New Heights [January 2, 2021]

[Dave D-Flipz]

EARLIER TODAY:

*The scene opens up before the show. We are in Australia and the arena is still empty. The ring has been set up but the show is still hours away. We see technicians dawdling around the ringside area making sure everything is safe and secure. The camera spins around slowly taking in the empty arena with the COVID safety measures being put into place for the show to allow more people in safely. As we turn we see a pair of boots sitting on the chair one to the left in the row in front of the camera. Lo and behold those boots are attached to a pair of legs. The camera steps a few seats over and turns to see Death Trap leaning back in the seat looking skyward, looking stoic. He has his legs resting on the backrest of the chair in front of him.*

: "So we’ve gotten one problem taken care of … and one shiny object lost. It’s been a mixed holiday for me ya know? Just got through watching the replay from America of my tag partner being nearly killed by a man with suicidal tendencies and a Napoleon complex. So that’s something. But hey, that fucking clown didn’t get to do jack shit. Like I surmised would happen."

*Death Trap drops his feet to the floor and sits forward resting his elbows on his legs, folding his fingers together in front of his face.*

: "And here I am in Australia … this may be the first time if I’m honest. If not I don’t remember the last time. Not surprising with my track record of head injuries in the early part of my career."

*His eyes wander upward with a look of sorrow before he shakes his head and returns to his pensive position*

: "Here I am, ten pounds of gold lighter off my waist. Humbled by a supremely talented kid. 220 days of representing MCCW at an end. And yet … I showed this company what I’m worth and what I have left to give. Armand von Krauss came at me with every dirty cheat in the book. Zoran did it better."

*He smirks*

: "Wonder if dear old dad will be at Supremacy … I guess Armand wants to regain some of his fearsome visage. Going for the X*Crown for SWAT. As if he deserves it … The man is a thug and a manipulator. And I’m sure we’ll cross paths again once El Combatiente is done wiping the floor with him and his cadre of compatriots. The difference between Zoran and Armand is Zoran SEEMED invincible. He seemed inhuman. Armand is just a fragile man, trying to hide his own insecurities behind power and minions. Zoran made me think about what I had to give up to put him down. Armand made me sorry for how pathetic a bully he is."

*DT sighs and throws his hands behind his head. He reclines back again looking once again to the sky.*

: "What’s next for me now that I’ve put that rabid dog down for now? Why … new heights. Seems Radu has a little personal beef he needs some help in putting away so he can focus on his tag titles and his retirement. I’d say we’re probably even at this point if you factor in that shot to the head I took for him PLUS his spiders costing me my composure and letting Caff get one over on me … "

*DT smirks again*

: "But I guess I can forgive that and help out a good guy one more time. After all … Rally Jackson is nothing if not a lower level version of the thug Armand is. Sure he isn’t having others do his dirty work but his dirty work is less murder and mayhem and more … feces and fuckery."

*DT wrinkles his nose in disgust. Rally Jackson’s reputation precedes him*

: "I don’t understand what Jonnie and Tux see in Rally. And we’ll get to Tux and the … issues he has … but SWAT’s wrestler of the year comes with a lot of baggage. The man is a grade A bully who doesn’t know where the line between funny and criminal is. We’ve seen his dark side of the ring documentary in the hotel rooms during the End of Days Tag Annihilator. The man is disgusting. He’s a menace that needs to be shut down. What kind of arrogant idiot thinks setting a man on fire is a prank? And I thought I was the one with the history of head injuries but this man is clearly not well and needs some serious help."

*The Italian in DT starts to show as he gesticulates wildly with his arms as if he has to get his point across. DT is seriously irked.*

: "The problem is he isn’t just a bully. He’s a malicious, clueless, immature, unhinged bully. And it sucks cuz clearly there is a man with some real talent underneath the antics and hefty paunch. All the talent in the world is meaningless if you can’t package it together with some direction and work ethic. And somehow he has managed to convince Jonnie Valentine, who for all intents and purposes seems like an … ok … guy with a good bit of self-awareness and sanity in that head of his, to work with him. He has used Tuxedo Mask’s naiveté to goad him into putting in the work so Rally can ride to the top. While Jonnie, Tux and Syberus were putting in the work, Rally was piling in the doughnuts and putting out the stink bombs. And somehow Rally finds himself at the pinnacle of the company. And he can actually wrestle."

