Centurion: So...that’s it, then? (It’s been close to two years since Centurion returned from his sabbatical in the woods. In those two years, a lot of things have happened – he has returned to wrestling, he became a champion again, he repaired his relationships with his family, he moved to Chicago, and he has begun dating Ruby Debuchy, XWF superstar and superhero extraordinaire. However, in those two years, one thing has remained the same – the constant harassment and threats made by former business associate George Latimore. Latimore took over Centurion Enterprises when Centurion went away. Since that time, he has ruled it as kind of a dictator – suspending the board of directors, removing any threat to his power, and selling off any assets that he did not find useful in an effort to make more personal wealth. He has shut down the Centurion Casino & Hotel, once a staple of Atlantic City gaming and Centurion’s pride and joy, and has kept Centurion from buying back The Cortinovis Estate – a large, sprawling property that Centurion designed by hand after gaining his first fortune. Latimore has also been instrumental in blackmailing Centurion’s daughter Nellie, who is attempting to forge her own political career. To put it mildly, there has been no greater enemy to the Cortinovis Family then George Latimore. And, in an instant, he is gone. Like hundreds of thousands of others, Latimore became a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic – one he did not believe in. Over the course of two weeks, Latimore went from being one of the most important people in New Jersey business to being buried in the ground, with very few people mourning his loss. The family’s nightmare is over...and yet, it seems rather unfulfilling. We open up inside the apartment of Centurion in Chicago, Illinois. There, we see Centurion sitting at his table, wearing a Christmas themed robe, with a cup of coffee in front of him. Standing next to him is Walter Crowe, suit clad, with his hand on the table and leaning next to Centurion. Centurion has a newspaper in his hands, and he slaps it onto the table before picking up his cup of coffee.) Centurion: A decade of rising through the ranks of my business, followed by years of torment, and it ends with one paragraph in the newspaper. Walter: I know you wanted to humiliate him. Trust me, I wanted to, too. But that just wasn’t in the cards. Even if we would have beaten him in state court, there was no question he was going to appeal to the US Supreme Court – and given some of your recent comments about Justice Kavanaugh, I didn’t really like our chances there. Centurion: I know, I know. I’m not crying that it’s over, and I’m certainly not mourning the guy, it just...feels hollow, you know? Like, it doesn’t even really feel like we won anything. It’s a victory by default. Walter: You won because of the arrogance and stupidity of your opponent, which is something you do plenty of times. George was in his 60’s. He had health issues as long as we’ve known him. And yet, he did nothing to protect himself during a deadly pandemic. Thought the whole thing was a hoax. Practically begged to be infected. It’s like, if you go into the ring, and someone begs you to punch them, and so you punch them, would you consider that a hollow victory? Centurion: I suppose not. Walter: I know it’s weird. We’re basically celebrating someone’s death. I feel kind of gross about it, too. But you know he would have been doing cartwheels if the roles were reversed. Hell, the man pulled a gun on you, and the only reason he didn’t pull the trigger was because he still wanted something out of you. (Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(It’s been close to two years since Centurion returned from his sabbatical in the woods. In those two years, a lot of things have happened – he has returned to wrestling, he became a champion again, he repaired his relationships with his family, he moved to Chicago, and he has begun dating Ruby Debuchy, XWF superstar and superhero extraordinaire. However, in those two years, one thing has remained the same – the constant harassment and threats made by former business associate George Latimore. Latimore took over Centurion Enterprises when Centurion went away. Since that time, he has ruled it as kind of a dictator – suspending the board of directors, removing any threat to his power, and selling off any assets that he did not find useful in an effort to make more personal wealth. He has shut down the Centurion Casino & Hotel, once a staple of Atlantic City gaming and Centurion’s pride and joy, and has kept Centurion from buying back The Cortinovis Estate – a large, sprawling property that Centurion designed by hand after gaining his first fortune. Latimore has also been instrumental in blackmailing Centurion’s daughter Nellie, who is attempting to forge her own political career. To put it mildly, there has been no greater enemy to the Cortinovis Family then George Latimore. And, in an instant, he is gone. Like hundreds of thousands of others, Latimore became a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic – one he did not believe in. Over the course of two weeks, Latimore went from being one of the most important people in New Jersey business to being buried in the ground, with very few people mourning his loss. The family’s nightmare is over...and yet, it seems rather unfulfilling. We open up inside the apartment of Centurion in Chicago, Illinois. There, we see Centurion sitting at his table, wearing a Christmas