Post by Double C on Jan 29, 2018 2:58:53 GMT
It wasn’t the best of starts to the new year that Chris Crippler had wanted. Having wanted to enter Guerrero of Lucha as the GWD American Justice Champion, which didn’t happen after the transformation of ‘everyone’s hero’ Mark Storm to the almighty ‘god of GWD’ and retained in his first defence, this leaving a sour taste upon his mouth but it wasn’t going to ruin the huge match in Mexico as his first ever challenge for the Rey De Reyes Championship looms nearer.
The champion having been unbeaten for the entire calendar year of 2017, being one of a few men who almost caused the upset when they faced each other as the final two competitors in the La Azteca Rumble, if it hadn’t of been for losing his footing at the wrong time then the outcome would have been so different. Chris Crippler being victorious and it might be him holding the top prize of GOL. History cannot be changed but the chance to write it is before him as the first match of 2018 could be the end of Roxi’s run, both as champion and in streak, coming to the end as the one name symbolised with both feats would be that of the British ring legend. Chris Crippler.
It had been a long journey to reach Las Vegas Nevada. Having wearing the uncharacteristic hoody, grey jogging bottoms and Nike trainers from his usual get up of custom tailored suits and looking smart. Placing the hood over his head with a pair of Beats headphones over the top, sunglasses to prevent people from recognising him as he walks towards the venue of tonight’s show, Chris pulls out his special landyard that allows him access into the backstage area of Seattle Pro’s show ‘Mainstream 7: Greed’. Keeping his head down as he walks through the hallways, glancing up every now and again to see some of the names featured on the show, some he had recognised when he last came to Guerrero of Lucha but he enters an unmarked room to keep out of sight of everyone. No one knows that he is a surprise entrant of the pinnacle battle royal tonight and he wanted to keep it that way.
Getting dressed in his normal wrestling attire, placing his robe into a black bag so he could carry it discreetly to the entrance way, placing the loose fitting jogging bottoms and hoodie over the top of his gear once more before sitting on a steel chair, grabbing his phone out and begins to flick through the social media platforms to see the goings on in the world of professional wrestling. Chris prided himself of watching as much wrestling from all corners of the world, streaming shows of different promotions from mainstream to independent, this helped him when he goes back to training up-and-coming wrestlers as well as improving as a performer himself. Despite being a veteran of this sport for thirty plus years, he has and always will be a student of the game, this is why Chris always seemed to pull out the best matches against talented wrestlers of higher calibre compared to himself.
One promotion he always kept an eye on is Ladies All-Star Wrestling. In his journey to Mexico he had encountered the likes of Amy-Jo Smyth, Samantha Tolson and the person he will be facing for the Guerrero of Lucha Championship, Roxi Johnson. Lucas and Nicole Dupree always managed to bring the biggest names of the female variety in, the likes of world renown Crystal Hilton, Jean-Paul Lacklan’s daughter Kenzi-Grey, The Siren Kate Steele and the legend that is Julliet Brooks. Chris has had a few women he has trained and showing his students videos of LAW had been inspirational for the young minds. Having faced the likes of Smyth and Tolson in recent GOL tournaments, LAW has helped him understand some of his opponents too, especially with his most recent encounters in the Global Wrestling Division have been against the opposite sex. Something he hadn’t been stranger too as he faced the fierce wrestler, Pantera, almost fifteen years ago when he wrestled for Rampage World Wrestling.
Another promotion he followed with great detail over the years was Sin City Wrestling. Mark Ward and Christian Underwood produced a weekly show for the past six years that he had always enjoyed, seeing some great talent grow and pass through over the years, one of those was the rise of Roxi Johnson amongst some of the great bombshells in professional wrestling history. Roxi Johnson versus Misty outshone the male competitors on many occasions. When SCW announced it was closing its doors, Chris wanted to at least wrestle on the last few shows having watched for years, being granted this as he defeated Joshua Acquin and the hall of fame inductee Spike Staggs in a show stealing match of the i-Show Full Circle. Being a part of the SCW for a short time made Chris feel a sense of belonging, but he wanted to hear the stories of his opponent at Hecho En Mexico from those who had that opportunity, how they beat the superhero of SCW and how they were defeated by her. He knew of defeat as he had replayed the last moments of La Azteca Rumble many times in his mind.
