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Post by Shaun Hart on Apr 4, 2022 18:41:19 GMT
Singles Match Standard rules Liam Cain vs Jason Fenix
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Post by Liam Cain on Apr 4, 2022 23:27:51 GMT
Normally backstage after Mayhem is a whirlwind of activity. This is a typical scene if your used to it, but tonight added to the usual flood of talent huddling to media and trainers checking on the talent are Bob Mitchell hustling a little quicker that usual towards his office to find his charge Liam Cain.
Bob: How are you? What happened?
Liam, still wearing a white wife beater with some of his own blood on it pushes away the trainer dabbing at the side of his mouth and looks side eye at Bob.
Liam: Pissed off is how I am! I just came in here lookin' for something to drink then WHAM! Lights out! That bitch even sucker punched me after he hit me from behind!
Bob: Give it to me straight, Doc, how is he.
The IIW trainer looks at Liam again and back to Bob and shrugs.
Doctor: He to a good hit to the back of the head, but your man has a thick skull I guess, doesn't look like he has a concussion.
Liam: I'll be fine, just give me the damned whisky.
Bob goes over to his desk, pushing his overturned chair out of the way and tugs the bottom drawer open and pulls out a bottle of Black Label tossing it to Liam Cain.
Bob: So you're heads still on straight?
Liam: As straight as it gets, why? What have you got in mind?
Bob: No one might have said anything yet, but it was Jason Fenix that jumped you and he wants a match at KKND.
Liam: A match? I dunno, but a fight he's gonna get for sure. He wants to be a tough guy and jump people from behind, fine. I saw his match, I saw how jumping guys is the only way he's gonna get ahead. That sunovabitch wants to talk about sharing pain? I gots all kinds of pain I'd love to share with him. By the time I'm done he's going to be begging for cancer again.
Bob drops his head, shaking it.
Bob: God, Liam you're going to get us fined or some shit.
Liam: So what? Fuck that guy!
He stands up, one hand on the back of his head, the other wrapped tightly around the bottle of black label, taking a quick swig before he continues.
Liam: Who cares, anything I say now he deserves to hear, naw, he NEEDS to hear. That prick thinks he's so high and mighty and why? Cause he got lots of money? Naw, that's not even the tip of the iceberg with him. I know who this guy Fenix is, I wasn't born yesterday. He fancy himself some kinda IIW Legend, but ask around, ask anyone and MAYBE his name gets dropped in an all time top ten. TOP TEN. Far from number one and that's what's always stuck in his craw. Then he's back to help out Osh, and for what? Them two have been at each other's throats going back YEARS. But now, all of a sudden they're best buddies? Something here smells like absolute bullshit, and trust me fuckin' Fenix I'm a born 'n raised farm boy I know the smell of bullshit when I smell it.
So what's the angle? You say you're back to destroy everything, but that's what you been doing here for years compadre, but you never had to sell your soul to Osh to do it before, not that you have a soul worth sellin' anyway. No, you told your boy Rick that you just wanna cause pain and you might just happen to get titles along the way, and there's the big steaming pile Auntie Bessie prize winner dropped this mornin'! You're not here to wreck anythin'. Just like usual you're here for the spotlight to try to win titles and work your way up so when people talk about the name Jason Fenix in the future they might do it in a bit higher regards than they do now, but you don't even know it yet, but you got passed by! See you got only so good Jason, but ya never got as good as ya thought ya were and now you come back looking for another go, but all yer go already went and now all ya got is empty anger.
Ya had a chance ta come back tonight and put everyone on notice n show how big a threat ya were gonna be, but instead ya fell on yer face like always. You lost.
Bob smirks.
Bob: We should all have expected that really. He's been failing a long time. You came back for Osh last year Jason and you were going to be the commish and you were going to be the thorn in my side and you were going to help Osh weasel his way back in then. Remember that? Remember how Jason Fenix was going to be the thorn in my side and in a matter of weeks got confused by the legalities of paper work, then he went ahead and got cancer and didn't even bother telling Osh that he just straight up fucked off for months.
And that was just one of the many things Osh was going to try to do to bring me down. After that was the bold plan to give his nephew a title shot that Jay which he lost and ran away. THEN he tried to take credit for taking down that guy from Netflix when he was caught stealing from the company even though someone else accidentally stumbled on that one.
The FACT of the matter is from day ONE the ONLY cancer that's EVER been in IIW is named OSH VAUGHAN! The only reason that drunken idiotic piece of human fuck stain ever brought you or any other member of his little movie title rip off bullshit boys club back was that each of you have a proven track record at dive bombing IIW into oblivion. Congratulations fuck nuts, the epic tag team of the two SHITTIEST World Champions in IIW history went off without a hitch, oh... Except that part where you fucking failed to do your jobs on night one and you fucking LOST to a pair of guys who went to war against each other the Mayhem before! And you know why? Because you shit heads have only ever had your own personal bullshit on your minds, meanwhile the Kool Aid that Osh forces you boys to drink has been laced with a steaming hot deuce courtesy of the guy who pays you or you would have noticed the plain and obvious FACTS!
Liam takes another swig and continues.
Liam: If you idiots are too stupid to notice, IIW never closed. Your little man baby there that wants to kill it is just mad cause if he was left in charge it'd already be closed. Right Rick? How long was it open when you were champ, champ? A week? Three tops right. An' who ran things? Osh. What about you Jason? Was this place actually open long enough for you to defend the title? Anyone remember you ever havin' it? Did you ever even get it? God that's embarrassing, I should know that shit, but then again I did just jumped by a bitch and hit in the back of the head tonight so my memory is a little bit...
He shakes his hand back and forth in that up and down kind of 'unsure' motion.
