Sunday, October 25, 2009

A sports car pulls up in front of a large house in Sacramento, California. The door opens and out steps Chuck Matthews. He looks up at the house, then back into the car.

Chuck Matthews: “Here we go…”

He reaches into the car and grabs a briefcase before walking up the path to the front door. He takes a look at his car, wondering if he could just run back and drive off. He really isn’t looking forward to this. Regardless, Chuck sighs deeply and rings the doorbell. After a moments wait, during which Chuck can hear voices from inside the house, the door swings open, and Chuck finds himself face to face with…a stranger. It’s a woman. A beautiful woman. She’s…Chuck shakes the thought out of his head and smiles, extending his hand.

Chuck Matthews: “Hi. I’m-”

Woman: “I know who you are.”

She doesn’t sound thrilled to meet him. Still, Chuck keeps smiling.

Chuck Matthews: “I wish I could say the same. You are…?”

The woman stares at Chuck for a moment. Finally, she shakes his hand.

Woman: “Kim.”

Chuck kisses her hand, and flashes her another grin. She doesn’t seem amused.

Chuck Matthews: “Pleasure to meet you. Might you have a last name?”

Kimberly O‘Day: “Not one that I’ll give to you.”

Chuck shakes his head, laughing.

Chuck Matthews: “Fair enough. I don’t suppose Megan O’Day is around?”

Kimberly O‘Day: “Living room. Please, come in.”

She sounds a bit sarcastic, as if the last thing she wants is for Chuck Matthews to step into her house, but she steps aside anyway, letting Chuck in. Chuck looks around at the interior of the house. There’s a lot of blue. The walls, the windows, the lighting…all have a faint tint of blue to them. It’s comfortable though. Chuck steps into the living room. There’s nobody there. The TV is on, set to a soap opera, and a large bowl of what appears to be carmel coated popcorn sits on the coffee table. Chuck takes a seat on the leather sofa, tossing a wool blanket onto a chair next to it. He pops a piece of popcorn into his mouth, and makes a face. He has no idea what’s on it, but it tastes horrible.

Kimberly O‘Day: “I’m not sure where Megan is.”

Chuck looks at Kim, who sits in the chair.

Chuck Matthews: “I’ve got time.”

There is a long silence.

Chuck Matthews: “So…you’re Megan’s sister?”

Kimberly O’Day: “Did I say I was?”

Chuck Matthews: “It was just a guess.”

Kim smiles for the first time since Chuck’s arrival.

Kimberly O’Day: “Yes, actually, I am. Older.”

Chuck Matthews: “You don’t look much alike.”

Kimberly O’Day: “I get that a lot.”

She sounds slightly offended. Chuck tries to quickly change the subject.

Chuck Matthews: “So what do you do for a living?”

Kimberly O’Day: “Wrestling.”

Chuck Matthews: “No kidding? Where?”

Kimberly O’Day: “Sacrifice Wrestling.”

Chuck Matthews: “The company your sister owns?”

Kimberly O’Day: “The very same.”

Chuck Matthews: “Isn’t it a bit degrading to be working for your sister?”

Kimberly O’Day: “No. Why would it be?”

Chuck pauses for a moment.

Chuck Matthews: “No reason. I guess it’s just because I could never see myself working for…my brother.”

Kim looks at him, with a slight smile.

Kimberly O’Day: “You have a brother?”

Chuck Matthews: “Four, actually. Well, one. The other three were murdered.”

Kim holds her hand over her heart.

Kimberly O’Day: “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”

Chuck shrugs.

Chuck Matthews: “It happens, I guess. I just learned recently that my fourth brother is still alive. No idea where he is. Then there’s my sister, but…we don’t talk much…”

Kimberly O’Day: “It’s sad, to lose contact with family. I couldn’t imagine life without Bobby, or Megan, or Taylor.”

Chuck Matthews: “You get used to it.”

Chuck looks at Kim, who is staring thoughtfully at him.

Megan O’Day: “Kim, did you answer the-”

Megan’s voice carries into the room. Chuck turns in his seat to look at her. She stares at Chuck, then to Kim.

Megan O’Day: “Well, I see he’s already here.”

Kim stands up.

Kimberly O’Day: “I’ll let you two get to your business. Nice to meet you, Chuck.”

Chuck Matthews: “My pleasure.”

Megan and Chuck watch as Kim heads out of the room, smiling at Chuck as she goes.

Megan O’Day: “Well!”

Megan slowly sits in the chair, finally sinking into it. She’s definitely changed since the last time Chuck saw her. She isn’t wearing her usual short T-shirts, but instead a heavy sweater, which still fails to hide the growing hump beneath it. She wraps the blanket around her shoulders and grabs a large fistful of the rancid popcorn and shovels it into her mouth. Chuck looks at her, repulsed as she crunches on the disgusting snack. Megan looks at Chuck.