Lowering his phone and letting out a sigh as he recollects that match once more, having done the unthinkable by eliminating over half of the competitors in the match, leaving the final two of Roxi and himself and the battle on the ring apron. Chris looks down at his foot that slipped and shakes his head disapprovingly. Even a man in his 50’s can make the simplest of mistakes and it was a costly one. Being a part of a small promotion like Skyfire Wrestling and facing wrestlers who represent big promotions like Honour Wrestling, LAW, SCW to name bar a few. Despite his reputation in the industry and being considered a legend himself, Chris held the promotion in high regard and wanted to get the brand out there, traveling to Japan to compete in a tournament and going to GOL to make sure its banner was held high. Envisioning winning the rumble and going back to Skyfire saying he had achieved something unthinkable was what he had dreamt. But that foot slip cost him.
A knock comes to the door as he places his phone into his bag, making sure his face is concealed as he picks up the black bag containing his robe, stepping out of the room and heading towards the stage where he seen already eliminated wrestlers. Monitors along the root as he sees who is already in the ring, some of the officials and other wrestlers look in his direction but he keeps his hood down to prevent them seeing, walking through towards the entrance and stands near the curtain. Taking the hoody and bottoms off, slipping on his traditional purple and gold trimmed wrestling gown, making the final checks before he hears the fans chanting the countdown and his music hitting the airways as he lets out a final big sigh before pushing the curtain and stepping out onto the Seattle Pro Stage for the very first time to a surprising reaction.
Chris steps back through the certain with sweat dripping down his face, although he hadn’t made a big impact that he had done in GOL, he had made an impact and will certainly be looking to create waves in Seattle Pro like he had done within Skyfire Wrestling. This time walking back towards his locker room he was getting looks of admiration, shock as they never expected to see him, officials had done everything they could to prevent people knowing he was a surprise entrant and it had been totally worth it from the crowd reaction. Although he wanted to stay and see who wins the rumble and who would come out on top during the heavyweight title contest, Chris had booked a flight straight to Mexico as preparation for his match with Roxi Johnson was the only thing on his mind, capturing the Rey De Reyes Championship and ending Roxi’s winning streak would end the first month of January very nicely as more appearance loom on the horizon.
~~
Pulling his smart phone from his inner jacket pocket and ignoring all the notifications, tapping on the camera icon and holding his phone up to get a good presentable angle, ruffling his hair with his free hand and creaking his neck before pressing the record icon and waits for the numbers to roll before speaking.
“It shouldn’t of been me in this position, I know this, it was Avery Miles III who is meant to be getting his rematch but he ended his tenure with GOL. Amy Jo Smyth had wanted to step up to the plate and it was the actual fans of Guerrero of Lucha who chose me, something I had not expected as Amy Jo versus Roxi has a certain appeal to it, but the fans voted for me and now I get to wrestle for the prestigious Rey De Reyes Championship against arguably the biggest female wrestler in the world currently. Roxi Johnson”
Looking up to see the air stewardess walking along the aisle, she smiles towards Chris but he ignores her as he glances around at the other passengers on the flight, most had taken the time to rest whilst others look at the inflight movie or are on their own electronic devices. Chris looks back at the camera and continues to talk.
“I remember when I was wrestling back in 2002/2003 when there wasn’t too many female wrestlers around, the ones who created waves where the likes of the Australian Pantera and a name infamous to this day, Dayton Ohio’s own Kirsta Lewis, I know others where about but when you’re comparing the superhero and reigning Rey De Reyes champion to wrestlers back then.. Kirsta Lewis was the name that would stand out. Obviously 15 years have passed and now we have many talented female wrestlers, like Roxi Johnson for one, the list would be phenomenal and would put a lot of males to shame. This is why I returned back to active wrestling last year! I could act my age and continue training like Jan van der Roost, guiding the young minds of tomorrow today, there is nothing like seeing your students being successful in your teachings. But whilst I can still lace my boots up and can perform to the best of my ability, I am going to do so and I not only took Skyfire Wrestling by storm but I made it a place to compete, Mark Storm ventured because of me and now he one of my biggest rivals in this industry! I may dislike him because he is like my kryptonite, I want to do everything in my power to destroy him in the ring, but I respect him because he is doing what I did all those years ago and my time maybe fading but I’m going to go out on top! I will defeat Mark Storm sooner or later and I will defeat you, Roxi Johnson, you are one of the biggest names in this industry but I need to bury the haunted visions I keep having!”
“No one thought I could do what I did in the La Azteca Rumble but eliminating over fifty per cent of the competition, which included current champions of their respected promotions, it wasn’t a fluke that I did what I did but I SHOULD have defeated you Roxi! You should have been the cherry on top as I looked to face Avery Miles III, but a slip of my foot prevented me to achieve that and it was you who went on to challenge and successfully become champion, I watched through gritted teeth and even though I have won matches and made appearances all over the globe.. that foot slip leaves me with a feeling of dread! It shouldn’t as my matches with Mark Storm have left me frustrated, especially with what he did to me earlier in the month, and I look for retribution in the form of the Immortal Kingdom Crown in Global Wrestling Division. But that haunts me whenever I recollect about Guerrero of Lucha and hearing your name mentioned in Sin City Wrestling.”
