Post by Buster Gloves on Mar 25, 2023 14:02:14 GMT -5
~~~
Falling down, coming back stronger
The down and out, standing up taller
We keep on rising from the gutter
Through the fire
Don’t stop fighting for it
We keep on rising when we’re
Falling down, coming back stronger
This is for my people.
~~~
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
PRESENT DAY
Buster Gloves leans back in his lounge chair, sipping on his pineapple smoothie as he watches a golden goddess glide across a serpentine pool. The fluorescent lighting casts a warm glow over the indoor patio, white walls, with gold trim. Lexi Gold emerges from the water in a black and gold string bikini, grabbing up a towel, and drying off while Buster hides safely behind jet black sunglasses.
She takes a seat on a nearby lounge chair, picks up her phone and starts speaking while typing. “So, what’d you want to talk about? Must have been important to come all this way. Just come out with it.”
“I won’t front on you in your own home, Lex. I need advice.”
She flutters her eyes up at him before returning to her phone. “Advice? Why do you need advice from ME?”
Buster scratches the back of his head before answering. “You’ve been through… a lot. Especially since I’ve known you. It doesn’t seem to bother you. How do you handle it?"
Lexi finally drops her phone. Her soft voice carries a hint of weariness as she recounts the events that had caused her so much trouble. "You’re lucky we’re SAGA family or we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“I know. It’s rude of me to be so direct, but I’m trying to shed some baggage before a big match and I think you’re the only one that can help me.”
“So, which bit of drama do you want to know about exactly? Are you talking about my co-worker, Goth, stalking me, and breaking into my car? Or do you want to know about my boyfriend, Elijah, holding me against my will? Maybe you’re talking about my best friend, Emily Simms, who you’re sleeping with, turning on me, when I needed a friend? It seems like every PERSON that I trust, ends up hurting me. It's just been so much to deal with," she says, screwing her lips tight.
Buster nods rhythmically. "I get it. I really do," he says. "This business is full of… untrustworthy people."
Lexi turns her gaze to him. "So, what’s eating at you? Spill the beans, already." she says, a hint of sympathy in her voice.
Buster sighs, recent memories flooding his head. "You know me, Lex. I fully admit that I take wrestling way too seriously. It’s hard for me to separate who I am in the ring from who I am at home. And it’s even worse when the vision I have of myself as a man doesn’t match the results I see in the ring.”
Lexi’s heart softens. “…What you’re describing is normal… unless you’re a complete sociopath. As someone who’s guilty of spreading themselves too thin, do you think… it’s possible… that you may have bitten off more than you can chew?”
“Oh, I’m absolutely guilty of that. I just don’t know how to say ‘no’. You and I have that in common. That’s why I recruited you to join SAGA. And you said ‘yes’… Yay…”
Lexi leans forward, her eyes shining with interest. "Mmhmm," she hums.
Buster hesitates, his mind racing, not sure how to transition into the meat of his issue. He thinks of the secrets he has kept hidden from the world, but Lexi makes him feel like it’s ok to open up. "Things aren’t all chocolate-and-peanut-butter at home, you know. It’s been difficult keeping my personal issues private.”
Lexi places a hand on his arm, her touch gentle. "You're famous now, Buster," she says softly. "NOTHING is private anymore. The cameras are ALWAYS watching you. And every little thing that happens in your life is ammunition for your enemies. Nothing is off limits."
Buster winces, disgusted. Two years ago, he was hungry for fame and fortune, but nobody told him the price he would have to pay for it. "I’m not sure I’m cool with that. There’s no need to dig into people’s personal lives when I’m trying to sell a match with them. It just seems like a really scummy thing to do."
Lexi rebuts, “Well, it seems like half of the locker room feels the way you do, and they’re good people, but the other half of the locker room is a different story. Most of the top performers in our business are sharks who will use any bit of information, regardless of whether it’s true or not, just to embarrass you. They have no respect for the game or the athletes in it. They’d step on their own grandmothers to keep their boots dry. It’s gross…” Lexi pauses for a moment, reminded of a particularly painful memory. “…so that’s why I get along with snakes so much. They don’t judge you. They won’t lie to you. They just ARE, what you THINK they ARE.”
Buster takes a moment to absorb Lexi’s confession before responding. "Do you ever wish you could just show up for work, and then disappear when you’re off the clock?”
“Yasss!” she replies with quickness.
“All the angry sub tweeting, and mean girl gossip. The cruelty of people who are supposed to be your peers. It all makes me want to unplug and go dark-mode sometimes, you know what I mean?”
Lexi smiles sympathetically. "I know the feeling," she says. "But we can't hide from our problems. We have to counterpunch."
Buster’s gaze drifts to the crystal-clear water of the pool. “This will sound stupid, but I never realized until NOW, just how famous ALL of us are in this business. It kind of felt like I was fighting in the dark, screaming into the void. But I guess some people ARE watching. I guess they DO see me. It’s weird. I never considered myself to be any kind of celebrity.”
