The start of a beautiful friendship
May 12, 2020 23:13:03 GMT -5
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Post by kosm0s on May 12, 2020 23:13:03 GMT -5
Dropping his keycard as he fumbled with the door, he could hardly contain himself. Even through the pain, he couldn’t hold back his smile. He could hardly wait to call back home! He could hardly wait to talk to his father!
He had done it!
Some of the pressure was gone now. His shoulders were a just a little lighter now. His first match hadn’t been a straight forward affair. Usually a luchador debuted in a singles match, a chance to showcase their abilities in a fair and even contest.
OPW hadn’t afforded him that luxury, but he had found a way. Using his speed, training and, most importantly, his will and determination…he had managed to find his way to victory.
The beating he had taken at points served as a reminder of the price of failure. At his size, there weren’t going to be many even match ups.
Surely, this lesson was why his father had chosen to send him out from Mexico to start his career. He had done him a favour by sending him to America. He didn’t like it, but hat least he understood now.
The pressure that the Mexican sports media would have put on him would have been unheard of for a rookie luchador. It could have cost him his debut. A poor performance under that kind of scrutiny could have killed his career before it truly began.
He might never have recovered, and that said nothing of what it could have done to his confidence at such an early stage of his career.
But now, now that both he and his father and proven their points; he could return home now. Begin his career the way he should have.
His father’s point? More and more promotions signed and loaned out talent. It helped everyone’s product stay new and fresh. Larger opponents would always be there. He must be wary. Especially at his size and experience.
His point? He was well aware of his physical stature, he knew that would be what people focused on. People like Sahara would focus on his size and plan for his speed, as though that were his greatest weapon.
Only he knew the truth, his greatest weapon wasn’t his speed, or the pedigree of his father, or even the frightening quality of his instructors. His greatest weapon was, his heart. It was with hard work and resilience that he had made it through his training. It would be that same passion, that same need to prove himself that would push him onward now.
He knew the challenges that lay ahead wouldn’t be easy. He knew that his entire career would be filled with condescending comments about his size.
But he also knew that as each challenge arose, he would rise up to meet it head on. He knew he could defeat them. It would be difficult, but not impossible. If nothing else, his debut had shown that.
He was ready.
Finally swinging the door to his room open he feels around and flicks the light switch. Glancing around the empty room his shoulders slumped slightly. A reasonably comfortable looking double bed took up a fair portion of the room, a small bathroom with an equally small tub and cramped shower were to the left just inside the door.
It was enough and far more than most rookies received. He needed to remain humble, be thankful for the opportunity he had been given. His disappointment only truly laid in that he had hoped for a surprise visit from his father, maybe even his trainers. The first win in the career of Pequeño Dinosaurio! And there was no one to share this accomplishment with.
It had been a long shot at best, and deep down he knew why his father couldn’t be there for moments like tonight, it was the price of greatness. His father was busy, constantly.
His father had paid for their life with his time, and his health. He was used to it, but it had never gotten any easier.
Locking the door behind him, he loosens his mask. Within moments, his FaceTime request is ringing and his heart racing.
One, two, three…he wasn’t replaying his match result, he was counting the rings. Surely his father had been watching, he had to be expecting his call!
“Anda ya!” Finishing with a stream of Spanish curses, there was no answer. Taking the mask off, he tossed it aside. He felt the question that drove him past Carter Alpha and Kyle Mehr burn his mind once more.
‘Would he ever be worthy of his father’s mask?’
Aside from seeing that he had access to the best training possibly available, his father, the great Tiranosaurio, had largely stayed out of his venture into ‘the family business’.
It was equal parts liberating and frustrating, but nothing like what he had imagined growing up around arenas all over Mexico. No, this wasn’t how it was supposed to be at all.
By now he was to be Tiranosaurio Jr., a young phenom battling his way through the undercards, gaining the respect of his father’s fans, taking his legacy to even greater heights.
Where were the legions of fans? Where was the network of his father’s friends to help guide him through the business?
Instead, he was leaving Allentown to head to Florida, alone. He groaned as he took a look around the room, the adrenaline was wearing off. His back, shoulders and neck were starting to stiffen.
