Post by Mac on Oct 11, 2022 20:37:42 GMT -5
With Paul Freedom against Vaughn and Sky
“I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Davis
The finals to determine a number one contender for the Power Championship, most recently won by Vhodka Black is drawing close. Paul Freedom and I would be fighting for that particular honor in the very near future. To get to that point, however, we’ll have to make it through this tag team match in one piece to find out who deserves it more. Paul and I have a bit of history together. He eliminated my wife from the battle royal, in turn, I made him wish he hadn’t. I know that must have been seen as an overreaction on my part but it really wasn’t. If you don’t have a spouse in this industry, I don’t suspect that you would understand. There was also the incident in the war games match. That was a bit of work that I’m very proud of. Not the teaming with the game changers part but the work I put in at that event. I was a force in that cage and everyone involved knows it. In the end, I accomplished what I set out to do. I am after all a man of my word. I helped them win and then I helped Kat get a little bit of revenge on them. In what I guess could be a debut match I faced Raab. He knew what my expectation was and he failed to protect her countless times, so he got the treatment he had earned from me. The Game Changers had hurt Kat and expedited her exit from active competition. I did what I did and I have no regrets. So, now, now Paul and I will be teaming up for the first time ever. Can we trust each other? Time will tell is all I can say to that. I’ll say this, if he gets sideways on me, he won’t make it to the pay-per-view.
{Indianapolis, IN - Interview Set - “Clarity”}
I was never really a fan of doing interviews, to be honest, I always preferred to do my talking between the bells so to speak. But, as we all know it’s one of the expected things that go with the job, so here I was with Lenny Brasco. I was dressed simply, as I’m known for with my usual attire for this. Wearing my black stetson hat, ripped jeans, white button-down shirt, and Rolex watch that had been a gift when I joined CCPE I approached the interview set that he had set up. Today we were outside in the afternoon sun, it was a gorgeous day and a light breeze blew to keep it that way. Lenny’s eyes bulged when he saw the watch and he quickly turned to a nearby table he had set up. I glared at him as he opened the case. He looked up and I shook my head and said, “No Lenny, it’s not a good day to pull that shit with me.” He quickly closed the case and went back to his introduction. Speaking quickly either out of habit or nerves, “Right on Mac, Ladies and Gentleman welcome to the show. Today I’ve been given permission to sit down and talk business with Mac Bane. A man who really requires no introduction at all but, it’s kinda my job..” He continued to ramble as he was known to do and I smiled through it. Lenny was a good person and really good at his job but he was known to do this.
“Hey, Lenny, I really hate to interrupt but I have a tight schedule today, please focus.” It shook him out of his rambling about whatever product he was trying to sell and his eyes came back into focus. “Oh Shoot, sorry about that, yes, the interview.” Thank god, I thought to myself. “Yes, yes,” he continued on, “Mac, the fans have so many questions for you but I’ll keep it brief.” I nodded and motioned to him to keep it rolling, “Of course, they always do,” I said in a polite way. He continues, “First off, with a name like yours, why come to a small start-up like Level Up?” I smiled and answered, “Well it wasn’t for the catering I can tell you that much,” I started off with a light-hearted joke which got the desired effect from Lenny. “All kidding aside, when Trent finally shrugged off the mask of the developer, that’s when I knew it was time. I had been watching this place for a while and liked the product.” I paused there as Lenny nodded along to my answer as I spoke. “In addition to the fact that my adopted kid sister was here. She got injured here to the point of no longer being able to compete.” I felt my blood pressure spike a bit as I continued. “The people that hurt her are here, Lenny.”
Lenny seemed oblivious to the darkening of my face as he continued, “Did Level Up offer you a lucrative deal to get you to come here?” I let out an explosive breath as if I’d been holding my breath for a while. “Lenny, the deal was a good one, I won’t lie. You should really go to a contract negotiation sometime when Chris Page is the person representing you. The man is an absolute master of his craft. His craft is making his clients money. So it was good, yes.” Maybe it was my tone but Lenny suddenly shifted back to the questions and doing his best to focus he asked, “Here is another good question from the fans, When are you going to address The Game Changers?” I smile at the question, “Well, they will be addressed, but I can’t really give away that information.” I was hoping for a different question but he persisted with it. “Well, why not Mister Bane?” I laughed a little, “Because they might actually watch this interview, Lenny.” I said it in a light tone hoping it appeared friendly on the surface. Lenny continued to scroll through the content he’d been provided on his tablet. “What about this one? Why didn’t you show up immediately after you had seen Kat attacked and take care of this then?” I nodded solemnly at the question, “Now that, is a hard-hitting question.” I replied to it. “The truth is and it will sound like an excuse, but here it is.” I said softly, and then continued,” The truth is as simple as logistics. To add some clarity to that, I was a world champion at that time and we were traveling all over the globe.” I paused only for a moment, “I knew what had happened to Kat, but travel was difficult during this damned pandemic.”