“You DO realize that the simple fact that you’re here will be reported and speculated on? People will start rumors, saying that we’re dating, or that there’s conflict inside the stable, or that we’re some kind of snake cult. The sooner you stop caring about what other people will say, the sooner you’ll be free.”
The fear had always been that people would find out about the REAL William Bernard Glover, and they would reject him. But, as fate would have it, everyone already knows about him, and they think he’s alright. Some of them even support him. “I’ve been giving my opponents a professional courtesy up until this point, staying out of their professional lives, letting them act one way in the ring without being called out for the hypocrisy of their personal lives. But I’m not doing that anymore. I never wanted to be the good guy. I just wanted to be me. Maybe I’m a shark TOO. Maybe I’m even a snake.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Lexi delights, as she clinks her glass to his.
The Motto (CHOLO) – Buster Gloves Feat. Mark “The Dragon” Cross
[the following is an parody rap music video to the beat of Drake’s ‘The Motto’ (YOLO)]
[Verse 1: Buster Gloves]
I'm a champ-i-an,
y'all don't get it, do ya?
Type of hustle errbody ackin’ like dey knew ya
From – Day – One – Vay – Gas - City - Boyyy
There and back again like a sharp shoota
Cock-a-doodle-doo, TPdubba too
Shootin hard, trash talkin, there ain't much to do
Waist blang - trynta act like it’s no thang
Running game, no shame, ain't a damn thing changed
How ya feel -how ya feel - how ya feel?
Thirty-five - cutting wood like a lumber mill
I'm in the building and I'm feeling myself
Much respect Mac Bane - lemme get out your way
Okay, Game just changed.
Could ya not keep blowin up my spot
Don’t care, if y'all love me or ya love me not
Tell Page, JR, thank you for the pay day
DARK Sunday Nights, Brawl fights on the Monday
Me, Emmy, SAGA fam, at the Rabbit
Making more moves than zippers on a jacket
I got big plans, for big bull fans
making cash, talkin trash
Somebody's catching these hands
Aww, that's how we feel, man? That's really how we feel?
'Cause this promo ice cold, We can Netflix we can chill
I mean maybe we won't, then again maybe we will
1, 2, 3-piece nugget in the happy meal
Buster Gloves whazzup?
[Chorus: Buster Gloves]
Y’all should get a photo, you already know though
Chumps only live once, that's the motto, eat it CHOLO
And we 'bout it every day, every day, every day
We been sittin' on the bench, Busta, dubba dubba 8
Every day, every day, f*ck what anybody say
Can't see them 'cause my title in the way,
…Buster Gloves what’s up?
[Verse 2: Mark Cross]
One… time, wrestle time
I'm calling Peter Vaughn out like the umpire
10 … pounds – of – gold
Dig a hole, stack bodies, then I’m back on the road
It’s… SA-GA, you don’t want this
Cross, Gloves, Gold, on da VIP list
Just one fall, one title, four fists
Bull Dragon clan vibin’ just right in this bitch
We, turn up… get down
Coming soon to… fyour town
Run yo mouth… off with your head
momma’s got real feet, got one wooden leg
yeah
Champion ship swag
Got my thumb on the gun,
Snatch wigs, get bags
It’s Bull time and he dressed to impress
Errbody, love Buster Gloves, cause his game so fresh
He say pain don’t hurt too much
With a dragon on your back and a title to touch
Oh… my… God… Buster….
Look at that, belt.
<pause>
[Chorus: Buster Gloves]
Y’all should get a photo, you already know though
Chumps only live once, that's the motto, eat it CHOLO
And we 'bout it every day, every day, every day
We been sittin' on the bench, Busta, dubba dubba 8
Every day, every day, f*ck what anybody say
Can't see them 'cause my title in the way,
…Buster Gloves whazzup?
Y’all should get a photo, you already know though
Chumps only live once, that's the motto, eat it CHOLO
And we 'bout it every day, every day, every day
We been sittin' on the bench, Busta, dubba dubba 8
Every day, every day, f*ck what anybody say
Can't see them 'cause my title in the way,
…Buster Gloves whazzup?
We open to a shot of "The Bull of the North" Buster Gloves standing on top of a mountain, overlooking a city below. He's dressed in a regular white t-shirt with blue jeans and brown boots. The camera pans around to a shot looking up at him before cutting to a series of angled shots of him making his closing statements.
Everybody loves Cholo, don’t we folks? I’m mean, he’s so great. Am I right? A beautiful hunk of El Salvadorian man meat. Those muscles. Those eyes. Makes you just want to roll around on his chest and let his musk wash over you. He’s just so damned likeable. Ain’t he?
