Listening in to a Narcissist
Nov 20, 2017 16:29:39 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer and Rage (aka NoMercyMaster2001) like this
Post by Robbie A on Nov 20, 2017 16:29:39 GMT -5
Wire Tap Report
Subject: Arnold, Rob
Associates: Chant, Leon; Lane, Jordan (also known as Joxide); Reid, Alex
Associate Background:
Chant: Under Arnold's employment since 2004, could be a tax manoeuvre, though this is unclear as Arnold's companies appear to be dormant.
Lane: A wrestler from Bristol, England, wrestles on the UK independent scene. Has close ties to Arnold from 2001 - 2008.
Reid: Former owner of VXW, Arnold's oldest friend and confidante.
Report Brief: To analyse the phone calls between the subject and what is deemed to be his closest associates between the allocated periods. Determine if any intervention required and if subjects mental state is deemed as dangerous to XHF: Anonymous Underground (now known as Anonymous Xtreme Wrestling or AXW). Total of four calls recorded, logs below:
Date: 15 October 2017
Time: 15:00 GMT
Associate: Leon Chant
Chant: Go for Chant.
Arnold: Leon Chant, I have a little job for you.
(Pause)
Chant: Rob fucking Arnold… I knew life was too good to be true as of late. I hate it when you have a “little” job for me. It usually ends with me going to the hospital, and you know that I really don’t like hospitals.
Arnold: Well I’d love to tell you that this one will be different, but I have never lied to you Leon, so I can’t make that promise.
Chant: Before you go on and tell me things I’m not going to like, can I just say I’ve had a nice sabbatical for the last few years from you and your crazy schemes. Whatever this is, it better be worth my while.
Arnold: Oh my aren’t we testy today! Leon you should know of all people I never ask you do to do anything I don’t think you couldn’t handle. Now before I tell you, where are you holed up right now?
Chant: I’m in Sydney.
Arnold: I’ll call you back in an hour with your flight details. You’re coming to New Orleans, I want you to take my place here.
Chant: Take your place doing what?
Arnold: Oh nothing too taxing, its just a small, slightly illegal fighting club, you’ll be the new house fighter.
(Another pause)
Chant: I fucking hate you. I hope you know that.
Arnold: I know, but good bosses are never liked.
Chant: Where the hell are you going to anyway? Last time I spoke to Alex, he reckoned that you’d be staying quiet for quite a while and not to expect a call from you.
Arnold: Well that was before I decided to go back to wrestling. I’m heading out to Europe, it’s an underground venture marketed by the XHF.
Chant: You don’t want to wrestle, you don’t want to be seen, you want to wrestle, you want to be seen.
Arnold: What can I say? This venture is offering me a bit of both, and you know I like having my cake and eating it.
Chant: Oh I know that all too well. So this venture, what is it called?
Arnold: It’s calling itself XHF: Anonymous Underground, the guy running it is some bloke called V, all very hidden all very mysterious. I’m going in to provide a bit of a familiar XHF name but I’ll earn my keep like I always do. There’s a lot of new names that I’ve not come across before, and I’m being told that some older names have offers on the table, so you never know I may end up seeing some old friends.
Chant: You don’t have friends.
Arnold: Now that is simply spiteful, and untrue.
Chant: Name me three friends. Three people that are still alive, and that you’ve actually spoken to in the last six years. I don’t count, because as mentioned before, I hate you.
Arnold: Well there’s Alex, and Joxide.
(Long, audible pause)
Arnold: Leon, just be waiting by the phone for your next instruction.
Chant: Knew it.
CALL TERMINATED
Date: 31 October 2017
Time: 10:00 GMT
Associate: Jordan Lane (Joxide)
Joxide: Is this some form of joke, Rob fucking Arnold is actually calling me?
Arnold: It is not a joke my old friend, I’m actually calling you.
Joxide: The last time I saw you we were in Prague getting up to all sorts of-
Arnold: Yeah I’m really aware of that, but you never know who’s listening, so perhaps we go over some war stories another time?
Joxide: Hah, yes, you’re probably right. What’s going on then, Rob?
Arnold: So you know I’m back in the game, right?
Joxide: Yes, I did see and hear a few things about that. Took me by surprise if I’m honest.
Arnold: You and me both, but when the offer’s right, it’s right! Anyway, you’ve kept in the business in these last eight years or so, and you know, we’re the same age, we’re pretty similar is what I’m getting at-
Joxide: Let me guess, your first night back in the books and you feel rough as guts?
Arnold: I know I’m no old man, but I can’t remember it hurting this much when I was 24, ten years on and it’s like I’ve been hit by a bus.