Liam: Hazy. But what I do know is that I got a job here cause Bob hired me. He found me and brought me in, and I've been paid on time every week since. Now I seen our streaming partner steal money, try to bury us, a commish that was hired to sabotage the place, a booker go into business for himself, false evidence planted, outsiders raid, and everything else you can possibly think of, but here we are. This is really just all about some washed up loser bein' mad 'cause he's not as good at the wrestlin' business as he thought he was. He's got a track record of havin' this place make a killin' only to kill it himself. Now he's tryin' to do it again cause he's had to sit back at a bar down the street and see people fill this place up every other Monday and see it keep goin'. He got a good hard on around the holidays when attendance was down and there was just a little struggle just for a minute, but here we still are. Lights are on, bills are paid, hell even the janitor's getting a check.
Now since Jenny's come on as a business partner we not just survived, we're thrivin'! You saw that first hand tonight. Crush, brought in by Bob and Brandon Hendrix who your boy Osh tried to embarrass and run out of town got a second chance and look at that, they kicked your sorry asses! But we're supposed to be the bad guys.
Bob: Booo! Boooo me! Me who's gotten nothing but shit on by every loser and shit head your boss cycled through here through the back door! Boo me who kept our show going even when Netflix wanted to pull the plug! Boo ME who has put up with a landslide of bullshit and STILL not only kept IIW going, but First Class is starting to turn a profit for the first time since it started! I'm the bad guy because I got my hands dirty and I kept the wheel turned when the wrong people wanted me to fail, but there's one thing non of you idiots ever counted on: Not everyone is a born loser like Osh!
Liam: But this isn't about Osh, we're gonna send him packin' in due time, but first all his little toy soldiers one at a time and I'm gonna start at KKND with you Jason Fenix, but I promise you this, and as a southern boy I'm a man of my word... I'm not gonna finish you off first. You want a match at KKND and yer sure as hell gonna get the ass kickin' you earned here tonight. I'm going to wear your ass out in that ring. I'm gonna beat you black and blue and I'm takin' back tha pound a flesh that ya owe me, I'm gonna beat ya down and when yer finally there beggin for the end I'm not gonna do the thing you think, I'm not gonna slip the noose around yer stinkin' neck.
That would be too quick for ya Fenix... No, I'm gonna watch ya suffer a bit first. See I know those Ruin kids an' ya all are close, so first I'm gonna do ta them what ya did ta me. Not jump them from behind, I'm gonna bleed 'em. I'm gonna take ya boy Rick and I'm gonna beat him as raw and bloody as I beat you and when he can't take no more I'm gonna tie him up like a slab of beef in front of you.
Then I'm goin' after that loudmouth sister of his. She's got it coming a mile away. Runnin' her mouth tryin' to make demands like she's the queen of anythin', an' for what? Take a good look around little girl, we're makin' on just fine here without ya. If you were half the woman that ya claim ta be you woulda jumped at the chance to prove yourself on First Class. You would shown us all by takin' down all the women and provin' you deserve a shot at the men, but ya just took a look at what they got over there, his behind your ugly brother and shut the fuck up. The rest of them boys should take a hint, not that it's gonna save ya from the hangman's noose.
See, things have changed around here. Gone are the weak trash you stacked up to make yer self look like a legend Fenix. Now we all fight for our dinner. You learned that tonight. Ironic that you ran off and beat cancer and came back to resume yer spot as the IIW cancer ya always been, but ya know, tell me there mister money bags big shot, what happens when your little...
Bob: Insurrection.
Liam: Insurrection ends before it starts? I know Osh is well accustomed to failures, but what's the plan when plan Z fails before it even starts. You talk about being the experts in destruction and making things die, but the only thing dying in IIW these days is you. Yer not the guy ya used to be. You might be in the best shape of your life, but you aint got the strength or stamina ya had at yer best, and yer best was never ever quite the best. So what's the plan. What happens when ya lose the fight you never shoulda picked at KKND? What's the plan when ur stairin' up at them lights after my hand has been raised, when you realize that you weren't the guy ta get the job done for Osh, that ya weren't hist first, second, third, or even forth pick and yer so far down the line now that he's just throwin' shit at the wall hoping somethin' sticks and you realize yer the shit, ya always been shit.
Bob: What happens Jason Fenix when the love of the people for an underdog IIW Legend who got and overcame cancer and came back wears off and all that's left is the old shithead that couldn't let go of the past trying to end a good thing for the sake of the ego of a megalomaniac who only wants to ruin everyone's good time because IIW actually WORKS without him around to piss it all away on booze, whores and gambling? What happens when people realize that DESPITE shitting on me for the last year I held this place together and above water for there to be an IIW that Osh wants to killa year later? What happens when the people inevitably turn on you Jason, because you never ever gave a shit about anyone in your life but yourself and the man they've hated for the past year has done his damnedest to keep this thing going so an ungrateful fuckhead like you has some place to triumphantly return to and that I've been the one to provide them week after week, month after month this release, this escape into violence and Mayhem every other Monday like clock work and every Monday if you're into ladies too.
Liam: I've got a better question for you Jason. What happens when someone who's been so full of himself as you have been, locked away in yer mansion to look down on the rest of us finally gets a reality check that ya deserve in the form of cancer? Well it wasn't humbled. You turned that into the bitter pill and yer still so high on yer horse you want the rest of us to swallow it instead, but not this time. I'm gonna take that bitter pill ya have, so filled with all the hate for the rest of us because you were never willing to work hard enough to get everything ya ever wanted in life so all yer left with is a bitter facsimile of something close to what ya wanted out of life. It's as close as ya ever got to being as great as ya thought ya were to great, but everyone knows yer not as good as ya ever told people ya were and yer worse than ya ever were and at Krush Kill N Destroy yer gonna get exactly that, the send off ya really deserve. Flat on yer back, broken to fade into obscurity, tha only end someone like you has ever earned.
See you, Cowboy.
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Post by Jason Fenix on Apr 14, 2022 15:02:56 GMT
The scene opens and we see Jason sitting in his large leather chair at his desk in his office at his manor. He has rotated around to stare out the window with a scowl on his face. Outside, the grey and rainy afternoon reflects his mood. The door to the office opens and his associate, Alec Sognier, enters. Jason doesnt turn from the window as Alec approaches his desk. After a long, uncomfortable silence, Alec speaks.
Alec: You, uh..doing some thinking?
Jason: Yes…
Alec: Thinkin’ bout your match?