I for one, think this guy deserves a free pass. What I mean is, if he decides to act obnoxious or do things that would otherwise be deemed unacceptable, we should totally make an excuse for him, because he’s fine as hell and is just so damn funny. Right? I mean, it’s not his fault if he struts around the world’s greatest wrestling federation like a cock in a henhouse. To be honest, we should probably just skip the match at Wrestle Wars and coronate him with every belt the company has to offer. How does that sound? Is that cool with everybody? What do you say?
Yeh… No… F*ck that noise.
Cholo ain’t the good guy. His actions tell a completely different story than the narrative he wants you to hear. Allow me to expose that story by talking directly to the man himself.
Cholo, you’ve been acting like a really shitty person. Which is really disappointing, because you’re much better than the way you’ve been acting. I think that maybe, you’ve been spending too much time hanging out with your cousins, the Malvados. You’re much better than THEY are. You should hold yourself to a higher standard.
Everybody thinks it’s so funny how you goof on Mike Mason, and trust me, I completely understand how much material he gives you to make fun of. But at a certain point, humiliating a person for the lulz just seems cruel. Your obsession with him is very unbecoming of a ‘hero’. That has to feel weird, coming into a championship match at a major pay-per-view, having a crowd that is split behind you and opposing you?
You wanted to face Marvelous Mike Mason for the title didn’t you? You’ve been softening him up for so long. If he had just done his job right and won, you’d be able to humiliate him one last time, in front of millions. Well tough titty. You get ME instead. I’m not that guy, dawg. I’m no layup.
How does it feel to finally not get everything you want just handed to you for once? I might be out of line by saying that, but I’m not being unreasonable. Let’s look at the #Tactfacts™. You signed a contract here in the WGWF and were immediately thrust into contention for the WGWF Television Title. Remind me again how that ended up? Oh yeh. You lost it to the vilest bitch since Jenny from Forrest Gump. Most people would have been pretty disappointed about that, but not you. You slammed dos tazas of Mezcal and got on the horn with your buddy, Chris Page. The vomit on your bonobos wasn’t even dry before you were in the West Coast Rumble taking a run at the World Title.
You got to enter that match at number two. And don’t even act like that’s not a privilege, because multiple wrestlers asked for that spot to get screen time on a big show. But they didn’t get it. You did. Because your thumb is in the ass of the boss. You lost but you got screen time and that’s what you really wanted. Wasn’t it?
You didn’t stop there either. Within seconds of hearing about this tournament for the Intercontinental Championship, you come knocking on old Graybush’s door and say to him, “Oh, please Mr. Page, give me one more chance to win a championship. Please sir, just one more. Because I am just a simple little Cholo and I am a handsome boy.”
Well, here you are again. You made your way through the field, to the finals, and you have a real chance of taking the title. But if you don’t… I’m sure you can go crawling back to Page’s office, reeking of liquor and ugly tears, and you’ll be granted a shot at the Tag Team Championships or whatever other recess championship he can come up with. Most people are falling for this crap because you’re charming and you got a rockin’ Latinx bod, but I’m not buying it anymore, bro. Cholo season is officially over. No single person deserves as many chances to cut the line as you have.
I have every reason to be upset, Cholo. A part of me wants to scalp but I just can’t stay mad. That’s just not how I roll. This is all just business to me, so, if you want to play pranks and grab-ass, you can try. I’m just choosing to put my energy into something more constructive. I bled buckets and dodged bricks to get in this finals match. This belt, which is the working man’s belt; the one designed to unite people around the world through athleticism and ring excellence is tailor made for someone like me. It demands integrity and respect. This belt, more than any other, is designated for those who respect the art of war. Cholo, you’re a born entertainer, and I love you, but I was born for this title and I’m taking it.
You know, I’m still leaving out one important part of this match. I don’t actually WANT a match with Cholo. I actually LIKE the guy. The people I want to beat are the 5 names left on my hitlist. You know the ones I’m talking about. The 8 names James Raven gave me. Cholo knows that his very famous cousin, ‘Venomous’ Xavier Lux is at the top of that list. Beating Cholo a hundred times won't get me one step closer to my end goal. I want Lux, not any of his brain-damaged cousins. All I can do is to keep fighting Lux’s relatives until I’ve beaten every person who showed up at his quinceanera and then he’ll be forced to fight me again. It probably wouldn’t hurt if I’m dangling the Intercontinental Championship like a carrot on a stick.
So, let me ask the world, what do you think will happen at Wrestle Wars? Will Cholo finally get what he’s been working so hard for… drinking cheap hooch and picking his hair? Will Buster Gloves persevere, win the belt and finally get that rematch against Xavier? It’s in the hands of the wrestling gods now.
To Cholo, I want to say, ‘thank you’. Gracias, mi amigo. You didn’t ask to face me. You didn’t ask to stand in for your cousins. You’re a great guy to have around the locker room. You’ll be given more chances, sooner rather than later. Just know that you aren’t the final boss. I AM.
After you go back home, give your primo Lux a call. Tell him that Buster sent you. And that he and I aren’t done yet.
This one isn’t for me. This is for my people.