“By the way, on a serious note, my condolences towards the passing of your rival Misty, I know you two put on great matches and become friends so I’m sorry for her passing.”
“I never expected to do what I did recently in Sin City Wrestling, you know of the great Spike Staggs and what he achieved in the ring, having five star matches and claiming both SCW and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship! He deserved his spot within the Hall of Fame and our battle at Full Circle pushed me to my limits, two veterans and legends colliding in what was dubbed the ‘dream match’, and we showed why we are the best at our craft and I defeated him to show the entire world that Chris Crippler is the real deal! Not some old guy looking to regain a faded dream, the candle almost burnt to the end and looking to spark that flame to its former glory, a British fool who is all talk but falls more flatter than a John Blade youtube upload! I am someone who should be respected as I can wrestle the best, old or young, bringing out that sixth seventh and eighth gear during matches and still able to defeat them! I proved that in the La Azteca Rumble and I proved that in the New Japan Fighting Championship! Defeating THEN champions from 4CW and the EWC during that tournament! I am going to do the unthinkable once more when I face you, Roxi Johnson, no one expects the replacement to beat you and take that illustrious Rey de Reyes championship from you but that is exactly what I’m going to do!”
Chris swaps his hands that hold the phone and changes the angle of the shot, making sure that the light doesn’t reflect into the camera too much, wiggling his arm to get feeling back into it before glancing out of the window to his right. Pitch darkness.
“I was looking back to when you faced Avery Miles III and what you had said about your achievements during your yearlong undefeated streak, you mentioned your soaring eagles championship and wrestling sawtooth grin, that Avery even questioning what you achieved was undermining you as you have achieved lots. I am not doubting any of that as you have done a lot within Guerrero of Lucha and deserve to be where you are, that is not in any dispute, but the haunted memory of the La Azteca Rumble for me and is one of the driving motions for me to claim the top prize in GOL. You didn’t even mention amongst your achievements of 2017 to Avery. Why is that Roxi? I am currently on a flight from Las Vegas to Mexico after competing in a Battle Royale for Seattle Pro Wrestling, sure I didn’t eliminate anyone like I did in GOL, but I wrestled some great competitors during that contest and I look forward to making more appearances in Seattle Pro! That is something I can say to you without a moment’s hesitation. I mentioned beating reigning champions of 4CW & EWC during a tournament to crown the World Heavyweight Championship, I didn’t make it to the finals, but I remember that tournament fondly and mention it to people as not many people can say what I did! Yet your title wins and beating sawtooth was amongst your big achievements, when you faced Avery, yet the rumble win that got your that title opportunity wasn’t anywhere to be seen and that.. that is like slapping me around the face without any reason. I eliminated most of the opponents whilst your only elimination, the most important one of the match, was eliminating me and that was because of a god damn slip on my end and that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth!”
“Yet you didn’t even acknowledge it whatsoever and yet here we are, Rey de Reyes Championship match and the final two of the rumble in 2017 come face to face once more, the two best participants of that match will do battle for the big gold championship you currently are in procession of! Will you recognise that fact or not? Superheroes should take note of everything of their opponents! I’m pretty use to facing ‘heroes’ thou with Mark Storm, everybody’s hero and yours, I have been his villain and if 2017 is the year of the superhero then 2018 will be the year of the villain as I will defeat the undefeatable!”
“I’m sure you and your wife, Keira, will do a lot of talking about this situation. Team Hero. But sometimes you need to be defeated by the bad guy to rise up to be better, after all you didn’t win the Guerrero of the Year as that went to Honey, you haven’t felt defeat in such a long time that it is only fair that should happen at my hand. You won the rumble and I win your championship! The villain of this story triumphs over the hero in an epic battle, leaving you in the middle of the ring battered bruised and licking your wounds, I will reign supreme as the fans will look for the superhero to rise up and destroy the evil that reign in GOL. You could almost draw a comic of this adventure, you could almost envision it before your eyes, sure you’ll dismiss it as you look to create an undefeated streak that no one else can amount too. Be the best champion this promotion had ever seen. But I will make this a reality as I defeat you, Roxi Johnson, ripping the cape of undefeatability off you and stand tall with the championship in one hand and the hope of millions in the other as the superhero dies! Long Live The Villain!”
Chris smirks as he rests his head back on his chair, glancing around at the people around him once more, opening his mouth wide as he lets out a long yawn before wiping his eyes with his free hand.