Maybe that was the lesson. That he would ultimately need to take care of himself. after all, if he didn’t, who would?
Perhaps he was reading too much into it, being the hottest act in Mexico for just over a decade now had eaten up much of his father’s time. Even though he travelled with his father for much of his life, he rarely got a large share of his father’s time.. In his experience, the true curse of greatness had been to miss those you love.
Slumping back into a generic brown faux leather armchair, he found himself chuckling as he sat down. He was only one match into his career and already the romantic idea of it all he had formed in his head was dying.
There were no legions of fans, no giant paydays, there weren’t even any desperate groupies. As he laughed, he couldn’t help but to feel like he had been lied to.
There was just the match; the cheers of the crowd…they were like a drug, and then, the come down. It was little wonder alcohol and drug use ran rampant through professional wrestling. They were a bunch of beat up athletes chasing that high. Constantly chasing that high.
The roar of the Jurassic Park T-Rex followed by the iconic movie theme comes through his phone and he immediately bolts up, scrambling to get his mask back on as he grabs it.
He would need to show his father he was serious about protecting his identity, preserving the gimmick.
“Papa! I did it!” He beamed as his father congratulated on his victory, but a hefty amount wind was sucked from his sails when the competitor inside the proud father reminded him that now was only the beginning.
One match at a time. Never look past the next match!Naturally they could use that to get a match at the upcoming pay per view.
“Of course papa…” Instantly he was a submissive child. “I would prefer not to Papa.”
For some minutes, he sat on the edge of the hotel room bed like a child being scolded by his father. For that was what he was now.
He listened as his father explained business obligations didn’t always reflect one’s personal opinions. “Yes Papa. Of course Papa, I will make the call.”
Apologizing for the poor timing of his business meeting, his father implored him to remember his words. No legend was made over night. He must forge his own path.
And like that, he was gone. Something about having to shoot a commercial in the morning. Again, the price of greatness.
Hanging up, Pequeño Dinosaurio started at the glass surface of his phone. He was making up his mind. Should he make the call that now ran through his mind?
Setting his phone down, he did as his father had instructed, “Hey Siri, call Vanessa Martinez.”
Pressing the screen to enable the speaker phone, the second ring had barely passed when she answered. “Mi…I mean Pequeño Dinosaurio…I was wondering how long it would be before you called?”
Waiting a polite amount of time before speaking again, he was embarrassed. She knew he was going to call?
“Hey Vanessa. I was just speaking to my father and he insisted I…”
The pleasantries were non-existent. Vanessa’s father had handled the career of his father and as such, it was assumed that Vanessa would handle his career. He wasn’t the only one trying to live up to high expectations.
Her annoyance at being asked to ’prove herself’ by managing the career of a long time family client’s son, in her eyes, was beneath the prodigy she’d proven to be thus far. And it showed as she finished his thought.
“…call me and start negotiations for me to become your agent? It’s all my father talks about too. He thinks you’re the perfect place for me to start taking clients of my own.”
She’d proven herself invaluable in renegotiations and new signings alike, particularly with younger male talents, but never alone.
Some had attributed it to her father not being ready to step aside. Others, to his ego needing to have it be his name that was the one on the contracts. Still others said that her beauty and natural ability to read people made her cocky and that she just simply wasn’t ready to take the lead on a major project, any major project.
They’d loosely known each other since they were kids, she understood the pressure he was under better than anyone ever could.
“Yeah, exactly.” He said, laughing it off before continuing. “Look Vanessa, I’m flattered that a company like your father’s is interested in me, I’m just not looking to be lost on a big roster this early in my career. Breaking into the business is competitive enough for me, I don’t want to be competing for my agent’s time on top of that.”
She had expected an answer like that and had prepared a solution. “I could understand that. Technically you’d be my only client. I know what you want. You want to prove yourself to your father. It’s the same thing I want! Look, the only thing I’ll ever ask of you is for you to remember that if you get broken in half in the ring, it looks bad on me too ok?” She would have to tell him exactly how things were, they weren’t kids anymore. “You’re small, but fast. All I need is for you to stay alive long enough for my father to let me start taking clients. Once I ‘prove myself’, feel free to sign with whoever you’d like.”
