Post by Jack Diamond on Oct 23, 2018 7:18:05 GMT -5
September 1994 – Cherokee Elementary School
Fall is definitely creeping into the air in The Great Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. It’s a new school year, all of the kids are excited and talking to their friends about what they did during the summer. The sweet elderly lady, Mrs. Tamer gets in front of the class and beings speaking to her new third graders.
Mrs. Tamer: Welcome everyone. Third grade is an exciting time for you all. We will be diving into much more this year then you have experienced before. In math, for example, you will all learn your multiplication table. Everything will seem different, as up to this point you are used to getting letter grades, “S” for satisfactory, “U” for unsatisfactory, and so forth.
The kids hand on every word Mrs. Tamer speaks, especially one little boy in the back of the classroom, sporting his Razor Ramon t-shirt.
Mrs. Tamer: This year, however, you will be graded on a scale of zero to one hundred, which you will continue being graded with the rest of your time in school. Letter grades are still assigned to a certain number range, but everyone’s goal should be to aim for One Hundred! One Hundred is the best you can achieve.
The little boy’s mind starts racing. One hundred what? His eight year old mind did not know at that moment the teacher was talking about percentages, in which case she was right, one hundred percent is the best you can achieve in something. In this moment however, he wondered what one hundred meant…
One Hundred is the best you can achieve.
One Hundred is the best.
One Hundred…
Tuesday, September 5th- 2:39PM
Jack Diamond shakes out of his memories of long ago. In front of him are thousands of people. Behind him atop a hill is a huge cement sculpture that simply reads: “100.” Chants of Diamond Club are heard throughout. This crowd in Houston, gathering to take their minds off of the destruction of this past week when Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the area. Many lost their homes, their livelihoods and some their lives in this catastrophic storm. When this event was booked, Jack was really looking forward to it. Now, he isn’t so sure. Should he have canceled? These fans wanted to be here, canceling would have just added to the bad week they’ve all experienced. Jack steps up to the microphone.
Jack Diamond: Wonderful people of Houston! Thank you for coming out today! I just want to take a second and let you all know that my heart breaks for this great city and the people in it after this storm. I know there are many of people displaced, some who may be in this crowd this afternoon. So, before we get started I would like to present this check for one hundred thousand dollars to the JJ Watt Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund!
A spokesperson for the relief fund comes up on stage and Diamond hands over a check to them, they shake hands and pose for a few photos. The crowd is cheering loudly now, chanting “100” over and over, in part because of the donation as well as the large sculpture behind Diamond.
Diamond: Ah, yes, now for the main event. I see you’ve all picked up on the theme a bit today. One Hundred. You see, I had a teacher many years ago tell me that One Hundred is the best you can achieve, and it’s stuck with me all this time. Well, one hundred days ago I outlasted nine other competitors in Icon Championship Wrestling, to become the very first World Champion.
Crowd: DIAMOND! DIAMOND! DIAMOND!
Diamond looks around at the growing crowd, all eyes focused on him, his Armani suit, and the brightly shining title draped over his left shoulder. He reaches up with his right hand and pats the faceplate.
Diamond: This belt right here. The one that all other ICW superstars want. I have carried it around for almost a third of a year. There have been several who have tried to take it from me, but each time someone else steps up to The Ace, he knocks them dead in their tracks. Sebastian Steele? Beat him. Bret Stetson? Yep. Bobby Barratt? Not only have I beaten him, I’ve beaten him on multiple occasions. The line of people who chime in and think they deserve a shot at me and my belt is almost endless. The superstar with the opportunity next? None other than my former Fireborn Connection member, Chaos Kid.
There are mixed reactions at the mention of the former Ironman champion and one half of the current tag team champions. Many of the fans have no reason to boo Chaos. They respect him for what he’s done and accomplished in ICW in such a short time. These people also love Jack Diamond so there are those who boo Chaos just out of loyalty for their champion.
Diamond: You see, Chaos has been on a hell of a role here in ICW. One that, some may say, matches up well with what Jack Diamond as accomplished here. Here’s the thing though, when the going gets tough, Chaos Kid tends to crack under pressure. Take the Ironman Title for example. He wins the belt and realizes he doesn’t have what it takes to defend it week in and week out so he tries to forfeit it. He can’t even do that right though and got put in a match to unify that belt with the Shooting Star belt. Then loses the match! Against Bobby Barratt of all people, a man who I’ve had his number since day one in ICW. So, is that really the person you think could carry this strap and represent ICW?
The crowd is definitely pro-Jack here as many start chanting “NO” over and over with more Diamond Club chants breaking out. Diamond laughs a bit, grabs the wireless mic from its stand and starts pacing the makeshift stage.
