Death of The Noble One

[Kurt]

APW Mayhem
Death Of The Noble One

May 10th, 2012
20 minutes Post-Overdrive

“This just in, we’ve just received a local traffic tip that there’s a heavy stream of build-up around the Scotia Bank Arena. We’ve received a preliminary report of two contracted wrestlers starting a crowd brawl that’s caused all the congestion, but have not had confirmation yet, but you might want to avoid that area-“

*Click*

“Local police and observers have been quick to condemn the ill-prepared management of ‘Action Packed Wrestling,’ who failed to prevent a brawl that has this far been reported as the cause of over 10 injures-“

*Click*

“’I’m telling you, this is why these violent sports need more regulation, eh! These rich athletes aren’t concerned about anyone but themselves, and it’s hurting the people who matter the most: the fans. Well, if any of my viewers are ‘Action Packed Wrestling’ fans, I encourage you to boycott their upcoming PPV titled ‘Mayhem.’ Let them see how it feels to be left out in the cold, and speaking of cold, it’s a brisk night in Ottawa tonight-“

*Click*

“I hope you are promptly aware that you have killed us all.”

Medea slams down the television remote on the table in front of her, causing its screen to shut off; however, the sound of broken plastic does not attract the attention of Kurt Noble, who is still sitting before Medea, his head ducked as he twiddles his thumbs.

“This is beyond unacceptable!” Medea snaps as her eyes light up, accented by her flaring nostrils. “Ten injured fans and counting! Damaged arena property! Are you even acutely aware in that pathetic little perspective of yours what damage this is going to do to us? Monkwod is being screamed at right now by Jeff because of you, and if any of us even have jobs by the night’s end, I’ll quit just so Jeff cannot change his mind and fire us!”

“I wasn’t the only one out there, you know,” Noble mumbles as his eyes remain locked on his thumbs as they continue to push against one another. “CJ-“

“I don’t want to hear about CJ Gates!” Medea bellows as her snarl continues to become reminiscent of a hungry werewolf. “YOU called CJ Gates out to the ring! YOU didn’t leave the fighting until Mayhem! YOU allowed the fight to continue when it moved into the audience! YOU are an idiot, a fool, a moron, a disgusting excuse for a human being, and the sorriest attempt for a wrestler I have EVER seen-“

“IT WASN’T MY FAULT!”

Noble erupts as he stands up, flipping his chair over in the process! He gets face to face with Medea, but her scowl remains as Noble’s lip quivers.

“But I can fix CJ’s mess,” Noble blurts out as he glances towards the door. “CJ put us all in danger by starting that fight, and if I just get a chance to talk to the people I hurt, I’m sure I can fix this-“

“Absolutely not!” Medea retorts, blocking Noble’s path. “Even if I wanted you to correct your oafish mistakes, you are a safety hazard to this company and would be restrained less than feet after walking out that door. The best move we can all make is sitting tight and praying that none of the fans press charges!”

“And if I could just talk to them, I can guarantee that-“

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about any of those whiners!”

Suddenly, Noble and Medea’s attention snaps to the door, where a petite, blond girl is standing. Her fierce blue eyes and tight smile are both focused on Noble, although it would seem more eyes are focused on Noble then just hers. The woman is decked in Kurt Noble merchandise, ranging from an “I Believe in Kurt Noble” t-shirt, a “Nobledrive” cap, and a replica Undisputed title belt over her shoulder. She struts towards Medea and Noble, but the latter grabs his cane.

“Who the Hell are you?” asks Noble as he raises the cane in her direction.

“Oh, you don’t recognize me? You’re just breaking my heart tonight Kurt!” the woman responds with a full smile.

“Her name is Kylie Demens,” Medea responds as she lowers Noble’s cane. “And she was one of the fans involved in your altercation tonight, so I would suggest you show some respect to someone who might be suing you in the very near future.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary!” Kylie touches a small purplish bruise on her cheek. “It was just a little scratch, nothing a good night’s rest can’t cure! In fact, I was talking with some of the other people involved in that fight, and they’re definitely okay! They’re just glad that brute CJ Gates got stopped before he became too violent!”