themed robe, with a cup of coffee in front of him. Standing next to him is Walter Crowe, suit clad, with his hand on the table and leaning next to Centurion. Centurion has a newspaper in his hands, and he slaps it onto the table before picking up his cup of coffee.) Centurion: A decade of rising through the ranks of my business, followed by years of torment, and it ends with one paragraph in the newspaper. Walter: I know you wanted to humiliate him. Trust me, I wanted to, too. But that just wasn’t in the cards. Even if we would have beaten him in state court, there was no question he was going to appeal to the US Supreme Court – and given some of your recent comments about Justice Kavanaugh, I didn’t really like our chances there. Centurion: I know, I know. I’m not crying that it’s over, and I’m certainly not mourning the guy, it just...feels hollow, you know? Like, it doesn’t even really feel like we won anything. It’s a victory by default. Walter: You won because of the arrogance and stupidity of your opponent, which is something you do plenty of times. George was in his 60’s. He had health issues as long as we’ve known him. And yet, he did nothing to protect himself during a deadly pandemic. Thought the whole thing was a hoax. Practically begged to be infected. It’s like, if you go into the ring, and someone begs you to punch them, and so you punch them, would you consider that a hollow victory? Centurion: I suppose not. Walter: I know it’s weird. We’re basically celebrating someone’s death. I feel kind of gross about it, too. But you know he would have been doing cartwheels if the roles were reversed. Hell, the man pulled a gun on you, and the only reason he didn’t pull the trigger was because he still wanted something out of you. (Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
However, in those two years, one thing has remained the same – the constant harassment and threats made by former business associate George Latimore.
Latimore took over Centurion Enterprises when Centurion went away. Since that time, he has ruled it as kind of a dictator – suspending the board of directors, removing any threat to his power, and selling off any assets that he did not find useful in an effort to make more personal wealth. He has shut down the Centurion Casino & Hotel, once a staple of Atlantic City gaming and Centurion’s pride and joy, and has kept Centurion from buying back The Cortinovis Estate – a large, sprawling property that Centurion designed by hand after gaining his first fortune. Latimore has also been instrumental in blackmailing Centurion’s daughter Nellie, who is attempting to forge her own political career. To put it mildly, there has been no greater enemy to the Cortinovis Family then George Latimore.
And, in an instant, he is gone.
Like hundreds of thousands of others, Latimore became a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic – one he did not believe in. Over the course of two weeks, Latimore went from being one of the most important people in New Jersey business to being buried in the ground, with very few people mourning his loss. The family’s nightmare is over...and yet, it seems rather unfulfilling.
We open up inside the apartment of Centurion in Chicago, Illinois. There, we see Centurion sitting at his table, wearing a Christmas themed robe, with a cup of coffee in front of him. Standing next to him is Walter Crowe, suit clad, with his hand on the table and leaning next to Centurion. Centurion has a newspaper in his hands, and he slaps it onto the table before picking up his cup of coffee.)
Centurion: A decade of rising through the ranks of my business, followed by years of torment, and it ends with one paragraph in the newspaper. Walter: I know you wanted to humiliate him. Trust me, I wanted to, too. But that just wasn’t in the cards. Even if we would have beaten him in state court, there was no question he was going to appeal to the US Supreme Court – and given some of your recent comments about Justice Kavanaugh, I didn’t really like our chances there. Centurion: I know, I know. I’m not crying that it’s over, and I’m certainly not mourning the guy, it just...feels hollow, you know? Like, it doesn’t even really feel like we won anything. It’s a victory by default. Walter: You won because of the arrogance and stupidity of your opponent, which is something you do plenty of times. George was in his 60’s. He had health issues as long as we’ve known him. And yet, he did nothing to protect himself during a deadly pandemic. Thought the whole thing was a hoax. Practically begged to be infected. It’s like, if you go into the ring, and someone begs you to punch them, and so you punch them, would you consider that a hollow victory? Centurion: I suppose not. Walter: I know it’s weird. We’re basically celebrating someone’s death. I feel kind of gross about it, too. But you know he would have been doing cartwheels if the roles were reversed. Hell, the man pulled a gun on you, and the only reason he didn’t pull the trigger was because he still wanted something out of you. (Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: I know you wanted to humiliate him. Trust me, I wanted to, too. But that just wasn’t in the cards. Even if we would have beaten him in state court, there was no question he was going to appeal to the US Supreme Court – and given some of your recent comments about Justice Kavanaugh, I didn’t really like our chances there. Centurion: I know, I know. I’m not crying that it’s over, and I’m certainly not mourning