Your Kingdom

[Anthony Jordan]

KALMIN WATTS walks into a nondescript Native American casino in Oklahoma. He is wearing a Sooner T-shirt (2-0, thank you very much) and a pair of jeans. He certainly doesn’t look like a high roller, which suits him just fine. He takes off his sunglasses and puts them away. The typical casino odor^TM causes his face to contort. It’s a mixture of elderly people who’ve long since passed the age of modesty and hygiene as well as with a soupçon of burning tobacco. The pungent assault stalls Watts for a second as he waves his hand in front of his face. He wins the battle and looks at the camera.

WATTS

Wesley Crane drops a penthouse on top of one of these and calls it his kingdom? He tosses Preston Reese in a small suite and dubs him his prince. He tosses Rage and Cage in a room and lets them do…whatever they do. That sounds more like a zoo than high rolling. He might as well charge people to watch Reese and the twins because that’s all they’ve proven themselves good for!

He walks a few feet until he meets a slot jockey looking for her chance to get lucky. After BAR BAR SEVEN, she has a fit and knocks over her oxygen tank. Watts politely sets it back up, then walks away.

WATTS

I helped her more than Preston Reese ever helped Wesley Crane! Reese was supposed to keep the WUK World Title in New York, but is it in New York?

(pauses and smirks)

NOPE! It’s safely in Oklahoma where it will remain except when I bring it to the WUK fans and defend it!

(Watts takes pleasure and rubbing that one in)

Reese, I gave you a chance to be a man and leave the sinking High Roller ship, but you’ve just drank too much Kool-Aid! You chose to be a little prick about it. I guess since Crane keeps the twins around, it makes sense. Crane’s so insecure that he has to have his prick and twins displayed prominently at all times!

He keeps walking until he reaches the blackjack tables. He watches as an old timer finally beats the house.

WATTS

The false hope keeps them coming back. That’s why Wesley Crane is in this industry. It’s sleazy, predatory, and robs the common man of his dignity. He tried to treat me like one of his customers. He promised me fair matches, then changed it to where the odds favored him! He worked pretty well until Hell in a Cell! When it finally was a fair match, we learned the truth: I’m better than you! When you can’t put your fingers on the scales, you’re nothing but a man.

Watts walks to the buffet. He looks at the crusty mac and cheese.

WATTS

I wonder if Crane or Reese have ever eaten what they serve to the people. If I had to guess, I’d say they bribed the health inspector. Cheaters cheat. That’s what I expect from the High Rollers Club. It’s what I expect in Wales. They’re going to try to steal a win. I don’t know how, but I know it’s coming.

(he turns to the buffet and sniffs)

Some things, you can smell a mile away.

Watts takes in the scenery and walks over to the craps table. The local high roller notices him and hands him the dice. Watts shrugs and tosses them…Seven. The betters around him cheer as Watts made them a nice chunk of change. The high roller offers him a shot, which Watts accepts and knocks back before continuing on his way.

WATTS

When you lose a lot, it feels good to win. I get that. It felt great to finally beat Crane and take what he loved most in this world. Since that moment, our true natures have been on display. I’ve been enjoying life and working to get better. I know the target’s on my back now. I try to keep good company. I’m not gonna pretend to be someone I’m not get the chance to hang out with Tom Brady…maybe if I win five more world titles. I’m the same man I was before the WUK World Title. I’m not satisfied. Now that I have the belt, I want to be the best WUK World Champion ever!

(pauses)

Crane, on the other hand? He went back to being what he is: the king of a weak kingdom. He’s back to being the pit boss’s boss. He never melted down over the loss and attacked people. He’s been calm. He thinks he’ll get another chance, and the house to cover its past losses. That’s the problem. We don’t wrestle in a casino. We wrestle in the real world where the house isn’t given an advantage. The more talented man has the advantage!

(chuckles)

And I know what Crane’s thinking. He thinks he can lure Psychotic Goth to do his dirty work. He expects Goth to betray me because he wants the gold. The truth is that Goth hates the High Rollers Club more than he cares about a belt! He’s coming to Wales to kick some ass! He’s not you, Crane. He’s not ready to betray everyone because he’s too afraid to win an honest fight. I can guarantee you that Goth doesn’t care about those two comped nights you’re offering him. He wants blood, and he’s gonna get it!

(Watts nods at the thought)

Me? Been there, done that. I’m happy to get out of Goth’s way and watch him destroy both of you!