Favorite Season [Jack Diamond EoD Week 1 RP]

[Jack Diamond]

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Friday, September 22nd, 2023 - Diamond Training Facility - Las Vegas, NV

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The scene opens as Jack Diamond sits inside his DTF office, reclined in his sumptuous leather chair, which seemed tailor-made just for him. As the camera pans around we see the walls were adorned with vintage wrestling posters, framed alongside photographs capturing Jack's career in the ring. There was a photo of his Rumble win in Icon Championship Wrestling where he captured the ICW title. Another photograph shows him standing with Bobby Barratt, Jason Long and Sebastian Steele in a ring full of debris, the night the Icons were formed. There are photographs from both of Jack's X*Crown victories as well as from the night he pinned his Icon brother, Jason Long twice to become Tapout Openweight Champion.

Jack sighs as he flips through paperwork. Behind him, dimmed sconces bathe the room in a warm, amber glow, casting shadows that danced upon the rich mahogany paneling. A mounted wolf head watched over him from above a fireplace. In front of Jack, a crystal decanter held a rare and aged Scotch, its amber liquid shimmering in the soft light. A heavy crystal tumbler cradled the weight of the liquor as Jack swirled it thoughtfully, the faint clinking of ice echoing in the silence.

Jack ran his fingers through his beard, placing the tumbler down. His hands moved deftly across the paperwork before him, filled with contracts, training schedules, and promotional materials. The leather of the chair creaked softly as Jack leaned back, taking a contemplative sip of his Scotch. The warmth of the liquor spread through his chest, invigorating him as he assessed the future of his proteges and the legacy of DTF. As Jack scrutinized a contract, the door to his office swung open with an air of familiarity and in walked Joseph Beck, the trusted backstage reporter of DTF and a close friend of Jack's. His face, ever animated and enthusiastic, bore an irrepressible grin.

Joseph Beck: Jack, my man! This place gets fancier every time I see it!

Jack glanced up from his paperwork, his piercing blue eyes meeting Joseph's with a wry smile.

Jack Diamond: Joseph, you make it sound like I redecorate every week just to impress you.

Joseph chuckled as he pulled out a chair and seated himself across from Jack.

Joseph Beck: Well, you wouldn't want me to get bored, now, would you?

The reporter's grin widened, and he cleared his throat as he leaned in conspiratorially.

Joseph Beck: Remember, Jack, you promised me a word for publication. It's about time I cashed in on that promise.

Jack Diamond leaned back in his chair, his face taking on a thoughtful expression.

Jack Diamond: Ah, you're right, Joseph. I owe you that much, at least.

He glanced toward the door, which had now opened once more to admit a camera crew, their equipment poised for action. Joseph winked at Jack, the twinkle in his eye unmistakable as the realization came over Jack's face that Beck was so confident that Jack would agree that he had a crew waiting outside.

Joseph Beck: Well, Jack, since you've always got an audience and I have a crew here, how about we make this interview a bit special?

Jack's curiosity piqued as he nodded.

Jack Diamond: I'm listening.

Joseph signaled to the camera crew, who began setting up their equipment.

Joseph Beck: Let's do this interview right here, right now. Live and uncut.

Jack Diamond's smile broadened, his enthusiasm matching Joseph's as he looked around at the cameramen feverishly getting into place.

Jack Diamond: You never cease to surprise me, Joseph. Let's make it happen.

And so, in the confines of the DTF office, Beck motioned to the camera crew to begin rolling as Jack straightened up in his chair a bit, straightening his tie and running a hand through his hair quickly. Joseph Beck smiled at the camera as it went live.

Joseph Beck: Ladies and Gentlemen, DTF faithful, I'm head DTF Reporter, Joseph Beck. Today, on this first day of fall, I come to you LIVE, here in this beautiful office inside of the Diamond Training Facility. I'm joined by a former two-time XHF X*Crown Champion, and former Tapout Openweight Champion, an absolute legend in this business. I'm talking about none other than DTF owner, Jack Diamond. Jack, how are you doing today?

