Post by Rivers on Jun 9, 2022 11:15:44 GMT -5
TWO YEARS EARLIER
As we come into view we can see James "Morbid" Wolf, and Simara Wolf sitting in a rented flat bed truck. James, sitting in the drivers seat, and Simara sitting in the passenger seat, with a digital camcorder in her lap. James is holding a sealed envelope with Simara's name scrawled across it in perfect cursive writing. He immediately opens it, and reads a loud what it says.
"Drive until you reach an over grown cemetary at this address. The cemetary will have a big gothic ornate front gate that has been pad locked because of poachers, and grave robbers. You're going to want to break that off to enter."
"Upon entering you will follow the path down for about thirty minutes until you reach an area that is no longer inhabited. There will be one lone head stone, that has fallen into disrepair. Fix it, and you'll be paid handsomely. Report back to the city afterwards and we will send your check."
The information regarding the city, and the address to the cemetery has been blurred out as to prevent some type of crime. James is looking at Simara in disbelief, and immediately responds after.
"This is some fucked shit Simmy, but I guess its easy money to keep the grounds maintained."
Simara doesn't utter a word instead she just looks over at her dad, and smiles nodding. James then puts the key into the ignition, and drives off heading toward their desired destination. It's a modest drive to what seems like the middle of no where but they finally arrive.
1:37 PM
James checks his watch, and then checks the letter again, but there is no set time on when to maintain these grounds. Wrought with antipation Simara immediately holds the camera up, and begins filming. James gets out of the truck with a crowbar in hand. The site is something truly to behold.
Surrounding them is an abundance of shade from the over grown leaves from the trees which have never been maintained. The big gothic ornate front gate is rusted, and paint is peeling off of it. The grass stands just at knee length from where it has never been cut. This had to be the place because there was a heavy chain, and it was pad locked. James turns to look at Simara, and then walks over to the pad lock, and pries it off fairly easily, as the big heavy chain that was connected to it falls to the ground. James then pulls both sides of the gate out to safely allow the truck their driving to enter, and then leave after they've finished with this job. James walks back to the truck, climbing back inside. He inserts the key into the ignition, and turns it. The engine roars to life as he drives through the gate following the instructions perfectly.
It was a rocky drive but sure enough it only took about thirty minutes. Once they arrive James puts he truck in park, and then gets out leaving the keys dangling. Holding the camcorder in hand Simara also gets out to inspect, and document the area. The sun shines through without any hesitation. This area still looks like it was roughly maintained some time ago. The care taker was careless with the rest. Makes you wonder.
As they both approach they notice a loan head stone which reads Christian Rivers but its beginning to fade. Simara this time is the one to respond first.
"To be thorough we're going to have to dig him up, because the city will have to bring a new casket out here. Especially, if the old one is damaged, but you'll also have to the heavy lifting on this one. I'll stand back and document this. Just so we'll be sure to get our money."
James turns back, and you can tell he has an uneasy feeling about this. Even after all of the crazy shit he has done in the wrestling business. Something about this just doesn't sit right with him. However he looks around and eventually finds a shovel, and then just shrugs his shoulders.
After a long, and arduous task James is finally done digging, and he hops down into the now shallow grave. Slowly he activitates the lift that lowered the casket into the grave as it rises to the top. Once it gets to the top James uses all of his remaining strength to pull the casket upon the ground. Exhausted he doesn't see the lift lower back down into the ground nor does he hear a trap down from below. But finally he stands grabbing the crow bar. Walking over to the casket he pries it open to reveal what's inside.
What's inside is a red skull helmet, black wrestling trunks with dripping blood on the legs, and a pair of wrestling boots where the feet are suppose to be. Wrestling gear laid out like a body, but without a body to focus the organization of it. James turns around in complete awe and shock as Simara smashes her father in the face with a shovel. As he goes down she picks up her digital camera and points it at the freshly dug grave. Christian Rivers rises up from out of the grave. Easily meeting Simara where her father is still lying on the ground. Rivers then picks up James throwing him over his shoulder. Simara then opens the casket, and Rivers lays James inside of the casket, and both of them slam the lid shut.
Simara with a twinkle in her eye hands over the digital camera to Rivers, and then makes him this promise.
"I'll call the city about grave robbers, and have them replace this casket back where it belongs. Dad always wanted to be "morbid" and its very fitting that it ended this way."
Rivers gives a hearty laugh while he nods. Simara then hands over Rivers payment in an envelope.
"I won't forget to lock up." Simara says as she goes back to the flat bed truck and gets in. She carefully maneuvers her way out.
Rivers then puts the payment in his pocket, and then climbs back down into the freshly dug grave disappearing.
Any footage of this incident longer exists.
