Post by "Iron Heart" Ethan King on Mar 3, 2016 2:39:21 GMT -5
Just A Kid, Living The Dream.
Kylie Atticio: I can’t believe you got signed by the WCF! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?
He could hear the incredulous note that rang through her voice, it immediately made him smile to hear her high-pitched, chippy squeal being played by the phone he held mere inches away from his ear. While he listened to her carry on, his eyes darted around the courtyard in front of him that made up the centre area of the ‘Real Sudoku Hours’ College Campus.
Oh, and if you’re wondering. Yeah, that’s what the college is actually called. Deal with it.
Kylie Atticio: When do you think I’ll be able to come watch you?
Ethan smiled at the question, but only managed to give an off-handed response as he carefully tuned the guitar he had ‘borrowed’ from the music room. His eyebrows furrowed inward slightly as he concentrated.
Ethan King: Huh? Oh. Just ask Dad to book you a flight and I’ll save you a seat…
Kylie Atticio: You can do that?
She didn’t sound certain.
Ethan King: Well, yeah? I think? Benefits of being an employee, am I right?
Kylie Atticio: I guess… so when do you think you’ll be coming down to visit? It’s not like you’re all that far away.
He carelessly strummed away at the strings of the acoustic, upon doing so he heard the peaceful sound of the strings play back to his ears. Satisfied, he began to place the guitar back in its sleek, black case, while wedging the phone between his shoulder and ear to keep it from falling.
Ethan King: Yeah, you know. You’re so, so right. It’s only a visit that I’ll have to cram in between all my studies and wrestling career.
Kylie Atticio: Shut up!
He identified the mock anger almost instantly and the two shared a laugh, even over the phone, it still sounded so sweet to his ears. Making people laugh made everything better for Ethan – especially when his sister was the one completing the action.
Ethan King: But seriously, I DO want to visit you sometime soon. I’ve just been discussing a lot of stuff with Eddie and Gab-
Kylie Atticio: Ugh. Please don’t mention Eddie, he was trying to convince me that lizard aliens were going to invade the planet.
Ethan King: Seriously?
Kylie Atticio: Yeah.
Ethan chuckled while shaking his head.
Ethan King: Anyway, I’ve just been making plans with them. We’ve got a lot of things we want to achieve and it’s going to take a lot of-
Kylie Atticio: Hard work and commitment, yeah. I get it.
The distant note in her voice concerned Ethan, he knew how much she wanted him to visit. It had been over three months since he had done so, whether it be through procrastinating or lack of time, he always managed to have SOMETHING pop up. It agitated to him to no end, it wasn’t what he wanted.
Yet it is what had happened.
Ethan King: Kylie…
Kylie Atticio: Don’t. Don’t say anything. I already know what it’s going to be.
Ethan King: Come on.
Kylie Atticio: I’m not mad, I get it. I think.
He cringed inwardly, but said nothing. Even through the phone, the silence felt strung with tension, like a taut bow just waiting to be let loose.
Kylie Atticio: I… I think I’m going to go, we’re going out for breakfast soon… tell me if you’re going to visit soon?
Ethan sighed, but barely managed to put on a cheery tone.
Ethan King: Yeah! For sure. I’ll make sure to give you a call. Tell Mom and Dad I miss them, okay?
Kylie Atticio: I will. Love you.
Ethan King: Love you too.
He ended the call and couldn’t help but unleashing yet another longing sigh. He twiddled his thumbs around – something he always did when he couldn’t make up his mind. Eventually, he settled for standing up and taking a walk around the campus. It was always peaceful during this time of day, especially on a Sunday. The luscious gardens and well-maintained facilities shone vibrantly in the sunlight, and the lack of activity always seemed to make everything feel more… serene.
His feet carried him while his mind wandered off, he passed underneath trees and rooftops, quiet libraries and empty classrooms. Every once in a while he would pass by someone, but his eyes couldn’t help but drift off into the horizon, while he wondered if he was doing the best he could.
He snapped out of his trance when he felt something nudging his elbow.
Miguel Myles: Ethan? Dude, the last time you woke up this early, you were pulling an all-nighter.
Instinctively, Ethan smiled and replied.
Ethan King: Yeah? Well then I guess that doesn’t count as waking up, now does it?
Miguel flashed him an innocent grin, while they rapped their knuckles together solidly. Ethan seemed a little out of sorts – a fact that managed to go unnoticed by Miguel. He gestured for them to continue walking down the winding path leading through the heart of the campus. Once they got started, the conversation soon began, Miguel addressing Ethan with an intrigued look.
Miguel Myles: What was the occasion this time? Clearly you don’t have an essay to hand in.
Ethan chuckled a little nervously, all too aware that he was behind on at least ONE assignment.
Ethan King: I wanted to surprise my sister with a call, I know she’s always up early so… yeah.
Miguel Myles: Oh, yeah. She doing good?
Ethan King: Well, we didn’t really get to talk much, honestly. It got a little awkward.
Miguel identified the sense of stress that rang through Ethan’s voice, but decided against questioning what he meant. A companionable silence followed, as the two continued to pace through the empty canvas. Upon nearing the location of their dorm, Miguel clicked his tongue thoughtfully.
Miguel Myles: You know, I’ve been thinking…
Ethan King: Really? That’s a first.
Miguel returned the favour by giving him a solid punch to the shoulder, Ethan recoiled backward in mock fear as his eyes lit up in an amused manner. Eventually, his chuckles faded away and Miguel continued.
Miguel Myles: We need to celebrate you guys making it into the big leagues.
Ethan King: Well, we haven’t really ‘made it’ yet. We only managed to get signed, I wouldn’t get too excited yet.
Miguel Myles: The hype is real though, especially here. I think we could get something HUGE popping here if we just spent a little time advertising, I bet Sudoku would be happy to pay out for the event, considering you guys are like… his favourite students.
Ethan contemplated the idea as they walked into the air-conditioned dormitory, the facility was extremely tidy and there was hardly a noise being made – odd even for a Sunday. Ethan frowned, but continued making way to his room, he glanced over at Miguel who was following in suit.
Ethan King: I don’t know man, when would we host it? We’re going to be travelling on Saturday, and Sunday will be the night of the show.
Miguel Myles: Friday should work then, yeah?
Ethan wanted to tell him he’d be attempting to visit his sister; an idea that had only just formulated within his mind, but he refrained from saying anything. Instead, allowing Miguel to list off his thoughts while he opened the door to their room with a twist of the key, the door’s lock clicking audibly as the door swung open. To his surprise, the other two members living in the room, none other than Eddie Felt and ‘The Griffin’, were sitting around a small table usually used for their makeshift dinners.
Eddie Felt: I’m telling you man, there’s something alien shit going down in the WCF for real.
Gabriel simply laughed it off, while Miguel drew a deep breath, whilst giving an expectant look toward Ethan, who egged him on with the wave of a hand.
Miguel Myles: Alright. We’re going to make this literally the BEST. PARTY. EVER. It’s going to be simple, alright? I’ll get the boys down at the Sudoku Lounge to print out a solid… I don’t know… three hundred flyers? We post that shit up all over the local area – the school especially. Hype this shit up to the max. Water slides, bars, full catering, several renowned local DJ’s throughout the night. Cap it off by saying we’re celebrating ‘The Pride’s’ WCF signing, and we’re already starting up something legendary.
Eddie Felt leaned over the table with an expression of both interest and suspicion.
Eddie Felt: I’mma scout that shit out though, make sure no alien activities be going down.
