A Choice
May 3, 2024 23:00:13 GMT -5
edwarddubin0604, "The High Roller" Wesley Crane, and 1 more like this
Post by Anthony Jordan on May 3, 2024 23:00:13 GMT -5
Kalmin Watts walks around the ring that has been set up in Sydney. He’s giving it his traditional inspection. While ring crews try to be consistent, multiple aspects of the ring are situated by feel. Watts gives special attention to the corners. He checks the turnbuckles in all four corners. Sometimes one corner has more slack or has been tightened up more than the rest. That can affect how much damage is done when you’re thrown into the corner or having your head slammed into the turnbuckle. While Watts rarely climbed up to the top, he wanted to know if there was a weak corner. That could cause an opponent to stumble and give Watts more time.
Which opponent would that be? Watts had four of them. They all had ties to the High Rollers’ Club. They acted like they’re knights protecting the king, but Watts saw them for what they were: pawns. They’re bodies to be thrown at Wesley Crane’s problem until one of them manages to trip Watts up. Watts knew Crane didn’t care for them. Did Crane even know their names? At the same time, did Watts? He’d been so focused on Wesley Crane that he hadn’t taken the time to learn much about his opponents. He’d dealt with Reese and Cage in the past. He didn’t know much or think much of the other two.
As Watts was stuck in thought, Warren Webber snuck down to the ring. Always trying to ingratiate himself with the powerful, Webber would again try to gain Watts’s favor.
“Penny for your thoughts, big guy?”
“Just thinking about the gauntlet match,” Watts replied. It was honest but curt. Watts had no interest in confiding in Webber and didn’t really want him around. Webber’s loyalty only lasted until he thought he found a better opportunity. It’d be a mistake to trust Webber, which is why no one in WUK did. He was used to send and receive messages about others, but everyone knew that information given to Webber was basically in the public domain. That means don’t share sensitive information. Have a secret love of BTS? Don’t let Webber find out or, soon, everyone will know.
“Four men back-to-back-to-back-to-back. That’s going to be a tough match. You might be the most accomplished out of everyone in the match, but a four-to-one advantage could nullify that. How are you preparing?”
“It’s all about endurance. It’s basically four straight matches. I don’t know a lot about SZK or Warrick. I’m sure they’re proud athletes. I know they want to beat me to add momentum to their own careers. I’m thinking they’ll be over eager and will slip up. I can catch them with a Tackle, and it’ll all be over. I mean no disrespect, but I’m not interested in wrestling them. They’re annoyances I have to endure to get to Wesley Crane.”
Watts meant every word. It was never his first impulse to disrespect an opponent, but he found this whole situation to be ridiculous. Why did he have to jump through hoops to get a match he was already qualified for?
“What about ‘Honest’ Nicholas Cage? He’s a former tag team champion. He’s had some success.”
“He’s never stood on his own. He doesn’t want to stand on his own. I don’t think he can handle the pressure. At his core, he’s a follower. He wants to be led, and Wesley Crane likes to tell people what to do. He’s probably where he belongs. I don’t think he wants to beat me. I think he’s treating this as a tag match. He wants to try to wear me down, then let one of the others try to finish me off. I’ve beaten him before, and I will again.”
“And your thoughts on Preston Andre Reese?”
“He’s the biggest threat on the whole team. He’s a former Commonwealth champion and is being groomed to be a star. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t the leader of his team. He’s probably positioned himself to be my final opponent. He wants me at my weakest. He wants me to be vulnerable. It might be a smart plan, but it won’t work. Nothing is going to stop me from getting my hands on Wesley Crane! Now, the High Rollers can be smart and get out of my way or I can run them over! Warren, if you see them, you need to let them know that they have the option of stepping aside. All this violence and destruction and for what? Some brownie points with Wesley Crane? Do they really think he’ll be grateful and treat them well? He won’t! They need to have some self-respect and leave Crane.”
Watts knew Webber would deliver the message. He hoped it would make a difference. Reese, Cage, Warrick, and SZK would only have bruises and scars to show for their efforts. Surely, they have something better to do than get beaten to a pulp in the ring.
“And I know you’ll be watching Gavin Drake defend his new title against Wesley Crane?”
“Wasn’t that great? Crane got so distracted in avoiding me that he completely forgot he had to face Gavin Drake. Drake showed him who’s boss! Now, it’s what, the WUK Xtreme Title? It’s been downgraded to a sideshow title, and Crane is fighting his heart out for it. I remember when he was the World champion and never would have given that belt a second look. In a company where every other wrestler has a belt, Crane is scared that he’ll lose this game of musical chairs. He missed the truth that’s right before him: "If you need a belt to be somebody, then you’ll always be a nobody!”