He wasn’t sure if she wanted to be his agent or insult him. Maybe she was aiming for both. He’d give her a little of her own medicine, “Thanks Vanessa, if I didn’t know you’re still mad at me for getting gum in your hair when we were kids, I’d think you actually cared about my career. Besides, I think I’m doing a pretty damn good job of handling my own affairs…” he let the sarcasm in his voice say more than the words themselves.
She was being unbelievably blunt with him, he couldn’t believe this was the same little girl he had known, and she wasn’t finished “What can I say? This isn’t a long term thing for me, this isn’t a marriage for me, it’s more like a one night stand. Wham, bam, thank you dinosaur…” Then her tone changed. “You think I was mad at you over just gum?! They had to shave my head…shave my head! I was a little girl!” He could hear her take a deep breath. “That doesn’t matter now. Look, I get wanting to do it on your own, but you need me. I get you think all I do is collect some of your money, but I saw your debut and I’ve seen the advertising for the upcoming Social Distancing special. You need me way more than I need you.”
Laughing, he wasn’t sure if she was serious or if this was some aggressive negotiation technique. “Ouch, tell me how you really feel?! Yeah, I think that’s enough, thanks for your time Vanessa.”
A hint of desperation entered her voice before she roped herself in, “Don’t! I get it! If you look at the surface…you won your first match, you get a shot at the OPW Pureblood Championship before the upcoming Pay Per View. Sounds like you’re doing a great job, I’ll give you that.”
Pausing, she quipped through a smile, “But, that upcoming Pay Per View…When is that exactly?”
She gave him a moment as he stammered off several attempts at a sentence, but never actually got going before she grew impatient. She could smell blood in the water. “That’s what I thought. Listen, both guys you beat are further up the card this time out than you are AND until earlier today, someone else was getting your title match. Great job Mr. Superstar agent…”
Slightly embarrassed, she was making her point. “Ok, I didn’t realize both Alpha and Mehr were above me, but big deal the fans know them a bit more…wait, did you say ‘until earlier today’?”
Speaking the the confidence of a woman who knows she’s winning an argument, Vanessa asks a question. “So you haven’t heard? You’re gonna get eaten alive without me.” Sighing, she continued, “Ophelia Pain has vacated the championship…”
The excitement caused his voice to rise in pitch and cadence. He could win his first title in only his second match! “So, who do I face for the vacant title? O’Rourke? That would make sense.”
Giving him a moment to live in his fantasy world, she mercifully pops his bubble, “No. Not even close actually. There’s going to be a Battle Royal. If you had an agent like me, maybe it would be you versus O’Rourke to determine the new Champion. Instead l, you’re gonna have to declare your interest in the Battle Royal like everyone else. Unless…”
He stole the words out of her mouth, if she had been there in person he would have stolen her breath too. “Unless, what?”
She had him hooked now. All that was left was to reel him in,
“If you were MY client. I would tell you to focus on Sahara. She’s dangerous from what I can tell. From her AMA and recent video, I’d say she is looking to make an impact. I’d look out because if she is guaranteed you’ll get a victory, I would assume the moment she gains any significant advantage she’s going to get herself disqualified making an example of you…AND she certainly seems to know your father…plus she’s bigger than you. Not by a little either…but, anyway. I would keep you focused on Sahara and wait to see who the new champion is. Then use the opportunity you have already earned to challenge the winner.”
He hated to admit it, but as he listened, he saw it more and more; she had a point. Everything she said was true. He’s already earned that chance, why risk it? For that matter, why risk injury in a Battle Royal?
“Ok Vanessa, you’ve convinced me. You’re hired. But the second your father is satisfied, we’re done and you can move on to the ‘big time’ clients. I have to get some rest though. I leave early in the morning.” A noticeable inflection hit his voice, she had struck a nerve after all. She hoped her little speech would motivate her new charge to make her regret ever doubting him. She was hoping that being the son of a legend such as Tiranosaurio would leave a chip on his shoulder. One that demanded he make them all regret ever doubting him!
Ending the call, it was ridiculous when he thought about it, he had just taken on an agent based almost solely on her intense dislike at her being forced to be his agent to begin with. He would follow her advice.
