Aftermath

The smoke has not cleared...

The morning following One Night in Hell. Shadow’s Hotel:

In the aftermath of One Night in Hell, Shadow is nursing a cut on his forehead and the many, many bruises from the night before. The ladder match was painful, and a hard fought war which Shadow over came Biggs. While, Slade did not topple Chris Cyrus as he planned, Shadow was the one holding the Overdrive title in his hand at the end of the night. It was after that match where Shadow was jumped by an irate little joke who found yet another way to weasel out of the situation and take back his belt. Shadow was fuming about that. He thought the war would be over when he proved Biggs wouldn’t win the ladder match. Shadow showed everyone that Shockwave was a fluke, but Biggs’ simple little moment allowed him to cement a deal with A.P.W. where he could literally steal the title back, which Biggs cashed in at the first opportunity. Shadow’s anger had finally seeped to the surface. He had not been this pissed in years. It wasn’t the fact Biggs hit him with the Xtreme title and won back the belt, its that someone like him could be allowed to do such a thing. In Shadow’s history inside the ring, he never heard of someone having an instant rematch clause. Someone was going to pay for this insult. All of Shadow’s work everything he left in that ring, all that glory was wasted when Biggs decided to cheapen the moment with a childish tantrum and attack. Shadow is in his hotel room right now, looking in the mirror, his eyes just trained on the cut on his forehead where Biggs smacked him in the face with the Xtreme title. Shadow could see the wound throbbing with his pulse, the hatred for dishonest, double dealing men actually making it somewhere in this world. Justice was a commodity that Shadow considered never investing in again. However, he knew he still had the opportunity for a rematch. Holding the belt for six months or six minutes did not matter. Shadow was entitled to a rematch.

The night flashed back into his mind, the final moments of the match, the fist fight on top of the ladder. Punches flying back and forth. Slade and Cyrus were hanging from the Xtreme title only a few feet away. Their knees coming up into one another’s ribs, each of them trying to make the other lose their grip. Shadow and Biggs were now struggling back and forth for the Overdrive title, it was in both their hands. Biggs reached up in an act of desperation and grabbed Shadow’ by his hair, trying to smash his face forward. Then, to stop this, Shadow grabbed Biggs’ throat. He kept replaying the look of fear in Biggs’ as Shadow’s fingers tightened around Biggs’ neck. The look of realization of what was happening when Shadow lifted him up and threw him into the other two men. Biggs knew at that moment he lost, everything he had done, all his little boasts and self praise meant nothing. Biggs lost. That’s what went through his mind as his body collided with Cyrus and Slade, as his fingers lost their grip on the Overdrive title. That was the moment. And it was ruined when Biggs hit him with Cyrus’ belt. Again the only real way Biggs could overcome Shadow was to attack him from behind. It infuriated him.

As Shadow looked at himself in the mirror he thought about everything. His debut in EEW, his stint in PCW followed up by a long retirement then a dramatic return to ECFW, a run in DUW and WWA followed up with several mini bouts in dome federations. For a short while he and Slade were free agents, working in a bunch of different federations in order to find a suitable home. Then after crap feel through causing both WWA and DUW to- ultimately close, Shadow and Slade came to A.P.W. In every federation people were able to lie, cheat and steal to make their way to the top. Such a reflection of the world. Shadow was not a religious man, he was a righteous one though. There was one quote that ran through his mind. It wasn’t exactly biblical, close, but the words were tweaked for the effect. Samuel Jackson used the quote, it made sense.

Shadow: The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee. “

He contemplated that statement. Shadow used to think he was the righteous man, the one who tried to bring the fans through the darkness. That abysmal darkness being the reign of tyrants and bigots in the wrestling world. Shadow believed something along those lines, maybe not so Tarantino-esque, but he always believed that he would bring down the monsters who tried to hurt others. For the longest time, Shadow felt he had made a difference, now he realizes that the evil men in this world, the ones who care for nothing but self gain will always exist and, now more than ever, would cut down the righteous in order to succeed. Shadow was tired of watching this happen. History would not be allowed to repeat itself once again. Biggs was going to pay, vengeance would be exacted upon him. Punishment, justice, whatever you wanted to call it. Shadow was going to show Biggs what happens to people like him. No one, nothing would stand in his way. They will know Shadow’s name, especially when he wreaks havoc upon them.