*He stands up and turns to the camera and gestures some heavy man slam style moves.*

: "Let’s be honest though Rally. You aren’t on my level. I am a two time X*Crown champion, a two time MCCW champion, the longest reigning one! And I have carried companies on my back. You dabble with this new leg lock craze. You put out some ok moves. But you will not out wrestle me. Not only am I not a man who is willing to quit but I have modeled my entire career on the submission style. I have made some of the best to ever step in the ring tap out. And that’s not even counting the stamina, pain absorbing machine that is Radu Matei – the greatest champion in SWAT history. He and I share something in common … a penchant for dropping fools on their heads. And let’s be real with your lack of conditioning and my arsenal of submissions that choke the air and life out of people … you wil be gasping for air and crying for help in my grasp. And if I were in a better mood I might do the honorable thing and let you go. I mean Radu would then stomp your head off and poor bugs on it but hey at least you’d be conscious."

*DT shudders from the thought of the bug army Radu carries and sits back down. He breathes deep to calm himself down.*

: "But see losing my title and being jerked around by Armand while going from Japan to Boston and then Australia has me in a sour mood. So maybe I’ll just give you a taste of your own medicine and ‘prank’ you? Suffocation and strangulation are just part of the FUN right Rally? You may claim to be a golden god … but I’m the Main Attraction, the apex of MCCW, a living legend. And my partner tonight is the best damn wrestler SWAT has produced. And your partner is … a gymnast with a cosplay fetish."

*DT raises an eyebrow*

: "Does anyone under the age of 35 even know Sailor Moon anymore Tuxy? Look I’m not out to disparage you as a man or your interests. You do you. But you associated yourself with this wart of a wrestler so you are stuck in the firing line too. And not to be the bearer of bad news but my martial arts background makes me a nightmare for fly guys like you. You’ve bitten off more than Rally can chew, especially since where we are … there is nothing to jump off of."

*DT lets out a laugh that slowly turns staggered and strained as he slowly lifts his head again. This time the camera follows and we see the scaffold hoisted high above the ring. It looms large and ominous in its shakiness. DT is normally not a man who shows fear … unless it’s spiders … always spiders … but he seems to be deep in thought this time. He is playing scenarios over in his head.*

: "And where we are … are literal … very literal … new heights."

*He points up at the scaffold as the camera moves back to focusing on the XHF Legend.*

: "How appropriate it is for us to be meeting in this manner gentlemen. See that is a match I’ve never been in. I mean I’ve had similar ones with some crazy heights but never like that. That is the bare bones ECF style structure the XHF usually is too good for. That is the essence of the acrophobia right there. See in all the big structure matches there is a support, a wall, something to try and grab on the way down. And there’s no guarantee someone goes over the edge. But in this case going over the edge is how the match must end. You just wonder what it will take to take two guys who are clearly already over the edge to go for the ride."

*He lowers his gaze back to the camera and gives a shrug*

: "See I have an old move in my arsenal that I’ve only used once in the network era, defending my X*Crown against Fukushima Zombie. It’s not a move I like to use, it’s raw power and not really my style anymore. It takes a lot of energy … but that One of a Kind (an F5 for the uninitiated) would certainly put Tux over the edge. Pretty sure I can’t do it to Rally. Sure I can lift 300lbs no problem but all that torque to spin him out would mess up my neck and back and ruin my ability to use my main strength, unexpected agility and martial arts fluidity. But for Rally … I’m sure if he’s been choked out his carcass will make a satisfying splat on the canvas below."

*He runs his hand through his hair*

: "And yet I’d be lying if I said I was comfortable with all this. I’ve stayed mostly out of the craziest hardcore matches since I returned in 2018. I’ve been protective of my head because I know what happened to me in the past. We’ve revisited the malaise I lived with for a decade enough so I won’t forcefeed it to you SWAT faithful. But a match like this really shows how much I have on the line. This is a career threatening match and I need to make sure we win. Because a loss might cost me the chance to win back my MCCW title, my chance to win back my X*Crown, my chance to win a title here in SWAT … my chance … to be in front of you fans and entertain the way I want. See this is not about money for me. And honestly … it’s not about the titles. It’s about the accolades I get from you fans. It’s about my ability to draw in the best crowds and keep them in their seats until they spring out and chant my name after I win."

*He soaks in the atmosphere of the arena. Yes it’s empty now and limited attendance but DT still can feel the buzz of the crowds.*

: "So you can believe this is all a big joke Rally. You can treat this with reckless abandon. But I will not. I will not be going for that ride. My career depends on it. And if that means you have to go down … you can bet neither Radu nor I will hesitate to end you. Tonight … Radu and I will rise to new heights. And the new breed can only look forward to the fall. I gotta find Radu …"

*DT grabs his hat off the seat next to him and pops it onto his head as he stands up and heads for the backstage area.*