The interviewer, a pre-general manager Becky Serra, takes her seat, and not far behind her is a slightly younger yet still very jaded Triple X. His hair was a deep red and black, his lip was still adorned with a piercing, and his clothes were grungy and tattered. He sits down with a WZCW logo behind him and Becky, uneasy being the person to interview someone she used to have a high amount of respect for, goes through the motions in asking X the questions you’d normally expect.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, I am joined here at this time with the new number one contender to the WZCW World Championship, Triple X. Two nights ago you pinned S.H.I.T. to become number one contender for the WZCW World Championship. A lot of people are saying this is your time, but others are saying you got lucky reaching this spot. How do you feel knowing you’re heading towards Ricky Runn’s Championship?’
‘Luck is for losers. Look, I beat my opponents, I move on and I beat the next one. If they happen to be someone the crowd likes, then even better. But I do not care what people think; I will go on and become the Champion. No-one can stop me.’
‘In your eyes do you think you should already be World Champion?’
‘In anyones eyes who has a lick of sense, I absolutely should be holding that Championship. Runn got lucky that I’d already fought that night at Unscripted, and if it weren’t for my Superkick he wouldn’t have pinned Vega. So yeah, I should be Champion, and had I not been through a war with Blade earlier in the night I would have been champion.’
‘And what happens if you don’t win the Championship?’
‘The second I start thinking like that, the second I lose. I did that before when I lost both the Elite X and Eurasian Championships, and when I’ve had past title opportunities too. So nice try, Serra but don’t go about putting things like that in my head.’
Becky cleared her throat and looked down to her notes and X sat there, clearly agitated by having to be in the interview.
‘Lets…change the subject. Obviously when you debuted you made waves here very quickly. You rose up the ranks and quickly won the Elite X Championship. Looking at the roster now, is there anyone you can see who you think could become the next big thing?’
‘Like I care who the next big thing is? I’m going to be champion and that’s all you should be caring about.’
‘Yes, but it would be interesting to think of who might be your challenger, right?’
X sat there, still irritated by the question but with his ego goaded enough to foresee a future with him fending off challengers for his title, he entertained the thought.
‘Well, someone I’ve already mentioned. Vega. Vega has many tools needed to go on to great things. Hell, he was already in a World Title match at Unscripted alongside myself, so I literally know just how good he is. And unlike many young wrestlers coming up, he isn’t afraid to be ruthless. Hell, the man was the final Mayhem Champion. And it’s that ruthless desire to do whatever it takes that makes him dangerous. And I respect him for doing things that won’t get him liked. He knows that he wants to be. And if he stays true to himself and carries that through, he’ll be a legend.’
‘Triple X, thank you for your time.’
X smirks, before ripping off the mic that had been set up on him and dropping it to the floor, leaving Serra to shake her head in disgust.
November 9th, 2018
Meltdown 155
Madison Square Garden, New York City
The fans were on their feet.
For the first time in what was sure to be a hell of a long time, Xander looked out to the crowd who, for whatever reason, were applauding him in earnest. His opponent, Eve Taylor, lay on the canvas motionless; Xanders third such World Champion-calibre victim in a row.
And the fans were cheering him.
They…they’re cheering me?
Xander looked around as the official kept his hand raised. He too seemed perplexed, unsure of what to do.
They wanna cheer me now? After everything? After everything I’ve said…everything I’ve done?
Xander ripped his hand away from the official.
But do they really mean it?
Xander slowly raised his hands, both middle fingers raised, as the admiration form the fans soon transformed back to the regularly scheduled booing.
Fuck you all and your hypocrisy. You don’t get to make that decision.
He stood there for a moment , taking in the regular sound of apathy from the paying public, before leaving the ring and walking back up the ramp without looking back at either the crowd, or even his opponent. He entered the backstage area and walked directly to his dressing room. He opened the door and sat on the bench, as
Andrey pulled himself away from his newspaper and made his way over to his client.
‘My friend, that was a hell of a performance.’
‘Thanks.’
‘The crowd were a little…well they certainly didn’t behave as we’ve come to expect, no?’
‘I don’t really give a fuck what they do.’ Xander said, before taking a sip form a nearby bottle of water.
‘No, I know. I know…’ Andrey walked over to Xander’s bag and grabbed a towel out, passing it over.
‘But still; the crowd chanting your name. Even down to the hatred of your opponent rather than the love of you. It has to fill you with…something. Surely?’
Xander grabbed the towel and wiped his face, before staring blankly down into the ground.
‘Yeah. It fills me with rage.’