Miguel looks from Eddie to Gabriel.
Miguel Myles: You know what’s he talking about?
Ethan shrugged.
Ethan King: I don’t know man. Who’s going to pay for all of that? I don’t want people throwing away all their cash just so we can have a moment of glory. You know I’m not about that.
Miguel slapped him on the chest roughly, forcing him back a pace.
Miguel Myles: Dude, you think we’re going to pay for that shit? No way. I already hit up Mister Sudoku the other day letting him know this was going down sometime in the near future. He’s already given me all the cash I need to make this thing a reality.
Ethan looked at him in complete disbelief. Eddie and Gabrielle on the other hand were nearly jumping out of their seats. He shot them a sidelong glance.
Ethan King: You guys are actually pumped for this shit? We’ve got to be getting prepar-
Eddie Felt: Prepared? Nah man, you know we don’t need that shit.
Gabriel Torres: Not only will I be a fully-fledged partygoer, but I will be able to perform my duty as the vigilante of the school in its entirety! A win-win situation, to be sure.
Ethan King: You know what? I think I’m just going to go to sleep, you guys can hash out the details.
And with that, Ethan took a few long strides into a small room and shut the door softly, before crumpling into a heap on the soft mattress beneath him. He dug his swimming head into the pillow, as he listened to the excited chatter of his three friends. Ethan couldn’t help but feel amused, yet an underlying feeling of guilt managed to form a knot in both his stomach and throat.
In that moment, he couldn’t help but whisper…
Ethan King: I’m sorry, Kylie.
THE WORLD IS WATCHING…
“It’s been a long time coming guys, and I say that with a feeling of anticipation because I’ve been awaiting this moment since I was just a little kid looking up into the stars, dreaming of having my big moment here in the WCF.
Yeah, it’s crazy. Isn’t it? One minute you’re watching guys like Logan tear it up, and the next you’re trashing them on twitter.
Crazy how things work out around here, don’t they? Now I’m in that position, along with my boys Griffin and Eddie Felt.
We made it.
And that isn’t a lie.
Not only have we come into the WCF with the hype building up from all around the world, not only have we garnered the attention of numerous WCF superstars and future and current legends, but we’re doing it all with a smile on our faces, and a feeling that just can’t be explained.
And with that, I’m glad to welcome you all to the debut of The Pride.
Where we cement ourselves in this industry, the time in history where we come out and give you guys the show that you deserve, all you fans watching out there, dreaming and perhaps aspiring to become great in the near or distant future.
I know I’m doing it for all of you guys.
And that’s what’s going to motivate me to succeed.
But enough of that, we’re here to get down to business. This is the WCF we’re talking about, where the action comes flying at you thick and fast, where you NEVER know what’s going to happen. It’s all unpredictable, you can’t just ASSUME somethings going to happen.
Unless you’re watching a team of future megastars falling in line to face off against Adam Young, Bad News Benson and Warbird.
Now, let’s get something straight here. I got nothing against any of these guys, so before I get started and go on the #murking spree, I want you all to know that…
This is just the name of the game.
And I know you guys get that too.
How do I even start, man?
Adam Young, how you doing, dude?
You know, I spent a long time watching this federation from a distance, keeping my eye on it. Hell, I’ve been a fan from longer than I can even remember to be honest. I’ve seen legends come and go, champions rise and fall, and then…
And then I’ve watched you.
And honestly?
I feel sorry for you, man.
You’ve been on that grind for such a long time, and you’ve never really managed to get anywhere with it. It sucks dude, I feel for you.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to take it easy on you.
Because the fact of the matter is, you aren’t exactly the greatest person to walk into the WCF. You’ve spewed out racist remarks, put down countless people time and time again, and performed cruel actions on respectable guys, guys like Spencer Adams. People who fight for what’s right.
So, I guess the question is…
What do you fight for, Adam?
What’re you all about?
If I’m being honest, it seems you’re just out here to get paid.
You don’t have the heart that we got.
You don’t have the passion that we got.
You’re just here to cash in a pay-check, and see to it that you survive another week and get handed opportunity after opportunity.
I don’t want to sit here and say you’re not a good guy, I don’t think ANYONE has the right to say that, but I gotta be real here…
You don’t seem like someone who should be taking up the spots of other people that have spent years of their life carving out a path to make it here.
You’ve spent months upon months, lingering around like an unwanted pest. You’re a walking disaster, and not in a way that sends opponents running scared. You just make people run. Period. You’re a monster, but not in the way you think. You’re the type of guy to tear someone down just for who they are, rather than realize that in the end… they’re people just like you.
You want to discriminate?
Try that shit against me, dude.
Come at me with everything you’ve got, try and ‘body’ me, because that shit isn’t going to work.
You don’t have what it takes.
You may have PRIDE, man. But you don’t got what it takes.
You couldn’t walk a day in the shoes of the guys you criticize, day in, day out.
You’re Adam Young, a perennial underachiever who’ll go down in history for being one of the bad guys, a guy notorious for saying whatever he wants, whenever he wants.
You might be proud of that fact, but where’s it gotten you in your career?
Nowhere.
You’ve hung around for far too long man, and while I hate to say it…
You’re washed-up.
And you’re about to get white-washed by The Pride.
This isn’t me being an asshole by any means, because like I said – I’ve seen the work you’ve put in. You’ve been a workhorse, dude. You’ve stepped up to the plate time and time again, and every single time…
You’ve failed.
Even in your victories, you still come out looking like a loser, because the fact is… you can act pretty despicable at times.
You haven’t garnered any respect from the crowd.
In the end, you aren’t really a winner.
You’re always looked down upon, and that’s what makes it hard for me to do this.
That’s what makes it hard for me to look at a veteran like you and put him down like this.
You don’t deserve that.
But it’s what you’ve done to so many others.
So take my words, Yung Adam. Analyze that shit, and realize where you’ve been going wrong all this time.
And I can tell you first hand dude, we aren’t going to give you shit for losing to us. Hell, after our match, we’ll be honoured to take you by the arm, bring you to your feet, and raise it high for the world to see. Because you HAVE earned that.
You’ve spent the time.
You’ve crafted your own legacy, even if it isn’t the most respectable one out here.
But you don’t have enough to match The Pride.
And that’s just a fact you’re going to have to come to grips with.
It’s not you that’s the problem, Adam.
It’s the fact that we’re here.
It’s the fact that we’re hungry, that we’ve got the fire, the heart, the determination, spirit and will. All of that good shit, we’ve got it.
We’re young lions out on the prowl, looking to take names and make ourselves known.
We’ve already started it on twitter, but now we’re getting into the real deal.
You’ve gotten complacent, man. You’re used to where you are now, you know that whenever you’re getting booked on that card, it’s never going to be in those high profile matches.
And sure, you get your chances here and there, but doesn’t everyone?
Don’t we all get a shot, eventually?
You’ve had your chances, Adam.
And while I can say I’ve got some amount of respect for you…
You know it as well as we do.
This is The Pride’s time to make a rise
And it all starts here.
On Slam.
With you and the rest of the crew you’ll be rolling with for that match.
Don’t take this the wrong way, man. You have ability, you have what it takes….
But you’ve let it all slip.
You wasted it.
It’s time for that sacred old guard to move out the way, because right now, the new guard are the ones firing on all cylinders, we’re the ones who are going to take this brand and make it something that’s never been seen before, something that guys like you couldn't even DREAM of.
We’re raising the stakes, higher than ever before.