ShowCase Thirteen: he’d make sure it was an unlucky number for Sahara, and a giant step toward his future.
He had done it!
Some of the pressure was gone now. His shoulders were a just a little lighter now. His first match hadn’t been a straight forward affair. Usually a luchador debuted in a singles match, a chance to showcase their abilities in a fair and even contest.
OPW hadn’t afforded him that luxury, but he had found a way. Using his speed, training and, most importantly, his will and determination…he had managed to find his way to victory.
The beating he had taken at points served as a reminder of the price of failure. At his size, there weren’t going to be many even match ups.
Surely, this lesson was why his father had chosen to send him out from Mexico to start his career. He had done him a favour by sending him to America. He didn’t like it, but hat least he understood now.
The pressure that the Mexican sports media would have put on him would have been unheard of for a rookie luchador. It could have cost him his debut. A poor performance under that kind of scrutiny could have killed his career before it truly began.
He might never have recovered, and that said nothing of what it could have done to his confidence at such an early stage of his career.
But now, now that both he and his father and proven their points; he could return home now. Begin his career the way he should have.
His father’s point? More and more promotions signed and loaned out talent. It helped everyone’s product stay new and fresh. Larger opponents would always be there. He must be wary. Especially at his size and experience.
His point? He was well aware of his physical stature, he knew that would be what people focused on. People like Sahara would focus on his size and plan for his speed, as though that were his greatest weapon.
Only he knew the truth, his greatest weapon wasn’t his speed, or the pedigree of his father, or even the frightening quality of his instructors. His greatest weapon was, his heart. It was with hard work and resilience that he had made it through his training. It would be that same passion, that same need to prove himself that would push him onward now.
He knew the challenges that lay ahead wouldn’t be easy. He knew that his entire career would be filled with condescending comments about his size.
But he also knew that as each challenge arose, he would rise up to meet it head on. He knew he could defeat them. It would be difficult, but not impossible. If nothing else, his debut had shown that.
He was ready.
Finally swinging the door to his room open he feels around and flicks the light switch. Glancing around the empty room his shoulders slumped slightly. A reasonably comfortable looking double bed took up a fair portion of the room, a small bathroom with an equally small tub and cramped shower were to the left just inside the door.
It was enough and far more than most rookies received. He needed to remain humble, be thankful for the opportunity he had been given. His disappointment only truly laid in that he had hoped for a surprise visit from his father, maybe even his trainers. The first win in the career of Pequeño Dinosaurio! And there was no one to share this accomplishment with.
It had been a long shot at best, and deep down he knew why his father couldn’t be there for moments like tonight, it was the price of greatness. His father was busy, constantly.
His father had paid for their life with his time, and his health. He was used to it, but it had never gotten any easier.
Locking the door behind him, he loosens his mask. Within moments, his FaceTime request is ringing and his heart racing.
One, two, three…he wasn’t replaying his match result, he was counting the rings. Surely his father had been watching, he had to be expecting his call!
“Anda ya!” Finishing with a stream of Spanish curses, there was no answer. Taking the mask off, he tossed it aside. He felt the question that drove him past Carter Alpha and Kyle Mehr burn his mind once more.
‘Would he ever be worthy of his father’s mask?’
Aside from seeing that he had access to the best training possibly available, his father, the great Tiranosaurio, had largely stayed out of his venture into ‘the family business’.
It was equal parts liberating and frustrating, but nothing like what he had imagined growing up around arenas all over Mexico. No, this wasn’t how it was supposed to be at all.
By now he was to be Tiranosaurio Jr., a young phenom battling his way through the undercards, gaining the respect of his father’s fans, taking his legacy to even greater heights.
Where were the legions of fans? Where was the network of his father’s friends to help guide him through the business?
Instead, he was leaving Allentown to head to Florida, alone. He groaned as he took a look around the room, the adrenaline was wearing off. His back, shoulders and neck were starting to stiffen.
Maybe that was the lesson. That he would ultimately need to take care of himself. after all, if he didn’t, who would?
