him prove his worth … and fall short.
I open my eyes and look around. The sun is now bright and beautiful. It must be almost seven AM at this point. We’ve used most of our recreation time. But this is a breakthrough. I tune back into the world around me. I can do this. I can control my own destiny. I can make my own bad memories into lessons to use to overcome at Night of Champions. I untie the anchor of my trauma from my brain and feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I stand up and adjust my title belts and hat.
"Well you certainly look better. Much more chipper. So … … how do you feel about that title belt artsy shot … and a calendar for the DT fan club?"
I see Chaos come back over to us. Where has she been? What has she been doing? Her shirt is all ruffled and her hair is all akimbo.
"Much as I’d love to see his bare booty and what that calendar does to Mongo when he sees it … I think we should leave, the squirrels might be rabid…"
I was thinking, “How did I get here? Why is this happening?” It was right about the time I took my fourth pop up choke powerbomb and I was staring at the ceiling. This had all gone terribly wrong. What was I doing? Just a month or so ago I had choked Leon out and it wasn’t even all that difficult. Now here I was being brutally manhandled by this wall of beef. Not BEEEEEEFFF mind you, just muscle and anger. It’s like Rob Arnold had pissed him off so much that he had no choice but to vent his frustration on whatever unlucky soul had stepped in front of him in a legal fight scenario or he’d explode and die from the rage. And here I thought he was British so it’d be a returning Desjardins. Ha, history joke … but the French coward ran off. Wait that’s kinda racist … or countryiest, let me rethink this.
I had many questions about this night. Why had I decided, in my infinite wisdom, to climb the ropes … twice? I am not a young man anymore. I don’t do the flying thing. What was I trying to prove? Was I trying to show off to Rob Arnold? Yessiree I showed HIM how to be an idiot and fail to adhere to the strategy. Sucking wind after landing on my gut sure was impressive! No wonder the ladies can’t keep away from me. As I sit here rolling my eyes at my own thoughts it occurs to me that I am still in a match. Carnegie has broken the pinfall because I blindly grabbed the ropes. Ok gotta move, snap suplex, give me a second to catch my breath and strategize. Ok well let’s go back to what works. Fist to the face, kicks to the face. Yes. … Am I just pissing him off more? Is that how I have to take this guy down?
Those slams really messed with my brain. OK DT just breathe and focus. Breakdown has him on the mat, let’s consider our options. He was trained by Rob Arnold but he’s not Rob Arnold. Rob is a vicious, no nonsense guy in the ring but he doesn’t have this raw power. Rob is a technician at heart, he knows how to work a match to his advantage. Leon is just a wall of meat. He’s going to go for power and he clearly has me scouted. So let’s show Rob I am no one trick pony. If I spike this monster on his head it should take him down. Let’s hope Rob is watching because his boy is about to get his brains scrambled.
Ok he kicked out, no surprise. Man is used to dealing with Rob in his ear all the time, he can take some punishment. Expectation would be to choke him out again, let’s play with that and give him something he doesn’t expect. Another power move. I almost feel bad about the headache that meatcake here is going to have … when he listens to Rob berate him for overpowering me and still losing. Because that’s what I do…
I walk into the post-show press conference. The reporters are masked and sitting 6 feet from each other. I take my place on the makeshift stage. I look around the room and everyone is staring at me waiting for a statement. I adjust the ice pack on my back. I think for a minute of what to say.
“Tonight … tonight I worked through some things in that ring. I have a bit of a history after winning titles that I know wasn’t helped by my match with Brad Swann two Voltages ago. And there are some who call me a PTSD case. How I’ve never been the same with any title since that day Mongo stole the XHF World Title from me in 2005. For fifteen years I’ve lived with the same questions, the same emotions, the same doubts. And I know that next week at Master Clash and then a few days later at Night of Champions there will be men (and women) looking to take advantage of that blip in my psyche, that crack in my armor.”
I shift uneasily in the chair, I need to be precise with my wording here. I’ve spent weeks going over this upcoming week in my head. I’ve run the scenarios and I’ve come through my own doubts. For the first time I allowed my tag team partner to mentor me. To work me through my issues. Because I cannot be the one who slips and falls this time. I can’t let the past bubble up and ruin the present. Because I don’t know how much of a future there is to do this again. Age may be just a number, especially when it comes to my success in the ring, but time is undefeated and I need to capitalize on my peaking performance while I have the ability. And my mind will NOT be the breaking point.
