A Receipt [ZS R 05]

[mosler]

Shame.

The memory comes racing back like the waters surrounding the barge. A momentary distraction leading to a vicious boot hitting him square in the face. There was no time to reflect on just how lucky the strike was, or even how the fortunate timing could only mean conspiracy between the two men left in the ring. No just a rapid series of sensations. His vision being blackened by an incoming obstruction, which could only be the bottom of a boot – the initial hit. Eyes instinctively closing as a reaction to the stinging pain, only for the comforting darkness that comes with having the lids shut – be marred by a hundred spinning lights. There was a strong smell of salt hanging on the air. Before the nerves in the face could finish screaming, attention shifted to a firm cable pressing against the back. Were the ring ropes always that tight? The sensation of having the rope dig into the upper back then became stranger, as it too started to spin. Or had it been the helpless victim who was moving around it? When eyes were thrown wide open, the stars from within were replaced by the ones dotting the night sky. The barge being so far out in international waters, meant that even the light pollution from the production set-up couldn’t tarnish the view. As picturesque as the sky was, two feet flopping through the air in a comical fashion soon tarnished that image. Resentment would soon give way to thanks, the feet providing a focal point to distract from the world spinning around them. As quickly as the spin started, it would soon stop with a horrific thud. The pain from the kick was nothing compared to landing on the deck. There was an immediate ringing in the ears. Did the lack of an audience take the sting out of it? Certainly less immediate laughter directed at one person’s misfortune. No the pandemic had required that there be no audience on hand, so there were few witnesses to the crime. No reaction to the death of the fortieth championship. The only applause was the crashing of heavy waves against the barge. The relative silence made the final minute all the more intimate. Lying in a heap a few feet from the ring, felt like attending a failing play in a small theatre, pressed against the stage and able to hear a pin drop. A shadow obstructed the action, with vision coming back into focus just in time to see a referee announce the elimination. Concussed, all that remained was to watch the thieves continue their battle without the contest’s star.

A second in time that the Final Boss frequently returns to...

April 26th, 2020 – the night when Zoran Sainovic learned true humiliation.

Referees trying to remove him from ringside, like he no longer belonged. That was still his crown! Security was even less understanding. Even as they dragged him off like a mad dog, Zoran continued to stare at the bastard who snuck in the lucky hit. He knew immediately, that the recipe for this slight was going to take an agonizingly long time to return.

What a shame.

Three short years later, and the memory of that night still causes him pain.

So there were times more embarrassing than the present.

April Fools.

Furious at falling for yet another Network prank, The Final Boss tries to tip toe around the latest events, distract himself from the more demeaning aspects. Is it the time of year, or the latest prank that has trudged up so many unpleasant ghosts? Thoughts return to the present just as Zoran Sainovic enters his son’s room. It looks surprisingly tidy by the standards of eight-year-olds, and large portions are empty, like it is being packed up. Are they moving? Have the Sainovics decided to cut ties with Atlanta? That would certainly indicate just how many matches the former commissioner has with GUNS. Yes, there are a number of boxes in the corner. Crossing, making sure not to be taken out by any stray hot wheels – Zoran approaches the boxes when he sees it...

...There are worse indignities.

Curtis D. Kanyon.

The older man can’t help but sneer at the poster that adorns his adopted child’s wall. Realistically, Sainovic knows he should just be happy that his son expresses any interest in his work – but did the boy really have to be a BANG Bro fan? Idol worshipping the very banes of Zoran’s existence! Yes, the preteen is in BANG’s target demographic, and this is just a phase... but what Zoran wouldn’t do to speed past this juvenile interest.

Mocked under his own roof! The Final Boss almost hates the poster as much as he hates Awesome and Kanyon. Yes, the grudge against an inanimate object is irrational, but housing the former president’s smiling mug is so degrading. It is only a commitment to fatherhood that keeps Zoran from stabbing the smug paper every time he sees it. The heat is real. Feeling his blood pressure rise under Poster Curtis’ glossy gaze – Sainovic quickly goes back to the matter at hand, picking up one of the boxes with his working arm.