You want to be along for that ride? Fine, I can live with that. I’ll even go as far as to say I WELCOME that.
I just hope you realize you’ll have to do your damned hardest to keep up.
Even then, the time’s come and past.
The Pride are here.
And we welcome the challenge, Adam.
Good luck on Sunday.
KICKING BACK
Ethan leaned backward and smiled while plucking away delicately at the strings of the acoustic, which rewarded him with soft sounds that held a nostalgic feeling behind them. One that replicated the sensation of being back at home with the rest of the family, on a quiet night with the stars that replaced the heavens shining down upon them. Life was simpler then, before other distractions had begun to come into the picture.
Dreams.
Ambitions.
Studies.
People.
They all managed to get in the way, eventually.
Freedom for Ethan was a valuable commodity, something that gave him options – the chance to utilize his creativity, but there was always those nagging thoughts that got him thinking…
Was he going about it all the right way?
Sometimes, it seemed as though he wasn’t, which made his favourite saying all the more relevant here…
Ethan King: Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties... or uncertainties.
Miguel Myles: What’s that, dude?
Ethan King: What?
Miguel Myles: You said something.
He cursed himself as he realized his mistake, letting his thoughts come out into the real world yet again. Miguel gazed at Ethan expectantly, who promptly waved a hand dismissively.
Ethan King: Nothing man. Just getting caught up in it all again.
Miguel Myles: In what?
Ethan pursed his lips while strumming a few progressive chords lightly, before setting the guitar down.
Ethan King: I don’t know, it’s just tough. You know what I’m saying? I’m trying to make everything work out, but sometimes it feels as though I should just ease up and let things come to me, rather than push and try so hard.
Miguel Myles: I know exactly what you’re talking about. Last night my Professor was telling me I needed to apply myself. I was like… ‘Yo fuck that noise bro.’ Now I’m just going with the flow.
Ethan rewarded him with a disdainful look.
Ethan King: You know that’s not what I’m talking about, man.
Miguel Myles: Then what are you talking about? Don’t be a hater. I’m just livin’ life. You better start doing that too, bro. Stop worrying about all the ‘consequences’ and shit, you know what I’m saying? You look pretty damn sour when I mentioned that party I’m setting up for Friday Night.
He clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Miguel Myles: Was just trying to do something nice, that’s all.
Ethan exhaled slowly, as he smiled ruefully.
Ethan King: It was that obvious?
Miguel Myles: Yeah. I know you’ve got shit going on, but you just need to chill out. For real, get Cara to give you a massage and then fuck her or some shi-
Ethan King: Dude, stop!
Miguel laughed casually and jabbed his shoulder.
Miguel Myles: I’m just playing man. But you really need to ease up, you’re living the dream, for real for real. WCF? That’s your chance to step into the limelight and get shit started, unleash your brand over the entire world!
Ethan King: May as well call you my hype man.
Miguel Myles: I’m just calling it how I see it, you have a chance here, don’t let it go to waste because you feel guilty or some shit. Your family will understand.
Ethan King: Yeah… sure.
Suddenly, a tall, lanky figure with shaggy, unkempt brown-hair bursts onto the scene with a wild look in his eye, exploding through the doorway with his chest puffed out. He points toward Miguel, who looks about as confused as Ethan himself.
: Miguel! We’re about to get the fuckin-
Miguel: Nathan! SHUT UP.
In an extremely conspicuous manner, Miguel nudged his head toward Ethan, who leaned forward from his seat with a look of pure curiosity.
Ethan King: What’s going on?
Miguel Myles: Don’t worry about it. Nathan, let’s get going.
Nathan nodded while swaying on his feet, clearly under the influence of something. Ethan sighed and curtly nodded to Miguel, who flashed him another one of his ‘innocent’ grins before leaving the room, striding out of the vicinity with purpose. Nathan remained in the room a while longer – to the annoyance of Ethan.
Ethan King: What’re you still doing here?
Nathan: Huh?
Suddenly, he seemed aware of the situation.
Nathan: Oh… shit, I’m… I’m…
He looked back and forth between Ethan and the exit, before deciding to ignore the former and leave through the latter.
Ethan’s shook his head and mumbled something incoherently, before teetering backward on his chair and looking out the window, to the sky and clouds, as well as the heavens above.
Oddly, Miguel’s words seemed to echo throughout his head.
“You’re living the dream.”
He smiled to himself in an attempt to calm himself.
Because he knew.
Oh, he knew.
The World Was Watching.
NO FEAR
“No fear, only hype.
That’s the shit I’m thriving on right about now, looking at that card and seeing The Pride’s names being written right across a bunch of guys who are going to be the first ones to make history.
The first guys to step into that ring and get just a sneak peek at what’s going to be a common routine for us boys here at #PrideHQ. We come out, we get the crowd pumped, we put on a show, and we walk out victorious.
That’s the story that’s being written as we speak, with every passing moment we get closer and closer to that conclusion that ends up with us running train on the rest of the federation, and that shit starts on Sunday. I’ve already spoken about Yung Adam, so that leaves the guys that’ll have to follow his lead and hope for the best.
Warbird? How you doing, my man.
You’ve been following us around a bit on that twitter, now haven’t you? While we’ve been killing guys like Dag Riddik to no end, you’ve just been kind of… there.
Watching us.
Watching us carve out our own little legacy already, letting people know what we’re all about. The hype is real, we’ve got people banging at our door. Guys like Riddik and ZMAC are trying to feed of this shit, boost themselves up just a little higher in this world where they don’t really equate to much.
Is that what you’ve been trying to do?
I find it pretty hilarious, actually. You had a huge fucking mood swing regarding The Pride in general, now didn’t you? One minute you were feeding off that energy, weren’t you? You saw the absolutely murder we were committing on Dag and you wanted in on that shit. You posted a little picture with your own sweet annotation, you were feeling pretty good about yourself, weren’t you?
Now where you at?
Now you’re calling as ‘assholes?’
Damn man, that shit cuts deep.
Just kidding.
In reality, I don’t care.
The Pride doesn’t care.
The WCF doesn’t care.
And that’s sad.
It really is.
It’s sad that you’re this war veteran, living your life on the edge. Still unable to get all those images out of your mind, of what happened in the past. You feel that doubt, that guilt, it all comes back to you and you fall into this mental state that makes you lash out at other people.
I get it, I really do.
Sure, I haven’t had your experience, but I know the feeling, of seeing what’s happened in the past and being unable to handle it, being unable to get that shit out of your mind.
But really, what’s happened to you, man?
In one fell swoop, you’ve basically ended yourself.
You decided to step on up into the WCF as an unstable guy getting visions of the past, that’s the type of shit that’s going to get you #murkt around here. And no, I’m not being an ‘asshole’ when I say that, I’m just telling you the truth.
I don’t WANT to have to knock some sense into you on Sunday, but I know I HAVE to.
If you want any chance of coming back into reality, if you want any chance of finding your way and becoming a force around here, or something respectable in the world itself…
You need to be humbled.
You can’t make excuses, the excuses you’ve clearly been making ever since you returned. It still haunts you to this day, you haven’t been able to let go.
Which makes me wonder…
When you suffer defeat on Sunday, just how hard are you going to take it? Are you going to drown out your sorrows with the booze yet again? Because I don’t want to see you like that. I don’t want to have to put you through that. I want to HELP you, dude. I really dude, but it’s hard when you don’t want to receive that help.
