Post by SalTal on Jun 13, 2015 20:43:11 GMT -4
Internet Explorer - *click* - Favorites - *click* - APW.com ...
Welcome to Action Packed Wrestling!
Videos - *click* - Megastars - *click* - Sally Talfourd - *click* - Videos - *click*
Welcome to Happy Ending T.V.!
Recent - *click* - Episode #9: Grief, and Its Stages - *click*
Recorded 21st of March, 2025. The first of our collector's edition that celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the APW reunion show, nd everything that followed in its wake!
*click* - Loading ...
"Sally Talfourd presents ..."
is written across the screen, fades out, then
"In association with Action Packed Wrestling"
is next to appear, holds, then fades out for
"Happy Endings T.V."
is written across the background before it fades out, with the camera coming in on none other than … Sally Talfourd? Is that really her? Could it be? She seems so familiar and, yet, different enough. Older, perhaps wiser. She sits there, dressed cute smart with a business-y style suit on, a pink shirt underneath a waistcoat with quite the flared collar. Her hair is up and her make-up is impeccable. Yes, this is Sally Talfourd. But it’s then that we notice across the bottom the title card …
The applause is rapturous. Deafening. Intimidating even! There’s cheers - cheers of one name. Rhythmic. Repeated. Over and over again. There raise the whole world with their sincerity and their thankfulness.
Sally!
Sally!
Sally!
Over and over again, one of APW’s most beloved wrestlers bids farewell to the crowds who made her more than a household name. The applause sounds like it’s dying out, before rolling back like a wave of appreciation. Again this happens. And then again. The chant evolves.
Thank-you Sally!
Thank-you Sally!
Thank-you Sally!
The cameras that night broadcast to the world just what all that meant to her. Her face on screens in every home, red eyes, wet cheeks, trembling lips. Yes, these fans would follow her anywhere - even to her next engagements at Exodus Pro. But this was going to be the last time they would see her in this ring. Under this banner. On this wave.
She waves her hands to the crowds at the top of the ramp, and bows a deep bow one last time. She turns to walk backstage and, before she does, turns to the camera that’s alongside her and blows a kiss to all her fans, shoots them a wink, and goes behind the curtains, bringing an end to her APW career - and the second last match APW would ever show.
“Sally!”
Sally, near on exhaustion after a match that would end up defining most of her career, struggles to lift her head and look around. With weak hands, she brings the water bottle to her mouth, scanning the sea of faces who have gathered for this final showing.
And then … she sees him …
“Biggs!” There’s still enough strength in her to rush up to her …friend? “Shouldn’t you be training for your match!”
“The match that’s in what?” Biggs looks at his wrist, clearly not wearing a watch, “Five minutes?”
“Hey, for someone like you,” Sally musters a grin, “Any help is good help, right?”
Biggs snorts out a laugh, “Yeah, I guess. I may not have the recent experience you have but … well … I’m sure I’ll have enough tricks to make this memorable.”
“Hey!” Sally jabs Biggs on the shoulder, “Tricks are my thing. I’m the Last Magician.”
“Maybe you’re not the last?” Biggs raises his eyebrows, “Maybe there’s someone like you out there?” Sally smiles, looks down at her feet, “Maybe. Maybe.”
Annnnnd … there’s the awkward moment we’ve been waiting for. The hustling and the bustling goes on around them but for that minute or two they just stand there, oblivious to it all.
“Biggs! You’re up!”
That startles the two, both shocked into a state acutely aware of how their feeling: Biggs on the verge of his planned last match, nervous and excited and anxious all in one; Sally feeling the after-effects of going toe-to-toe with Level-One and winning.
“You’d better be going,” Sally pats her one-time boss on the shoulder, “Give him heck, friend.”
Biggs nods and heads off to the stage. But before he gets there, he turns, “Sally! Han around afterwards? Maybe we could …”
Sally spins on her heels, “Could what?”
“Maybe we could …” Biggs backs towards the stage.
“Coffee?” Sally yells over the top of the ruckus.
Biggs yells something back, but he’s drowned out by the blast of his music and the eruption of the crowd. Sally stands unmoved for what seems like an eternity … but is probably just a few seconds. Then, she looks around, searching? Checking? Who knows. She doesn’t. And when she realises, she makes a brisk line to the locker rooms.
Rumours and Gossip
Not one to shy from wrestling gossip columns, rumours have it that our favourite ‘Last Magician’ may have pulled a disappearing act on the other half of the ‘We Wish They Had Hooked Up’ wrestling couple Biggs.
Take yourselves back one year to the APW Rasslemania that closed out the companies monumental run. Our source has it that Biggs had asked Sally Talfourd out on a date for after the show.
But Sally - who agreed - was no where to be seen post-show, leaving poor old Biggs broken-hearted yet again!
Was Sally riding the wave of victory? Trying to get the last ‘one up’ on her former boss? Did Ellie have something to do with it!?
All we know is that neither party has spoken to each other since.
We find our hosts sitting at the famed ESPN desk, and the spin around to the next story.
“And finally tonight in the weird and wonderful in sport … does anyone still watch wrestling?” The host says with a wry grin, “Well, some fans of the now closed APW certainly do and have … well … see for yourself.”
The feed cuts and fades into a shot of a Starbucks in Seattle, a whole mob in vintage APW gear crowded around a table with two cardboard cut-outs propped up across each other. No prizes for guessing who they are.
Yep, Sally and Biggs.
We cut to who appears to be the ringleader of all this.
“Yeah I’m Matt and, well,” He throws a hand towards the cutouts, “I’ve been waiting for this for years! We all have!”
The crowd erupts into cheers and yelling.
“When I heard Sally stood Biggs up and missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime … well, we just had to make it happen some way! And we’re not taking them down until they both sit down and have that coffee!”
