Post by Roy Speede on May 11, 2018 21:19:39 GMT -5
30 April 2018
As the sun rises, the scene takes form on an airport, more specifically Richmond International; focus takes hold on a commercial airliner in mid-taxi toward the large building, and it soon comes to a stop beside an outstretched ramp leading into the building, and a pair of employees wheel a set of stairs up to the door of the plane. The hatch opens, and people start filing out as the two open a separate hatch and begin to unload luggage.
Once the crowd has finally died down to a dwindling of one or two stragglers, out the door and down the steps comes Roy Speede, a backpack over his shoulders and a pair of sunglasses shielding his eyes from the early morning sunlight. As soon as he reaches the ramp, he pulls out his iPhone and presses a button. Before he can do anything further upon turning it on, the phone rings, and Roy answers, holding the phone to his ear as he continues into the terminal.
"Hello?...
Oh, hey Nolan. Yeah, we just landed...
What's up?...
Look, I know, I know, but the coordinators decided explicitly that Clash 10 was going to be the last show before Havoc, and after what happened last night, I decided to fly home to get my head on straight. I let that opportunity slip through my fingers, and I'm not about to do that again. Havoc is a whole new animal, and I can't let myself screw this one up. Home is just...
I know, but I...
Listen, due, I can't...
Dude, I've got to go. They're starting to cycle bags and I'd like to get a bit of rest in before later. I'm meeting with my mom for dinner and...
Yeah, okay, I'll...
Yup, sure thing!...
Alright, see ya dude!"
He flips his sunglasses up onto the top of his head finally, shaking his head as he does so, and stands back, waiting and watching for his luggage. Once he finally spots it, he steps forward and grabs it before turning to leave. As he gets to the front lobby of the airport, he sees a sign with his name on it in big blue lettering; his eyes look up to see a woman roughly twenty years his senior standing in front of him.
"Mom? I thought I wasnt going to see you til dinner?"
His mother shakes her head with a smirk on her face.
"Just like you, always the questions. Give your mother a hug!"
Roy steps closer and pulls his mother into a hug, letting out a stressed sigh in the process.
"I was kinda hoping I'd get a nap in, but it's good to see you, mom."
"I wanted to surprise you! Listen, I got a call the other day, and one of your old girlfriends is back in town. She said something about wanting to catch up; you remember Abbie G-"
Roy interrupts.
"Yeah, mom, I remember her, but listen, I don't think I have that kind of time this stop. We're probably going to be coming through here on the road, so maybe if she's here then, we can talk, but-"
Roy's mother cuts him off.
"Nonsense! I think it would be good for the both of you. But enough chit-chat. Let's get you home. How was the flight?"
Roy's mother grabs the handle on Roy's wheeled suitcase, and Roy simply shakes his head. The two turn to exit the airport and continue to talk as they walk, the scene fading to black.
---
As an early-2000s model minivan pulls into the single-lane driveway of a suburban home, a second vehicle, a much newer sedan, blocks its path. Roy, in the passenger seat of the van, hears jumps when he hears an unexpected car door and looks into the side mirror of the car, letting out a displeased groan as a brunette in her early to mid twenties comes nearly sprinting up to the door beside him, hands folded in an almost-prayerlike posture. Roy closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and pushes open the door, and before he can even get the first leg out of the vehicle, he's enveloped in a hug around the neck by this woman. Roy groans, still sore from his match the previous evening, and she loosens her grip.
"It's uhh... it's good to see you, Abbie."
She lets go and pulls back, crossing her arms as her face twists into a pout.
"Uh huh, that's why I haven't heard from you once in almost five years, then?"
"No, you haven't heard from me once in almost five years because we both decided we needed space after our engagement didn't play out as we were hoping."
Roy's mother, still in the driver's seat of the car, swings a hand and smacks Roy in the arm.
"You were engaged?!"
"Oh, god..."
"Yes, we were engaged for several months before we decided to split up. Roy wasn't ready to move back home and settle down, and-"
Roy cuts her off in mid-sentence.
"Let's just finish that with a simple 'we were at different places in life' and drop it, okay? If this reunion is going to be a happy one, I'd rather not cause drama from minute one."
The two women look at each other and back to Roy before nodding almost in unison.
"Wait, how did you manage to get hold of my mother again?"
"Long story short, I had to go through an old cell phone. Is that a big deal? I just hoped we'd get to be friends again..."
