End of the Year Special Open Invitational

[Owen]

LATER THAT DAY

 

It was only a few short blocks, but the moment they started heading in the direction, Reed James knew exactly where he was going. Owen had said many times that the location of the school and shelter had very little to do with Tommy and Kandis’s place being nearby and was more a location close to the Orlando Cruze Memorial which stood on a former playground. Owen did his best thinking there, or at least he did now he had compartmentalized all that had gone before, and it seemed like he was headed there again to deliver some wisdom, or at least that was his intention. Even as they walk through the gate, Reed knows that they are headed to the centerpiece, and it is no surprise when Owen kisses his hand and places it on the image of his Father than took pride of place. He then sits, motioning for Reed to follow, which he gladly does.

 

Reed: So, what we doing here Owen?

 

Owen is too busy looking at the memorial to respond straight away, but after a few seconds he turns to face Reed.

 

Owen: Two-fold really… one, I needed to come anyway, make sure everything is in order and give the grounds keeper his Christmas bonus, and two… which I’m sure you’ve guessed by now, to tell you a story.

 

Reed smiles. He had indeed guessed, there was always a reason that Owen brought people to the memorial and it was usually to impart something that he thought that person needed to hear.

 

Reed: I did guess

 

Owen: And so, you should… I’d wager that you didn’t guess what I was going to come here and compare you to the great man himself.

 

Reed: Orlando? Give over.

 

Owen: Why not?

 

Reed: Why not? I mean from what you and Jason have told me, the guy was an absolute legend. Multiple World Championships in several different companies, a Tag Team Champion more times than most. I mean, the guy was given the nickname ‘Icon’, it doesn’t get any bigger than that.

 

Owen: And yet, when he started, his beginnings where a lot humbler than any of that.

 

Many people knew the story of Orlando Cruze, but most of it was based on what he achieved, and the difference he made to a sport he loved. Not many could tell Orlando’s true story like Owen could. The story he’d been told when he was just a little boy.

 

Reed: Really? I can’t imagine that.

 

Owen: When Dad first came into wrestling, it wasn’t the same as it is now, with places like ‘Level Up’ to help people hone their skills. Orlando was trained solely by a guy called Wolfe, and if Dad was alive today, he’d tell you that training was more than a little limited. When he signed up for Viper Professional Wrestling, he had strength, and he had power and very little technique… sound familiar? If anyone Reed, you’ve been taught more wrestling technique than he had in the beginning.

 

Reed: Yeah, but come on… things have moved on a little since his time.

 

Owen: Yes, they have… most definitely. When Dad kicked off his career there were very few true superstars. Nowadays, it seems like most have something about them. But the fact remains, he kicked of his career, in truth, not having the first clue what he was doing. Constantly having a downer on himself because he was getting outwrestled time and time again. And yet, when he moved to EFW, he won the World Champion from a guy called Sickle. One of the best wrestlers of the time. You know how he won that match?

 

Reed: No, but I’m sure you are going to tell me.

 

Owen: Ninety-five percent of that match belonged to Sickle, but Dad hung in there, and bit by bit made Sickle that little more frustrated. Dad waited, and waited until Sickle let his guard down, and then he hit him with a shot that was harder than Sickle had felt in his life. Sickle didn’t get up, Orlando claimed the World Title and held it all the way till EFW closed, built on just that. Hanging in there with his limited move set until finding that moment to strike. That defeat still haunts Sickle to this day… even more so when Russell Nash Blade, Desolation, came along and found Dad out. Only then did Dad realize that he needed more to his game, and Desolation gave him that. Only then, did Dad become the Icon you know.

 

Reed looks back over at the memorial, understand what Owen was saying but still not buying into the logic, or believing he wasn’t engaging in a fool’s errand.

 

Reed: Still Owen, I get what you are trying to say. But this isn’t ONE opponent is it?

 

Owen: No, it’s not. But that makes your situation easier.

 

Reed: What, Ten, maybe Twenty wrestlers with more experience than me?