“I will be leaving Mexico and appearing at Global Wrestling Division and Extreme Hardcore Wrestling Federation holding the Rey de Reyes Championship, I know most of the people in the GWD & EHWF won’t know much about the GOL, but they will do as I will travel all around the world with that championship and promote Guerrero of Lucha like I have done in the past with Skyfire. Mark Storm is doing that with the GWD, I will do that with the GOL, and when we collide again so-called ‘god’, the American Justice Championship will be joining the GOL Rey de Reyes Championship around my waist!”
“I made a tweet at the beginning of the month with checkboxes, three matches listed, Mark Storm was the first and I put a big ‘x’ next to that as the Hero became a ‘god’ at my expense. The next was Spike Staggs and I put a massive green ‘tick’ next to that, defeating him in the middle of the ring at Full Circle and proving legends could die within a moment, the last name that remains unmarked is that of your name, Roxi Johnson. A lot of people will hope that there will be an ‘x’ next to it as the anti-hero is added to the list of people who failed to defeat you. However I will be grabbing a big green pen and putting a tick next to it, the hero and legend dies before your very eyes, the three hundred plus reign of Roxi Johnson will end at my hand and the Rey de Reyes Championship will be in the hands of the stereotypical British villain! Love me or hate me, you will not forget me, people will remember the legacy of Roxi Johnson and they’ll remember the person who ended it! His name will be the next Rey de Reyes Champion.. Chris Crippler!”
“Believe me?”
“You should so you don’t get your hopes up! Roxi will defeat you, Chris, she will continue the way she knows how. Being victorious! That is a nice sentiment but when you watch me standing over the lifeless body of your superhero, edition number whatever will be entitled ‘when heroes die’, with a picture of me standing tall holding the gold prize high in the air with the referee raising my hand in victory! That is what you should believe in! That is what you should look forward too! You are looking at the first British wrestler to hold the illustrious championship! 5 months as champion will crumble at my hands!”
“You may not want to believe, Amigos, but history will be written and etched in history as you’ll see La Cucaracha, Avery Miles III, Sawtooth Grin and Roxi Johnson get joined by me, Chris Crippler. Your new Champion! Your new villain! I will be the villain you hate, the person you despise, the person you want beaten within an inch of my life! I will be the most hated man in Mexico and I’m ready to be that villano desperado!”
He sniggers as he looks at the camera with a look of intent. He taps the record button with his thumb and waits for it to save, pressing play to re-watch the footage, not being in the best of light and looking a bit grainy compared to most videos nowadays. Chris shrugs and begins to upload it to his channel and sharing it via social media.
~~
Chris arrives at his hotel feeling very jet lagged and still aching from his cameo appearance at Seattle Pro, placing his bag down on the floor near the wooden wardrobe and chucking his jacket down on top of it, Chris lets out another yawn and falls face first onto the single bed that crinkles underneath his body. The vibration from his phone comes from his pocket, Chris doesn’t bother to move initially as he is too tired to acknowledge it, finally giving in in frustration as he reaches over to his jacket and pulls his phone out. Seeing the phone call was from his beloved wife, Gemma. He contemplates ringing back up as he is feeling too tired and aching but being a husband, ignoring a phone call or text message was considered a death sentence, pressing down on the green phone icon and falling back first on the bed with a slight bounce. His eyes closes as he presses the speaker button and rests the phone on his chest.
”Why haven’t you been answering your calls?” she says slightly annoyed as the phones connect. “You said you’d call me after the rumble but that was hours ago!”
Chris sighs. “I know I did but I had to catch my flight then I got focused in a video..”
“I saw the uplink” She says abruptly. “Yet I seem to be second best to Roxi Johnson!”
He snorts “Roxi Johnson will be second best come our match!” Continuing to snigger before ge realised she didn’t respond. “Look I’m sorry I didn’t call but I’ve called now and I’m extremely tired, I ache, not in the best conditions to wrestle one of the best female competitors in this industry but I am going to in order to become the Rey de Reyes Champion and create history on more fronts than I care to imagine!”
His wife finally replies. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Chris, you have no idea what it is like being a wife to a wrestler. I would say Keira would understand but she is a wrestler herself! You rest up and maybe you’ll call me tomorrow?”
“I will definitely call you tomorrow” He reassures his wife. ”I’ve got a lot of press to do before the actual event but I make time for you, that is for sure, I know I don’t understand what it’s like being the wife of a wrestler. But I do know what it is like being a challenger for a championship and I want to sleep well tonight but my mind is racing. I want this bad! I need this!” Rage begins to fill his aching body but he stops himself being worked up. “But you don’t need to hear that, sweetie, I’ll call you tomorrow and throughout the day. Okay. I love you!”