the guy, it just...feels hollow, you know? Like, it doesn’t even really feel like we won anything. It’s a victory by default. Walter: You won because of the arrogance and stupidity of your opponent, which is something you do plenty of times. George was in his 60’s. He had health issues as long as we’ve known him. And yet, he did nothing to protect himself during a deadly pandemic. Thought the whole thing was a hoax. Practically begged to be infected. It’s like, if you go into the ring, and someone begs you to punch them, and so you punch them, would you consider that a hollow victory? Centurion: I suppose not. Walter: I know it’s weird. We’re basically celebrating someone’s death. I feel kind of gross about it, too. But you know he would have been doing cartwheels if the roles were reversed. Hell, the man pulled a gun on you, and the only reason he didn’t pull the trigger was because he still wanted something out of you. (Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: I know, I know. I’m not crying that it’s over, and I’m certainly not mourning the guy, it just...feels hollow, you know? Like, it doesn’t even really feel like we won anything. It’s a victory by default. Walter: You won because of the arrogance and stupidity of your opponent, which is something you do plenty of times. George was in his 60’s. He had health issues as long as we’ve known him. And yet, he did nothing to protect himself during a deadly pandemic. Thought the whole thing was a hoax. Practically begged to be infected. It’s like, if you go into the ring, and someone begs you to punch them, and so you punch them, would you consider that a hollow victory? Centurion: I suppose not. Walter: I know it’s weird. We’re basically celebrating someone’s death. I feel kind of gross about it, too. But you know he would have been doing cartwheels if the roles were reversed. Hell, the man pulled a gun on you, and the only reason he didn’t pull the trigger was because he still wanted something out of you. (Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: You won because of the arrogance and stupidity of your opponent, which is something you do plenty of times. George was in his 60’s. He had health issues as long as we’ve known him. And yet, he did nothing to protect himself during a deadly pandemic. Thought the whole thing was a hoax. Practically begged to be infected. It’s like, if you go into the ring, and someone begs you to punch them, and so you punch them, would you consider that a hollow victory? Centurion: I suppose not. Walter: I know it’s weird. We’re basically celebrating someone’s death. I feel kind of gross about it, too. But you know he would have been doing cartwheels if the roles were reversed. Hell, the man pulled a gun on you, and the only reason he didn’t pull the trigger was because he still wanted something out of you. (Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: I suppose not. Walter: I know it’s weird. We’re basically celebrating someone’s death. I feel kind of gross about it, too. But you know he would have been doing cartwheels if the roles were reversed. Hell, the man pulled a gun on you, and the only reason he didn’t pull the trigger was because he still wanted something out of you. (Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: I know it’s weird. We’re basically celebrating someone’s death. I feel kind of gross about it, too. But you know he would have been doing cartwheels if the roles were reversed. Hell, the man pulled a gun on you, and the only reason he didn’t pull the trigger was because he still wanted something out of you. (Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(Centurion says nothing – he just takes a sip of his coffee and looks straight ahead. He knows Walter is right. If Latimore got the news that Centurion died due to his own foul ups, not only would he have celebrated it, but he would likely have run television ads mocking him for it. The fact that the shoe is on the other foot doesn’t make Centurion feel good, but it does make him accept where he is in life.) Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: So what now? Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: George’s lawyers have control of his estate. If they want to, they can continue to battle this out. They would essentially be putting millions of dollars into a lawsuit for a company that has no chairman and no employees. My guess is they will drop it sometime early next year, and you’ll get the rights to the business back. (His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(His business back. Centurion has been waiting for a long time to hear those words. The thing that made him a billionaire. The thing that made him a celebrity and a well-known figure in the world of business and politics. For the longest time, it was his identity. It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything. Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one. The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.) Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
It was also the thing that drove him mad, and caused him to nearly lose everything.
Which explains why the news of him receiving the company back isn’t hitting him like it should. He should be ecstatic. He should be running around the city of Chicago, jumping into the arms of strangers and celebrating like he won a championship. But instead, he’s thinking about the life he rebuilt for himself...and whether or not he can return to his old life without ruining this one.