“That’s all we have time for today ladies and gentlemen.” He went back to the case on the table as they were removing the microphone and cabling from my shirt. “Hey Mac, are you sure you’re not interested…” I barked a laugh, “I’m good Lenny, thanks though.” I wandered back toward the parking lot. Pulling my keys out of my pocket, I press the remote start button on the key fob. One of the things that bothered my was the why’s of things lately. Why would The Game Changers try to take out Pete? That guaranteed title shot? Maybe, but I mean it’s not as though he would focus on the Power title that Larry held at that time. I shrugged it off, “Maybe he alluded to it and I missed it.” Unlocking the truck door by pressing the button right next to that one, I climb into the cab.
Fade
{Unnamed location - “The Match”}
Here I was in the studio again, talking about another match in another company about people I know and respect. The recent attack on Peter had put me in a bad place. Pete and I were not close, but I felt like this was someone who might be a part of my small circle of people I could trust. As we all know and learn, true friends in this business were hard to find. A lot of them will use you for whatever they think you could provide them. This match was simple enough, a tag team match with people who had not teamed together before in it. I was teaming up with Paul Freedom, while Pete was teaming up with Chelsea Sky who I was familiar with from facing her and Arturo in the tag team tournament.
Once again I stood under the boom microphone to address my partner and my opponents. Wearing soft cotton clothing to cut down on echo and extraneous noises I begin…
Well kids, here we go again. Paul and I find ourselves being tag team partners this week for the first time, knowing that we will be fighting each other for the number one contender's spot for the Power Championship. We will be facing a couple of people that I don’t think have ever teamed before. So, we’ll deal with it, we are all professionals and will do what is expected. That’s what they pay us to do.
I give a brief smile before continuing.
The four people in this match individually are all talented and respected. At least by me, I won’t attempt to speak for the others, maybe they do, maybe they don’t. In the end, it won’t matter much. I mean, someone has to lose, unless the unthinkable thing happens and they count us all out.
I shake my head and softly chuckle at my own words.
So, let’s talk about this match. Me and Paul, we already have a date on our collective dance card, don’t we? That’s right, we get to finish out the tournament to see who the new number one contender for the Power Title is. We are partners in this one, because, yeah that shit never gets old does it?
I allow a smirk to briefly cross my face.
Regardless, I am your partner in this one and I’ll watch your back like I’m supposed to.
I let the smirk fade away to be replaced by a genuine smile.
As for our opposition, Chelsea Sky and Peter Vaughn. Miss Skye, I will start with you. Congratulations on getting a quality tag team partner. I know it must be a relief considering the last time we were in the ring together. Poor Arturo, He did make one impressive lawn dart I’ll say that much for him but sadly that was the only contribution he made to the match. You are a talent, I’ve watched you wrestle and you have, IT, as they would say. I think that your potential is great, living in two different worlds though, that’s tough. The other thing that will be tough is this match. Not that you’re not capable, because I do believe you are. You have Peter in your corner, and that is a big plus. The man is a phenomenal talent in this industry. It’s what’s on the other side of the ring where the real problem lies.
Me.
Paul is a lot like you in that aspect, he’s green as hell but has all the potential in the world. He’s not the one that should be feared in this match-up.
I look down for a moment and then back up, the smile is gone, although it’s still tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Hi Pete! It’s always good to see you. I do hope the beating from the idiots at large has faded and you’re back to feeling like your old self again. The last time we stood in the same ring, was in the other place. A championship on the line and you beat me. Ya know…
I scratch my beard as if I’m thinking, pondering the situation.
I’m still super proud of you for that shit. You proved me wrong and further cemented your own legacy in this business. You earned that title and you deserved it. Since there is so little on the line in this match, couldn’t we just thumb-wrestle for it? I promise I’m not double-jointed in my thumbs.
Now I let the smile come back.
It is always an honor to fight you Pete and this is no exception. Any time I get to step into the ring with another member of our enterprise, I’m always glad to do that. I don’t hold grudges against people when I lose to them. Every loss is an opportunity to get better, to learn something new. You either learn something about yourself or your opponent, and I learned a lot from you the last time we met. We’ll see how well that pays off. Good luck you two, I’ve got respect for both of you but I take things inside the ring rather personally. I’ll still buy the drinks after the show though.