“I love you too” she says back lovingly. “Sleep well”
The phone disconnects as Chris takes his phone and places it down on top of his jacket, staring up at the ceiling for a little while, yawning multiple times before finally closing his eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep.
The champion having been unbeaten for the entire calendar year of 2017, being one of a few men who almost caused the upset when they faced each other as the final two competitors in the La Azteca Rumble, if it hadn’t of been for losing his footing at the wrong time then the outcome would have been so different. Chris Crippler being victorious and it might be him holding the top prize of GOL. History cannot be changed but the chance to write it is before him as the first match of 2018 could be the end of Roxi’s run, both as champion and in streak, coming to the end as the one name symbolised with both feats would be that of the British ring legend. Chris Crippler.
It had been a long journey to reach Las Vegas Nevada. Having wearing the uncharacteristic hoody, grey jogging bottoms and Nike trainers from his usual get up of custom tailored suits and looking smart. Placing the hood over his head with a pair of Beats headphones over the top, sunglasses to prevent people from recognising him as he walks towards the venue of tonight’s show, Chris pulls out his special landyard that allows him access into the backstage area of Seattle Pro’s show ‘Mainstream 7: Greed’. Keeping his head down as he walks through the hallways, glancing up every now and again to see some of the names featured on the show, some he had recognised when he last came to Guerrero of Lucha but he enters an unmarked room to keep out of sight of everyone. No one knows that he is a surprise entrant of the pinnacle battle royal tonight and he wanted to keep it that way.
Getting dressed in his normal wrestling attire, placing his robe into a black bag so he could carry it discreetly to the entrance way, placing the loose fitting jogging bottoms and hoodie over the top of his gear once more before sitting on a steel chair, grabbing his phone out and begins to flick through the social media platforms to see the goings on in the world of professional wrestling. Chris prided himself of watching as much wrestling from all corners of the world, streaming shows of different promotions from mainstream to independent, this helped him when he goes back to training up-and-coming wrestlers as well as improving as a performer himself. Despite being a veteran of this sport for thirty plus years, he has and always will be a student of the game, this is why Chris always seemed to pull out the best matches against talented wrestlers of higher calibre compared to himself.
One promotion he always kept an eye on is Ladies All-Star Wrestling. In his journey to Mexico he had encountered the likes of Amy-Jo Smyth, Samantha Tolson and the person he will be facing for the Guerrero of Lucha Championship, Roxi Johnson. Lucas and Nicole Dupree always managed to bring the biggest names of the female variety in, the likes of world renown Crystal Hilton, Jean-Paul Lacklan’s daughter Kenzi-Grey, The Siren Kate Steele and the legend that is Julliet Brooks. Chris has had a few women he has trained and showing his students videos of LAW had been inspirational for the young minds. Having faced the likes of Smyth and Tolson in recent GOL tournaments, LAW has helped him understand some of his opponents too, especially with his most recent encounters in the Global Wrestling Division have been against the opposite sex. Something he hadn’t been stranger too as he faced the fierce wrestler, Pantera, almost fifteen years ago when he wrestled for Rampage World Wrestling.
Another promotion he followed with great detail over the years was Sin City Wrestling. Mark Ward and Christian Underwood produced a weekly show for the past six years that he had always enjoyed, seeing some great talent grow and pass through over the years, one of those was the rise of Roxi Johnson amongst some of the great bombshells in professional wrestling history. Roxi Johnson versus Misty outshone the male competitors on many occasions. When SCW announced it was closing its doors, Chris wanted to at least wrestle on the last few shows having watched for years, being granted this as he defeated Joshua Acquin and the hall of fame inductee Spike Staggs in a show stealing match of the i-Show Full Circle. Being a part of the SCW for a short time made Chris feel a sense of belonging, but he wanted to hear the stories of his opponent at Hecho En Mexico from those who had that opportunity, how they beat the superhero of SCW and how they were defeated by her. He knew of defeat as he had replayed the last moments of La Azteca Rumble many times in his mind.
Lowering his phone and letting out a sigh as he recollects that match once more, having done the unthinkable by eliminating over half of the competitors in the match, leaving the final two of Roxi and himself and the battle on the ring apron. Chris looks down at his foot that slipped and shakes his head disapprovingly. Even a man in his 50’s can make the simplest of mistakes and it was a costly one. Being a part of a small promotion like Skyfire Wrestling and facing wrestlers who represent big promotions like Honour Wrestling, LAW, SCW to name bar a few. Despite his reputation in the industry and being considered a legend himself, Chris held the promotion in high regard and wanted to get the brand out there, traveling to Japan to compete in a tournament and going to GOL to make sure its banner was held high. Envisioning winning the rumble and going back to Skyfire saying he had achieved something unthinkable was what he had dreamt. But that foot slip cost him.