Megan O’Day: “Popcorn covered in honey, vinegar, and salt. Weird combo. But I love it.”

Chuck makes a face as he stares at the bowl.

Megan O’Day: “Were you here long?”

Chuck Matthews: “No.”

Megan O’Day: “So what do you want?”

Chuck reaches in his breifcase and pulls out a sheet of paper. It’s an application, already filled out. Megan wipes her hands on the blanket and takes the paper. She runs her eyes over it for a moment, and then looks back at Chuck.

Megan O’Day: “You want me to hire your daughter to SW?”

Chuck Matthews: “Pretty much.”

Megan O’Day: “Why would I do that?”

Chuck Matthews: “Why wouldn’t you?”

Megan O’Day: “Chuck, let’s get something straight right now. I don’t like you. Why would I want your daughter in my company?”

Chuck Matthews: “Oh, come on now, Megan. You’re going to let a little grudge get in the way of raw talent?”

Megan O’Day: “Oh, she’s talented all right. But I don’t want that kind of slime running around my shows.”

A flash of anger crosses Chuck’s face.

Chuck Matthews: “Slime?”

Megan O’Day: “She’s a troublemaker, Chuck. Her and her little boyfriend. You should really keep a closer eye on your kids.”

Chuck glances at Megan’s stomach.

Chuck Matthews: “Advice I’m sure I’ll be telling you in a few years, right?”

Megan glares at Chuck.

Megan O’Day: “At least when my baby is born, it will be in a loving environment. Without whores coming home every night to sleep with daddy.”

Chuck Matthews: “At least my daughter has a daddy.”

Megan O’Day: “GTFO Chuck!”

Megan points angrily at the door. Chuck glares at her for a moment, then turns away. He makes his way to the door, but stops. He sees a black box sitting atop the mantle. Chuck grins.

Chuck Matthews: “What’s in the box, Megan?”

Chuck already knows the answer.

Megan O’Day: “Excuse me?”

Chuck turns and looks at Megan, pointing at the black case.

Chuck Matthews: “The box. What’s in it?”

Megan struggles as she gets to her feet, but manages to stand. She makes her way to the fireplace, a slight waddle as she moves. She lifts the box off the shelf.

Megan O’Day: “Brenton’s heart…”

She seems lost in memory as she looks at the box, as if she forgot she had it. She bites her lip, and puts the box back up on the shelf.

Chuck Matthews: “His heart?”

Megan O’Day: “He gave it to me.”

Chuck Matthews: “Interesting…He never bothered to get it back?”

Megan O’Day: “I guess he forgot.”

Chuck Matthews: “I guess so. Well, that’ll be a wake up call for Alison. Bummer. Well, I must be off. Give me a ring if you change your mind about hiring Ashley.”

Chuck makes his way to the door.

Megan O’Day: “Wait.”

Chuck turns around.

Chuck Matthews: “What’s up?”

Megan O’Day: “What do you mean, ‘wake up call for Alison?’”

Chuck Matthews: “Well…Wouldn’t you be upset if you found out another woman had your fiance’s heart?”

Megan O’Day: “Excuse me?”

Chuck feigns surprise.

Chuck Matthews: “Oh no…you don’t know, do you?”

Megan O’Day: “Chuck, please don’t tell e what I think you’re going to tell me…”

Chuck Matthews: “What? That the father of your baby is fucking another woman’s brains out and is set to marry her?”

Megan screams.

Megan O’Day: “I hate you Chuck Matthews!”

Megan picks up a cup from the shelf and hurls it at Chuck, who ducks, heaing it shatter on the wall behind him. Chuck backs up, away from the screaming Megan. Kim and Taylor race down the stairs into the living room.

Taylor O’Day: “What’s going on here?”

Taylor shoots a dirty look at Chuck. Kim looks at him, a hurt look on her face. Chuck thinks of an excuse quick. He ducks another flying dish.

Chuck Matthews: “I don’t know! I don’t know what I said to offend her!”

Kim’s face softens. She and Taylor grab megan by the arms, preventing her from grabbing another dish. Megan is still screaming.

Kimberly O’Day: “Sorry, Chuck! She’s just having a crazy mood swing. She’s usually so sweet!”

Megan O’Day: “He…He…I HATE YOU CHUCK MATTHEWS!”

Taylor wrestles Megan into her seat, trying to calm her down. Kimberly grabs Chuck by the arm and drags him into the front room.

Kimberly O’Day: “Chuck, I think it’s time for you to go.”

Chuck Matthews: “I forgot my briefcase in the other room.”

Kimberly O’Day: “I’ll get it.”