Fade
“I’m no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I’m changing the things I cannot accept.” – Angela Davis
The finals to determine a number one contender for the Power Championship, most recently won by Vhodka Black is drawing close. Paul Freedom and I would be fighting for that particular honor in the very near future. To get to that point, however, we’ll have to make it through this tag team match in one piece to find out who deserves it more. Paul and I have a bit of history together. He eliminated my wife from the battle royal, in turn, I made him wish he hadn’t. I know that must have been seen as an overreaction on my part but it really wasn’t. If you don’t have a spouse in this industry, I don’t suspect that you would understand. There was also the incident in the war games match. That was a bit of work that I’m very proud of. Not the teaming with the game changers part but the work I put in at that event. I was a force in that cage and everyone involved knows it. In the end, I accomplished what I set out to do. I am after all a man of my word. I helped them win and then I helped Kat get a little bit of revenge on them. In what I guess could be a debut match I faced Raab. He knew what my expectation was and he failed to protect her countless times, so he got the treatment he had earned from me. The Game Changers had hurt Kat and expedited her exit from active competition. I did what I did and I have no regrets. So, now, now Paul and I will be teaming up for the first time ever. Can we trust each other? Time will tell is all I can say to that. I’ll say this, if he gets sideways on me, he won’t make it to the pay-per-view.
{Indianapolis, IN - Interview Set - “Clarity”}
I was never really a fan of doing interviews, to be honest, I always preferred to do my talking between the bells so to speak. But, as we all know it’s one of the expected things that go with the job, so here I was with Lenny Brasco. I was dressed simply, as I’m known for with my usual attire for this. Wearing my black stetson hat, ripped jeans, white button-down shirt, and Rolex watch that had been a gift when I joined CCPE I approached the interview set that he had set up. Today we were outside in the afternoon sun, it was a gorgeous day and a light breeze blew to keep it that way. Lenny’s eyes bulged when he saw the watch and he quickly turned to a nearby table he had set up. I glared at him as he opened the case. He looked up and I shook my head and said, “No Lenny, it’s not a good day to pull that shit with me.” He quickly closed the case and went back to his introduction. Speaking quickly either out of habit or nerves, “Right on Mac, Ladies and Gentleman welcome to the show. Today I’ve been given permission to sit down and talk business with Mac Bane. A man who really requires no introduction at all but, it’s kinda my job..” He continued to ramble as he was known to do and I smiled through it. Lenny was a good person and really good at his job but he was known to do this.
“Hey, Lenny, I really hate to interrupt but I have a tight schedule today, please focus.” It shook him out of his rambling about whatever product he was trying to sell and his eyes came back into focus. “Oh Shoot, sorry about that, yes, the interview.” Thank god, I thought to myself. “Yes, yes,” he continued on, “Mac, the fans have so many questions for you but I’ll keep it brief.” I nodded and motioned to him to keep it rolling, “Of course, they always do,” I said in a polite way. He continues, “First off, with a name like yours, why come to a small start-up like Level Up?” I smiled and answered, “Well it wasn’t for the catering I can tell you that much,” I started off with a light-hearted joke which got the desired effect from Lenny. “All kidding aside, when Trent finally shrugged off the mask of the developer, that’s when I knew it was time. I had been watching this place for a while and liked the product.” I paused there as Lenny nodded along to my answer as I spoke. “In addition to the fact that my adopted kid sister was here. She got injured here to the point of no longer being able to compete.” I felt my blood pressure spike a bit as I continued. “The people that hurt her are here, Lenny.”
Lenny seemed oblivious to the darkening of my face as he continued, “Did Level Up offer you a lucrative deal to get you to come here?” I let out an explosive breath as if I’d been holding my breath for a while. “Lenny, the deal was a good one, I won’t lie. You should really go to a contract negotiation sometime when Chris Page is the person representing you. The man is an absolute master of his craft. His craft is making his clients money. So it was good, yes.” Maybe it was my tone but Lenny suddenly shifted back to the questions and doing his best to focus he asked, “Here is another good question from the fans, When are you going to address The Game Changers?” I smile at the question, “Well, they will be addressed, but I can’t really give away that information.” I was hoping for a different question but he persisted with it. “Well, why not Mister Bane?” I laughed a little, “Because they might actually watch this interview, Lenny.” I said it in a light tone hoping it appeared friendly on the surface. Lenny continued to scroll through the content he’d been provided on his tablet. “What about this one? Why didn’t you show up immediately after you had seen Kat attacked and take care of this then?” I nodded solemnly at the question, “Now that, is a hard-hitting question.” I replied to it. “The truth is and it will sound like an excuse, but here it is.” I said softly, and then continued,” The truth is as simple as logistics. To add some clarity to that, I was a world champion at that time and we were traveling all over the globe.” I paused only for a moment, “I knew what had happened to Kat, but travel was difficult during this damned pandemic.”