(Laughing from Joxide)
Joxide: Robbie, let me as honest with you as I can be, it always hurt this much, it never stops hurting this much. The difference is you haven’t done it in a while. Can you remember your first match, back in 2001? You told me you never felt so sore afterwards, and that was a regular match! Tell me, what did you get up to last night?
Arnold: Oh you know, the usual, I beat a young Korean kid down, went to do some real damage after the match and then got jumped by a crazy guy, he put me through a table. I didn’t appreciate that if I’m honest.
Joxide: The usual?
Arnold: The usual.
Joxide: And that is why I’ve never been on the XHF scene, even back then you couldn’t go four weeks without going into some stupid match that could potentially kill you.
Arnold: Hey now, any match could kill you. Just some more than others I guess.
Joxide: Says the man who made the Pyramid of Death match a thing. You are a maniac, you’re also a damn fine human being, but a maniacal one. Why do you do it? You’re were always one of the most technically gifted wrestlers I have ever come across, yet you play the hardcore game so often, you just don’t need to!
Arnold: Hey don’t get me wrong, I’m not a huge fan of this hardcore stuff right now, nor have I ever been.
Joxide: Again, says the mad man who made the Pyramid of Death match a thing.
Arnold: I guess I just don’t want to be pigeon-holed into being a “type” of wrestler. You have your brawlers, your technical wrestlers, hardcore, high flyers...Why not be a mix of all of that? Surely if you want to be the best you have to be able to adapt, do all of those things in order to beat all of those other guys. I’m not saying you need to be a jack of all trades and a master of none. No, I think its something more than that, just be bloody good at all of these things. If doing that means I’ve got to play with some furniture in my matches then so be it.
Joxide: You’re still not getting me to come tag with you. The answer was no in 2007 when you were on your British Crusade-
Arnold: Brotherhood.
Joxide: What?
Arnold: It was the British Brotherhood, not Crusade.
Joxide: Whatever. You’re on your own out there. I’m not going to coming picking up your pieces, you’ve got Chant for that.
Arnold: I’ve got him picking up other pieces at the moment, but I appreciate your thought process.
Joxide: (Sigh) Just try and keep it sensible? You’re easing back into it right?
Arnold: Well it’s a bi-weekly show, so recovery time is sensible.
Joxide: That’s not what I’m getting at, you’re not going to go through tables every week are you?
Arnold: In fairness I didn’t plan on going through one last night, that just pure misfortune on my part.
Joxide: I highly doubt it was “misfortune”.
Arnold: Anyway, to respond to your question, I’m in the final of this small tournament next, I’m assuming it’ll be another regular match, the guy is a lot more dangerous but it’s a normal match so I should be in the clear.
(Pause)
Arnold: ...What?
Joxide: So I’ve just googled your name, and do you know what it says? Rob Arnold takes on The Storm Crow in a light tube ladder match.
Arnold: In a fucking what match?
Joxide: Light. Tube. Ladder. Match. So, you’re not easing back into this, are you? Ya’ fucking idiot.
Arnold: You are having me on, right? That’s the first time anybody has fucking told me!
Joxide: You need to have a word with your management team!
Arnold: That’s about as simple as the plot from Lost. The guy, V, is never anywhere to be seen, appears and disappears at a whim, does most of his dealings in e-mails and press releases. I’ve never met him, I have no idea what he looks like, he literally embodies the name Anonymous Underground.
Joxide: And when did you last check your e-mail?
Arnold: Not since before last night’s show...yeah okay point made.
Joxide: Well, as much as I’d love to keep mocking you over the phone I have things to be getting done, I have a match on Friday, one that doesn’t involve tables, or light tubes. You should call more often, or maybe even leave the circus and come home to a real promotion.
Arnold: So I’m a clown as well, am I?
Joxide: Your words, not mine!
Arnold: Pleasure as always, Jox.
Joxide: You too.
CALL TERMINATED.
Date: 11 November 2017
Time: 20:00 GMT
Associate: Alex Reid
Arnold: Mr Reid.
Reid: Rob fucking Arnold. You doing okay? I’ve not heard from you in a few weeks.
Arnold: Been a busy few that’s why! Feels like a lifetime ago that you were the only person in my phone contacts. I hope you’re not getting jealous that I’m interacting with more people again.
Reid: By more you mean about a dozen people that don’t sit in the same bar with you day in day out? And no, certainly not jealous, more relieved at the fact that I have some of my life back. You really have no idea how much of a burden you are to me.
Arnold: You constantly tell me this yet I just don’t see it. Besides it’s not like I don’t help you out whenever you need.
