World War X: Part III (The King Rises)

[Mikey eXtreme]

WORLD WAR X
III
The King Rises

I

Mikey eXtreme was the WCF, was there through thick and thin. He was there when everyone left, when everyone tucked their tails between their legs and ran away. Mikey eXtreme had always did what was best for the WCF and it was time that he did what was best for X. It was time that he focused on the big picture and brought the eXtreme to War.

It was time for the WCF to be blanketed in fear.

What was scarier than a motivated Mikey eXtreme? A madman who can hang and bang with the best of the best, but when motivated could leave them six feet deep. A motivated Mikey eXtreme was the biggest threat to everyone in the WCF. The World Champion, whoever it may be after War, better keep their eyes on the King, because he’s coming and he’s not going to let anything get in his way.

Straight from the Brooklyn Zoo to the WCF, Mikey eXtreme has seen it all. He’s had success all through his career, but the past didn’t matter. It’s about the present, and you’re only as good as your last match, the world only remembers the results of your last War and Mikey eXtreme planned to steamroll through War. Mikey eXtreme planned to put on the show of a lifetime, he planned to sky rocket to the top of the world with a single night’s work.

He was capable of such a feat.

The WCF roster was fully aware of Mikey eXtreme and his lust for gold. They were also aware of his abilities, and his fearless attitude in that ring. They knew that Mikey was coming to War with one thing on his mind, pure destruction. They knew that once Mikey came into that ring, that he was going to tear apart any and everyone that he can get his hands on.

It didn’t matter who it was, it didn’t matter what they’ve done. They can have just about every title that the WCF has ever had, like Jayson Price, or they can be the bottom of the barrel making their WCF debut at War. It didn’t matter, Mikey was going to strangle the life out of them. The shot at the WCF World title was the only thing on Mikey’s mind. It didn’t matter what happened in that ring, he was going to find his way to win.

This was the birth of something new in Mikey eXtreme. His gold lust was gone, and now his lust had been transformed to War. He needed to win War, he needed to prove to his peers that he was the greatest competitor in the WCF. He needed to prove that he was everything that he said he was. He needed to go out there and immediately put a big name out of their misery. He had to show from the start that he was there for a reason.

There was no games to be played at War, had there been a second ring and cage Mikey would have been glad to play games. This was not that, there was one ring, and Mikey was going to command that ring. He was going to own that ring like he did each and every night that he stepped foot inside it.

Alive

Mikey sat across from Vidalia inside of your run of the mill tourist trap cafe. He had a cup of coffee on the table ahead of him, Vidalia was sipping on a cup of tea. They exchanged smiles as their eyes met. Mikey, who had been heavily training for his appearance at War, looked slimmer than usual with added muscle tone. He reached for the coffee, which was dark and bitter, and took a sip. He normally drank his coffee sweet and light, but was cutting back on his sugar intake. He thought about drinking it black, but he liked the flavor that the cream brought to the coffee.

Vidalia drank her tea, sweet and light as usual.

Freakshow was standing outside of the main entrance to the cafe. He was not going to allow anyone into the establishment while Mikey was in there. He had enough on his mind, and was not in the best of moods as of late. Vidalia had spoke to the shop owner and told them that they would be tipped quite heavily for an hour of closed door service. The owners obliged when Freakshow flashed them a look that not even a mother could love.

There was a television in the corner of the cafe that was playing the local news, Mikey didn’t understand a lick of Japanese, and the English closed captioning was a bit too late for him to follow, but he still looked at the screen. He didn’t need to hear them to understand most of what was going on. They then shifted focus to upcoming events, and began to highlight WCF’s WAR. This made Mikey’s ears perk up, he didn’t need to know what was being said, he could make out the names that the newscasters were mentioning.

Jay Omega, FPV, Jayson Price, Ethan King, Andre Holmes, David Sanchez, Sidney J. Warwick were the names that the newscaster muttered. His accent changed the way they were pronounced, but it was easy enough to figure out those were the names. Not one mention of WCF’s greatest competitor, not one mention of Mikey eXtreme. This caused Mikey’s blood to boil, his face turned red and Vidalia instantly jumped into action.