When you want to try and shut out the world that surrounds you, while you’re being a perpetual self-loather, unable to see the bigger picture around here.
Unwilling to admit your faults.
Unwilling to admit that maybe, just maybe… you aren’t alright.
It’s okay man, I feel for you.
And maybe, after The Pride is done putting on a show for that packed arena, we’ll be willing to give you a hand, in picking yourself back up, bit by bit…
But until then, you’re going to be stuck.
Stuck in limbo.
I mean… dude. You’re a SHELL. You aren’t the man you want to be, you aren’t getting the success you’d like. I bet you came to the WCF just to let out all that pent up rage that’s been building up in side of you for what must feel like an eternity to you. You let it hide inside of you, until it eventually just boiled up and over…
And now?
Now you’re here.
You’re stepping into that ring once again, and you’re going to be looking at three of the brightest young talents you’ll have ever witnessed. You’re going to watch as three guys with the determination and fire that you’ve lacked for the better part of your career thus far eat you alive.
That isn’t a knock on you, that’s just a fact.
You’re eating yourself alive, dude.
Your own thoughts, your feelings on life in general.
You don’t have what it takes to make it big here, not yet. You haven’t been able to overcome enough of your deficiencies to make a splash here.
But I have hope.
I have hope that once we give you a match the people deserve, you’ll be able to reflect on it and realize where you went wrong.
So that you can take something from it, and figure out how to rework everything, overhaul all that negativity and frustration.
You can do it, dude.
I believe.
WE believe.
It just takes a little work, a little dedication. That’s what I’ve built myself up on, that’s what has given me the will to succeed around here. That’s why when I came into this federation with my boys, I set out to make a name for myself. You know what I’m saying?
Maybe you’re right, maybe we did come off as ‘assholes.’
But even then, we’re trying harder than you are.
We’re giving it everything we can.
We’re hitting the WCF with our best and asking them to bring it.
And at the moment?
We’re not getting it.
But trust me, man. No matter how harsh this shit may seem to you... we mean nothing by it.
There’s no hate here.
I respect you for going through all that, and still having enough in you to take a shot at greatness. But respect won’t stop me from doing what we’ve been working our way towards all this time…
It won’t stop me from showing you how it’s done.
THE LETTER…
Hey, Ethan.
We’ve missed you so, so much! I hope everything’s been going well for you at your new college! We heard all about you getting signed to the big wrestling federation? I was ecstatic! I can’t tell you how proud I am of everything you’ve done, of the young man you’ve grown up to be.
I know it’s been a little hard on you and your sister… not having enough time to visit one another. Maybe that’s my fault, maybe I should be the one trying a little harder, for both your sakes.
I’ve spent too much time trying to get you guys the way I’ve always wanted you to be, instead of letting you go your own way about things. I regret doing that now, I really do. Because I know how hard it’s been on you, putting you through all of that expectation.
I just wanted to let you know… that little phase in my life is over now. I don’t expect you to do ANYTHING for me, don’t feel guilty on my behalf.
Just do what you’ve always been doing.
Because you know, no matter what happens between us…
I’ll always be looking on, because you always manage to make me proud.
And don’t you ever forget that!
Love,
Dad.
He put the letter down on the desk beneath him, filing it in between all the other loose sheets of paper that had piled up over the weeks, the weeks he had spent dreaming of the stars above, and what he could accomplish if he just put the effort in.
He glanced down at some of the final words left on the paper, in the neat handwriting he knew oh so well.
‘I’ll always be looking on.’
Oh, the irony.
Just another one watching.
One in a million.
Yet special and more important than all of them combined.
All eyes were on him…
And he knew it.
YOUR TURN NOW
Bad News Benson.
Nice to meet you, man.
I’m Ethan King, The Future King of WCF.
Bold claim, I know. But I’ve got a question for you.
What are you going to do about it?
Judging by what you’ve done recently… not a lot, to be honest.
Am I hating? Yeah, I kind of am. But I haven’t seen anything from you that’ll get me to think any differently, at the moment I’m just stepping up to the plate and dropping that hot fire on your entire team, and from recent trends it seems you aren’t even going to get into that lukewarm category.
In general, I wouldn’t take this approach against many guys, but it seems Seth’s decided to hit us up with that warm-up, get us all prepared and ready for that upcoming Trios cup, you know what I’m saying?
Getting us into form before the big event, before we clean sweep that shit and take the world and turn it on its head. Before people start realizing that this shit isn’t just hype, it isn’t just a joke.
There’s no lies here.
Only truths.
That’s what we’ve been revealing ever since we stepped into the federation. Dag Riddik tried to hit us up and we slammed that dude back in a heartbeat, we left him crying all over twitter, pretending to not know who we were and shit.
You can bet your ass he knows exactly who we are.
You can bet that anyone who hasn’t been hiding in the shadows like Warbird, knows who the fuck we are.
We came right into the federation and not only managed to successfully annihilate one of the biggest trolls on twitter, and leave him with nothing except false accusations and cries of dismay, but we’ve also gotten ourselves the attention of the entire world.
They all know what’s coming next.
They all see what’s about to happen.
The only people who don’t seem to know are those who despise the fact we’ve risen up so quickly, people that can’t seem to grasp exactly WHY we’re being recognized right out the gate.
It’s because we set our sights high.
It’s because the hype is real.
It’s because we’ve been spitting facts and dropping bombs since the moment we stepped up in here, ready to get our hands dirty, take names and make our brand spread worldwide.
This is the determination and fire that gets you noticed here in the big leagues, and yet a guy like you, Benson, who has been around for months now, still goes unnoticed by the majority of people around here.
Is it for lack of talent? I can’t say, but we can all admit you rarely manage to get the job done. Maybe that’s not your fault, maybe you’ve just had some ‘bad luck’ ever since you stepped into the federation, trying to get something started.
But let’s be honest, I can barely say that shit with a straight face.
Here’s some news for you, Benson. (Yep, just hit him up with what I’m sure is an overused pun, deal with it.)
There’s a high probability you eat a pin on Sunday.
There’s a high probability next week, you find yourself in the exact same position you’re in right now.
In the opening match, facing people that are better than you. (Again, just facts.)
And you know what’s the worst thing about it?
While you’re going to be lingering around in the lower card, we’re going to be taking our names all the way to the top.
You know that’s where we’re headed right about now, don’t you?
You watch this shoot and see me straight shredding you and the rest of your team, calling them out for all of their issues and failures, and you realize that this shit was just meant to be.
That you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That you’re facing the new wave of talent that’s going to someday reach the top of the mountain, and welcome the challenges of anyone that wants to up their game.
That’s what we’re all about.
You live, and you learn.
But most importantly…
You improve.
That’s something you’ve failed to do the past few months, dude. And I hate to say it…
But you don’t got what it takes to match up to this, what we’re offering right about now.
You just don’t got it.
But I hope you take this with a grain of salt, and step up into the ring with the idea that you stand a chance. I want this to be a good back and forth, I want to take some of your best hits, laugh, and then show you just how much hard work truly does pay off.
That’s the end game, really.
To prove that this doesn’t come easy.
That going on that grind and working your way up is the shit that’ll truly get you noticed around here.
Like so many people have told me already, I’m living the dream.
I’ve got it all in the palm of my hands.
The Pride has it all worked out.
We know what’s about to go down.
So tune in for Sunday Night Slam, get prepared for this opening match. It’s the last time you’ll see us in a position like this, so don’t take it for granted.
We walk in.
We win.
We walk out.
But let’s just make it clear…
There’ll be more to come.