Jason: Yes…
Alec: Having yourself a little pity party?
Jason wheels around in his seat to face the desk. He moves as if he’s about to get up with a frustrated sigh.
Jason: I dont have time for this shit..
Alec: Oh you dont?! Please tell me, Master Fenix, what you have on your plate thats so pressing at this moment? You’ve got me and the board running Fenix Industries and you already had me clear your calendar of all non-IIW functions, so to me, it kinda sounds like you just want a quiet corner to sit in and feel sorry for yourself!
Jasons eyes narrow at Alec
Jason: Excuse me…?
Alec: Good to see Jasons back on his bullshit! Same old song and dance with you, isnt it? Doesnt it get old, Jason? At what point does this routine finally become boring to you? Because its getting really old watching it from the outside, and its getting even more old being the one left holding the bag while you run off to chase shadows of your past! This routine has had its run, and Im done watching it repeat over and over and over.
Jason backs down off his anger and raises an eyebrow at Alec
Jason: Is this your resignation?
Alec: No, you idiot! Im telling you to wake up and see whats happening! We go through this every single time! You decide to return to the ring, expect some big hero’s return, do almost no real preparation for your first match, then are shocked when you lose. Instead of working harder to bounce back, you slump down in your hole and have your pity party, flub through a few more matches, then sulk back to the manor with your tail between your legs. You mope around for a few months, then we go back to business as usual for a while, until you decide to repeat the process. So here we are, back at the beginning again. You expected some big hero’s return, but the truth is no one remembers your accomplishments anymore. How long has it really been since the days of The Franchise? 15 years? Your first World Title is even further back then that. You really expect to keep riding on that? No one cares about that anymore, Jason. You have nothing of recent note, because you cant stop trying to get mileage out of what you did back then. Im not taking those things from you, but you cant keep using those things as crutches. Then look at Mayhem. You were all fired up, but didnt prepare nearly as much as you probably should have, especially after the cancer and being out of the ring for so long. I think you know that, too. Sure enough, didnt get your win on your return match, and just like clockwork, I find you here in your office, feeling sorry for yourself. The truth is, the Jason Fenix that you keep on a pedestal in your own head? The Jason Fenix from The Franchise? The World Champion Jason Fenix? He damn sure aint here, cause he damn sure wouldnt be sitting here feeling sorry for himself just because he lost one match. Now I dont know what part of your grand scheme it was calling out Liam Cain, but you need to get your head out of your ass and back in the game, because if you dont, if you treat this like you treated Crush and Hendrix, he’s going to tear you apart in front of the world. If you want your legacy, If you want to cement your place in history, you wont get there by sitting here. Go out there and create it, and stop expecting it to just be handed to you…
Jason stares down at the desk, his face flooding with anger again, but he remains silent.
Alec: Well? Are you going to say anything?! Or just sit there feeling sorry?
Jason turns his gaze up to Alec, but remains silent a moment longer before he speaks.
Jason: No…You’re right…I’ve been lazy and careless, and I’ve paid for it. I’ve repeated the same mistakes and somehow couldnt see it. Ive let myself be blinded by…I dont know, wistful nostalgia? I’ve desperately clung to a past that has become less and less relevant with each passing day. And I’ve been a fool not to recognize the pattern. But you’ve made me see the truth of the matter. One of the reasons I keep you around, old friend. You make me see the harsh reality of things, even when I dont want to. Fortunately its not too late to break the cycle and change things.
Alec: Question then is where to begin?
Jason: Well, we’ve got two weeks until KKND. We need to make sure that time is maximized. Its not as much time as Id necessarily like, but I’ll have to find a way to shift gears as quick as possible. The match at Mayhem made me painfully aware that Im still missing a step or two in the ring, while Liam on the other hand is a current competitor on top of his game. I need to knock off as much of this ring rust as I can before then. I cant afford to be a step behind. Also, I seem to remember having a training facility downstairs here, seems as good a time as any to dust off the old gal and give her another whirl. In the meantime, I want you to gather whatever match footage you can of Liam. Might as well spend some time studying tape, see what we can pick up from that.
Alec: I’ll see what I can pull together for you..
Alec turns and starts heading out of the office, but stops at the door, looking back at Jason again.
Alec: It has to be different this time, Jason.
Jason: I know it does. I…
Alec holds up a hand, cutting Jason off.
Alec: I dont need it. Whatever it is. I dont need apologies, or promises, or any more words. I think we’re well past the time for all that. You need to take a long, hard look at yourself, Mr. Fenix. You need to ask yourself how you want to be remembered. Then realize its going to take action now to make it a reality. Its time to rise again, if this is really what you want. I want you to really think on that…
Alec leaves the office and the door shuts behind him with a heavy thud, leaving Jason alone with his thoughts in the growing silence.
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Our next scene shows Jason, cleaned up and dressed in his usual black suit, slowly walking through the empty and silent halls of his manor. He drags his finger across the top of a small accent table as he passes as if checking for dust, before returning his attention to the camera with a slight smirk, and giving a slow clap for a few moments that echo through the halls
Jason: Liam Cain…Liam, Liam, Liam…Hoo boy, If I didnt know any better, after watching your little tirade earlier, I would say something has you a bit upset. That was quite the tongue-lashing you threw my way there with the bloated Toad Man. You really took me to task, quite well done! No, really, powerful stuff there. You really covered all the bases. Shots at me, shots at my career, shots at my health, which admittedly, for my tastes, just seemed like low hanging fruit, though not sure what I expected from someone such as yourself, but I digress. Shots at my friends, shots at my…*Jason pauses a moment, trying to find the right word*...associates?...’Jason shrugs, seemingly satisfied with the word*
Jason continues walking for a moment, looking off to the side and scratching his chin in thought.
