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Post by Laura Phoenix - HBIC on Dec 13, 2021 1:14:11 GMT -5
PWS: APEX Crusade 2021 Tuesday, December 28, 2021 Amway Center - Orlando, FL
PWS: APEX Tag Team Championship Match Tag Team Match Aiden Reynolds & Dickie Watson (The Commonwealth) © vs. Tyson Sykes & Alexander Lyons (ANTITHESIS)
DEADLINE: 12/26/2021 at 11:59:59 PM EST Min 500, Max 5000 [/div]
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Post by Aiden Reynolds on Dec 26, 2021 7:11:27 GMT -5
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is divine.
Right?
That’s the saying? And yes I get the old TMNT quote of “but never pay full price for late pizza”. But this is different. Forgiveness is something that can be given freely but means so much in the grand scheme of things. But not so much for the person being forgiven.
To hold on to hate, anger and sadness is to slowly kill yourself with it. Choke your happiness and stop yourself from really living your life.
Forgiveness means more to the person giving it than receiving it.
It means to unburden yourself and allow healing to begin. But what happens if you’re so angry that you can never give it and then it’s too late? Never let that happen. Never let your own anger stop the healing…
Disarm Early 2019.
Aiden had just got home, walking through the door after a hard day at the gym, staying on top of his game despite the fact DIVISION had closed. Dickie had left New York, the rest of Wolfslair had elected to also just go home and rest. The rain pouring outside, the cold wind howling. It wasn’t inviting. Aiden sighed and put his keys on the kitchen bench before raiding his fridge putting a beer on the countertop as well as a large wrapped package.
It made a thud as he dropped it, pans clanging and crashing as he pulled out a large skillet putting it on the stovetop, he reached over turning on his blue tooth speaker and setting some music going.
He melted butter and garlic, he unwrapped his steak and threw it in as it sizzled. A small smile on his lips as he listened to it cook, the beer popping open as he took it down and instantly relaxed. This was the life. A few years ago he was miserable. He left Japan, he left that liife behind with the only friends he really had and a woman he thought he was in love with. He had been destroyed and betrayed.
And months of sadness followed.
He travelled the world, from Australia, to Europe, to South and North America, never going back to Japan despite offers from rival companies who wanted to pouch the man that had been rumoured to “stand up” to the yakuza who owned the “top company”. But Aiden didn’t want to go back there, not because he was afraid, not because he feared for his life.
But because he didn’t want the memories.
He knew that seeing those streets again, the bright lights of Tokyo would remind him of her. And he didn;t want that. His heart had been broken, by her, by his “best friend”. His life was here now and he was happy. He had friends, he had a gym he worked hard in and had the start of a relationship with a woman who seemed to be fun and carefree, much like him. She laughed at his jokes, at his antics and attitude.
This was the life…
Now all he needed was a steady job. One that wasn’t at a place that would close, or one like (REDACTED) run by incompetant idiots.
There was a knock at his door, Aiden raised an eyebrow glancing at the clock, who was here this late and why didn’t his intercom buzz? He flipped his steak taking it off the heat and covering it to finish cooking slowly. He looked through his peephole, whoever it was wasn’t standing in front of the door. He sighed and unlocked the door opening it.
“Kyle?”
Kyle Overton, Aidens former tag team partner, former best friend stood in his doorway. His hair was a mess, his eyes sunken into his head, he looked like he had lost a good twenty pounds. He didn’t look good at all. Aiden swallowed hard as Kyle didn’t even look him in the eye. “Hey mate...how’s it goin?” His British accent feeling so out of place in New York, Aiden couldn’t believe his eyes and just stared blankly.
After a few moments Aiden finally snapped out of it enough to reply “What are you doing here? How did you get here? How did you fuckin find me?”
Questions thrown fast and furious at Kyle, his hands coming up in a defensive motion as he stepped back from the door and shook his head. “I’m not here to fight mate, just to talk.” He swallowed hard and shrugged looking into Aidens apartment. Aiden sighed and turned sideways allowing Kyle to come in, as he stepped through Aiden noticed the smell of whisky and cigarettes. Kyle didn’t smoke, he rarely drank. What the fuck happened to him?
Kyle looked over at the bench, the steak, the beer and he couldn’t help but laugh. Aiden closed the door and moved around behind the counter getting his steak ready. “What do you want Kyle?” Aiden was trying to be cold and calculated. He didn’t want to care about his former friends appearance or how he clearly needed help. This man destroyed their friendship, their partnership and almost ended Aidens career.