A knock comes to the door as he places his phone into his bag, making sure his face is concealed as he picks up the black bag containing his robe, stepping out of the room and heading towards the stage where he seen already eliminated wrestlers. Monitors along the root as he sees who is already in the ring, some of the officials and other wrestlers look in his direction but he keeps his hood down to prevent them seeing, walking through towards the entrance and stands near the curtain. Taking the hoody and bottoms off, slipping on his traditional purple and gold trimmed wrestling gown, making the final checks before he hears the fans chanting the countdown and his music hitting the airways as he lets out a final big sigh before pushing the curtain and stepping out onto the Seattle Pro Stage for the very first time to a surprising reaction.
Chris steps back through the certain with sweat dripping down his face, although he hadn’t made a big impact that he had done in GOL, he had made an impact and will certainly be looking to create waves in Seattle Pro like he had done within Skyfire Wrestling. This time walking back towards his locker room he was getting looks of admiration, shock as they never expected to see him, officials had done everything they could to prevent people knowing he was a surprise entrant and it had been totally worth it from the crowd reaction. Although he wanted to stay and see who wins the rumble and who would come out on top during the heavyweight title contest, Chris had booked a flight straight to Mexico as preparation for his match with Roxi Johnson was the only thing on his mind, capturing the Rey De Reyes Championship and ending Roxi’s winning streak would end the first month of January very nicely as more appearance loom on the horizon.
~~
Pulling his smart phone from his inner jacket pocket and ignoring all the notifications, tapping on the camera icon and holding his phone up to get a good presentable angle, ruffling his hair with his free hand and creaking his neck before pressing the record icon and waits for the numbers to roll before speaking.
“It shouldn’t of been me in this position, I know this, it was Avery Miles III who is meant to be getting his rematch but he ended his tenure with GOL. Amy Jo Smyth had wanted to step up to the plate and it was the actual fans of Guerrero of Lucha who chose me, something I had not expected as Amy Jo versus Roxi has a certain appeal to it, but the fans voted for me and now I get to wrestle for the prestigious Rey De Reyes Championship against arguably the biggest female wrestler in the world currently. Roxi Johnson”
Looking up to see the air stewardess walking along the aisle, she smiles towards Chris but he ignores her as he glances around at the other passengers on the flight, most had taken the time to rest whilst others look at the inflight movie or are on their own electronic devices. Chris looks back at the camera and continues to talk.
“I remember when I was wrestling back in 2002/2003 when there wasn’t too many female wrestlers around, the ones who created waves where the likes of the Australian Pantera and a name infamous to this day, Dayton Ohio’s own Kirsta Lewis, I know others where about but when you’re comparing the superhero and reigning Rey De Reyes champion to wrestlers back then.. Kirsta Lewis was the name that would stand out. Obviously 15 years have passed and now we have many talented female wrestlers, like Roxi Johnson for one, the list would be phenomenal and would put a lot of males to shame. This is why I returned back to active wrestling last year! I could act my age and continue training like Jan van der Roost, guiding the young minds of tomorrow today, there is nothing like seeing your students being successful in your teachings. But whilst I can still lace my boots up and can perform to the best of my ability, I am going to do so and I not only took Skyfire Wrestling by storm but I made it a place to compete, Mark Storm ventured because of me and now he one of my biggest rivals in this industry! I may dislike him because he is like my kryptonite, I want to do everything in my power to destroy him in the ring, but I respect him because he is doing what I did all those years ago and my time maybe fading but I’m going to go out on top! I will defeat Mark Storm sooner or later and I will defeat you, Roxi Johnson, you are one of the biggest names in this industry but I need to bury the haunted visions I keep having!”
“No one thought I could do what I did in the La Azteca Rumble but eliminating over fifty per cent of the competition, which included current champions of their respected promotions, it wasn’t a fluke that I did what I did but I SHOULD have defeated you Roxi! You should have been the cherry on top as I looked to face Avery Miles III, but a slip of my foot prevented me to achieve that and it was you who went on to challenge and successfully become champion, I watched through gritted teeth and even though I have won matches and made appearances all over the globe.. that foot slip leaves me with a feeling of dread! It shouldn’t as my matches with Mark Storm have left me frustrated, especially with what he did to me earlier in the month, and I look for retribution in the form of the Immortal Kingdom Crown in Global Wrestling Division. But that haunts me whenever I recollect about Guerrero of Lucha and hearing your name mentioned in Sin City Wrestling.”