Holding the box awkwardly with his one hand, Sainovic slowly makes his way down to the first floor, and then turns down a series of hallways before entering into the garage. Rather than house their wheels, the area has been converted into a gym. Against the back wall are even larger stacks of boxes, which have been placed there recently, and strongly suggest the family is beginning a move. Farewell Atlanta. Goodbye GUNS. Placing the box on the smallest stack, the struggle to lift ends with Sainovic trying to work a kink out of his shoulder. This won’t do.

Moving across the room, Sainovic takes a seat on a weight bench. To avoid a worse rumble memory than 2020, Zoran has to work out constantly – and even then he may just be making things worse. A bad habit picked up in his middle management days, The Final Boss needs to be constantly multitasking to feel productive. To scratch this itch, Zoran sets up his phone to cut a promo as he pumps iron. No. The lighting won’t cut it on the Network stream.

Pushing a button, the electric garage door opens, flooding the room with enough sunlight to make broadcast quality. Reframing the image so the weights won’t be included in the shot, Sainovic hits the record button, and then begins his work out. 

Zoran Sainovic:
Recoba enjoys giving ze equivalent of HR reports to every single participant in ze Rumble, because he dreams of running a company with more zan sixteen talent. So you have all been given a Tap Out performance review. Ze fact zat ze majority of you wouldn’t be caught dead in TOW, just makes zat ze ultimate exercise in wasting time. Ze fans really aren’t interested in your poor opinion of every participant, Cross. For each of us, we might have one – maybe two wrestlers zat we are gunning for. Cross isn’t zat wrestler for me. We had zat dance. I beat him. After ze dust settled, he could even keep his HCW Diamond title as a cheap reminder zat maybe ze X*Crown isn’t his scene. Cross Recoba cannot defeat Zoran Sainovic in a contest zat requires a pinfall or submission. But when ze only requirement is zrowing a guy over a rope? Even zat mongrel can have his day.

Now if I addressed every person involved, I can see ze value in you getting my opinions. ...But Cross? He plays at being a Vegas mobster. News flash! Ze mafia did great business in Vegas. You on ze other hand run a single ballroom show once a month. Ever get ze feeling zat ze only reason zey keep you around, Cross, is because you’re someone’s nephew? Zere is underachieving, and zen zere is Recoba.

See if I talk about Pepsi Man? Some Pepsi Man fan is going to tune into ze Rumble, hoping zat zeir underdog hero gets to mix it up with ZORAN SAINOVIC. When you talk about Pepsi Man, Cross. Well, no one sees it, because you’re ze one talking.

Pointing zis out, I apologize for not addressing every participant earlier. I only discovered recently zat I was an active participant in ze Rumble itself. Zis looks like a really strong group – (broad smile) and if any of you want me to summarize my opinions of you in zree sentences based on my random YouTube skimming research AFTER ze rumble... I am very approachable.

No. It’s better to just focus on a few names. Ze champion? Nothing needs to be said to Dylan, other zan congratulations on winning ze Rumble.

For me? I have two names zat press on my mind. Ze first is Fox. Who has promised me death. As a result, I find it very hard to engage with him zese days. I am taking ze zreat very seriously. Ze second is my actual goal.

Now if you have seen my recent matches, you know I am not the same man zat dominated ze federation for much of last year. In zis match, I am basically a walking cash cow. Do you want to make a name for yourself? Zoran is an easy elimination. You may not have been able to pin him in a regular match, but here? It is quite easy, I assure you.

So what is my goal in ze match? Along with avoiding being murdered by Fox, I am hoping to eliminate one man.

A refresher. At End of Days I decided zat I needed to put my Karma in balance. I zen proceeded to zrash every person who ever looked at me sideways. I buried every hatchet!  Frequently in ze backs of my enemies. Along ze way zere may have been some collateral damage, but zose zat I have wronged? Zey too got even. With my recent losses to Marty and Fox, I’m basically karmatically in a good place.  Even better, I have no more bad blood to spill...