Kim turns to head back to the living room.

Chuck Matthews: “No. You can do me one better. Do you think you can talk her into signing my daughter to SW?”

Kim smiles.

Kimberly O’Day: “I’ll see what I can do.”

Chuck pulls a pen from his pocket and takes Kim’s hand. He scribbles something on it, and looks at her.

Chuck Matthews: “That’s my number. Let me know how it goes. Thanks a million.”

Kimberly O’Day: “No problem.”

Chuck grins. He heads out the door and gets in his car, slumping back in the seat. Kimberly O’Day…wow.

20 Minutes Later…

Chuck pulls up in front of his hotel. He hears a bleeping from his pocket. His phone. Chuck opens the phone, and reads his new text.
From: Kimberly O’Day
“She’s in.”

Chuck Matthews: “Funny how things work, isn’t it? Back in June, I would have wondered why this match didn’t happen sooner. In August, I never would have even imagined I would be here now. And yet, here we are, at the end of October, watching Salvation fight side by side once again. You’ll notice I say ‘Salvation’ and not ‘Original Salvation.’ Why? Because there’s really nothing to compare it to. It isn’t ‘Oringial Salvation’ vs. ‘New Salvation.’ Maybe the better term would be ‘Real Salvation’ vs. ‘Other People.’

Here’s the thing. There are a whole load of you calling me the traitor. Calling me Anti-Salvation. Saying I never believed in it, or that I betrayed Brenton Cyrus.

Where was I when this was happening?

I made one mistake. Just one. And that sole mistake was sitting and watching as Brenton Cyrus was sent to Legacy. That was completely my fault, and I already made my apologies. So how did I betray anyone? What, I fucked his girlfriend? Again, I’ve made my apologies, and we’ve moved on. And look! He’s engaged to the same girl! So what does that leave?

Oh. Because I left, right? So…that makes Mexican Samurai a traitor too, doesn’t it? I mean…he left for essentially the same reason I did. Because we saw the greener grass on the other side. Do you know why I left Salvation? Allow me to explain myself, since nobody was ever intelligent enough to ask my side of the story.

When I left Salvation, I had a master plan, as usual. I was going to go to Legacy myself. I was going to win the Universal Title. Then, using it as bait, I would get a match against Joe Santiago, and reunite with Brenton Cyrus in Salvation. When Brenton was traded, I had to rethink things. But it wasn’t hard, because Kristofer Kaos ended up on Direct Hit. And sure enough, I was put in the title picture.

Long story short…my plan didn’t work exactly as I had planned. But the fact remains…I left Salvation to bring it to new heights. The way I see it…I never did anything wrong.

Unless you mean I’m a traitor because I don’t believe Brenton Cyrus is God? You want to know something? I never did. He knows I never did. And guess what? Ignorance is no excuse anyway. Riddle me this: Who was the only member of Salvation that never asked anyone if they were saved? Who never bothered ending every fucking promo the same way? Did you not catch that little hint? I was on a team with Brenton Cyrus because he was my best friend. He still is. That’s why I did what I did at City of Evil. Nick gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He got me into the city. A city which, by the way, if it wasn’t for me, wouldn’t even fucking exist.

He can say whatever the hell he wants, but Brenton Cyrus knows how essential I was to his seat of power he’s at now. Without me, Ramirez Silva would still be running the show. Without me, there would be no Nick Ridicule. Salvation wouldn’t be half of what it is. Who preached our book? Who brought people under our influence? I did. Who’s statue stood in the Church, right there next to Brenton's, just as tall, just as powerful? Mine. And guess what? Ever since then, I’ve only gotten stronger. More powerful.

Brenton Cyrus’s bullshit and his unjustified hatred towards me is the only thing that puts a sour taste in my mouth at the very mention of Salvation. And it’s that same unnecessary hatred that makes me say that while I’m grateful for the time I had as a part of Salvation, I’m even more grateful for leaving it. The smartest move I ever made.

But I can’t change history. I can only change the future. The fact is, I was one of the founding fathers of Salvation. The Unholy Icon himself, and the proud writer of the Gospel According to Matthews. And that’s why, on this card, I’m listed as part of ‘Original Salvation.’ Did I believe the same things? No. I never saw Brenton Cyrus as God. I think I've made it clear that I never will. If he can’t respect that, then it’s his own fault, and he has only himself to blame for the end of our friendship. But when I was a part of Salvation…I was part of a greater good. That’s what I believed in. I believed in NLWF. To me, that’s what Salvation is really about. Not some bullshit about worshipping a man and pumping up an already massive ego. But about cleaning NLWF and getting rid of scum. Scum like Ramirez Silva. Like Joe Santiago. Like 4East.

I guess Nick taught my daughter well.

