The Foreword
[On Camera]
The more things change, the more they stay the same, I thought to myself as I stepped out onto the sidewalk from the warm confines of “The Star” in Frisco, Texas. I had just finished meeting about financials from this past season, as a minor investor there were certain perks that should be utilized. Amber and I had stayed in the Omni that was part of the Ford Complex here. She smiled warmly at me but I knew there was something she wasn’t saying. When this match was first announced she had rolled her eyes at it. Knox and I had fought each other so much over the last few years it was getting old for everyone, especially for her. I would never pretend to know what my wife was thinking at any given moment, because I’d be wrong most of the time.
Amber Bane-Ryan: I really don’t like this match ya know?!
I nodded sagely at her comment and sighed heavily.
Mac Bane: I know, love, it’s getting old for everyone. But, it’s like we always tell people. We don’t book the matches, we just fight.
She smirked a bit and shook her head, it was obvious she was not buying what I was selling.
Amber Bane-Ryan: You know, being world champion you could have rejected this match, right?
It was my turn to smirk and bark a laugh, there it was that almost bitter tone. She loved it when we were successful at the same time but when I was on top and she wasn’t, that was a problem. She had a tough time wrapping her head around it sometimes.
Mac Bane: I could have, yes, but why would I pass on another opportunity to punch Knox in the mouth?
She rolled her eyes at my comment but the smile never left her face.
Amber Bane-Ryan: My sanity?
I knew she didn’t like it when Knox and I fought, it bothered her quite a lot, thinking that it was somehow her fault.
Mac Bane: Pfssh, you’ve always been crazy. The good kind, but still, you’re fucking nuts.
That did it, she laughed that silvery laugh of hers and playfully shoved me.
Mac Bane: And, no, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
She grabbed my arm at the elbow and pulled us back together.
Amber Bane-Ryan: Good answer, Bane.
We stopped and I draped my arm around her shoulders and rested my chin on top of her head.
Mac Bane: It’s the only answer, Red, because it’s the truth.
She reached into her clutch and pulled out her phone. She took a quick selfie of us together and then switched it over to her camera.
Amber Bane-Ryan: Ready?
I nodded and she began recording.
Mac Bane: Welcome to another edition of the foreword. A lot has changed since the last time I appeared on a Thunder Pro show. First and foremost, I’ve taken this…
I take the WGWF world title out of the satchel on my shoulder and move it close to the camera.
Mac Bane: From one of Xavier’s proteges, the WGWF World Heavyweight Title. Cholo is a man, kids, more man than anyone on the TPW roster. I enjoyed not only taking it from him but whippin’ his ass in the process. I knew that one day, this would happen.
I paused only for a moment, just to allow that to sink in.
Mac Bane: A cross-promotional event that would have me in the main event. Uncivil War is exactly that, I won’t play nice because I still have a few friends in TPW. This show is an opportunity for the world to understand what we already know in WGWF. I’d be surprised if Enigma would have a different take on it. You’re not good enough. They call this a triple threat, but there’s only one threat in this match.
I pause there long enough to bait those who would be watching this. Inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly I continue.
Mac Bane: It’s me, and if you’re wondering, no, you’re not on our level.
I allow a smile to tug at the corners of my mouth.
Mac Bane: That's the reason that Peter and Chris found it so easy to absolutely dominate that company. You managed to finally find someone who had a shot though didn’t you? That’s right, and he already knows what awaits him at Uncivil War.
Pausing again, I allow the full smile to bloom.
Mac Bane: His absolute destruction. It won’t be by Enigma’s hand, it’ll be mine. He just needs to stay out of the way and let evolution take its course.
Fade.
The Catalyst
[Off Camera]
I stood on the precipice of great change, an evolution that was forced by my own hand. A change I made to the way I do things because I had been left without many options. For over a decade I had done things in a way that cast a positive light on myself, my family and this industry. I had always done things what they called the right way because it was the right way to do it.
Mac Bane: “They” are full of shit.
Yes, I used air quotes and no I’m not ashamed of it at all. Amber raised her head with a questioning look on her face.
Amber Bane-Ryan: Who are they and why do I want to kick them in the nuts?
I pursed my lips as I thought about how exactly I wanted to say it.
Mac Bane: Virtually everyone in this industry and the fans that support them.
I looked back down at the filet mignon that I had been working on. We could have dined at the hotel of course, the Omni was known for great food but this place…”Dee Lincoln Prime”, the food here was amazing. I finally set my fork down.
Mac Bane: I spent all that time trying to placate the critics and the fans.I know you told me many times that my way of thinking was a bit naive, and I decided you were right along.
She smirked at me as I said it.
Amber Bane-Ryan: About time you came around to my way of thinking. Wait…am I being blamed for something?
I returned that smirk and nodded.