“I just thought I’d stop by and see an old friend eh?” Kyle laughed, Aiden didn’t. Aiden instead started cutting up his steak, taking a sip of his beer before staring ahead. “I, look mate, I had time to think and we both have seen better days. I want to reform the team, get back to work.” Aiden sighed and dropped his knife and fork placing his hands on the kitchen bench, Kyle moves around to the opposite side and gave a small smile. “We were great together brother. And now, neither of us are tied down to Japan.” Aidens hands moved from being flat, balling up into fists.
Kyle smiled and leaned closer. “Are you fuckin serious mate?” Kyle’s smile faded he slid his hands back and Aiden ground his teeth together. “You stabbed me in the back, you forced me from my life, my job, you took everything from me and now you turn up expectin me to what?....forgive and forget?” He paused, he threw his hands up and laughed to himself. Kyle looked away from him and backed up.
“I lost it all too mate.” His voice was low and cracked. He sat on the end of Aidens couch, his eyes darting across the floor. “When you were gone, everyone found out what happened. The entire locker room turned their backs on me, my contract wasn’t renewed and no one wanted to hire me without you…”
Aiden popped a piece of steak in his mouth, as he swallowed it he grabbed his beer chasing the steak down. “So, you fucked me over only to get fucked over yourself mate.” He laughed and moved around to get face to face with Kyle. “I might be finding it hard to find a place that won’t close or is run by idiots, but I sure as shit am not going to take ten steps backwards to take one step forwards...the door is there…”
Aiden turned away from Kyle, he opened the fridge grabbing another beer. Kyle turned away and moved towards the door before stopping and clearing his throat. “I’m sorry…” Aiden put the beer down and gave a small nod. Before looking over his shoulder.
“Yeah mate, I know….”
Antifa, Anthifass, Antithessas…?
“Fuckin Anti-thassass…”
“.....Why are you pronouncing it like that?”
“Like what?”
“Aiden, you’ve faced them before and you know how to say Antithesis…”
Kallie Reznik, wrestling talent, member of Wolfslair and also Aiden Reynolds girlfriend/other partner in crime stands with her arms folded. Obviously standing in for the absent Dickie Watson. Aiden slowly shrugs and laughs to himself
“I dunno, I seem to have lost me ability to pronounce Antithesassafrass…Not that it really matter anyway. See, I have had to say that word so much over the last few months. Since returning to this company. And I get it, the talent pool in the tag team division in PWS Apex is about as shallow as the gene pool at an Alabama wedding bu-”
Kallie starts to giggle, putting her hand up over her mouth as Aiden looks up with a raised eyebrow. After a few moments Kallie puts the same hand up again facing forward biting her bottom lip to stop herself from laughing.
“Oi…what the hell?”
“What?”
“You’re supposed to yell at me, and tell me not to be a dumbass and say things like that.”
“But it was funny…”
“I don’t think this is gonna work love…you’re just not "Dickie" enough…”
Kallie tilts her head slowly before clearing her throat and putting on a terribly fake British accent and sweeping her long blond hair over to one side.
“Oi, we gotta beat them assholes an you have to take all this seriously innit?”
Aiden blinks a few times “Uh..close enough…” He clears his throat and turns his attention back to his opponents. “So, back at Dishonored, Dickie and I won back out tag team titles. We have said it all along that the reasons we left are the same reasons which ultimately led us back to PWS. See, we wanted the tag division toi matter, to thrive, to mean something. And when this company made us defend our titles in a match against a rookie and a guy named Richard Rider…cause…HAHA DICK RIDER GET IT? We made the decision to leave…was it the right one?..probably not…”
“But it was what felt right in the moment. And it was the same reason we came back. The reason The Commonwealth returned was because we wanted this company to be better and for the tag titles to be in the main event. We wanted tag team wrestling to MATTER. And it didn’t. Atleast, not really. So we swallowed our pride, we walked back in and set our sights on those tag team titles and in a very short amount of time, they were back with us. And yet, you two, Tyson fuckin Sykes and Alexander Lyons, have been in PWS Apex the entire time Dickie and I were tearing it up in other places….”
“And you somehow have the balls to fuckin turn around and say that we might run away again or that we aren’t good enough or worthy enough to be the champs?”
“That was thew narrative going into Dishonored right? Well, you two should feel pretty damn embarrassed, cause the two guys who, according to you idiots, ran off from PWS Apex and whose accomplishments outside this company mean nothing, just walked in and took back championships that for six months you two dickheads failed to get…”
Aiden pauses and looks at Kallie who shoots him a happy go lucky style smile and a double thumbs up before realising she’s supposed to be “Dickie” folding her arms and nodding with an arrogant expression.
