THE BOOK OF EXTREME: Time to get eXtreme

[Mikey eXtreme]

THE BOOK OF EXTREME
Time to get eXtreme

I

Michael X had set out to return to the top of the mountain. He had returned at ONE, the biggest event of the year and utterly destroyed the competition practically by himself. He showed the world that he still had it, that he was just as good as he was before he was injured at the hands of the #FALSEGOD.

He wasn’t just going to lay down and fall to the back of the line, he was going to come in with a burst of energy, and show the world that he is the Greatest Competitor in WCF history.

Vincent Augustine learned that the hard way in their singles match last week. He came into the match trying to etch his own spot in the company. Trying desperately to gain his own momentum but after getting marked by X and finding the eXit strategy, VIncent Augustine falls deeper into the shuffle that is the WCF Galaxy and Michael X moves forward.

But, a man from Michael’s past has returned and blindsided the Dark Prophet. Attacking Michael X after a hard fought match. Attacking a man who was tired and not ready for the blind side. Attacking a man who’s back was turned. Leon Hayze, the man excommunicated by the Church of Singh for his failures has made the biggest mistake of his career.

A mistake that will be dealt with in the most eXtreme of ways.

If Leon Hayze believes that he will be able to get one over on the DARK PROPHET, than the beating that the Church gave him was more successful than previously thought. Leon must be suffering from some severe form of brain damage if he thinks that he can try to make a name for himself off the back of Ol’ X.

Michael X: Leon, my old friend, prepare yourself. Because you just made the biggest mistake of your entire life. You thought it was bad when YOU failed the Church? That was nothing compared to what is coming your way. Enjoy your comeback for as long as you can, Leon. Enjoy it for as long as I allow it..

Michael begins to laugh as the scene fades.

II

Michael X: Johnny boy,

Michael X had a smug grin on his face as he addressed the camera in front of him, though, it wasn’t the camera that he was speaking to. These words were meant for one person and one person only, but the world was gifted a glimpse into the mind of Michael X.

Michael X: Here we are, once again. One win, one loss, and two no contests. Always in a tag match, never alone. But, that’s not something that you would ever want, Johnny. That’s not something that would benefit the career of one of the “greatest” television champions in WCF history.

Michael stretches the word greatest, while a puzzled look takes over his face.

Michael X: You wouldn’t want to be treated the way that I would treat you in the middle of that ring in front of the entire WCF Galaxy, right? No, not at all. Not for one minute, and that’s fine, I fully understand. Greatness is only perception, right? And if you can sneak into the minds of these idiots and manifest false glory?

There’s nobody in this industry like you, Johnny. There is nobody as overrated as you. You have infected so many people with this idea that you truly are one of the all time greats. That you are this unbeatable force that nobody stands a chance against.

But, we both know that’s not the case.

We both know that Sidney didn’t break you, John. He just exposed you for what you’ve always been. He just showed the world how easy you are to defeat.

And doesn’t that sting, Rabid? Your whole career, all your accomplishments, everything that you’ve done here in this company and what is your legacy? Sidney J. Warwick. That’s all anyone thinks about. That’s all anyone ever talks about. You’re the B-Side of your own legacy.

Michael lets out a mocking laugh.

Michael X: And yeah, I lost to SJW too, but he had to cheat to beat me. The same thing you would have to do to defeat me. The only thing you could do to actually beat me, because, well, you just don’t have that ability, Johnny. You don’t have what it takes to put me down and keep me there long enough for you to get that three count. You don’t have what it takes to outdo me in that ring. I’m miles above you in every facet of this industry.

I’m better in the ring. I’m better on the mic. I’d beat you in every area of this business and you know that, Johnny. I can see the fear in your eyes, I can hear the fear in your voice, and when I look at you in the middle of that ring, I’ll watch you crumble. I’ll watch every ounce of confidence drain from you. And when I connect for the first punch, I’ll feel you crumble.

And you’ll talk a big game, you’ll use all those fancy english words. You’ll put all those useless U’s in words that don’t need them, but once we get into that ring, we’ll see that it’s YOU that is useless. We’ll see you let Roy Speede down just like you let everyone else down. Just like you let down Emily each and every time she opens her legs for you. You’ll lose this match, Johnny, and Dorian will look up at you and you’ll look down at him and tell him that you tried your best, that sometimes things don’t go as planned.