Mac Bane: Not blaming you, Red, I’m thanking you for being my catalyst. The one person that could get me to come around to a different way of thinking.
I paused for a moment as I watched her move her food around slightly with her fork.
Mac Bane: I don’t know if you realize this but you have been as much a catalyst for change wherever you go as I have been. Your way is more subtle, most of the time.
She looked back up at me and smiled.
Mac Bane: I had to go back in time to find that guy who used to operate that way and I found him. He was pretty happy about being set free once again.
She arched her eyebrows with an unasked question. She didn’t know for sure what I was talking about.
Mac Bane: The first half of my career, I was what I have become now. Relentless, ruthless, and without remorse. I won the vast majority of my titles in the first half of my career, before the dark times, before the fan friendly version of me.
Her smile grew wider, as she remembered some of the old promos I had done. She had found them on YouTube. She also hadn’t been to one of my matches recently, I had tried to ignore it, knowing that things in PWV were keeping her busy.
Amber Bane-Ryan: I’ll be there for this one.
I smiled at her, there she went reading my mind again.
Mac Bane: You really need to stop doing that.
We both laughed, she knew exactly what I was talking about and it amused her to no end. More change was coming for me, I could feel it deep down on an almost spiritual level. That devil on my shoulder was very happy about that, he was almost gleeful about the carnage that was coming. It amused me as well, how easily I could slip back into that personae again, that killer that was colder than any stone.
Fade.
The Finisher
[off camera]
It’s funny how when you change the way you do things in this industry, the things that make you happy away from it tend to change as well. Not all of them, but some things. I still enjoyed working at the Oblivion Garage with Amber of course and that was where my true passions lay. Something about collecting bounties made me happy though, not gonna lie. Today, I was on a two for one mission. I already had one guy locked into the back seat of my truck, hands and ankles were secured with zip ties, it turned out I didn’t own handcuffs small enough for him. His name was Ralph, he was wanted for distribution of fentanyl and meth. He was a slippery little dude, and I gave him credit for being able to evade the police for so long. He was about six foot six but didn’t way much over two hundred pounds. The other guy though, this dude was a mountain of a man. I hit the release for the back end where my gear was. I exited the truck and went back. I retrieved a package with zip ties, my biggest cuffs and my beanbag gun.
Ralph: That dude is gonna fuck you up, old man.
I smiled as I rested the barrel of the beanbag gun on my shoulder.
Ralph: Watcha gon do with that?
I laughed and then looked over at Ralph.
Mac Bane: I’m gonna ruin his whole fucking day.
Ralph’s mouth hung open in shock as I continued to the front porch of the guy's house. The name on the warrant read Jesus Messier, which made me chuckle.
Mac Bane: Well, I don’t think I’ve brought in Jesus before.
Turns out it was a Latino gentleman and no wonder they hadn’t arrested him. This cat tipped the scales at about four hundred pounds. The reason I knew this was because when he saw me through the window, and I saw him too, he was massive. He came charging out onto the porch and I barely got the shot off with the beanbag gun before he was on me. The beanbag when it hit, was almost like it was in slow motion. The rippling of skin and muscle during the impact was wild to see up close like that.
Jesus: Oh..gods….
Those were the only words I heard him speak as the beanbag hit it’s mark. It took the air from his lungs as he went unconscious. He then fell on top of me, pinning me to the ground temporarily. I grunted as I rolled him off of me. I knew the cuffs wouldn’t hold this guy, and I started zip tying his hands and feet behind his back. I then ran a short length of cord between his ankles and wrists, effectively hog tying him. I called up Las Vegas’s finest and it was Officer Gambino who answered.
Mac Bane: Hey Vinnie, I got both of your guys.
Vinnie Gambino: Even Jesus?
Mac Bane: Yeah, he’s out at the moment but I don’t know how long that’ll last. Might want to send some extra hands to load him up. Ralph is in the back of my truck as well.
I could hear the astonishment from behind him as several voices were all talking at once.
Mac Bane: I’d say probably ten officers should be enough. I hope they had their Wheaties today.
I could hear Vinnie laugh into the phone.
Vinnie Gambino: You got it Mac, they’ll be out there shortly.
I finished with him and gave him the address, even though I knew damn well they knew where this clown lived. I could hear groaning from my feet.
Mac Bane: Now Jesus, I’m gonna need you to lie real still. I don’t want to have to shoot you with this beanbag gun again.
He turned his head to the side so he could see me, then he chuckled and sighed.
Jesus Messier: God damnit Mac, why’d it have to be you?
I squatted down next to him, taking a closer look. I knew this guy….
Mac Bane: Messy…what have you done to yourself?
It had clicked, this guy had been a mess specialist in the Army, and I had served with him in Kuwait.
Jesus Messier: It’s a long story….
I smiled knowing he couldn’t get loose, I had watched him try to struggle against the zip ties.