There’s cheering and clapping, and certainly more to the story. But we get the picture.
“Is this Sally Talfourd?”
Sally, a little bleary-eyed, wonders what kind of question that is, “Who did you call, man?”
“Sally Talfourd. Is this her?”
Sally rubs her eyes, sits up, fumbles for a switch to her lamp alongside her bed, “Are you from the credit card company? Because I told you: My card was stolen. And I didn’t buy 1500 heads of cabbage. I don’t even like it! I told you who I thought it was. His name is Jason Kash. Go and find him.”
Sally nearly hangs up.
“Please hold, Ms. Talfourd.”
She hesitates, wondering if it’s worth it. But, before her sleep-addled brain can do anything, there’s an all too familiar voice on the other end.
“Sally?”
“Biggs?” There’s a silence. Sally checks to see her phone is still one, then brings it back to her ear, “Is that you?”
“Yeah,” There’s a sound of hesitation.
Sally smiles, but he can’t see that, “You woke me up, you bum! Do you know what time it is!?”
“Yeah, you’re in Washington too,” Biggs doesn't’ sound too phased, just confused, “We live in the same state, remember?”
“And yet we can’t even meet up for coffee?” Sally laughs, falling back into bed.
“So you’ve seen all that?” Biggs sounds frustrated now, “The ESPN stuff?”
Sally’s eyes widen, “ESPN?”
Now it’s time for Biggs to laugh, “You really were asleep?”
Sally rolls around in bed in fits of laughter as Biggs catches Sally up on this latest development. And then it’s Sally’s turn to tell Biggs about all the questions and the conventions. And then Biggs again about how magazines are looking to get his side of the story.
And then … then Biggs asks the question everyone’s been waiting for.
“But really … why didn’t you wait?”
Again, an invisible grin as far as Biggs is concerned, “It was so long ago … how could anyone remember …”
“That’s quite unlike you, Sally … you usually have an impeccable memory for these things … especially when it comes to toying with people …”
“Toying?” Sally sits up, a little aghast, “Do you really think I toyed with you? Biggs! I expect better of you.”
“Then where were you? And if not that night, why didn’t you call?”
“I lost your number. Honest.”
There’ a contemplative pause, “Well, I’m just saying: You could have reached out.”
“I’ve been busy, Biggs - you know that. Surely’ you’ve seen me on TV? Some of us are still young enough to get into the ring.”
Silence, again, but there’s the potential of hooking a fish with that. Sally’s face reads of excitement. Of excitement and anticipation.
I think one of the things I learned early - even before I met Biggs - was that men (in wrestling) are much more vain than women. It’s something about this business - men who really, really care about things like age and looks and physique. It’s funny.
And I knew that Biggs wouldn’t be able to let that go. And let it go he did not. What followed was a berating like no other. Well, no, maybe I’m not remembering it quite right. But he took the bait, almost immediately.
And when he started to waver, I threw out the offer that I knew he wouldn’t resist. I mean, he was keen for the match … but the more he thought about it the more he thought himself out of it. So I threw out the best offer I could:
If he won, we’d get that coffee.
If I won? I just said he would owe me one big favour.
And then, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place. It was like divine timing, I tell you!
APW REUNION
Action Packed Wrestling is set to shake up the wrestling industry with a reunion show in the coming months.
Thought closed for good, the rumblings are that former talent and executive Johnny Rebel has moved into the director’s chair to initiate what could be the most anticipated show for 2015.
While no one is prepared to comment on the truth to these rumours, nor any of the potential matches some have speculated about a new set of ‘dream matches’ that missed the Rasslemania X card last year.
Among the talent who has shown an interest in returning to APW over the past months have been ‘The Last Magician’ Sally Talfourd - no stranger to wrestling right now …
Well well well. I guess it had to come down to this, hey Biggs?
A match. A dream match. Our dream match.
You know, if you went to my apartment in Seattle (not that you’ll be going there any time soon) you could go to my bedroom and under it you would find a box. Nothing fancy, just an old shoe box. It was the box that my first every wrestling shoes came in. Those shoes are long-gone. But the box … it’s a memory in and of itself.
But inside it? Inside that box is even more of my memories. Photos and posters and match cards and results and everything.
And buried in between all that is a napkin. I wrote it towards the end of 2014 when … well, when I wasn’t really feeling all that good. I’d gone out to a bar with some friends and at the bottom of a glass of scotch mix with sadness - as I contemplated what might end up being the last few years of my career - I pulled out a felt-tip pen and wrote ten names in a particular order underneath this heading:
Wrestling Bucket List
It was the 10 matches I had to have before I threw it all in and moved on to post-wrestling life. There’s some names these APW fans will remember and know. Keaton Saint … Terry Marvin … Kurt Noble … people who I probably won’t ever get to see in the ring, much less against me.
But none of them are first on that list. There is one name above them all. The name I didn’t even need to think about; it just flowed out of the pen.
Biggs.
Your name is that first name, Biggs. And I think you would have guessed this before I even told you. One last match with you, Biggs, is what I dream of. But, deep down, I know it’s not just me dreaming of it. It’s not just me who dreams about going one-on-one with you, in the ring, get down and sweaty.
No, I know you’ve dreamed about this. About our match. About me. I know you’ve been wanting this as badly as me. Long and hard you’ve thought about this, like me. About getting your hands on me. About me getting my hands on you. About working each other over. About moving with me in that dance we are both experts in.
We both want this match so desperately because, well, I know we have something to prove to each other. Leave aside all the side bets and the stipulations that may or may not hold here. What we have to prove to each other is dedication. Is purpose. Is success. We both want the other to know that we are as good as we have ever seen each other.
