Soon May the Keller Man Come [Rumble RP #3]

[Jack Diamond]

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April 10th, 2023 - Caribou Coffee Shop, Bloomington, Minnesota

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Jack sits alone at a corner table, sipping his coffee and checking his schedule on his phone. The news of his training facility is quickly making its rounds as just before he was about to head back to Vegas from his trip to Minneapolis, he received a call from Wade Keller. Wade, not being able to make it to Jack's impromptu press conference at his casino last Friday, asked to do a feature for the Torch’s website. When Jack had told him he said most of what he needed to about the Rumble at his press conference, Wade was quick to clarify that the piece would mostly be on The Diamond Training Facility. Never been one to shy away from self-promotion, Jack decided to lay over in Minnesota through the holiday to take this meeting. The door chimes and Jack looks up, seeing Wade Keller walk in he throws a hand up to get his attention. Jack stands and greets Wade with a handshake and the two sit down.

Wade Keller: Thank you for meeting me here today, Jack. I know you have a lot going on so it is greatly appreciated that you would do this piece.

Jack waves a hand and shrugs.

Jack Diamond: Ah nonsense man, I always have time to talk to someone who’s been kind to me over the years in his publication. Besides, I’m not blind to the fact that everyone wants to know more about the school.

Wade nods, laying his phone on the table to record the conversation.

Wade Keller: It’s definitely intriguing. I know that you’ve spent a lot of time in your gym as well as other wrestlers. I haven’t been to the Vegas club yet but I have frequented the Diamond Club in Minneapolis with Cory and that gym is impressive. If Vegas is anything like that…wow.

Jack smiles, bowing his head in appreciation to the complement.

Jack Diamond: If you think the Minneapolis gym is nice, the Vegas one would blow your mind. We are talking fully loaded with anything you would want out of a gym. Not only that but where the Minneapolis club only has a couple smaller sparring rings in it, I’ve invested in three full size wrestling rings for the Vegas gym.

Wade Keller: I will definitely have to check it out next time we make the trip. So, you will be able to handle training, at least as space is concerned, with no problem then?

Jack Diamond: Not only will I be able to accommodate the training, but the Vegas spot is also much more than just rings and gym equipment. You really do need to see it, we are talking about a full-blown studio. We’ll have everything in place that our students need to work on their mic skills, their looks, their demeanor… it truly will be the full shebang.

Wade raises an eyebrow during the last answer.

Wade Keller: You say “we”. So, who can we expect to see helping you out?

Jack smiles, he knew the answer to this question had been hypothesized in several media outlets. With Jack’s work last year with Jason Long’s European ran company and Long also being based in Vegas for Tapout, he’s been the number one guess on who would be helping out. People leaned in heavier on it after word got around that Jack and Jason had a bit of an Icon reunion after the last Tapout show.

Jack Diamond: Well, I’m still working out a few of the details on that but the goal is to have several trainers spanning across different areas. The only person I know for sure will be Austin as he has shown not only a passion to learn the business for himself but an aptitude to mirror that same training. He will make an excellent student and teacher at the school.

Wade Keller: Your son? Given the trauma he’s been through as of a late, and this may be getting a bit off topic, how can you balance not only running a wrestling school, but being the Tapout Openweight Champion, going for the X*Crown Champion, and not be a little worried for your son’s… both of your sons for that matter… safety?

Jack pauses, fighting the urge to get a little upset at the question and regains his composure.

Jack Diamond: My sons are both going to be just fine. Austin knows what this business is about, he firsthand knows that the dangers are sometimes beyond the scope of what you can learn and if anyone can help make it clear to up and coming wrestlers to keep their focus, it’s him. As for me, I know what’s at stake. I know that taking on this venture along with my goals in the ring has people questioning my sanity more so than they usually do. It’s something I feel I need to do though, to give back to an industry that’s given so much to me.

Wade smiles, satisfied with the answer.

Wade Keller: Fair enough, so when are you looking at starting up?

That’s the question that Jack knew was coming. The reporters have all been vying for a chance to break when Jack’s school will be open to new students.

Jack Diamond: Well, I haven’t set a date in stone yet, but I can tell you this… the Vegas gym is ready to roll, there are no hold ups there. I’m tying up a few loose ends now logistically in other areas. I fully expect it to be open shortly after the Rumble.

Wade was reaching for the phone to stop recording but pulled back at the last second.