Reid: True, but my life isn’t a train wreck like yours.
Arnold: Your insults aside, what can I do for you this evening?
Reid: I just wanted to check in with you, make sure you’re focused for Monday night.
Arnold: Oh wow, an Alex Reid pre-match pep-talk? I’ve almost forgotten that these exist! You must be concerned about me after all.
Reid: Well I wasn’t until I received a call from Joxide-
Arnold: Oh don’t pander to him, the guy is afraid of a little danger and gets all jumpy! This match isn’t any worse than some of the other matches I’ve been in, it’s no Annihilation Complex match for example. As long as I don’t take too many risks I’ll be just fine. That call to Jox, I think I was just overreacting from the ring rust.
Reid: Well I’m glad you’ve got the less risk mentality, I can’t believe you’re getting yourself into these types of matches so soon.
Arnold: Well it’s not by choice, as you know.
Reid: Indeed, and that’s why I called. I’ve been with legal today following up on your e-mail last week. Why do you want a run down of your contract anyway?
Arnold: Simple really, after this Light Tube Ladder madness, I began to work out if I had much say in the matter, I’ll let this one slide, but hypothetically if I wanted to turn around and say “you can stick your Japanese Death Match up your arse”, if I had much legal wiggle room.
Reid: You, saying no to a match? Now I am getting worried.
Arnold: Hypothetically. It’s a different world to the XHF of old Alex, back then the schedule was heavier, yes, but you had to consent to these types of matches. I could wrestle two nights a week for four weeks no problem and not worry about being stuck in a cage come pay per view time at the end of the month. This is completely different though, if one week I’m going to be thrown through tables and then in two weeks I’m going to have to dance around thumb tacks that could be an issue. Despite what Joxide thinks I am not a circus act.
Reid: You are a clown in fairness…
Arnold: Are you going to tell me about my fucking contract or what?
Reid: So basically it’s no different to most of your other contracts in the past with the XHF. There is an exclusivity clause but that is slightly watered down to allow you to participate in other XHF Network brands providing you have the agreement of all parties. The salary isn’t based on you performing, so if you’re not booked you are still paid, obviously if you no show, no pay. After that there’s no specification on matches, it simply says you will be booked at the discretion of the management.
Arnold: So I could kick up a fuss if I wanted to?
Reid: You could, but I doubt there’d be much point.
Arnold: How do you figure?
Reid: Well I did some research on the company, just some due diligence, let me put it this way, you won’t see me going into business with it any time soon.
Arnold: Yes but you are an overprotective ball bag when it comes to business decisions.
Reid: An overprotective ball bag that has made millions for both of our investments, you are welcome by the way. Anyway, this company is a subsidiary, there’s a crazy amount of parent companies, all with PO Box’s as registered addresses. Let me put it this way, you mentioned that the owners keep hidden, they very much want to keep it that way.
Arnold: Well keep digging. You know me, I love to have leverage where I can get it. In the meantime though I’ll just keep doing what I do best, doing some damage to other people.
Reid: Just make sure that you do, I haven’t got the time to be hauling you out of a hospital in the back end of Germany.
Arnold: Pfft, you’d love it, it’s nice here, it’s like being back home. Just instead of the broad farmer accent you just can’t understand anybody because they’re speaking in German. Plus there’s bratwurst, a lot of bratwurst.
Reid: I can’t decide if you’re being serious or a slightly racist asshole.
Arnold: More of the former with a tinge of the latter.
Reid: And on that note, I’ll speak to you next week, make sure you bring that title home.
Arnold: Will do.
CALL TERMINATED.
Date: 14 November 2017
Time: 23:00 GMT
Associate: Alex Reid
Arnold: Hey man.
Reid: He finally answers, the man made out of glass and splinters, Rob fucking Arnold.
Arnold: Can I ask why everybody seems to think my middle name has become “fucking”? It’s John, you know this, I’m pretty sure a lot of people know this, but no, suddenly it’s Rob fucking Arnold. With a lower case f as well. It genuinely baffles me!
Reid: Oh really? I thought it was a new nickname you were going for, nobody calls you The True Innovator any more either, so I just assumed you approved it and it was a thing.
Arnold: It’s not a thing, though I sense it’s about to become a thing.
Reid: So how are you holding up anyway?
Arnold: How do you think?
Reid: Given that you’ve only just picked up, a whole twenty four hours after you competed, I think I already know.