The camera pans to Jack who smiles as humble as he can.

Jack Diamond: I'm doing very well, what an introduction.

Joseph Beck: One befitting of an Icon, not just in name but in stature as well. Jack, it's been a busy month for you. You've not only had to rehab your latest injuries suffered at the hands of your nemesis, Poena, but you've continued to promote and grow the Diamond Training Facility and DTF brand, which I'm incredibly grateful for, and you've had to hold camp for your upcoming run in the End of Days tournament. We'll get into End of Days in a moment, but how do you manage to effectively split your time so that each of those areas get the attention they deserve?

Jack smiles and takes a deep breath.

Jack Diamond: Fall is my favorite time of the year, Joseph. It reinvigorates me. Things cool off and it truly is good for the mind, body and soul. I came out of Night of Champions, back in the summer, with some bumps and bruises, sure, but compared to what can usually happen in a match with Poena, I felt I was as close to unscathed as possible. The rehab wasn't bad and my match last month at TapOut was approached in a way that provided me an opportunity to keep healing. Raiden and the rest of that team tried to test my shoulder but I came out alright. I feel confident that it afforded me the opportunity to focus on DTF, and focusing on DTF made it easy to run my camp here for End of Days. Selfishly, it's the reason behind having all this equipment and having all of these coaches and trainers on payroll. Does it help grow the next generation of talent in this business? Yes. It also helps teach an old dog new tricks, so to speak, and I feel I'm one hundred percent going into this tournament. With all that said, a good glass of scotch doesn't hurt to heal the mind, body and soul either.

A mischievous grin curls in the corner of Jack's lips as he picks up his tumbler, tilting it towards Joseph as if in a toast. Joseph lets out a small chuckle as Jack takes a sip.

Joseph Beck: You mentioned your match at TapOut Wrestling Sixteen. First of all, do you have any comments on the new contract? Cross, usually blessed with a mouth that won't quit, was uncharacteristically tight lipped on details other than it being a higher value but less of a guarantee. Also, with you being named to represent TapOut Wrestling at End of Days, one would assume that was in the negotiations as well, correct?

Jack shakes his head.

Jack Diamond: End of Days and my contract talks with Cross are separate, despite what the dirt sheets and online scholars may try to tell you. I'm representing his company at End of Days because Cross is hungry to have the X*Crown Championship in the Lanksy. Who has been at the top of the TapOut ranking all this time? Jason Long and Jack Diamond. Well, Mav had already thrown his name in the hat so Cross made a smart business decision to have me in there as well. He now has two Icons taking up two of the sixteen spots in this tournament. A twelve and a half percent chance of one of his employees advancing and that is before you factor in other things, but I'll spare you the confusing math. As for my contract… it's worth my signature, I'll put it that way.

Jack grins again.

Joseph Beck: Fair enough, well let's talk about End of Days. Specifically, week one in Salt Lake City. As Cross checks off the last few boxes of the remodel at the Lanksy Ballroom, the TapOut roster as well as all of the End of Day participants are heading to Utah as TapOut Seventeen hosts the first round of the tournament. The first round will consist of four, four-way matches where each match will see two pin falls. The first two competitors to get a pin fall in each match will advance. You are matched up on night one against DeathTrap, King Edmund IV, and I think we all know what that means, and Layla Lavoie. How do you prepare for a match like this? Since there are three other competitors, there could be falls in the match that you're not involved in and you can essentially be eliminated from the tournament while never having been pinned. What are your thoughts on the match, as well as your opponents?