“You even fell your asses right into the “sidekick” argument. One that people have made time and time again since me and Dickie became a team. Because Dickie does win singles titles and I do hang around. It’s funny though, cause back when he and I first started teaming, the script was flipped and he was me “sidekick”. But, if me and Dickie are Batman and Robin..well, you two are the Joker and the Riddler, overly confusing overrated jokes who always end up on the losing end.”
“But what will it be this time? Eh Lyons? What seeds of intelligence are we going to hear spew from your mouth while you verbally blow Jonathan Sanders like he’s some kind of fearless leader instead of a boring ass bland little bi-”
“OOO I BEAT HIM!”
Aiden pauses as Kallie smiles and bounces up and down with excitement. Aiden gets distracted by said excited bouncing before snapping out of it and raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, wait, yeah you did. Hold on, how come Violet Amelia Holt is getting a shot at Sanders title when you have actually beaten the little sociopath?”
Kallie slowly offers up a shrug.
“Ya know, for a group of douchebags who keep droning on about what people do and don’t deserve and people getting what they deserve they don’t seem to fussed about people like you actually getting what they deserve. Anteethasauce indeed…”
“..that one was on purpose…”
“Could have been…But my point remains, these dicks go on about turning APex on its head, and people getting what they deserve, you beat their fuckin leader, where’s your damn title shot? And come to think of it, why do these two get a shot at me and Dickie? The Russows were the defending champions, they may have taken the loss but they were still the champs going into the match. Those two failed to stop us and come to thi-...wait…”
Smash cut to Aiden standing in front of a chalkboard, a tie around his neck, with no shirt, and glasses…with no glass, Kallie sitting on the couch.
“To be a successful team, you need, continuity. You need to have a certain team way of thinking. See that’s why me and Dickie work so well. He and I have about ninety five percent of the same opinions. He thinks Die hard is a christmas movie, so do I. The thinks pineapple belongs on pizza, so do I. He believes that Carrie should have ended up with Aidan instead of Big, so do I.”
“Don’t ask..”
“But the point is, that he and I think the same. We have team synergy. And if you look at comments made from those dumbasses in Antitmoses, it’s not the same. You had Alexander Lyons downplayin Dickie’s accomplishments and who he is, while Tyson Sykes sang his praises, you had Alexander Lyons talking shit about me, calling me a sidekick and pissing on my talents. Then you have Sykes kissing my ass…do these two talk to each other?...outside the ring…” He points to the chalkboard “Inside the ring” he points to it again. “You have to be a TEAM…”
Aiden smiles and nods his head, Kallie scratches her chin and tilts her head.
“It might be the genius of their name..”
“What’s that?”
“Antithesis….they could be the Antithesis of each other…”
There was silence. Aiden blinked a few times and swallowed before looking back at the chalkboard then back to Kallie.
“You ruined it…”
“I..I did what?”
Aiden shakes his head, he shoves the chalkboard over and takes the tie off moving away and into the kitchen. Kallie gets to her feet and shakes her head.
“I mean it was a good theo-”
“DON’T!.........I’M OVER IT!”
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Post by sykes on Dec 26, 2021 18:56:06 GMT -5
A lone leaf dances on the wind, the bright lights of the city reflecting off of it's icy sheen as it does. Whisping through the cold nights sky, the leaf passes multiple homes before finally settling on the windowsill of a small house. Smoke billows from the chimney, and as we cut inside we see two young girls in flannel pajamas race around with joyous shrieks of glee - these are the Emerson Girls, Brea and Terri.
Doing laps they take turns looking at all the brightly wrapped gifts splayed out under a sparse yet lovingly decorated tree, pointing at big ones and speculating what they could be. Mr. Glenn Emerson sits in a tan armchair, polishing off a mug of hot chocolate and watching his daughter's delight, a smile unmoving from his face. With the swipe of his wrist he wipes the drops of hot beverage from his lips on his red plush sweater sleeve before standing with an exaggerated grunt and fake yawn.
"Alright girls, it's time for bed. You know Santa won't come unless you're both in bed AND asleep." The two girls run up to him joyfully and hug him tight, a hug that is returned just as tight. Without a word Terri takes Brea's hand and they bolt up the stairs and to their room. Glenn watches cautiously to make sure he doesn't hear their doors open again before slipping over to the garage door. He knocks twice very softly, and the door swings open. Mr. James Emerson sneaks in the door with a small bike in each hand, clearly exhausted but also looking incredibly excited. From each of the handle bars, a massive red bow blows carelessly against the paint of the clearly brand new bikes.
