AF13: Joe Mason vs. Josh Young

[Viola Moonlight]

Steamboat Ricky will accompany Joe Mason to the ring.​

The "King of Submissions" Joe Mason will be looking to avenge his loss from last week as he takes on the newly-debuting superstar Josh Young. This will be an interesting match for Ricky to take notes on, finding out whether his mentee is able to make a come back and kick-start a winning streak.

Deadline: Wednesday, 5th of September (11:59pm Central Time)​

 

[Silly Willy Nilly Vanilly in the Milly]

Scene begins in a dark room. There is no lighting, save a candle on a nearby nightstand, next to an alarm clock, revealing the time as 0300. The candle’s glow is just enough to illuminate the face of Joe Mason, who is sitting up in a chair next to the nightstand, erect and not moving.

This is what I have become.

Flashbacks of Mason’s previous matches- and losses- flash on the screen rapidly before returning to Joe in the dark room.

I have become a failure.

A flashback of Joe arguing, and eventually walking away from, David Richman, is shown.

I was offered help when it was needed most, and I turned it down.

A flashback of Mason throwing Tony out of the window is shown.

I lost my best friend.

Mason stands up, walking far enough out to where his face can’t be seen from the candle’s glow.

But the Joe Mason of these times no longer exists. I am not a failure any longer. I will not become the same thing my parents are.

Mason laughs as his face slowly reappears on-screen.

So, my opponent this time around is Josh Young, the newest member of WZCW. I know the feeling, and I still feel fresh, but I won’t show any mercy. This is just WZCW toying with me. They know I can’t beat a real opponent, so they give me the greenhorn to face.

Mason grabs the alarm clock set next to the candle and tosses it across the room, breaking it.

I’m not upset- really and truly, I’m not upset. Why would one even think such a thing? This is predictable. If they didn’t think I was in need of assistance, they never would have given me Steamboat Ricky as a mentor. I mean no offense to you, Ricky- but this is business and business only. Rest assured that as soon as this program is over, I will be back to my independent self, but in the dawn of a new era.

Mason laughs again as he picks up a sheet of paper from the nightstand, as well as the candle, and sits back down.

This time around, I’ve done my own personal studies. So, Josh has a few strengths, does he? Let us see…

Joe clears his throat and holds the candle up to the paper to read.

Speed- I am fast myself, so that is irrelevant; leaping ability- white people can’t jump, you’re lying to me, and even if you can jump, how far will it get you? Psychological in-ring; don’t make me laugh, Young. I am psychological both in AND out of the ring. I didn’t get my Master’s degree by being stupid, now did I?

Mason raises the paper higher up.

Young has his weaknesses as well, let me see… small- your size will definitely be a disadvantage, considering how big I am; physically weak- how pathetic. Why would you even bother to enter wrestling then, if you are weak? Gets tired easily…

Mason laughs louder and more maniacally than he had before.

This is where I seal the deal. I am a submission master, Josh. If you get tired easily, then you shouldn’t dare enter the ring with me. Once I grab a hold of your arm, Young…

Mason puts the piece of paper over the candle. The fire consumes the sheet instantly.

…you will burn out.

Mason puts the candle back on the nightstand and sits back down on the chair.

So you see, Josh Young, the short version of the story is this: I am a wrestler, and you are just a pathetic waste of skin that has no business entering WZCW. Have no doubt, Mr. Young, that, even if you start a fire…

Mason leans over and blows the candle out. The room goes pitch-black.

…the Mason Lock will put it out.

There is rustling of sorts as Mason apparently is entering his bed on the other side of the room. As he lies down and falls asleep, a window or door can be heard opening and a soft voice whispers to Mason…

Good night, best friend.

Scene ends.

 

[The Extract]

"Put your hands on the wall, feet spread.”

The guard stood, standing impatiently as Josh Young did as he was told.

He was nervous. He didn’t know what to think of this cold, heartless place. He had been here before. Once when he was a kid. As he was being pated down by the rude, sloth-like security guard, he looked past the bars trying to see anyone else. But all he saw was a dark, uninhabited space.

Suddenly he was awoken from his thought with just two words from the guard, “All clear.” As the barred door quickly slid open, Josh Young slowly moved into the open space, and sat down on an old ratty chair.

A woman in an orange jumpsuit sat across from him. Only Plexiglas separated this man with this criminal. He noticed a number on her uniform. It read #192384034. She was 41, but looked over 60. She became teary eyed while she stared at the man across from her. They picked up the phones that were on the hooks next to them.

“What the Hell are you doing here?” The woman is obviously surprised, angry, and displeased as she looks at Josh, knowing that nothing good will come from him being here.

“Great to see you too Mom!” Josh jokes at his mother, who is obviously still in distraught.

“Let me ask you again, what the Hell are you doing here?”

“I just wanted to catch up mother! How long has it been? 15, 16 years?”

“Cut to the chase.” She is not amused by Josh’s humor.

“I just wanted you to know that I don’t blame you for how my life turned out. I have no reason to.”

“Cut the crap. I know that you blame me for your life. It’s because you like the fact that I wasn’t there for you. You like the fact that I wasn’t the mother I should have been. You like the fact that I am in here! And I am sure that you know why! You like having an excuse for your life! You need that excuse, or else you would only have yourself to blame for your miserable, shitty life!” Though she started out talking normally, by the end, she was screaming, jumping out of her seat like she is about to attack Josh through the glass.

“No mom, I don’t blame you for my life, and you’re right. I have no one else to blame besides myself. But you want to know why I blame myself ma? It’s because for once in my life, I feel thankful for being alive. I am living in a beautiful house, with an amazing girlfriend. But best of all, I am at my dream job! I am a wrestler of WZCW! Even though I haven’t won yet, I am happy. And I will always be trying my hardest. And this week, I know I can win. Joe Mason is going down, because I am promise that I’m going to make him feel like you made me feel back when I was only 8 years old.”

Josh Young slams the phone back onto the hook where it originally was held. He stares at his mother with a smile on his face. His mother, still shocked from what just happened, leaves the room.

The guard walks up to Josh. “So you are a wrestler for WZCW?! How come I haven’t seen you before?”

“I just debuted on Aftershock last week against Jacoby Capone.”


The guard looks puzzled. “Who the heck is that?”

“It doesn’t matter anymore. I’m not focused on Capone. I’m only focused on Joe Mason.”

“…The guy who always loses?”

“That’s the one. He may think that this will be an easy win for him. But I am good at proving people wrong. I have done it in the past, and I will make sure to do it to Joe Mason.”

“Joe Mason…”

The words Joe Mason were still ringing in Josh Young’s head. The guard was talking, but Josh stopped listening. He was only focused on Joe Mason. As the words repeated themselves in his head, Josh just stared blankly at the security guard. The guard finished his thought, or that was what Josh thought, as the guards lips stopped moving.

“Yeah. Yeah. Sure. I’m sorry but I have to go.” The guard did a quick check on Josh then told him that he may leave.

Young finally gets up, and walks out of the room. When he was a kid, he never thought that this would happen. A day that he felt free. His life was perfect. He never thought that he would have his dream job. Though the thing he never thought could have happened as a child did. He finally told his mother the pain she caused him. He has now finally felt like his life could not get any better.​