There always is.
CUT TO BLACK...
Kylie Atticio: I can’t believe you got signed by the WCF! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?
He could hear the incredulous note that rang through her voice, it immediately made him smile to hear her high-pitched, chippy squeal being played by the phone he held mere inches away from his ear. While he listened to her carry on, his eyes darted around the courtyard in front of him that made up the centre area of the ‘Real Sudoku Hours’ College Campus.
Oh, and if you’re wondering. Yeah, that’s what the college is actually called. Deal with it.
Kylie Atticio: When do you think I’ll be able to come watch you?
Ethan smiled at the question, but only managed to give an off-handed response as he carefully tuned the guitar he had ‘borrowed’ from the music room. His eyebrows furrowed inward slightly as he concentrated.
Ethan King: Huh? Oh. Just ask Dad to book you a flight and I’ll save you a seat…
Kylie Atticio: You can do that?
She didn’t sound certain.
Ethan King: Well, yeah? I think? Benefits of being an employee, am I right?
Kylie Atticio: I guess… so when do you think you’ll be coming down to visit? It’s not like you’re all that far away.
He carelessly strummed away at the strings of the acoustic, upon doing so he heard the peaceful sound of the strings play back to his ears. Satisfied, he began to place the guitar back in its sleek, black case, while wedging the phone between his shoulder and ear to keep it from falling.
Ethan King: Yeah, you know. You’re so, so right. It’s only a visit that I’ll have to cram in between all my studies and wrestling career.
Kylie Atticio: Shut up!
He identified the mock anger almost instantly and the two shared a laugh, even over the phone, it still sounded so sweet to his ears. Making people laugh made everything better for Ethan – especially when his sister was the one completing the action.
Ethan King: But seriously, I DO want to visit you sometime soon. I’ve just been discussing a lot of stuff with Eddie and Gab-
Kylie Atticio: Ugh. Please don’t mention Eddie, he was trying to convince me that lizard aliens were going to invade the planet.
Ethan King: Seriously?
Kylie Atticio: Yeah.
Ethan chuckled while shaking his head.
Ethan King: Anyway, I’ve just been making plans with them. We’ve got a lot of things we want to achieve and it’s going to take a lot of-
Kylie Atticio: Hard work and commitment, yeah. I get it.
The distant note in her voice concerned Ethan, he knew how much she wanted him to visit. It had been over three months since he had done so, whether it be through procrastinating or lack of time, he always managed to have SOMETHING pop up. It agitated to him to no end, it wasn’t what he wanted.
Yet it is what had happened.
Ethan King: Kylie…
Kylie Atticio: Don’t. Don’t say anything. I already know what it’s going to be.
Ethan King: Come on.
Kylie Atticio: I’m not mad, I get it. I think.
He cringed inwardly, but said nothing. Even through the phone, the silence felt strung with tension, like a taut bow just waiting to be let loose.
Kylie Atticio: I… I think I’m going to go, we’re going out for breakfast soon… tell me if you’re going to visit soon?
Ethan sighed, but barely managed to put on a cheery tone.
Ethan King: Yeah! For sure. I’ll make sure to give you a call. Tell Mom and Dad I miss them, okay?
Kylie Atticio: I will. Love you.
Ethan King: Love you too.
He ended the call and couldn’t help but unleashing yet another longing sigh. He twiddled his thumbs around – something he always did when he couldn’t make up his mind. Eventually, he settled for standing up and taking a walk around the campus. It was always peaceful during this time of day, especially on a Sunday. The luscious gardens and well-maintained facilities shone vibrantly in the sunlight, and the lack of activity always seemed to make everything feel more… serene.
His feet carried him while his mind wandered off, he passed underneath trees and rooftops, quiet libraries and empty classrooms. Every once in a while he would pass by someone, but his eyes couldn’t help but drift off into the horizon, while he wondered if he was doing the best he could.
He snapped out of his trance when he felt something nudging his elbow.
Miguel Myles: Ethan? Dude, the last time you woke up this early, you were pulling an all-nighter.
Instinctively, Ethan smiled and replied.
Ethan King: Yeah? Well then I guess that doesn’t count as waking up, now does it?
Miguel flashed him an innocent grin, while they rapped their knuckles together solidly. Ethan seemed a little out of sorts – a fact that managed to go unnoticed by Miguel. He gestured for them to continue walking down the winding path leading through the heart of the campus. Once they got started, the conversation soon began, Miguel addressing Ethan with an intrigued look.
Miguel Myles: What was the occasion this time? Clearly you don’t have an essay to hand in.
Ethan chuckled a little nervously, all too aware that he was behind on at least ONE assignment.
Ethan King: I wanted to surprise my sister with a call, I know she’s always up early so… yeah.
Miguel Myles: Oh, yeah. She doing good?
Ethan King: Well, we didn’t really get to talk much, honestly. It got a little awkward.
Miguel identified the sense of stress that rang through Ethan’s voice, but decided against questioning what he meant. A companionable silence followed, as the two continued to pace through the empty canvas. Upon nearing the location of their dorm, Miguel clicked his tongue thoughtfully.
Miguel Myles: You know, I’ve been thinking…
Ethan King: Really? That’s a first.
Miguel returned the favour by giving him a solid punch to the shoulder, Ethan recoiled backward in mock fear as his eyes lit up in an amused manner. Eventually, his chuckles faded away and Miguel continued.
Miguel Myles: We need to celebrate you guys making it into the big leagues.
Ethan King: Well, we haven’t really ‘made it’ yet. We only managed to get signed, I wouldn’t get too excited yet.
Miguel Myles: The hype is real though, especially here. I think we could get something HUGE popping here if we just spent a little time advertising, I bet Sudoku would be happy to pay out for the event, considering you guys are like… his favourite students.
Ethan contemplated the idea as they walked into the air-conditioned dormitory, the facility was extremely tidy and there was hardly a noise being made – odd even for a Sunday. Ethan frowned, but continued making way to his room, he glanced over at Miguel who was following in suit.
Ethan King: I don’t know man, when would we host it? We’re going to be travelling on Saturday, and Sunday will be the night of the show.
Miguel Myles: Friday should work then, yeah?
Ethan wanted to tell him he’d be attempting to visit his sister; an idea that had only just formulated within his mind, but he refrained from saying anything. Instead, allowing Miguel to list off his thoughts while he opened the door to their room with a twist of the key, the door’s lock clicking audibly as the door swung open. To his surprise, the other two members living in the room, none other than Eddie Felt and ‘The Griffin’, were sitting around a small table usually used for their makeshift dinners.
Eddie Felt: I’m telling you man, there’s something alien shit going down in the WCF for real.
Gabriel simply laughed it off, while Miguel drew a deep breath, whilst giving an expectant look toward Ethan, who egged him on with the wave of a hand.
Miguel Myles: Alright. We’re going to make this literally the BEST. PARTY. EVER. It’s going to be simple, alright? I’ll get the boys down at the Sudoku Lounge to print out a solid… I don’t know… three hundred flyers? We post that shit up all over the local area – the school especially. Hype this shit up to the max. Water slides, bars, full catering, several renowned local DJ’s throughout the night. Cap it off by saying we’re celebrating ‘The Pride’s’ WCF signing, and we’re already starting up something legendary.
Eddie Felt leaned over the table with an expression of both interest and suspicion.
Eddie Felt: I’mma scout that shit out though, make sure no alien activities be going down.
Miguel looks from Eddie to Gabriel.