And he’ll look at you, with one eyebrow cocked, and while trying to hold back laughter,

Michael begins to speak in a squeaky childish voice.

Michael X: You actually thought you could win that one, Dad?

Michael lets out a loud bellowing laugh. The sound echoes through the large and virtually empty room that they are conducting this video from.

Michael X: Try not to cry, Johnny. Try to hold it back, because even though your son knows how much of a failure you are, it’s tough on kids to see dad breaking down like a little bitch.

You may have the resume, Johnny. But once Slam is over and done, and Jaice and I walk on to the next round of the tournament, you can crawl away and go back into hiding? But knowing you? You’ll take out that phone of yours, and throw out more and more challenges to each and every name out there. You’ll claim they’ve been ducking you, and they’ll ignore you like always, because they see right through you. They see that you need all the attention you can get, that you need them to keep yourself in the limelight. To keep yourself relevant.

You’ve never called me out, John. So, obviously, you’re not that dumb. You know that you would be slapped down quicker than I took out Power Word: Kill. But, here we are. Gearing up for the first round of this tournament. Here we are, Johnny boy. Getting ready to make history.

Who is John Rabid?

The first man defeated by the eventual winners of the first WCF TAG LEAGUE.

You’re lucky you get to bask in the limelight here, John. Lucky you get to attach my name to yours. Lucky you get to steal some of my shine, boy. But, I’ll allow it. It’s the least I can do for you, Johnny. Because, this match is not going to be kind to you. There will be no favors inside that ring, because I’m coming in for the kill.

Enjoy the short bit of attention here, John. Because after this week, after you get marked by X in the middle of that ring? You’re going to need a few weeks in the hospital, eating through a straw, learning how to function again.

X is coming, Rabid, and X gon’ give it to ya.

The scene fades with Michael X staring deep into the camera.

III

Do you have any idea what time it is? The old man shouted at Michael X as he got up to his feet after crashing into some garbage cans while trying to find a place to take a piss in the middle of a drunken walk back to the hotel.

Michael X: Shut the fuck up.

The older man turned beat red as he started screaming, I should call the cops on you for trespassin’ or shoot you myself.

Michael rolled his eyes, turned around, unzipped his fly and took a piss on the man’s garbage cans. The man turned retreated back into his house and came back out holding a 12 gauge shotgun. Michael, who had already finished and zipped his pants, looked at the man who was now pointing the gun in his direction.

I’m sick and tired of sons of bitches like you, thinking you can do whatever you want, wherever you want. We gotta make America Great Again, and filth like you is runnin’ round, with no morals.

Michael looks into the man’s eyes and laughs. The old man, who is shocked at the gall of Michael X, cocks the shotgun.

I’m gonna give you ‘til the count of three, boy. You better be off my property or you’re gonna have an ass full of lead. You hear me? One..

Almost instantly, Freakshow grabs the gun from the man’s hands.

Where the fuck, give me that fucking gun back you son of a bitch.

Michael X: You don’t make the rules around here.

Michael picks up the fifth of whiskey that he had dropped before the fall, and guzzles down the rest of the bottle. He throws the bottle in the man’s direction, smashing it on his porch. Lights in the surrounding houses start to turn on, eyes peering out through windows when all of a sudden Vidalia comes running up the street.

Vidalia: Michael, lets go.

Michael looks at Vidalia with a confused look on his face.

Michael X: What? I didn’t even do anything?

Vidalia: Let’s go, someone is bound to call the cops and I’m not trying to deal with these redneck hillbillies tonight. Do you remember the last time? They almost locked me up for no not being white.

Michael laughed.

Michael X: Give him the gun back, Freakshow. Let’s get going, I’m starting to get a headache anyway.

Vidalia: Let’s go, the car is on the corner.

They walk towards the car and get in, Vidalia steps on the gas and peels out.

Vidalia: What the fuck are you even doing here?

Michael shrugs, he’s sitting in the passenger seat. Freakshow sits behind them in the backseat. He’s happy he was there at just the right time.

Michael X: I had to pee, babe.

She laughs.