Vidalia: Don’t let it get to you, Mikey. You’re going to be there, and that’s all that matters. You’re going to win and they’ll feel stupid for not mentioning you.

They wouldn’t even remember the segment after today, but Mikey eXtreme would never forget it. He was the true face of the WCF and should be the main attraction, the main advertisement for each event. His name should be there with the top guys, because he was the top guy. He was the KING.

He took a sip of his coffee, swallowed, and put the cup down on the table. He took a deep breath, looked into Vidalia’s beautiful brown eyes, and released it. He wasn’t going to overreact. He wasn’t going to waste his energy on the television this close to War. He would instead holster that energy into a vicious weapon to use during War. He would instead let that energy burn inside, and motivate him even further.

He was going to win War, and he was going to prove the world wrong.

II

Mikey eXtreme stood next to the WCF’s Hank Brown. It was time for a mandatory interview to generate buzz for War. Something Mikey thought was below him, especially as he was not listed as the main attraction for the event. Something he thought was the WCF’s biggest mistake. He stood next to Hank Brown, his arms crossed across his chest, his eyes wandering around the room. He had other places he could be, nowhere in particular, but anywhere else would have been better.

Hank received a cue from production and motioned to Mikey. Mikey rolled his eyes, took a deep breath and turned to face Hank. The cameraman counted them down and Hank began the interview.

Hank Brown: Welcome, WCF Galaxy, I’m Hank Brown and today I’m here with none other than the King of eXtreme to talk about War. Welcome, Mikey eXtreme.

Hank pauses, waiting for a response from Mikey but there is no response. Mikey doesn’t care that much for Hank Brown, and he lets Hank know this each and every time they are in the same place. Hank picks this up almost immediately, and fires off a response of his own.

Hank Brown: We’re just a few days away from the 16th edition of WCF War. This is the second time in three years that Mikey eXtreme has participated in the match.

Mikey cuts him off.

Mikey eXtreme: This is the first time that I have chosen to participate, Hank.

Hank Brown: You were the last entrant last year, and for whatever reason, you allowed yourself to be eliminated fairly quickly.

Mikey eXtreme: Because, I did not choose to participate last year, I showed the entire world that I could go into that match with the last entrance, and that I could take what everyone else wanted. That I could have the advantage of a lifetime, and I could tell the WCF to shove it.

I didn’t need to enter last, I could have entered first and won from that spot, but Henry Spearman thought he was on my level and I had to show him that he was not. I had to show him that he could not compete with me. I gave him that first entrance, and he failed just like I knew he would.

Hank Brown: Well, this year, your entry number is a mystery. Nobody knows when the King of eXtreme will make his way to that ring, does that change the way you approach this match?

Mikey laughed.

Mikey eXtreme: It changes nothing. I prepare the same way as if I were going to be dead last, or the first entry. It really doesn’t matter when my music hits, once I get in that ring, the match is over. The WAR is over.

Believe me, Hank. This is my year. This is my WAR. I’m prepared to do things that the WCF Galaxy has never seen before. I’m prepared to take War to a level that it has never seen before. This will be the bloodiest, most horrifying War that has ever taken place. Believe me, Hank. I am going in there with the mindset that I need to kill my opponents.

Oh, and I will kill them all.

Hank looks around the room, he wants to make sure that there are enough people to restrain Mikey if the need arises. He counts over ten people, but he knows that isn’t enough. He takes a deep breath, which Mikey watches and takes note of, and continues the interview.

Hank Brown: The War match tends to last for a very long time, can we expect any kind of alliances made in order for you to stay in the match for the duration?

Mikey scoffs at the idea.

Mikey eXtreme: I don’t need any alliance to win this match, Hank. The only alliance that I need is with the Darkness, and that alliance is strong and well. We will enter that match and we will leave victorious. We will become the number one contender for the World Title at One.

