It is the dead of night and Austin Reynolds limps slowly into the bedroom of his Californian hotel. The match that evening had been particularly brutal and Austin could only remember it in fits and starts. His lasting memory had been of Hayley returning to him. Her love flowed through to him like life-giving blood. He was happy to have lost because of the prize that he had won.
So as content as he was with his efforts, Austin realised that the World Heavyweight Championship was going to stay out of reach. He had done everything in his powers and taken two of the companys’ biggest stars to their limit in the last two pay-per-view main events.
Austin climbed into bed and slowly pulled the quilt over him. The Ratings Winner had done his job and the company had benefitted from his brief time in the spotlight. He could relax and think about what was coming next. But all he wanted to do was fall asleep and then wake up with the beautiful woman next to him.
To Austin, that was more important than winning any match.
In the morning, Austin felt revitalised. Albeit with severe facial bruising and a sharp pain in his ankle that wouldn’t go away. But the refreshment provided by his successful reconciliation with Hayley was making the pain feel trivial. He tucks into his bowl of cornflakes as Hayley comes in. Austin pushes a cup of tea towards her. She ignores it and wraps her arms tightly around his neck. No words are spoken between them.
Dom rushes in, mumbling angry words underneath his breath.
“Damn company! Pain in my ass to deal with.”
He spots Hayley and Austin and seems to calm down as he sees his friends together once again.
“I don’t care Dom.”
Dom looks up, not expecting to be addressed quite like that.
“Whatever you are going to say about WZCW, I don’t care.” Hayley nuzzles in to Austin’s shoulder. “I got what we came here for.”
“But the World Title....”
Austin sees the ambition burn in Dom’s eyes. Despite everything, he still desperately wants Austin to succeed. Austin approaches his friend and puts his arm on his shoulder.
“Look, it will come. I earned my shots but came up short. I took Ty Burna to his limits; he was coasting, he got through Cougar in second gear at Kingdom Come. He had to change to beat me. And I don’t care if I don’t get another shot at Ty, I know I can get to that level. But it’s not necessary. I don’t have to main event every show, I’ve been to the top of the mountain and I know I can get back there.”
“But Ty’s actions have changed my life and all I want now is to go back to what we had a year ago.”
“What are you saying hun?”
Hayley pipes up. Austin looks her dead in the eye and sees the innocence in her eyes. His heart skips as he considers the torture that she has endured in recent weeks thanks to him.
“I just want to go back to winning matches, being the highlight of every show and earning my spot. And I don’t want to go to work worrying about you two being targeted. It’s not fair to you. I should be the one getting hurt. I need you two to pick me up, not worrying about who is next.”
“Well talking of who is next.”
Austin smiles. Dom was clearly itching to talk about work and the frustration that he has.
“Oh yeah, go on then.”
“Well it’s a guy called Jackson Williams.”
“Who?”
Hayley looks confused by this unfamiliar name. She was aware of most names in WZCW but this one was new.
“Yeah I am still trying to do some recon on the guy.”
“Don’t bother.”
“Why?”
“Because he is just going to be another of this so-called new breed. Big confidence, no achievements, just another loud voice wanting to be heard. We’ve got so many rookies who are desperate to make an impact but they don’t think about how to go about doing it.”
Austin seems riled up, already prepared to face his opponent. He remembers what it is like to be an ambitious rookie.
“The difference is when I started; I was so good that I got a title shot in my first match. My first pay-per-view was Kingdom freakin Come! Nobody has had a start like that in the entire history of the company!”
He chuckles as he remembers his run to the Elite X championship.
“I know about Jackson Williams. He carries himself like a superstar backstage when he should be grateful of being where he is. And where he is, is the very base of the totem pole. He is an insignificant bottom feeder. Now sure, the World Championship is out of my reach but I can still kick the ass of arrogant pricks like him. If Ty taught me anything, it is to be relentless. I need to show the guys in the back that I can still wrestle circles around most of the guys here.”
“So have you got your eyes on something?”
“How do you mean?”
“Well if we discount the World Title...for now, then what do you aim for next? The Ratings Winner has got to have something going on.”
Austin grins as he considers the idea of just working for the pleasure of it.
“Well I’ve got this crazy urge to shove my foot down someone’s throat. Just to stop him talking about me.”
“I don’t want you getting hurt ever again.”
“And I won’t allow anything to happen to you, either of you. Never again.”
Austin hugs her again as he considers the avenues open to him. There was no pressure on him. He had to beat William Jackson or whatever his name was of course. Maybe there would be an avenue opening to him to at Meltdown and Ascension.