Vidalia: Yeah, I got that. But why are you so fucking drunk right now?

Michael X: Wait, how did you know where I was?

Vidalia: You fucking texted me 10 minutes ago about picking you up.

Michael X: I did?

Michael was drunk out of his mind. He had told Vidalia he was going to take a walk to clear his mind.

Vidalia: What’s the matter?

Michael X: It’s this tag league.. I uh.. I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into.

Vidalia: Don’t worry, after the Church wins,

Michael cuts her off.

Michael X: The Church isn’t competing. They split us up. It’s like they don’t want real teams in this place. The Church would have easily went on to win this damned thing, but they fucked us over.

A slight smile comes across Vidalia’s face. She doesn’t say anything, but she is happy that Michael gets a chance to shine without the Church by his side. She wants him to see that he is better than the Church that he doesn’t need them to soar.

Vidalia: So, who is your partner?

Michael X: Jaice Wilds?

Vidalia: Is that a question?

She laughs.

Michael X: The #FALSEXTREME. I’m not sold on him just yet, he’s one of The Guardians, that group of misfit toys that nobody wants to play with, but they’re just there. There for no goddamn reason, but they think they matter.

Vidalia: Well, I guess Jaice matters, for now.

Michael X: He better not mess this up for me, Vi.

Michael sighs.

Michael X: I’m not exiting this tournament like the eXtreme Wolves exited the Trios tournament. I’m not going to put myself through hell just for my team to fall apart around me and sabotage MY climb, no.

He’s going to have to step up. He’s going to have to realize that his future relies on this tournament. If he doesn’t take this seriously, if he is the reason that we fall in this tournament, it’ll be the last thing that he ever does.

Vidalia pulls into the parking lot of the hotel, kills the engine, and looks deep into Michael’s eyes.

Vidalia: You don’t need him, Michael. You’re going to win this thing. You can beat every single person in that tournament by yourself. If he’s competent, you’ve got this thing in the bag. If he has any morsel of talent, than there is nothing that can stop you from winning this thing because you are the greatest thing in wrestling. Nobody is stopping you. Nobody is going to get in your way. You’re going to win this and you’re going to be right where you were before you got hurt.

A smile comes across Michael’s face.

Michael X: I am going to win this thing. Just like I beat Power Word: Kill. I am the greatest tag team wrestler in all of wrestling. I was Tag Team Champion of the year for a reason. I defeated the AW Tag Team of the Year, for a reason. I was the most decorated wrestler in all of wrestling last year FOR A REASON.

And they stick me with Jaice Wilds?

They stuck me with a guy who they thought I would mesh with given his aptitude for XTREME. They gave me a guy that I wouldn’t tag with in a million years, because they don’t think I have what it takes to climb to the top with dead weight. They gave me Jaice Wilds because they’re trying to make a mockery out of me.

But, that’s okay. That’s fine. I’ll make this work. I can make anything work, because I’m that damn good. We only have to face John Rabid and Roy Speede. It’s not like we’re up against an actual tag team that has some kind of chemistry. This is just two dumb fucks thrown together to grab that hype. To get the crowd’s attention, to make people talk about the first ever WCF TAG LEAGUE.

But, who cares? The only thing that’s going to matter, the only thing that’s going to be remembered is who actually won. Who actually stepped into that ring and delivered on their promises. I’m not a liar. I don’t tell tall tales and hope to pull the wool over the eyes of the WCF Galaxy. I tell it like it is and then I go out there and I prove it.

They’re just hype. Nothing but hype.

Oh, and I hope they feel that hype. I hope they buy into that hype because I’m coming to derail that fucking train. I’m coming to burn that fucking train down to the tracks. This team is going to show the whole world that we’re not fucking around. We’re not just in this tournament for the sake of being in it, we’re in it to win the whole fucking thing.

I’ll get Jaice on the same page if he’s already not there, that’s not the issue. He has the physical ability to deliver in this match. I have to make sure that his mind becomes warped. I have to make sure that the darkness can taint his mind, at least just for a moment. At least just for this tournament, because Michael X needs this win.