Saturday Morning: Halloween

The past few days were brutal, especially because of the injuries sustained at One Night in Hell. Shadow’s ribs hurt more than anything. He didn’t think that the catapult trick would work, but Slade was able to pull it off. At that though, Shadow shuddered to know how Slade felt today. Craven had not been seen since the end of the match. As a matter of fact Shadow was ready to go back to Texas and rest up. But he knew that the flight would be horrendous. 10 hours, cramped up in a plane back to the states, then another flight back to Japan for Overdrive? No that was a retarded idea. If Shadow were to do that, he would be in no condition to wrestle the Main Event. So Shadow spent the weekend in his hotel room, slowly stretching and eating light as his body recovered. Come Wednesday night Shadow would be healed up and ready to go, well as healed up as he can be. Shadow has been thinking the past few days, stewing over what happened and what is coming. He has plans for Biggs, an offer, a challenge, something Biggs cannot refuse. As Shadow thought more and more about it he came to a realization. Something had to change. He spent all this time, fighting for the people. While he loved the feeling that they gave him, he needed more. Shadow had to take this to next level. Only problem was, the next level would be a step back. Shadow was restraining himself in matches. Nothing compared to the day he returned to wrestling, the carnage he left in the middle of the ring. That was the next level. After witnessing Haven’s Paradox and the limits they pushed themselves to just hurt people Shadow realized he did not want to do that, so he held back. No, now he needed everything, no more playing nice. As Shadow lays in his bed he looks at some the has been messing with in his hands. Its one of his gauntlets that he got in Rome. The black studded leather with the grey flames stitched along it was reminiscent of an old gladiator’s gauntlet. That is what Shadow was going for with his wrestling attire, to show him as a gladiator. The boots, the gauntlet and even his pants all had traces of Roman history on them. But now he needed something else. He rolls out of his hotel bed and makes his way over to the closet, where all of Shadow’s wrestling gear is at. He pulls open the door and flips the switch. Inside, hanging up is the coat he has been wearing to the ring, with the silver and grey flames coming from them hemlines.

Shadow: This simply won’t do.

He reaches inside and moves the coat out of the way, on the floor is his wrestling bag. Shadow grabs it and tosses it to the bed. Then he walks over, unzips it and begins rummaging through his wrestling gear.

Shadow: No, no, nope. Hrm….

He pauses as he pulls out the first pair of wrestling boots he ever owned. They were black, with a symbol on the side. The circled pentagram, not satanic.

Shadow: Yes. He sets the boots on the bed by themselves and starts pulls out his debut gear. Black leather pants with the same symbol on one side. His long, old, tattered black duster. That was all he needed.

Shadow: Lets see, who the real beast is.

The ring gear does not have the luster that his newer stuff does, its all worn from years he fought in it. No now Shadow has something to wear a much darker purpose. Victor Hades was going to be first and he certainly would not be the last. Biggs wanted to play games, wanted to toy with Shadow and rob him of his hard work. No not anymore. No more playing around. On Overdrive, Shadow was going to make an example out of Victor Hades. For the several months that is all Shadow did, but it was only for rookies and new comers. No this time he was going to take a seasoned superstar like himself and show Biggs just what exactly he has done. Biggs opened the proverbial Pandora’s Box, and the entire locker room was going to pay for it starting with Hades.

Overdrive

Shane West is nervous. The camera follows him as he leaves Max Carter’s office, quietly muttering to himself.

Shane: I do not want to interview Hades. I really do not want to interview Hades.

His footsteps are shifting as he walks through the back locker room area heading towards the room where he will be conducting his interview. Max specifically told Shane that he was going to have to host a gimmick interview in a darker room. The reason Shane was picked is because he was a little easier to scare, that and the fans enjoyed seeing the superstars mess with Shane West. Cindy Shannon was eye candy, no one liked watching her be scared. Shane reaches the locker room and opens it slowly. As he cracks the door, suddenly it comes flying open and Shane falls flat on his face. Standing there, with black streaks in his long blonde hair is Shadow, He wears the old ring dear, the black duster, the leather pants, the pentagrams. Shane shuffles back and gets back to his feet in shock. He looks at Shadow who stands there just glaring at him.

Shane: Shadow? What are you doing here?

Shadow: The interview.

Shane: I thought I was interviewing Hades.

Shadow: Why would you think that?

Shane: Dark room, someone was pissed off. That all Max said.