Arnold: Do you know what the worst bit is? I can slightly handle losing, only slightly, but its the fact that now I have to go to Russia next week now, I didn’t want to go to Russia but apparently I have to go. I could have stomached that potentially, but then to seemingly annoy me further I have to sit by and listen to Storm Crow drunkenly go on about whatever strange thing goes on in his head. I could have possibly handled that as well, but just to put the discarded toenails on the cake made of faeces, this match involves fire and all sorts of ridiculous stipulations. I always thought an Xtraction match was just a simple tag team elimination match, why on earth are these idiots messing with it?
(Pause)
Reid: You’re taking this a lot better than I expected.
Arnold: And you should see the schedule for it. I have to be on a plane to Moscow four days before the event.
Reid: ...I don’t see the issue there.
Arnold: Aren’t you forgetting that I’m moving into the new house in a few days time?
Reid: Oh, yeah I’d almost forgotten actually.
Arnold: How could you forget? I’ve told you on Discord enough times!
Reid: Discord? Why are you still using that?
Arnold: I thought that’s what we were using?
Reid: Oh god no, just use Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp like a normal human being.
Arnold: Well regardless of that, I wanted to spend more time there to start with before my next match. I really wanted to knock down that wall, you know the one between the living room and the kitchen?
Reid: Oh you mean the fourth one? Yeah I’m sure you’ll still have time for that.
Arnold: I better fucking do. All these e-mails that just expect you to just change your plans…
Reid: Uh, Rob?
Arnold: ...wrestle this match…
Reid: …Rob…
Arnold: ...go to Russia, speak to these members of the press-
Reid: Rob!
Arnold: What?
Reid: That’s exactly what you do to me and Leon, all of the damn time.
Arnold: No it isn’t. How on earth have you come to that conclusion?
Reid: Over the past, let’s just call it ten years, your behaviour has been exactly like that. Granted, it may not always ask so much out of us, but you haven’t actually stopped to think about what other things we may have done had you not dropped in on our lives.
Arnold: You can always say no, you have done in the past.
Reid: Because it was mine and Amy’s anniversary, you moron!
(Pause)
Arnold: But you still said no and I was okay with that. That’s the point I’m making here. That’s what makes me different.
Reid: I...There’s just no arguing with you sometimes.
Arnold: I honestly don’t know what there is to argue.
(Long pause)
Reid: So the other reason I called you, other than to make sure that you weren’t dead, or suffering from some kind of wound-based infection, was to let you know that security were in touch. It appears that our last call was bugged. The team investigated, and it appears that whoever was tapping was tapping into your phone, not mine. You may want to get that looked into.
Arnold: Tapped? Well that’s a government scandal waiting to happen. How long has this been happening?
Reid: No idea as it wasn’t at our end, but as this is an isolated incident, I would suggest its fairly recent.
Arnold: Well that narrows it down. It could be the Russians, but these ones in particular don’t strike me as having the intelligence to pull that off. I do wonder if it could be a bit closer to home though.
Reid: What, Anonymous Underground? Or AXW, did you get that memo?
Arnold: Yes to both. There’s hardly any contact time from management, the best they tend to do is send one of Gunn or Donovan to check in on you. There’s a minimal amount of road crew, and even the majority of them are subcontracted in. It could be their way of keeping tabs on the talent. If it is, then excuse me a moment Alex, I feel the need to address my employer directly.
V, if you are indeed behind this, I hope you’re listening very carefully. You’re beginning to really piss me off, I don’t do boundaries being broken very well, and holy shit you’re like a bull in a china shop with these boundaries right now. I told you that I don’t play well with others, I told you I wanted no part of your games with the Russians yet you ignore me. I told you before that I don’t fight for free, and I don’t, I’ll go to Moscow and do your dirty work, but this is going to cost you dearly. I just haven’t decided what I want yet, but I will, don’t you worry about that.
Alex, I think whoever has been listening in has had their full quota. I’ll be in touch soon on a new number.
Reid: Tell you what, call me when you get back from Russia, even by your standards right now you are fucking unbearable.
Arnold: Wha-
CALL TERMINATED
Analysis and conclusion: Subject has grown very hostile, specifically towards the AXW management and other AXW staff. Attitude has deteriorated in a very short window of time, whilst preliminary reports on the subject suggested that this was a possibility, it wasn’t originally thought that such rapid deterioration would occur within four weeks. His associates are very aware of his narcissism yet cannot combat it very easily, which only enhances these traits in the longer term. Sense of humour exists but is very niche and shouldn’t be pandered to.
Overall conclusion and recommendation is to allow subject to feel like he has more freedom in the days leading up to Russia, have Gunn or Donovan check in the day before the flight. Then resume closer observation following Xtraction. Subject shows enough evidence of self motivation to assume that he will be on board come the event, subject has too much pride to cause us an issue in the Xtraction match.