Vidalia smiles. She sees the passion in Michael’s eyes. The passion that made her fall in love with him in the first place. She can feel the fire that is lit inside of him. She can feel the energy that is burning inside of him and she likes every bit of it. It’s an energy like no other, and she knows that if he sets his mind to it, that if he works as hard as he can, that this tournament is nothing for Michael. He can win this damn thing in his sleep. He can win this thing with any partner that the WCF throws at him.

Jaice Wilds is part of the Guardians. He knew how to work as a team, but he represents something across the other spectrum from the DARKNESS. He was a known associate of Bonnie Blue, which Michael X beat to win the TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS with Stephen Singh.

But, that wouldn’t matter, right? IF there is an allegiance between the two, surely Jaice’s desire to catapult to the upper echelon of WCF would be the main factor. Surely, Jaice Wilds wants to become the WCF champion, right? Or even the Hardcore? Something along those lines. He did, afterall, challenge Teo for his belt a week ago.

And how did that turn out? Defeat. Humiliation. But now, a shot at redemption. Now, a shot to ascend back towards the top of the card. And with Michael X carrying him? ANYTHING was possible.

IV

Michael looked into the camera like a mad man. He was about to step into the WCF ring for the first time with Roy Speede. Roy fuckin’ Speeded, man. A guy whose name has always been floating around the WCF Galaxy.

Michael X: Roy Speede? Is that a name that is supposed to mean something to me? Is that a name that I am supposed to care about? Or is it just a nice little throwback to the past?

Just a name that doesn’t matter. The first ever AW World Champion? That’s cute. If I wanted to, I could have swept in there at any time and taken that belt right off you. This isn’t the first time we have shared a ring together, Roy. We were both in the first AW Havoc Battle Royale, and consider yourself lucky that we barely had any interaction in that match because you wouldn’t have made it to this match. You wouldn’t have made it much further in your career.

That’s what I do, Roy. I hurt people. I end people’s careers. I go into these matches with one thing on my mind, and one thing only, and that’s to make sure that no matter what happens, that I’m the only one that gets to walk out of that ring. You think that I care about you? You think that I give a damn if you make it out of that ring? That you make it to the back? No.

I’m all that matters. What I want, is all that matters. Winning this match for myself and Jaice Wilds, that’s all that matters. Believe me when I tell you that I’m going to win this match, Roy. Believe me when I tell you that you and John Boy don’t stand a single chance in this match. I’m coming for you throat, I’m coming to humiliate you.

But, you were a highly decorated Hardcore champion, here, right? Some long championship run that has gone unmatched, but that’s a flawed statistic. My hardcore championship reign was cut short by winning Ultimate Showdown and becoming the fucking World Champion. I could have held that Hardcore championship for much longer, broken every record, and set an unobtainable record, but, that wasn’t possible for me. That wasn’t possible because, I am too damn good.

And you?

You’ll be playing second on your own team during this tournament. Third fiddle in this match, because we all know nobody is playing ahead of me. And, how does that make you feel? How does it make you feel to know that no matter how hard you try, the best you can come is third most recognizable athlete in this match? How does it feel, that despite all your past success, that nobody cares about you? Nobody gives a damn.

I definitely don’t give a damn.

Come Slam, when Jaice Wilds and I walk out victorious, maybe you’ll finally get the message. Maybe you’ll finally see that Michael X is the future of the WCF. That Michael X is the future of professional wrestling.

Michael speaks as if his name has ever truly crossed the mind of Roy Speede. In all actuality, before today and maybe briefly for a moment in AW, Michael X has never had a reason to enter the mind of Roy Speede. But, this is Michael’s world. He is the center of everything. He is the fucking KING of Darkness. HE is the greatest competitor to ever lace up a pair of boots, and Roy Speede? He was nobody. He was always going to be nobody. It didn’t matter what he did, what he had done, or what he was going to do. The only thing that mattered was Michael X.

Michael X: Roy, plan for a funeral. Before this match, before you even get to that building, I want you to gather all your loved ones. I want you to tell them that you love them. I want you to tell them that no matter what happens in this match, that this was your fault. That this was your stupidity. That you could have dropped out of this tournament the moment you read the first match.

Tell them that this isn’t Michael’s fault, because I’m just going out there and doing what I do. I’m just going in there to treat you the same way I treat everyone else.