“By the way, on a serious note, my condolences towards the passing of your rival Misty, I know you two put on great matches and become friends so I’m sorry for her passing.”
“I never expected to do what I did recently in Sin City Wrestling, you know of the great Spike Staggs and what he achieved in the ring, having five star matches and claiming both SCW and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship! He deserved his spot within the Hall of Fame and our battle at Full Circle pushed me to my limits, two veterans and legends colliding in what was dubbed the ‘dream match’, and we showed why we are the best at our craft and I defeated him to show the entire world that Chris Crippler is the real deal! Not some old guy looking to regain a faded dream, the candle almost burnt to the end and looking to spark that flame to its former glory, a British fool who is all talk but falls more flatter than a John Blade youtube upload! I am someone who should be respected as I can wrestle the best, old or young, bringing out that sixth seventh and eighth gear during matches and still able to defeat them! I proved that in the La Azteca Rumble and I proved that in the New Japan Fighting Championship! Defeating THEN champions from 4CW and the EWC during that tournament! I am going to do the unthinkable once more when I face you, Roxi Johnson, no one expects the replacement to beat you and take that illustrious Rey de Reyes championship from you but that is exactly what I’m going to do!”
Chris swaps his hands that hold the phone and changes the angle of the shot, making sure that the light doesn’t reflect into the camera too much, wiggling his arm to get feeling back into it before glancing out of the window to his right. Pitch darkness.
“I was looking back to when you faced Avery Miles III and what you had said about your achievements during your yearlong undefeated streak, you mentioned your soaring eagles championship and wrestling sawtooth grin, that Avery even questioning what you achieved was undermining you as you have achieved lots. I am not doubting any of that as you have done a lot within Guerrero of Lucha and deserve to be where you are, that is not in any dispute, but the haunted memory of the La Azteca Rumble for me and is one of the driving motions for me to claim the top prize in GOL. You didn’t even mention amongst your achievements of 2017 to Avery. Why is that Roxi? I am currently on a flight from Las Vegas to Mexico after competing in a Battle Royale for Seattle Pro Wrestling, sure I didn’t eliminate anyone like I did in GOL, but I wrestled some great competitors during that contest and I look forward to making more appearances in Seattle Pro! That is something I can say to you without a moment’s hesitation. I mentioned beating reigning champions of 4CW & EWC during a tournament to crown the World Heavyweight Championship, I didn’t make it to the finals, but I remember that tournament fondly and mention it to people as not many people can say what I did! Yet your title wins and beating sawtooth was amongst your big achievements, when you faced Avery, yet the rumble win that got your that title opportunity wasn’t anywhere to be seen and that.. that is like slapping me around the face without any reason. I eliminated most of the opponents whilst your only elimination, the most important one of the match, was eliminating me and that was because of a god damn slip on my end and that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth!”
“Yet you didn’t even acknowledge it whatsoever and yet here we are, Rey de Reyes Championship match and the final two of the rumble in 2017 come face to face once more, the two best participants of that match will do battle for the big gold championship you currently are in procession of! Will you recognise that fact or not? Superheroes should take note of everything of their opponents! I’m pretty use to facing ‘heroes’ thou with Mark Storm, everybody’s hero and yours, I have been his villain and if 2017 is the year of the superhero then 2018 will be the year of the villain as I will defeat the undefeatable!”
“I’m sure you and your wife, Keira, will do a lot of talking about this situation. Team Hero. But sometimes you need to be defeated by the bad guy to rise up to be better, after all you didn’t win the Guerrero of the Year as that went to Honey, you haven’t felt defeat in such a long time that it is only fair that should happen at my hand. You won the rumble and I win your championship! The villain of this story triumphs over the hero in an epic battle, leaving you in the middle of the ring battered bruised and licking your wounds, I will reign supreme as the fans will look for the superhero to rise up and destroy the evil that reign in GOL. You could almost draw a comic of this adventure, you could almost envision it before your eyes, sure you’ll dismiss it as you look to create an undefeated streak that no one else can amount too. Be the best champion this promotion had ever seen. But I will make this a reality as I defeat you, Roxi Johnson, ripping the cape of undefeatability off you and stand tall with the championship in one hand and the hope of millions in the other as the superhero dies! Long Live The Villain!”
Chris smirks as he rests his head back on his chair, glancing around at the people around him once more, opening his mouth wide as he lets out a long yawn before wiping his eyes with his free hand.
“I will be leaving Mexico and appearing at Global Wrestling Division and Extreme Hardcore Wrestling Federation holding the Rey de Reyes Championship, I know most of the people in the GWD & EHWF won’t know much about the GOL, but they will do as I will travel all around the world with that championship and promote Guerrero of Lucha like I have done in the past with Skyfire. Mark Storm is doing that with the GWD, I will do that with the GOL, and when we collide again so-called ‘god’, the American Justice Championship will be joining the GOL Rey de Reyes Championship around my waist!”
