THE BOOK OF EXTREME: Hardcore ‘til Death 4

[Mikey eXtreme]

_{THE BOOK OF EXTREME}
^{Hardcore ‘til Death}

Part IV
Death is Coming

I

Each moment that went by brought Michael X closer to his Hardcore Championship. Each day that passed brought him closer to redeeming himself. That was all that Michael wanted to do, he wanted to show the world that he was a champion. He wanted to show the world that he was better than everyone else. He had failed as World Champion, not even holding the belt for a month, but he was clawing his way back to the top and he was knocking at the door of the Hardcore Championship. A championship that he knew he was able to regain. The only thing standing in his way was the current Hardcore Champion, Jay Omega. A champion that Michael recently defeated in the middle of that ring on Slam. However, that victory did not earn him the chance at facing Omega for the championship and that angered Michael X, that drove him insane.

How do you beat a champion and then get told you must beat someone else in order to earn a shot at beating the champion? It made no sense to Michael X but he was going to follow the path that was set forth before him, and he was going to follow it to the end. Even if it meant that he would take out innocent competition on the way. James Wolf was that competition. James Wolf didn’t deserve the onslaught that was brought towards him. He never did anything to Michael X previously, he wasn’t even a thought. But, he was the one that WCF management told Michael he must beat to earn his match with Omega.

Earn his match with Omega

That thought alone was enough to drive Michael towards the complete destruction of James Wolf, but Michael grinned and beared it. If this was WCF’s method, Michael would have to abide by it, and he would have to show the world that they made a mistake. That they put James Wolf in a bad place and that it wasn’t going to be Michael’s fault if anything happened to James. It wasn’t going to fall back on the King of eXtreme if James Wolf was morbidly injured during this match. It wasn’t going to hurt Michael’s stock to leave Wolf in a pool of his own blood. This was a match set up for Michael to hurt somebody, and though he didn’t mind it, it just made no sense to him.

But, Wolf was a former hardcore champion somewhere, right? The greatest hardcore champion of some companies that nobody has ever heard of or cared about. The only problem was that Michael X was the greatest hardcore champion to ever step foot inside the WCF ring. The only problem was that James Wolf stood between Michael X and HIS Hardcore Championship and Ol’ X made quick work of the undeserving competition. Michael X earned a second match with Jay Omega and this was going to go the same way the first went. This was going to see Michael X have his arm raised in victory at the end of the bout. This was going to see Michael X awarded the Hardcore Championship for the second time in the last year. This was going to be the birth of a new era of Hardcore, a new era of eXtreme, and a new era of X.

We weren’t going to be talking about the hardcore championship reign of Jay Omega, because his reign was simply going to consist of losses to Michael X. His reign was going to be muddied by the fact that he couldn’t beat the true Hardcore Champion, and really, did that count as a title reign?

Michael X knew what was coming next. He knew where he was going. He knew that Jay Omega didn’t have what ti took to beat him, this wasn’t the same Michael X that he pinned at Ultimate Showdown almost four years ago, this was a much improved killer. This was a man who had climbed from the very bottom, from opening up Slam to headlining as a World Champion. Jay Omega learned that very lesson a few weeks ago when Michael X defeated him and deep down Omega has been hurting over it. Deep down he has been scared to his core. He knows he can’t defeat Michael X but now he has to, now the entire galaxy is watching and his championship is on the line.

II

Michael’s eyes slowly opened as he turned his head towards the alarm clock on the nightstand. He squinted his eyes and read the time, 8:53 AM. He didn’t want to wake up, not yet. It was too early for him, he usually woke up around 11 AM or later. He rolled back over, he was going to attempt to fall back to sleep but his body wouldn’t let him. His mind was racing, and there was no way that he was going to get anymore sleep. So, he rolled back over and swung his feet out of the bed. He sat there for a few moments trying to figure out what he was going to do this early when Vidalia stepped out of the bathroom.

Her hair was wet from the shower that she had just taken, and he could smell the scent of the soap that she used wafting through the air. She looked at him, almost puzzled, and smiled.

vidalia: Up early, huh?

Michael looked at her with bewildering eyes. How does she do it? How does she wake up so early and stay so energized throughout the day? How can she be so cheery right now when all Michael wanted to do was growl and curse out the sun for existing? This was one of the many mysteries that Michael loved about Vidalia. No matter what the situation, no matter what was going on in their lives, she always managed to wake up with a smile on her face.

michael x: Yeah, I guess.

There was no guessing, Michael was up early. Each moment that passed by he felt more and more energized, ut yet he still felt tired. It was like a battle was going on inside his body and there would be no clear winner, not for at least another hour or so when he would get hit with the inevitable exhaustion followed by regret and anger that he wouldn’t be able to take a nap. Michael was always too busy to take a nap. There was always somewhere to be, or something to do that got in the way. Today would be no different. Michael’s schedule wasn’t jam packed today but there was stuff that had to be done and it was going to take awhile. There wasn’t time to waste, and a nap would be out of the question.