END REPORT.
Subject: Arnold, Rob
Associates: Chant, Leon; Lane, Jordan (also known as Joxide); Reid, Alex
Associate Background:
Chant: Under Arnold's employment since 2004, could be a tax manoeuvre, though this is unclear as Arnold's companies appear to be dormant.
Lane: A wrestler from Bristol, England, wrestles on the UK independent scene. Has close ties to Arnold from 2001 - 2008.
Reid: Former owner of VXW, Arnold's oldest friend and confidante.
Report Brief: To analyse the phone calls between the subject and what is deemed to be his closest associates between the allocated periods. Determine if any intervention required and if subjects mental state is deemed as dangerous to XHF: Anonymous Underground (now known as Anonymous Xtreme Wrestling or AXW). Total of four calls recorded, logs below:
Date: 15 October 2017
Time: 15:00 GMT
Associate: Leon Chant
Chant: Go for Chant.
Arnold: Leon Chant, I have a little job for you.
(Pause)
Chant: Rob fucking Arnold… I knew life was too good to be true as of late. I hate it when you have a “little” job for me. It usually ends with me going to the hospital, and you know that I really don’t like hospitals.
Arnold: Well I’d love to tell you that this one will be different, but I have never lied to you Leon, so I can’t make that promise.
Chant: Before you go on and tell me things I’m not going to like, can I just say I’ve had a nice sabbatical for the last few years from you and your crazy schemes. Whatever this is, it better be worth my while.
Arnold: Oh my aren’t we testy today! Leon you should know of all people I never ask you do to do anything I don’t think you couldn’t handle. Now before I tell you, where are you holed up right now?
Chant: I’m in Sydney.
Arnold: I’ll call you back in an hour with your flight details. You’re coming to New Orleans, I want you to take my place here.
Chant: Take your place doing what?
Arnold: Oh nothing too taxing, its just a small, slightly illegal fighting club, you’ll be the new house fighter.
(Another pause)
Chant: I fucking hate you. I hope you know that.
Arnold: I know, but good bosses are never liked.
Chant: Where the hell are you going to anyway? Last time I spoke to Alex, he reckoned that you’d be staying quiet for quite a while and not to expect a call from you.
Arnold: Well that was before I decided to go back to wrestling. I’m heading out to Europe, it’s an underground venture marketed by the XHF.
Chant: You don’t want to wrestle, you don’t want to be seen, you want to wrestle, you want to be seen.
Arnold: What can I say? This venture is offering me a bit of both, and you know I like having my cake and eating it.
Chant: Oh I know that all too well. So this venture, what is it called?
Arnold: It’s calling itself XHF: Anonymous Underground, the guy running it is some bloke called V, all very hidden all very mysterious. I’m going in to provide a bit of a familiar XHF name but I’ll earn my keep like I always do. There’s a lot of new names that I’ve not come across before, and I’m being told that some older names have offers on the table, so you never know I may end up seeing some old friends.
Chant: You don’t have friends.
Arnold: Now that is simply spiteful, and untrue.
Chant: Name me three friends. Three people that are still alive, and that you’ve actually spoken to in the last six years. I don’t count, because as mentioned before, I hate you.
Arnold: Well there’s Alex, and Joxide.
(Long, audible pause)
Arnold: Leon, just be waiting by the phone for your next instruction.
Chant: Knew it.
CALL TERMINATED
Date: 31 October 2017
Time: 10:00 GMT
Associate: Jordan Lane (Joxide)
Joxide: Is this some form of joke, Rob fucking Arnold is actually calling me?
Arnold: It is not a joke my old friend, I’m actually calling you.
Joxide: The last time I saw you we were in Prague getting up to all sorts of-
Arnold: Yeah I’m really aware of that, but you never know who’s listening, so perhaps we go over some war stories another time?
Joxide: Hah, yes, you’re probably right. What’s going on then, Rob?
Arnold: So you know I’m back in the game, right?
Joxide: Yes, I did see and hear a few things about that. Took me by surprise if I’m honest.
Arnold: You and me both, but when the offer’s right, it’s right! Anyway, you’ve kept in the business in these last eight years or so, and you know, we’re the same age, we’re pretty similar is what I’m getting at-
Joxide: Let me guess, your first night back in the books and you feel rough as guts?
Arnold: I know I’m no old man, but I can’t remember it hurting this much when I was 24, ten years on and it’s like I’ve been hit by a bus.