Over the years, we’ve both seen each other grow and succeed and prosper under the weight of it all. And yet, our paths haven’t really crossed except for brief moment of flirtation early on in my stint in APW. I’m sure you remember all that, so let’s not revisit it. But, for the most part, this match we’re about to go in to is the match that people have been waiting years for.
Like I said, we’ve both watched each other, but from the sidelines. Hoping, waiting, willing that moment where our bodies can meet in the ring. Hoping that it’s everything we imagined. Waiting for that bell to ring. Willing ourselves across the line. That’s all I’ve ever wanted since APW has closed its doors to us, Biggs: That one last chance to go in against you.
And it’s not just to win. No no no. It’s because you’re good, Biggs. No, you’re not good. You’re one of the best. Just look at your record here. It’s up among the best. You’re a Hall of Famer. You’re a multiple title-holder. You’re … you’re … you’re Biggs, for crying out loud! Everyone knows your name. They hardly remember mine around here … but they remember yours. The master of the ring, of the air, of the mat. The man who has done it all, and then some. The model employee, the model boss, and the model wrestler. The man who knows more about the technicalities of wrestling and the human body than anyone else. More that myself, I’m sure.
What better was to reunite APW for one night than to put myself up against one of the best APW has ever had. It’s not a mark of success how many times you can beat someone two or three rungs below you on the measure of things. Success is measured against how many times you go up against people better than you. That’s all. Not the winning or the losing, but the simple act of throwing yourselves to he wolves and seeing if you can survive long enough to remember it!
I’m throwing myself at you, Biggs. I’m throwing myself to you and your greatness. I want to know what I can do in the face of the likes of you. Since APW has closed, I’ve come up against some of the best in the business and prevailed (not that I’m keeping count of anything). And, win or lose (it was mostly win - but, again, who’s counting?) I still felt better and more respect for having done that than looking for the cheap wins here and there.
You know that I’m better than that. And, so, you should know what this match means to me. A chance to really test my wrestling against someone who will make me be better or make me lose. A chance to go up against a legend in APW who will certainly humble me before the fans that have so desperately wanted this match. And a chance to see what I am made of in and out of the ring. I’m lucky and privileged to have had the opportunity to take part in this match, Biggs.
So thank-you for setting it up, for accepting the challenge, for being big enough to let it happen.
Because that’s what happened, right? You set it up. You accepted a challenge. You let all this happen.
I guess we could talk about that later. Over coffee or something. Talk about all these coincidences that seemed to just happen at the right time to lead us to here.
But enough about conspiracy theories. There’s plenty of people worrying about that. No, what we need to worry about is our match. For, you see, given this chance, I’m not going to take it lightly. Nor am I likely to take a loss laying down.
Well … you know … figuratively speaking … because … shoulders … and stuff …
Anyway, I’m not letting this match slip past my fingers. I’ll be pulling all the stops on you, Biggs, in the best way I can. Now don’t get me wrong: I’m not a rule-breaker. I’m not an eye-poker, a groin-hitter, a tooth smasher …
… unless your name is Jason Kash …
… I’m as clean-a-clean wrestler as you’ll ever meet. You’ve watched me and when I’m in full-flight with the fans behind me and the future in front of me, I’m a sight to behold. A magician technician. A frightful delight. A wondrous display. And all those things you’ve watched and admired me for, you’ll see them. But given my respect for you, for the fans, for APW … what you can expect to not see is any sort of shenanigans from my part. I like you too much, Biggs, to let something like that come between us. I’m better than that.
That’s not to say you can’t indulge in that. I mean, this match is yours to dictate. It’s everything you want to make it. If you want to set that tone and that standard, well, I guess that’s just another part of the mountain I’ll have to climb. But I think I know you well enough now to know that … you’re not really that kind of guy, either. You’re clean. You’re honourable. You’re duty-bound to be your best without the aid of, well, the illegal.
And in that way, I guess, we’re very alike. We both know what’s right and what to stand up for. We both know what we’re here for and why we fight. We both know when to do something and when not to do it. And it’s in that certainly that we excel. Where we grow. Where we thrive. We are our best when we are trying to be the best. Not just the best in wrestling but best in standards. Best in behaviour. Best at being a wrestler that can be respected and looked up to.
I know you have your checkered history. You stints as the ‘not so’ good guy. But I know that’s all in the past. You’re a new leaf-turned now, right? You’re not the bad guy. You’re not the evil one. You’re the good guy. One of us! One of us! You’re the kind of man now that I’ve always seen in you. Whether it was when you with whatshername or running APW or simply being one of the best in the ring, you’re now the kind of guy that a kid can point at and say “I want to be like Biggs” and their parent can say “Well, so long as you get a better haircut …” and everyone is happy.
Look, all jokes aside, we know what we’re in for with this match. It’s going to be a technical feat of endurance. We both know that already. We know that there’s only a thin line between us in terms of technical skill and tenacity. We know that we both favour a similar style. And we both know that we tend to win our matches with a similar style of ground and work. We don’t have to kid ourselves.
And let’s not be delusional and pretend that we’re not experts on each other either. I know that there’s no one in the wrestling business that knows me better than you. Heck, I think that sometimes you know me better than me! I doubt a day has gone by since APW closed where you didn’t see a match when I was wrestling. I don’t blame you: Watching perfection is entrancing hahaha! No, but seriously: I know you’re a master-studier, and observer of and for the ages. You’re not someone that only looks in the mirror and thinks that’s enough. You’re a man who looks out the windows and wonders what’s new to know.
I guess that at this stage you’re wondering why all the flattery. Why all the kind words about you heading into a match where we will practically be fighting for all the honour in the world?