Mac Bane: We have some time it would seem.
Fade.
I do love the violence
[AT&T Stadium A.K.A. Jerry World]
[on camera]
I stood in the skybox that was normally reserved for the announce teams from the various networks. There was a team of engineers there with me to make sure I didn’t break anything for this particular set up. I was definitely not an AV Engineer, fooling with set ups at home was one thing but this was a whole other beast altogether. The engineering team began adjusting and flipping switches and soon my face showed on the “Jerry Tron” as we liked to call it. I smiled at my own visage and they gave me the thumbs up that they were ready to record.
Mac Bane: Our lives in this business are a little crazy, we go out there every show and kill ourselves to prove that we belong. Sometimes it’s to prove it to ourselves, to the fans, or to our peers. Not me, not even close. I have no peers, and I don’t give a fuck what the fans think. Maybe even more important than that, I’ve got nothing left to prove. There are, however, two men in this match who have a lot to prove. Matty Knox and Sev or Enigma if you will.
Thanks to the headphones I was wearing, there was no feedback from the system or any echo, but maybe it would have been better with an echo.
Mac Bane: See, Sev and I have only faced off one other time. In IIW, which of course is closed down. When that place did shut down, Sev and I were the only two that left there as reigning champions. We of course were running with a larger group, they called themselves, Mecca. Like they were the messiah’s of wrestling. Sev and I never carried ourselves that way, we left that to the losers like JMont. I only bring this up to show a small bit of the history that Sev and I have together. We are still on friendly terms, despite the fact that he’s way too far up JMont’s ass for my liking. Eh, it doesn’t matter much, it won’t change the outcome, or will it?
I smirked at the camera as I continued on.
Mac Bane: The three of us are familiar with each other, Enigma I’ve known for a short time and Knox I’ve known for far too long. I have been friends and rivals with both and have beaten them both, granted that was in other places that are now shut down, but it’s worth noting all the same. Except for SCW, that is, they still seem to be chugging along. The only thing about Sev that I don’t respect are his choices. Even though he knows the guy he follows is bullshit, he continues to follow him. In a world of bears, you choose to follow a trash panda. It’s sad really, considering what a great fighter you are. You don’t need to be surrounded by half-assery that is JMont, but here we are. A lot has changed for both of us though, except for one thing. Watch your back big man, don’t believe for a second that they have yours. I know Matthew will find this all very amusing considering some of the groups that I’ve run or been a part of.
I level my gaze at the camera, all pretense or amusement has left my face.
Mac Bane: The difference is this, I wanted to be surrounded by those people, I never needed the support of a group. The people that I surrounded myself with are friends and people I respected. I am who I’ve always been, nothing more and nothing less. I’m sure when he sees this he’ll mumble something about hubris, mostly under his breath. He also knows this about me. Humble is not something I know how to do, I’ve never been that poor bastard who had to be humble because they sucked at their job. I’m sure the King of Hubris has filled the ears of anyone who would listen with his bullshit by now. I never care what Matt Knox has to say, mostly because he’s only relevant in TPW. A lot of people were surprised when I left Thunder Pro. Why? My contract expired and I didn’t like the way things were going. More specifically I didn’t like the things that were going on with Page and Vaughn. I made a choice and I’m not ashamed of it in the least. The difference between me and them is I always own my own shit. I don’t sugar coat anything when I fuck up, I own that. Of course there is at least one person in this match who is the King of Deflection. He’s more like JMont than he’d like to admit, isn’t that right Matthew?
I shake my head in disgust when I think about all the second chances I’ve given him, only to be stabbed in the back repeatedly.
Mac Bane: These cross promotional events are all the rage aren’t they? My best will take on your best for nothing more than bragging rights. We’ll sit up here and shout to the heavens that my dick is bigger than yours and the argument will rage on for days leading up to the Uncivil War show. TPW may not have considered that in this match WGWF has a distinct advantage. I’m thinking you may not have thought this through. Triple threat match where two of the three competitors are from WGWF and that would leave Knox alone against two people who hate him. Things have changed a lot since the last time either of these men have been in a ring with me. Enigma knows who and what I’ve become. I doubt Knox has any idea of the things I’ve done, but he’s a smart fella and I’m sure he’ll realize it soon enough. Violence makes my tummy tickle, get ready Matthew, you’re about to become a human pinata.
I hold up a single finger, when I speak again, it’s almost a whisper.
Mac Bane: Who knows, right? Enigma might decide to do the honorable thing and play this straight up. That would be a mistake on his part, when we could simply clip the bird's wings and show the world. We’ll see how it works out, it won’t change how this ends, not in the least. The number of bodies I leave in my wake are growing, and I’m not close to being done. At the end of this event there will be two more added to the body count, and I’m still getting warmed up.