Post by joeycrash on Nov 28, 2021 19:14:32 GMT -5
The morning after EXP 16
Garland, Texas
Crash was stirred from his sleep up after the late morning rays had finally beaten through a gap in the hotel room’s cheap curtains. As he rolled across the empty bed, the hangover crawled into the back of his head like a flood of molasses going downhill, thick and unavoidable. He tenderly planted his feet on the floor and blindly swung his hand at the bedside table, feeling for his cigarettes. After three empty swipes, he finally built the willpower to turn his neck and only saw empty beer bottles and a lamp on the floor with the cord ripped from the wall.
The events of last night slowly returned to him and he recalled his victory of Bert McAlroy, the TriForce Champion, with a smile. He had managed to defeat the next in line to the throne of Level Up Wrestling. It was the match nobody thought Bert would lose after having defeated the Power and Wisdom Champions at TriForce Heroes. Bert, the underdog who is so close to the top of the mountain only to stumble in front of the London brawler, Joey Crash. It felt almost like a prophecy being fulfilled. The man-who-beat-the-man-who-beat the Power Champion, he remembered saying in his last promo. It had a ring to it. This felt like a turning point. After everything Crash had been through in his time away and subsequent return to wrestling, to defeat the TriForce Champion meant that surely now he’d be high up on the list to face the Power Champion. It’s all he wanted and now it was surely just a matter of time.
The satisfaction became a laugh but was immediately halted by the tidal wave that was building in his head. He clambered to a standing position and bumped into the wall, leaning on it as it guided him towards the mini fridge. He slumped in front of it and opened the door, absorbing the cool air and grabbed a mini bottle of whisky.
A cold shower, a long sit down and a whole lot of self-loathing later, he was finally ready to walk around without wanting the earth to swallow him whole. It looked like an entire rock band partied here last night - save for all the windows intact and the furniture still in the room. He picked up the trash can to begin cleaning up when he noticed something blue poking out from the garbage and papers. Pulling it out carefully by the corner, he immediately recognized it as Sophie’s little blue book.
Sophie had stormed away the last time they spoke and was too angry to realize she left the book on the table. He would have returned it sooner if not for her leaving for Michigan to attend the funeral of his old manager, and her estranged father, Mick. This realization, both familiar and resentful, had Crash slumping to the floor against the foot of the bed. He gripped the book in his fist and held it at arm’s length as if the distance could change the story. He surveyed the room again and conceded that this didn’t look like the aftermath of a celebration. Crash didn’t even know the funeral was happening until he read it in Sophie’s diary - she had written down in here that she would have invited him but of course, it was Crash’s big mouth that had ruined everything. Was it that she never told him? Was it that he never got to go and say goodbye? Did he even want to? The last time they spoke he was practically dead anyway - Joey had even threatened to run him over if he was followed out of the hospital.
He checked his DM’s for any new messages only to find what looked like an awful vomit of texts from him going through all the stages of grief a few times over. Left on read. This felt like a punch in the throat, his breathing became laboured and he heard the blood pounding in his ears as his pulse accelerated. Every second felt like it stretched for minutes. He unlocked his phone again to his one-sided conversation and spent the next half hour agonizing over what to say, writing and deleting paragraph after paragraph. Eventually, after many restarts and wasted efforts he sent the following:
“We need to talk.”
Promo
Two days before EXP 17
The Bean in Chicago, Illinois
“Chicago is one of the best wrestling cities in the world. But I suppose any city that can boast the residence of yours truly, no matter how temporary, can stake its place among the best on the planet for wrestling ability and prowess. Chicago has had the great fortune to host some of the biggest moments and matches in history… And I’m about to add one of my own.”
Crash was talking through with The Bean visible in the distance over on of his shoulders, walking towards the camera in a giant parka jacket, fisherman’s beanie and worn in Doc Marten shoes. It’s that time of evening where the chill begins to descend and we can see Crash’s breath condense in the air.
“You could say I’ve been on something of a roll the past couple shows here at Level Up. At TriForce Heroes, I defeated HIS MONSTER in a bloodbath that pushed me to my absolute limits. On that same show, Bert McAlroy cemented his place at Final Fantasy to face our fair lady Maggie for the Final Boss Championship. Bravo, Bert! You were king of the world for an evening. With the world title shot on the horizon, surely everything from there would be plain sailing. Except you didn’t account for little old me, did you? You didn’t think Level Up’s newest tough man could make you work for it, let alone beat you. People can talk and talk and talk about what happened. But when it comes to the facts, I think everyone can agree on this simple truth.”