Well, I guess I realised that this match is only worth as much as we put in. That if I see this as ‘just another match’ then that’s all the result will ever be. But pour our hearts and souls into this and, well, it will be more than a match. It will be a dream. A piece of wrestling history. A standard for ourselves that may never be beat. This match is what we make it, Biggs. And whatever we want to lay on the line - whether it be our future together or apart - then that’s how important the match will be.
I know this match is important because you’re important, Biggs. You’re important to me. You’re important to the fans. You’re important to APW. This match of ours will and should be a benchmark at this reunion. Who knows what will happen after it, whether we never have another reunion or something else. What I do know is that what we do tonight will set that tone for the future. And I plan to do something great with you tonight, Biggs. Something so earth-shaking that no one will forget it. Not me. Not you. And most definitely not the fans.
Welcome to Action Packed Wrestling!
Videos - *click* - Megastars - *click* - Sally Talfourd - *click* - Videos - *click*
Welcome to Happy Ending T.V.!
Recent - *click* - Episode #9: Grief, and Its Stages - *click*
Recorded 21st of March, 2025. The first of our collector's edition that celebrates the 10 year anniversary of the APW reunion show, nd everything that followed in its wake!
*click* - Loading ...
"Sally Talfourd presents ..."
is written across the screen, fades out, then
"In association with Action Packed Wrestling"
is next to appear, holds, then fades out for
"Happy Endings T.V."
is written across the background before it fades out, with the camera coming in on none other than … Sally Talfourd? Is that really her? Could it be? She seems so familiar and, yet, different enough. Older, perhaps wiser. She sits there, dressed cute smart with a business-y style suit on, a pink shirt underneath a waistcoat with quite the flared collar. Her hair is up and her make-up is impeccable. Yes, this is Sally Talfourd. But it’s then that we notice across the bottom the title card …
[21st of March, 2025]
Yes, it is Sally, but it’s some time well into the future. And that’s where the differences become noticeable: She’s older. Some ten years older. She shifts in her seat, folding her hands in her lap. That’s sign enough that this is all ready to begin.
“So why are we doing this?” Sally looks to the left of the camera, “I thought everyone had said everything about APW that needed to be said. I can’t imagine I have any great insight into …”
“Well,” A man’s voice cuts her off, “We’re coming up to the ten-year anniversary and the owners and shareholders are looking to make a big thing of it - you know, reliving the glory days.”
“That’s where I come in?” Sally cocks an eyebrow.
“Yes, we’re going around, interviewing all the people who were there at the reunion show,” The man’s voice lifts in tone, in optimism, “That’s where it all picked up, and where this anniversary set is going to start.”
“Anniversary set?”
“Yeah,” There’s a shuffle of paper, some movement, “We’ll start with the Reunion and see where it takes us. If we can get enough episodes going … who knows?”
Sally frowns, her interest piqued. Slowly she nods, a strand of hair coming out from behind her ear and falling across her face, “Ok. Guess you’d like to start …”
“… from the beginning?”
Sally let’s out a little laugh, “Well, the second beginning I guess. But we really need to go back to before the reunion was even a thing …”
“So why are we doing this?” Sally looks to the left of the camera, “I thought everyone had said everything about APW that needed to be said. I can’t imagine I have any great insight into …”
“Well,” A man’s voice cuts her off, “We’re coming up to the ten-year anniversary and the owners and shareholders are looking to make a big thing of it - you know, reliving the glory days.”
“That’s where I come in?” Sally cocks an eyebrow.
“Yes, we’re going around, interviewing all the people who were there at the reunion show,” The man’s voice lifts in tone, in optimism, “That’s where it all picked up, and where this anniversary set is going to start.”
“Anniversary set?”
“Yeah,” There’s a shuffle of paper, some movement, “We’ll start with the Reunion and see where it takes us. If we can get enough episodes going … who knows?”
Sally frowns, her interest piqued. Slowly she nods, a strand of hair coming out from behind her ear and falling across her face, “Ok. Guess you’d like to start …”
“… from the beginning?”
Sally let’s out a little laugh, “Well, the second beginning I guess. But we really need to go back to before the reunion was even a thing …”
[RASSLEMANIA FINAL]
The applause is rapturous. Deafening. Intimidating even! There’s cheers - cheers of one name. Rhythmic. Repeated. Over and over again. There raise the whole world with their sincerity and their thankfulness.
Sally!
Sally!
Sally!
Over and over again, one of APW’s most beloved wrestlers bids farewell to the crowds who made her more than a household name. The applause sounds like it’s dying out, before rolling back like a wave of appreciation. Again this happens. And then again. The chant evolves.
Thank-you Sally!
Thank-you Sally!
Thank-you Sally!
The cameras that night broadcast to the world just what all that meant to her. Her face on screens in every home, red eyes, wet cheeks, trembling lips. Yes, these fans would follow her anywhere - even to her next engagements at Exodus Pro. But this was going to be the last time they would see her in this ring. Under this banner. On this wave.
She waves her hands to the crowds at the top of the ramp, and bows a deep bow one last time. She turns to walk backstage and, before she does, turns to the camera that’s alongside her and blows a kiss to all her fans, shoots them a wink, and goes behind the curtains, bringing an end to her APW career - and the second last match APW would ever show.
————————————————————
That night was possibly the most special night I’d had in my life to that point. It was the culmination of some 4 years of work.
What was funniest was the interviews I did for the next, like, year or two. Everyone wanted to know why I’d ended up in a match against Level-One. A lot of people had different ideas about who my last match should have been against. There wasn’t really a consensus, but there was certainly a few names repeated.
Anthony Bailey was someone. So too was Jason Kash. Even people who I’d never had a chance to go up against in a really big match … Terry Marvin, Johnny Rebel.
But the name that I got asked most about … that was Biggs.
Which was funny, because right after that match, we’d started talking about it then. Little did I know that we’d be setting into motion the match that would eventuate at the Reunion show.