With that, Watts sent Webber away. He knew that information would find its way to Crane. Just one more thing to get in Crane’s head as he prepared for Drake.
Which opponent would that be? Watts had four of them. They all had ties to the High Rollers’ Club. They acted like they’re knights protecting the king, but Watts saw them for what they were: pawns. They’re bodies to be thrown at Wesley Crane’s problem until one of them manages to trip Watts up. Watts knew Crane didn’t care for them. Did Crane even know their names? At the same time, did Watts? He’d been so focused on Wesley Crane that he hadn’t taken the time to learn much about his opponents. He’d dealt with Reese and Cage in the past. He didn’t know much or think much of the other two.
As Watts was stuck in thought, Warren Webber snuck down to the ring. Always trying to ingratiate himself with the powerful, Webber would again try to gain Watts’s favor.
“Penny for your thoughts, big guy?”
“Just thinking about the gauntlet match,” Watts replied. It was honest but curt. Watts had no interest in confiding in Webber and didn’t really want him around. Webber’s loyalty only lasted until he thought he found a better opportunity. It’d be a mistake to trust Webber, which is why no one in WUK did. He was used to send and receive messages about others, but everyone knew that information given to Webber was basically in the public domain. That means don’t share sensitive information. Have a secret love of BTS? Don’t let Webber find out or, soon, everyone will know.
“Four men back-to-back-to-back-to-back. That’s going to be a tough match. You might be the most accomplished out of everyone in the match, but a four-to-one advantage could nullify that. How are you preparing?”
“It’s all about endurance. It’s basically four straight matches. I don’t know a lot about SZK or Warrick. I’m sure they’re proud athletes. I know they want to beat me to add momentum to their own careers. I’m thinking they’ll be over eager and will slip up. I can catch them with a Tackle, and it’ll all be over. I mean no disrespect, but I’m not interested in wrestling them. They’re annoyances I have to endure to get to Wesley Crane.”
Watts meant every word. It was never his first impulse to disrespect an opponent, but he found this whole situation to be ridiculous. Why did he have to jump through hoops to get a match he was already qualified for?
“What about ‘Honest’ Nicholas Cage? He’s a former tag team champion. He’s had some success.”
“He’s never stood on his own. He doesn’t want to stand on his own. I don’t think he can handle the pressure. At his core, he’s a follower. He wants to be led, and Wesley Crane likes to tell people what to do. He’s probably where he belongs. I don’t think he wants to beat me. I think he’s treating this as a tag match. He wants to try to wear me down, then let one of the others try to finish me off. I’ve beaten him before, and I will again.”
“And your thoughts on Preston Andre Reese?”
“He’s the biggest threat on the whole team. He’s a former Commonwealth champion and is being groomed to be a star. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t the leader of his team. He’s probably positioned himself to be my final opponent. He wants me at my weakest. He wants me to be vulnerable. It might be a smart plan, but it won’t work. Nothing is going to stop me from getting my hands on Wesley Crane! Now, the High Rollers can be smart and get out of my way or I can run them over! Warren, if you see them, you need to let them know that they have the option of stepping aside. All this violence and destruction and for what? Some brownie points with Wesley Crane? Do they really think he’ll be grateful and treat them well? He won’t! They need to have some self-respect and leave Crane.”
Watts knew Webber would deliver the message. He hoped it would make a difference. Reese, Cage, Warrick, and SZK would only have bruises and scars to show for their efforts. Surely, they have something better to do than get beaten to a pulp in the ring.
“And I know you’ll be watching Gavin Drake defend his new title against Wesley Crane?”
“Wasn’t that great? Crane got so distracted in avoiding me that he completely forgot he had to face Gavin Drake. Drake showed him who’s boss! Now, it’s what, the WUK Xtreme Title? It’s been downgraded to a sideshow title, and Crane is fighting his heart out for it. I remember when he was the World champion and never would have given that belt a second look. In a company where every other wrestler has a belt, Crane is scared that he’ll lose this game of musical chairs. He missed the truth that’s right before him: "If you need a belt to be somebody, then you’ll always be a nobody!”
With that, Watts sent Webber away. He knew that information would find its way to Crane. Just one more thing to get in Crane’s head as he prepared for Drake.