Noble stares at her for a moment, his mouth pursing as he runs his hands through his hair. Noble head dips again.

“I’m so sorry Kylie-“

“Oh, you never have to apologize to me! I know you were just trying to protect APW!” Kylie rushes up, and throws her arms around Noble in a hug as Medea watches on, the edge of her mouth harboring a grin.

“If you really do mean to start rectifying this disaster, I suggest you start with Ms. Demens,” Medea says as she begins to move towards the door. “Monkwood and I will run whatever damage control we can, but I suggest you do whatever you can to save your career. We cannot let CJ Gates…or even *you* sink us now. You had better hope APW believes in you more than any of us have believed, or God help us…”

Medea exits the room as Noble’s attention turns back to Kylie, who is all smiles as she sits down next to Noble.

“You look…familiar,” Noble remarks as he eyes her up and down, causing her to blush slightly.

“Oh my gosh, thank you!” Kylie exclaims. “I was at an auto-graph signing of yours a few weeks ago! It is like, so great that you remember me! Best. Night. Ever!”

“Apart from me accidentally whacking you in the face,” Noble corrects with a light grin. “Kylie, if there is anything I can do to make things better, let me know.”

Kylie dips her head a bit, her teeth lightly biting her lower lip as she looks up at Noble.

“Well…I’ve always wanted to know what it’s really like to be backstage with you. I mean, you are just the absolutely best wrestler EVER, and I’d love to see more of you…I mean, not like that! I just…” Kylie yanks at the neckline of her black t-shirt as she and Noble share a grin.

“Well Kylie, let me make a note to get you VIP passes to the rest of APW’s events for the rest of the year. Nothing’s too good for one of my fans!”

Kylie’s eyes light up as she squirms in her seat!

“Oh my GOD, thank you! You have NO idea how much this means to me!”

“You’re welcome,” Noble responds as his eyes fixate on the bruise. “Let me get you something for that.”

Noble stands up and limps towards the refrigerator in his room. He opens it, and begins to dig through it as Kylie watches him.

“Is it hard?”

The fridge shakes as Noble’s head shoots upwards, banging against the rack on the fridge! He steps back, rubbing his head with an ice pack in hand.

“I, uh…what?” Noble asks with a bewildered look on his face.

“You know…being you,” bashfully asks Kylie as she eyes Noble up and down. “You work in the best wrestling company in the world, and trust me: I know that for a fact! You beat all those wannabes, and you do it with a bad leg! It would be so hard for me to be you, having to deal with jerks like CJ Gates!”

Noble hands Kylie the ice pack, and sits across from her as his eyes move towards a Mayhem poster on the wall, showing Noble and CJ facing against one another, their eyes displaying one emotion: hatred.

“It didn’t used to be like this, as I’m sure you remember,” Noble says with a sigh. “CJ and I used to be best friends here in APW. Last year at Shockwave, I knew we were meant to work together when I stopped Biggs from stealing the victory from CJ. I just…don’t know what changed between us.”

“Obviously, you did!” Kylie’s remark causes Noble to dip his head a bit, but Kylie scoots closer as her smile fades.

“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that! I mean in a good way. You actually stood up that bully! You said it before Rasslemania: CJ’s always been a jerk! Yeah, he’s a good wrestler and whatever, but he’s such a snob! I don’t see how anyone could like him.”

“You’re talking about my friend-…“ Noble stops, his mouth pursing into a slight frown. “I know what I said before Rasslemania, but since then, everything I’ve learned has been turned upside down. I feel like every week I’m taking a step in a strange direction. Life gets weird when you wonder if the Goddamn Sindicate are what’s right in APW. I thought APW would make sense after winning the Undisputed Championship; instead, the labyrinth just swallowed me up more…”

Noble’s shoulders slump as he leans back, his hands lightly massing the bridge of his nose. Kylie stares at the poster for a moment before speaking.

“Then someone needs to start ripping the walls down,” Kylie remarks as she stands up, before walking over, and ripping the Mayhem poster down the middle!