What was funniest was the interviews I did for the next, like, year or two. Everyone wanted to know why I’d ended up in a match against Level-One. A lot of people had different ideas about who my last match should have been against. There wasn’t really a consensus, but there was certainly a few names repeated.
Anthony Bailey was someone. So too was Jason Kash. Even people who I’d never had a chance to go up against in a really big match … Terry Marvin, Johnny Rebel.
But the name that I got asked most about … that was Biggs.
Which was funny, because right after that match, we’d started talking about it then. Little did I know that we’d be setting into motion the match that would eventuate at the Reunion show.
[RASSLEMANIA FINAL]
“Sally!”
Sally, near on exhaustion after a match that would end up defining most of her career, struggles to lift her head and look around. With weak hands, she brings the water bottle to her mouth, scanning the sea of faces who have gathered for this final showing.
And then … she sees him …
“Biggs!” There’s still enough strength in her to rush up to her …friend? “Shouldn’t you be training for your match!”
“The match that’s in what?” Biggs looks at his wrist, clearly not wearing a watch, “Five minutes?”
“Hey, for someone like you,” Sally musters a grin, “Any help is good help, right?”
Biggs snorts out a laugh, “Yeah, I guess. I may not have the recent experience you have but … well … I’m sure I’ll have enough tricks to make this memorable.”
“Hey!” Sally jabs Biggs on the shoulder, “Tricks are my thing. I’m the Last Magician.”
“Maybe you’re not the last?” Biggs raises his eyebrows, “Maybe there’s someone like you out there?” Sally smiles, looks down at her feet, “Maybe. Maybe.”
Annnnnd … there’s the awkward moment we’ve been waiting for. The hustling and the bustling goes on around them but for that minute or two they just stand there, oblivious to it all.
“Biggs! You’re up!”
That startles the two, both shocked into a state acutely aware of how their feeling: Biggs on the verge of his planned last match, nervous and excited and anxious all in one; Sally feeling the after-effects of going toe-to-toe with Level-One and winning.
“You’d better be going,” Sally pats her one-time boss on the shoulder, “Give him heck, friend.”
Biggs nods and heads off to the stage. But before he gets there, he turns, “Sally! Han around afterwards? Maybe we could …”
Sally spins on her heels, “Could what?”
“Maybe we could …” Biggs backs towards the stage.
“Coffee?” Sally yells over the top of the ruckus.
Biggs yells something back, but he’s drowned out by the blast of his music and the eruption of the crowd. Sally stands unmoved for what seems like an eternity … but is probably just a few seconds. Then, she looks around, searching? Checking? Who knows. She doesn’t. And when she realises, she makes a brisk line to the locker rooms.
————————————————————
Yeah, that was strange …
And it was just … just so confusing. And everyone was excited and everyone was making plans. Parties and ‘last hurrahs’ and ‘come back to my place … I don’t know, I guess I never waited for him after the show.
Oh, I definitely watched the match. It was wonderful! I remember it to this day. I don’t think I’ve see Biggs wrestle with that much passion.
Well, yeah, he probably wrestled with more passion at the Reunion show, but that Rasslemania I guess was just a different passion. Maybe determination? Purpose?
I don’t know, I’ve never been good at words. I guess all I can add to it is that I didn’t wait.
But if I had? Well, we probably wouldn’t have had our match. Because when word of that eventually got out …
And it was just … just so confusing. And everyone was excited and everyone was making plans. Parties and ‘last hurrahs’ and ‘come back to my place … I don’t know, I guess I never waited for him after the show.
Oh, I definitely watched the match. It was wonderful! I remember it to this day. I don’t think I’ve see Biggs wrestle with that much passion.
Well, yeah, he probably wrestled with more passion at the Reunion show, but that Rasslemania I guess was just a different passion. Maybe determination? Purpose?
I don’t know, I’ve never been good at words. I guess all I can add to it is that I didn’t wait.
But if I had? Well, we probably wouldn’t have had our match. Because when word of that eventually got out …
[ProWrestling Monthly]
[25th of April, 2015]
[25th of April, 2015]
Rumours and Gossip
Not one to shy from wrestling gossip columns, rumours have it that our favourite ‘Last Magician’ may have pulled a disappearing act on the other half of the ‘We Wish They Had Hooked Up’ wrestling couple Biggs.
Take yourselves back one year to the APW Rasslemania that closed out the companies monumental run. Our source has it that Biggs had asked Sally Talfourd out on a date for after the show.
But Sally - who agreed - was no where to be seen post-show, leaving poor old Biggs broken-hearted yet again!
Was Sally riding the wave of victory? Trying to get the last ‘one up’ on her former boss? Did Ellie have something to do with it!?
All we know is that neither party has spoken to each other since.
————————————————————
That article, gossip, rumour thing seemed to give a new push to that match. I don’t think anyone had really given much consideration to me and Biggs ever since APW closed its doors. We’d gone our separate ways and that was that.
But when that appeared … well, it all sprang up again. I went on a tour around Japan and all I was asked about was Biggs. I went to some conventions an signings and people were point-blank asking if Biggs was coming after me?
I mean, yeah, we’d not actually spoken. I don’t really recall a reason, but I know that we’d fallen out of contact.
But that quickly changed.
But when that appeared … well, it all sprang up again. I went on a tour around Japan and all I was asked about was Biggs. I went to some conventions an signings and people were point-blank asking if Biggs was coming after me?
I mean, yeah, we’d not actually spoken. I don’t really recall a reason, but I know that we’d fallen out of contact.
But that quickly changed.
[ESPN Nightly]
[1st of May, 2015]
[1st of May, 2015]
We find our hosts sitting at the famed ESPN desk, and the spin around to the next story.
