AS50: Triple X vs. Sam Smith (Elite X Title)

[Ty Burna]

After Sam Smith's impressive return to the WZCW ring, Ty has given Smith a chance at regaining the title he lost before he left the company by facing Triple X for the Elite X title. X has been on a roll for a long while and has yet to meet his perfect match but does Smith's previous performance as the champion prove that X might have finally met his better competition?

Deadline is Tuesday, June 26th at 11:59 PM Central Time.​

 

[BK Styles]

The Day of Ascension 50…

The locker room is mostly empty, save for a few sports bags abandoned on benches. Its four hours before the show is due to start, and while other superstars are off doing their own thing, Triple X sits in silence in the locker room, mulling over the thoughts inside his mind.

Chaos is in control of WZCW. Ty Burna is off ruling the castle whilst his Apostles do his dirty work. Everyone who has stood up to them has fallen. So much is riding on which side will survive, and I’m here fighting each week for this? (He stares down; the Elite X Championship rests in his hands) I mean, this is an honour to hold, and is hugely important, but surely there are more important things I could be doing here. If the Apostles push all good out of this company, is there a place left for Triple X?

As he sits there in contemplation, the door to the locker room opens, and a familiar face walks into the locker room. X looks up, and immediately looks down again with a sigh.

What are you doing here, Frank?

Frank sits down next to him.

Came to see you, obviously. Haven’t seen you since the big night X; congratulations are in order. I see you managed to beat Scumm not once, but twice. You both still BFF’s after that?

It’s called mutual respect, Frank. You got a problem with it?

No, no problem. But you know, Sam Smith isn’t gonna take your depressed demeanour into consideration when he faces you.

Funny.

Not really. You know I’m right though. You may be on an inccredible winning streak, back since...the Lottery, was it? There are a lot of impressive names on that list, but Smith is different to any of your them. After all, he’s-

-he’s been Elite X champ before. Yeah, I know. He was the guy who was beat by Holmes, who was the guy that I beat if you recall.

The guy you beat with Big Dave’s help.

(X laughs sarcasticly) Okay, I’m sorry, is there a point to all of this? If it’s motivation, then you suck at motivating.

My point is that you need to get your head out of the ground and get interested in this match quickly. You look like you couldn’t give a damn. I'm just trying to play devils advocate here, thats all.

X looks up, and turns to Frank.

It’s not that. I just…I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing here.

The ‘right’ thing?

I’m here fighting for a title whilst others are fighting for this company. Putting themselves in the firing line so guys like me can go out and live their dreams. I have no right to do any less than that. The Apostles are doing whatever they damn well please at the moment. How will I feel if this place falls and I did nothing to help?

Frank pauses for a moment.

…you already are, X.

X looks back at Frank, slightly confused.

Oh really?

Look at it like this. (Frank stands up, slowly walking towards the opposite wall) Ty gave Smith this shot in his second match back. Smith alluded to his support for Ty in his interview last week, and Ty certainly rewarded him for it. You wanna do something to help the people on the side of WZCW? Hold onto that belt. Keep defying the odds, kick Smith’s ass, and take on anything and everything that gets thrown at you.

X sits there, mostly unresponsive.

I'm not planning on losing, but it's not as simple as just going out there, doing a few flips and winning. Smith knows how to get it done. He beat Phoenix last week, and sure, Phoenix isn’t on the best run of form, but he’s still a veteran. And it was Smith’s first match back. He's dangerous, and now he has an attitude to go along with his abilities. He's gonna be a challenge, but you know what? I like it. Tonight I get to repay some of the faith that the WZCW fans have placed in me.

Really?

C'mon. You saw last week. You saw his interview. He's turned his back on them, and for what? Because he got hurt? Because he didn't get the outcry of love and affection he desires? The fans of this company deserve better, and I'm gonna give it to them tonight. This title (X lifts the belt up) is my title. It's a part of me, and he can try and take it, try and destroy this place, try and do whatever he damn well wants to. But he'll just wind up being just another name on the list.

Xander, I can't help but feel that this is...personal?

X pauses a moment before responding; his tone more sombre than before.

Never met the guy. But I suppose it is. I look at the way he blames the fans for being in pain, the way he blames them for his addiction. And I see...me. That's a path I know all too well, and I know first hand that the person he should be blaming is the asshole he scowls at every morning in the mirror.

X, you-

Before Frank can finish, X stands up.

Look, thanks for the talk Frank, but I need to focus. We’ll talk later.

Frank goes to say something, but relents, and instead heads towards the door, stopping as he grabs the handle.

One more thing X. Did you get round to-

-yeah. I went there before Kingdom Come. They weren’t in.

Your mom would love to see you X. Just give them a chance.

X thinks back a moment. Back to walking through the familiar corridor, into the garage with his old high-school achievement board on the wall; a board stacked full of his achievements since he started wrestling. All the things that he thought his parents didn’t care about. A small smile creeps back onto X’s face.

I may just do that Frank. We’ll see.

Frank, slightly startled at the more-enthusiastic-than-normal response, simply smiles, and exits the room.

X lifts the Elite X belt up, staring intently into the central plate.

Frank's right. This is my weapon. Sam Smith may be a former champion, but that was then, and now I'm the guy in the hot-seat. Smith can try, but this belt is staying right where it belongs. He may want to tear this place down, but he’s gotta get through me first.