Michael rubbed the dirt from his eyes, it was really time to start the day. He looked at Vidalia with puppy dog eyes,

michael x: What’s for breakfast?

She laughed. She found Michael’s desperate plea for breakfast quite adorable, but she had a feeling that he was hungry. They didn’t have much of a dinner the night before, after Michael’s WCF responsibilities they returned to the hotel, watched TV, had sex, and fell asleep.

vidalia: I actually just ordered room service.

A grin came across Michael’s face, Vidalia smiled back. She was starving, but she was going to wait for Michael to wake up before she started eating. Once the food got there, she would have probably slightly nudged Michael until he woke up anyway, but this was better. She wouldn’t have to deal with his early morning grumpiness that she had to endure when she usually woke him up, and they got to eat. It was a win/win scenario. Breakfast would arrive shortly after, it wasn’t anything special, it was three scrambled eggs, two slices of toast, 2 slices of bacon, 2 sausages, and a cup of coffee for each.

They enjoyed their breakfast together, though Michael wished there some some orange juice. After breakfast Michael rummaged through his bag to find some clean clothes. They didn’t have much left but Vidalia had found a washing machine and dryer that the hotel said they were welcome to use, so she would take care of their laundry later. Michael had things that had to be done today, so he grabbed his clothes and headed towards the bathroom. A nice hot shower would follow.

He stayed in there longer than usual, the heat felt good on his body. He was still sore from his match on Slam and he was sure that after ‘Til Death Do Us Part, he would be just as sore if not more. So he took extra time in this shower almost pampering himself before the coming War. It was good to feel good before this war. Michael didn’t want to go into the biggest match since his return feeling anything but on top of the world. He felt good. He felt better than probably anyone on the roster, but he could feel better. He could reach a higher level.

The hot water landed on his neck and cascaded down his body as he slowly rolled his neck. He allowed extra time for the water to work his back and the rest of his body. He couldn’t spend all day in the shower, but it felt amazing. He thought about hitting the sauna at the gym later but wasn’t sure if they had one. After stepping out of the shower and drying himself with a large white towel, Michael pulled on his clothes. He was wearing a beat up pair of blue jeans, and 90s alternative band’ t-shirt, and a brown flannel shirt.

Michael made his way to the telephone on the nightstand by the bed, picked it up and dialed Freakshow’s room number. They were going to head to the gym and work on keeping Michael in tip-top shape. Michael was going to be at his best, physically and mentally. He was going to beat Jay Omega and it all started here. It ll started outside the ring. It all started inside Michael’s dark and twisted mind. His head was full of psychotic deranged things that he could do to Jay Omega inside that ring and he was going to make it all a reality, but he had to be on top of his game in order to make it happen. He had to be able to force his will on Jay and keep him down, keep him step behind Michael in that ring. Michael was sure that this was going to be the outcome, he was sure that he was going to brutalize Jay Omega in front of everyone. He was sure that he was going to do thing to Jay Omega in that ring that people had never seen before that people wouldn’t even dare dream about.

Michael X was sure that he would become a two time Hardcore Champion.

III

The room in which Michael X was recording this video for WCF.com was dark, there was hardly any indication that Michael X was standing directly in front of the camera outside of a small gleam of light reflecting on his eyes. He liked it like this, it was a mystery, and there was nothing better than that. He knew going into this match that he had the momentum behind him. He had defeated the hardcore champion and was ready to do it again, but it was Jay Omega that had the motivation from that loss. It was Jay Omega that was motivated to prove that, that was just a fluke. That Michael X had gotten lucky in that match. That it never should have happened.

But, it did. It did for one reason and one reason only, Michael X is better than Jay Omega.

michael x: James..

Michael spoke his name almost laughing, you could hear the joy in his voice. He was elated because he could feel his Hardcore Championship returning to him. He could already hear the referee’s hand crashing to the mat for the three count. He could already feel the joy that came with winning a WCF championship.

michael x: I hope you have cherished that hardcore championship, MY hardcore championship. I hope you have enjoyed your time with it, and I know the time has been brief, I know that you have barely had any time to show it off to the world, but you have still be able to hold it. Able to feel it, able to be in its presence.

You’re a lucky man, James.

Michael shook his head, it was barely noticeable in the dark.

michael x: But, while you were there holding something that you didn’t deserve, I was trying to figure out where my career was going. I was trying to figure out what the next step was for me. I could go in multiple directions, I could go after anything that I wanted. The Tag League didn’t work out for us, but you were the first one to capitalize on that, I had to wait on the dead weight of Jaice Wilds, your problems solved themselves.