Jason: You did make some interesting points however. Some points I cant necessarily argue with in retrospect. I have been a bit…complacent, perhaps, in my last few runs. I’ve maybe let myself assume some things and ignore others, to my own detriment. Over the years, I’ve let myself forget things. Others, I’ve let myself hold onto for far too long. Hell, I’ll go ahead and say it, looking back, I’ve been downright lazy at times. And you know, Liam? While I watched you spew your hot air have your little temper tantrum, I found myself wanting to get really upset. I felt myself getting more and more pissed off as I listened to you trash my past and my career. But then, Toad Man chimed in with some nonsense of his own, and frankly, that guys voice drives me so insane, whenever I hear him talk, the world just fades to white noise. So as my brain was working to tune out the incessant droning of his voice, I realized that there was some bits of truth to what you had said. Having had that time to reflect, I see now where these issues in myself are. So, really, thank you. Thank you for spewing hot garbage, and thank you for hanging out with that sack of crap Bob, to give me the time to pause and truly take in and understand what that hot garbage you were spewing really meant.
Jason smiles a bit, gathering his words before continuing.
Jason: Osh brought me on as part of The Vaughan Supremacy because he knows what I am capable of. He knows that when Im on top of my game and truly focused, I am unstoppable. Thats not a mistake on his part. The mistake has been mine. I’ve been riding on the coat tails of my own past and expecting things to play out as they once did, just…because. Because I expected it. Because Im Jason Fenix. But over the past few days, and thanks to you Liam, I’ve come to realize thats all old news. People have forgotten my name. Thats okay. While I work to dismantle everything that Bob Mitchell has done, I will use all those broken pieces to reforge my legacy. You’ve seriously miscalculated my motives here in thinking they align with Osh’s. Believe me, Im not here because Osh and I are best buds.
Jason lets out a slight sigh, continuing
Jason: See, theres two big reasons Im here. Osh knows these, and thats why he brought me on. You either arent aware of these things, or have misunderstood them. So lets take a moment here to make sure everything is clear. First and foremost, please understand, I truly and deeply hate Bob Mitchell. No, I really hate the guy. I cant even explain why. I cant give you a good reason. All I know is I want to punch his stupid toad face until there’s bones in his stool. You ever run into people, and you never met them, know nothing about them, but as soon as they open their mouth, you just think “Yep, absolutely hate this person.” Yeah, thats Bob Mitchell for me.
Jason stops walking and looks directly at the camera
Jason: And both of you asshats, before you come back with some *mockingly* ‘Bluh, we hate you too, bluh” crap, just…dont. I expect more from you both. The people expect more from you both. And frankly, you should expect more from yourselves. Lets have some originality and hold ourselves to a higher standard. Thank you.
Jason gives a slight nod to the camera as he finishes, and straightens out his suit before resuming his slow walk.
Jason: I digress, Bob. I truly loathe you as a human being, and since I havent quite found a way for me to legally beat your skull in yet, instead Im going to focus on finding ways to tear apart every single thing in IIW that means anything to you. You and I didnt get off on the right foot last time I was around, I will admit. Some things came up and I was a bit distracted. Im sure you can understand, though I couldnt care less if you do or not. Do toad brains understand empathy? *Jason waves a hand dismissively as he continues* Doesnt matter! Plus, Im getting sidetracked. Point is, you have my full attention now, Bob. Im going to find everything you hold dear and Im going to break it. That starts at KKND, with your special little boy Liam…
Jason lets out a soft chuckle and looks down at the floor, shaking his head for a moment before looking back up with a grin
Jason: Liam! Liam, my boy, dont think I forgot about you in all this! I know I get a bit..passionate…when I speak about making Toad Man suffer in any way I possibly can, but rest assured I did not forget you, and I certainly wouldnt want you feeling left out in all of this. See, you did real well in that little rant of yours. Got under my skin a bit. Got my hackles raised up! The blood was boiling and you had me pissed off! But thats where you made your mistake. You got me to pause for a second and think. You got me to wait until the anger passed and I could think clearly on it. Now I know what to work on. Now I know what I need to do to leave you face down in a pool of your own blood at KKND. Cause thats the funny thing, Liam. This was never about you. You are, ultimately, irrelevant to how this all plays out in the end. You are, ultimately, irrelevant. You want to call out my losses, but I dunno if a 4-3 record makes you all that special yourself. Dont worry though, after KKND, we’ll both be touting a .500 record! See, the second reason Im here, and this is really important you try and follow what Im saying here cause this is that part thats going to be relevant to you, is that I truly enjoy and revel in destruction. There’s not many things in this world I like more then causing pain and suffering. If you dont believe me, go back and look at my history. Not the old stuff, the more recent stuff. I like causing suffering so much that ive been taking it upon myself, with no other real alternative, TO HURT MYSELF! So where do you think that leaves you, Liam? I dont need to turn that destruction within anymore. Now I have you to hurt, and Im really looking forward to hurting you, Liam. In the mean time, I encourage you to continue thinking that Im a washed up has-been. Please keep thinking this will all be some kind of walk in the park. I need you to do that for me, Liam. I need it, because I really cant wait to see the look on you face as my fists keep crashing into it over and over. Watching the expression on your stupid face go from anger, to determination, to surprise, then fear, then finally, watching your eyes go dull and glassy as you slip away into the sweet embrace of unconsciousness. That beautiful moment is what fuels me now.
Jason looks off to the side as he walks, a wistful expression on his face. He stops walking, closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and lets out a long sigh as a smile crosses his face. He stays like that a moment before opening his eyes again as his expression becomes cold again
Jason: Keep looking to the past, Liam. Thats where you are safe. I dont need the past anymore. You’ve shown me that its only held me back. I truly cant thank you enough for showing me that, so Im going to reward you. Reward you in the only way I know how. The beating Im going to put on you will be indescribable. Dont worry though Liam. You can hate me all you want, but please know this really isnt anything personal. Like I said, I owe you one, really. You just wound up in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong associations. I dont hate you, Liam. I nothing you. But the problem is you are Smilin’ Bobs special baby boy, and we’ve already discussed how I feel about Bob. Rest assured, I will rip and tear until I bring this whole damn federation down around his ears. Wins and Losses be damned, I will not be something that can easily be brushed aside this time. I am coming, and I will not be stopped. Liam, enjoy being able to eat solid foods while you still can. After KKND, you may want to invest in some straws. And to you Bob, keep your special baby boy close. Wouldnt want something to happen to him before I get to have my fun. Besides, you’ll need to be ready to scoop Liam off the mat once Im done with him.