‘Surely is this not a sign of the people coming to appreciate the talents you present to them? The start of their appreciation returning to you?’
‘Is that what you think I want? Their appreciation?’
‘All great stars of any sport could point to the roar of the crowd giving them that last burst of adrenaline that gets them over the line. Maybe instead of hearing boos that push you to move on in spite of the people, the people could use their voices to help push you further.’
‘Andrey you know that’s not going to happen.’
‘I just-‘
‘No, you know what? I get what youre saying Andrey, and in principal youre correct. But they weren’t cheering me tonight; they were simply not cheering Eve Taylor. And I’ve been down that road before and their cheers pushed me to taking weeks, if not months, off of my life for their entertainment.’
‘I know, Xander, I was just musing the point.’
‘No, I get that.’ Xander stood up from the bench.
‘But I don’t need their cheers. I could have been wrestling Taylor in a dark room with nobody in it and I would have still choked her out. The crowd cheering meant nothing.’
‘It’s funny though, is it not, that your conversation with Vega earlier in the night was about such a topic?’
‘The hell does that mean?’
‘You taunted him for giving up his dark ways and here you are, being cheered like the plucky young upstart of yesteryear who pinned Steven Holmes for his first Championship here.’
‘Your point?’
‘My point, Xander…’ Andrey walked over to his client and patted him on the shoulder.
‘…is that the universe has a habit of trying to balance out the mistakes of men. And while I’m not saying for a second that your path is a mistake, sometimes it’s worth listening when the universe wants to talk.’
‘Yeah, well the universe can go fuck itself. I’ve made my choice and I’m riding higher than I ever have. I’ve no doubts about the decisions I’ve made. Lets wait and see how Vega’s work out for him in his match.’
Andrey smiles and slaps him on the arm.
‘A man can achieve great things when he has confidence in himself. I know that you have no problems in that department. Let’s just see how confident in his own abilities Mr Vega is.’
One Week Later
The Iron Academy
Phoenix, Arizona
The hits on the punchbag were getting harder and harder, and the sound was echoing around the gym. Xander was tired, and sore, but he didn’t care. He kept pummelling and pummelling as hard as he could before finally he stopped, falling against the bag himself. He stopped and grabbed his flask, taking a large gulp of water, before returning to a ready position to continue.
'The bloody hell did that bag ever do to you?’
Xander smiled and turned around, and sure enough
David Redfield was standing at the door. He walked over and the two greeted with a hug.
‘Man it’s been a while.’
‘That it has. Gotta keep making a name for myself while you’re up there living the high life.’
‘You’ll get there someday dude.’
‘Hey, if it happens it happens.’
‘What you doing here anyway?’
‘Well, was just passing through, on the way to a show. Indie life, you know? But thought I’d stop by and say congrats on the Taylor match.’
‘Thanks man.’
‘That’s three World Champions in a row. Mate you are on fire.’
‘Yeah, well I can’t afford to burn out yet.’
‘No, no you can’t.’ Redfield walked over to the ring and leant against it.
‘Vega next for you, right?’
‘Yup.’
‘Tough draw.’
‘I’ve had worse.’
‘Have you?’
‘Well…I did just beat Eve Taylor. You know, former World Champion. And I did beat another in Kagura before her. And then I did beat Tyrone Blades before that still. All former Champions. So…yeah.’
‘That doesn’t mean Vega is a slouch though.’
‘No, I didn’t say that.’
‘But you think he’ll be easier?’
Xander stood there for a moment, before grabbing his flask and walking closer to Redfield.
‘What’s this about?’
‘I just wanna make sure you’re head is fastened on properly.’
‘And you think it isn’t?’
‘I think you’ve had a good amount of success in recent months and I want to do my bit as a friend to try and ensure that continues.’
‘By questioning me?’
‘By keeping you on your toes.’
‘…by questioning me?’
‘Okay, yeah, kinda. Look, you pointed out just how tough the opposition has been for you recently and I just don’t think it ends with them. You said before you beat Eve that you had everything to prove and she didn't. Vega is in the exact same spot as you; he's out to prove he belongs. And let's not forget, Vega ended the Mayhem Division back in the day; he was that good. That high level of ability can’t be ignored.’
‘You’re right. You are, and I know how good he is. I’ve been in a Hell in a Cell with him and he’s awesome. He’s naturally gifted and has a unique style that just makes him nearly impossible to predict.’
‘You’re going to say ‘but’ now, aren’t you?’
‘Yep. But he doesn’t have the killer instinct any more.’
‘Go on.’