Diamond: No, what the people want is a champion who carries himself with dignity. A champion that knows how tough it is to have a bulls-eye painted on his back and still mans up, gets in that ring and defends his belt whenever and wherever. That is what I intend to do this coming Tuesday at Castle of Glass.
Crowd: ICW! ICW! ICW!
Diamond: Yes, the ICW heads across the pond this week. I actually fly out of Houston for Manchester tonight. I’ll be in unfamiliar territory for sure, but the results will remain the same and when I get back to this great country, I will STILL be your World Champion!
Crowd: DIAMOND CLUB! DIAMOND CLUB! DIAMOND CLUB!
Diamond: First thing’s first though, I have to go one on one with Chaos Kid in a Castle of Glass match. My belt will be secured atop a literal castle made of glass with the goal being to retrieve it to become the winner of the match. How exactly will that be done? Well the obvious answer is to use a ladder or other means to climb up and get my title. But maybe, just maybe I will send Chaos Kid crashing through the glass towers and as he lies broken and bleeding among all the shattered pieces, I’ll walk over, grab my belt after it falls and stand over his carcass as the rightful champion!
The crowd cheers for this declaration although some have a look of concern on their faces. Most of the all know Jack Diamond as the face of the company, the good guy. They tend to forget that there has always been a bit of a mean streak between the bells. Just the imagery of thinking about Chaos Kid lying in broken glass puts a feel of unease throughout the crowd.
Diamond: I’m proud of being your champion. I’m proud of being the best damn wrestler in ICW, the best damn wrestler in America and after this Tuesday, the best damn wrestler in the world. One Hundred Days. That’s how long I’ve held this belt. At Castle of Glass I continue on to the next hundred, then the next hundred, and so on until I’ve had this belt for a year, a decade, forever! You can bet on that!
As Diamond is pacing the stage with this last part of the speech, a couple of men roll out two air cannons of sorts pointing them a the stage. The fans hang on to every word that Diamond says but they are also intrigued by two cannons.
Diamond: So before I go and catch my flight to the other side of the pond, I want to do one more special thing for all your amazing people of Houston! Hit boys!
With that, “The Ace of Spades” by Motorhead begins playing, pyro explodes from each side of the makeshift stage and the men who rolled the cannons out fire them. With a loud boom, paper flies out into the sky across the crowd. As it twists and turns in the afternoon breeze, we see the familiar face of Benjamin Franklin. Thousands and thousands of Benjamin Franklins dance as they float back down to the crowd who are now in a complete frenzy. As the cheer, and jump, and reach for the hundred dollar bills that fall, Diamond exits the area and the scene comes to an end.
Tuesday, September 5th- 7:12PM
Diamond: You made it!
Jack stands out front of George Bush Intercontinental Airport and looks completely relieved as Dakota Paige exits a taxi. It has been weeks since Diamond has gotten to talk to her in person, and while he has always thought of himself as a loner, he enjoys every second spent with her. Having her go on this international trip with him really lifts his spirits.
Dakota: Of course I made it silly, I wouldn’t miss this for the world. I’m sorry I haven’t been around much lately.
Diamond: No, don’t worry about it. I know you’ve been busy with your dad. Besides, I’ve had a lot going on and haven’t really been the most sociable person.
Dakota: Yeah, wow. This stuff with Shawn… I don’t even know what to say.
Diamond: Many of us are still trying to find a way to move on. I think this overseas trip will help though. I’ve never been to the UK, or anywhere out of the country for that matter.
Dakota: Well I’m glad you are letting me tag along.
Dakota looks at Jack coyly. He’s not “letting” her tag along. He practically begged her to come on the trip but what he doesn’t know is he didn’t have to even ask. She wanted to be there as much as he wanted her there.
Dakota: So, do you think we can go see Buckingham Palace while we are there? Big Ben? There’s so much I want to see.
Diamond: I don’t see why not, we are going to be there for over a month. I’m sure there will be plenty of people wanting to catch a glimpse of the ICW World Champion
Dakota: First we have to make sure you stay World Champion…
Now it’s Diamonds time to look at her with a fake anger on his face. Before he can even sell it, he busts out laughing as does Dakota. It feels great being back in her presence.
Diamond: Oh shut up. Let’s go, I have to get me one of those weird chargers before we get on the plane. I have to make sure I can keep my phone charged up in the power points over there.
Diamond drapes his arm over Dakota as they head off to a little international shop in the airport before boarding the plane for the United Kingdom. The destination? One of the most important matches in Jack Diamond’s career, as it is his first international booking. Can he keep the title? The scene fades to black.