But, we both drifted in the same direction. We both drifted to that beautiful Hardcore Championship. We both drifted towards brutality, and it was I that brought you brutality. It was I that brought you hardcore.

You might have made those rule changes, James, but we both know that it was I that flourished and it was I that brought you defeat. It was I that showed the world that you didn’t deserve to be Hardcore Champion. That you were nothing but a fluke. A #FALSECHAMPION. That you were nothing but a joke and that I was the real deal. I beat you at your own game, James. How does that make you feel?

Does it make you feel small? Insignificant? Out of place? Does it hurt you deep down inside? I hope it does. I really hope it does, James. Because it’s all true, you know. Everything that I have said about you. We both know it, but you hide from it. You pretend that you’re not just built on luck. That you actually matter inside MY Hardcore division, hell you’re almost as delusional as James Wolf was. He thought that he was untouchable, that he was some kind of HARDCORE GOD, but guess what? He wasn’t. He’s just like you, Omega. He’s a fucking fake. A charleton that wanted what was mine, that wanted what you, for the moment, have around your waist. He wanted MY championship belt,

But, I’m here to show the world, to tell the world, that there is no stopping me. There is nothing that can be done to stop me now. I am a speeding train flying down those tracks, James. And what’s that in the distance?

Michael cups a hand over his eyes like he is trying to block out the sun and see further into the distance.

michael x: I see you, James. I see you tied down to those tracks. Oh, no This isn’t good, huh?

Michael laughs.

michael x: If I had Dag’s phone number, I could ask him how these things work, but, I guess we’ll have to come full throttle forward. Full throttle through the body of Jay Omega. Blood, guts, gore, limbs, everything all over the place. But, hey, that’s fine! I mean, I’m fine. Look, I don’t got a scratch on me!

And why is that, James?

Because I am the fucking speeding train. You’re nothing. You’re absolutely nothing. You have always been nothing and will continue to do so after this match. There isn’t anyone on this roster that deserves to be in there with me, there isn’t anyone on that roster besides me that deserves to hold that Hardcore Championship and that’s why I’m here now, James. I’m here to do the WCF a solid. I’m here to help them, I’m here to make sure that this division is run properly, that once you get to the top that you step in there with the hardest match that you can get.

This?

This is nothing, James.

I climbed my way to the hardcore championship match and it feels like I’m up against the second ladder in mortal kombat. It feels like I’m just getting started, and I’m at the finish line, already? Where is the competition? Where is the challenge? This is too easy, and that’s your fault, James. That’s all on you. This was your responsibility to make this harder. This was your responsibility to make this a challenge that had to be worked on, but it’s a walk in the park. There are no obstacles, not even a random pile of dog shit. Unless, you count yourself?

I came into this match wanting a challenge, wanting to show the world that I have what it takes to beat anyone and everyone, but I’m going in there and slapping around a guy that doesn’t even deserve to be in there with me. A guy that in a short few days will be forgotten. Nobody cares about Omega. Nobody cares about what it is that he can do in that ring because when they think about it they see me on top. They see me on top of the world of professional wrestling.

Jay Omega? He’s nothing. He’s not even the best OMEGA.

I was the first ever and the last ever OMEGA Champion. When people hear that word, they think about me. I’ve done so much for that term because I am the greatest competitor tat the WCF has ever seen. People don’t think about Jay Omega, no. They see his name, they hear his name, and they think about how great of a champion I was. They think about the greatest Omega Champion to ever step foot inside the WCF.

I am the Omega, here, James. You are nothing. You are not on my level and after this match, after I show the world for the second time in as many matches that you cannot defeat me, you will no longer be allowed to call yourself Omega. You will be just Jay from now on. I can hear it already..

MAKING HIS WAY TO THE RING, FROM SOMEWHERE IN SPACE, JUSTTTTT JAYYYYY!!

It has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it? It sounds like the name of someone who can’t get the job done. It sounds like someone who has stepped into something that they don’t belong in. It sounds like someone has been outmatched, outclassed, and outdone at every turn. It sounds like Jay Omega has found himself somewhere where he doesn’t want to be, you’ve found yourself in my crosshairs, James.

Jay Omega..

Michael rattles off Omega’s name and shakes his head with disappointment.

michael x: Jay Omega? He’s nothing. He’s old news. He’s outdated. He belongs in a tin can floating around the cosmos til the end of time because he doesn’t belong in that ring with me. He doesn’t belong with that Hardcore Championship. And come ‘Til Death Do Us Part, I’ll show the world that he truly belongs deep down under the earth in a hollowed out box.

Michael laughs as the scene fades.

IV

Vidalia reached out her arms to hug Michael X, grabbing him as he pulled her closer to him.

They embraced knowing Michael X was going to become a two time hardcore champion as the scene faded.