Post by dylanblack on Aug 5, 2023 14:27:31 GMT -6
“Two weeks. It has been two weeks since I escaped from that hospital that was holding me hostage. It has been two weeks since I freed my mind from the drugs that were stopping the function of my brain. It has been two weeks since I began training for my next journey.”
London, England. It’s chilly and overcast. Men are walking around in hoodies and women are wearing cover ups. The day is slowly fading to night as those same men and women are rushing home from long days at work. They all are living their regular day-to-day lives, but somewhere in this city is someone who doesn’t belong. He’s not a tourist, but he is visiting. He’s not a native, but he’s familiar with this town. He’s been here before, but it has been so long. Where is he? He is somewhere hiding in the shadows.
“Five days on a boat. Two days hopping trains in the shadows, trying to stay undercover. Where I been since? No one needs to know. No one needs to know because I’m a health risk, to myself and others. If they know where I am they’ll come after me, but I cannot let that happen. I can’t let them find me before I’m done. I can’t let them find me before the mission is complete. Before I hold my championship once again. Once and for all.”
Where could he be? He’s alone. He has no way to access his money. He went straight from the hospital to the shipyard. He must be getting help. He must have someone on his side. Someone who would hide him, help him keep in the shadows. He can’t be doing this alone? Where is he training? Where is he preparing? He’s been in a hospital for months. His body must have deteriorated, especially at his age. There is no way he could be ready for this, ready for Brad Swann.
“When I handed over this title two years ago to V and the eventual winner of the inaugural Scorpion Classic Tournament I had no intention of ever getting it back. When I agreed to fight alongside V’s team of stars in their Xtraction event I thought it would be my last match ever. When I came back to finally get my revenge on Rob Arnold, even in defeat, I knew in my heart that I was done. When I was told and invited to be a part of the final show of AXW’s existence and given the opportunity to regain the title that I gave to them I knew I was wrong again. Not because I wanted my title back. Not because I felt the need for fight. Not because I needed revenge. I had to come back because I couldn’t let my title go down in history as held by such a low class individual as Brad Swann. An individual who couldn’t keep up with the Icons. An individual who jumped from group to group because he couldn’t do anything by himself. An individual who brings disgrace to the legacy of the championship I hold so dear. I couldn’t let it die in his hands.”
Could it be the mysterious V who has been missing for so long that is helping keep Scorpion under cover? Has he brought Scorpion into the same place that he is hiding? Are the two of them somewhere, right in front of our faces, but deep underground? He’s got to be somewhere. He has to be helped by someone. But where?
“They invited me here with the opportunity to stop it from happening, to stop Swann from ruining the legacy I built for that title. They gave me that opportunity, but not without putting roadblocks in my way. Roadblocks like the first European Champion in AXW history, Stormcrow. I get why he also gets the opportunity. He is the first in their history line. He won the inaugural Scorpion Classic. He is the most decorated champion in their brief history. He put the underground on the map alongside Rob Arnold. But he’d in just as bad a shape as the doctors say I am. He was a mess when he was on top, and word on the street is he has completely fallen off the rails again. While no mental hospital could contain me, no clinic could stop Stormcrow from finding his way to getting alcohol. Now he’ll be in the ring, reeking of booze and cigarettes, standing in the way of me and what is rightfully mine. What will I do to get passed him? Anything I seem necessary.”
Could the AXW brass be hiding him in order to secure their final big show? Maybe he is in the Legion right now. Hiding deep beneath the London underground. The place people only know about if someone invites them. The place that has become more infamous than famous as no one knows exactly where it is. Could he be there right now? Is he training in the ring? Running around the arena? Is he there preparing to do what he must to earn back what he believes is so rightfully his?
“One roadblock wouldn’t be enough. Stormcrow isn’t enough to stop me or even slow me down. So in my way they have placed the most massive roadblock they have, Dreadvan. Dreadvan, the man who defies modern logic by being physically the worst looking athlete, but dominating in the ring. He looks like a good kick to the knees should knock him down and he should never be able to get up, but that’s not the case. Dreadvan has been the proof that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Proof that size, shape and body type don’t matter in the world of wrestling. I have never been the one to judge a book by its cover, though. I have never been the one to look at someone and take what I see as gospel. I am the one that studies. The one that watches matches and sees what his opponent can do. That’s why I know that he is not the biggest roadblock because of his size, but he is the biggest roadblock because he is the most talented and most dangerous of my three opponents. He is the one I fear, the one I am preparing for.”
Maybe he’s hiding out with someone he knows in England. Maybe he isn’t even in London. Maybe he’s with an old friend. Someone who used to be his tag team partner. Someone who has been a friend, a rival and a bitter enemy at some point. Could he be hiding with someone like that? Could he be sleeping on the couch of someone he knows, hiding in their basement possibly? Could he be hiding with Rob Arnold? He fits the bill. He is in England. He is around and they are both preparing for someone big at the final AXW show. Could they be preparing together?
“I refuse to underestimate him. I refuse to underestimate anyone. I fully expect, though, these four men to underestimate me. I’m just a crazy old man. An old man who has run his course. An old man who hasn’t graced the ring regularly in over a decade. An old man who has had more injuries than title reigns, and both of those numbers are high. You shouldn’t underestimate me, though. You shouldn’t underestimate me because I am an old man. I am an old man with experience. An old man who has fought at the highest level despite not fighting regularly in over a decade. An old man who has recovered from more injuries and bounced back. You shouldn’t underestimate me because I am old, you should underestimate me because I want you to. The one second you underestimate me is all I need to turn the table and win.”
