Infamy Lives On: Episode 1
Feb 18, 2018 23:07:36 GMT -5
Gravedigger, Alexander Pasternak, and 1 more like this
Post by Spencer Adams on Feb 18, 2018 23:07:36 GMT -5
Part 1: Selling high
Kevin: So how much are we talking about here? Is this like Oprah giving out private jets big?
Spencer: I don’t know about all that, but I mean..I really don’t have to work ever again if I don’t feel like it.
Kevin: Does this mean a year without shaving or going outside?
Spencer: Not exactly.
I was definitely a made man. As it turns out, Vincent Pryde’s little quest to steal my television deal actually worked out pretty well for me in the end. After practically ridding myself of the guy altogether, United Championship Infinite had proved itself to be a titan in both sports and the business world. This drove up the value that SyFy saw in its relationship with me and my company.
Vincent Pryde is like a fucking cockroach though. It’s like you can blow up everything around him and there he is, crawling around the rubble. That’s exactly what he did too. He’s not the type of person who would agree to a true end that didn’t go his way. He could’ve fucked off and wandered off into the distance, but his persistence had kept him at SyFy’s doorstep. Of course, SyFy is made to take another look at how powerful UCI was becoming….so we had ourselves a little meeting.
The network decided to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Sure, they could’ve cancelled UCI and gotten a good deal with Pryde right there and New Blood Wrestling would be shown each week to Vincent’s choice demographic...but SyFy knew they could do so much better if they owned my company first. My slot on Monday nights was one thing, but flipping my properties over to that gothic nutjob would mean so much more. So...here I am.
Kevin: You know I’m fuckin’ around with you, right?
Spencer: You’re fine.
Kevin: What’s the plan then? What you trying to prove this time?
Spencer: I...don’t really know actually. For the first time in a long time, I have no idea.
If I really felt like it, I could probably just boot up another promotion and do the same thing I just did with Pryde and SyFy, but I just don’t see the point after the way things went with me and UCI. After everything I did for the place, I had members of my own locker room acting like spoiled little shits and I know the fanbase had lost love for me as well. It felt like a farcry from where I was back in WCF as a champion of the people alongside Frank and Teo. So yeah, I was a little salty with those around me and it definitely played a part in me selling my company.
Spencer: What’s that really mean though? The pickings on quality employers are slim.
Kevin: You thought about going back to WCF?
Spencer: I need something fresh, man. I can’t be going back to the same old playground with the same barking little lap dogs trying to ankle bite their way to relevance.
Kevin: Hmmm…what about going independent.
Spencer: I think I’m past that too, Kev. I don’t really want to sign with a place lacking big players. Yeah, I could run through high school gyms like nobody’s business, but that’s too easy. Money won’t be an issue obviously, but if I’m gonna go somewhere I want it to be something that’s going to be a big deal. The news sites were all over my ass when they heard about UCI closing. I have to make the most of my next move.
My phone begins to vibrate against the glass top of Kevin’s coffee table.
Kevin: Go ahead and take it, man. I know how it is.
I nod and smile a bit before snatching my phone up and making my way towards the back balcony. I look down at the number calling me, but don’t recognize it.
?: Is this Spencer?
Spencer: Who’s asking?
?: It’s Torture, duder. I was asking around about you a little bit and a little birdy told me this is where I should try to reach you.
Spencer: Torture...like WCF Hall of Famer Torture?
Torture: Yep. Thanks for recognizing that title by the way.
Spencer: Yeah, I know how Lerch is. Doesn’t mean he can really erase any of it like he thinks he can. I gotta ask though, why are you calling?
Torture: Getting right to it. I like that. Listen, I know you sold the company.
Spencer: I’d be more surprised to hear that you didn’t know by this point.
Torture: That should free up a bit of time for you then, yeah?
Spencer: Yeah?
Torture: You’re a young guy and as WCF proved, a hell of a worker. The way I see it is Spencer Adams should still have plenty left in the tank.
Spencer: If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you and Seth made up and he’s got you recruiting alumni or something.
Torture: No way. I’d sooner grab the dude by his crappy haircut and launch him off the roof of WCF headquarters. I am calling to recruit you..but it’s not for WCF, duder.
Spencer: ...I’m listening.
Torture: What would you say if I told you there’s a new promotion starting up that’s pulling former talent from WCF as well as some of the best guys and girls from every corner of the planet and I want you to be a part of it?
Spencer: Women too?
Torture: Yeah, no sausage fest here. We just want the best athletes available.
Spencer: Who is we?
Torture: Well, I’m laying low behind the scenes. Gravedigger is actually the face that’s gonna be running the place more publically.
Spencer: Gravedigger? Seriously?
Torture: Yep. It’s already been greenlighted for a weekly show by Viceland too.
Spencer: You’re starting to speak my language, Tort.
Torture: Great! Care if I send the offer over then?
Spencer: Consider it signed.
Torture: Excellent! Looking forward to doing business!
Spencer: Same to you. I’ll talk to you later, man.
Torture: Later, duder.
*Click*
I hear the balcony door slide open behind me as Kevin pushes his way through and takes a seat in the chair next to mine.
Spencer: ..I think I just got a job.
Part 2: Home
I can’t remember the last time that I was back home in the windy city. When UCI got big and started touring away from the city, I found myself on the road more often than not. I figured that since Action Wrestling was about to send me right back out there, that I may as well take a breather in the place that gave me my start.
Fuck sake..
Walking along the side of the warehouse where UCI got it’s start, I can’t help but feel a little depressed at the sight of street art and open mic flyers covering the exterior. It seems like just yesterday, we holding shows with audiences that were way over capacity and breaking major ground in the industry. Even if playing boss man took a lot of the excitement out of it all for me, I’ll always be fond of our start.