The thoughts in his brain are interrupted by the sound of slippers hitting hardwood and the creek of a body walking down a set of steps. After a few seconds, into the kitchen steps Ruby, wearing a custom-made lime green and yellow robe. She rubs her eyes as she looks at Walter, followed by a glance up at a clock.)
Ruby: I should have known. There’s only two people in the world that would make Cent wake up this early. One of them is me. The other is you. Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: Good morning, Ruby. (In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(In from behind Ruby runs Athena, Centurion’s black cat. She jumps up onto the table in front of Centurion and tucks her legs into her body.) Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: My cat likes Ruby more than she likes me. Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: Everyone likes Ruby more than they like you. Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: Now that’s just mean. (Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(Ruby flashes a smile as she walks over to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee. She adds in some sugar before walking over to the table where Centurion and Walter are.) Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Ruby: You boys enjoy your chat. I’m going to take a shower. Walter, if you stay any longer, you are required to cook us breakfast. Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: I won’t, but my friend Ronald McDonald will have no problem catering to us. (Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(Ruby leans over and kisses Centurion before walking out of the room with her cup of coffee. The sound of her walking up the steps is heard, and the two men wait until they know she is out of earshot before speaking again.) Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: It’s so weird! Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: What? Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: You and Ruby. I don’t know, it just seems…odd. Maybe it’s because she seems so young. Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: She’s 30… Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: I know that! I don’t mean she IS young; I mean her demeanor. She’s so…pure. And innocent. And…nice. And you’re…well, you. Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: You don’t have to remind me. It’s interesting, though – I assumed I would have to change my life if I wanted to keep Ruby happy…but she doesn’t seem to mind. Granted, I curse a lot less in front of her, but everything else she seems perfectly content with. Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: Even the reefer? Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: That…I don’t know if she knows about that yet. Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: So, what when you come in from your car smelling like a bottle of Pinesol, she just assumes you were out polishing tables all day? Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: It’s possible that she knows. We just haven’t broached the topic yet. Look, it’s hard enough to talk to her about certain areas of my past without knowing whether THAT’S doing to be the thing that truly scares her away. I’m on Cloud Nine right now, Walt, and I’m constantly afraid I’m going to do something to fuck it all up. Like I’m one word or action away from the pin being pushed into the balloon. (Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(Walter puts his hand on Centurion’s shoulder, who takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: You’re adorable. It’s like you’re back in high school. Have you asked her to the prom yet? Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: Shut up! Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: You seriously need to stop being so neurotic about this stuff. It’s not like she doesn’t know who you are or what your personality is like. You’ve been a professional wrestler for 20 years. Your life has been documented and publicized for mass consumption. And she is not a dumb person. I’m sure she knows a lot more about you then you realize. (Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.) Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(Centurion just nods and takes another sip of his coffee.)
Walter: Are you two spending Christmas together? Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: No. It’s a little early for that. She’s going back to Canada to spend time with her parents, and Nellie and Erin are flying in tomorrow morning. They’ll be staying with me for a few days. What about you? What are you doing this Holiday season? Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: I plan on getting drunk and celebrating the death of my greatest legal adversary. Then I’m flying out to see Jessica and her family. I think I’m going to spend some extended time there. All this traveling during the pandemic – I’m too old for this shit. And the last thing I want to do is share an apartment in Hell with George Latimore. Are you doing Christmas here and flying out the next day for Savage, or are you going to leave here late Christmas Day? Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: Haven’t really decided yet. It’s going to depend on what Nellie and Erin want to do. I’ve invited them to come along and be at the show, but Nellie was kind of flip flopping on whether or not she could. If she can’t, then I’ll leave the morning of the 26th. If she can, we’ll leave Christmas night. Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: I’m assuming James Raven isn’t going to be taking part in any Christmas festivities. (Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(Centurion laughs as Walter alludes to Centurion’s upcoming match with Betsy Granger.) Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: No, though I doubt there will be any tension between us. James lets Betsy fight her own battles, and this is going to be a clean Canadian Rules match. 10 minutes. Hell, Betsy could order a pizza, come to the ring, wrestle me to a draw, and it still won’t be there by the time she gets back. And I chose to face Betsy out of respect. If I really wanted to fight someone for the sake of violence and hatred, I would have signed up to face Charlie. Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: Which, going to be honest, I’m surprised you didn’t. Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: I know what I’m doing, Walter. I wanted this particular match to be special. Facing a young talent like Betsy was exactly why I came back in the first place, and why I continue to stick around long after my expiration date. Charlie is one of those people who thinks he’s entitled to whatever match he desires. Granted, he’s had a great couple of months, but he doesn’t get to call the shots. Just like Geri Vayden doesn’t call the shots, or Ash Quinn doesn’t call the shots, or hell, even Tula doesn’t call the shots, no matter how much they like to think they do. Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: Right, but he IS the TV Champion. I just figured you’d want the belt. Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: I have the UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Title. I’m content with the gold right now. Besides, there are some others that want to take a stab at Charlie, and they deserve the shot. Charlie’s been disrespecting Marf – I hope the kid steps up and takes the title from him. Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Walter: Hmm...that wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that your match with Marf at Snow Job is already signed, and therefore if Marf was the Television Champion, he’d have to defend it against you...would it? Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: (smirks) Just a coincidence. Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Ruby: (yelling from upstairs) I’m getting hungry! (Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
(Centurion reaches across the table and grabs a set of keys – Walter's keys, in this instance – and tosses them over to Walter, who grabs them out of reflex.) Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Centurion: Two Chicken McGriddles. And a sweet tea. ------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
------A “Granger” Is Another Name For A Farmer------ Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
Allow me to get this out of the way right now. Betsy Granger... ...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven. Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality. Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him? I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that. That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention. You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable. This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose. Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story. If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain... ...which is why you won’t win. When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match. That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you. ...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know. CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes? No, you can’t. And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R... Nevermind, forget I said that. In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy? You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction. I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller. You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here. Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.” And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your... FINAL FANTASY!!
...you would not be here if it weren’t for James Raven.
Now, before you, and he, and the rest of the world takes me head off and uses it to shoot hoops with, allow me to explain. James Raven has built one of the greatest reputations in all of professional wrestling, and it starts and is anchored with the XWF. His every move and action is hyper analyzed, because he is considered one of the greatest of all time. He not only made a career for himself, but he has made the careers of many others in this industry. Raven does not put his stamp of approval on something if it isn’t quality.
Add to that the fact you are his girlfriend...or is it fiancé? If it’s still only “girlfriend”, he needs to hurry his ass up. Anyway, add to the fact that you’re his girlfriend, and EVERYONE is going to assume that the only reason you get booked in matches and even have a job in the first place is because of him. Every negative thing you do becomes a reflection on him. Every loss is met with “see, told you she couldn’t do it on her own”. If you weren’t any good, Jimmy would have stopped you from joining the XWF, or at the very least, he would have done everything in his power to convince you that it was a bad idea. The fact that you’re not only here, but you’re actively being encouraged by him?
I means you’re good. It means you’re damn good. And he knows that.
That’s why I wanted this match. Not as some “favor” to a friend, but because I wanted my first Canadian Rules match in 10 years to be something special. If I was going to work the day after Christmas in a ten minute match, I wanted to make sure it was a) against a young, up and coming superstar that I never faced before, and b) against someone I know was good, and worthy of my time and attention.
You check both of those boxes, Betsy. I see the landscape of professional wrestling, and I know how bright your future is. Hell, you already received the attention of so many competitors. Everyone in the Shooting Star Division wants to take a shot at you. The TV Champion is taking verbal shots at you. It seems like everywhere you look, someone is stepping up and trying to fight you. Is it your relationship with James? Is it your friendship with Atara Themis, one of the more polarizing figures in the XWF? Maybe...or maybe it’s because they’re looking to stop you before you gain any sort of momentum, because when you get going, you’re going to be unstoppable.
This will not change if you lose this match. If you go out there and you wrestle an XWF legend in one of his signature matches and you come up short, no one is going to look down on you for it. It’s the expected outcome. Nothing is on the line. This isn’t some grudge match that will push us to our physical limits. It’s a 10 minute technical bout. Come 2021, people will barely remember this match if you lose.
Aye, but if you WIN – well, now that’s a completely different story.
If you win, you’re no longer an “up and comer”. You’re no longer in the middle of the pack of the Shooting Star Division. Beating me would catapult you up the charts. Even your fiercest critics will stop looking at you as “James Raven’s girlfriend” and start looking at you as one of the top wrestlers in the company. Hell, what better way to eliminate the shadow of James Raven completely than to beat the person who broke him in, and in one of his specialty matches, no less. You have nothing to lose, Betsy, and everything to gain...
...which is why you won’t win.