“That’s all we have time for today ladies and gentlemen.” He went back to the case on the table as they were removing the microphone and cabling from my shirt. “Hey Mac, are you sure you’re not interested…” I barked a laugh, “I’m good Lenny, thanks though.” I wandered back toward the parking lot. Pulling my keys out of my pocket, I press the remote start button on the key fob. One of the things that bothered my was the why’s of things lately. Why would The Game Changers try to take out Pete? That guaranteed title shot? Maybe, but I mean it’s not as though he would focus on the Power title that Larry held at that time. I shrugged it off, “Maybe he alluded to it and I missed it.” Unlocking the truck door by pressing the button right next to that one, I climb into the cab.
Fade
{Unnamed location - “The Match”}
Here I was in the studio again, talking about another match in another company about people I know and respect. The recent attack on Peter had put me in a bad place. Pete and I were not close, but I felt like this was someone who might be a part of my small circle of people I could trust. As we all know and learn, true friends in this business were hard to find. A lot of them will use you for whatever they think you could provide them. This match was simple enough, a tag team match with people who had not teamed together before in it. I was teaming up with Paul Freedom, while Pete was teaming up with Chelsea Sky who I was familiar with from facing her and Arturo in the tag team tournament.
Once again I stood under the boom microphone to address my partner and my opponents. Wearing soft cotton clothing to cut down on echo and extraneous noises I begin…
Well kids, here we go again. Paul and I find ourselves being tag team partners this week for the first time, knowing that we will be fighting each other for the number one contender's spot for the Power Championship. We will be facing a couple of people that I don’t think have ever teamed before. So, we’ll deal with it, we are all professionals and will do what is expected. That’s what they pay us to do.
I give a brief smile before continuing.
The four people in this match individually are all talented and respected. At least by me, I won’t attempt to speak for the others, maybe they do, maybe they don’t. In the end, it won’t matter much. I mean, someone has to lose, unless the unthinkable thing happens and they count us all out.
I shake my head and softly chuckle at my own words.
So, let’s talk about this match. Me and Paul, we already have a date on our collective dance card, don’t we? That’s right, we get to finish out the tournament to see who the new number one contender for the Power Title is. We are partners in this one, because, yeah that shit never gets old does it?
I allow a smirk to briefly cross my face.
Regardless, I am your partner in this one and I’ll watch your back like I’m supposed to.
I let the smirk fade away to be replaced by a genuine smile.
As for our opposition, Chelsea Sky and Peter Vaughn. Miss Skye, I will start with you. Congratulations on getting a quality tag team partner. I know it must be a relief considering the last time we were in the ring together. Poor Arturo, He did make one impressive lawn dart I’ll say that much for him but sadly that was the only contribution he made to the match. You are a talent, I’ve watched you wrestle and you have, IT, as they would say. I think that your potential is great, living in two different worlds though, that’s tough. The other thing that will be tough is this match. Not that you’re not capable, because I do believe you are. You have Peter in your corner, and that is a big plus. The man is a phenomenal talent in this industry. It’s what’s on the other side of the ring where the real problem lies.
Me.
Paul is a lot like you in that aspect, he’s green as hell but has all the potential in the world. He’s not the one that should be feared in this match-up.
I look down for a moment and then back up, the smile is gone, although it’s still tugging at the corners of my mouth.
Hi Pete! It’s always good to see you. I do hope the beating from the idiots at large has faded and you’re back to feeling like your old self again. The last time we stood in the same ring, was in the other place. A championship on the line and you beat me. Ya know…
I scratch my beard as if I’m thinking, pondering the situation.
I’m still super proud of you for that shit. You proved me wrong and further cemented your own legacy in this business. You earned that title and you deserved it. Since there is so little on the line in this match, couldn’t we just thumb-wrestle for it? I promise I’m not double-jointed in my thumbs.
Now I let the smile come back.
It is always an honor to fight you Pete and this is no exception. Any time I get to step into the ring with another member of our enterprise, I’m always glad to do that. I don’t hold grudges against people when I lose to them. Every loss is an opportunity to get better, to learn something new. You either learn something about yourself or your opponent, and I learned a lot from you the last time we met. We’ll see how well that pays off. Good luck you two, I’ve got respect for both of you but I take things inside the ring rather personally. I’ll still buy the drinks after the show though.
Fade