You’re not special, Roy. There’s nothing special about you and when we get into that ring on Slam you’re going to find that out real quickly, you’re going to find out what it’s like to blocked into a tank with a great white, and trust me, Roy. I am the fucking Shark in this match. I’m coming into that ring to tear you to shreds and the moment I smell blood..

Have fun planning that funeral.

Michael looks into the camera, his eyes wide and as mad as ever, bulging out of his head.. He is breathing hard and heavy, as adrenaline courses through his veins. He can’t wait for Slam, he can’t wait to show the world why he is the greatest competitor in that ring and why he is going to win it all.

V

Michael X needs to win this match, he needs to win this tournament. Why? The entire WCF championship picture, top to bottom, has changed since Michael’s injury. He can’t just walk in and demand a rematch. He can’t just walk in and claim top contendership because there are other people in his way, but this tournament gives him a skip card. It lets him cut everyone in front of him and take what he wants to take.

Jaice Wilds is in a different bubble all together, but he is looking for the same result. He needs to win this tournament to set a name or himself. He came into the picture with a lot of hype and challenged Teo Blaze off the bat, but struck out swinging to end the game.

Humiliation.

The only way to return from a humiliating defeat like that, is to set the show on fire. Take back the pride that you lost with style. Wilds might have lost his shot at the television championship, but he has the ability to win this tournament and walk out with a world championship.

And how? Jaice Wilds knows that this is Michael Xs only chance.right now. He knows that no matter what, ol’ X is gonna do anything that it takes to move to the next round. He knows that Michael is full of pride and that he is not going to lose this match. He knows that Michael X is a man on mission right now. He is out there trying to prove that his world championship win at Ultimate Showdown wasn’t a fluke. He’s out there to prove that he can do it again. That he can step into that ring with anyone on any given day and beat the ever living shit out of them.

And Michael X knows that as well. Michael X knows what he is capable of. It’s Jaice Wilds that he’s uncertain o. It’s Jaice Wilds who must prove himself to the DARKNESS, but is that something that Jaice is down for? Is that something that Jaice can allow himself?

Michael knows that deep down, Jaice is just like him. He’s ruthless and will do whatever it takes to win a match. But is he willing to allow that side to take over? Is he willing to let the DARKNESS devour him? Is he willing to be as eXtreme as Michael X needs him to be? He may call himself the AGENT OF CHAOS, but Michael isn’t so sure they have the same definition, Michael needs Jaice to prove that he can bring that chaos, that he can bring that XTREME style.

And that’s why Ol’ X was sitting outside of an old run down church in the middle of nowhere. The old building was barely standing, it had been condemned for nearly 5 years now, waiting for the order to be torn down. Waiting, lost in limbo. The wrought iron fences, covered in rust, and riddled with holes big enough for anyone to climb through.

And X sat there deep in thought.

What would the Church do? What would Singh do in this situation? Well, Singh was on another team. Michael X would be able to find out what Singh would do in this same exact situation.

Michael shook his head.

No, that wasn’t right. That wasn’t fair. They had not lost those tag team championships, they were taken by Ultimate Showdown. Now, they were broken up by the lethal lottery.

Was this a chance for Michael X to grow? Was this a chance for Michael to prove to the world that he is better than Church? It all depended on Jaice Wilds. Everything hinged on the XTREME AERIALIST, and that was something that Michael X didn’t like. That was something that drove him insane.

Michael X: Jaice, my boy, everything rides on you. If you show up to this match and perform to the best of your ability, I believe that we will win this whole tournament. You see, this is the toughest match the whole way, the rest of the teams? They’re nothing. They don’t matter at all. They’re complete trash.

This is the matchup that matters.

This is the deciding factor. The rest of the tournament is pretty much a bye. We win this match and we’re as GOLDEN as Stephen Singh.

A smirk comes across Michael’s face.

Michael X: You’re hungry, right? You need this meal. You need this just as badly as I do.

So let’s go out there and win this thing. Now is the time to get eXtreme.

Scene fades as Michael tugs, pulls, and grabs at his face and beard like some kind of mad man. Now was the time to return to that eXtreme lifestyle, now was the time to show the world that Michael X and Jaice Wilds could bring the eXtreme to a tournament that was not ready for it.