With one exception...

Ze 2020 Rumble saw Anthony Caffrey win. Only he didn’t beat me, he couldn’t beat me, so he had someone else do it for him. Caffrey distracted me, and Jack Diamond took advantage.

I could have killed, Jack.

Only ze problem with Jack is zat he’s very opportunistic. Why do you zink he keeps ducking Dana Daniels?  No longer having ze crown, I had nothing to entice Diamond towards an actual single match. No way to get revenge. So I watched, and I waited. Bided my time. Now after zree long years, we find ourselves again in ze rumble – and I will have Jack’s number. I don’t know how I’m going to stay in ze ring, let alone get him over-ze-top…

But zis receipt has been a LONG time coming.

Jack Diamond, YOU COST ME AN X*CROWN... now I’m keeping you from your third.

Finally breaking a sweat, The Final Boss puts down his weight.

Zoran Sainovic:

So ze plan is to disappoint Fox, eliminate Jack… and fuck up, Steve - because it’s once again my turn!

Turning from his profile shot, Zoran Sainovic seems distracted by someone in his front yard. The person is on the wrong side of the fence, on private property. Leaving his weight bench, The Final Boss exits the garage – stepping out onto the lawn. 

Zoran Sainovic:
Excuse me?

An emaciated figure admires a bed of Rose’s lilies.

Zoran Sainovic:
Can I help you?

There is something oddly menacing about the painfully thin man. Kneeling next to the flowerbed, the sickly figure admires a caterpillar that is hanging off a yellow petal. Sticking out a broken finger, the man helps the insect onto the next flower, before turning to greet the irritated homeowner.

Zoran Sainovic:
Zere’s a sign on the gate.

Man:
Then I must be a trespasser.

Colour draining from his face, The Final Boss looks like someone just waltzed over his grave.

Zoran Sainovic:
Well... what do you know. Barely recognize you... you used to be a lot-

Death in the Flesh:
Bigger? When you have the kind of neck injuries I do, muscle is the first thing to go. Worth keeping in mind the price, if you want to keep pushing down this path...

Zoran Sainovic:
Path?

Death in the Flesh:
Being the Sacrificial Idol.

Zoran Sainovic:
I have no idea what you mea-

Death in the Flesh:
When I faded... Anthony took a few of the moves. StormCrow and Black both claimed the moniker. No harm in picking the carrion clean. Still for the various tribute, or misappropriations – I never suspected anyone would be foolish enough to follow in my self-destructive footsteps. So you can only imagine how surprised I was, when I came down from my mountain retreat for supplies – and the village television had Der Kommissar bleeding out to restore the honour of the X-crown.

Zoran Sainovic:
A coincide-

Death in the Flesh:
If you say so.

Zoran Sainovic:
Why would I consciously pay homage to your Idol run?

Death in the Flesh:
That is the question. Parody, was my first thought. Some form of elaborate rib designed as a slap in the face.

Zoran Sainovic (eye narrows):
I don't do pranks.

Death in the Flesh:
…At the very least a long con. I did not come all this way to speculate. If you were trying to draw my attention, you have succeeded.

Zoran Sainovic:
I’m sorry if you see similarities between my recent career and ze end of yours. It isn’t deliberate. Champions get put zrough ze wringer, fans admire determination, and even ze worst of us can win people over with fighting spirit. Zese are known variables in our sport, not a conspiracy to tease you. It is as straightforward as zat. You’re ze masochist, I’m ze sadist.

Death in the Flesh:
Then it appears I have misjudged you. My apologies. 

Zoran Sainovic:
It happens pal. You start speaking with soft Zs and I’d connect dots ze same way.

Death in the Flesh (turning):
If this wasn’t to force a confrontation, then I will take my leave. 

