SINGAPORE CANE
THE LAST BLACKSMITH
vs.
RYU MATSUMOTO
The sterile white lights of the locker room felt harsh against the raw ache in OWEN's shoulder. Every creak of his strained muscles echoed in the silent space.
The crowd's roar, their chants divided between cheers for vengeance and betrayal, had faded to a dull thrum in OWEN's ears. The silence was worse. It allowed the weight of the match, the brutality of their past, to settle in his gut like a stone.
Sinking onto the metal bench, OWEN reached for his bag, the worn fabric cool against his clammy hand. He fished out his phone, the screen reflecting the dull sheen of his face.
It wasn't supposed to happen... like this. The result, tainted with regret, felt hollow. With a shaky breath, he dialed the familiar number.
???: Hello, Fraser residence.
A gentle voice answered. It was James' wife, Elizabeth. OWEN's throat tightened.
OWEN: Elizabeth, it's OWEN. Is James around?
A pause.
Elizabeth: No, OWEN. He's… well... he couldn't watch it at the house.
The unspoken words hung heavy - resting after watching two men tear into each other, two men who were family.
OWEN: Right.
OWEN mumbled, his voice thick.
OWEN: Is Ellie alright? It must be… confusing… seeing her uncles fight.
Elizabeth: She's fine, honey. We explained it as… a disagreement amongst colleagues. A bit dramatic, but she understands.
OWEN could hear the forced cheer in Elizabeth's voice. They both knew the truth. This wasn't a disagreement. It was a wound ripped open between Sheldon and OWEN.
Disagreements happen all the time in wrestling but for Elizabeth this was the first time her only child was mentioned on television as a blatant attempt by Sheldon to exploit a personal connection, shattering the sanctity of Ellie's childhood.
OWEN: Tell her Uncle OWEN was asking after her.
OWEN croaked, the words grating on his raw throat.
OWEN: Give James my best when he gets home.
Elizabeth: Of course, OWEN. Take care of yourself.
The call ended, and OWEN stared blankly at the screen. The silence in the locker room pressed in on him. He looked across the locker room, to where Sheldon and Fraser once would have been.
His mind turned to the past, his brothers present in the locker room to cheer him on, as they did when he dethroned El Parca as North American Champion at The Clash 14 months ago.
As he did for them each time Fraser and Sheldon won and defended their championships during their historic Undisputed Tag Team Championship reign.
Where did he go from here? The cheers, the victory – none of it mattered anymore. All he saw in his mind's eye was the disappointment in James' eyes, the worry etched on Elizabeth's face, the lack of comprehension on Ellie's face watching her Uncles go to war.
OWEN had won the match, but at what cost? He leaned back, the cold metal of the bench seeping into his bones, and for the first time in a long time, victory tasted like ash.
ALL STAR TAG MATCH 2
KASSCUM
vs.
PERFECT STORM