The big guy grabs Shane by his shoulder and hauls him into the room the cameraman follows to see that the room is not that dark. In fact the lights are on and everything is normal.

Shadow: Someone was pissed off, that part is right, but this isn’t “The Emo Hour with Victor Hades” We do not sit in a dark room with a single light reflecting the only friend we have. Nor am I the kind of guy to write in a little journal about how pathetic and violent I am. Don’t you ever compare me to Victor Hades again. He and I are nothing alike. He is a stupid emo douche and me, I am straight vengeance. You are here because Max Carter has questions he needs answered. You are here to ask those questions. So lets get started.

West stutters and stammers before he finds his voice and asks his first question.

Shane: Well, well, Shadow, what is the point with this ring gear? You usually wear something else.

Shadow: Shane, I am dressed like this to make a statement, an emphatic one at that.

Shane: What’s that?

Shadow: The fans, all the people who come to the shows, who watch at home, they all have to listen to some weeping sobbing and bitching little pansy who scribbles in his journal about how he ends and kills people. He rambles on about how sick and sadistic he is. This man irritates and bores the holy hell out of the people and he thinks he is the epitome of darkness. Victor Hades is not dark, no man who buys his clothing from Hot Topic is malevolent. More importantly no self respecting man even shops at Hot Topic. All Victor Hades represents, is what the prime, and shining, example of what it means to be a joke. That’s why I brought out my old gear. Because I wore this attire when I wrecked havoc, when anarchy reigned supreme and the Dark Circle laid waste to the wrestling world. The Dark Circle may be gone, but the driving force behind them still remains. As long as my heart beats, the pure adrenaline and strength will continue to decimate anyone who tries to stop me.

Shane: You seem a little different today Shadow.

Shadow: No shit Sherlock. I am not here to bitch and moan about what happened at One Night in Hell Shane. There is no use dwelling on the past. No I am going to change the future though. Biggs wanted to up the ante. After losing his Overdrive title, after failing to achieve what he swore he would do, Biggs could do nothing more than jump me, and scamper off with the belt. A real champion, that’s what Biggs is. Let me tell you something Shane. When a man meets a force he cannot overcome he destroys himself. That’s what Biggs has done, he just has not realized it yet. Now, to try and distract me from who I am going after, Max Carter has decided to offer me Victor Hades as a consolation prize. After Hades decided to do a couple of hot rails and come then try and lift me off my feet, try to intimidate me, Max Carter felt I needed to let off a little steam. That’s why this match was booked. If Hades had a problem with Slade kicking the crap out of that joke Jesse Nunez, then he should have taken it up with Craven. Instead Hades decided to put on his big boy pants and come find me. Well Hades, you wanted my attention you got it. And I am going to use you, to show Biggs what he has gotten himself into. He thought this ended at One Night in Hell, that his rematch clause ended our feud. Wrong. If I was champion for a year or just a minute I get a rematch as well and I am going to get it. But first Biggs gets to see what happens when someone crosses the line. I would have happily offered Biggs a rematch, but no, he wanted to take it right there, right then. The cowards way out. Just like the Axis to do that. No, One Night in Hell is over with, Shockwave is long gone, Mayhem, is forgotten. All that remains is Overdrive and what is going to happen after that. Every week Biggs gets a demonstration, he gets to bear witness to the reason why people fear, envy and hate me. And more importantly he gets to see what a true champion is. A champion does not run away, he does not hide behind clauses and friends. No a true champion will throw themselves headfirst into a fight, just to prove a point. I have a point to prove Shane. As a matter of fact I have several. And I plan on doing just that with Hades tonight. Hades wants to talk about getting under someone’s skin, no he has no idea how to do that. He doesn’t have the mental capacity to concoct a scheme creative enough to piss me off. I’ll give it to Biggs, he did, but Hades, no.

Shadow takes a deep breath after such a long winded statement. He actually wonders how Hades can ramble on for so long and not put himself to sleep.

Shadow: So lets talk about Marv, I mean Hades, Shane. The man his defined his career by defeating Jesse Nunez.

Shadow pauses after stating this. He doesn’t say anything else. For about twenty seconds Shane waits, then for another ten his eyes shift from side to side.

Shane: Was there something you were going to say after that Shadow?