 

Owen: Yeah, and none of them singling you out. Do you think I won the Battle Royal by being the best wrestler? No, I did it by hanging in there and taking my chance when it came. There is going to be that much humanity in there, there isn’t going to be time for chokeholds or armbars. It’s going to be a fight, pure and simple and a battle of endurance. You have both of those attributes in spades and the longer the match goes, the more potential for a huge upset there will be. I’m not going to blow smoke up your ass and claim that if it comes down to you and Glory Braddock for instance, you’re the favorite because you’re not. But if it does come down to the last two, even the last five and you are still there Reed, that is one heck of an achievement. If not, Jason will be front and center making notes to see what you lack. And don’t forget, it may not even be wrestling you go forwards with, it could be MMA. This is as much a fact-finding mission as it is trying to win a car and two hundred and fifty grand. And as such, there is no pressure on you Reed. None. You can go out there and simply enjoy the moment… I can guarantee that there isn’t another wrestler in that Battle Royal that can say the same. You’re making this into a huge thing, and other than the stage, I promise you that there is no need.

 

Reed: So, if I fall flat on my ass, you won’t kick me out the school?

 

Owen: Nope… but it isn’t going to happen. I’m guessing that by the time this is through, you’ll have surprised yourself. But not us.

 

Reed: I hope so.

 

Owen gets to his feet, his job here done, and once again places his hand on the photo of Orlando but is interrupted by Reed.

 

Reed: Owen, can I ask you something?

 

Owen: Sure. Anything.

 

Reed: Is it worth it? Wrestling I mean. You’ve told me so many stories about the bad things, the way the business can chew you up and spit you out.

 

Owen: You’re not sure if it’s for you?

 

Reed: Well yeah.

 

Owen: Only you can answer that question bro, not me. Only you know if it’s worth all the hardships to get to where you want to be. Except for the initial first couple of months, during my hiatus, all I wanted to do was come back and be a part of this again. Claim my redemption and make things better. This business can give you things you cannot imagine, but you don’t need me to tell you that.

 

Reed: What do you mean?

 

Owen places a hand on Reed’s shoulder.

 

Owen: When you are stood behind that curtain, and your music hits and you step through and see all those flashing lights and people. When you hear the noise levels for you, and everyone else that comes to that ring. Ask yourself then, is it worth it? And I promise you the answer will be yes. Shaun is the best example I can give. He’s been in blockbuster movies, walked the red carpets, made millions. But he will tell you, as I’m going to now. NOTHING is like the reaction from a SCW crowd. Nothing. It’s worth it Reed, and very soon, you’ll find that out for yourself.

 

Reed nods his head, understanding what he was being told.

 

Owen: Now… come on, let’s get back to the gym. You got work to do.

 

Reed heads off in the direction of the gate, Owen pausing by the memorial waiting till Reed is out of earshot.

 

Owen: Right there Dad, the next Generation.

 

Scene fades.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Reed James sits awkwardly on the edge of the ring at Level Up, Finch behind the camera recording the whole thing. Owen is there, sat on a chair off camera, there only for moral support. With a nod from him, Reed starts to speak, with the tone of someone who understandably lacks confidence.

 

/RECORDING

 

“Hey, well I guess I’d better start by introducing myself. I’m Reed James, and I am a student at Level Up Wrestling School, owned as you probably all know by SCW World Champion Owen Cruze. Or at least he was at the time I filmed this.”

 

Off camera Owen smirks, happy that Reed is finding the opportunity to let his character come through and have a little joke at Owen’s expense. Even though it could most definitely be the truth.

 

“I’m going to be honest with every single one of you that have already presented your promo’s. I know exactly what you are thinking. Who is this guy, and more importantly what is he doing in a match as prestigious as the SCW End of Year Invitational Battle Royal? And the answer is… I don’t know. I’ve asked Owen the exact same thing. I’ve asked him what am I doing in a match where every single person has at least five years in-ring wrestling experience on me? I’ve asked him if the medics are going to be on standby to scrape me from the mat by the time Clyde Sutter has finished with me. Again, being honest with you all, this is my very first competitive match. Yes really. This is the first time I will ever step into a ring with more than a couple of people watching, and I do it with multiple people, willing to stamp on anyone to get those bragging rights, the cash and the car. Yep, I know… you’re all thinking the same as me, right? This kid is going to get murdered. And my guess is that many of you cannot wait to see it all happen.”

 

Reed catches the glance of Owen, who smiles reassuringly, urging Reed to continue the pre-prepared rhetoric.