Jason gives a sadistic grin to the camera
Jason: Take care of yourself, Liam. I want you at one hundred percent so you have no excuses when Im done with you…..
Jason starts laughing as he walks off down the halls, whistling to himself as he disappears around a corner and the scene fades out
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Post by Liam Cain on Apr 15, 2022 0:18:13 GMT
Leana: Tell me again why I'm here?...
The lovely diminutive blonde, Leana Wilcox is standing somewhere on a farm, or more accurately on a ranch in ranch appropriate attire, a short denim skirt and cowboy boots. She holds in her hand an IIW branded microphone.
Leana: I was hired to be the First Class interviewer, so... What am I doing here with you for a Krush Kill N Destroy interview?
Bob: You know what the good thing about being Managing Director of IIW is, Leana?
He stands there grinning the kind of shit eating grin you normally have when some out of your league looking girl is giving you the time of day. Bob, while standing in the mud of a ranch, is not dressed for the occasion; he's instead dressed as he normally would appear on IIW television in a cheap suit with colors only the colorblind would choose.
Leana: I can only imagine.
Bob: It's having the authority do do the little things that you want. Say you want a pretty blonde interviewer to come all the way out to the middle of God's country and be her little slice of heaven on this little slice of heaven instead of having that British stick in the mud Michael Morrison come all the way over here and leer at the horses like Chester the Molester.
She just rolls her eyes.
Bob: Oh come on, it's a beautiful day, the birds are chirping, spring is in the air, and Osh Vaughan's bid to try to get back his company is failing quicker than his attempt to keep it!
Leana: I'm guessing you haven't heard Jason Fenix's words for you and your protégé for KKND.
Bob: Oh I did, Leana, I did. A full WEEK AND A HALF after he recorded them from the sounds of things! Apathy thy name is Fenix. I'm a little ticked, actually.
Leana: Tickled? He called you a TOAD.
Bob: He did! Isn't that just the funniest fucking thing you've heard in a while?
Leana: You know that's not a term of endearment, right?
Bob: No kidding... But it is delicious irony that a man who gets lectured in his OWN promo by his OWN manservant refers to me as being toad like.
Leana: I fail to see the humor in that.
He pats her on the head, derisively.
Bob: You would. It's ok beautiful your job is to look good and ask questions, you don't have to understand, I'm here to explain it.
Leana: Don't you even start...
He cuts her off by pulling her microphone back towards him.
Bob: It's not that, blondie. It's called cutting a promo, it's our job. NOT that you'd know that from Jason Fenix, as fashionably late to work as he seems to always be. See Fenix acted all fired up, but it's a clear act and don't worry Fenix, I love you too buddy, you just give me SO much to talk about. Have your butler put on some popcorn and hit record so you can watch this back over and over and give it time so you can fully understand what's going on here.
One thing, Jason Fenix, you've always failed to grasp in your career, and I dare say your life, is that the universe doesn't revolve around you. This isn't about what you want and your goals, because let's face it, after you “enlightened” us all in your little promo, you don't have any real goals. Punching things isn't a life goal Jason, it's part of your job description. Your job is to punch things as hard as you can while Osh hides in a hole and crosses your fingers and hopes it works.
“Things will be different this time” should be your new catch phrase. Trademark it and put it on an IIW branded t-shirt right now, because that's all people have heard from you for years now. People know you as the failed come back guy. Even when you were at your peak you were lost in a crowd and your World title reign was just something that happened. You hang your hat on it, but to everyone else it was just one of those things we look at and say what happened there.
You seem to think you were great, but never mind that because you've quit living in the past! You stopped living there because you know if people look into it too deeply they'll know you're all show and no go. You look at guys like Jake E Dangerously and Jonny C and you get stars in your eyes because you've been hit so many times, or maybe it's the cancer, but you actually believe you stood toe to toe with guys like them once upon a time, but you don't see their in a class above. People remember them the way you want to be remembered, and you know why that is Jason? It's because every time they come back they live up to the expectations put on them. You pop up and say remember Jason Fenix? We all say no and you disappear again. You want to talk about your legacy? You've had so many failed comebacks that failing at a comeback is your legacy.
You want to punch me in my face and I get that, I've been hearing it my whole life. You tune out the sound of my voice and want to punch me in the mouth because people like you can't handle people like me. You want to put yourself on a pedestal and look at everything you've done through rose colored glasses, but me? I'm a realist. I call it like I see it and I tell it like it is. That's what we call a hard truth for someone like you because I take that shine off the luster you put on yourself because if you polish a piece of shit, Jason Fenix, you're still a piece of shit. You're not as great as you want yourself to seem and you never have been.
Neither is Osh Vaughan. That guy who brought you back. The real facts are he brought you back to try to pry back his company and you think you're here to wreck shop, but only Osh believes that because at the end of the day the only person a bullshitter like you is able to bullshit is a bullshitter like Osh Vaughan. He wants to sell this rose colored version of an IIW that might be if we just handed him back over the company, but you know where IIW would be with Osh Vaughan in charge? Out of business.
Now I know for a fact that I don't have to come up with some convoluted explanation to why that might be because history speaks for itself. You think I'm wrong? Look at 2017. Look at 2012 or 2009 or any other year this company existed or it didn't. With Osh Vaughan in charge there's been an increasing shorter amount of time that IIW has remained open each time he brought it back until yours truly put together a team and took it from him. And now look at it, a year later and we're still here. The way things are going we're still going to be here in 2023 too and I know those words sting your ears because this is the second time you've come around trying to tear it apart and every single time you have to come up with increasingly elaborate excuses to explain your failure, meanwhile I've got a business to run.
It's around this time the main attraction strolls into frame. Mud encrusted boots, dirty jeans, and carelessly perfect blonde hair and all.
Liam: I've got a few minutes I can spare ya, Fenix. That is if ya can last that long.
He grins.