Shadow: Hell no, that’s the pointlessness to the Hades’ achievement. He wants to be recognized for beating Jesse, he wants people to note how great and amazing he is, for beating the ‘unbeatable’ Jesse Nunez? The man everyone in the A.P.W. locker room has defeated? Is he serious? Hades’ accomplishment is about as great as his last bowel movement. A man cannot survive in this world if they think Jesse Nunez is a standard worth measuring yourself against. So he buried Jesse, the entire locker room thanks him for that, not because Nunez was annoying, just because it confirmed the fact that we all believed Jesse’s career was dead. It was dead when I faced him months ago. Now Hades took out some trash, big deal, I’ve been doing that for quite some time. If Hades wanted to do something impressive he would have taken down someone who actually meant something, someone who had a career. No, instead he beat Jesse Nunez, and expects people to tremble in fear at his unimaginable accomplishment.

Shane: Shadow, you don’t really think that much of Jesse Nunez, do you?

Shadow: Well look at the big brain on you over here. No, I do not think much of him, and there are some good reasons as to why, but they are not important. Jesse lost at One Night in Hell, and now Hades gets a chance to face a real opponent, me.

Shane: So you are not worried? Hades was quoted talking to somebody who commented on how he is like a god amongst men, and that he can take more damage than the average person, and dish out three times that.

Shadow: Oh, scary, right.

Shadow’s face shows how little he cares.

Shadow: PCP will do that to you.

Shane: I highly doubt…

Shadow: No Shane, do not doubt. Hades believes he is unstoppable, he thinks that his strength is unsurpassable, and that women actually find him attractive. These delusions are brought on by the prolonged exposure to the hallucinations created in the mind of a man who loves doing Angel Dust. Shane no man is immortal, and if Hades thinks that he is anything other than Human he shouldn’t be wrestling with anyone other than orderlies and a straight jacket. I am so sick of these want to be phonies who walk around thinking how bad ass they are and that no one can stop them. I am the force that has stood in the way of countless of people share this hive minded thought. Shane, no matter where you go in the world there are always going to be these specks, the blips on the radar who wish they could do something more than merely just exist, so what do they do? They run their mouth about how totally unstoppable they are, and, AND, that they are born to hurt and END people. Please, how about the entire A.P.W. hold their breath until Victor Hades does something worth watching. Hades, I could care less about how you’ve ended four careers, and the belts you held in some has-been federation. Stop living in the past! Nobody cares what you have done.

By now, Shadow has stopped paying attention to Shane West and is looking directly at the camera, his focus on facing Hades.

Shadow: Come tonight I will do the exact same thing as what was predicted on the last Overdrive, put you in your place. All you could do before the last show was ramble on about how Slade and I hadn’t done our homework, bullshit. We never walk into a fight without knowing exactly what we are going up against, after watching two of your matches, I’ve seen all your matches. Pretty ‘ri-god damn-diculous.’ You walked into Overdrive last month thinking how simple it would be, how you would steamroll over the A.K.A. and what happened? You got shut down. Seems like someone couldn’t practice what they preached. Hell after watching your little prayer, we thought you were having an epiphany. You were discussing how four men were weighing down the company, with their wordy and boring rants. We thought you had realized how wretched you and the men you were teamed with really were. Then you called either Slade or I a “blonde-haired pretty boy” and talked about some fat guy. That’s when we realized your drugs were still pumping through your veins. Hades, you had no idea who the A.K.A. were, well guess what sunshine, you do now. And tonight you get to face a real man, one who will show you what it means to be labeled as “A force to be reckoned with.” Tonight Hades, you face me. And I can promise you that this will be both quick and painful. And when it is finished, you and your one time tag partner, the bane of A.P.W. Biggs, will both have a realization. That I will reap vengeance from your flesh. Hades, I almost feel sorry for you, but the fans don’t. They want to see this more than anyone. Because while I may have disliked Nunez, they didn’t, and they are begging to watch me decimate you imitation emo ass. When this is over, your little diary will read: “Hades Journal, November 5th, 2009. Tonight I got my ass beat by Shadow. I suck, period.” Tonight Hades, you get to see what real power is.

He pauses briefly and leans into the camera, his hair hanging in front of his face, in a way probably unintentional but still menacing, due to the black streaks in his hair..

Shadow: Real power Hades. Me.

He uprights himself again, his hair still over his eyes. Even Shane seems a little unnerved, usually Shadow is so calm, even sometimes kind of funny. But today he is exhibiting something else, a different quality, one that is pure destruction. Shane slowly starts backing away as the camera remains focused on Shadow, standing there, ready for one hell of a fight.