This tournament is exactly what I’m looking for though. I always felt I had it in me to be a top face over in WCF. I put on the performances and had wins over people who were perceived as being bigger and better than myself, but it just never quite panned out the way I would’ve liked it. AW has given me a chance at greatness that I feel has been dangling just out of in ring reach and I can almost taste it. There are only three rounds left before I get to the level that’s alluded me as an active competitor.
I want that. I want to bring that title back to Chicago. Not for the people, but for me. For once, I know that I have to do something for me. That’s what my time in AW must be about. I want to return to the city more accomplished and more recognizable. After all, that’s how it seems to work out in The Chi. It’s always a competition to see who can rise to the top and be King Shit. If you ain’t relevant, you’re just another person struggling. I may have grown up with it, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t be the one on top watching the wolves amongst me fight it out over the scraps like they do.
As I continue down the street, I think back to the initials that once haunted me here. “ILF” was something I thought I put behind me. Life in 2018 was better than the days I’d spent combating a prick father and a suburban cult, but their motto came back to me. “Infamy lives forever” was an idea that was all about control over those around you. In AW, I look to control the landscape from the driver’s seat and don’t care how I get it done. I tried the people’s way and they soured on me quick. They were the ones who ended up turning their backs on me. That’s why I don’t care if I’m the villain this time around.
As I round the corner of the next block, I come up on the side of my destination, a gym where I’m told another WCF alum wants to speak with me. I pull back the rusted screen and tap against the splintered inner door. I look to my sides, thinking I have the wrong address. After a few moments, the door opens and before me stands a white dude who looks to be in his early forties.
I go to step back down the concrete stairs, but hear a quick reply.
Spencer: Sorry. I don’t think we’ve met?..
?: The name’s Dan, Dan Capello.
Part 3: Onto the next
I can’t say that I miss the feeling of the press bombarding me with a barrage of camera flashes. It really wasn’t even that long ago that I was going through the motions of a press conference, but it definitely feels fresher to do it as the talent instead of as the boss.
Spencer: Yeah. Go ahead.
Reporter #1: Is there anything you’d like to say on the UCI sale?
Spencer: We’re not here to talk about that right now. So, no..I’m not answering that question or any others from you. Who’s next?
Reporter #2: Spencer! Last week, we saw you pick up a convincing win over Vincent in the first round of AW’s world championship tournament, but many of the fans are still buzzing over what it was that happened after the match. Care to let the world know a bit more about that?
Spencer: You just called it a convincing win, right? Isn’t that what matters?
Reporter #2: Well, Vincent is said to be out of action for the foreseeable future with an unspecified injury after that post match attack.
Spencer: You mean statement?..because that’s exactly what that was. You might not have thought it necessary, but I think seven other dudes remaining in the tournament got it loud and clear. This isn’t about your feelings or anybody else’s. I don’t really give a damn if anyone agrees with what happened. The ONLY thing that matters is that I set the bar in round one and I’m sure as hell prepared to do it again.
They always jump right into the stupid questions. It’s like they’re really trying to get a reaction.
Spencer: The confidence is always there no matter who it is. My track record says more than enough about me and is all the confidence needed. I wouldn’t be a multi-time champion in this industry if I wasn’t confident from the jump. What? Am I supposed to tell you that I’m nervous against Thaddy Franklin?
Reporter #3: He actually doesn’t like being called by-
Spencer: I know what I said. You can’t tell me that when you look at Mr. King and myself that you don’t see the gap. I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve seen plenty of motherf***ers just like him. The Hollywood attitude isn’t exactly hard to scout out. It’s an easy one to crack too. You wanna talk about my confidence, but we aren’t saying anything about Thad King’s. It’s because all of you know as well as I do that it’s not real.
Reporter #4: Back to the post match events of round one if we may before we get too deep into week two, is there anything you can tell us about who exactly those two men were?
Spencer: Their names are Danny Butler and Ricky Gonzales and I don’t really think there’s anything else you need to know. As you saw last week, they’re on Team Spencer and that’s what’s important.
Reporter #4: Should we expect to see them turn up in round two as well though?
Spencer: You’ll just have to wait and see.
Reporter #5: Back to Thaddeus King, is there anything in particular with his in ring work that is a point of emphasis for you in combating him?
Spencer: He’s a technician and I’m a better one. I remember the last time I faced someone who prided themselves on in ring prowess. You know what I did to that guy? I drove him to the bottom of a dumpster and damn near ended his entire career. The fact that TFK’s in ring style is considered similar to mine only drives me more. I’m here to prove to people like Thad King that nobody does it better or more effectively than me.
A Franchise Killer too, huh? What happens when Thad King runs into a franchise player who he can’t top? He’ll end up looking like an idiot and we’ll get to see his own career fall on it’s own face and flatline with no hope of being revived. When you attach that kinda thing to your own name, you better be damn good at delivering or be prepared to surrender any sense of weight and legitimacy among the sport’s higher ranks.
I know that I’ve fallen before, but it’s resiliency that has made The Antidote a household name. I’ve taken plenty of beatings and always come back from them and became better with every experience….but Thad King? I just don’t expect much. There are more formidable opponents in the field including Alex Richards who I’ve already bested on more than one occasion. Trial by fire competition is how I make things happen.
This week, I’m not the one in that role. The tables have turned and it’s TFK who has a mountain to climb. The Antidote is poised and ready to keep this thing rolling. This is my prime among a group of competitors that present me with familiarity. This is my comfort zone and that should make Thad uncomfortable. There once was a time where I was here, ascending a promotion’s locker room ranks. Back then, injury and family matters derailed that. Call this the final eight, but mark my words. You’re looking at the last man standing right here.
Reporter #6: Spencer!
Spencer: No further questions.