‘Well, look at him. He talks about reforming and wanting to be a better person…why? I mean, like you said, he was the man who defeated the Mayhem Division as a whole. He turned everyone’s heads. Why change what brought you to the dance? Why, because of a conscience? Fuck that. He had a formula that had he stuck to he would have been Champion by now most likely. Instead he left, came back a changed man and in my eyes just isn’t the same.’
‘Like looking in a mirror, right?’
Xander tilted his head a little at that remark.
‘Maybe. Except I came back and I’ve never been better.’
‘I’m not saying anything on the contrary.’
‘But you are saying something, right?’
‘Look, his victory on Ascension was very impressive from where I was standing-‘
‘Yeah and I’m not saying it wasn’t-‘
‘And you need to be careful. Everything you’ve felt; the need to prove yourself, the desire to complete unfinished business, he’s feeling that too. Except he has chosen to embrace the fans rather than turn them away.’
‘His funeral. Look, I meant what I said to him. And I dunno, maybe pandering to those leeches works for some but honestly, he has looked a shell of the man he used to be since returning.’ Xander laughed for a second before continuing.
‘You know, I remember being asked years ago who I thought might be the next big break out star and I said, and honestly thought, that it would be Vega. To think that now, he and I are in this position, both with everything to prove and from different sides to the ones we once occupied, and to think that in order for him to fulfil that potential he has to go through me……it ain’t happening. Not a chance.'
Redfield leant back more on the ring apron and smiled.
‘I’m just saying you need to be careful.’
‘And as ever I will be. Like I said, I know the threat he poses to what I’m working toward here. I do. But the truth about Vega is he rotted away in that Mayhwm division for far too long. Hell, look at when he made his return; straight back in there. And yeah, right now he’s forced his way out and he’s cleaning himself up and performing well but simply put, he has to do better than perform well. He has to do whatever it takes.’
‘And what happens if you don’t beat him?’
Xander looked up, shaking his head at the question posed to him.
‘Seriously, what happens then?’
‘He goes on and I get knocked back, but I don’t fall down.’ Xander looks back to Redfield, anger burning in his eyes.
‘Before I would have said some shit like ”I can’t afford to think like that” but the truth is, I will win that Championship, and I will do it however I have to. Right now that way is through Vega, and I have no problem doing whatever it takes. Does Vega have the same mentality, or does this “redeemed” version have the balls to do what the fans won’t like?’
‘And you don’t care about those people? The same ones who applauded you back on Meltdown?’
‘Christ-‘
‘No, Xander, listen. I know you think it was just because it was Taylor and they chose to pick aside, but they weren’t just booing Eve. They were cheering you. Your name being chanted. You connected with them once again.’
‘And why should I give a fuck?’
‘Because they can push you on! They have with me in my career. The amount of titles I probably owe that support to-‘
‘And yet you’re still not in WZCW, so how is it actually working out for you?’
Redfield stopped and looked down, biting his lip and smiling as he contemplated his next words. There was a pause form Xander too, who looked around the gym, instantly regretting his choice of words.
‘Red, I didn’t mean-‘
‘No, you did. And that’s fine mate. You aren’t wrong.’ He looked back up at Xander and placed a hand on his shoulder.
‘But those people have carried me through and helped me make my name. Whatever that name is. And they, even if it was just for one night only, were with you, and they might have just pushed you to that victory without you realising.’
Xander smiled back, and placed his own hand on Redfields shoulder.
‘Dave, you know I love you like a brother, man. But let me make this clear. The fact that within twenty seconds of them standing and applauding I had them booing again proves every point I’ve made. Those people are fickle, dishonest, hypocritical and they’re a stepping stone. Right now Vega is wrapped in what they want him to be, but instead he should be the Vega that dominated people. But I honestly think he’s forgotten how to do that. The people have made him forget that. Which means, come Ascension, I will have one single focus, and that will be to put Vega down. Just like Blades. Just like Kagura. Just like Taylor. And any chance of Vega taking my spot and progressing in the Gold Rush will simply fade away.’
Redfield patted Xanders shoulder once more, before removing it and turning, walking back to the door.
‘I hope you beat him, mate. But I don’t think the people are his weakness.’
‘They were mine.’
‘Maybe.' Redfield walked through the door, leaving one parting shot as he did.
‘Maybe one day you’ll see that they can be just as good of an ally as an enemy.'
Xander stood there, alone in the gym for a moment, before shaking his head and throwing his flask down, cracking it, sending water all over the floor.
Vega wants to be on the side of good? Fine. I’ll show him what I learned the hard way.
That goodness doesn't always equal greatness.