Liam: Lemme just say first thing that I hope that blood is boilin', 'cause it does me no good to beat up that down on his luck sad sack Jason Fenix that climbed in the ring against Crush and Hendrix last week. Problem is, not a soul alive believes anything about you has changed since then 'cept the day of the week. See Jason, you wanna get into a pissing match about wins and losses, 'cept I'm not the one out here tryin' to convince anyone my shit don't stink.
Sure I don't win every fight, but if you wanna beat me you gotta get a fight in you. You aint the first old-timer I made feel something again and you wont be the last, but if you wanna leave me in a pool of my own blood at KKND then I've got the only strategy that's gonna work for the likes of you. Walk out. You walk yourself out, find a MUCH better, MUCH tougher, MUCH more deadly guy and send him in yer place then maybe you got a shot. But then you did say you like to hurt yourself right? So now this whole callin' out Liam Cain thing starts to make sense. See I already took your best shot from behind with a weapon in your hand, and trust me I know you needed it. I know everything about how you fight and how capable you are now.
You want pain and suffering and to hurt, then you came to the right man you special fucked-up little boy. I want ya at yer best, yer baddest, yer most pissed off, yer most ready to do some damage because when we do meet in that ring and you take yer big shot I want to hear that CRACK when you hit this face and I want us to both savor it.
I want you to live in that moment forever Jason Fenix, I want it to be all yours. That sweet sound of flesh hitting flesh. That impact of bone on bone underneath and that distinct sound of it giving way. That sound is all yers buddy now and forever 'cause it's the last happy moment yer ever gonna get in this sport. That feeling when you wind up and connect and the sound that follows is all your because the moment right after that? Well that's all mine.
He grins a big, wide, perfect toothy grin.
Liam: That moment of shock and realization that you gave it absolutely every last thing you could in that swing Jason Fenix, that look that you gave ol' Liam Cain the best shot you ever gave anyone in your whole career and the realization registering on your face in that moment... That moment you realize that the sound of that impact that you own that's now yours forever to enjoy? That's the sound of your own hand breaking against my face. That realization that you've arrived in a future that no longer involves you, doesn't give a shit about who ya were, who ya are, or what ya ever plan on doin' anymore. That look when you realize that you've hit something harder than you can hit, that's where I'll live. See I'm the future here, Jason Fenix. I might be irrelevant to yer plans, but Jason Fenix is irrelevant to the world outside Jason Fenix. But lucky for you I've got a soft spot for the old-timers like you. See I'm gonna give ya exactly what ya came for, Fenix. I'm gonna give ya pain and suffering.
You had to go and ask if I really knew who I was dealing with, but unlike me, you don't have to go back to the annals of history to find out what I done. I told ya before, ask around if you can find any of those folk left. I end people. Not a decade and a half ago, last week. Last month. I don't gotta brag about things I never actually did like they were important historical events. I hurt people. You talk about it, but I don't sneak up from behind so I can get it done, I look 'em in the eye when I slip that noose around their necks and make 'em dance the Texas two-step. I'll look you dead in the eye when you hit me with all you got so so I can see ya learn I'm not sellin' wolf tickets. I'm the real deal.
I'm not even gonna try to act like I'm not gonna enjoy letting you know time has passed you by. Look at you man, so full of so impotent rage. Never living up to yer own billing, never building the legacy you wanted to build and I get to be there on the business end when you realize this little comeback, that fire in your belly when I said what I said about you, that fucking fire in your belly you get now knowing we took that low hanging fruit cause we're stripping your whole tree clean? That's savory. It was a simple matter to move into yer head rent free and you were all too easy to put right beside yourself and make ya the contradictory beast ya really are.
I don't matter in the same breath ya admit I pissed ya off. Yer an easy mark, Jason Fenix. I took shots at ya, sure, of course I did. Ya jumped me from behind and I got the measure of ya then. Ya pissed me off, ya sure did. I don't take too fondly to chickshit cracking me blindsided in the back of the head pretending to be a real man. But the first and only mistake ya get to make on this comeback tour ya got goin' was not finishin' me off before I turned around. But ya didn't 'cause ya go no finish left in ya. To you it was a fluke that ya lost to Crush and Hendrix, but it's just 'cause yer just not good enough. Now ya wanna jump me while I'm out here showin' people what it's like ta fight fer their lives and I'd think someone in yer position would have enough recent experience fightin' fer yer life ta back off it a bit, but I guess what ya really got is a death wish, Jason Fenix. Well wish granted.
At KKND bring all yer rage, bring all that pain you wanna inflict and ya wanna suffer and I'll make sure ya suffer through all of it. But do me one little favor, Fenix. When ya swing yer big swing and ya break yer own fist on my face like waves breaking against the rock remember to look surprised. Remember to bring that earnest notion that you ever had a chance in the new IIW. Bring all the shock and surprise like ya didn't know ya were like Osh's fifth pick to try to get back his company and try to look like ya didn't know that all that bunk ya sold yerself as for years was anythin' more than smoke blowin' up yer own ass.
The worst thing you ever did for the career of Jason Fenix was come back to a world that's passed you by. That's a harsh lesson for a man to learn. I wont drag it out though, Fenix. Once you break I'll end ya quickly. One short swing and you'll be done for, then when we lay ya to rest try not to get too upset looking up at us from your spot of sulphur and brimstone when the inscription on yer tombstone doesn't read a glowing epitaph to Jason Fenix but rather “Here Lies the Vaughan Supremacy, over before it ever began”.
Ease your burdens, Cowboy.
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Post by Jason Fenix on Apr 16, 2022 18:44:16 GMT
The scene opens and we see Jason standing at a workbench in a brightly lit and slightly sterile looking electronics workshop, his back to the camera. Several wraps of what looks like tape or bandaging runs around his head. A robotic arm of some sort lays on the bench in front of him, wires connected to a nearby test panel. Jason jabs a screwdriver into the elbow of the unit and slowly starts twisting as he hums along to the indiscernible rock music playing in the background. The door leading into the workshop hisses open on its pneumatic hinges a moment later as Alec walks in, an open folder in his hands as he looks over some papers. Alec closes up the folder and tucks it under his arm as he looks around at Jason and the workshop with slight confusion. Jason doesnt look up from his work bench.