However, I do have people that I have worked with in the past in this match. People that I have worked well with, even if I did have to carry them. We still worked well together, and that kind of chemistry doesn’t just disappear. The kind of chemistry lingers around and can be picked back up at any given moment.

So, if the need arises, and it won’t, things can happen.

Hank Brown: Do you have anything big planned for War?

Mikey eXtreme: Death. Death to all. Death to anyone that stands in my way, Hank. Death to the entire WCF roster, because once I get my hands on them, they’re not going to make it out of that ring. No matter how hard they try, no matter how hard they scrape and claw, they’re not getting out of that ring.

Do you understand that, Hank?

This is their end, and I’m their executioner. I’m coming to War to put an end to may of the WCF roster, and I promise you that I am going to do just that. I’m going to walk out of that ring, with their blood on my hands and their souls added to the collection.

Mikey stares at Hank Brown which makes him feel uncomfortable. He begins to ask another question, but he stutters out of fear.

Hank Brown: Y-you get to see B-B-Bernard Cor-re

Hank pauses, he takes a deep breath, and collects himself.

Hank Brown: I’m sorry, you get to see Bernard Core once again inside that WCF ring, and I know that the entire WCF Galaxy, myself included, are excited to see this. What words do you have to share with one of your biggest adversaries?

Mikey eXtreme: You should have stayed away, Bernard. Because now, you go away forever. Now, you go away for good. This is the end of the Common Core once and for all.

Mikey grabs Hank by the shirt.

Mikey eXtreme: This isn’t about Bernard Core, Hank. This is about Mikey eXtreme. This is about how I’m winning War this year. This is about ME.

Mikey pushes Hank away.

Hank Brown: You are definitely one of the favorites to win, there is no mistake about that. You’ve been in that ring with the best and you’ve beaten some of the biggest names during your career here in the WCF. For anyone to overlook you would be a huge mistake on their part.

Hank cools down the situation, as Mikey nods in approval. Though he was scared into the complement, it still rings true. Mikey is one of the top stars in the WCF, and he will prove that during War.

Hank looks towards the production crew, almost hoping they will tell him to wrap it up. When they not their head that it is time to do so, he lets out an unprofessional sigh of relief before looking at Mikey eXtreme, and beginning to sign off.

Hank Brown: It’s been a pleasure, as always, to talk with you Mikey, but we are out of time. I’d like to thank you for taking time out of your day to sit down for this interview, and I’d like to wish you luck at War.

Mikey eXtreme looks directly into Hank’s eyes and begins to speak to him in a very angry tone. His teeth are almost fully clenched as he forces the words out of his mouth.

Mikey eXtreme: Do you remember what I did to you when I faced off with Bonnie Blue?

Hank swallows air with a gulp, and nods his head.

Mikey eXtreme: There is nothing to stop me from doing it again, Hank. There is nothing that you or any of these schmucks can do about it. The next time that you insult my intelligence, or look to these morons for a way out, it’ll be the last thing you ever do.

Now I suggest you leave now, Hank. Before I get angry. Before I do something that YOU might regret.

Mikey begins to laugh as Hank frantically gets to his feet and scurries out of view from the camera.

Clown Car

War wasn’t only full of the top talent of the WCF, it was also a place where the bottom feeding clowns could find themselves in a big spot in a big match. Guys like the Nerd Smashers, Petrov, Ethan King, and Hajeet. Guys with stupid names, who have no chance at ever winning anything, but still somehow find themselves with a job every week.

Guys like that didn’t deserve to share a ring with Mikey eXtreme. Guys like that didn’t deserve to get to interact with Mikey, let alone put on a wrestling match with him.

Mikey eXtreme: You might be the greatest export from Tripura, Hajeet. However, this is the big leagues. You couldn’t survive in the UCI and you think that you get a second chance? You think that you get to enter yourself into War?