He could be any of these places. More likely, though. He is just hiding on his own. The consummate loner. Hiding by himself in the shadows. Hiding in the back alleys of London. If you look hard enough maybe you could find him. If you look hard enough he might be right in front of you. By the time you see him, though, it’ll be too late. He’ll be gone.
London, England. It’s chilly and overcast. Men are walking around in hoodies and women are wearing cover ups. The day is slowly fading to night as those same men and women are rushing home from long days at work. They all are living their regular day-to-day lives, but somewhere in this city is someone who doesn’t belong. He’s not a tourist, but he is visiting. He’s not a native, but he’s familiar with this town. He’s been here before, but it has been so long. Where is he? He is somewhere hiding in the shadows.
“Five days on a boat. Two days hopping trains in the shadows, trying to stay undercover. Where I been since? No one needs to know. No one needs to know because I’m a health risk, to myself and others. If they know where I am they’ll come after me, but I cannot let that happen. I can’t let them find me before I’m done. I can’t let them find me before the mission is complete. Before I hold my championship once again. Once and for all.”
Where could he be? He’s alone. He has no way to access his money. He went straight from the hospital to the shipyard. He must be getting help. He must have someone on his side. Someone who would hide him, help him keep in the shadows. He can’t be doing this alone? Where is he training? Where is he preparing? He’s been in a hospital for months. His body must have deteriorated, especially at his age. There is no way he could be ready for this, ready for Brad Swann.
“When I handed over this title two years ago to V and the eventual winner of the inaugural Scorpion Classic Tournament I had no intention of ever getting it back. When I agreed to fight alongside V’s team of stars in their Xtraction event I thought it would be my last match ever. When I came back to finally get my revenge on Rob Arnold, even in defeat, I knew in my heart that I was done. When I was told and invited to be a part of the final show of AXW’s existence and given the opportunity to regain the title that I gave to them I knew I was wrong again. Not because I wanted my title back. Not because I felt the need for fight. Not because I needed revenge. I had to come back because I couldn’t let my title go down in history as held by such a low class individual as Brad Swann. An individual who couldn’t keep up with the Icons. An individual who jumped from group to group because he couldn’t do anything by himself. An individual who brings disgrace to the legacy of the championship I hold so dear. I couldn’t let it die in his hands.”
Could it be the mysterious V who has been missing for so long that is helping keep Scorpion under cover? Has he brought Scorpion into the same place that he is hiding? Are the two of them somewhere, right in front of our faces, but deep underground? He’s got to be somewhere. He has to be helped by someone. But where?
“They invited me here with the opportunity to stop it from happening, to stop Swann from ruining the legacy I built for that title. They gave me that opportunity, but not without putting roadblocks in my way. Roadblocks like the first European Champion in AXW history, Stormcrow. I get why he also gets the opportunity. He is the first in their history line. He won the inaugural Scorpion Classic. He is the most decorated champion in their brief history. He put the underground on the map alongside Rob Arnold. But he’d in just as bad a shape as the doctors say I am. He was a mess when he was on top, and word on the street is he has completely fallen off the rails again. While no mental hospital could contain me, no clinic could stop Stormcrow from finding his way to getting alcohol. Now he’ll be in the ring, reeking of booze and cigarettes, standing in the way of me and what is rightfully mine. What will I do to get passed him? Anything I seem necessary.”
Could the AXW brass be hiding him in order to secure their final big show? Maybe he is in the Legion right now. Hiding deep beneath the London underground. The place people only know about if someone invites them. The place that has become more infamous than famous as no one knows exactly where it is. Could he be there right now? Is he training in the ring? Running around the arena? Is he there preparing to do what he must to earn back what he believes is so rightfully his?
“One roadblock wouldn’t be enough. Stormcrow isn’t enough to stop me or even slow me down. So in my way they have placed the most massive roadblock they have, Dreadvan. Dreadvan, the man who defies modern logic by being physically the worst looking athlete, but dominating in the ring. He looks like a good kick to the knees should knock him down and he should never be able to get up, but that’s not the case. Dreadvan has been the proof that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Proof that size, shape and body type don’t matter in the world of wrestling. I have never been the one to judge a book by its cover, though. I have never been the one to look at someone and take what I see as gospel. I am the one that studies. The one that watches matches and sees what his opponent can do. That’s why I know that he is not the biggest roadblock because of his size, but he is the biggest roadblock because he is the most talented and most dangerous of my three opponents. He is the one I fear, the one I am preparing for.”
Maybe he’s hiding out with someone he knows in England. Maybe he isn’t even in London. Maybe he’s with an old friend. Someone who used to be his tag team partner. Someone who has been a friend, a rival and a bitter enemy at some point. Could he be hiding with someone like that? Could he be sleeping on the couch of someone he knows, hiding in their basement possibly? Could he be hiding with Rob Arnold? He fits the bill. He is in England. He is around and they are both preparing for someone big at the final AXW show. Could they be preparing together?
“I refuse to underestimate him. I refuse to underestimate anyone. I fully expect, though, these four men to underestimate me. I’m just a crazy old man. An old man who has run his course. An old man who hasn’t graced the ring regularly in over a decade. An old man who has had more injuries than title reigns, and both of those numbers are high. You shouldn’t underestimate me, though. You shouldn’t underestimate me because I am an old man. I am an old man with experience. An old man who has fought at the highest level despite not fighting regularly in over a decade. An old man who has recovered from more injuries and bounced back. You shouldn’t underestimate me because I am old, you should underestimate me because I want you to. The one second you underestimate me is all I need to turn the table and win.”
He could be any of these places. More likely, though. He is just hiding on his own. The consummate loner. Hiding by himself in the shadows. Hiding in the back alleys of London. If you look hard enough maybe you could find him. If you look hard enough he might be right in front of you. By the time you see him, though, it’ll be too late. He’ll be gone.