“I made a tweet at the beginning of the month with checkboxes, three matches listed, Mark Storm was the first and I put a big ‘x’ next to that as the Hero became a ‘god’ at my expense. The next was Spike Staggs and I put a massive green ‘tick’ next to that, defeating him in the middle of the ring at Full Circle and proving legends could die within a moment, the last name that remains unmarked is that of your name, Roxi Johnson. A lot of people will hope that there will be an ‘x’ next to it as the anti-hero is added to the list of people who failed to defeat you. However I will be grabbing a big green pen and putting a tick next to it, the hero and legend dies before your very eyes, the three hundred plus reign of Roxi Johnson will end at my hand and the Rey de Reyes Championship will be in the hands of the stereotypical British villain! Love me or hate me, you will not forget me, people will remember the legacy of Roxi Johnson and they’ll remember the person who ended it! His name will be the next Rey de Reyes Champion.. Chris Crippler!”
“Believe me?”
“You should so you don’t get your hopes up! Roxi will defeat you, Chris, she will continue the way she knows how. Being victorious! That is a nice sentiment but when you watch me standing over the lifeless body of your superhero, edition number whatever will be entitled ‘when heroes die’, with a picture of me standing tall holding the gold prize high in the air with the referee raising my hand in victory! That is what you should believe in! That is what you should look forward too! You are looking at the first British wrestler to hold the illustrious championship! 5 months as champion will crumble at my hands!”
“You may not want to believe, Amigos, but history will be written and etched in history as you’ll see La Cucaracha, Avery Miles III, Sawtooth Grin and Roxi Johnson get joined by me, Chris Crippler. Your new Champion! Your new villain! I will be the villain you hate, the person you despise, the person you want beaten within an inch of my life! I will be the most hated man in Mexico and I’m ready to be that villano desperado!”
He sniggers as he looks at the camera with a look of intent. He taps the record button with his thumb and waits for it to save, pressing play to re-watch the footage, not being in the best of light and looking a bit grainy compared to most videos nowadays. Chris shrugs and begins to upload it to his channel and sharing it via social media.
~~
Chris arrives at his hotel feeling very jet lagged and still aching from his cameo appearance at Seattle Pro, placing his bag down on the floor near the wooden wardrobe and chucking his jacket down on top of it, Chris lets out another yawn and falls face first onto the single bed that crinkles underneath his body. The vibration from his phone comes from his pocket, Chris doesn’t bother to move initially as he is too tired to acknowledge it, finally giving in in frustration as he reaches over to his jacket and pulls his phone out. Seeing the phone call was from his beloved wife, Gemma. He contemplates ringing back up as he is feeling too tired and aching but being a husband, ignoring a phone call or text message was considered a death sentence, pressing down on the green phone icon and falling back first on the bed with a slight bounce. His eyes closes as he presses the speaker button and rests the phone on his chest.
”Why haven’t you been answering your calls?” she says slightly annoyed as the phones connect. “You said you’d call me after the rumble but that was hours ago!”
Chris sighs. “I know I did but I had to catch my flight then I got focused in a video..”
“I saw the uplink” She says abruptly. “Yet I seem to be second best to Roxi Johnson!”
He snorts “Roxi Johnson will be second best come our match!” Continuing to snigger before ge realised she didn’t respond. “Look I’m sorry I didn’t call but I’ve called now and I’m extremely tired, I ache, not in the best conditions to wrestle one of the best female competitors in this industry but I am going to in order to become the Rey de Reyes Champion and create history on more fronts than I care to imagine!”
His wife finally replies. “I’m just glad you’re okay, Chris, you have no idea what it is like being a wife to a wrestler. I would say Keira would understand but she is a wrestler herself! You rest up and maybe you’ll call me tomorrow?”
“I will definitely call you tomorrow” He reassures his wife. ”I’ve got a lot of press to do before the actual event but I make time for you, that is for sure, I know I don’t understand what it’s like being the wife of a wrestler. But I do know what it is like being a challenger for a championship and I want to sleep well tonight but my mind is racing. I want this bad! I need this!” Rage begins to fill his aching body but he stops himself being worked up. “But you don’t need to hear that, sweetie, I’ll call you tomorrow and throughout the day. Okay. I love you!”
“I love you too” she says back lovingly. “Sleep well”
The phone disconnects as Chris takes his phone and places it down on top of his jacket, staring up at the ceiling for a little while, yawning multiple times before finally closing his eyes and slowly drifting off to sleep.