There’s a reason why you’re just a prince and I’m a King. It’s because I have balls. It’s because I’m a man and you’re nothing but a scared little boy.

Mikey abruptly stops shooting. The rest of the clowns fall into line behind their crown prince. Mikey eXtreme will behead each one of them once he has the chance.

III

Mikey eXtreme stood by himself in the middle of his hotel room. The room was spinning around him, or so it appeared to be to him. He was drunk, and his body was heavy. There was an empty bottle of whiskey on the floor by the bed, next to it was a pile of Vidalia’s clothes. Mikey’s pants were buttoned, but not zipped. His shirt was on the floor with Vidalia’s clothes.

Mikey eXtreme: Vi, you almost done?

She was taking a shower, they had just had sex and she was cleaning up before heading to bed. Mikey, was drinking, and stumbling his way around the room.

Mikey eXtreme: I really gotta take a piss.

He fumbled for the doorknob and opened the door and entered the bathroom. Vidalia was playing music on a portable bluetooth speaker as she scrubbed herself with a washcloth. Mikey eXtreme playfully slapped her ass as he pissed into the toilet, she jumped but continued to shower.. For someone with that much whiskey in their system, he had impeccable aim. He urinated for what seemed like an eternity, they were always long when he was drunk.

He finished, rinsed his hands in the sink, and left the bathroom.

Mikey eXtreme: I’ll be back, Vi.

Mikey headed for the front door of the room they had shared, Room 305. It was the first room to the left of the staircase that brought them to the third floor. In Mikey’s state, he thought it would probably be best if he took the elevator down.

Vidalia: Where you going?

Mikey eXtreme: I don’t know.

Before she could ask anything else she heard the front door close. He was probably going to go to the hotel bar, where he would undoubtedly be turned away for how intoxicated he already was. He stumbled into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. There was a small bar located in the corner of the front floor, across from a hotel gift shop that sold all kinds of t-shirts, cups, and magnets that were adorned with the name of the hotel.

Mikey didn’t think the hotel was nice enough to own anything with it’s name on it, but tourists would buy anything. He had bought three of the shirts already, but that was mostly because he was drunk at the time of purchase. Part of him bought them because he was in fact, a tourist. He didn’t come to Japan often and it was nice to have something to remind him of the time that he spent here.

Nothing would compare to winning War, though,

Mikey entered the bar, and practically crashed into the bar stool ahead of him. He pulled himself onto it, and tried to order a drink but before he could even get a word out, the bartender shook his head to tell him, no. Mikey slammed his fist into the bar, a bouncer took a few steps towards the bar but the bartender motioned for him to back off.

The bartender had gotten to know Mikey a little bit during his stay at the hotel, and he knew that even in this state, the bouncer stood no chance. Mikey put his elbows on the counter and rested his head in his hands. He had a slight headache, but it was nothing compared to what he was going to wake up with in the morning. The bartender poured him a glass of water and slid it towards him. After taking a few sips, the bartender spoke freely.

Bartender:Something on your mind, Mike?

Mikey scoffed.

Mikey eXtreme: War. War hasn’t left my mind for the past week.

Bartender:That it?

Mikey eXtreme: Revenge. Sidney J. Warwick, Ethan King, Andre Holmes. Guys that have humiliated me in the past. Guys that can humiliate me again if I give them the chance.

Bartender:Don’t give them the chance.

Mikey laughed.

Mikey eXtreme: That is the gameplan. I just need to prove to the world that those past humiliations were a fluke. That they were all a mistake. That I am the real deal, that I am the Bret Hart of the WCF. I am the Best there is, there was, and there ever will be.

I know that it’s the truth. I know that everything I say is 100 percent the truth. I’m not just talking out of my ass. I’m the greatest United States Champion of all time. I was on pace to become the greatest Omega Champion of all time.

Bartender:Uh, you were the only..

Mikey eXtreme: That doesn’t matter. I was still the best, I still am. Sidney J. Warwick is a terrible champion. He didn’t win that belt, he stole it. Just like Ethan King stole my United States Championship.