Perhaps he was reading too much into it, being the hottest act in Mexico for just over a decade now had eaten up much of his father’s time. Even though he travelled with his father for much of his life, he rarely got a large share of his father’s time.. In his experience, the true curse of greatness had been to miss those you love.
Slumping back into a generic brown faux leather armchair, he found himself chuckling as he sat down. He was only one match into his career and already the romantic idea of it all he had formed in his head was dying.
There were no legions of fans, no giant paydays, there weren’t even any desperate groupies. As he laughed, he couldn’t help but to feel like he had been lied to.
There was just the match; the cheers of the crowd…they were like a drug, and then, the come down. It was little wonder alcohol and drug use ran rampant through professional wrestling. They were a bunch of beat up athletes chasing that high. Constantly chasing that high.
The roar of the Jurassic Park T-Rex followed by the iconic movie theme comes through his phone and he immediately bolts up, scrambling to get his mask back on as he grabs it.
He would need to show his father he was serious about protecting his identity, preserving the gimmick.
“Papa! I did it!” He beamed as his father congratulated on his victory, but a hefty amount wind was sucked from his sails when the competitor inside the proud father reminded him that now was only the beginning.
One match at a time. Never look past the next match!Naturally they could use that to get a match at the upcoming pay per view.
“Of course papa…” Instantly he was a submissive child. “I would prefer not to Papa.”
For some minutes, he sat on the edge of the hotel room bed like a child being scolded by his father. For that was what he was now.
He listened as his father explained business obligations didn’t always reflect one’s personal opinions. “Yes Papa. Of course Papa, I will make the call.”
Apologizing for the poor timing of his business meeting, his father implored him to remember his words. No legend was made over night. He must forge his own path.
And like that, he was gone. Something about having to shoot a commercial in the morning. Again, the price of greatness.
Hanging up, Pequeño Dinosaurio started at the glass surface of his phone. He was making up his mind. Should he make the call that now ran through his mind?
Setting his phone down, he did as his father had instructed, “Hey Siri, call Vanessa Martinez.”
Pressing the screen to enable the speaker phone, the second ring had barely passed when she answered. “Mi…I mean Pequeño Dinosaurio…I was wondering how long it would be before you called?”
Waiting a polite amount of time before speaking again, he was embarrassed. She knew he was going to call?
“Hey Vanessa. I was just speaking to my father and he insisted I…”
The pleasantries were non-existent. Vanessa’s father had handled the career of his father and as such, it was assumed that Vanessa would handle his career. He wasn’t the only one trying to live up to high expectations.
Her annoyance at being asked to ’prove herself’ by managing the career of a long time family client’s son, in her eyes, was beneath the prodigy she’d proven to be thus far. And it showed as she finished his thought.
“…call me and start negotiations for me to become your agent? It’s all my father talks about too. He thinks you’re the perfect place for me to start taking clients of my own.”
She’d proven herself invaluable in renegotiations and new signings alike, particularly with younger male talents, but never alone.
Some had attributed it to her father not being ready to step aside. Others, to his ego needing to have it be his name that was the one on the contracts. Still others said that her beauty and natural ability to read people made her cocky and that she just simply wasn’t ready to take the lead on a major project, any major project.
They’d loosely known each other since they were kids, she understood the pressure he was under better than anyone ever could.
“Yeah, exactly.” He said, laughing it off before continuing. “Look Vanessa, I’m flattered that a company like your father’s is interested in me, I’m just not looking to be lost on a big roster this early in my career. Breaking into the business is competitive enough for me, I don’t want to be competing for my agent’s time on top of that.”
She had expected an answer like that and had prepared a solution. “I could understand that. Technically you’d be my only client. I know what you want. You want to prove yourself to your father. It’s the same thing I want! Look, the only thing I’ll ever ask of you is for you to remember that if you get broken in half in the ring, it looks bad on me too ok?” She would have to tell him exactly how things were, they weren’t kids anymore. “You’re small, but fast. All I need is for you to stay alive long enough for my father to let me start taking clients. Once I ‘prove myself’, feel free to sign with whoever you’d like.”