This week, I continue my never-ending mission. NLWF is infested once again. Something Nick and Ashley noticed long before I did. But this time…Salvation is part of the problem. Which is why I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this match. I can fight three of the biggest leeches in this business, all at the same time. Beautiful.

To my teammates. Nick, I’ve told you what I think of you. I stand by what I said. I have no doubt as to where your loyalties lie in this match.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for my other tag partner. Brenton…there was a time when I could call you a brother. My best friend. And as much as I would love to say that once more. To say ‘this week, I’m fighting alongside my brother,’ I just can’t bring myself to do it. Truth is…I don’t know what you’re doing. I don’t know what your motive is. All I see is you stuck in a position where no matter what side you choose, you’ll be stabbing a friend in the back. Or perhaps you’re still crying about the things that I’ve done, and you’ll have no regret leaving Nick and I to fight on our own. Fine. You do what you need to do. As for me? I’ve moved on. I’m not a fucking girl who’s going to sit and sulk about little things that happened months ago, just to bring it up when it’s convenient for her. I’m going into this match to kick the shit out of Corey, Samurai, and Shadow.

Shadow Demon…The really funny thing is, I’ve never had anything against you. It was by total chance that I fought you before, and I just came up short. Not the end of the world. This week, I have a bit more motivation. You won’t be so lucky. Unlike the last time we fought, I have reason to win this time. You’re a member of Salvation. Not the Salvation I knew. But the ‘newer’ version. The shittier Salvation.

Mexican Samurai…Remember the last time we fought, you claimed that I could only win when there were other people involved? When I was on a team, or if there were other opponents? We’re right in that same situation, aren’t we? You told the world that you hate me. The feeling is mutual. You’re a conniving little shit, Samurai. And to be honest, I don’t think leaving Salvation was the smartest move for you. I mean, when I left, I was one of the best NLWF had to offer. One of the top guys in the business. I left. I had a small setback, then rose to heights I had never known. You? You were a shitty NLWF Champion. Surprise, surprise. Once again, you were showed up by my daughter and her boyfriend, and…you know something Samurai? I don’t even need to beat you this week. I’ll let my eighteen year old daughter do it for me. I mean, does it matter? You’re losing to a proud Matthews either way.

Which leaves…Corey Casey. Corey ‘I want to be just like Chuck’ Casey. Corey, you’re so proud of everything you’ve done so far in NLWF. You won the North American Championship. Great. I won the No Limit Championship, and broke records with it. You won the tag team titles with Brenton Cyrus. Awesome. I did the same thing. Twice. And not only that, but I never lost the belts either. We’ll see if you can say the same. And now, you’re bragging because you were handed a World Heavyweight Title reign. Fun fact for you Corey. I’m a three time world champion. And I won every single one of them. In real matches. With real opponents. Let's face it Corey. Everything you've done, I've done, and I've done it more often, and better. I didn’t need some ‘I was awarded the belt’ garbage. But then again, in all fairness, that’s how my No Limit Title reign began. And I ended up being the greatest No Limit champion in history. Maybe you’ll do the same. Maybe you’ll take your title and beat Brenton Cyrus. Become the greatest champion in history.

Or we could go down my favorite road. The Road to Reality, if you will. You’ll hold your belt for a bit. Sleep with it. Take it to dinner with your mail-order bride. Fuck it so hard you put a hole through the metal. Then we’ll get to the pay-per-view. And you’ll wonder who you’ll have to fight. Maybe it’ll be someone easy, like Ryan Apollos. Like Mark Pollak. And you’ll win, and hold the belt another month and do the same shit.

But maybe not. Maybe the pay-per-view will roll around, and you’ll have a threat. Brenton Cyrus wanting his belt back. Mexican Samurai trying desperately to cling to that last bit of talent he’s got left in that old, burned up body of his. Or maybe…just maybe…it’ll be me. Looking to start world title reign number four. Looking to become the first man in NLWF history to hold all three major titles. Just maybe. And you’ll lose. And all that work that Brenton Cyrus put into making that belt the most prestigious in NLWF will be shot. Because his beloved apprentice was a shitty champion. And you know what I’ll be doing, Corey? I’ll be sitting there. Laughing. Shining my belt. Watching you kiss Brenton’s ass so he doesn’t kill you.

I was, and still am, better than you ever will be Casey. Just remember that. This week, I’ll kick your ass so bad, your balls will shoot up into your chest and turn into titties. You’ll be broken, and you’ll see exactly why you will never compare to Chuck Matthews. To Brenton Cyrus. To Nick Ridicule…to Salvation. The real Salvation.

From there, it’s only a matter of time before I save NLWF, and end this sick joke that we know as Corey Casey’s World Heavyweight Championship reign.”