Ladies and Gentleman we are back on the scene! With RIOT 622!!
We are on the road to Wrestlution 18!
We join a frantic Maxx Edwards in light brisk making his way through the backstage areas making eye contact with everyone he sees before running into the large frame of one Mark Reese.
Maxx: Is he here tonight?
Reese: To tell you the truth, I don’ have any idea.
Maxx: So you want me to believe that you have no idea about the whereabouts of El Parca?
Reese’s ears perk at the mention of his former best friend.
Reese: That’s what I said…
Maxx: Not even your-
Maxx puts on his best southern accent and puppy dog eyes.
Maxx: little buddy?
Reese: Looky here, just because you’ve been on the big screen and won a world title doesn’t mean you get to make fun of people that ain’t done nothing wrong.
Maxx: You know what, I’m sorry.
Maxx: I didn’t even mean it that way.
Maxx: Just seems awfully convenient
Reese: As convenient as a cracker and cheese, huh?
Maxx: …
Reese chuckles.
Reese: A big star like you must be used t’people snoopin’ around and fishin’ in watering holes they got no reason to be stoopin’ at.
Maxx: I’m just used to a bit more honesty from a guy like you.
Maxx: I mean you probably had a date setup with him yesterday and you’ll probably have dinner with him and Dennis tomorrow.
Maxx: So to act like you couldn’t have any idea if he’s here tonight,
Maxx: I just don’t buy it.
Reese raises his eyebrows with amusement.
Reese: Let’s say I do know where he is, let’s say I tell you where to find him… What happens then Maxx?
Reese: What if I tell you his exact location?
Maxx: Well then I would-
Maxx pops a cheesy smile and puts his hand on Mark’s shoulder much to Mark’s dismay.
Maxx: and say “Thanks” and be on my way through those curtains to call him out.
Maxx: See unlike him I’m not looking to get the jump or find out where he’s gonna be.
Maxx: But it does seem like you wanna be in the business of protecting him?
Maxx: And that’s fine that’s your cho-
Reese: I’m not bein’ snide here… But you asked where he was so you’re kinda trying to see where he’s gonna be… Plus if you’re going to…
Reese gently removes Maxx’ hand from his shoulder.
Reese: Go out there to call him out, it’s all a bit redundant now ain’t it? He’s over at the soda machine. The most dangerous place in this here backstage wild lands.
Once again, Maxx pops a cheesy smile and puts his hand on Mark’s shoulder before quickly removing it as Reese snaps a glare at his hand.
Maxx: See, that wasn’t too hard was it?
Maxx: I don’t get what this whole….thing is about.
Reese: What do you mean buddy?
Maxx looks Reese up and down before gesturing towards him.
Maxx: THIS!
Reese: Well, this is just how I look.
Maxx: But this ain’t how you been looking, I mean-
Maxx looks behind Reese who half turns in confusion.
Maxx: Where did your back go? You’re spineless.
Maxx: Instead of being the…help me out here.
Reese: I’m strugglin’ for one here, so I’ll just say this… If you think my back is gone you best put that eye patch back on boy, you’ve still got some healin’ to do.
Maxx starts licking his lips and darting his eyes around the hallway.
Maxx: Well-it’s just that you know…I remember a time-
Maxx: Where no one could push Mark Reese around except for Mark Reese.
Maxx gives a playful shove to Mark Reese who angrily takes a step back as he watches Maxx make his way down the hallway.
ROOKIE DEBUT GABRIEL VINCENT vs. B.A.E
The fluorescent lights of the catering area cast a sterile glow on the mismatched collection of folding tables and plastic chairs.
Anthony Martin, once a golden boy with a sculpted physique that had softened at the edges with age, pushed himself away from a plate of lukewarm pasta. His gaze swept across the room, finally landing on Paul Harris, hunched over a protein bar in the corner.
Harris was the antithesis of Martin. Lean and wiry, with unruly dark hair, he was a master of technical wrestling, a suffocating web of holds and maneuvers that squeezed the fight out of his opponents.
Yet, despite his undeniable talent, Harris remained firmly in the undercard, overshadowed by flashier performers with less ring smarts.
Martin sighed, the sound echoing faintly in the cavernous room. He needed to talk to Harris. Their impromptu tag team match against the new champions, Mass Effect, was a gamble someone in the front office had cooked up, an attempt to inject some life into both their careers. Martin wasn't sure how he felt about it.
On the one hand, a win against Mass Effect would be a huge boost. On the other, there was the undeniable awkwardness of facing his former faction mates. Anthony took a deep breath and approached Harris' table. The man looked up, his dark eyes guarded.
PH: What is it, A-Mart?
A-Mart: Just wanted to talk about the match…
Martin said, trying to keep his voice casual.
A-Mart: Mass Effect, huh?
Harris' brow furrowed.