He wasn’t sure if she wanted to be his agent or insult him. Maybe she was aiming for both. He’d give her a little of her own medicine, “Thanks Vanessa, if I didn’t know you’re still mad at me for getting gum in your hair when we were kids, I’d think you actually cared about my career. Besides, I think I’m doing a pretty damn good job of handling my own affairs…” he let the sarcasm in his voice say more than the words themselves.
She was being unbelievably blunt with him, he couldn’t believe this was the same little girl he had known, and she wasn’t finished “What can I say? This isn’t a long term thing for me, this isn’t a marriage for me, it’s more like a one night stand. Wham, bam, thank you dinosaur…” Then her tone changed. “You think I was mad at you over just gum?! They had to shave my head…shave my head! I was a little girl!” He could hear her take a deep breath. “That doesn’t matter now. Look, I get wanting to do it on your own, but you need me. I get you think all I do is collect some of your money, but I saw your debut and I’ve seen the advertising for the upcoming Social Distancing special. You need me way more than I need you.”
Laughing, he wasn’t sure if she was serious or if this was some aggressive negotiation technique. “Ouch, tell me how you really feel?! Yeah, I think that’s enough, thanks for your time Vanessa.”
A hint of desperation entered her voice before she roped herself in, “Don’t! I get it! If you look at the surface…you won your first match, you get a shot at the OPW Pureblood Championship before the upcoming Pay Per View. Sounds like you’re doing a great job, I’ll give you that.”
Pausing, she quipped through a smile, “But, that upcoming Pay Per View…When is that exactly?”
She gave him a moment as he stammered off several attempts at a sentence, but never actually got going before she grew impatient. She could smell blood in the water. “That’s what I thought. Listen, both guys you beat are further up the card this time out than you are AND until earlier today, someone else was getting your title match. Great job Mr. Superstar agent…”
Slightly embarrassed, she was making her point. “Ok, I didn’t realize both Alpha and Mehr were above me, but big deal the fans know them a bit more…wait, did you say ‘until earlier today’?”
Speaking the the confidence of a woman who knows she’s winning an argument, Vanessa asks a question. “So you haven’t heard? You’re gonna get eaten alive without me.” Sighing, she continued, “Ophelia Pain has vacated the championship…”
The excitement caused his voice to rise in pitch and cadence. He could win his first title in only his second match! “So, who do I face for the vacant title? O’Rourke? That would make sense.”
Giving him a moment to live in his fantasy world, she mercifully pops his bubble, “No. Not even close actually. There’s going to be a Battle Royal. If you had an agent like me, maybe it would be you versus O’Rourke to determine the new Champion. Instead l, you’re gonna have to declare your interest in the Battle Royal like everyone else. Unless…”
He stole the words out of her mouth, if she had been there in person he would have stolen her breath too. “Unless, what?”
She had him hooked now. All that was left was to reel him in,
“If you were MY client. I would tell you to focus on Sahara. She’s dangerous from what I can tell. From her AMA and recent video, I’d say she is looking to make an impact. I’d look out because if she is guaranteed you’ll get a victory, I would assume the moment she gains any significant advantage she’s going to get herself disqualified making an example of you…AND she certainly seems to know your father…plus she’s bigger than you. Not by a little either…but, anyway. I would keep you focused on Sahara and wait to see who the new champion is. Then use the opportunity you have already earned to challenge the winner.”
He hated to admit it, but as he listened, he saw it more and more; she had a point. Everything she said was true. He’s already earned that chance, why risk it? For that matter, why risk injury in a Battle Royal?
“Ok Vanessa, you’ve convinced me. You’re hired. But the second your father is satisfied, we’re done and you can move on to the ‘big time’ clients. I have to get some rest though. I leave early in the morning.” A noticeable inflection hit his voice, she had struck a nerve after all. She hoped her little speech would motivate her new charge to make her regret ever doubting him. She was hoping that being the son of a legend such as Tiranosaurio would leave a chip on his shoulder. One that demanded he make them all regret ever doubting him!
Ending the call, it was ridiculous when he thought about it, he had just taken on an agent based almost solely on her intense dislike at her being forced to be his agent to begin with. He would follow her advice.
ShowCase Thirteen: he’d make sure it was an unlucky number for Sahara, and a giant step toward his future.