There were rules in that match, man. Rules that had to be followed, and Sidney violated those rules. He blatantly cheated behind the referee’s back. That win should not count, it should be reversed and that belt should be returned to the rightful Omega Champion.

Do you think that’s fair?

The bartender shrugged. He wasn’t a wrestler, but he had watched enough to know that this was a common occurrence in the world of wrestling. He had seen people win by much worse rule infractions, but he didn’t want to tell Mikey this. He didn’t want to upset Mikey, a man who could snap at any minute and leave the bartender in a pool of his own blood.

But, maybe Mikey needed to hear that. Maybe Mikey needed to hear the hard truth that Sidney J. Warwick was better. Maybe he needed to hear that Ethan King was better, that Andre Holmes was better. Maybe he needed to hear that he wasn’t as good as he thought he was, that he belonged at the bottom of the totem pole.

Because, that’s where he did belong. He knew it, deep down, he could feel it. The world around him knew it, they just kept it a secret. They didn’t want him to know, so they built him up. The held him up, and let him come crashing down to the canvas every now and again.

Mikey eXtreme was a fluke.

Mikey eXtreme: Andre Holmes beat me, too. That was my match to win, Mark. That was my match.

Mikey called the bartender Mark, which was not his name. Mikey never asked for his name, and he couldn’t read the name off his name tag. Not because it wasn’t written in English, Mikey couldn’t read it because he vision was blurry from the whiskey he had been drinking since the plane landed in Japan three weeks ago.

Maybe less alcohol would lead to a better showing, Mikey shrugged. Probably not. Plus, why would he want to stop drinking now? Why would he want to deal with what was wrong with his life? He didn’t want to think about that.

Mikey eXtreme: I need revenge. I need to take out the three biggest names in this match. I need to take out the three names that everyone floats around as the possible winner of War, I need to avenge what has been done to me.

Ethan King, Andre Holmes, and Sidney J. Warwick.

They’ve been on fire, they’ve won their matches, and they’ve ruined my career. They’ve ruined me. I’m not going to sit back and allow that to happen. I’m not going to sit back and wither away in what should have happened.

I lost those matches.

There’s only one way to fix what has happened in the past, and that is to go out there at WAR and earn what is rightfully mine. I need to go out there and show them a side of me that they have only heard about. I need to show them the side of me that ended the career of Chelsea Armstrong. I need to show them the side of me that chased Bernard Core and Vengeance out of the WCF.

I need to show them the side of me that defeated Corey Black for the Omega Championship. I need to show them the side of me that takes no prisoners.

I need to make them pay.

Mikey is sobering up slightly, not enough to be offered a free drink, which he believes he has earned at this point. He is thinking a little more clearly now, as he takes another gulp of water from the glass that the bartender keeps refilling. It’s good to hydrate yourself after a long night of drinking, Mikey thinks to himself as he finishes the gulp. It’ll help in the morning, though not enough.

Bartender:You will, man. You just gotta dig down deep. I’ve been following you for a long time, I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but you’ve been one of my favorites for over a decade.

Mikey waves the bartender off, telling him to shut up. As much as he likes the compliment, and he almost wishes the bartender doesn’t stop, he doesn’t want to smile. He doesn’t want any happy thoughts seeping through right now. He’s trying to psyche himself up for a War, for THE War. He didn’t need the past to creep in and give him false hope.

He had to dig deep down and grab this victory by the throat. He had to reach deep inside and muster up the pain and anger to drive him back to victory.

He had to win War and he would. He would avenge his biggest embarrassment, he would bring the war to Sidney J. Warwick, he would show Ethan King that they were equals, and he would spill the blood of Andre Holmes on his path to victory. He would send Bernard Core back to where he ran away to the first time. He would stomp Jayson Price right in the dick. He would send Kyle Kemp back to the minors. He would stop Bonnie Blue’s clock. He would..

He would win War.