Jack Diamond: These things are always tricky, but it's an environment that I tend to thrive in. It's ultimately about being in the right place at the right time, keeping your head on a swivel, and capitalizing on every chance and opening you get. That is what I teach my students when it comes to these matches. I'm built for this type of match. It will still be a tough night though. I've got a lot of respect for Death Trap. There is so much admiration there, that I urged Austin to adopt a version of his Dragon Clutch as his own finisher. We've had several run-ins with each other. The two of us enter this tournament looking to match Zoran and Dylan's three X*Crown reigns, and both of us want to get there before the insufferable Steve Awesome does. We are both considered old-timers in this tournament and I'm sure many of our opponents, with their over-inflated egos, will assume that we are easy pickings because of it. That's the furthest thing from the truth. If I had to put my money on it, I'd say D.T. and myself are safe bets on who may go all the way. So yeah, the respect for D.T. is there but on October first, that has to go away and you'll be left with two legends doing what needs to be done to advance. Next, you throw someone in the ring with us like King Edmu– oh let's be real, he isn't going to be there. It will be Mutt like it always is. I think everyone knows by now that I'm no stranger to spending frivolous amounts of cash on stupid things with little or no return. Still though, has there ever been a financial blunder as awful as Eddie paying this ogre money to "represent" him only to fail time and time again? Then there is the delusion. We are to believe that Mr. Hickenbottom won a tournament in the seventies to become a King of an island that no one knows exists? I don't know what I should believe more. That he is a King or that Poena hears a God urge him to make sacrifices of pain to honor him. It's sad really. You know what else is sad? My final opponent in this match calls herself an Ace when she has no clue what the hell that even means. Layla Lavoie looked really good when she was in the ring against a furry comic book convention reject, in a company that was on its deathbed before even starting. I mean, any wrestling promotion that is going to hire two washed up actors as their "stars" was never going to be taken seriously. Add to that, that their "Ace" was not an actor but a stunt double, and yeah… you have a recipe for disaster. To think, I even allowed them to run ads on Diamond Mine…

Jack shakes his head before smiling and looking back at Joseph.

Jack Diamond: I digress. Layla seems eager to prove she's got what it takes to be a wrestler. Being in the ring with two legends and Mutt can prove it quickly. She's definitely talented but there are no cable wires here, no soft landing pads, no CGI special effects. When the bell rings she will get to match up against a true Ace. I hope she has kept her contacts in Hollywood because she may be left to go back and be Steve Awesome's stunt double when the match is over. Here's what I know about this match, Joseph, when it's all said and done, I will have secured one of the pinfalls. Who will join me in moving on? It doesn't really matter. My head tells me it will be Death Trap but I've learned in this business, upsets happen.

Jack sits back in his chair, raising an eyebrow to Joseph who smiles back.

Joseph Beck: Any other thoughts on End of Days or the X*Crown?

Jack Diamond: We all know how I feel about the X*Crown. It's been my greatest achievement, and an achievement I've made twice. I want those titles for a third time. I'm also honored to host an X*Crown match later this month on Diamond Mine Four. I will be watching closely as to whether Fox or Cross comes out of Diamond Mine as the champion, because my goal is to run roughshod over this entire End of Days tournament in a way that hasn't been seen since Bobby did it five years ago. And do you know who was holding the X*Crown at the end of that night in Twenty-Eighteen, Joseph? Jack Fucking Diamond. This year, I will win the End of Days tournament and I will go onto the final night of End of Days. Then just like five years ago, I will be hoisting that championship in the air once again.

Jack leans in closer to one of the cameras.

Jack Diamond: You can all bet on that.

Jack flashes one last smile for the camera as Joseph claps his hands together.

Joseph Beck: Thank you for your time today. Jack Diamond, ladies and gentlemen, he could be your next XHF X*Crown Champion as the spooky season approaches. With DTF, I'm Joseph Beck wishing you all a happy Friday and don't forget to tune into Diamond Mine Four on Saturday, September Thirtieth and Tap Out Wrestling Seventeen on Sunday, October First! Have a great weekend!

As the cameras sign off, Joseph smiles back at Jack.

Joseph Beck: That was great!

Jack tops his drink off and pours a round into another tumbler, sliding it over to Joseph.

Jack Diamond: You're welcome.

With a wink, the two of them laugh as Beck picks up his tumbler, clinking it into Jack's and the two friends take a sip as the scene fades to a close.