Miguel Myles: You know what’s he talking about?
Ethan shrugged.
Ethan King: I don’t know man. Who’s going to pay for all of that? I don’t want people throwing away all their cash just so we can have a moment of glory. You know I’m not about that.
Miguel slapped him on the chest roughly, forcing him back a pace.
Miguel Myles: Dude, you think we’re going to pay for that shit? No way. I already hit up Mister Sudoku the other day letting him know this was going down sometime in the near future. He’s already given me all the cash I need to make this thing a reality.
Ethan looked at him in complete disbelief. Eddie and Gabrielle on the other hand were nearly jumping out of their seats. He shot them a sidelong glance.
Ethan King: You guys are actually pumped for this shit? We’ve got to be getting prepar-
Eddie Felt: Prepared? Nah man, you know we don’t need that shit.
Gabriel Torres: Not only will I be a fully-fledged partygoer, but I will be able to perform my duty as the vigilante of the school in its entirety! A win-win situation, to be sure.
Ethan King: You know what? I think I’m just going to go to sleep, you guys can hash out the details.
And with that, Ethan took a few long strides into a small room and shut the door softly, before crumpling into a heap on the soft mattress beneath him. He dug his swimming head into the pillow, as he listened to the excited chatter of his three friends. Ethan couldn’t help but feel amused, yet an underlying feeling of guilt managed to form a knot in both his stomach and throat.
In that moment, he couldn’t help but whisper…
Ethan King: I’m sorry, Kylie.
THE WORLD IS WATCHING…
“It’s been a long time coming guys, and I say that with a feeling of anticipation because I’ve been awaiting this moment since I was just a little kid looking up into the stars, dreaming of having my big moment here in the WCF.
Yeah, it’s crazy. Isn’t it? One minute you’re watching guys like Logan tear it up, and the next you’re trashing them on twitter.
Crazy how things work out around here, don’t they? Now I’m in that position, along with my boys Griffin and Eddie Felt.
We made it.
And that isn’t a lie.
Not only have we come into the WCF with the hype building up from all around the world, not only have we garnered the attention of numerous WCF superstars and future and current legends, but we’re doing it all with a smile on our faces, and a feeling that just can’t be explained.
And with that, I’m glad to welcome you all to the debut of The Pride.
Where we cement ourselves in this industry, the time in history where we come out and give you guys the show that you deserve, all you fans watching out there, dreaming and perhaps aspiring to become great in the near or distant future.
I know I’m doing it for all of you guys.
And that’s what’s going to motivate me to succeed.
But enough of that, we’re here to get down to business. This is the WCF we’re talking about, where the action comes flying at you thick and fast, where you NEVER know what’s going to happen. It’s all unpredictable, you can’t just ASSUME somethings going to happen.
Unless you’re watching a team of future megastars falling in line to face off against Adam Young, Bad News Benson and Warbird.
Now, let’s get something straight here. I got nothing against any of these guys, so before I get started and go on the #murking spree, I want you all to know that…
This is just the name of the game.
And I know you guys get that too.
How do I even start, man?
Adam Young, how you doing, dude?
You know, I spent a long time watching this federation from a distance, keeping my eye on it. Hell, I’ve been a fan from longer than I can even remember to be honest. I’ve seen legends come and go, champions rise and fall, and then…
And then I’ve watched you.
And honestly?
I feel sorry for you, man.
You’ve been on that grind for such a long time, and you’ve never really managed to get anywhere with it. It sucks dude, I feel for you.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to take it easy on you.
Because the fact of the matter is, you aren’t exactly the greatest person to walk into the WCF. You’ve spewed out racist remarks, put down countless people time and time again, and performed cruel actions on respectable guys, guys like Spencer Adams. People who fight for what’s right.
So, I guess the question is…
What do you fight for, Adam?
What’re you all about?
If I’m being honest, it seems you’re just out here to get paid.
You don’t have the heart that we got.
You don’t have the passion that we got.
You’re just here to cash in a pay-check, and see to it that you survive another week and get handed opportunity after opportunity.
I don’t want to sit here and say you’re not a good guy, I don’t think ANYONE has the right to say that, but I gotta be real here…
You don’t seem like someone who should be taking up the spots of other people that have spent years of their life carving out a path to make it here.
You’ve spent months upon months, lingering around like an unwanted pest. You’re a walking disaster, and not in a way that sends opponents running scared. You just make people run. Period. You’re a monster, but not in the way you think. You’re the type of guy to tear someone down just for who they are, rather than realize that in the end… they’re people just like you.
You want to discriminate?
Try that shit against me, dude.
Come at me with everything you’ve got, try and ‘body’ me, because that shit isn’t going to work.
You don’t have what it takes.
You may have PRIDE, man. But you don’t got what it takes.
You couldn’t walk a day in the shoes of the guys you criticize, day in, day out.
You’re Adam Young, a perennial underachiever who’ll go down in history for being one of the bad guys, a guy notorious for saying whatever he wants, whenever he wants.
You might be proud of that fact, but where’s it gotten you in your career?
Nowhere.
You’ve hung around for far too long man, and while I hate to say it…
You’re washed-up.
And you’re about to get white-washed by The Pride.
This isn’t me being an asshole by any means, because like I said – I’ve seen the work you’ve put in. You’ve been a workhorse, dude. You’ve stepped up to the plate time and time again, and every single time…
You’ve failed.
Even in your victories, you still come out looking like a loser, because the fact is… you can act pretty despicable at times.
You haven’t garnered any respect from the crowd.
In the end, you aren’t really a winner.
You’re always looked down upon, and that’s what makes it hard for me to do this.
That’s what makes it hard for me to look at a veteran like you and put him down like this.
You don’t deserve that.
But it’s what you’ve done to so many others.
So take my words, Yung Adam. Analyze that shit, and realize where you’ve been going wrong all this time.
And I can tell you first hand dude, we aren’t going to give you shit for losing to us. Hell, after our match, we’ll be honoured to take you by the arm, bring you to your feet, and raise it high for the world to see. Because you HAVE earned that.
You’ve spent the time.
You’ve crafted your own legacy, even if it isn’t the most respectable one out here.
But you don’t have enough to match The Pride.
And that’s just a fact you’re going to have to come to grips with.
It’s not you that’s the problem, Adam.
It’s the fact that we’re here.
It’s the fact that we’re hungry, that we’ve got the fire, the heart, the determination, spirit and will. All of that good shit, we’ve got it.
We’re young lions out on the prowl, looking to take names and make ourselves known.
We’ve already started it on twitter, but now we’re getting into the real deal.
You’ve gotten complacent, man. You’re used to where you are now, you know that whenever you’re getting booked on that card, it’s never going to be in those high profile matches.
And sure, you get your chances here and there, but doesn’t everyone?
Don’t we all get a shot, eventually?
You’ve had your chances, Adam.
And while I can say I’ve got some amount of respect for you…
You know it as well as we do.
This is The Pride’s time to make a rise
And it all starts here.
On Slam.
With you and the rest of the crew you’ll be rolling with for that match.
Don’t take this the wrong way, man. You have ability, you have what it takes….
But you’ve let it all slip.
You wasted it.
It’s time for that sacred old guard to move out the way, because right now, the new guard are the ones firing on all cylinders, we’re the ones who are going to take this brand and make it something that’s never been seen before, something that guys like you couldn't even DREAM of.
We’re raising the stakes, higher than ever before.
You want to be along for that ride? Fine, I can live with that. I’ll even go as far as to say I WELCOME that.