Alec: Not where I expected to find you. You getting a lot of good training done in here?
Jason stays focused on the test bench, his back still turned to Alec
Jason: Dont do that, Alec. I cant train twenty-four seven even if I wanted to. Body has to rest at some point…
Alec: Fine, question number two. Why am I seeing bandaging around your head this close to your match at KKND?
A shower of sparks shoots from the elbow of the arm on the bench and Jason yanks the screwdriver out as the arm twitches a few times on the bench before coming to rest again. Jason tosses the screwdriver onto the bench and turns to face Alec with a grin, leaning back to rest against the edge of the bench. An ice pack is strapped to the right side of Jason’s face and forehead. Jason motions back at the arm on the bench with a thumb.
Jason: That brings us back to your unspoken first question. What am I doing in here? Actuators in the right arm of the training dummy malfunctioned. Arm went limp during last session, thing whipped around and caught me upside the head.
Alec: Jesus! How bad is it?
Jason waves a hand dismissively
Jason: Im alright. Didnt break skin. Left me seeing stars and gave me a nice contusion, but I’ll be fine.
Alec: You have to be more careful, Jason…
Jason: “A guy who came to Fight Club for the first time, his ass was a wad of cookie dough. After a few weeks, he was carved out of wood.”
Alec: *flatly* Really? We’re doing Fight Club references now?
Jason: Im telling you, Alec, you need to read the book. Way better than the movie. Look, the sentiment is the same. Half of every battle comes down to attrition. Who can take the damage better and roll with the punches. Only real way to get good at that is…well…getting your head bashed in.
Jason shrugs and Alec sighs, taking off his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Alec: So you let the thing clock you upside the head so you could get better at taking hits? That might be the dumbest thing I’ve heard come out of your mouth in some time, Jason.
Jason laughs and waves his hands in front of himself
Jason: No no no! I didnt want that to happen! That hurt like a sumbitch and now the training dummy is down until I get this mess sorted out. This definitely isnt a positive. The point is that I’ve been sitting on my ass for too long and if Mayhem proved anything, Im probably closer to cookie dough than wood still. Liam is showing up at KKND with every intent and desire to cave my face in, cripple me, and end my career. This shot to the dome is going to be nothing compared to what Liam is going to try and do to me. Dont get me wrong, this hurt like hell, but I have to keep moving.
Alec: Sure, but there has to be a better way. What about Rixton?
Jason: What about Rixton? Rixton went back to the TRIOCS facility. Rixton isnt here, and Rixton wont be jumping in to bail me out if things go sideways at KKND. This isnt his fight. If any of this is going to mean anything, I have to do this on my own.
Alec: Thats the start of a dangerous mindset, Jason. You start shutting everyone out and its not going to end well. You know that.
Jason: Relax Alec. Im not shutting anyone out. Look, Rixton has his own stuff going on that he needs to sort out. Im not going to burden him with my whole comeback song and dance. Like you said the other day, I’ve done enough talking. I need to act on it now. I cant ask for buy in from anyone on this until I show Im serious and Im the real deal again.
Alec: Okay, but this doesnt look like its going particularly well…
Jason: I get it, Alec. I appreciate the concern and you trying to look out for me but there is some kind of method to my madness. Despite the bravado and chest thumping, no one really goes out to the ring thinking they will walk away completely untouched, and even though he hangs around with Bob Mitchell, Liam doesnt come across as being that stupid. Liam and I are going to go out to the ring at KKND and beat each other senseless. There are no flawless victories in this game. If a little love tap from a malfunctioning training dummy lays me out, I dont really have much hope in dealing with Cain, now do I?
Alec: Fair enough…Did you happen to see the promo they just released?
Jason turns back to his work on the bench. He yanks a few cords out from the nearby test station to disconnect the arm before grabbing the screwdriver back up and shoving it into the elbow joint of the arm again.
Jason: Yeah…EVA notified me on the release so I had her pull it up on the screen down here. I had to play it a few times cause I kept zoning in and out. A looooot of the same stuff from those two. The Toad Man just croaked on about how I have no real goals, my career is a joke, my whole history is a shame and Osh is a terrible person…Oh and something about me being an act. I dunno, I couldnt care any more at that point. They love harping on how awful my past is, and l just cant care. Part of all this comes down to me letting go of that. Theyve shown me that. You’ve shown me that. If they want to waste their oxygen going on about it, good for them. Im concerned with now. Mayhem didnt turn out the way I had hoped for. Maybe thats on Rix, maybe thats on me, but either way, whats done is done. Ive got Liam Cain to focus my attention on now and if I get my ass kicked out there, no one is pulling my ass out of the fire and that is definitely on me. All of that is here and now. This is what matters. Like you said, whatever I accomplished back then doesnt matter now.
The two both fall silent for a few moments as Jason continues jabbing and twisting his screwdriver in the mechanical arm. He pulls the screwdriver from arm and tosses it back on the bench again, turning around with a grin.
Jason: Liam on the other hand…This is going to be a good time…
Alec: Excuse me?
Jason: Liam mentioned something about ‘making an old timer feel something again’ and he’s right, but it wasnt until now I realized what it was. Now, there is certainly bad blood to some extent here, he is right to a degree, I did jump the guy from behind. But I got his attention. However, that aside, I think he’s looking forward to the fight for the sake of the fight. That’s what I had forgotten along the way. Liam talks a real big game, and probably underestimates me. That level of confidence is understandable, especially taking into account the anger from the headshot. Im not buying it though. He knows this isnt going to be the cake walk he thinks it will be, deep down under everything. Thats not to confuse it with fear by any means, but he knows its going to be a fight, and he’s happy about it. And now I remember that.
Jason turns off a few breakers on the workbench and starts walking towards the door.
Jason: For the time being, the only thing that matters is this fight, and Im looking forward to it in a way I havent in some time. Liam and I are going to try and bash each others heads in, and Im going to enjoy every moment of it. Liam thinks he’s going to end me, but the truth is, win or lose, Im coming out of this stronger.