The camera draws closer to Crash pauses as if he’s about to whisper an old secret. “I pinned the TriForce Champion.” Crash continues walking forward and the camera jumps back to its original distance.
“Everyone saw it! The fans, the guys in the back, the internet marks… I even showed it to the bellhop. The newly crowned TriForce Champion lost to an old man on his welcome back tour, in his third match back after eight long years away. You’re weak. Even now, with me having 100lbs on you - I’m a better cruiserweight now than you’ll ever be. You didn’t just lose to the better wrestler, you lost to the man who, unbeknownst to everyone else, is carving his name into the foundations of Level Up as the best competitor in this place. You’ve been here since day one, so if there’s anyone who would have noticed my arrival, it’s you, Bert. So the fact that you still didn’t take me seriously and lost with a backslide? That’s embarrassing… yo.”
Crash blows some air into his red hands and pulls some leather gloves out of his pockets and puts them on as he continues his tirade. We see the breeze is beginning to pick up as some trees begin to sway in the distance.
“Let’s agree on something else. I don’t run my mouth just because I can. Everything I’ve said I’m going to do, I’ve gone and done it. You’re looking at the-man-who-beat-the-man-who-beat the Power Champion. You’re out of your depth old Bertie Boy! Your successes can be boiled down to these main factors: Right place, right time. Hell, the only reason you’re in line for the main event at Final Fantasy was because I didn’t debut six months sooner. Despite our difference in gold, my accomplishments far outweigh yours by comparison. You’d think for defeating the double champion I’d have earned some kind of reward, no? Well, if our next match is meant to be it, Level Up has some explaining to do.”
The camera turns with Crash as he diverts his walk off in one direction. The bright lights shine out against the silhouettes of their buildings, their shape otherwise invisible against the night sky. It begins to snow and Crash takes a moment to look towards the void above.
“Level Up has gifted you with a golden chance at redemption in a multiplayer match. Maybe they thought that having an extra person to lean on would play to your strengths. So you’ll have the fresh-faced Buster Gloves in your corner. The big B.G! Two matches and two wins is impressive. Level Up has rightfully thrown you in at the deep end on your third outing. While this is a great opportunity for you, Bert is hanging his head in shame. How are you going to shoulder the responsibility of being the only fighting chance of winning your team has? Bertie’s already shown that he can’t get the job done on his own and like it or not, he's throwing a tantrum because being included in a match with the likes of us is to him is like having to sit at the kids table. But not you’re not only facing the toughest bastard born the other side of the pond. I’m teaming with HIS MONSTER, who is literally - and I cannot stress this enough - the toughest fucking machine I’ve ever faced. I’ve heard what the critics have to say about how he operates. But if Bert and I had to pick our own partners for this match a hundred times over, he’s my number one pick. Every single time. Judging from your history the only thing you’re good for is card games and following orders.”
Crash flips his hood up as the snow begins to fall heavier, a thick lining of fur now encircling his face. Occasionally a fleck of snow falls onto the lens and drips down.
“So, am I scared of the B-Team? Fuck no. Hell will freeze over before either of you manage to defeat Joey Crash and from where I’m standing, that’s already started. If nothing else, try to remember this. I’m not a multiplayer specialist. I don't make a habit of needing others to back me up and I don't share my victories with anyone. If either of you manage to pull a fast one over me this week, I better not hear you bragging about it. But hey, it’ll only be fair to start making some real demands to The Developer after I win again. What happens when you beat a champion twice, in both the divisions they’re a champion in? I guess we’ll find out at EXP 18.”
The snow is really starting to pick up and we can hear gusts of wind ruffle through the microphone. The directors behind the camera are shouting at Crash that they need to get back inside as the camera begins to shake. We begin to hear muffled protests in the distance of the crew behind the camera, beckoning Crash to find shelter.
“When Joey Crash and HIS MONSTER team up, it’s going to be a force of nature. We’re going to tear through you and make sure that when all is said and done, you’ll have no excuses, no doubts, nothing! At EXP 16, what I did was unthinkable. At EXP 17, it’s inevitable.”