Glenn grabs one of the bikes from his husband, giving him a soft kiss as he does. "I was begging to worry you weren't going to find them." Glenn says overjoyed as he rolls one of the bikes to the tree.
"Well... it wasn't easy. Or cheap - if we're being honest." James says as he follows close behind, setting his bike next to the other one. He looks up and smiles, brushing the sweat from his brow. "But it'll be worth it. They're going to love it." Glenn returns his smile instantly, and nods.
"Yes. They certainly are." The two embrace before James made his way up the stairs. Glenn waited just a moment, looking around the cozy room with a smile before shutting off the light, and making his way upstairs as well to count down the hours before Terri and Brea would inevitably wake them - and they'd be able to see the pure happiness in their daughters eyes as they see the only gift they've asked for all year. The two bikes that they had sold old lesser used appliances for, collected bottles to bring to the redemption center for, and had each picked up second jobs to save up for over the past twelve months.
But - Glenn knew it'd be worth it. In a matter of hours, the two people who meant the most to them in the world were going to be uncontrollable balls of joy and he and the man he loved would get to spend that moment together - and that was worth any strife. It didn't matter how they got there... as long as they were all happy. And on this cold, cold Christmas eve night...
They were.
As the lights in the Emerson home go dark - that one lone leaf is picked up by a gust of wind and blown once more, but not far this time. Across the street to a run down apartment building the leaf continues its dance from earlier, before gently resting on another windowsill. It's dark inside save for the glow of a small red button that radiates the room slightly. The wind whips through a couple deep cracks in the window, whistling loudly in the otherwise quiet room. The red light is of a small space heater that crackles gently, the red light dimming in and out indicating a clear malfunction in the machine. Meer feet away, we see a small plush dog bed with an old, clearly comfortable bulldog sound asleep under a blanket, clearly enjoying the warmth of the heater. However next to the dog bed is a dirty mattress, with a single thin blanket draped over the man who lays on it - clearly not getting any of that warmth. There, by himself lies Tyson Sykes, completely clothed and balled up under the blanket, lines of steam flowing from his lips as he exhales into the freezing cold room. Tyson reaches over and pets Holmes on the head before he turns over, rubbing his mitten-covered hands together with a sigh.
Sykes lays shivering slightly, his eyes wide open, just staring at the corner of his apartment... as he will probably do for the rest of the night. The wind kicks up one more time, pushing the leaf through one of the larger cracks in his window and sending it floating to that corner of the room that Tyson's eyes are a fixed on. There, a small dead Christmas tree sits undecorated, unlit, with only two presents lying under the tree.
The first was a smaller present, wrapped haphazardly in a red and white wrapping that reads 'My best friend - Holmes.' Next to it is a slightly larger box in gold and black wrapping paper, wrapped more carefully. However, it's dirty and torn slightly in spots, clearly having been wrapped for some time. The tag of this one simply reads 'To: Kayla', and this seems to be what Sykes eyes are glued to. As he lies on the floor of his one bedroom apartment, alone minus the company of his dog, Sykes allowed a tear to roll down his cheek for the first time in as long as he could remember. For all he wanted was to remember what happiness was. And on this cold Christmas eve night...
He was anything but.
The following was posted to pwsapex.com in the early hours of December 25th, 2021.
'Merry Christmas' by Tyson Sykes
"A time of family and unity, a time of gratitude and giving, a time of laughter and love.
Bullshit. Christmas time is no longer about spending time with loved ones and learning to appreciate what others do for you. Christmas time is about regular Joe's and Jane's going to work for massive corporations that consider Christmas day 'essential' to work during, while acting as if their $200 Christmas bonus makes the hell they've put you through for three months worth it. Meanwhile they get to sit home with their husband's, wives and children - the floor flooding with the latest overpriced products that you can't afford for your child, even though you're working on Christmas and they're not. It's a fucked up system that's built to make you feel absolutely useless even though you're the one working - and make the rich seem like generous Gods for allowing you to get out early that day... unpaid of course.
It's funny - the more I write about how fucked up the system truly is, the more I realize that that's just life now. You're brainwashed to think that killing yourself 60 hours a week at a job that leaves you absolutely physically and mentally exhausted is considered 'lesser' to those who work three day weeks and have eight vacations a year. People with status will always feel superior to those of lesser status - because those with status control all facets of media. Of course the Instagram team is going to glamorize the rich, because they're part of it. Of course Facebook is going to feature massive companies and ignore mom and pop shops - because Facebook needs to keep status. Why the fuck do you think those who have everything in the world can pay extra to get deliveries from Bezos' drones while you're stuck waiting weeks?