 

“So, what AM I doing in this match, if it isn’t because the coaches at Level Up hate me and want to see me squashed. I was the same as you, asking the question, and thankfully, at least for me, I was given an answer. See, I’ve been training at Level Up now for no more than six months. Although coming along, my skills are nothing like the levels of those of you that I will face. I’ve already mentioned, I’ve been schooled by Jason King, a three-time ULW Champion, and Willow Wilkes, a two-time holder of the same belt. I’m advised by Owen Cruze, the current SCW World Champion, and two-time holder, one of the youngest holders of the best of all time at nineteen years old. I’ve not got the family history of a Glory Braddock, or the prowess of a Cassie Wolfe. I don’t have the mentality of a Clyde Sutter, or the no doubt decades of experience from some of the names expected to compete such as a Selena or Deanna Frost. There is no doubt some of you that will say I do nothing better than anyone in the Battle Royal, and as Owen has informed me, there is every chance that you would be right. But something I do have in abundance is a fighting spirit, due to my past that one day, perhaps you will all find out about. What I also have is the knowledge that I don’t care if you can execute an armbar better than I can, I will hit harder than literally any of you, and if I catch you… you’ll stay hit. No matter how big you are.

 

Because that’s all I can do, quite literally. I’m not coming to that ring with the intention of outwrestling anyone. I’m not headed into the End of Year Special, believing that my youthful exuberance is going to somehow, someway get me over the line. I don’t even think I can win… can you imagine that for one second? But I catch ANYONE on the jaw, they ARE going to remember my name I promise you. If I get you right, I believe Jason called me a ‘striker’, then I am going to knock you out. Owen tells me that I have no pressure on my shoulders. This whole thing is quite simply about my progression and finding out where I am at this stage of my training. Top five, Top ten… not embarrassing myself, that would be an achievement. But can you all say the same, if YOU were the one knocked out by the ‘rookie’ who shouldn’t even have been accepted into this match? No seriously, just imagine the ‘recap’ shows, the stills of your face contorting at the impact is felt throughout your body. Imagine the ridicule from your peers, your coaches even, as memes appear all over social media of your toppling like a giant Oak tree, at the hand of someone competing for the very first time. Imagine becoming a viral sensation for something unbelievably unexpected. I only have to catch ONE of you like that, and I’ll be remembered almost as much as the winner. I’m under no delusions that I am wayyyy above my head here and out my depth, but are any of you under the delusion that what I have just described cannot happen? If so, it’s more than likely that victim is going to be you.”

 

Reed was starting to get into it now and was coming across as far more experienced than he was. In time, that would all come, it would be the next stage in his training, learning how to deal with the pressures that would inevitably start to become a reality. But for now, he was enjoying himself, and that was all Owen wanted for him. To enjoy this moment before going back to work.

 

“So, I guess this is the moment that I get discounted, insulted… maybe get called ‘kid’ which seems to be the way of things, even for a World Champion. I can now sit back and watch as so many people get up in arms and more than a little antsy that I dare sit here and ‘disrespect’ people who were wrestling probably before I was even born, even though I have literally shown NO disrespect to anyone in this Battle Royal. In fact, I’m honored to be mentioned in the same match as every single one of you. A Kid from the streets tearing it up with former and indeed current, in other companies at least’ World Champions. This is the stuff of dreams for me. But don’t make the mistake of believing that I’m afraid of the realities, because I’m not. I have the right people looking out for me, people that have seen, and done it all, and no matter that happens at the End of Year Special, I know what I am going to be OK regardless. And if I get to smash a few faces in the process… well, happy days. At the End of Year Special, it begins.”

 

/END

 

Finch cuts the camera, lowering it as Owen walks over, putting a hand around Reed’s shoulder.

 

Reed: Was that OK?

 

Owen: You did brilliant, better than I did my first time.

 

Reed: You’re just saying that.

 

Owen: I promise you, I’m not. A lot of people will have just sat up and took notice of you, and that’s not a bad thing it’s good. Just remember, the first person that steps up to you…

 

Reed: Swing for the rafters?

 

Owen: Damn straight Bro. No matter where or when you finally sign for a company, let’s make sure that by then, the hype is real.

 

Reed: And there is no better hype than taking someone’s head from their shoulders.

 

Owen: Precisely.

 

Reed knew that from this point nothing would be easy. He knew he was stepping into the lions dens, and there was every chance that he would be mauled. And although physically he may not have been ready for some of the best in the business, mentally he now most certainly was, and had every intention of enjoying his moment in the sun. Whilst at the same time making sure he did enough… so that it wouldn’t be his last.