A disheartened look takes hold on Abbie's face, and Roy shakes his head as he responds.
"Not really, but I mean, I'm still on the road a lot, and-"
"Again? Darn it, I'm gonna have to kill Seth Lerch, aren't I?"
"No, actually I'm with a different company now. Torture and Gravedigger put together a-"
"You mean the same Gravedigger who was your biggest rival for the first however long of your career?"
"Yeah, why?"
"And now he's your boss?"
"Yeah, but let's be real here, this has been a good career move for me, and I-"
"Roy, you need to be careful working with people you have had disagreements with. That can be dangerous."
"I know, mom. I know, but it's working fine. We're on a different page in our working relationship now. And Torture isn't going to let him screw me over, or at least, I don't think so."
"Alright, if you say so..."
"Anyway, I'd really like to get out of this hot car, if you don't mind."
"Oh, yeah, yeah, sure."
Abbie takes a step back and Roy climbs out of the vehicle, his mother doing the same on the opposite side. As the three walk into the house, Abbie breaks their silence.
"So anyway, want to grab dinner sometime and catch up a bit?"
Before Roy can respond, his mother does so.
"Why don't you join us for dinner tonight? I was going to take Roy over to that fancy Asian buffet place, with the Mongolian bar and the sushi station."
"Wait, that was your plan? I thought-"
"Sure, I'd love to go!"
"Then it's settled. You two can sit and chat for a while, and I"ll swing back by later to pick you both up."
"Actually, I kinda want some time to just relax for a while. I'm exhausted."
"Oh, that's fine too! Either way, I'll be back around seven?"
"Sure, that sounds great, Mrs. S!"
Roy's mother, having barely crossed over the threshold, turns and proceeds back out to her car.
"As for the two of us, Roy, I'll be honest, I was kinda hoping we could talk a bit more seriously for a few minutes?"
"Maybe later, okay? My mind is elsewhere right now, and I'm pretty sure you're blocking my mom in."
"Oh, shoot, you're right! Alright, later then. See ya!"
Roy watches as Abbie turns to leave and as the door closes behind her, he lets out a sigh of mixed exhaustion and frustration. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, a new text message having been received from Alex Haden.
U never texted me that the plane landed. R U Ok?
He pauses for a second and then types out a response back.
I'm fine. Mom surprised me @ airport. Abbie showed up @ my house.
Almost instantly as he sends the message another arrives in response.
Abbie?
My ex. Long story. Talk l8r.
He stuffs his phone into his pocket and grabs his bag, carrying it up the stairs with him; he turns at the top of the stairway and enters the first room on the right, which opens into a bedroom and closet, presumably his own. He grabs the dusty television remote from his nightstand and clicks on the system, letting some sports program run in the background before hoisting his luggage onto the foot of the bed.
Before unzipping it, Roy pauses and looks at the wall near the head of his bed, where four sets of brackets are mounted on the wall, spaced apart vertically. Three of those four sets are already taken up by replica belts, the second from the top holding a WCF United States Championship; below that sits a Tag Team Title belt, and finally a Hardcore Championship rests on the bottom set of brackets, still to about midway up Roy's thighs in height on the wall.
Roy unzips his suitcase, and sitting undisturbed atop his clothes is an exact replica of the Action Wrestling World Championship. He picks it up with the slight curve of a smile beginning to form on his lips, and crosses the room to the display, placing it with care on the top set of brackets.
"Finally... There'll be more where that comes from."
He paces back over to his bed and lifts the suitcase, lowering it to the floor beside the foot of his bed before sitting down and finally laying back, his head hitting the pillow. The scene fades out.
---
1 May 2018
The clock has just rolled over to midnight when a set of headlights rolls into the driveway at Roy's house, the bumper of Abbie's car illuminated by the beams in the process. The back doors of the other vehicle slide open, rather fancy for a van of its age, and from each side emerge Roy and Abbie, the two of them both laughing. Roy manages to calm himself down to the tune of the low hum of his mother's car window rolling down.
"Alright, mom, whatever you say. I'll call you tomorrow!"
"Okay, I'll keep my phone handy. Goodnight!"
"Night, mom!"
The window starts gliding back up as his mother backs out of the driveway and pulls away. Roy turns to look at Abbie, who grabs his arm and pulls him closer to her car.
"Now that I've got you all alone, it's time to talk."