Wade Keller: I would kick myself if I didn’t ask, but since you brought up the Rumble just now… where’s your head at with it? It can’t be easy preparing yourself for that type of match while jet setting across the country pitching business ideas.

Jack, not surprised one bit that Wade Keller would try to steer the conversation in the direction, laughs.

Jack Diamond: You are a master at your craft, sir. There’s no denying it. The Rumble… it’s become one of my favorite matches across the Network. I love it, the competition, the surprises, and having to be on your toes with your head on a swivel if you want to do well. I’ve done well. I’m more determined than ever to do better than well.

Wade Keller: There is a lot of X*Crown fire power in this match. Just between you, Death Trap, Dylan Black, Steve Awesome and Zoran Sainovic there is an impressive twelve reigns. Then couple that with several competitors who have been on the precipice of X*Crown Glory will be looking to use this match to get over the hump, and this match could be one of the best Rumbles ever. Outside of the former champions that I just named, is there anyone else you have to look out for? Possible sleeper picks?

Jack tries to read Wade’s eyes but there seems to be no malice behind the question. It, at least in Jack’s quick analysis, seems like a genuine question. The corner of his mouth curls into a grin.

Jack Diamond: Well, I don’t think there are any sleeper picks because I will bet on myself every time anyone asks me who I think is going to win.

Wade Keller begins to ask a follow up but Jack leans in.

Jack Diamond: …but I’d be lying if I didn’t say how impressive the roster is particularly in this match. Had you been at my press conference on Friday you would have already known I'm intrigued with facing my boss man, Cross and his former partner's sister-in-law.

Wade Keller: Natasha?

Jack Diamond: She's always spooked me a bit. Sure, during my first X*Crown reign it was Chris that was trying to play mind games, but it was the eeriness of Nat that shook me more than any calling card.

Wade nods, taking a quick note in his pad. Jack clears his throat a bit.

Jack Diamond: Anyways, those are only two I'm looking forward to mixing it up with, but I mean it when I say the whole line up is interesting. Donzig has an intensity about him, punching a hole in the wall and screaming at mirror intensity. He seems so fixated on righting whatever wrong he's manifested in his head that the Dylan Blacks and Steve Awesomes of the world have done to him that he fails to realize the reason they do better than him on a global level…. Is they ARE better than him. Donzig’s a dangerous dude, sure, but he's going to get so hung up on a few people that twenty some other people will dump him on his ass. I'd be happy to be one of those.

Jack takes a sip of his coffee.

Jack Diamond: Then you have someone like Lord Dominicus. He is pure evil. DominEvil at that. As dark and evil as he is, he's DominiHellBent on calling people cowards who chose not to fight in the Rumble instead of Dominifocusing on those that ARE there. It's a Dominidangerous game he's playing.

There is a smirk on Keller's face that matches the amusement on Jack's face.

Jack Diamond: Yeah, I know, I'm having a little fun. When you print these quotes, you can either let them know I was kidding around or not… I'll own up to it either way. At the end of the day, I know I'm going to have a target on my back in this match. Whether it's from my fellow Tapout members that want to make a name for themselves so that they are next in line for my title… whether it's those that I've met in the past that still hold a grudge, like the Awesomes and Foxes of the world. Maybe it's from someone whose Daddy can't stand me, and the spoiled little kid thinks we are all old geezers in this match. I do know that Dana is aiming for me for some reason. Hell, Copycat would love to avenge any of the bad run-ins he's had with me. Face it Wade, Jack Diamond is a marked man.

Wade Keller: How's that feel?

Jack stretches out his arms with a huge, cocky smile on his face.

Jack Diamond: I fucking love it. I wouldn't have it any other way. I would much rather go into a match expecting the unexpected, you know? Almost as an underdog. Everyone has their motivation for why they are going to win the match. Everyone has their pick for who they feel they have to look out for. I plan to look out for everyone and if they aren’t looking out for me… it’s going to be a bad night for them.

Wade stops the recording on his phone as he stands up. Jack stands too and they shake hands.

Wade Keller: Thank you again for taking this meeting. This feature should be up later this week. I'd be remiss if I didn't say I hadn't already typed some of it up.

Jack looks at the sly grin on Wade's face and he nods.

Jack Diamond: I wouldn't expect anything else from someone like you who's been around this industry for, what? Forty years? But no, the pleasure is mine and I can't wait to see you covering the school in the future.

They say their goodbyes and then Wade parts way. Jack tosses some money down on the table to cover the coffees before exiting the shop as the scene fades to black.