It's because money talks, and status is worshipped in this country. But no - I'm not just referring to markets and media - this shit is everywhere. Your favorite movies are glorified ads, music is just audio billboards and television shows are just platforms to glamorize the highest bidder. And in our world of professional wrestling? It's fucking worse.
You want to talk about status? Professional Wrestling has been a fucking cyclone of politicking and status play since the beginning of time - and now that we get smarter and wiser at hiding greed, those with status in this industry are worshiped as false Gods to a point that makes it literally impossible to be seen if you don't embrace 'their light'. But guess what? Every once and a while...
... one of those mom and pop shops break through.
I'm one of those shops. ANTITHESIS? Is one of those shops. Why do you think we piss off so many people? It's not because we're loud. It's not because we actually fucking stand for something. It's because we challenge the norm, and once their thinly veiled 'reality' is challenged? It's just a matter of time before the web of lies and bullshit they nest on comes crumbling down beneath them. And they can't have that, nooo no. Of course they can't. I thought things would be different after I beat Princess Peach in the form of Bella Madison. I thought it'd be different when I proved that Nick Madison was nothing more than a shell of who he was before. I thought things would change... because deep down I still want the PWS that I grew up with. The PWS that I loved. The PWS where men and women thrived off of being different, taking chances, and loving their craft.
But I'm a fucking idiot for believing any of that. The PWS has changed, and it's time I stop thinking that anything we ever do will change it back. All we're doing is pouring gas on a dying plant - and if that's the case? That's going to have to be fine. Because I refuse to allow PWS Lite to continue masquerading as an actual company. I refuse to be part of the rotation in their predetermined Power Point of ten slides that repeat day after day, month after month, year after year.
Which is why Crusade is so important, because this may be a little blasphemous, even to Lyons or other members of ANTITHESIS, but my goal at Crusade is not to win the PWS Tag Team Titles. Their consolation prize given to two competitors who'll pretend their dying division isn't dead doesn't interest me.
But Crusade is a shot to do something even more important, and that's crush another pillar of status that looms over the PWS. I've said this before and I'll say it again - when it comes to tag teams in professional wrestling now a day, there is no better than The Commonwealth. Aiden Reynolds and Dickie Watson are leaps and bounds above the competition. Half because of how talented they truly are, but of course half due to how little PWS could care about the tag team division. What team would thrive for that belt? What team would go out of their way to climb the 'ranks' to get a shot at that title? Why would I want it? So I can spend the next six months rotating matches against The Russows, The Carpenters and The Commonwealth? No thank you, I've already spent my first year facing Shawn Young, Cleo Phillips, or those who barely have a bio on the PWS roster page.
I'm not coming to the ring looking for gold this Christmas season - I'm looking for blood. I'm looking for pain. I'm looking for another notch in my belt, another example to propel my own Crusade if you will... against those protected here in PWS. And The Commonwealth? Y'all might as well come to the ring in a helmets and bubble wrap y'all are so protected by the PWS suits.
Why else do you think they try so little to make that title worth anything? Why else would they not be doing what every other company is, scowering the independent scene to add depth to that division. Instead, they just keep doing what they do best - grabbing three or four teams and cycling 'em in and out. It's no secret that the only team that stands a chance against you two is ANTITHESIS, and we've proven that. And while I'll be the first to admit you've gotten the best of us on multiple occasions, we've also gotten the best of you. The fact that we've won how many matches, grabbed so many of their imaginary brass rings, and this is our first one on one shot? Just proves how fucking futile it is to give a damn in this company about wins or losses.
They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting a different result - so let's change up the game plan shall we? That's why I'll end this the way I began it Commonwealth - by stating this as simply as possible. I don't give a fuck about beating you. I don't give a fuck about getting a 'win', and I couldn't give less of a fuck about taking those fake straps off your shoulders.
What I do care about is hurting the two of you. I care about showing the PWS that until they give us what we truly want? We're not going to be their pawns. We're not going to play they're games. We're just going to keep breaking their other favorite pieces to play with. At Crusade, I don't care who's names are called after the bell rings for the second time.
Because mark my words - winning to me is Dickie Watson and Aiden Reynolds not walking out of that ring on their own volition. And since that is the case?
I promise you ANTITHESIS is going to win at Crusade. Merry Christmas mother fuckers, and I hope you've been nice this year. 'Cuz it's going to take a Christmas miracle to keep us from taking your fucking heads off at Crusade."
(The previous comments are in no way endorsed by PWS, nor do we condone anything said in this post.)