"It's after midnight, Abbie. Can't we do this over lunch tomorrow or something?"
"No, Roy. You keep putting this off, and we need to address this giant freaking elephant in the room or I'm gonna explode!"
"Alright, alright, what do you want to talk about?"
She hesitates, causing Roy to prompt again.
"Abbie?"
"Roy, I miss the old days. When we were dating I was the happiest I'd ever been, and I made a mistake asking to split up. Even if we were on the road together, at least we would have had each other, and I just, I... I want to try dating again."
"You're asking me out after seeing each other for the first time in years? It's been a day, Abbie; I think we need to re-establish our friendship before we think about doing something like that."
"Are you really saying no?"
"Not necessarily. More like 'not yet'. I don't want to rush into things and put too much pressure on ourselves. Let's make sure we can be friends again first."
She sighs and looks down at the grass in his yard.
"I guess that's kind of the answer I expected. I was hoping for something more... decisive, I guess, but you've never been one to make the tough choices in life without taking time to think of the consequences, so... I can respect that."
She reaches into her purse, grabbing her keys and clicking the unlock on the fob.
"I appreciate it, Abbie. Hey, I'll be in town for at least a few more days before I head back out, and we're staying on the east coast for a while, I think. Maybe we can hang out again before I leave?"
"I'd like that."
She wraps her arms around him in a hug, and he responds the same. After a moment, she lets go and opens her car door.
"I'll see you later."
"Sounds good; see ya."
She climbs into the car, and Roy turns on his heels toward the house, climbing the single step to the front door as her car's engine roars to life. He watches as she backs out and drives away, and proceeds up to his bedroom, where he flips the lightswitch on and sits down on the bed for a moment in deep thought. Soon, he reaches for his luggage, and flips the top open to grab his laptop, opening it and signing onto the computer. He places it on the edge of his bed, taking time to adjust the angle of it, and stands, moving toward the wall behind him, where his championhip belts are located. Once he's content with its location, he steps back to the wall and starts to speak.
"I feel like this has been too long coming, folks. As you can see, I've finally been given the opportunity to place a World Title atop the wall where I've stored my accomplishments over the course of my career. Seven long years it's taken to get that far, and despite it being over a little quicker than I'd have liked, I still climbed that mountain, like everybody said I couldn't, and I still put my prize, my World Title at the top of this wall. And what's even better for me, is that this seven long years I waited to make it this far is fifty times what it's going to take me to get another taste of the top prize in this company. This time, it's only going to take seven shows: Clash 10, Havoc, four more Clashes, and Evolution.
See, this wall may represent my past, but it's also a set of stepping stones taking me into the future. I've been working my ass off in this business for a while now; I feel I'd offend some of the more sensitive among us if I called myself a veteran, but I know without a doubt that one reign will never be enough to satisfy my hunger. I have claimed multiple belts across my time in wrestling, but I never could have guessed that my lust for gold would grow stronger after winning the big one; but it has.
These four belts have another allusion, though; they represent the four tiers of competition in this Havoc Rumble match that's poised to vault me back into the main event that everyone will try to claim is not where I belong."
Roy motions to his World Championship belt.
"The first is perhaps the most obvious. This title is the ultimate prize behind why everone is competing in this match in the first place, but for my purposes now it represents those who can actually say they belong in the main event fighting for it. It is the embodiment of careers like Wade Moor's, Donald Deruty's, Bonnie Blue's even of guys like Alex Richards. Those guys who have made a name for themselves and are aching to get back to the top.
Wade Moor, for example, is a top tier competitor. He was the first other than myself to put a dent in Donald Deruty's armor, to show us all that his World Title reign, if he even got that far, would never last. But even the Leviathan must fall, and The Silver Lining is just the man for the job. I'll give him credit, I didn't expect him to be here, and he's shown up and become a force to be reckoned with, but at what cost to his career should he falter time will only tell; and heaven knows he will falter.
Donald Deruty, though admittedly unfairly, has made it into this class of individuals. I used to respect Deruty, but he disgraced the good name of the Action Wrestling World Championship, and I refuse to waste any more of anyone's time discussing my utter disdain for the man.
Bonnie Blue I have respect for, though I'm not quite sure why; it may have something to do with her heritage, but I prefer to think that her in-ring actions speak for themselve rather than letting her blood do the talking. She's another one of those 'any given day' competitors that might make a run at things at the right time, but this just isn't her day.
