As requested, Tianna filled me in. The previous night, Bret "Lock 'Em Up" Locksley had an altercation at a local bar. The damages were minimal but both he and the person he got into a fight with were to be detained through the weekend. The business owner wasn't looking to press charges against Locksley or the promotion as long as the damaged property was paid for and replaced without the Insurance Adjusters being involved. There was also talk of paying the estimated funds which could have been earned while the bar was shut down for repairs and replacements. All of the news stunned me which was followed with great relief that me, Carmen, and Tianna were not in any trouble.
Realizing I needed to adjust my plans, I hugged Tee and kissed Carmen then rushed to find Grizzly and see how the booking was set. When I caught up with Grizzly and the booker, the surprises kept coming. Not only was I stunned to be in the first match of the show, I was also going to win it. This was a major push for me and made me feel a lot better. Knowing how the match was suppose to end, now we needed to fill in the beginning and the middle. And fans absolutely love unscripted violence.
The show started like it normally did: lots of pyro, loud music, and fans screaming so hard it was guaranteed they'd be hoarse the following day. One of our company's biggest rules was no lying... sort of. So Grizzly went to the ring ahead of me, cutting a promo and complaining about Bret being locked up for fighting some loser in a bar. Grizzly; being a heel, worked the crowd into a frenzy. He insulted everything the city had to offer, including calling all the men weak and pathetic. He even pushed it by saying Bret got into the fight because he wanted an excuse not to wrestle "The Grizzly Bear". Grizzly continued his insults, saying there was nobody with any balls that would fight him like a man. That was my queue.
My music hit and a stage guy assisted me behind the curtain, the Gorilla Position as it's known, waiting for just the right moment in my entrance theme to step out and be seen by the world. When the timing was right, the tech sent me on my way, microphone in hand. Out on the stage I could feel the electricity coming from the crowd. It's a similar feeling to listening to music that makes your skin come alive. This was a big moment for me and I wasn't going to waste it. Mic in hand, I countered Grizzly's promo with one of my own. In short I told him if he wanted a fight I'd give him one he'd never forget. With that I rushed to the ring and a nearby ref gave the signal to ring the bell. The first match of the night was underway.
Our match went on as planned. Exciting as it was, it was still painful at times. And I worked through all that pain. In spite of doing great at making everything up on the spot, and knowing what the finish was suppose to be, we're always told to expect the unexpected. And that's exactly what happened. A disgruntled fan hopped over the barricade and jumped into the ring with us. The bastard went swinging for Grizzly and actually knocked the him on the mat. With Bear on his back, the man started kicking and stomping on him with everything he had. Knowing this was not how things were suppose to go down, I tried to grab the guy to make him stop. Then he swung at me.
I was able to dodge or block his first few haymakers. I also taunted and guided him away from Grizzly who was still on his back. Finally, I was able to catch his arm and drag him to the mat. A tactic I've used in many of my dark matches to set up my submission finisher. Thinking quickly I put this violent fan in the hold. The unique thing about submission wrestling is the holds could honestly be very painful. The trick is not to apply pressure, causing pain to our coworkers. Meanwhile they scream and thrash and pretend like it was the most excruciating experience of their lives. This guy deserved no mercy for what he tried to do. And so, while locked up in my submission finisher, I applied the pressure. Real pressure. He quickly tapped out and continued to slam his one free hand on the mat until security rushed the ring and detained the prick.
The nearby medical personnel assisted Grizzly to the back while I stayed in the ring, an instruction given to me by the referee. An instruction given to them through the earpiece they were wearing. Needless to say I was royally pissed off. My first televised match, a show opener mind you, and some asshole had to ruin it for both me and Grizzly. It honestly felt like a total waste of time.