"PRESENT DAY"
As I walk into the Outlaw Pro Wrestling Studio I'm immediately greeted by Zuma Rockwell who leads me over to talk show area. Zuma has a personalized desk, and next to the desk is a few chairs for his guests. I'm wearing a nice white button up shirt with a suit vest over it. A nice pair of matching slacks, and dress shoes in which the laces are tied. I walk over to the chair opposite of the desk and sit down. An OPW tech comes over and places a small cordless mic to my tie. The interview for the Fatal Four Way ladder match for the Prestige Championship is about to commence.
Zuma cues up the only footage of Jason Ryan that anybody has seen, and I watch intently waiting for questions pertaining to this, or any other thing. My first question then arrives to start the ball rolling.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Zuma Rockwell show, and with me after two years away is Christian Rivers who is known only as Rivers. Now Rivers let's get to the obvious. Why is your name Christian?"
"Well, obviously I can't change my name smart ass!"
"Fair enough!" "Now let's move on as I direct your attention to the monitor over there. Its brand fucking new. I'm sure you know that Mr. Stylez has expensive tastes, but back to the topic that brought us all here."
I watch as the footage rolls watching patiently and intently at anything that may stand out.
"Now Rivers, I have to ask. What is your professional opinion of Ira Stevenson? What about all of those nicknames he gave to Jason Ryan? Such as The Game Changer, Mister Madison Square Garden, The Dreamkiller, God himself, The Diamond of the industry, and rightful heir to OPW. Not to mention Ira claims he is the greatest man alive. Let's start right there. Does any of that intimidate you, or get under your skin?"
"Nick names don't mean shit in this business honestly. The only man I know who has earned his nick name, or any nick name is our boss Johnny Stylez. I got a nice little hefty bonus for making my return after two years. Especially, since you're looking at the first and only World Fade 2 Black champion. I earned it. What has Ira Stevenson earned? To my knowledge he is glorified hype man, and those types of people never last."
"I can assure you that neither Ira nor Jason Ryan will be happy when this hits the OPW air waves. Now its no secret you've never had a great history with the Prestige Title. Why was that?"
"Well, I went through my low points like everybody else, but rest assured I am back, and you'll see the Christian Rivers you've either loved, or hated. Either is fine by me. I'm motivated by both either way. I'd rather people be honest. So please hate me as much as you want!"
"You've all ready made two enemies for sure. Now that the focus has moved away from Ira Stevenson, lets now move on to Jason Ryan who believes you are the man to beat but he was highly critical of you as well. As you know by now we cover the whole deal. There are no highlights here like at some of our rival organizations."
"Before you continue let me just remind you and the rest of the world something. Johnny Stylez does not beg anybody to be here. That means you come here of your own volition. All ready Ira Stevenson is starting out on a falsehood. As I'm sure you are well aware Zuma, starting out with a falsehood always comes back to bite you in the ass!"
"I'll put that in my notes so I don't ever forget it. Moving on... I, myself am now seeing some bullet points they both must have been mistaken about, but Johnny never lets me in on the big picture. With all of the shit that has gone on sine the relaunch who fuckin' knows. I'll mention it though. How Ira mentions he, and Jason both waited patiently to get what was coming to them. Your thoughts?
"If they both knew we were all on a crash course to meet together, and I had a target specificially on them I guarantee they'd pass up on me, but since its a fatal four way ladder match where anything can happen, and things never go your way, well that changes things. I bet they both feel safe. I never play it safe. If I have to be the first in bringing something new again to the table I will, and I will debut a new secondary finisher in the match. I'm not going to say it's never been seen around these circles, but its the first in a long time that you'll see it, and actually enjoy it."
"Again, I'm sure you'll have no problem falling back into how things are going here. Ira raises some questions about where the appreciation for Jason Ryan, for all the hard work he put into, and his rewards were never given."
"Well, let me tell you something about hard work. If we based this on hard work alone I would have reigned as Immortal Champion long ago. But, it doesn't work like that. There is always somebody at the top of the mountain. To get there, and stay there you have to be more ruthless the next person. This is experience talking here, and judging from what I can tell neither Ira Stevenson, nor Jason Ryan have any of it!"
"Ira then specifically mention they don't blame Johnny Stylez for any of it. It was certain people at the main event level at the time. People who felt threatened by Jason Ryan, and because of this he never achieved his full potential. He can assure us those days are over. On his triumphant return, he will force everybody to kneel. Ira ends with contemplating that those things will have to wait because his client will become the future Prestige Champion."