Even Alex Richards can call himself a former World Champion, albeit in UCI, and he at one time showed himself what it meant to be capable of winning a World Title. But that time has long since passed, and two years ago feels like a lifetime in the wrestling world. Maybe in the future he'll make the climb again, but Havoc will not be that time."
Roy's hand lowers somewhat, directing attention to the US Title.
"The United States Championship is our second tier of wrestling; this class is home to all those competitors who made a living out of the midcard, but could never take that final step and make it to the big time on a big stage. I'm talking Kyle Kemp, Big John Frost, TFK, Corey Bull, Camila Gonzalez, and Spencer Adams' entire following in the crew known as #FightSmart, among others. These are the guys and girls that could blow us all out of the water and while putting on a good showing and making it that much harder on the big dogs is expected, making that last push over the edge and actually standing on the turnbuckle celebrating as the show fades to black would be a surprise.
I can't exactly say Kyle Kemp is the biggest underdog in the world, but I don't consider him first tier, no matter what else he's done in his career. I don't see any of our secondary champions stepping up to the plate, and I especially don't see the guy who just lost that UCI Championship making the jump. Not to say I'm taking them lightly or underestimating any of them, but when one things about the greatest Action Wrestling has to offer, there are a few names that stand out, and hollywood stars and rappers moving to the ring don't exactly fit the bill. When one thinks about who the biggest threat in the entire company is, nobody is looking at the UCI Champ or the US Champ and saying 'he's the guy I fear the most'. The guys that are the big threats are the ones who've been in the main event at Pay-Per-Views other than cluster calamaties like Havoc. Needless to say, there's still room for improvent, and while I applaud the effort, I can't say it's any of y'all's time to take that next big step."
His hand lowers again, this time resting beside the Tag Team Championship belt.
"This belt is representative of a good chunk of wrestlers: the guys and girls who have struggled against the upper midcard, the tag team exclusive competitors, the bottom rung of the Action Wrestling ladder, and the 201 and Fun division just for starters. When one isn't able to take a title away from TFK or spends all of his or her time competing on the opening matches of the show, the upper echelon just isn't a fair competition. In this class I refer to Hajeet and Petrov, to Rose, to the Flippys and Tatters the Tantalizing, I allude to Jay Frost and The Cereal Man, and I talk about even people like Anton Chase, who has had success in the minor leagues but is stuck challenging for the Television Title at best. And yes, I even classify my friend Alex Haden in this class.
We might see a few good, even great performances out of some of these folks, but a win would be the shock of the wrestling world for years to come, even more so than Adam Young winning the World Title in the WCF; and yes, that was perhaps the most bizarre moment in wrestling history already, so to say one of these folks will win is certainly crazy. Some of these guys are just great people, like Hajeet, who seems like such a genuine guy, and Anton Chase, whose dedication to the sport of wrestling is admirable, but when it comes time to really sit down and say 'the winner of the Havoc Rumble is...', the next words out of one's mouth being 'Jay Frost' or 'Alex Haden' is nothing short of laughable, and I for one could never take that seriously."
His hand lowers again, motioning briefly to the Hardcore Title before dropping to his side.
"And then, there is the fourth class of Havoc Rumble participants which I like to refer to as the unknown, which I have chosen to be represented by the Hardcore Title belt. Like a Hardcore Title match in which anything goes and nobody ever knows what to expect, these mystery entrants could bring out the best, or the worst, that this company has to offer. I for one couldn't predict just who we could see, from guys like Jonny Fly or Steve Orbit, ranging all the way to the once-great Jeff Purse or career disappointments giving it one more go like Doc Henry. This class also plays host to one individual on the roster in Zombie McMorris, a former World Champion who has until now decided to stand pat in the 201 Division for reasons only he can likely explain.
These are the people that can't be prepared for. I wouldn't even put it past our executive board to allow Torture and Gravedigger to enter the ring for themselves, but one thing is for sure; no matter who walks down that ramp, they'll have to eventually walk right back up."
Roy walks closer, sitting down on the bed and moving the laptop to sit on his lap.
"The way I see things with this match, there's only one outcome, and that's a victory for yours truly. I may be the 'Silver Lining' in this business, but I'm the golden boy this company had hoped for from day one, and I'll be damned if I let myself falter at this stage in the game. Spencer Adams snuck in when I was too determined to beat Deruty and made off with that title; now, I'm coming for it back. And Havoc is just the start of that."