“And finally tonight in the weird and wonderful in sport … does anyone still watch wrestling?” The host says with a wry grin, “Well, some fans of the now closed APW certainly do and have … well … see for yourself.”
The feed cuts and fades into a shot of a Starbucks in Seattle, a whole mob in vintage APW gear crowded around a table with two cardboard cut-outs propped up across each other. No prizes for guessing who they are.
Yep, Sally and Biggs.
We cut to who appears to be the ringleader of all this.
“Yeah I’m Matt and, well,” He throws a hand towards the cutouts, “I’ve been waiting for this for years! We all have!”
The crowd erupts into cheers and yelling.
“When I heard Sally stood Biggs up and missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime … well, we just had to make it happen some way! And we’re not taking them down until they both sit down and have that coffee!”
There’s cheering and clapping, and certainly more to the story. But we get the picture.
[After ESPN Nightly]
[1st of May, 2015]
[1st of May, 2015]
“Is this Sally Talfourd?”
Sally, a little bleary-eyed, wonders what kind of question that is, “Who did you call, man?”
“Sally Talfourd. Is this her?”
Sally rubs her eyes, sits up, fumbles for a switch to her lamp alongside her bed, “Are you from the credit card company? Because I told you: My card was stolen. And I didn’t buy 1500 heads of cabbage. I don’t even like it! I told you who I thought it was. His name is Jason Kash. Go and find him.”
Sally nearly hangs up.
“Please hold, Ms. Talfourd.”
She hesitates, wondering if it’s worth it. But, before her sleep-addled brain can do anything, there’s an all too familiar voice on the other end.
“Sally?”
“Biggs?” There’s a silence. Sally checks to see her phone is still one, then brings it back to her ear, “Is that you?”
“Yeah,” There’s a sound of hesitation.
Sally smiles, but he can’t see that, “You woke me up, you bum! Do you know what time it is!?”
“Yeah, you’re in Washington too,” Biggs doesn't’ sound too phased, just confused, “We live in the same state, remember?”
“And yet we can’t even meet up for coffee?” Sally laughs, falling back into bed.
“So you’ve seen all that?” Biggs sounds frustrated now, “The ESPN stuff?”
Sally’s eyes widen, “ESPN?”
Now it’s time for Biggs to laugh, “You really were asleep?”
Sally rolls around in bed in fits of laughter as Biggs catches Sally up on this latest development. And then it’s Sally’s turn to tell Biggs about all the questions and the conventions. And then Biggs again about how magazines are looking to get his side of the story.
And then … then Biggs asks the question everyone’s been waiting for.
“But really … why didn’t you wait?”
Again, an invisible grin as far as Biggs is concerned, “It was so long ago … how could anyone remember …”
“That’s quite unlike you, Sally … you usually have an impeccable memory for these things … especially when it comes to toying with people …”
“Toying?” Sally sits up, a little aghast, “Do you really think I toyed with you? Biggs! I expect better of you.”
“Then where were you? And if not that night, why didn’t you call?”
“I lost your number. Honest.”
There’ a contemplative pause, “Well, I’m just saying: You could have reached out.”
“I’ve been busy, Biggs - you know that. Surely’ you’ve seen me on TV? Some of us are still young enough to get into the ring.”
Silence, again, but there’s the potential of hooking a fish with that. Sally’s face reads of excitement. Of excitement and anticipation.
————————————————————
I think one of the things I learned early - even before I met Biggs - was that men (in wrestling) are much more vain than women. It’s something about this business - men who really, really care about things like age and looks and physique. It’s funny.
And I knew that Biggs wouldn’t be able to let that go. And let it go he did not. What followed was a berating like no other. Well, no, maybe I’m not remembering it quite right. But he took the bait, almost immediately.
And when he started to waver, I threw out the offer that I knew he wouldn’t resist. I mean, he was keen for the match … but the more he thought about it the more he thought himself out of it. So I threw out the best offer I could:
If he won, we’d get that coffee.
If I won? I just said he would owe me one big favour.
And then, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place. It was like divine timing, I tell you!
[ProWrestling Monthly.com]
[4th of March, 2015]
[4th of March, 2015]
APW REUNION
Action Packed Wrestling is set to shake up the wrestling industry with a reunion show in the coming months.
Thought closed for good, the rumblings are that former talent and executive Johnny Rebel has moved into the director’s chair to initiate what could be the most anticipated show for 2015.
While no one is prepared to comment on the truth to these rumours, nor any of the potential matches some have speculated about a new set of ‘dream matches’ that missed the Rasslemania X card last year.
Among the talent who has shown an interest in returning to APW over the past months have been ‘The Last Magician’ Sally Talfourd - no stranger to wrestling right now …
————————————————————
It all happened at once, like I said. Divine timing. Biggs and I would be able to have our match in front of the audience that not only wanted it the most but deserved it the most as well.
Biggs was on the phone straight away when he’d heard and, with his contacts to the APW office (what was left of it and what it was being rebuilt into) he was able to draft the contracts and issue the press releases. We were one of the first matches announced.
I guess there could have been other matches I could have been in. But at the reunion show … it had to be a special match. I’d had the ‘career defining’ match last time. This time, it would be the match that meant the most to me.
I knew it would mean a lot to Biggs as well. Not just the match and all that, but the whole ‘APW’ reunion thing. He was as important to APW as anyone else. Here was his chance to go out with a bang, I guess.
That’s not to say he didn’t have a great match with Jeff … but this would be different. His dream match. My dream match.
Yeah, I guess I worried a little about him coming out of full retirement and stepping into the ring with someone who had been going non-stop since Rasslemania X and who had had the best year in her career through 2014, which quickly bled into 2015.
Before I get to the match and what happened after, I guess I should talk about that night. I had prepared all the week, going through my regular routines - just with the intensity maxed out. I wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.