Speaking of time, enough of it had passed for a commercial break to happen and the live feed return. Still standing in the ring I had no idea what I was suppose to do, let alone know what was about to happen next. That's when I saw Anthony stepping out from the back and walking down the stage with a purpose. He had a microphone in one hand, and paperwork in the other. When he got in the ring, he brought the microphone to his face and started talking.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. Ladies and Gentlemen. What you saw moments ago was not meant to happen. It was not part of the show. And we do not condone that sort of behavior. But because it did happen, it has given me a chance to make an announcement. These papers in my hand are for a contract I had faxed to me earlier today. Paperwork I intended to give this man..." Anthony pointed at me "... after tonight's show, offering him a job in this promotion. But because of his bravery I am presenting it to him now. For all of you and the rest of the world to see."
The fans in attendance nearly took the roof off the building, screaming in approval. It was the kind of cheering that was more wholesome than excitement. The kind that happens after the show when one of the wrestlers lets a little kid from the crowd play wrestle and pin them just because it was a fun idea. And here I was receiving that exact same energy.
"So what do you say?" Anthony asked me, almost in a rhetorical manner. "Will you join us in changing the face of professional wrestling?"
My mouth was not working, dry as cotton. I simply nodded yes and shook Anthony's hand. Two-Phone-Tony, being one of the guys, strong armed me into a hug. And so we embraced like brothers while the arena around us shook in thunderous approval. I now had a contract to be with this amazing company. No longer was I a "Young Boy". I was a company man.
Returning backstage was almost as surreal. Many of the people were waiting for me, just as eager to hug my neck. Not just for protecting Grizzly, but also signing with the promotion. In a sea of faces I finally saw Carmen's, her body perched on an equipment box a short distance away. She was in her ring attire save for half of her footwear. One foot was already in a boot and being laced up. The other was bare, not even a sock on it. When she saw me looking at her, she lifted her leg and waived her bare foot in my direction, toes flexing and soles scrunching. I knew I was blushing, my cheeks were burning. It didn't make things any easier for me when Tianna approached as well. She threw one arm around my neck while her free hand was able to grab my groin without anyone noticing.
"No puedo esperar para follarte de nuevo." she whispered in my ear, tone sexy as expected.
I had no idea what she told me so I said the only thing I knew she would understand, in THAT way.
"Yo quiero tu Taco Bell."
Tianna laughed and play slapped me in the face. Her cheeks started to turn red. I knew she knew what I meant.
As the show progressed I found out the crazed fan was actually a friend of the guy Locksley got into a fight with. Furthermore Grizzly was at the bar as well and "brick walled" the guy from trying to help his friend fight Bret. This enraged the guy and he actually bought first row tickets hoping to finish what happened the night before. The son of a bitch wore many diamond rings on his fingers and managed to make some cuts into Grizzly's head and some scratches in my arms. Hearing all this made me rethink whom I was hanging out with regularly after shows and between venues. I was grateful those guys and gals were clean cut.
Carmen was in the ring when I got a text I was both happy to receive, and rather upset by as well. My original plan was to go to the airport the following day and catch an afternoon flight back to the major airport near my home. The flight alone would be two hours. From there it would be another two hours to get home via commuter shuttle from the airport. By then it would be almost midnight when I finally got back to my place. The message I received now gave me an option.
Some spaces became available on a "Red-Eye" (that's a flight which departs at some point in the night and lands in the morning) and the takeoff time slot was scheduled in less than three hours. Choosing this would rob me of spending another evening with Carmen. But at the same time would give me a chance to get home sooner and enjoy having more time to rest. I made my decision rather swiftly and addressed it to Anthony. He confirmed me the hotel could reimburse the promotion for the unused night which put me a little more at ease. But I needed to talk to Carmen before I simply up and vanished.
Carmen's match ended and I caught her as she slipped back through the Gorilla area. We walked hand in hand a little distance backstage before finding a spot to ourselves. I pinned her against a wall and shoved my tongue into her mouth. She relished the feeling and ran her hands all over me as best she could. I didn't want this to end but I knew I had to say something. Carmen could sense it too, that I was losing interest in our shared moment.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