Roy closes the laptop.
As the sun rises, the scene takes form on an airport, more specifically Richmond International; focus takes hold on a commercial airliner in mid-taxi toward the large building, and it soon comes to a stop beside an outstretched ramp leading into the building, and a pair of employees wheel a set of stairs up to the door of the plane. The hatch opens, and people start filing out as the two open a separate hatch and begin to unload luggage.
Once the crowd has finally died down to a dwindling of one or two stragglers, out the door and down the steps comes Roy Speede, a backpack over his shoulders and a pair of sunglasses shielding his eyes from the early morning sunlight. As soon as he reaches the ramp, he pulls out his iPhone and presses a button. Before he can do anything further upon turning it on, the phone rings, and Roy answers, holding the phone to his ear as he continues into the terminal.
"Hello?...
Oh, hey Nolan. Yeah, we just landed...
What's up?...
Look, I know, I know, but the coordinators decided explicitly that Clash 10 was going to be the last show before Havoc, and after what happened last night, I decided to fly home to get my head on straight. I let that opportunity slip through my fingers, and I'm not about to do that again. Havoc is a whole new animal, and I can't let myself screw this one up. Home is just...
I know, but I...
Listen, due, I can't...
Dude, I've got to go. They're starting to cycle bags and I'd like to get a bit of rest in before later. I'm meeting with my mom for dinner and...
Yeah, okay, I'll...
Yup, sure thing!...
Alright, see ya dude!"
He flips his sunglasses up onto the top of his head finally, shaking his head as he does so, and stands back, waiting and watching for his luggage. Once he finally spots it, he steps forward and grabs it before turning to leave. As he gets to the front lobby of the airport, he sees a sign with his name on it in big blue lettering; his eyes look up to see a woman roughly twenty years his senior standing in front of him.
"Mom? I thought I wasnt going to see you til dinner?"
His mother shakes her head with a smirk on her face.
"Just like you, always the questions. Give your mother a hug!"
Roy steps closer and pulls his mother into a hug, letting out a stressed sigh in the process.
"I was kinda hoping I'd get a nap in, but it's good to see you, mom."
"I wanted to surprise you! Listen, I got a call the other day, and one of your old girlfriends is back in town. She said something about wanting to catch up; you remember Abbie G-"
Roy interrupts.
"Yeah, mom, I remember her, but listen, I don't think I have that kind of time this stop. We're probably going to be coming through here on the road, so maybe if she's here then, we can talk, but-"
Roy's mother cuts him off.
"Nonsense! I think it would be good for the both of you. But enough chit-chat. Let's get you home. How was the flight?"
Roy's mother grabs the handle on Roy's wheeled suitcase, and Roy simply shakes his head. The two turn to exit the airport and continue to talk as they walk, the scene fading to black.
---
As an early-2000s model minivan pulls into the single-lane driveway of a suburban home, a second vehicle, a much newer sedan, blocks its path. Roy, in the passenger seat of the van, hears jumps when he hears an unexpected car door and looks into the side mirror of the car, letting out a displeased groan as a brunette in her early to mid twenties comes nearly sprinting up to the door beside him, hands folded in an almost-prayerlike posture. Roy closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and pushes open the door, and before he can even get the first leg out of the vehicle, he's enveloped in a hug around the neck by this woman. Roy groans, still sore from his match the previous evening, and she loosens her grip.
"It's uhh... it's good to see you, Abbie."
She lets go and pulls back, crossing her arms as her face twists into a pout.
"Uh huh, that's why I haven't heard from you once in almost five years, then?"
"No, you haven't heard from me once in almost five years because we both decided we needed space after our engagement didn't play out as we were hoping."
Roy's mother, still in the driver's seat of the car, swings a hand and smacks Roy in the arm.
"You were engaged?!"
"Oh, god..."
"Yes, we were engaged for several months before we decided to split up. Roy wasn't ready to move back home and settle down, and-"
Roy cuts her off in mid-sentence.
"Let's just finish that with a simple 'we were at different places in life' and drop it, okay? If this reunion is going to be a happy one, I'd rather not cause drama from minute one."
The two women look at each other and back to Roy before nodding almost in unison.
"Wait, how did you manage to get hold of my mother again?"
"Long story short, I had to go through an old cell phone. Is that a big deal? I just hoped we'd get to be friends again..."