PH: You know them well, don't you? Used to be part of the GOAT Support System, right?
The reminder sent a pang of something akin to shame through Martin. The GOAT Support System – a group of wrestlers who the Hall of Famer Aries has assembled to preserve his position on top.
It was supposed to propel Anthony back to the top, but it had all fallen apart faster than a folding chair under a body slam..
A-Mart: Yeah…
He admitted, scraping the back of his neck
A-Mart: That's water under the bridge, Paul. We both need this win. We can put aside the past and focus on the present."
Harris studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
PH: You sure about that, Anthony?"
He finally asked.
PH: Because the way I see it, you might be willing to put the past behind you, but I doubt they are. It wasn’t less than 9 months ago that you were arm in arm attacking Mark Reese together…
A-Mart: Look…
Martin said, his voice low,
A-Mart: I won't throw you under the bus, Paul. I swear. We go out there, we fight our hardest, and we give them a run for their money. That's all I'm asking.
Harris stared at him for another beat, then let out a slow exhale.
PH: Alright, Anthony.
He said, his voice laced with a weariness that went beyond the demands of the profession.
PH: Let's just see how hard you’ll fight for us when we're staring down your former faction mates.
Martin offered him a smile, unsure if it reached his eyes.
A-Mart: That's the spirit, Harris.
A fragile trust hung in the air between them. Whether it would hold under the pressure of the ring lights and the roar of the crowd remained to be seen.
But for now, they were a team, bound together by a shared ambition and a healthy dose of distrust. And in the unpredictable world of professional wrestling, that might just be enough.
Hours prior to the start of the show we see Mad Dawg arriving early with two duffel bags in hand. One bag is clearly for his involvement with DNS, the other is a personal bag filled with his and Marisa’s items.
Mad Dawg: I swear, Bash and Marisa both do the most before a show.
He puts both bags down near his locker and sits down to scroll on his phone. While scrolling he sees a post he made a year ago when he joined OCW.
Mad Dawg: Damn that was a year ago?! Wow. This was before I even joined DNS officially. Back then there wasn’t even a true DNS. Just me and Bash making moves behind the scenes, getting the worm ready for Samsin.
Mad Dawg briefly thinks about the times where it was just him trying to prove himself. His debut match against Kingu and how even though he lost he felt strong. Then thoughts of Grit & Glory, Viktor Karmine, DNS, Tre, drugs and alcohol, Marisa, flashes of his car wreck come over his thoughts .
Mad Dawg: Ugh, shit.
He closes the app and searches the name Doc in his phone and presses the call button and puts the phone to his ear. The phone rings
Dr. Williams: Hello
Mad Dawg: Yo, doc. How’s it going?
Dr. Williams: MD. Good to hear from you. Everything ok? Know you got a show here in a couple of hours that you usually prep for.
Mad Dawg: Yeah but just wanted to chop it up with you real quick.
Mad Dawg takes a quick deep breath before starting to explain what just happened
Mad Dawg: So there’s been so much shit going on. Marisa, Tre, DNS, not to mention I’m still battling these demons with this whole alcohol stuff.
Dr. Williams: Yea I’ve been meaning to ask you about that but continue.
Mad Dawg: I saw a post I made about a year ago. When I was new to OCW still trying to prove myself. Before Marisa, before DNS, before the title opportunities, when it was just me versus the world.
Dr Williams: And this post made you feel happy, worse?
Mad Dawg: I felt like I was in control of my life back then, and now I feel like…hell I don’t know how I feel.
Dr Williams: Well MD, I’m glad to hear the part about control because I want you to know you still are in control. Yes, more things are happening and you are around people who require a lot from you. But you always have control over you.
Mad Dawg: Yea
Dr. Williams: Look. I need you to focus on you 1st not everyone else. Once you do this the people and items you need to stay in your life will stay, and those that don’t will start to fade.
Dr. Williams: You felt like you had control back then because you focused on you and adjusted to your needs not the needs of others. Now you are distracted by the ideas of others and not your own.
Mad Dawg: Damn Doc, that’s good. I need to worry about myself.
Dr. Williams: Now don’t go burning bridges down unless it’s needed MD, but definitely put your needs first right now. With this stage in your life right now that has to be your goal.
Mad Dawg: Appreciate that Doc. I needed that. I have a few things I need to handle. I’ll call you later.
Dr. Williams: I’m here whenever you need MD. Talk to you later.
Mad Dawg hangs up the phone and opens the notes app and starts typing “List of MY needs”
Mad Dawg: Before I focus on my needs I need to get rid of the distractions. First on this list has to be Tre.
We then see Mad Dawg continue the list under Tre’s name. As he types, he smiles as if just thinking about getting rid of the full list without a doubt will give him the peace he needs.
The list turns into a paragraph of words. The paragraph of words becomes a structured and detailed timeline.