The cameraman slips and falls on the snow, cracking the screen as it cuts to black.
Garland, Texas
Crash was stirred from his sleep up after the late morning rays had finally beaten through a gap in the hotel room’s cheap curtains. As he rolled across the empty bed, the hangover crawled into the back of his head like a flood of molasses going downhill, thick and unavoidable. He tenderly planted his feet on the floor and blindly swung his hand at the bedside table, feeling for his cigarettes. After three empty swipes, he finally built the willpower to turn his neck and only saw empty beer bottles and a lamp on the floor with the cord ripped from the wall.
The events of last night slowly returned to him and he recalled his victory of Bert McAlroy, the TriForce Champion, with a smile. He had managed to defeat the next in line to the throne of Level Up Wrestling. It was the match nobody thought Bert would lose after having defeated the Power and Wisdom Champions at TriForce Heroes. Bert, the underdog who is so close to the top of the mountain only to stumble in front of the London brawler, Joey Crash. It felt almost like a prophecy being fulfilled. The man-who-beat-the-man-who-beat the Power Champion, he remembered saying in his last promo. It had a ring to it. This felt like a turning point. After everything Crash had been through in his time away and subsequent return to wrestling, to defeat the TriForce Champion meant that surely now he’d be high up on the list to face the Power Champion. It’s all he wanted and now it was surely just a matter of time.
The satisfaction became a laugh but was immediately halted by the tidal wave that was building in his head. He clambered to a standing position and bumped into the wall, leaning on it as it guided him towards the mini fridge. He slumped in front of it and opened the door, absorbing the cool air and grabbed a mini bottle of whisky.
A cold shower, a long sit down and a whole lot of self-loathing later, he was finally ready to walk around without wanting the earth to swallow him whole. It looked like an entire rock band partied here last night - save for all the windows intact and the furniture still in the room. He picked up the trash can to begin cleaning up when he noticed something blue poking out from the garbage and papers. Pulling it out carefully by the corner, he immediately recognized it as Sophie’s little blue book.
Sophie had stormed away the last time they spoke and was too angry to realize she left the book on the table. He would have returned it sooner if not for her leaving for Michigan to attend the funeral of his old manager, and her estranged father, Mick. This realization, both familiar and resentful, had Crash slumping to the floor against the foot of the bed. He gripped the book in his fist and held it at arm’s length as if the distance could change the story. He surveyed the room again and conceded that this didn’t look like the aftermath of a celebration. Crash didn’t even know the funeral was happening until he read it in Sophie’s diary - she had written down in here that she would have invited him but of course, it was Crash’s big mouth that had ruined everything. Was it that she never told him? Was it that he never got to go and say goodbye? Did he even want to? The last time they spoke he was practically dead anyway - Joey had even threatened to run him over if he was followed out of the hospital.
He checked his DM’s for any new messages only to find what looked like an awful vomit of texts from him going through all the stages of grief a few times over. Left on read. This felt like a punch in the throat, his breathing became laboured and he heard the blood pounding in his ears as his pulse accelerated. Every second felt like it stretched for minutes. He unlocked his phone again to his one-sided conversation and spent the next half hour agonizing over what to say, writing and deleting paragraph after paragraph. Eventually, after many restarts and wasted efforts he sent the following:
“We need to talk.”
Promo
Two days before EXP 17
The Bean in Chicago, Illinois
“Chicago is one of the best wrestling cities in the world. But I suppose any city that can boast the residence of yours truly, no matter how temporary, can stake its place among the best on the planet for wrestling ability and prowess. Chicago has had the great fortune to host some of the biggest moments and matches in history… And I’m about to add one of my own.”
Crash was talking through with The Bean visible in the distance over on of his shoulders, walking towards the camera in a giant parka jacket, fisherman’s beanie and worn in Doc Marten shoes. It’s that time of evening where the chill begins to descend and we can see Crash’s breath condense in the air.
“You could say I’ve been on something of a roll the past couple shows here at Level Up. At TriForce Heroes, I defeated HIS MONSTER in a bloodbath that pushed me to my absolute limits. On that same show, Bert McAlroy cemented his place at Final Fantasy to face our fair lady Maggie for the Final Boss Championship. Bravo, Bert! You were king of the world for an evening. With the world title shot on the horizon, surely everything from there would be plain sailing. Except you didn’t account for little old me, did you? You didn’t think Level Up’s newest tough man could make you work for it, let alone beat you. People can talk and talk and talk about what happened. But when it comes to the facts, I think everyone can agree on this simple truth.”