A disheartened look takes hold on Abbie's face, and Roy shakes his head as he responds.
"Not really, but I mean, I'm still on the road a lot, and-"
"Again? Darn it, I'm gonna have to kill Seth Lerch, aren't I?"
"No, actually I'm with a different company now. Torture and Gravedigger put together a-"
"You mean the same Gravedigger who was your biggest rival for the first however long of your career?"
"Yeah, why?"
"And now he's your boss?"
"Yeah, but let's be real here, this has been a good career move for me, and I-"
"Roy, you need to be careful working with people you have had disagreements with. That can be dangerous."
"I know, mom. I know, but it's working fine. We're on a different page in our working relationship now. And Torture isn't going to let him screw me over, or at least, I don't think so."
"Alright, if you say so..."
"Anyway, I'd really like to get out of this hot car, if you don't mind."
"Oh, yeah, yeah, sure."
Abbie takes a step back and Roy climbs out of the vehicle, his mother doing the same on the opposite side. As the three walk into the house, Abbie breaks their silence.
"So anyway, want to grab dinner sometime and catch up a bit?"
Before Roy can respond, his mother does so.
"Why don't you join us for dinner tonight? I was going to take Roy over to that fancy Asian buffet place, with the Mongolian bar and the sushi station."
"Wait, that was your plan? I thought-"
"Sure, I'd love to go!"
"Then it's settled. You two can sit and chat for a while, and I"ll swing back by later to pick you both up."
"Actually, I kinda want some time to just relax for a while. I'm exhausted."
"Oh, that's fine too! Either way, I'll be back around seven?"
"Sure, that sounds great, Mrs. S!"
Roy's mother, having barely crossed over the threshold, turns and proceeds back out to her car.
"As for the two of us, Roy, I'll be honest, I was kinda hoping we could talk a bit more seriously for a few minutes?"
"Maybe later, okay? My mind is elsewhere right now, and I'm pretty sure you're blocking my mom in."
"Oh, shoot, you're right! Alright, later then. See ya!"
Roy watches as Abbie turns to leave and as the door closes behind her, he lets out a sigh of mixed exhaustion and frustration. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, a new text message having been received from Alex Haden.
U never texted me that the plane landed. R U Ok?
He pauses for a second and then types out a response back.
I'm fine. Mom surprised me @ airport. Abbie showed up @ my house.
Almost instantly as he sends the message another arrives in response.
Abbie?
My ex. Long story. Talk l8r.
He stuffs his phone into his pocket and grabs his bag, carrying it up the stairs with him; he turns at the top of the stairway and enters the first room on the right, which opens into a bedroom and closet, presumably his own. He grabs the dusty television remote from his nightstand and clicks on the system, letting some sports program run in the background before hoisting his luggage onto the foot of the bed.
Before unzipping it, Roy pauses and looks at the wall near the head of his bed, where four sets of brackets are mounted on the wall, spaced apart vertically. Three of those four sets are already taken up by replica belts, the second from the top holding a WCF United States Championship; below that sits a Tag Team Title belt, and finally a Hardcore Championship rests on the bottom set of brackets, still to about midway up Roy's thighs in height on the wall.
Roy unzips his suitcase, and sitting undisturbed atop his clothes is an exact replica of the Action Wrestling World Championship. He picks it up with the slight curve of a smile beginning to form on his lips, and crosses the room to the display, placing it with care on the top set of brackets.
"Finally... There'll be more where that comes from."
He paces back over to his bed and lifts the suitcase, lowering it to the floor beside the foot of his bed before sitting down and finally laying back, his head hitting the pillow. The scene fades out.
---
1 May 2018
The clock has just rolled over to midnight when a set of headlights rolls into the driveway at Roy's house, the bumper of Abbie's car illuminated by the beams in the process. The back doors of the other vehicle slide open, rather fancy for a van of its age, and from each side emerge Roy and Abbie, the two of them both laughing. Roy manages to calm himself down to the tune of the low hum of his mother's car window rolling down.
"Alright, mom, whatever you say. I'll call you tomorrow!"
"Okay, I'll keep my phone handy. Goodnight!"
"Night, mom!"
The window starts gliding back up as his mother backs out of the driveway and pulls away. Roy turns to look at Abbie, who grabs his arm and pulls him closer to her car.
"Now that I've got you all alone, it's time to talk."
"It's after midnight, Abbie. Can't we do this over lunch tomorrow or something?"