“So, I’ve taken steps. Tonight was a big one. I came in with my mind in other places. But I found my focus. I showed I can bring it back to where I need to be. I changed the playbook on the fly and I did something unexpected. Was it more brutal than usual? Yes. Was it necessary?”
I hold my back.
“Oh hell yes. Leon Chant is no slouch, but he’s also no Rob Arnold. He’s no Rat Bastard. He’s no Yuki Sakaraba … I think … He’s … well ok he probably is on the level of Dylan Viper Black let’s be realistic here…”
A chuckle is elicited from the collection of faces behind masks and I begin to open up again. I begin to feel that familiar flow.
“The point is … Rob Arnold, I hope you were watching tonight like you said you were. I hope you take pride in your protégé putting me to the mat hard. And I hope you give him credit for what he did. But I also hope you took something away from this match about me.”
I raise the X*Crown title into the air with one hand, and the MCCW World title in the other.
“I … am the World Heavyweight Champion. I … am the X*Crown Champion. I am on top of the world for the first time in a long time. And these titles are the result of the past trauma I’ve had to overcome. These titles … represent that I am still the main goddamn attraction in XHF in 2020. More than I was even in the prime of my first XHF run. You were not lucky enough to cross my path then. But you are now. And I want you to understand. I am not afraid of going that extra step anymore. I am not going to let others dictate my future anymore. If you want my title … you will have to earn it. And I have no doubt you will put in the effort. I have no doubt that this time will not be like the first time. Whoever wins this belt will actually have earned it, be it you, Yuki, Ratty, Ryan, Carlson, Dylan or myself. My mind is sharper than it has ever been and that is the most dangerous thing. Because for so long that has been my breaking point. My body has stopped giving out, my stamina has become legendary, my endurance drives me harder than any other wrestler. But now my head is on straight.”
I lower the belts and lean into the mic to talk more softly and more focused.
“I am not going to sweep my past failures under the rug this time. I finally figured out to learn from my mistakes. I am finally at peace in my mind with the games that have been played with me both by Mongo and by the universe at large. I took a little inspiration from Brad Swann, I control my OWN destiny. I am the master of my own world and I choose how to take these adversities. Yes I won this title because Caffrey got knocked the fuck out by another man … but he didn’t SAVE me from losing. Yes I lost a match since winning the belt. It happens. We all lose sometimes. Dylan makes a habit of it. Hell even Ratty loses more than he wins and yet he gets those key victories to end up in this very match. I almost admire him. Almost.”
I shudder at the thought of some of Rat’s more … troublesome proclivities.
“As I sit here looking at these faces, into that camera, talking to the many fans watching at home and to you six wrestlers facing me at Night of Champions. I promise, I am no longer the victim, the trauma act. I am not the one who uses his past failures to excuse failure and brings about a self-fulfilling prophecy any longer. As you saw tonight … I am laser focused, and nothing will stop me on my path to victory. I will be the man who brings these belts even higher in value and prestige. I will walk into Night of Champions and finally put to rest the specters of the past. And chart my path into the future. I finally figured out how to cut the strings holding me back, stopping me from achieving the heights I so desperately craved. Thank you all for your time, but I have a world title match to get training for.”
I stand from the podium and walk off as flash bulbs go off. I hear Aleister giving a small speech closing out the press conference. I tune it out. My mind is finally focused, at peace, and ready to do what I need to do to give these fans what they truly desire. The echoes of the small masked crowd can still be heard in the recesses of the TD Garden. The cheers of M-C-C-Dub, the D-T chants, the wild applause as I hit the third Main Attraction driving Leon Chant’s face into the mat hard. In my mind the form of Leon shifts into that of Rob Arnold. A smirk crosses my face as I exit the talent exit of the arena and am greeted by a familiar bald man.
“You know, you probably didn’t need to try and concuss the poor bastard. But then if it were me in the ring I wouldn’t have been in trouble or needed to reach that deep.”
"Why did I invite you if you were just gonna rip on me like usual GD?"
“Because you’re a show off and you wanted me to see you holding two belts in the air as if it would make me jealous. You approval seeking bastard.”
"Yeah yeah, come on let’s go meet the ladies and celebrate our victories at some place that’s still open. I just finished working through some shit and I need food."
“Has Discipline hit you with a frying pan yet?”
