Reaction to Legacy 11

[Anthony Jordan]

INT. ARENA IN ABERDEEN, PRESS AREA – NIGHT

Another big night of WUK action is complete. Whether it is the Bastards or the High Rollers or WUK or HKW, people have taken sides. War is brewing in Los Angeles as WUK hits the road. After a few seconds, the new British TV Champion walks in. KALMIN WATTS enters the room and walks up to the podium with his new title resting on his shoulder. He is in a pair of University of Oklahoma shorts and some sneakers. He’s still in the process of wrapping up the night when his name was called for the conference. Behind Watts is his manager, ANTHONY JORDAN. Jordan is all smiles as he pats Watts on the back and points to the belt. Watts starts the interview.

WATTS

Hey, everybody. It was kind of a boring night, right?

The reporters laugh.

WATTS

My opening remarks are that this is pretty sweet!

Watts looks at the belt as the reporters laugh again.

WATTS

I’d like to start by thanking Oxford Osland for the title match. It was scheduled to be a non-title match. On top of his head injury, he probably could have used a rest. He’s a fighting champion. That’s a choice, and I appreciated the chance. I understand the match was unusual, so I’m happy to grant him a re-match. In the spirit of Oxford, I want to be a fighting champion. In the spirit of older TV Titles, I want to defend any time I’m on TV. I’ll be ready. That said, let’s go.

REPORTER #1

What happened in your match tonight? There seemed to be some confusion.

WATTS

Yeah. The bell rang, and Oxford didn’t want to start. I think he wanted something ceremonial, and the referee didn’t grant it. I even checked with the ref about what to do. He said that we needed to start the match. At that point, the match is underway. I assumed that I’d rush him, and that would get things started. Oxford, not in a million years, thought he was going to be hit in the middle of a wrestling match. I caught him square with my right shoulder, then drove him into a mat. I played football for a lot of my life and never had a hit that clean and square. I was trying to wake him up. Guess I knocked him out.

REPORTER #2

Were you surprised that your tackle worked that way?

WATTS

Definitely. Oxford was pretty fresh. Again, it’s clear he wasn’t expecting me to hit him. Usually, when a guy is that fresh, he can catch you in a guard and take you to the mat. That’s what I was expecting. I figured I would take him down and lock around his waist. When I felt that he was slow to protect himself, I drove him straight into the mat. It was so fast and strong, that I figured I’d try for a pin. I was as shocked as anybody when I heard the three count. Hey, I’ll take it! (pats the belt)

REPORTER #3

Have you been contacted about a rematch?

WATTS

(looks to Jordan who shakes his head)

Not at this time.

REPORTER #4

Kalmin, the other big news is that you will be on Team HKW at the Battle for Los Angeles.

WATTS

(looking at Jordan who avoids eye contact)

Me too.

REPORTER #4

It all seemed to run counter to your biggest night in WUK. Can you explain what happened?

WATTS

Since I didn’t make the call, maybe someone else should.

Jordan points at himself as if to say “who me?”. Watts steps aside, then Jordan gives up the façade and moves into place behind the podium.

JORDAN

First, Kalmin found out before his match. I understand that the television viewer saw it after the match, but that was a production decision. Modern wrestling has cameras everywhere like a reality show. I interacted with Mister Blood an hour or two before the show and told Kalmin about it before the first bell. From what I was told, production was going to play it all, then got squeezed due to a need to fit in certain commercials in that time slot. They scrambled and found a new time to play my conversation with Kalmin. Obviously, after a big title win, I think we both feel better. Winning is the rising tide that lifts all ships. Next question.

REPORTER #5

Can you finish answer the previous question?

JORDAN

(annoyed that he was caught) Okay. (beat) Due to the nature of the show, Wrestle:U.K. and Hardkore World both had claims on Kalmin. During our discussions with Mister Blood during the matches with Eddie Havok, Mister Blood seemed to undervalue what Kalmin brought to the company. Beyond that, the option after his initial “tryout contract”, as they dub it, was picked up late. Look, we signed in September for the remainder of the year. Lots of people rotate through the company, and Wrestle:U.K. uses this mechanism to prevent bad money from rolling into the new year. The contract had a provision that the option for this year could be picked up any time last year or through the first two weeks of January. When I talked to you at New Year’s Brawl, the option had not been exercised. Meanwhile, the Valentines signed Kalmin through the end of this year. They basically gave him a fourteen-month contract. Beyond that, the Valentines contacted me in December about Kalmin being on their team for the Battle of Los Angeles. For about the first week of January, Kalmin was only a Hardkore World talent. At that point, I told the Valentines to count on Kalmin.

REPORTER #5

And you first told Kalmin today?

JORDAN

No. Representatives from Wrestle:U.K. discussed it with him. That led to Mister Blood trying to get an eleventh hour reversal that I was not going to allow.

REPORTER #5

Then when did you want to tell him?

JORDAN

After he got out of a Wrestle:U.K. arena.

REPORTER #5

Did you think that was wise?

JORDAN

Listen, I knew this was going to be a war zone. Going into today, Kalmin was not in position to be a champion in this company going into the Los Angeles event. My speculation is that once Osland demanded to defend his title, Mister Blood wanted to protect himself against one of his champions being on the other team. However, by that point, it was all done.

Jordan shakes his head with frustration.

JORDAN

Look, what was the best solution? Bail on the Valentines because Oxford Osland wanted to defend his title? What if Kalmin did not win the title? Would he still have been welcomed on Team Wrestle: U.K.? Who would he have replaced? Blaque, Wentzel? Would they break up the team for Kalmin? Rage and Cage? Same thing. That leaves Goth. I think Kalmin would have been put in a different match or benched to make sure he could not be used against this company. I think Valentines wanted Kalmin regardless, and I think Mister Blood wanted Kalmin because of this unique instance. I chose to stay with the people who wanted us all along.

REPORTER #6

How much of a say did Kalmin have?

JORDAN

Kalmin has been upfront about not wanting to pick a side. During that time that Kalmin was only in Hardkore World, I confirmed him for the Valentines.

REPORTER #6

While Kalmin was promoted to face Oxford Osland?

JORDAN

Until about a week before the show, we did not know if Kalmin was in this company. The option had not been exercised. Look, I can promote a dinosaur fighting a wooly mammoth, but that does not mean either is showing up. It would have been professional malpractice to let Kalmin show up without a contract. Once the option was exercised and Kalmin passed his physical, we received confirmation that Osland was out of concussion protocol and cleared to compete. At that time, we scrambled to get ready. Honestly, I forgot about the Los Angeles event until Mister Blood sought me out. A lot of decisions were made, then unmade, in a short period of time. I feel for the fans of this company who wanted Kalmin to wear the team colors, but it is too late to reverse course.

REPORTER #1

Kalmin, you didn’t take the news well. Can you speak about that?

Watts moves back behind the podium as Jordan slides over.

WATTS

Yeah. I signed first with WUK, so I thought it was right to give them the right of first refusal. No one in WUK talked to me about Team WUK until today. When I had heard about things from WUK personnel, I assumed this had been decided today. I wasn’t aware it was part of a process. Hearing AJ explain it, I get it. I wish it wasn’t the case, but here we are. (beat) As for Team HKW, they were presented to me at the worst time in the worst possible way. I plan to head back to the States to try to get on the same page with them.

REPORTER #2

Any words for Team WUK?

WATTS

Good luck, and see you in LA!