I just hope you realize you’ll have to do your damned hardest to keep up.
Even then, the time’s come and past.
The Pride are here.
And we welcome the challenge, Adam.
Good luck on Sunday.
KICKING BACK
Ethan leaned backward and smiled while plucking away delicately at the strings of the acoustic, which rewarded him with soft sounds that held a nostalgic feeling behind them. One that replicated the sensation of being back at home with the rest of the family, on a quiet night with the stars that replaced the heavens shining down upon them. Life was simpler then, before other distractions had begun to come into the picture.
Dreams.
Ambitions.
Studies.
People.
They all managed to get in the way, eventually.
Freedom for Ethan was a valuable commodity, something that gave him options – the chance to utilize his creativity, but there was always those nagging thoughts that got him thinking…
Was he going about it all the right way?
Sometimes, it seemed as though he wasn’t, which made his favourite saying all the more relevant here…
Ethan King: Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties... or uncertainties.
Miguel Myles: What’s that, dude?
Ethan King: What?
Miguel Myles: You said something.
He cursed himself as he realized his mistake, letting his thoughts come out into the real world yet again. Miguel gazed at Ethan expectantly, who promptly waved a hand dismissively.
Ethan King: Nothing man. Just getting caught up in it all again.
Miguel Myles: In what?
Ethan pursed his lips while strumming a few progressive chords lightly, before setting the guitar down.
Ethan King: I don’t know, it’s just tough. You know what I’m saying? I’m trying to make everything work out, but sometimes it feels as though I should just ease up and let things come to me, rather than push and try so hard.
Miguel Myles: I know exactly what you’re talking about. Last night my Professor was telling me I needed to apply myself. I was like… ‘Yo fuck that noise bro.’ Now I’m just going with the flow.
Ethan rewarded him with a disdainful look.
Ethan King: You know that’s not what I’m talking about, man.
Miguel Myles: Then what are you talking about? Don’t be a hater. I’m just livin’ life. You better start doing that too, bro. Stop worrying about all the ‘consequences’ and shit, you know what I’m saying? You look pretty damn sour when I mentioned that party I’m setting up for Friday Night.
He clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Miguel Myles: Was just trying to do something nice, that’s all.
Ethan exhaled slowly, as he smiled ruefully.
Ethan King: It was that obvious?
Miguel Myles: Yeah. I know you’ve got shit going on, but you just need to chill out. For real, get Cara to give you a massage and then fuck her or some shi-
Ethan King: Dude, stop!
Miguel laughed casually and jabbed his shoulder.
Miguel Myles: I’m just playing man. But you really need to ease up, you’re living the dream, for real for real. WCF? That’s your chance to step into the limelight and get shit started, unleash your brand over the entire world!
Ethan King: May as well call you my hype man.
Miguel Myles: I’m just calling it how I see it, you have a chance here, don’t let it go to waste because you feel guilty or some shit. Your family will understand.
Ethan King: Yeah… sure.
Suddenly, a tall, lanky figure with shaggy, unkempt brown-hair bursts onto the scene with a wild look in his eye, exploding through the doorway with his chest puffed out. He points toward Miguel, who looks about as confused as Ethan himself.
: Miguel! We’re about to get the fuckin-Miguel: Nathan! SHUT UP.
In an extremely conspicuous manner, Miguel nudged his head toward Ethan, who leaned forward from his seat with a look of pure curiosity.
Ethan King: What’s going on?
Miguel Myles: Don’t worry about it. Nathan, let’s get going.
Nathan nodded while swaying on his feet, clearly under the influence of something. Ethan sighed and curtly nodded to Miguel, who flashed him another one of his ‘innocent’ grins before leaving the room, striding out of the vicinity with purpose. Nathan remained in the room a while longer – to the annoyance of Ethan.
Ethan King: What’re you still doing here?
Nathan: Huh?
Suddenly, he seemed aware of the situation.
Nathan: Oh… shit, I’m… I’m…
He looked back and forth between Ethan and the exit, before deciding to ignore the former and leave through the latter.
Ethan’s shook his head and mumbled something incoherently, before teetering backward on his chair and looking out the window, to the sky and clouds, as well as the heavens above.
Oddly, Miguel’s words seemed to echo throughout his head.
“You’re living the dream.”
He smiled to himself in an attempt to calm himself.
Because he knew.
Oh, he knew.
The World Was Watching.
NO FEAR
“No fear, only hype.
That’s the shit I’m thriving on right about now, looking at that card and seeing The Pride’s names being written right across a bunch of guys who are going to be the first ones to make history.
The first guys to step into that ring and get just a sneak peek at what’s going to be a common routine for us boys here at #PrideHQ. We come out, we get the crowd pumped, we put on a show, and we walk out victorious.
That’s the story that’s being written as we speak, with every passing moment we get closer and closer to that conclusion that ends up with us running train on the rest of the federation, and that shit starts on Sunday. I’ve already spoken about Yung Adam, so that leaves the guys that’ll have to follow his lead and hope for the best.
Warbird? How you doing, my man.
You’ve been following us around a bit on that twitter, now haven’t you? While we’ve been killing guys like Dag Riddik to no end, you’ve just been kind of… there.
Watching us.
Watching us carve out our own little legacy already, letting people know what we’re all about. The hype is real, we’ve got people banging at our door. Guys like Riddik and ZMAC are trying to feed of this shit, boost themselves up just a little higher in this world where they don’t really equate to much.
Is that what you’ve been trying to do?
I find it pretty hilarious, actually. You had a huge fucking mood swing regarding The Pride in general, now didn’t you? One minute you were feeding off that energy, weren’t you? You saw the absolutely murder we were committing on Dag and you wanted in on that shit. You posted a little picture with your own sweet annotation, you were feeling pretty good about yourself, weren’t you?
Now where you at?
Now you’re calling as ‘assholes?’
Damn man, that shit cuts deep.
Just kidding.
In reality, I don’t care.
The Pride doesn’t care.
The WCF doesn’t care.
And that’s sad.
It really is.
It’s sad that you’re this war veteran, living your life on the edge. Still unable to get all those images out of your mind, of what happened in the past. You feel that doubt, that guilt, it all comes back to you and you fall into this mental state that makes you lash out at other people.
I get it, I really do.
Sure, I haven’t had your experience, but I know the feeling, of seeing what’s happened in the past and being unable to handle it, being unable to get that shit out of your mind.
But really, what’s happened to you, man?
In one fell swoop, you’ve basically ended yourself.
You decided to step on up into the WCF as an unstable guy getting visions of the past, that’s the type of shit that’s going to get you #murkt around here. And no, I’m not being an ‘asshole’ when I say that, I’m just telling you the truth.
I don’t WANT to have to knock some sense into you on Sunday, but I know I HAVE to.
If you want any chance of coming back into reality, if you want any chance of finding your way and becoming a force around here, or something respectable in the world itself…
You need to be humbled.
You can’t make excuses, the excuses you’ve clearly been making ever since you returned. It still haunts you to this day, you haven’t been able to let go.
Which makes me wonder…
When you suffer defeat on Sunday, just how hard are you going to take it? Are you going to drown out your sorrows with the booze yet again? Because I don’t want to see you like that. I don’t want to have to put you through that. I want to HELP you, dude. I really dude, but it’s hard when you don’t want to receive that help.
When you want to try and shut out the world that surrounds you, while you’re being a perpetual self-loather, unable to see the bigger picture around here.