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Post by Alexander Lyons on Dec 26, 2021 21:31:13 GMT -5
He found himself in his family school once again, the first meeting with his father hadn’t gone over so well, but a couple phone calls had gotten him here once again, only this time he was invited. Invited to The Lyons Den by his father as its newest student. It was all he had been roaring about since his arrival in PWS. Now he was one step closer to seizing the keys to the family kingdom for himself. He gives the head trainer Keevee Kaiser a smirk, he knows the former wrestling star doesn’t like him, and the feeling is mutual from Alex as well.
“Zack, you can’t be serious!!” Kaiser complained to the senior Lyons and owner of the Lyons Den standing net to Alex, “This guy came in here and committed assault!”
“This GUY, is my son.” replied Zachary Lyons, And I owe this to him for missing out on his entire life.”
Kaiser scoffs, just what the hell was his boss thinking. Son or not, Alex was a bitter asshole and needed to get a better attitude if if was going to be part of this dojo.
“You don’t owe him anything.” Kaiser replied, “Your brother built this place, and made sure that everyone who trained here had a sense of honor and respect.”
“My brother is DEAD” snarled Zack, “I’m in charge of The Lyons Den now, and I intend to breed champions here, and I expect YOU to help guide them there. You led my niece and nephew to success, you turned Cleo Phillips’ life around and helped turn here into a leader and champion. Now, I expect you to do the same for my son.”
Kaiser glared at the grinning Alex, somehow he knew Alexander was behind his bosses change of heart somehow, he didn’t like the idea but he was going to have to oblige, he didn’t run the place after all.
“I’ll let you two get acquainted.” said Zack, “I’ll be in my office.”
“Take care father.” said Alex, as his father retreated into a back room, he turned his gaze back to Kaiser.
“Ok, listen.” Kaiser said sternly, “I guess you got what you wanted. But if you’re going to be part of this team, part of The Lyons Den you’re going to listen to me. I’m still the head trainer around here and when you step into this building, I’m im charge.”
“Unless my father is here.” Alex said with the most wise-ass tone imaginable.
“Your father operates the financial side of things.” Kaiser retorted, “I make the stars. I handle the training. I can lead you to a championship, but you’re going to have to listen to and show me some respect.”
“YES SENSEI.” smirked Alex, saluting Kaiser.
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about. That smart ass attitude won’t get you anywhere. You need to get it together if you want any chance of beating The Commonwealth.” Kaiser said sternly.
“You think I’m afraid of those boys?” retorted Alex, “Sykes and myself are going to conquer and destroy them, and bring more gold home to ANTITHESIS.”
“You don’t need to be afraid, but you do need to take them seriously.” explained Kaiser, “Dickie Watson is the real deal. Trust me. He has, let’s just call them..connections to Aaron Asphyxia and SHE in my opinion is the very best at all of this. Any talent associated with her or Finn is always top talent. If one of my talent is going to beat one of her boys..it’s not going to be a walk in the park. Understand, SHE is the reason I still do this. I tried to walk away a few times but she always ropes me back in, because she believes in me, and she believes in my talent. If you’re going to beat The Commonwealth, you’re going to need to be the best you’ve ever been, and I’m going to have to be as well if I want to get you there.”
“Sykes and I can handle ourselves.” snorted Alex.
“Look, YOU wanted to train here. I don’t know what your whole deal is, and your relationship with your father is no concern of mine.” Kaiser quipped back, “Now you’re welcome to stay and run some drills. But like I said, inside this dojo you will be respectful. This is The Lyons Den, and we’re all a family inside these walls.”
Alex scoffs, “Sure, whatever, a family. I’m afraid I can’t stay, so I’ll have to take a raincheck on running those drills. Maybe next time…sensei...and Merry Christmas."
Alex winks with a shit-eating grin at Kaiser, before exiting out the doors of the building where he notices United Champion Cleo Phillips and Z-Money making their way inside.
“Guess we’re like, family now.” Alex said to Cleo as he passed the two, leaving her and Z a bit puzzled before getting into his car, and driving off down the road to his next destination.
—
-static-
The cliff-side overlook is like something out of one of those romantic teen comedies where the young lovers to go make out for the first time, if it’s a horror flick they tend to end up slaughtered as well. Alexander Lyons has chosen this overlook to sit on the roof of his car, and deliver his verbal barrage to The Commonwealth. The sound of waves crashing on the beach below are hear as Alex’s gaze meets the camera.