When you’re in the ring with me, you can’t be fighting for moral victories. You can’t be fighting to be a “feel good story”. You need to have your back against the wall. You need to have something on the line. You need the pressure to be pouring down your face like sweat if you want any shot at beating me, and that just simply isn’t the case in this match.
That’s not to say you don’t want it. I know you want it. You probably want it more than anything in the world right now. But “wanting” something is very different than “needing” something. You WANT a win. You WANT to make a huge name for yourself this early in your career. You WANT to make a statement to all those who continue to take pot shots at you.
...but you don’t NEED it. No matter what happens, you’re still going to kick the living hell out of Geri Vayden. You’re still going to get another Shooting Star Title match, whether that’s against Jenny Myst or Atara. You and Atara are still likely to get a tag team title shot sometime in the very near future. And all of these things, you already know.
CAN you beat me? Absolutely. If we wrestle 100 times, you’d probably beat me, I don’t know, 30 times. That number will increase the more reps you get in the ring, and it also increase depending on the type of match. Put me in your element, whatever that might be, and you could be the favorite. But, can you beat me NOW, within 10 minutes?
No, you can’t.
And it’s not something to get discouraged over. Very few people on the planet can beat me within 10 minutes without having to use gimmicks or gismos against me. That’s the whole point. You put me in a 60 minute iron man match inside an electrified steel cage, and the results may be completely different. That’s not to say I still can’t go 60 minutes. Hell, I don’t know anyone who can go 60 minutes more than I can. Ask R...
Nevermind, forget I said that.
In ten minutes, however, you have to act quick. You have to pinpoint a person’s vulnerabilities in an instant, and you cannot waste time catching your breath or letting the match play out in front of you. You need to constantly be moving and constantly be analyzing the situation in front of you. And you know what I’ve seen as your biggest weakness so far, Betsy?
You’re prone to mistakes. That’s to be expected, being so young and new to the business. Mistakes happen, but in a match where every second counts, one little mistake can be the very thing that costs you. What was your mistake at High Stakes? You lost track of the situation. You knew you had Jenny beat, but you didn’t know the position of the referee, nor did you take into account where the rest of your opponents were. Is it fair that you had a match won and you got screwed over a referee’s incompetence? No, it’s not fair. In a just world, you would be the Shooting Star Champion right now. But these are the kinds of things that happen in professional wrestling. Referee’s get taken out, someone runs in when they weren’t supposed to, a three count is made even though a shoulder was up – all of these are common in this business. You can’t just plan for what you know. You also have the plan for the unexpected. The moment Jenny started tapping out and the referee didn’t call for the bell, you should have run over the started putting the beating on Ash Quinn. If you were fucked because the referee was distracted, then you needed to destroy the distraction.
I’m not telling you anything you haven’t already figured out. I’m sure you’ve replayed the scenario a thousand times in your head. I would say “you’ll learn to avoid that in the future”, but that’s not necessarily true. 20 years in, and there’s no guarantee that I would have done what was right in that situation; however, the chances of it happening would be smaller.
You’re going to learn a lot from this experience, Betsy. Win or lose, you’re going to be a better competitor after this match than you were before it. But unlike some trainers out there, I don’t let people learn by lying down for them. Sometimes, you learn more by losing than you do by winning. I hope that’s the case here.
Oh, and remember one thing. Try to have fun. I know it’s really difficult sometimes. It’s a very physical sport where things get incredibly personal. Sometimes you go back to the locker room with your entire body aching, wondering what the hell made you decide to get into this profession in the first place. That’s part of life, and there’s no way to get around that; however, there is that moment when you wake up in bed, one or two days later, where you look back on the week you had and you think to yourself “boy, that sure was fun”. It doesn’t make the frustration of losing go away, but it does remind you that you made the right decision. I guarantee you’re going to have fun in this match, Betsy. No weapons, no interference, no bullshit – just good, old fashioned wrestling. The way it was meant to be. Trust me, while the rest of the XWF universe might handwave this match and forget about it in a couple of weeks, you won’t. You’ll be sitting there, with a cup of tea or whatever you consume, and you’re going to think to yourself “boy...that sure was fun.”
And, you get to experience one other thing. It’s kind of a right of passage in the XWF. You don’t get to start main eventing shows until you do it. For the first time in your life, you get to feel what it’s like when you meet your...
FINAL FANTASY!!