(Laughing from Joxide)
Joxide: Robbie, let me as honest with you as I can be, it always hurt this much, it never stops hurting this much. The difference is you haven’t done it in a while. Can you remember your first match, back in 2001? You told me you never felt so sore afterwards, and that was a regular match! Tell me, what did you get up to last night?
Arnold: Oh you know, the usual, I beat a young Korean kid down, went to do some real damage after the match and then got jumped by a crazy guy, he put me through a table. I didn’t appreciate that if I’m honest.
Joxide: The usual?
Arnold: The usual.
Joxide: And that is why I’ve never been on the XHF scene, even back then you couldn’t go four weeks without going into some stupid match that could potentially kill you.
Arnold: Hey now, any match could kill you. Just some more than others I guess.
Joxide: Says the man who made the Pyramid of Death match a thing. You are a maniac, you’re also a damn fine human being, but a maniacal one. Why do you do it? You’re were always one of the most technically gifted wrestlers I have ever come across, yet you play the hardcore game so often, you just don’t need to!
Arnold: Hey don’t get me wrong, I’m not a huge fan of this hardcore stuff right now, nor have I ever been.
Joxide: Again, says the mad man who made the Pyramid of Death match a thing.
Arnold: I guess I just don’t want to be pigeon-holed into being a “type” of wrestler. You have your brawlers, your technical wrestlers, hardcore, high flyers...Why not be a mix of all of that? Surely if you want to be the best you have to be able to adapt, do all of those things in order to beat all of those other guys. I’m not saying you need to be a jack of all trades and a master of none. No, I think its something more than that, just be bloody good at all of these things. If doing that means I’ve got to play with some furniture in my matches then so be it.
Joxide: You’re still not getting me to come tag with you. The answer was no in 2007 when you were on your British Crusade-
Arnold: Brotherhood.
Joxide: What?
Arnold: It was the British Brotherhood, not Crusade.
Joxide: Whatever. You’re on your own out there. I’m not going to coming picking up your pieces, you’ve got Chant for that.
Arnold: I’ve got him picking up other pieces at the moment, but I appreciate your thought process.
Joxide: (Sigh) Just try and keep it sensible? You’re easing back into it right?
Arnold: Well it’s a bi-weekly show, so recovery time is sensible.
Joxide: That’s not what I’m getting at, you’re not going to go through tables every week are you?
Arnold: In fairness I didn’t plan on going through one last night, that just pure misfortune on my part.
Joxide: I highly doubt it was “misfortune”.
Arnold: Anyway, to respond to your question, I’m in the final of this small tournament next, I’m assuming it’ll be another regular match, the guy is a lot more dangerous but it’s a normal match so I should be in the clear.
(Pause)
Arnold: ...What?
Joxide: So I’ve just googled your name, and do you know what it says? Rob Arnold takes on The Storm Crow in a light tube ladder match.
Arnold: In a fucking what match?
Joxide: Light. Tube. Ladder. Match. So, you’re not easing back into this, are you? Ya’ fucking idiot.
Arnold: You are having me on, right? That’s the first time anybody has fucking told me!
Joxide: You need to have a word with your management team!
Arnold: That’s about as simple as the plot from Lost. The guy, V, is never anywhere to be seen, appears and disappears at a whim, does most of his dealings in e-mails and press releases. I’ve never met him, I have no idea what he looks like, he literally embodies the name Anonymous Underground.
Joxide: And when did you last check your e-mail?
Arnold: Not since before last night’s show...yeah okay point made.
Joxide: Well, as much as I’d love to keep mocking you over the phone I have things to be getting done, I have a match on Friday, one that doesn’t involve tables, or light tubes. You should call more often, or maybe even leave the circus and come home to a real promotion.
Arnold: So I’m a clown as well, am I?
Joxide: Your words, not mine!
Arnold: Pleasure as always, Jox.
Joxide: You too.
CALL TERMINATED.
Date: 11 November 2017
Time: 20:00 GMT
Associate: Alex Reid
Arnold: Mr Reid.
Reid: Rob fucking Arnold. You doing okay? I’ve not heard from you in a few weeks.
Arnold: Been a busy few that’s why! Feels like a lifetime ago that you were the only person in my phone contacts. I hope you’re not getting jealous that I’m interacting with more people again.
Reid: By more you mean about a dozen people that don’t sit in the same bar with you day in day out? And no, certainly not jealous, more relieved at the fact that I have some of my life back. You really have no idea how much of a burden you are to me.
Arnold: You constantly tell me this yet I just don’t see it. Besides it’s not like I don’t help you out whenever you need.
Reid: True, but my life isn’t a train wreck like yours.