"Zuma, as far as the assertion that he was held down, and that is the reason he's not getting what he desired; I will tell you, and every body else here what you all ready know. You either earn, or take what you have. Nobody holds you down, or back but yourself. I would suggest that both Ira and Jason shut the fuck up, and put the work in. You can bitch all day about what's going on around you, but until you prove to these people you belong in the Main Event, you'll never be there. Now I've known some of these people for a long time. I've known Johnny for twice as long as the next person. If you're not in the Main Event its because you don't belong there yet."
"Now we get I guess what is suppose to be the meat and bones portion of the promo where Jason Ryan finally speaks to himself, to the joy, of you, and the rest of the competition here. He mentions the other three men he is familiar with, and he's been enemies with them previously. They'll be kneeling before him at the end of the match. He's going to walk down to that ring, and destroy you, and the other two men in this match. Then he'll take back the division he made relevant. He says the division would be nothing without him. He says the Prestige Belt was something nobody wanted but after he held it then everybody wanted it. He's going to hold it again."
"I'm never one to make excuses, and I see a lot of excuses being tossed around here. Also, I don't kneel to anybody. So despite his big mouth you actually know he's trying to act tough but anybody can see it's paper then. Myself, and Enforcer have some unfinished business in this match, and I'm sure it will only start a new chapter in this match. He, and I were both in the Syndicate together, but I wasn't in the place I needed to be personally, or professionally, but with time, well you know how that goes. The man who broke on the scene to kick professional wrestling in the balls has returned."
"Jason Ryan seems to have the facts backward. Nobody wanted him to hold the Prestige Championship, but he was fortunate enough to hold it, and then his ego got too out of control, and he caused his own down fall. Jason Ryan should has a right to be concerned though, because he'll be lucky if he makes it out of Showcase able to compete."
"I'm sure once he sees this you'll have his full attention. He continues on this rant of his regarding the Prestige Title. Claiming it won't be like it was before. How he never got a rematch for his title despite saying he'd get one. He remembers all the times he was screwed over, and you can trust his word that will not be happening at Showcase. Basically to sum it all up, he is not standing in any more lines, and when he wins the company can kiss his ass, and he'll return to prominence. Because this is his kingdom."
"You know what Zuma? I've never laughed so hard at somebody, or the mention of somebody. Not until I came across Jason Ryan. This man can't be serious, but it looks like he is trying. Let's both go over the obvious thing he fails to grasp. One this is a new era of OPW so what he's done, or could have done is in the past. We cannot go back and change the past. Only learn from it. And number two the Prestige Title is not his because it's up for grabs in this Fatal Fourway Ladder match. I'm not just going to roll over, and let all of his wet dreams come true. Oh no! I've been gone for two years. Two fucking years. I've got a lot of time to make up for, and I'm starting that at Showcase. Everything he mentions afterward are just possibilities. It is possible he could rebuild the Prestige Title division. However, its more than likely he'll end up crying about how he was screwed. If you ask me how many times I've seen interference, or people in this business hold me down I could say too many. You don't let it get you down. You just keep putting the work in, and that's what I'm doing. There are three other men in this match, and there is one I'm not really familiar with but I'll be crossing that bridge next."
"Since Jason is obviously begging me for a response I'll give him one but it likely won't be the one he wants. Which trust me again when I respond, it's not usually the way somebody would like."
"Jason, in this moment you'll have to forgive me. The Prestige Title has always been the elusive title for me, and that Christian Rivers who beat you is not the same one who stands before you. It's all kind of a blur to me to be honest. I don't remember much of it. Like a drunk whose had one too many black outs. That's how insignificant you are to me. However since fate is correcting it's mistakes you've got my full attention. My wins are never a fluke. No matter how big or how small. You're going to experience that again. What it means to lose. You're not good at losing but again you'll lose, and you'll learn to like it. Let me spell something out to you Jason. When another man holds the Prestige Title it is not still your title, and you might as well consider this as your rematch. It's just a shame you had absolutely no substance to your thought process. I hate to say this, but I've seen better progression out of Jerry Watts! Where ever the hell that poser is now. I don't bow to anybody Jason, and I especially won't be bowing to you. What you will look forward to is every way I can destroy you with ladder without killing you. Ultimately, that is my goal, but Johnny Stylez isn't paying me to kill you in the ring. At least not yet. The pain you have coming. Well, there is only one true Prestige Champion in this match, and you are not it. I didn't return because of you, but Jason, there is one thing I know. At the end of the night I will ascend that ladder, and grab the Prestige Title. Once that happens you, and Ira can go back to slumming it with all the bottom feeders! You are cocky, and arrogant but I'm smarter, and superior to you in every way. When you fail in this match, just like you do in life, maybe you'll start taking responsibility for yourself. Until that day arrives you can watch me burn your kingdom to the ground. With you in it!"
