Post by Jack Diamond on Jul 22, 2018 16:40:29 GMT -5
July 17th 2018
The Diamond Lounge - Canton, Ohio
6:55 AM
The scene opens outside of the future site of The Diamond Lounge, the huge business venture of The Ace of Spades. In eleven short days, this place will spring to life. There will be flashing lights, bells and whistles and money will be fed to machines and dealers, dollar after dollar lining the pockets of AWF star and hopefully future XCrown champion, Jack Diamond. The scene this morning, though, is a lot more calm. The sun is just getting high enough in the Ohio sky to paint a beautiful summer picture of life in the buckeye state. A cool breeze rustles nearby leaves as the camera pans around to see the monstrous buildings that Diamond has had built. Quick footsteps approach and the camera focuses on a couple jogging up the sidewalk to the Diamond fountain. It's Jack Diamond and Dakota Paige. Diamond sports read shorts a grey Icon hoodie and Dakota is wearing black yoga pants, a pink Diamond Club t-shirt, with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Diamond stops his jog just in front of the fountain as he reaches up and pulls down the hood, looking up at the hotel and casino.
Jack Diamond: I can't believe we are less than two weeks away from this being a reality.
Dakota comes to behind Diamond, wrapping her arms around his waist in a loving hug as she leans her head on his shoulder
Dakota Paige: It's amazing. All of it. Your birthday next week, The Diamond Lounge next Saturday and then your big match the following night. Every fed inside the network gunning for the xcrown. Your championship.
Diamond smiles. He may have lost the championship to Michael Storm, but in his mind it is still his and he has every intention to walking into Night of Champions and proving that he is exactly that... a champion
Jack Diamond: That reminds me. I struck a nerve with that V character back in June when I took the X*Crown from AXW and brought it back here stateside. Time for me to poke the bear a little bit...
Diamond pulls out his phone and opens Twitter. We are all aware of the little verbal joust he had with V or whoever the hell runs the AXW Twitter page in the aftermath of Blood Money. V was quick to point out that AXW would not tolerate losing the title. Diamond had confidently responded that the AXW couldn't afford to chase him across the pond. AXWs response?
"Fortunately for you, we won't be chasing you across oceans to reaqcuire what you took. Unfortunately for you...we now hold two openings to challenge you. The opportunity will come to us."
Diamond, reads over this post from June 4th once again and scoffs. He fires off a quick reply, "poking the bear" in his words.
Diamond shows Dakota the message with a boyish smile on his face. She chuckles and just shakes her head
Dakota Paige: In a match of this caliber, with so much on the line and so many people involved... do you think that's a good idea? Painting a target on your back? The match will already be violent enough.
Jack Diamond: Painting a target? Baby, I already have a target on my back. All seven of my opponents are going into that match knowing one thing... that their ONLY obstacle is Jack Diamond. Individually they all think they have a shot, and good for them. If they didn't, they should be in the match. But listen to what they all are talking about, the one name they know gives them issues. Me.
Dakota Paige: Yeah, you may be right but putting down AXWs representatives? That just makes your cchchallenges in this match even greater. I mean, Jackson Steele already has a win against you.. and that Anomoly... he seems dangerous, and hungry.
Jack Diamond: Challenges? What Challenges? You have a washed up wrestler turned C-movie actor who can parachute from the top of Mount Everest, it doesn't change the fact that he can't even lace my boots. Or are you talking about a battered cult follower with some serious daddy issues? Is she supposed to be a challenge? I don't think so. Oh, or the guy who stole his name from a video game? He nights as well be called Fortnite because he just sucks and is a waist of time. No, the only real challenge is a porn star and Animal Lee
Dakota rolls her eyes. She knows by now that Jack takes his matches seriously but it always amuses her that he is so carefree in his approach. The last part of his rant catches her though and she laughs out loud a bit.
Dakota Paige: Wait, did you say Animal Lee? You know its Anomoly right? With an "O". Like Anomaly but spelt wrong.
Jack Diamond: Anomaly, Animal Lee. Whatever. He can't spell anyways so does it really matter what we call him? The only "O" he needs to be concerned with is the O in "O and One" as in his record against Jack Diamond after this match. What I said was true. V or whoever the dumbasses are that make the decisions over there in the UK pissed their choices away. They could have had a president in the match. They could have had self proclaimed hardcore messiah in the match. Hell, they could have even put a seven foot tall Russian monster in this match... instead we get one guy who pulls out for a living.. and another that forgot how to pull out.
Diamond checks his phone. The two of them came her on their morning run route because Diamond had to meet with someone to line up the huge promotional event for The Diamond Lounge opening. The PR rep has not shown up yet despite the seven o'clock appointment. Frustrated, Diamond slips his phone back in his pocket.