The camera draws closer to Crash pauses as if he’s about to whisper an old secret. “I pinned the TriForce Champion.” Crash continues walking forward and the camera jumps back to its original distance.
“Everyone saw it! The fans, the guys in the back, the internet marks… I even showed it to the bellhop. The newly crowned TriForce Champion lost to an old man on his welcome back tour, in his third match back after eight long years away. You’re weak. Even now, with me having 100lbs on you - I’m a better cruiserweight now than you’ll ever be. You didn’t just lose to the better wrestler, you lost to the man who, unbeknownst to everyone else, is carving his name into the foundations of Level Up as the best competitor in this place. You’ve been here since day one, so if there’s anyone who would have noticed my arrival, it’s you, Bert. So the fact that you still didn’t take me seriously and lost with a backslide? That’s embarrassing… yo.”
Crash blows some air into his red hands and pulls some leather gloves out of his pockets and puts them on as he continues his tirade. We see the breeze is beginning to pick up as some trees begin to sway in the distance.
“Let’s agree on something else. I don’t run my mouth just because I can. Everything I’ve said I’m going to do, I’ve gone and done it. You’re looking at the-man-who-beat-the-man-who-beat the Power Champion. You’re out of your depth old Bertie Boy! Your successes can be boiled down to these main factors: Right place, right time. Hell, the only reason you’re in line for the main event at Final Fantasy was because I didn’t debut six months sooner. Despite our difference in gold, my accomplishments far outweigh yours by comparison. You’d think for defeating the double champion I’d have earned some kind of reward, no? Well, if our next match is meant to be it, Level Up has some explaining to do.”
The camera turns with Crash as he diverts his walk off in one direction. The bright lights shine out against the silhouettes of their buildings, their shape otherwise invisible against the night sky. It begins to snow and Crash takes a moment to look towards the void above.
“Level Up has gifted you with a golden chance at redemption in a multiplayer match. Maybe they thought that having an extra person to lean on would play to your strengths. So you’ll have the fresh-faced Buster Gloves in your corner. The big B.G! Two matches and two wins is impressive. Level Up has rightfully thrown you in at the deep end on your third outing. While this is a great opportunity for you, Bert is hanging his head in shame. How are you going to shoulder the responsibility of being the only fighting chance of winning your team has? Bertie’s already shown that he can’t get the job done on his own and like it or not, he's throwing a tantrum because being included in a match with the likes of us is to him is like having to sit at the kids table. But not you’re not only facing the toughest bastard born the other side of the pond. I’m teaming with HIS MONSTER, who is literally - and I cannot stress this enough - the toughest fucking machine I’ve ever faced. I’ve heard what the critics have to say about how he operates. But if Bert and I had to pick our own partners for this match a hundred times over, he’s my number one pick. Every single time. Judging from your history the only thing you’re good for is card games and following orders.”
Crash flips his hood up as the snow begins to fall heavier, a thick lining of fur now encircling his face. Occasionally a fleck of snow falls onto the lens and drips down.
“So, am I scared of the B-Team? Fuck no. Hell will freeze over before either of you manage to defeat Joey Crash and from where I’m standing, that’s already started. If nothing else, try to remember this. I’m not a multiplayer specialist. I don't make a habit of needing others to back me up and I don't share my victories with anyone. If either of you manage to pull a fast one over me this week, I better not hear you bragging about it. But hey, it’ll only be fair to start making some real demands to The Developer after I win again. What happens when you beat a champion twice, in both the divisions they’re a champion in? I guess we’ll find out at EXP 18.”
The snow is really starting to pick up and we can hear gusts of wind ruffle through the microphone. The directors behind the camera are shouting at Crash that they need to get back inside as the camera begins to shake. We begin to hear muffled protests in the distance of the crew behind the camera, beckoning Crash to find shelter.
“When Joey Crash and HIS MONSTER team up, it’s going to be a force of nature. We’re going to tear through you and make sure that when all is said and done, you’ll have no excuses, no doubts, nothing! At EXP 16, what I did was unthinkable. At EXP 17, it’s inevitable.”
The cameraman slips and falls on the snow, cracking the screen as it cuts to black.
