Event Date: September 28, 2019
Venue: Indianapolis, IN - Indiana Farmers Coliseum
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Tombstone, Texas
27th September 2019
It was a night everything would change for Eli Goddard, his career up to now was one which had seen him take part in a variety of feuds with his adopted brother Sawyer in EMERGE. All of which culminated with the pair winning the EMERGE Tag team championships in a division which many considered a joke given the lack of actual talent. Nobody took the division serious until they won the belts, it was when the wrestling world had taken notice of the Goddard family once again. Their father John Goddard was in Supreme Championship Wrestling as it was and one of their sisters, Minerva was applying her trade elsewhere.
Each finding what successes they could, it was enough to sate their hunger although for Eli that was never the case. He didn’t crave championship gold like the others, he craved the hunt for his next kill. Eli Goddard is a hunter at heart and pro wrestler second you see and sometimes the two go hand in hand depending on the opponent placed in front of him. Therefore, we find ourselves back home in Tombstone, Texas. Eli liked to return here to gather his thoughts before a big hunt, and in the God of Wrestling tournament, the prey is the biggest he has yet to chase yet…
The night sky is clear as can be, a fire burns in the centre of a seating area made from logs. The stars twinkle in the heavens, a bounty of beauty worthy of a night as stunning as this. Eli sits in his black tank top and tattered jeans accompanied by a pair of heavy black boots. His body littered with scars and tattoos; his eyes fixated on the axe in his hand which he holds tightly with his left hand while sliding a sharpening stone along its edge with his right…
He hears something from the nearby woods, a hoot from an owl… He reaches down to a large jug after placing the axe on his lap and takes a swig from it’s contents and nods to himself after putting it down and look at the blade, he then stands and slams the axe blade first into the log he sat on and it cuts into it deeply…
He smirks before looking towards the viewer…
[Rec.]
Eli Goddard: “The God of Wrestling tournament… An event the SCW has brought back to prominence once more upon the request of the father of their current World Champion… With EMERGE splitting off from the company, did you think it wouldn’t have a horse in this race? There are others of course from EMERGE but they pale in comparison to the blood butcher and why I am here. I’ve heard a lot of why you are in this tournament. Some of you are doing it for misplaced love, for purity of wrestling, you’re doing it for family or your son or your daughter. You’re doing it to see if you have still got what it takes to lock horns with the very best in the world. To see if you can become a GOD!”
Eli’s voice booms and echoes around him while he now extends his arms and begins to laugh to himself.
Eli Goddard: “A God of professional wrestling… Is that not what you all seek to become? You all look to those who believe in you, the fans and you smile knowing that they have supported you through everything up unto this point. Every misdeed, every failure and each of your successes. To them you’re already gods, to them there is no higher accolade than the one they have already bestowed upon you because for many there is nothing better than to be lauded over by the sheep of this world... Sheep that deserve to be slaughtered at the hands of those such as Xander Valentine, he had the right idea… Therefore, I am here in the tournament not to represent EMERGE, but to slay each one of the would be “Gods” these sheep idolize, the ones that have the misfortune to be placed against the Blood Butcher in this tournament, and there are many of you...”
Eli Goddard: “It all begins with my greatest hunt to date since stepping into this business. I face a man who stepped away from this world having already elevated himself to Godhood in the eyes of oh so many, including members of his own family. But this was not enough for the likes of Shaun Cruze, he wanted more, his ego craved more so what does one such as he do? He leaves this world; he removes himself to pursue Hollywood... It is the same cycle time after time, many before him have done the same, and many more will do so after he is dust in the ground. They add to the poison of this world by creating the filth you all watch for your entertainment. You are guilty as all before and those yet to do so, Shaun Cruze.”
Eli looks up to the stars and their majesty, the universe on full display.
Eli Goddard: “Which is why I have relished this match since the very beginning it was announced. You are a prime hunt, one of the very best to set foot inside a ring, aren’t you? You are a pedigree above everyone else which is why you’re back, you’ve missed this haven’t you, you want to be able to look at yourself one more time in the mirror and say that you have what it takes, prove that Hollywood hasn’t stolen anything from you and you haven’t missed a step. Honestly, I hope this is true Shaun Cruze, for your sake because I do not wish to be disappointed when you and I go toe to toe in this war of attrition...”
Eli Goddard: “And make no mistake, while for you this is no doubt a way back into the hearts of those you left behind. For me this is the beginning of something that my father John Goddard started in SCW, this is a war that a mantle I shall carry and along with it the burdens... When I look at your poster on walls, I don’t see a Hollywood actor, I don’t even see a pro wrestler. I see one who is no better than those that have poisoned the world with their filth which you call entertainment. Your movies that poison the souls of those that have believed in you, they want entertainment? I shall give it to them with you laying at my feet and my boot resting on your skull.”