Right before the match, well, that was as per usual. They gave me a mic and stood me in front of the camera.
Biggs was on the phone straight away when he’d heard and, with his contacts to the APW office (what was left of it and what it was being rebuilt into) he was able to draft the contracts and issue the press releases. We were one of the first matches announced.
I guess there could have been other matches I could have been in. But at the reunion show … it had to be a special match. I’d had the ‘career defining’ match last time. This time, it would be the match that meant the most to me.
I knew it would mean a lot to Biggs as well. Not just the match and all that, but the whole ‘APW’ reunion thing. He was as important to APW as anyone else. Here was his chance to go out with a bang, I guess.
That’s not to say he didn’t have a great match with Jeff … but this would be different. His dream match. My dream match.
Yeah, I guess I worried a little about him coming out of full retirement and stepping into the ring with someone who had been going non-stop since Rasslemania X and who had had the best year in her career through 2014, which quickly bled into 2015.
Before I get to the match and what happened after, I guess I should talk about that night. I had prepared all the week, going through my regular routines - just with the intensity maxed out. I wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.
Right before the match, well, that was as per usual. They gave me a mic and stood me in front of the camera.
[APW Reunion Show]
[11th of June, 2015]
[11th of June, 2015]
Well well well. I guess it had to come down to this, hey Biggs?
A match. A dream match. Our dream match.
You know, if you went to my apartment in Seattle (not that you’ll be going there any time soon) you could go to my bedroom and under it you would find a box. Nothing fancy, just an old shoe box. It was the box that my first every wrestling shoes came in. Those shoes are long-gone. But the box … it’s a memory in and of itself.
But inside it? Inside that box is even more of my memories. Photos and posters and match cards and results and everything.
And buried in between all that is a napkin. I wrote it towards the end of 2014 when … well, when I wasn’t really feeling all that good. I’d gone out to a bar with some friends and at the bottom of a glass of scotch mix with sadness - as I contemplated what might end up being the last few years of my career - I pulled out a felt-tip pen and wrote ten names in a particular order underneath this heading:
Wrestling Bucket List
It was the 10 matches I had to have before I threw it all in and moved on to post-wrestling life. There’s some names these APW fans will remember and know. Keaton Saint … Terry Marvin … Kurt Noble … people who I probably won’t ever get to see in the ring, much less against me.
But none of them are first on that list. There is one name above them all. The name I didn’t even need to think about; it just flowed out of the pen.
Biggs.
Your name is that first name, Biggs. And I think you would have guessed this before I even told you. One last match with you, Biggs, is what I dream of. But, deep down, I know it’s not just me dreaming of it. It’s not just me who dreams about going one-on-one with you, in the ring, get down and sweaty.
No, I know you’ve dreamed about this. About our match. About me. I know you’ve been wanting this as badly as me. Long and hard you’ve thought about this, like me. About getting your hands on me. About me getting my hands on you. About working each other over. About moving with me in that dance we are both experts in.
We both want this match so desperately because, well, I know we have something to prove to each other. Leave aside all the side bets and the stipulations that may or may not hold here. What we have to prove to each other is dedication. Is purpose. Is success. We both want the other to know that we are as good as we have ever seen each other.
Over the years, we’ve both seen each other grow and succeed and prosper under the weight of it all. And yet, our paths haven’t really crossed except for brief moment of flirtation early on in my stint in APW. I’m sure you remember all that, so let’s not revisit it. But, for the most part, this match we’re about to go in to is the match that people have been waiting years for.
Like I said, we’ve both watched each other, but from the sidelines. Hoping, waiting, willing that moment where our bodies can meet in the ring. Hoping that it’s everything we imagined. Waiting for that bell to ring. Willing ourselves across the line. That’s all I’ve ever wanted since APW has closed its doors to us, Biggs: That one last chance to go in against you.
And it’s not just to win. No no no. It’s because you’re good, Biggs. No, you’re not good. You’re one of the best. Just look at your record here. It’s up among the best. You’re a Hall of Famer. You’re a multiple title-holder. You’re … you’re … you’re Biggs, for crying out loud! Everyone knows your name. They hardly remember mine around here … but they remember yours. The master of the ring, of the air, of the mat. The man who has done it all, and then some. The model employee, the model boss, and the model wrestler. The man who knows more about the technicalities of wrestling and the human body than anyone else. More that myself, I’m sure.
What better was to reunite APW for one night than to put myself up against one of the best APW has ever had. It’s not a mark of success how many times you can beat someone two or three rungs below you on the measure of things. Success is measured against how many times you go up against people better than you. That’s all. Not the winning or the losing, but the simple act of throwing yourselves to he wolves and seeing if you can survive long enough to remember it!
I’m throwing myself at you, Biggs. I’m throwing myself to you and your greatness. I want to know what I can do in the face of the likes of you. Since APW has closed, I’ve come up against some of the best in the business and prevailed (not that I’m keeping count of anything). And, win or lose (it was mostly win - but, again, who’s counting?) I still felt better and more respect for having done that than looking for the cheap wins here and there.
You know that I’m better than that. And, so, you should know what this match means to me. A chance to really test my wrestling against someone who will make me be better or make me lose. A chance to go up against a legend in APW who will certainly humble me before the fans that have so desperately wanted this match. And a chance to see what I am made of in and out of the ring. I’m lucky and privileged to have had the opportunity to take part in this match, Biggs.
So thank-you for setting it up, for accepting the challenge, for being big enough to let it happen.
Because that’s what happened, right? You set it up. You accepted a challenge. You let all this happen.
I guess we could talk about that later. Over coffee or something. Talk about all these coincidences that seemed to just happen at the right time to lead us to here.