"Wow, thank you for being so candid, and honest Rivers. It didn't take much to pry it out of you but I'm afraid we've got to move on to the next two men in this match. The Enforcer, and of course Dark Tiger."
"Zuma, I guess you're catching me in rare form these days."
"Well, I would say its a pleasure but then I wouldn't be doing my job. Yourself, and The Enforcer have had a long and storied past. Often with him getting the better of you in some fashion or another. What makes this time different than all of the other times before?"
"That's a very good question Zuma. I, thank you for asking. I'm trying to be professional. It's something I've never waivered from in recent years. Well, one thing you'll notice is there is no more red skull helmet. No more trying to hide who I am any more. Before I came back I was in a very dark place both professionally and personally. It felt like I was drowning. I took a lof of time for myself, and when I came back I knew it was time. Now it is true that The Enforcer and myself have burned down OPW in some sort of way over the time we've been in OPW. However, The Enforcer has never met me when I was at my best. When I was at the point where the only thing that matters to me is spilling blood. I'm not one to toss my weight around. I prove it, and I'm going to prove not only why I'm the better over all wrestler, but I'm going to prove why there is nobody deadlier than me in that ring. Especially when you add ladders to the mix. You can get more creative, and do things you weren't able to before. The OPW is giving me a license to maim a human body in ways you've never seen before. I'm going to paint a very bloody picture of what life will look like in the OPW, and I suggest everybody watching pay very close attention!"
"So are you saying you'll beat The Enforcer this time?"
"Zuma, he's in the match so yes he'll be a casualty of all of the destruction that happens in that ring. Make no mistake. I'm not here to mince words. I've got a job to do, and I'm going to do it to the very best of my ability. I'm not coming in here ego driven like anybody else will. I'm just stating a very clear reality. It's been two long years for since I've been gone, and nobody has been looking forward to this day like I have. Whatever it takes I will over come. Enforcer, get ready, because if we're on a collision course to show the world what the greats of wrestling truly look like then I'm fortunate to be on that course with you. At Showcase is very different, and very dangerous. Destiny is not going to be very kind to you either. Because the forces that brought me back wanted the old Rivers. Here I am. Whatever, I have to do to hold you down. Stop you from taking over I will. I'm going to get in that ring, and paint it with your blood Enforcer. When I'm finished you'll be begging me to bring it again. Only it will be too late. Because I'll be the new Prestige Champion, and you will be forced to deal with Jason Ryan. What a sight! And what a painful, jagged road that will be!"
"It appears that neither of those two men will be happy, and it's sure they'll never stop gunning for you. That last person on your list is Dark Tiger. Somebody I believe you mentioned were unfamiliar with."
"That is correct, and as for everybody else gunning for me they can stand in line. That's the way it's always been. I'm not familiar with Dark Tiger, but I all ready know how to handle those types. While getting back into ring shape on my return to OPW it dawned on me, not just for Dark Tiger but everybody else I had to go back to my roots. Technical wrestling, and there is nobody better at it than me. But, I can't use that alone to win. I'm going to break Dark Tiger down. As a matter of fact its no secret in this match that you have to climb a ladder so I'm going to take Tiger's legs out of the equation. The same holds true for Enforcer, and Jason Ryan. This match very specifically can get out of your control very fast, but while I can't control the pace I can control who walks. The only person who will be solid when it comes to walking is me. The rest of those three men will need a cane, or a wheel chair after. I hate to make them the but end of a very old and tasteless joke but it appears wheel chair wrestling will be all they have left in the future. For Jason Ryan that may be all the more beneficial too. I digress. Let me get back on topic here."
"Rivers, what if things don't go your way upon your return?"
"I'll let the cards fall where they may. It's a good suggestion to hold on to. If things don't go my way. There's always something better on the horizon. Dark Tiger better be ready for the most out of control match he's ever experienced. From ladders, to blood, to Jason Ryan's temper tantrums. I'm sure this match will have it all and more. What I do to those three men will be a viable lesson as to why you don't cross my path. The three of you will never walk the same again. You can thank me personally after you crash and burn in our match. Dark Tiger, I hope you've realized you've bitten off more than you can chew. I was expecting a lot more from Dark Tiger but it appears like they're on a contractual vacation, and that's fine for me. Whatever gets you through the week. Just know that even if this is a pay check to you I'm going to get paid more money to hurt you in front of your family who may or may not be watching at home. You'll watch me take out all three of these men whether they fight back or not. It's my gift to you. You'll get to hold your head in shame after you've been beaten by one of the best to ever grace the ring."
"Zuma, I hate to do it but I have another appointment I have to be at."
"Ladies, and Gentlemen, we are now out of time. I would like to thank my guest Rivers for taking the time out of his busy schedule. See you next time!"