Eli Goddard: “The world celebrated at the news of yourself, Lucas Knight, David Helms, Josh Hudson and Shilo Valiant all returning to the ring after retirement or hiatus. The world held their breath at the likes of Selena Frost, Thirteen, David Callahan and others returning. They then got excited at the prospect of seeing new talent, such as Alban McConnell, Jake Raab, Katya Djurdevic, D’Nae Moore and others. I exclude myself because I am the one who looks to thwart each of them and everyone else, I’ve ignored. I am not here to become a god. While you all look to ascend, I plan to keep my feet firmly on the ground because that is what the hunt is about. You can fight to be a GOD because when it’s all said and done, when the blood flows I will be the Devil this tournament needs to bring you all back down to earth.”
Eli turns his back to the camera now and removes the axe from the log, behind him was the darkness of the woods. Which is where he begins to walk with the axe on his shoulder and a worthy hunt on his mind. He knows all about Shaun Cruze, he has heard the stories, the legend of the Impact Player and now it was time the World understood the legend of Eli Goddard and what he was capable of.
Emerge was just the beginning, now he looked to slay a series of would-be Gods in the Making…
Tombstone, Texas
The Night Before…
When Eli returned to Tombstone after his travels, he didn’t know what to expect. He heard a lot of things were happening since the family had gone on their travels around the wrestling business. In all honesty he never wanted to leave Tombstone, it was his home but with War no one ever truly wants to go off and fight unless it was to protect something, they valued more than their own life, home... Their father John Goddard, he set himself on a mission and Eli the eldest of the family had to support his father.
Thus, took his kin to EMERGE to fight battles there while their father battle in SCW and their sister elsewhere such as GCW and EAW. With the God of Wrestling tournament drawing closer Eli wanted to come home to familiar surroundings to help him prepare mentally for what was going to be the most arduous challenge to date. He knew his opponent would be good, he knew he would be a legend. He could sense it in his gut, he had the knack of predicting things like this. It was his hunter’s instinct, which in turn was what brought him home.
The sun shone brightly as he walked up the dirt path towards Tombstones main gate, it was already open with his sister Viveca standing there with her hands on her hips and a smile on her face. It had only been a few weeks since he last left, but for Goddard family a day felt like an eternity. She welcomes him with a warm embrace as he drops his bag to his side.
Viveca: “Ya’ll are makin’ a habit of this ain’t ya sugah, leaving only to come back? If I didn’t’ know better, I’d think you missed me.”
She chuckled to herself while still beaming with a grin from ear to ear. Eli smirked a little, it was all he could muster…
Eli: “You know I’ll always miss you when I’m gone, sister.”
Viveca: “Yeah I know, welcome home brother.”
She picked up Eli’s bag and threw it over her shoulder, the pair of siblings walking into the compound known as Tombstone. A haven for all of those who have been shunned by the outside world, a place where second chances can happen for anyone willing to accept the rules of this land. As the gates begin to close, we move closer to the pair who continue their conversation…
Eli: “So how are things here?”
Viveca: “Honestly, they’ve been better Eli. A lot of folks beginning to lose faith you know, but with pa back now I think we’re gonna be okay.”
Eli: “He’s back then, how long?”
Viveca: “Few days give or take, should go see him I know it’s been a while.”
It had been a while since Eli had see his father, each were so focused on their own battles lately that it was all consuming. Eli nods to his sister but before he could even do what she asked they are swarmed by many of the townsfolk all here to greet the returning Eli… He spent the better half of the afternoon speaking with many members of the town, catching up with what was going on in their absence.
In the distance Eli could see his father leaning against the post of his porch watching from a far, he hadn’t come down to see his son and that did trouble him. Some more times passes, and Eli has caught up with what has been happening in Tombstone, he carries with him a bottle of Jaspers moonshine. Removing the cork with his teeth and spitting it out before walking up towards the home he grew up where John Goddard waited.
Eli took a swig from the bottle and hissed to himself, the taste was sweet, and it had no right to taste like it did given the content of the alcohol inside the glass prison, but it was a joy to drink all the same. Certainly, was something to put hair on any man’s chest as the saying goes…
John: “Ya’ll made it then?”
Eli: “Aye…”
Eli took another swig from the bottle before offering it to his father he accepted it and took a drink himself… John Goddard was a legend around these parts, he was a grapple many years ago until his wife died and everything changed. He shunned the world and raised the kids behind these walls he built with his own two hands.