But enough about conspiracy theories. There’s plenty of people worrying about that. No, what we need to worry about is our match. For, you see, given this chance, I’m not going to take it lightly. Nor am I likely to take a loss laying down.
Well … you know … figuratively speaking … because … shoulders … and stuff …
Anyway, I’m not letting this match slip past my fingers. I’ll be pulling all the stops on you, Biggs, in the best way I can. Now don’t get me wrong: I’m not a rule-breaker. I’m not an eye-poker, a groin-hitter, a tooth smasher …
… unless your name is Jason Kash …
… I’m as clean-a-clean wrestler as you’ll ever meet. You’ve watched me and when I’m in full-flight with the fans behind me and the future in front of me, I’m a sight to behold. A magician technician. A frightful delight. A wondrous display. And all those things you’ve watched and admired me for, you’ll see them. But given my respect for you, for the fans, for APW … what you can expect to not see is any sort of shenanigans from my part. I like you too much, Biggs, to let something like that come between us. I’m better than that.
That’s not to say you can’t indulge in that. I mean, this match is yours to dictate. It’s everything you want to make it. If you want to set that tone and that standard, well, I guess that’s just another part of the mountain I’ll have to climb. But I think I know you well enough now to know that … you’re not really that kind of guy, either. You’re clean. You’re honourable. You’re duty-bound to be your best without the aid of, well, the illegal.
And in that way, I guess, we’re very alike. We both know what’s right and what to stand up for. We both know what we’re here for and why we fight. We both know when to do something and when not to do it. And it’s in that certainly that we excel. Where we grow. Where we thrive. We are our best when we are trying to be the best. Not just the best in wrestling but best in standards. Best in behaviour. Best at being a wrestler that can be respected and looked up to.
I know you have your checkered history. You stints as the ‘not so’ good guy. But I know that’s all in the past. You’re a new leaf-turned now, right? You’re not the bad guy. You’re not the evil one. You’re the good guy. One of us! One of us! You’re the kind of man now that I’ve always seen in you. Whether it was when you with whatshername or running APW or simply being one of the best in the ring, you’re now the kind of guy that a kid can point at and say “I want to be like Biggs” and their parent can say “Well, so long as you get a better haircut …” and everyone is happy.
Look, all jokes aside, we know what we’re in for with this match. It’s going to be a technical feat of endurance. We both know that already. We know that there’s only a thin line between us in terms of technical skill and tenacity. We know that we both favour a similar style. And we both know that we tend to win our matches with a similar style of ground and work. We don’t have to kid ourselves.
And let’s not be delusional and pretend that we’re not experts on each other either. I know that there’s no one in the wrestling business that knows me better than you. Heck, I think that sometimes you know me better than me! I doubt a day has gone by since APW closed where you didn’t see a match when I was wrestling. I don’t blame you: Watching perfection is entrancing hahaha! No, but seriously: I know you’re a master-studier, and observer of and for the ages. You’re not someone that only looks in the mirror and thinks that’s enough. You’re a man who looks out the windows and wonders what’s new to know.
I guess that at this stage you’re wondering why all the flattery. Why all the kind words about you heading into a match where we will practically be fighting for all the honour in the world?
Well, I guess I realised that this match is only worth as much as we put in. That if I see this as ‘just another match’ then that’s all the result will ever be. But pour our hearts and souls into this and, well, it will be more than a match. It will be a dream. A piece of wrestling history. A standard for ourselves that may never be beat. This match is what we make it, Biggs. And whatever we want to lay on the line - whether it be our future together or apart - then that’s how important the match will be.
I know this match is important because you’re important, Biggs. You’re important to me. You’re important to the fans. You’re important to APW. This match of ours will and should be a benchmark at this reunion. Who knows what will happen after it, whether we never have another reunion or something else. What I do know is that what we do tonight will set that tone for the future. And I plan to do something great with you tonight, Biggs. Something so earth-shaking that no one will forget it. Not me. Not you. And most definitely not the fans.
[21st of March, 2025]
The voice off-screen continues, “Just in that promo, you alluded to the idea that maybe someone else had set the match up? That maybe Biggs had been almost goaded into the match? Care to explain?”
A wry grin crosses Sally’s mouth, “Oh, yeah. That was me. I leaked the story to ProWrestling Monthly, and then I had my manager Matt go and stage that stand-in at the Starbucks. And then when Biggs called, I just had to throw enough bait out to reel him in. I don’t want to say it was easy - and all this happened before APW was going to come back.”
There’s some laughter all-round. It’s infectious and Sally even has to chuckle.
“In those days, it was all different. My and Biggs. None of what happened in the next years had happened,” Sally looks down at her hands, sort of drifting away in dreams and memories, “But that night … that night we had something special. We made something special. In the ring. And everyone would go on and speak about it for years and years.”
“That they have,” The voice tries to bring Sally back, “Now … can you walk us through the match? Take us from start to finish?”
Sally’s eyes lighten up, a beaming smile, “Of course I certainly can! I remember that match like no other ...”
A wry grin crosses Sally’s mouth, “Oh, yeah. That was me. I leaked the story to ProWrestling Monthly, and then I had my manager Matt go and stage that stand-in at the Starbucks. And then when Biggs called, I just had to throw enough bait out to reel him in. I don’t want to say it was easy - and all this happened before APW was going to come back.”
There’s some laughter all-round. It’s infectious and Sally even has to chuckle.
“In those days, it was all different. My and Biggs. None of what happened in the next years had happened,” Sally looks down at her hands, sort of drifting away in dreams and memories, “But that night … that night we had something special. We made something special. In the ring. And everyone would go on and speak about it for years and years.”
“That they have,” The voice tries to bring Sally back, “Now … can you walk us through the match? Take us from start to finish?”
Sally’s eyes lighten up, a beaming smile, “Of course I certainly can! I remember that match like no other ...”