Jack Diamond: Where is this idiot at? Anyways, when it comes to that Four Ring Circus, I'm not concerned. As you pointed out, it's true... Jackson Steele did beat me when we met a couple months back. It took everything he had though and the fact still remains that when the going got tough Jackson tucked his tail between his legs and went to Europe. Why? Because the Icons ran him off. He knew that he would always play second fiddle to Bobby and I both in AWF. I look forward to proving to the world that his victory over me was a fluke. As a matter of fact, I hope he is locked into my ring first. His bodyguards won't be there to protect him, to cover him up with a towel and get him out of harm's way...no, when I'm done with Jackson Steele the only shots that will be left for him will be the ones he takes to the face in his "other career"
A black Lincoln town car pulls up in the lot nearby. A white haired gentlemen steps out with a cheap suit on that reaks of media public relations. Jack scoffs to himself
Jack Diamond: As far as Anomoly goes? Rumor has it he is going to be a dad. That's great. He better focus on that and think about quality of life for his new kid. Every child wants to be able to throw ball with their dad in the front yard. Being in this match with me, I question how he will be able to do those things in the future with his kid. I've already put two legends in this business on the shelf... what do you think I'm going to do to a second rate masked wrestler like Animal Lee?
Dakota Paige: You're too much sometimes, you know? Here comes the rep for your promotion. Go handle that, I'm going to go grab us a couple coffees from down the street.
Dakota stands on her tiptoes and gives Jack a quick peck on the cheek and she jogs off down the sidewalk towards one of the local coffee shops. Jack turns his attention the the gentlemen from the Lincoln. He leads the man to a nearby table and they sit down as the older man opens a briefcase and removes some paperwork.
Jack Diamond: For a minute I didn't think you were going to show.
Public Relations Rep: My apologies, Mr. Diamond. Traffic this morning was heavier than I intended. Let's get down to business. The opening of your casino and hotel is going to be special. From all I've seen and read, everyone is looking forward to it. This promotional event, we we want to equal that excitement. If this can be just as big as the opening night itself then we can ensure that people will be lined up all the way to the NFL Hall of Fame waiting to get a room and into the casino on the 28th.
Jack Diamond: I absolutely agree. I don't know if you are aware but I have a huge wrestling match the night after the opening. I think I have a way to tie all of that together with this event which will draw even more people in. Here is what I'm thinking. Uh, please cut sound...
This last request was made to the cameraman who gives Diamond a thumbs up that sound is no longer recording. Diamond wants people to show up for his promotional event, of course, so having the plans leaked out ahead of time would be doing him a disservice. Jack starts laying out his vision to the older gentlemen who nods with excitement. The two of them seem to be on the same page regarding what they want to achieve. Time passes and the scene resumes fifteen for twenty minutes later as Dakota makes her way over to the table, back from her trip to the coffee shop, a cup of joe in each hand. As she makes it to the table, Jack and the PR rep are finishing up. The man stands up and offers a handshake to Diamond, who stands and responds with the shake.
Public Relations Rep: I think that takes care of pretty much everything. I'm with you one hundred percent and look forward to helping set this up. If there is anything else, Mr. Diamond, don't hesitate to let me know.
Jack Diamond: Well, I need one more thing. Do you know where you can get me an elephant?
Public Relations Rep: An elephant? Interesting. I'll make some calls and see what I can do.
Jack Diamond: Thanks, let me know.
The two of them say their goodbyes and the PR rep heads back to his car. As he gets in and drives a way, Dakota hands Jack his coffee. She looks at him inquisitively as he takes a sip.
Dakota Paige: Elephant?
Jack Diamond: An Elephant
Dakota Paige: That wouldn't have anything to do with that silly costume you've got hanging up in the closet would it?
Jack looks at her with a sly grin on his face and gets ready to say something when his phone goes off. He pulls it out of his hoodie pocket and takes a look at his notifications, someone replied to his tweet. He opens up Twitter to see that Anomoly has responded.
Diamond shows Dakota the reply with a bit of scowl on his face. She kind of raises her brow in a "well, technically" kind of expression which further bothers Diamond
Jack Diamond: What the hell does that moron know. I MADE Storm a vegetable, I can't help I slipped and his dead weight landed on me for the pinfall. That match should have never stood. Do you know how hard it is to lift dead weight off of you? Hell, even if you go back and watch...my shoulders were up. Typical AWF screwjob finish. Regardless, Anomoly can think whatever he wants. That is MY championship he gets the privilege of competing for and after Night of Champions he can book a bed right next to Michael Storm. He can forget the mask because when I'm done with him he will be in a full body cast...
Dakota just smiles at Diamond and pats him on the back to console or calm him down.
Dakota Paige: All you can do is make him eat his words... come on, let's finish our run.
Diamond takes a deep breath as he stares at the Twitter reply one more time before shoving the phone back in his pocket...
Jack Diamond: Fuck Animal Lee... after Night of Champions, I will once again be X*Crown champion and he can go back to the UK and revel in his mediocrity, in a broke ass fed and try to put food on the table for his family... if he makes it through...
Diamond turns to Dakota and sees she has already started to jog again. He just shakes his head and angrily throws his hood back over his head and trots off after her as the scene comes to an end.