John: “Ya’ll might as well get it off your chest son, I know you got something you wanna say so ya might as well it.”
Eli did have something he wanted to say, something he had spoken with his sisters before previously and brother Sawyer but no he wasn’t sure if he should say anything. It wasn’t his place even though deep down he knew he was probably the only one who could speak up about it…
Eli: “What is going on with you?”
John: “Excuse me?”
Eli: “Why is Wendell with them for starters?”
John: “Why? She offered to guide him, tah help him find himself who am I to deny that?”
Eli scoffed at that response, who was John Goddard? He was the Hellbilly! He was one of the most revered men in the state of Texas, that’s who. When he spoke people listened, but now not so much…
Eli: “Have you not seen what he has done, what he may have done? I know this is a war and we have to pick sides, by I wasn’t aware we picked sides with the likes of those we once strived to fight against who wanted to poison those closest to us…”
John nodded, he took another sip from the bottle and handed it back to his son.
John: “Aye, this is true but what would you have me do then, I am a man of my word. Cindy and I? we have ourselves an understanding, they stay out of your way and you stay out of theres.”
Eli: “I’d like to believe that pa, but you that isn’t how this works, not anymore because you’ve seen to it.”
John: “What is THAT supposed to mean son?”
Eli sighed; these words were something that had been buried inside him for a while now. He never wanted to disrespect his father, he idolized too much, but someone had to try and make him see sense…
Eli: “It means that I’m seeing you standing here before me looking nothing like the man that left to go to war with SCW. Instead what do you do? You befriend a young woman who made you soft. A young woman whose sister Rhiannon lives here on our land.”
John: “What is your point? She’s been a valued member of this society of ours has not she?”
Eli: “Aye, to what purpose huh? One where you shun Minerva to the point, she’s off doing her own thing and only seeing Sawyer and I when Emerge rolls around?”
John: “Is that it, you miss your sister?”
Eli: “That and other things sure. You know none of this isn’t right pa, and something must change because one of our greatest weapons, is now in the hand of the fucking enemy...”
Eli was talking about Wendell McGraw better known as Sundown, he was a beast of a man, a tower of power and was now working for Cindy Todd in Emerge and that meant trouble for anyone. Eli didn’t like that…
John: “You hold your tongue when speaking to me Eli. This time I’ll it slides, but never disrespect me I am your father.”
Eli: “They why don’t you act like it?”
John took a step forward now; he was getting agitated and that was something Eli wanted to see. To see if that fire still burned inside his father’s soul…
John: “You don’t worry about any of that son.”
Eli: “I can’t help it, someone has to pick up after the mess you’ve been making and I don’t that to be just Viv either.”
John: “What are you talking about now?!”
Eli: “Have you spoken to any of the folks down there, really spoken with em since you’ve been back? Things aren’t going well here, people are getting sick more and more, the poison is getting stronger and you’re up here doing what, nothing?”
John: “You have no idea what it is I’m doing boy.”
Eli: “I see you’re doing NOTHING.”
John: “I warned you to hold your tongue, Eli.”
Eli: “Or what? What are you going to do, huh?”
Eli was continuing to push his fathers buttons in the hope of seeing the man of old, the one he respected more than anyone else step out of the shadow that was obviously consuming him lately… Sometimes though you need to be careful of what you wished for…
John: “I will tell you what I think, I think you look for a reason to have a fight with me. You don’t like how I’ve been doing things; you’re welcome to fucking leave the way you came. I don’t have time or the patience for those who aren’t going to support our family and what we’re trying to achieve okay?”
Eli: “What?”
John: “You heard me, you don’t like it you can leave boy, in fact you know what son. Leave go I don’t want to see you here. I expect more from you Eli, but you’re coming here to me saying I’m soft when you’re the one who has go one to lose something you grew to enjoy holding onto.”
Eli: “You’re talking about the tag belts?”
Eli laughed at the thought that he enjoyed holding them, while they were a trophy for him, they were also a means to an end because with it they brought more prey with the light which shone onto them as bait…
John: “I am, I can see in your eyes that you were enamoured by them. You were poisoned by em son… It’s a poison I don’t want to see in Tombstone, we can’t afford to let it grow here… So I want you gone at dawn, you understand. I’m going to give you till then to say your goodbyes…”
That surprised Eli a little, he didn’t expect that sort of response, he had challenged his father before in the past and that was about it. But this was different… Eli stood there taking another sip from the bottle before saying nothing else and turning on his heels to walk back down the hill where Viveca waited with a smile, only for it to disappear knowing some was wrong…
And it was…
Something was wrong with their father…