“Do you take me seriously yet Dickie?” Alex said, a calm yet intimidating tone to his voice. “So my blasé comment annoyed you last time. Maybe I was stretching but, my point was my family leads to Aaron Asphyxia, who leads to Finn Whelan, who leads to you, just as my family leads to Keevee Kaiser, who leads to myself, or perhaps if you prefer leads to Cleo Phillips. You get the idea.”
Alex winks at the camera, and somewhere four walls of a building come crumbling down.
“You know, my relationship with my father is on an upswing, the old man is finally understanding things. Much like you with Wolfslair, I can now stand alongside my cousins, alongside Cleo and alongside that pretty boy we lost somewhere in the jungle as official Lyons Den talent.” said Alex.”And I’ll soon be the best of them, it all starts with me defeating you.”
“You see, I have other goals than just taking home the tag team championships. I want to be sure I defeat YOU. I want you to try and escape from my Gordian Knot, and fail like the others before you.” Alex taunted, “You can doubt my talent all you want, but deep down you know theres a chance I can beat you. I earned this chance at those championships you and Aiden carry around. Sure, the competition wasn’t worth a lick, but that isn’t my fault. Didn’t you return for that very reason? Because you saw a lack of credible tag teams and felt the division needed some more credibility?”
Alex shrugged, nodding slightly.
“I mean..” he said, I get it, you know. There is a lack of credibility but it’s not me and it’s not Tyson Sykes. You know that though don’t you? I’m Lyons Den after all, that means I come from the same tools that created Cleo Phillips and my dear cousins, whom you claim to respect so much. Like me or not, I am just as good as all of them if not better, and if you want any sort of real competition in this division then you’re going to have to deal with ANTITHESIS, the ONLY real threat to you, no matter how much you may refuse to admit it.”
Alex huffs, furrowing his brow, more waves crash and some seagulls caw overhead.
“A few weeks ago, I also decimated the number one contender to the United Championship, my Lyons Den sister should be thanking me because now she’ll be taking on weakened prey. Family always looks out for each other right?”
Alex winks at the camera as though he truly meant for his and Sykes assault on Ryder to be meant as a favor to Cleo, or as if she even needed the implied assist.
“You know what tools are pushing me behind the scenes Dickie. You know the talent that is working to make Alexander Lyons a success. Vincent won his first championship in under a year, so did Cleo, and Victoria seems to be on her way to her own championship. I guess Xavier hasn’t, but he’s part of our microleague anyway so we don’t need to count him, and the potato guy is part of our entertainers league. That leaves me, and now that The Exiled Prince has returned home, it’s time he continue that trend and win a championship of his own.” Alex continued, confidence echoing in his voice.
“It’s not just me you need to worry about. Tyson Sykes is on a whole different level recently. I’ve never doubted the ability of my brother in arms, but as of late he’s just meaner, more aggressive and more dangerous than he’s ever been. Just ask that washed up ass Nick Madison, he’ll tell you.” Alex continued, ever being the picture of arrogance he’s been come to be known for.
“And what of Aiden Reynolds? Also known as the less talented member of The Commonwealth. The one who made the same misconception as everyone else, that Jonathan Sanders is my leader. How many times do we need to explain that ANTITHESIS has no leader. We are a brotherhood, and we all act as equals watching each others backs. ANTITHESIS has stayed busy since Dishonored, while you two came in, scooped up the tag team championships and then went ghost.” said Alexander, “Talk about dishonored, that sounds to me like the tag team championships have been dishonored, so now Tyson and myself need to go on a crusade to conquer and destroy The Commonwealth, and at least make sure the tag champions show up to work, regardless of if we happen to be booked or not. We aren’t the type to just show up to defend our championships. We want to be there each week to make sure it’s known that ANTITHESIS is the most dangerous force in all of PWS, and to show that we’re not afraid.”
Alexander grins, he knows of course Dickie and Aiden aren’t cowards, but this is a business where you have to use such words and jabs to try and offset your opponent.
“Is that why we haven’t heard from the two of you? Or does Dickie find whatever other companies he works for more worth his time? If that’s the case then the tag team championships are basically being held hostage, and Tyson and I need to win them more than ever.” Alexander continued his verbal barrage, “2022 is going to be the year of ANTITHESIS. We are going to be the most devastating force in PWS, and our next move is cutting the return of The Commonwealth short. With all the hard work Sykes has put in recently, he deserves to be a champion, and as his brother I need to be sure to back him up and get make sure he gets what he deserves because that’s what a brotherhood does, we look out for each other. I deserve to be a champion more than you for the work I put i each week, we’re not here just to be in championship matches, we want to be the best and we can’t do that by sitting on the sidelines.”