"No, Roy. You keep putting this off, and we need to address this giant freaking elephant in the room or I'm gonna explode!"
"Alright, alright, what do you want to talk about?"
She hesitates, causing Roy to prompt again.
"Abbie?"
"Roy, I miss the old days. When we were dating I was the happiest I'd ever been, and I made a mistake asking to split up. Even if we were on the road together, at least we would have had each other, and I just, I... I want to try dating again."
"You're asking me out after seeing each other for the first time in years? It's been a day, Abbie; I think we need to re-establish our friendship before we think about doing something like that."
"Are you really saying no?"
"Not necessarily. More like 'not yet'. I don't want to rush into things and put too much pressure on ourselves. Let's make sure we can be friends again first."
She sighs and looks down at the grass in his yard.
"I guess that's kind of the answer I expected. I was hoping for something more... decisive, I guess, but you've never been one to make the tough choices in life without taking time to think of the consequences, so... I can respect that."
She reaches into her purse, grabbing her keys and clicking the unlock on the fob.
"I appreciate it, Abbie. Hey, I'll be in town for at least a few more days before I head back out, and we're staying on the east coast for a while, I think. Maybe we can hang out again before I leave?"
"I'd like that."
She wraps her arms around him in a hug, and he responds the same. After a moment, she lets go and opens her car door.
"I'll see you later."
"Sounds good; see ya."
She climbs into the car, and Roy turns on his heels toward the house, climbing the single step to the front door as her car's engine roars to life. He watches as she backs out and drives away, and proceeds up to his bedroom, where he flips the lightswitch on and sits down on the bed for a moment in deep thought. Soon, he reaches for his luggage, and flips the top open to grab his laptop, opening it and signing onto the computer. He places it on the edge of his bed, taking time to adjust the angle of it, and stands, moving toward the wall behind him, where his championhip belts are located. Once he's content with its location, he steps back to the wall and starts to speak.
"I feel like this has been too long coming, folks. As you can see, I've finally been given the opportunity to place a World Title atop the wall where I've stored my accomplishments over the course of my career. Seven long years it's taken to get that far, and despite it being over a little quicker than I'd have liked, I still climbed that mountain, like everybody said I couldn't, and I still put my prize, my World Title at the top of this wall. And what's even better for me, is that this seven long years I waited to make it this far is fifty times what it's going to take me to get another taste of the top prize in this company. This time, it's only going to take seven shows: Clash 10, Havoc, four more Clashes, and Evolution.
See, this wall may represent my past, but it's also a set of stepping stones taking me into the future. I've been working my ass off in this business for a while now; I feel I'd offend some of the more sensitive among us if I called myself a veteran, but I know without a doubt that one reign will never be enough to satisfy my hunger. I have claimed multiple belts across my time in wrestling, but I never could have guessed that my lust for gold would grow stronger after winning the big one; but it has.
These four belts have another allusion, though; they represent the four tiers of competition in this Havoc Rumble match that's poised to vault me back into the main event that everyone will try to claim is not where I belong."
Roy motions to his World Championship belt.
"The first is perhaps the most obvious. This title is the ultimate prize behind why everone is competing in this match in the first place, but for my purposes now it represents those who can actually say they belong in the main event fighting for it. It is the embodiment of careers like Wade Moor's, Donald Deruty's, Bonnie Blue's even of guys like Alex Richards. Those guys who have made a name for themselves and are aching to get back to the top.
Wade Moor, for example, is a top tier competitor. He was the first other than myself to put a dent in Donald Deruty's armor, to show us all that his World Title reign, if he even got that far, would never last. But even the Leviathan must fall, and The Silver Lining is just the man for the job. I'll give him credit, I didn't expect him to be here, and he's shown up and become a force to be reckoned with, but at what cost to his career should he falter time will only tell; and heaven knows he will falter.
Donald Deruty, though admittedly unfairly, has made it into this class of individuals. I used to respect Deruty, but he disgraced the good name of the Action Wrestling World Championship, and I refuse to waste any more of anyone's time discussing my utter disdain for the man.
Bonnie Blue I have respect for, though I'm not quite sure why; it may have something to do with her heritage, but I prefer to think that her in-ring actions speak for themselve rather than letting her blood do the talking. She's another one of those 'any given day' competitors that might make a run at things at the right time, but this just isn't her day.