Unwilling to admit your faults.
Unwilling to admit that maybe, just maybe… you aren’t alright.
It’s okay man, I feel for you.
And maybe, after The Pride is done putting on a show for that packed arena, we’ll be willing to give you a hand, in picking yourself back up, bit by bit…
But until then, you’re going to be stuck.
Stuck in limbo.
I mean… dude. You’re a SHELL. You aren’t the man you want to be, you aren’t getting the success you’d like. I bet you came to the WCF just to let out all that pent up rage that’s been building up in side of you for what must feel like an eternity to you. You let it hide inside of you, until it eventually just boiled up and over…
And now?
Now you’re here.
You’re stepping into that ring once again, and you’re going to be looking at three of the brightest young talents you’ll have ever witnessed. You’re going to watch as three guys with the determination and fire that you’ve lacked for the better part of your career thus far eat you alive.
That isn’t a knock on you, that’s just a fact.
You’re eating yourself alive, dude.
Your own thoughts, your feelings on life in general.
You don’t have what it takes to make it big here, not yet. You haven’t been able to overcome enough of your deficiencies to make a splash here.
But I have hope.
I have hope that once we give you a match the people deserve, you’ll be able to reflect on it and realize where you went wrong.
So that you can take something from it, and figure out how to rework everything, overhaul all that negativity and frustration.
You can do it, dude.
I believe.
WE believe.
It just takes a little work, a little dedication. That’s what I’ve built myself up on, that’s what has given me the will to succeed around here. That’s why when I came into this federation with my boys, I set out to make a name for myself. You know what I’m saying?
Maybe you’re right, maybe we did come off as ‘assholes.’
But even then, we’re trying harder than you are.
We’re giving it everything we can.
We’re hitting the WCF with our best and asking them to bring it.
And at the moment?
We’re not getting it.
But trust me, man. No matter how harsh this shit may seem to you... we mean nothing by it.
There’s no hate here.
I respect you for going through all that, and still having enough in you to take a shot at greatness. But respect won’t stop me from doing what we’ve been working our way towards all this time…
It won’t stop me from showing you how it’s done.
THE LETTER…
Hey, Ethan.
We’ve missed you so, so much! I hope everything’s been going well for you at your new college! We heard all about you getting signed to the big wrestling federation? I was ecstatic! I can’t tell you how proud I am of everything you’ve done, of the young man you’ve grown up to be.
I know it’s been a little hard on you and your sister… not having enough time to visit one another. Maybe that’s my fault, maybe I should be the one trying a little harder, for both your sakes.
I’ve spent too much time trying to get you guys the way I’ve always wanted you to be, instead of letting you go your own way about things. I regret doing that now, I really do. Because I know how hard it’s been on you, putting you through all of that expectation.
I just wanted to let you know… that little phase in my life is over now. I don’t expect you to do ANYTHING for me, don’t feel guilty on my behalf.
Just do what you’ve always been doing.
Because you know, no matter what happens between us…
I’ll always be looking on, because you always manage to make me proud.
And don’t you ever forget that!
Love,
Dad.
He put the letter down on the desk beneath him, filing it in between all the other loose sheets of paper that had piled up over the weeks, the weeks he had spent dreaming of the stars above, and what he could accomplish if he just put the effort in.
He glanced down at some of the final words left on the paper, in the neat handwriting he knew oh so well.
‘I’ll always be looking on.’
Oh, the irony.
Just another one watching.
One in a million.
Yet special and more important than all of them combined.
All eyes were on him…
And he knew it.
YOUR TURN NOW
Bad News Benson.
Nice to meet you, man.
I’m Ethan King, The Future King of WCF.
Bold claim, I know. But I’ve got a question for you.
What are you going to do about it?
Judging by what you’ve done recently… not a lot, to be honest.
Am I hating? Yeah, I kind of am. But I haven’t seen anything from you that’ll get me to think any differently, at the moment I’m just stepping up to the plate and dropping that hot fire on your entire team, and from recent trends it seems you aren’t even going to get into that lukewarm category.
In general, I wouldn’t take this approach against many guys, but it seems Seth’s decided to hit us up with that warm-up, get us all prepared and ready for that upcoming Trios cup, you know what I’m saying?
Getting us into form before the big event, before we clean sweep that shit and take the world and turn it on its head. Before people start realizing that this shit isn’t just hype, it isn’t just a joke.
There’s no lies here.
Only truths.
That’s what we’ve been revealing ever since we stepped into the federation. Dag Riddik tried to hit us up and we slammed that dude back in a heartbeat, we left him crying all over twitter, pretending to not know who we were and shit.
You can bet your ass he knows exactly who we are.
You can bet that anyone who hasn’t been hiding in the shadows like Warbird, knows who the fuck we are.
We came right into the federation and not only managed to successfully annihilate one of the biggest trolls on twitter, and leave him with nothing except false accusations and cries of dismay, but we’ve also gotten ourselves the attention of the entire world.
They all know what’s coming next.
They all see what’s about to happen.
The only people who don’t seem to know are those who despise the fact we’ve risen up so quickly, people that can’t seem to grasp exactly WHY we’re being recognized right out the gate.
It’s because we set our sights high.
It’s because the hype is real.
It’s because we’ve been spitting facts and dropping bombs since the moment we stepped up in here, ready to get our hands dirty, take names and make our brand spread worldwide.
This is the determination and fire that gets you noticed here in the big leagues, and yet a guy like you, Benson, who has been around for months now, still goes unnoticed by the majority of people around here.
Is it for lack of talent? I can’t say, but we can all admit you rarely manage to get the job done. Maybe that’s not your fault, maybe you’ve just had some ‘bad luck’ ever since you stepped into the federation, trying to get something started.
But let’s be honest, I can barely say that shit with a straight face.
Here’s some news for you, Benson. (Yep, just hit him up with what I’m sure is an overused pun, deal with it.)
There’s a high probability you eat a pin on Sunday.
There’s a high probability next week, you find yourself in the exact same position you’re in right now.
In the opening match, facing people that are better than you. (Again, just facts.)
And you know what’s the worst thing about it?
While you’re going to be lingering around in the lower card, we’re going to be taking our names all the way to the top.
You know that’s where we’re headed right about now, don’t you?
You watch this shoot and see me straight shredding you and the rest of your team, calling them out for all of their issues and failures, and you realize that this shit was just meant to be.
That you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time.
That you’re facing the new wave of talent that’s going to someday reach the top of the mountain, and welcome the challenges of anyone that wants to up their game.
That’s what we’re all about.
You live, and you learn.
But most importantly…
You improve.
That’s something you’ve failed to do the past few months, dude. And I hate to say it…
But you don’t got what it takes to match up to this, what we’re offering right about now.
You just don’t got it.
But I hope you take this with a grain of salt, and step up into the ring with the idea that you stand a chance. I want this to be a good back and forth, I want to take some of your best hits, laugh, and then show you just how much hard work truly does pay off.
That’s the end game, really.
To prove that this doesn’t come easy.
That going on that grind and working your way up is the shit that’ll truly get you noticed around here.
Like so many people have told me already, I’m living the dream.
I’ve got it all in the palm of my hands.
The Pride has it all worked out.
We know what’s about to go down.
So tune in for Sunday Night Slam, get prepared for this opening match. It’s the last time you’ll see us in a position like this, so don’t take it for granted.
We walk in.
We win.
We walk out.
But let’s just make it clear…
There’ll be more to come.
There always is.
CUT TO BLACK...