“Remember, you didn’t defeat us. You defeated the Russows, which to be fair was a smart move, you should go for getting the victory over the actual champions, but also because you had a snowballs chance in hell of defeating one of us to win that match. Now with the x-factor of the Russows out of the way, we can focus solely on the two of you, and the two of you will have a better chance to….”
A quick jarring cut jumps to a closeup of Alex's face.
“HEAR ME ROAR.”
Alex sighs heavily, glares menacingly the camera, we hear the crashing of some more waves, as the scene cuts to an end.
-static-
—
Raising a child isn’t something that comes easy, and leaving the expecting mother on her own because you wanted to party on the road and keep living a certain lifestyle is certainly reason to have your visitation rights revoked, and even more reason for a lifelong grudge to be held. As adults, all you can do is try to mend the broken wounds and come to some sort of mutual understanding.
Alex sat in his fathers office in the back of The Lyons Den, outside the windows students trained, and the traditional sounds of a gym are faintly heard. He was here once again on the behest of his father, and to his own credit he wasn’t sure why. He made his feelings very clear in that coffee shop, and he didn’t even bother showing up for the Thanksgiving he was invited to. Yet here he was, sitting across from the man once again. Perhaps this IS what he really wanted.
“You wanted to talk…so talk.” Alex said, leaning back in his chair.
“I’m just glad you came, we missed you at Thanksgiving.” replied Zachary, the senior Lyons.
“Sorry I missed it.” Alex grinned.
“I’m going to just cut to the chase here.” replied Zachary, “I want to extend the offer again, for you to train at this dojo and make you an official member of The Lyons Den.”
“And I told you, I’m not interested.” Alex snapped back.
“I know, I know.” his father replied, “But you belong here. I know you want to, so you can cut the act. There’s still some things a father can tell, no matter how little his involvement was in his child’s life. So stop lying to yourself, and just accept the deal.”
“I’m not lying!” Alex snarled, “Is this all you wanted, cause I have business to deal with regarding ANTITHESIS.”
“You are.” his father nodded,”I know you are, because I am as well.”
That got Alex’s attention, and he raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
“I took over this place when your uncle passed away a few years back, and ever since then we’ve been trying to implant our name on various talents in this business. Your cousins have done well for themselves, but they don’t have that certain killer instinct. Neither did my brother. I was always the one who was willing to take the killshot, willing to do whatever it takes.” his father said, “I was always seen as the bastard brother, the one they never liked talking about. Only my sister was treated worse than me.”
“You have a sister?”Alex asked
“Yeah, but the less said about her the better.” replied Zachary, “I’ve had to play this nice guy act for years because they were the only family connection I had, until your sisters come of age. But then, you appeared and I saw it..the killer instinct your cousins lack, and I like it.”
“Is that right?” piqued Alex.
“You are my son. I’ve been waiting for your arrival for years. “ his father said, “You belong here, and we both know it. And one day, I’ll pass the keys to the entire kingdom to you.”
“I do like the sound of that.” said Alex, and a few signatures and a handshake later, he had officially been accepted into the family school.
“C’mon let’s go tell Kaiser, man I hate that fucking idiot.” his father said.
“Why do you keep him around?” asked Alex
“Some bullshit ironclad contract my brother gave him.” said Zachary, “Lifetime deal, or some shit.”
“Damn.” said Alex shaking his head.
“Doesn’t matter.” said Zachary, “He still works for me. Hey let’s go break the news, that’ll piss him off real good.”
“I’m beginning to like this new relationship.” smiled Alex.
“Oh, and we don’t like to brag but the family has…plenty of money, so if you or your friends need anything, tell them ANTITHESIS has an official bankroll.” said his father
“Okay, I’m really beginning to like this new relationship.” grinned Alex.
The two shook hands again, and walked out the door together, approaching head trainer Keevee Kaiser who took notice of Alex with surprise.
“What the hell is HE doing here?” said Kaiser, annoyance and anger in his tone.
“He’s one of us now, officially.” Zack replied, “We talked, and Alex and I have came to an agreement. As of this moment, he is another one of your students and you will work to train him as you did Vincent, Victoria and Cleo.”
“Zack, you can’t be serious!!” Kaiser complained to the senior Lyons and owner of the Lyons Den standing net to Alex, “This guy came in here and committed assault!”
“This GUY, is my son.” replied Zachary Lyons, And I owe this to him for missing out on his entire life.......”
Alex grinned as his father laid down the law to this trainer of his. The guy clearly didn’t like it,but it was pretty fun watching his dad let the guy know who the real boss was, maybe this new relationship was going to be just what he needed to push himself to the next level and become the champion he feels he’s destined to be.
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