Even Alex Richards can call himself a former World Champion, albeit in UCI, and he at one time showed himself what it meant to be capable of winning a World Title. But that time has long since passed, and two years ago feels like a lifetime in the wrestling world. Maybe in the future he'll make the climb again, but Havoc will not be that time."
Roy's hand lowers somewhat, directing attention to the US Title.
"The United States Championship is our second tier of wrestling; this class is home to all those competitors who made a living out of the midcard, but could never take that final step and make it to the big time on a big stage. I'm talking Kyle Kemp, Big John Frost, TFK, Corey Bull, Camila Gonzalez, and Spencer Adams' entire following in the crew known as #FightSmart, among others. These are the guys and girls that could blow us all out of the water and while putting on a good showing and making it that much harder on the big dogs is expected, making that last push over the edge and actually standing on the turnbuckle celebrating as the show fades to black would be a surprise.
I can't exactly say Kyle Kemp is the biggest underdog in the world, but I don't consider him first tier, no matter what else he's done in his career. I don't see any of our secondary champions stepping up to the plate, and I especially don't see the guy who just lost that UCI Championship making the jump. Not to say I'm taking them lightly or underestimating any of them, but when one things about the greatest Action Wrestling has to offer, there are a few names that stand out, and hollywood stars and rappers moving to the ring don't exactly fit the bill. When one thinks about who the biggest threat in the entire company is, nobody is looking at the UCI Champ or the US Champ and saying 'he's the guy I fear the most'. The guys that are the big threats are the ones who've been in the main event at Pay-Per-Views other than cluster calamaties like Havoc. Needless to say, there's still room for improvent, and while I applaud the effort, I can't say it's any of y'all's time to take that next big step."
His hand lowers again, this time resting beside the Tag Team Championship belt.
"This belt is representative of a good chunk of wrestlers: the guys and girls who have struggled against the upper midcard, the tag team exclusive competitors, the bottom rung of the Action Wrestling ladder, and the 201 and Fun division just for starters. When one isn't able to take a title away from TFK or spends all of his or her time competing on the opening matches of the show, the upper echelon just isn't a fair competition. In this class I refer to Hajeet and Petrov, to Rose, to the Flippys and Tatters the Tantalizing, I allude to Jay Frost and The Cereal Man, and I talk about even people like Anton Chase, who has had success in the minor leagues but is stuck challenging for the Television Title at best. And yes, I even classify my friend Alex Haden in this class.
We might see a few good, even great performances out of some of these folks, but a win would be the shock of the wrestling world for years to come, even more so than Adam Young winning the World Title in the WCF; and yes, that was perhaps the most bizarre moment in wrestling history already, so to say one of these folks will win is certainly crazy. Some of these guys are just great people, like Hajeet, who seems like such a genuine guy, and Anton Chase, whose dedication to the sport of wrestling is admirable, but when it comes time to really sit down and say 'the winner of the Havoc Rumble is...', the next words out of one's mouth being 'Jay Frost' or 'Alex Haden' is nothing short of laughable, and I for one could never take that seriously."
His hand lowers again, motioning briefly to the Hardcore Title before dropping to his side.
"And then, there is the fourth class of Havoc Rumble participants which I like to refer to as the unknown, which I have chosen to be represented by the Hardcore Title belt. Like a Hardcore Title match in which anything goes and nobody ever knows what to expect, these mystery entrants could bring out the best, or the worst, that this company has to offer. I for one couldn't predict just who we could see, from guys like Jonny Fly or Steve Orbit, ranging all the way to the once-great Jeff Purse or career disappointments giving it one more go like Doc Henry. This class also plays host to one individual on the roster in Zombie McMorris, a former World Champion who has until now decided to stand pat in the 201 Division for reasons only he can likely explain.
These are the people that can't be prepared for. I wouldn't even put it past our executive board to allow Torture and Gravedigger to enter the ring for themselves, but one thing is for sure; no matter who walks down that ramp, they'll have to eventually walk right back up."
Roy walks closer, sitting down on the bed and moving the laptop to sit on his lap.
"The way I see things with this match, there's only one outcome, and that's a victory for yours truly. I may be the 'Silver Lining' in this business, but I'm the golden boy this company had hoped for from day one, and I'll be damned if I let myself falter at this stage in the game. Spencer Adams snuck in when I was too determined to beat Deruty and made off with that title; now, I'm coming for it back. And Havoc is just the start of that."
Roy closes the laptop.