Zoran Sainovic:
While you’re here, want to grab a dr-

Death in the Flesh (stops):
We went past that a long time ago. No. I just came to warn you... if you are playing at being the Sacrificial Idol, whatever the reason. The physical price is not worth it.

With that, the sickly man reaches down and collects the caterpillar. Carefully placing it in his pocket. Without looking back, the former beast departs. Sainovic’s eye follows the movement, letting the cautionary tale escape as Rose pulls up in her Lexus.

Rose (watching the ghoul disappear down the street):
Did you just have a Poltergeist 2 moment?

Zoran Sainovic:
More Jacob Marley, I’m afraid.

Rose (cringe):
Christmas in April?

Zoran Sainovic:
It would be, if we moved to Christmas Island!

Climbing out of the other side of the car, Oliver starts to run into the house.

Zoran Sainovic:
How about zat, Oliver? Christmas Island!  Zey have crabs and everything. If by everything, you mean more crabs.

Oliver:
We have a LEGO Discovery Center here, Dad!

Zoran Sainovic (shrugging to Rose):
Well, I tried.

The happy couple head into their stately home.

Rose:
How is the Spring Cleaning coming along?

Zoran Sainovic:
Moved most of ze old toys out of Oliver’s room. I was just going to get ze last few boxes.

Rose (rolls eyes):
With one arm?

Zoran Sainovic (smirk):
What? It’s ze only way I’m going to get better-

The Sainovics climb the stairs. Stopping at Oliver’s door, they find there son putting away more of his old toys.

Rose:
I appreciate the enthusiasm mister.

Oliver:
The faster I get my micro machines into storage, the more hot wheels I can get.

Zoran Sainovic:
Zey grow up so fa-

In one of the boxes rests the hated Kanyon poster. This better not be another prank. Having been tricked too many times to take anything at face value, Zoran walks into the room. There is actually a lot of BANG merchandise in the box.

Zoran Sainovic:
You’re taking down CDK?

Oliver (scooping up micro machines):
Kanyon is great, but he hasn’t been on television in awhile. 

Zoran Sainovic:
No, sport. I don’t suppose he has. (picks a Steve Awesome action figure out of the box) What about Steve, zough?

Oliver:
Oh, I’ll play with Steve again – but right now he’s that awful Disney guy’s sidekick.

Well how do you like that? Zoran is raising a young Eisenstein! Not wanting to chance fate, Sainovic quickly shoves Awesome back in the box. Suck it, Steve! Just when Zoran doesn’t think he could be any happier- he turns around.

There is a poster of Magnus.

Just kidding. Do they even make those?

NO, it’s a poster of Zoran Sainovic looking rather scary.  The image is probably from last year's Rumble.

Zoran Sainovic:
...Son, did you grab zat.

Oliver:
Sure.

Zoran Sainovic:
You know zis is your room. You can put anything on ze wall, LEGO Batman-

Oliver:
No, I wanted it.

Zoran Sainovic:
Well... okay zen...

Oliver:
Dad. ...Try not to get hurt.

Kneeling next to his son, Zoran puts his working hand on the boy’s shoulder.

Zoran Sainovic:
I know I’ve been getting beat up a lot more lately zan I usually do... and it might be upsetting to watch. If you ever feel yourself feeling uncomfortable, just change ze channel. I know I’d rather be watching something else. But ze zing to remember is... zat in wrestling, we’re all friends. And what we’re doing is make believe. I’m not really getting hurt. It’s just pretend. Do you understand?

Oliver:
Yes, Dad.

Accepting the answer, the child returns to his hot wheels. Zoran looks at the child for a moment, then turns to his poster.

Entering the room, Rose stands next to her husband, resting her head on his shoulder.

Rose:
Feeling better?

Zoran Sainovic (long pause):
.....Yeah.  Much.

Rose:
Good. ...Then give them hell. 

The couple embraces.

The final shot holds on the Zoran poster as the scene fades to the sounds of Roxy Music.