Arnold: Your insults aside, what can I do for you this evening?
Reid: I just wanted to check in with you, make sure you’re focused for Monday night.
Arnold: Oh wow, an Alex Reid pre-match pep-talk? I’ve almost forgotten that these exist! You must be concerned about me after all.
Reid: Well I wasn’t until I received a call from Joxide-
Arnold: Oh don’t pander to him, the guy is afraid of a little danger and gets all jumpy! This match isn’t any worse than some of the other matches I’ve been in, it’s no Annihilation Complex match for example. As long as I don’t take too many risks I’ll be just fine. That call to Jox, I think I was just overreacting from the ring rust.
Reid: Well I’m glad you’ve got the less risk mentality, I can’t believe you’re getting yourself into these types of matches so soon.
Arnold: Well it’s not by choice, as you know.
Reid: Indeed, and that’s why I called. I’ve been with legal today following up on your e-mail last week. Why do you want a run down of your contract anyway?
Arnold: Simple really, after this Light Tube Ladder madness, I began to work out if I had much say in the matter, I’ll let this one slide, but hypothetically if I wanted to turn around and say “you can stick your Japanese Death Match up your arse”, if I had much legal wiggle room.
Reid: You, saying no to a match? Now I am getting worried.
Arnold: Hypothetically. It’s a different world to the XHF of old Alex, back then the schedule was heavier, yes, but you had to consent to these types of matches. I could wrestle two nights a week for four weeks no problem and not worry about being stuck in a cage come pay per view time at the end of the month. This is completely different though, if one week I’m going to be thrown through tables and then in two weeks I’m going to have to dance around thumb tacks that could be an issue. Despite what Joxide thinks I am not a circus act.
Reid: You are a clown in fairness…
Arnold: Are you going to tell me about my fucking contract or what?
Reid: So basically it’s no different to most of your other contracts in the past with the XHF. There is an exclusivity clause but that is slightly watered down to allow you to participate in other XHF Network brands providing you have the agreement of all parties. The salary isn’t based on you performing, so if you’re not booked you are still paid, obviously if you no show, no pay. After that there’s no specification on matches, it simply says you will be booked at the discretion of the management.
Arnold: So I could kick up a fuss if I wanted to?
Reid: You could, but I doubt there’d be much point.
Arnold: How do you figure?
Reid: Well I did some research on the company, just some due diligence, let me put it this way, you won’t see me going into business with it any time soon.
Arnold: Yes but you are an overprotective ball bag when it comes to business decisions.
Reid: An overprotective ball bag that has made millions for both of our investments, you are welcome by the way. Anyway, this company is a subsidiary, there’s a crazy amount of parent companies, all with PO Box’s as registered addresses. Let me put it this way, you mentioned that the owners keep hidden, they very much want to keep it that way.
Arnold: Well keep digging. You know me, I love to have leverage where I can get it. In the meantime though I’ll just keep doing what I do best, doing some damage to other people.
Reid: Just make sure that you do, I haven’t got the time to be hauling you out of a hospital in the back end of Germany.
Arnold: Pfft, you’d love it, it’s nice here, it’s like being back home. Just instead of the broad farmer accent you just can’t understand anybody because they’re speaking in German. Plus there’s bratwurst, a lot of bratwurst.
Reid: I can’t decide if you’re being serious or a slightly racist asshole.
Arnold: More of the former with a tinge of the latter.
Reid: And on that note, I’ll speak to you next week, make sure you bring that title home.
Arnold: Will do.
CALL TERMINATED.
Date: 14 November 2017
Time: 23:00 GMT
Associate: Alex Reid
Arnold: Hey man.
Reid: He finally answers, the man made out of glass and splinters, Rob fucking Arnold.
Arnold: Can I ask why everybody seems to think my middle name has become “fucking”? It’s John, you know this, I’m pretty sure a lot of people know this, but no, suddenly it’s Rob fucking Arnold. With a lower case f as well. It genuinely baffles me!
Reid: Oh really? I thought it was a new nickname you were going for, nobody calls you The True Innovator any more either, so I just assumed you approved it and it was a thing.
Arnold: It’s not a thing, though I sense it’s about to become a thing.
Reid: So how are you holding up anyway?
Arnold: How do you think?
Reid: Given that you’ve only just picked up, a whole twenty four hours after you competed, I think I already know.