X puts the belt down, and takes out some sports tape, and begins taping up his wrists for the match. He stops for a moment to stare at the tattoo on his forearm, before taping over it.

I will not bow.

 

[The Crock]

Moments before my match at Ascension 50, I had something to get off my mind. I wandered around the arena looking for Leon Kensworth, as it only seemed right that he got my second interview, too.

I spotted him down the hallway, talking to a camera man, and I walked over.

"Leon, buddy! Just the man I was looking for!"

I wrapped my arm around Leon, akin to how an older brother would to his younger sibling. He squirmed around, clearly uncomfortable, before breaking free.

"Hi, Sam."

"Come on, that's no way to treat an old friend!"

"Look, I've got work to do. I don't need you --"

I cut Leon off.

"Well, I'm here to help you, pal! What do you say you and I have ourselves an interview, huh?"

Leon sighed, but I knew I had him.

"Fine."

"I knew you'd come around. Let's get to it."

Leon beckoned, ushering me into a hallway. The cameraman set up, and we were good to go.

"Ladies and gentleman, I'm here with Sam Smith, who will be facing Triple X for the Elite X Championship shortly. Sam, there's a pressing question on everybody's mind: What happened to you?"

"Leon, Leon, Leon -- what's with your mood? We're just having a pleasant little interview between friends!"

"That's not exactly what I would call it -- I'd think you were wasting my time."

"Wasting a failed reporter's time? Well, I sure am ashamed!"

Leon was visibly flustered and he couldn't take any more.

"You know what? I'm done here. Feel free to finish the interview yourself, Sam."

As Kensworth stormed off, I couldn't help but smile. After last week, I would have thought it would be impossible to get an interview where I wasn't being hounded about what I was saying -- it had been easier than I thought.

"Well, well, now that Kensworth is gone, I guess it's time for a little story.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Sam. Sam was a good little wrestler, even winning the Elite X Championship. As champion, Sam did everything he could to guarantee that the Elite X Championship would be viewed as prestigious. One could say that Sam took the title to heights it hadn't reached since it had been held by the likes of Austin Reynolds, even. When Sam lost his championship, it took quite a hit, though. It was around the waist of Steven Holmes for all of a pissbreak, then ended up in the hands of a lucky newcomer named Triple X."

I paused, sarcastically wiping my forehead.

"PHEW! That was quite a yarn. Long story short, Triple X is now faced with a challenge the likes of which he has never faced before and will be exposed as a fraud of a champion, much to the chagrin of WZCW's fans and their management.

Don't worry, though, I'm going to be a great champion. I'll be someone all the kids can look up to! Look, I even wore my nice suit!"

I, once again, exaggerated my movements, sarcastically tugging on my suit, straightening my tie, and slicking my hair over.

"See, I'm the savior WZCW has been waiting for... AUUUGHHAUUGHHGH!

I bent over and began pretending to vomit.

"Wow, that took a lot more out of me than I figured! I don't know how some of my fellow wrestlers can do it. I mean, they're practically on their knees, suckling on you people, just hoping that they don't rock the boat.

Well, let me tell you something, it's not going to get you anywhere. I didn't rock the boat and I was thrown to the wayside! It won't matter, though. Once I bring this company down, you'll all get what's coming to you."

A demented grin crossed my face.

"Tonight, once I win the Elite X Championship, begins the downfall of WZCW. Once I have gold around my waist, there's nothing you can do to silence me. We're going to play by my rules -- remember that.

Triple X is going to do his best to be a stand-up company man and stop the big bad wolf from tearing into his comfortable confines, but let me put it bluntly: He will fall at my feet, just like Phoenix did. Triple X, I have nothing against you -- I just hate everything you stand for. You're what's wrong with WZCW. Hell, you wouldn't even be the champion had I stuck around. You're in above your head, just treading water until someone shoves you under the surface of the water. I will not hesitate to be that man.

I'm sure you think you can do it, I'm sure you think you can stop me -- just think about what happens if you don't, though? The fans will hate you for failing. They're not going to be behind you forever -- no matter how good it feels when they cheer you now. What I do to you tonight will be their fault. Nothing personal.

I've got a goal that goes farther than the Elite X Championship, but I will not toss this opportunity aside. You know, I almost feel bad. The Elite X Championship means everything to you -- I know how that is -- but in a way, when I take it from you, I will only help you. I will show you what wrestling and WZCW are all about. Glory, respect, it all means jack shit."

I smiled as the final word came from my lips, remembering Kensworth's plea from last week to keep me from swearing on TV.

"The only thing that means anything is getting what you want. You have to step on a few toes -- being a perfect employee won't get you anywhere. The only thing it has gotten you is a match with me and a nasty ending to your Elite X Championship reign.

Oh, and this isn't false confidence, this is a promise. I vow to walk out of there with Triple X's championship, if only to set yet another example.

Far too many people are content with how things are right now, but I'm not one of those people. Until WZCW is a pile of rubble, I will not quit. Winning the Elite X Championship will only help me see that goal through faster."

I stepped out of the frame of the camera and walked into my locker room. I sat down, going through my final preparations. I sat in silence for a few moments until the door of my locker room was opened by the one person who understood what I was going through. We had much to talk about.

This was only the beginning.​