Jason heads out the door, calling over his shoulder back to Alec
Jason: I’ll catch up with you later. I need to go deal with my face.
Jason stuffs his hands in his pockets and whistles to himself as he disappears into the halls of the Manor.
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The next scene opens with Jason again slowly walking the halls of his manor, cleaned up in his black suit once more. Some slight bruising is seen around Jason’s right eye. Jason looks at the camera and gives a slight smirk.
Jason: And so we come to these final closing moments before all the talking is over. That must be terribly disappointing for you, Bob. So many words, yet so little actually said. You think you are the first person to call me a piece of shit? Big fucking deal. I’ve been called far worse by far better men than you. Im glad you think of me that way. I want you to keep that stupid smirk on your face, and sit back thinking your safe. I couldnt possibly be a threat to the great Toad Man Bob Mitchell, right? You’ve clearly laid out how pathetic I am and how all my accomplishments were unnoticed flukes and how my whole career has been one big joke. You cant seem to talk about that enough. You’ve also blathered on about all the great people you’ve assembled for your team in your takeover of IIW. You talk about how wonderful you are, but the truth is that you are no creator. You’re like Steve Jobs. You didnt create any of this. You stole it…You stole it and then you expected everyone to kiss your ass like this was something you built. You talk about how much this company has grown under your leadership, and I’ll admit things have definitely come up, but what did YOU really do for that? Was it you that did that? Or was it the lackeys you passed everything off to? You and Osh really arent so different, Osh is just more open with flaunting his money and his position. By all means though, sit up on your pedestal. Keep believing you are safe and I cant possibly get to you. Just consider, what if you are wrong? What happens if the impossible occurs, and the lowly Jason Fenix takes out your boy, Liam? What happens when the lies start to crumble around you? What happens when I start tearing down your little empire here brick by brick? Im going to enjoy watching this whole process slowly break you down. When you start to realize you will never be safe from me. Even if Liam wins, and even if he beats me senseless, its not going to stop me. Its just going to delay the inevitable. See, you got me all wrong. You said I have no real goals, but that couldnt be further from the truth. Destroying you is my goal. But coming straight for you would be no fun. There would be no thrill in the hunt. I want you to watch as the one person you have completely discredited and written off as a farce rips through everything you think you’ve accomplished before I finally strip IIW from you entirely and restore it to its rightful owner. Thats my goal and believe me when I say that singular goal is what consumes me. Liam Cain is just the first part of achieving that goal. You’re never going to get rid of me, Bob. You keep bringing up how I always cut and run when things dont go my way, and maybe that way true in the past, but thats old news now. Im here and Im not going anywhere until I bring all this down around you.
Jason falls silent for a moment, looking down at the floor as he gathers his words before he continues.
Jason: And that brings us to Liam Cain. Liam, I know you are watching, so lets talk for a bit here. I seem to have pegged you all wrong! I know you are still pissed off about the cheap shot, and rightfully so, but I needed to make sure I had your attention, and it would certainly seem like I do now. I dont regret that action, because getting you pissed off made you open my eyes to a lot of truths, so for that Im thankful. Im letting go of my past, and I know that you and Toad Man both think its all a big act. You couldnt have it more wrong. Its not something that happens overnight, but thats okay. My attention and focus is here and now. As much as you continue to write me off, Im going into this match unfettered by those doubts. No matter how this plays out, Im still going to be here, and just like Bob, Im always going to be coming for you. I want you to bring everything you got, because I want to see you realize its not enough to put me back on the shelf.
Jason takes a deep breath and lets out a sigh before continuing
Jason: Thats what you both have failed to grasp. I am not going anywhere. The Vaughan Supremacy isnt going anywhere. A win against me will be a hollow victory at best, and pyrrhic at worst. You arent stopping me or The Supremacy. You just delay the inevitable. Its not a matter of if, but when. Thats okay though, you’ll come to understand that in time. For now, keep yourself swaddled up in that little cocoon of safe comfortable lies that Bob has woven for you and you have reinforced with your overconfidence. Im thankful you woke this up in me again. Its been a long time since I’ve looked forward to a fight like this. Im going into this with nothing to lose. A win against you advances my plans against Bob. A loss leaves me right where I am now, but with the bonus of leaving me that much stronger and proving, even just a little, that Im here for the long haul.
Jason laughs and holds his arms out wide
Jason: You just dont get it yet! I have all the cards in the end! Let this become a war of attrition! Trust me, you’ll never win this in the end. Talk your big game, Liam. Tell me how bad you’re going to kick my ass. Keep on about how your going to end me. Im ready for all of it and it will never be enough in the long run. I’ll stretch this timeline out as long as it takes to do what I came here for. Bring all of that with you to the ring at KKND. I want to see what Liam Cain is all about, because Im going to show you what Jason Fenix is all about, and no matter how this shakes out, neither one of us is walking away the same. This isnt about causing pain or suffering anymore. You reminded me of that. This is about the fight. This is about you and me beating the hell out of each other. There will be pain for sure, I have no doubt of that, but I dont think either of us will really have much problem with that. I dont think you and I are so different in that sense.
Jason folds his arms behind his back again and continues.
Jason: Keep up that confidence, Liam! Enjoy the final moments while you continue to dismiss me as a bad joke. After KKND, that joke wont be so funny…
Jason turns a corner in the halls and continues walking away slowly, leaving the camera behind to follow.
Jason: Im really looking forward to our meeting, Liam! Bring everything you got, because after this, I promise you’ll never forget me again. Im going to give you good reason to keep looking over your shoulder. And dont think were done after this. I’ll let you know when we’re done…
Jason laughs again as the camera stops. Jason continues walking away, turning around a corner, his laughter and words echoing back through the manor.
Jason: But dont worry, Liam! Im just a big joke, right? What threat could I possibly be? See you soon, Liam! I promise you’ll have that answer soon enough, but it may not be the answer you wanted….See you soon!
The laughter continues to echo and fade as the camera fades out.
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