Arnold: Do you know what the worst bit is? I can slightly handle losing, only slightly, but its the fact that now I have to go to Russia next week now, I didn’t want to go to Russia but apparently I have to go. I could have stomached that potentially, but then to seemingly annoy me further I have to sit by and listen to Storm Crow drunkenly go on about whatever strange thing goes on in his head. I could have possibly handled that as well, but just to put the discarded toenails on the cake made of faeces, this match involves fire and all sorts of ridiculous stipulations. I always thought an Xtraction match was just a simple tag team elimination match, why on earth are these idiots messing with it?
(Pause)
Reid: You’re taking this a lot better than I expected.
Arnold: And you should see the schedule for it. I have to be on a plane to Moscow four days before the event.
Reid: ...I don’t see the issue there.
Arnold: Aren’t you forgetting that I’m moving into the new house in a few days time?
Reid: Oh, yeah I’d almost forgotten actually.
Arnold: How could you forget? I’ve told you on Discord enough times!
Reid: Discord? Why are you still using that?
Arnold: I thought that’s what we were using?
Reid: Oh god no, just use Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp like a normal human being.
Arnold: Well regardless of that, I wanted to spend more time there to start with before my next match. I really wanted to knock down that wall, you know the one between the living room and the kitchen?
Reid: Oh you mean the fourth one? Yeah I’m sure you’ll still have time for that.
Arnold: I better fucking do. All these e-mails that just expect you to just change your plans…
Reid: Uh, Rob?
Arnold: ...wrestle this match…
Reid: …Rob…
Arnold: ...go to Russia, speak to these members of the press-
Reid: Rob!
Arnold: What?
Reid: That’s exactly what you do to me and Leon, all of the damn time.
Arnold: No it isn’t. How on earth have you come to that conclusion?
Reid: Over the past, let’s just call it ten years, your behaviour has been exactly like that. Granted, it may not always ask so much out of us, but you haven’t actually stopped to think about what other things we may have done had you not dropped in on our lives.
Arnold: You can always say no, you have done in the past.
Reid: Because it was mine and Amy’s anniversary, you moron!
(Pause)
Arnold: But you still said no and I was okay with that. That’s the point I’m making here. That’s what makes me different.
Reid: I...There’s just no arguing with you sometimes.
Arnold: I honestly don’t know what there is to argue.
(Long pause)
Reid: So the other reason I called you, other than to make sure that you weren’t dead, or suffering from some kind of wound-based infection, was to let you know that security were in touch. It appears that our last call was bugged. The team investigated, and it appears that whoever was tapping was tapping into your phone, not mine. You may want to get that looked into.
Arnold: Tapped? Well that’s a government scandal waiting to happen. How long has this been happening?
Reid: No idea as it wasn’t at our end, but as this is an isolated incident, I would suggest its fairly recent.
Arnold: Well that narrows it down. It could be the Russians, but these ones in particular don’t strike me as having the intelligence to pull that off. I do wonder if it could be a bit closer to home though.
Reid: What, Anonymous Underground? Or AXW, did you get that memo?
Arnold: Yes to both. There’s hardly any contact time from management, the best they tend to do is send one of Gunn or Donovan to check in on you. There’s a minimal amount of road crew, and even the majority of them are subcontracted in. It could be their way of keeping tabs on the talent. If it is, then excuse me a moment Alex, I feel the need to address my employer directly.
V, if you are indeed behind this, I hope you’re listening very carefully. You’re beginning to really piss me off, I don’t do boundaries being broken very well, and holy shit you’re like a bull in a china shop with these boundaries right now. I told you that I don’t play well with others, I told you I wanted no part of your games with the Russians yet you ignore me. I told you before that I don’t fight for free, and I don’t, I’ll go to Moscow and do your dirty work, but this is going to cost you dearly. I just haven’t decided what I want yet, but I will, don’t you worry about that.
Alex, I think whoever has been listening in has had their full quota. I’ll be in touch soon on a new number.
Reid: Tell you what, call me when you get back from Russia, even by your standards right now you are fucking unbearable.
Arnold: Wha-
CALL TERMINATED
Analysis and conclusion: Subject has grown very hostile, specifically towards the AXW management and other AXW staff. Attitude has deteriorated in a very short window of time, whilst preliminary reports on the subject suggested that this was a possibility, it wasn’t originally thought that such rapid deterioration would occur within four weeks. His associates are very aware of his narcissism yet cannot combat it very easily, which only enhances these traits in the longer term. Sense of humour exists but is very niche and shouldn’t be pandered to.
Overall conclusion and recommendation is to allow subject to feel like he has more freedom in the days leading up to Russia, have Gunn or Donovan check in the day before the flight. Then resume closer observation following Xtraction. Subject shows enough evidence of self motivation to assume that he will be on board come the event, subject has too much pride to cause us an issue in the Xtraction match.
END REPORT.