“You need to get rid of what’s been holding you back for months! I mean, hasn’t this blood feud with CJ made it SO obvious? There’s been one guy just making a mess of your path to the top for the last 9 months…so perhaps you need to…change him, in a sense.”

Kylie turns, showing the poster half to Noble…only to be facing his own image in the poster!

“Are…are you insisting I’m the problem?” Noble asks with clear hesitation in his voice. “Maybe that was true back in August, but I’ve changed: I’m not willing to let my enemies walk over me and APW like they used to-“

“So you let your ‘friends’ do it instead?” asks Kylie as she wags the paper in his face. “You trusted CJ, and he left you for the Sindicate! You call him out on it, and he strikes you! CJ Gates isn’t your friend anymore; he’s your enemy.”

“One instance of bad blood doesn’t make him my enemy-“

“One? Because he totally didn’t do the SAME thing to you before Rasslemania, right? He didn’t leave you to be picked apart by Rebel and Blade, and then strike you the Overdrive before Rasslemania? Ringing a bell?”

Noble’s mouth opens to respond…but not sound emits from it.

“Thought so. CJ has never really had your back. He’s stepped over you when it was convenient, and got all mad about it when you rose above him! You’re just *now* realizing it…and I can say I can say it…you’ll have to embrace it to beat CJ. I mean, not that you need me help or anything…”

“I just started an APW crowd riot. I almost seriously hurt you Kylie. Please…I need your help...”

Noble stares at the remaining poster of CJ Gates on the wall, his focus unwavering as he speaks. He gulps, and rubs his hands together, his knuckles slightly bloody from the post-match brawl.

“If changing myself is what I have to do finally stop CJ …and show APW how dangerous he is to us all… that’s what I’ll do.”

Noble then turns his focus to Kylie.

“But how?”

Kylie bites her bottom lip again as she looks around the room.

“You want to step into the future? Step out of the past. These logos and catchphrases…they have to go. It’s time for a completely new ‘Kurt Noble.’”

Kyle removes her cap, and tosses it on Noble’s lap as he stares at it dumbfounded.

“But…I’ve built my career on all these. It’s what defines me. How is this going to help me beat CJ?”

“These don’t define you. What you do defines you! By showing CJ a different you…one he won’t know how to manipulate. He’s mean…so you be meaner! Don’t give him the chance to hold anything over you. You want to be a fighter? Like, prove it! Fight back. Let’s see the Kurt Noble we all really want to see…right now!”

“Well, it sounds like I’m on house arrest at this exact moment,” Noble mentions as he nods towards the door. “I can do a Nobledrive from here, but it hardly seems like enough of a gesture to get the message out.”

Kyle shrugs her shoulders.

“You let me handle that bit. You’re going to give the crowd a different kind of ‘Nobledrive’ tonight…and I’ll help you!”

“Different? How?”

Kyle leans down, getting eye to eye with Noble.

“By killing the old Kurt Noble.”

Noble eyes widen as Kylie shows off all her teeth in a wide grin.

“Figuratively, of course!”

Noble nods without speaking, before looking at his own Undisputed Championship.

“If…if that’s what it takes. I’ll do anything to fight this Mayhem CJ has unleashed…anything.”

Kylie moves towards the door, flashing Noble a grin as she exits, pulling out one object from her jeans pocket: a lighter!

“You want to fight Mayhem? Then let’s fight it…with Mayhem.”

-
-
-

30 minutes later.

“You believe all this shit we have to clean up? ”

A middle aged maintenance man sighs as he wipes the sweat from his brow, veering his eyes from the shining lights of the Scotia Bank arena.

“30 shmucks on their roster, and not one of them helps clean up the mess they caused,” another man replies as he mops up an area near a few overturned soda cans. “Then again, they’re probably getting reamed by that angry guy in the suit!”

“Oh, yah,” the first man replies with a nod. “Heard a rumor the fight was started by some crip! Can you believe it? To think, he might be getting disability checks from me, and I’m cleaning up his-“

Suddenly, the Titantron lights up, starting the workers as they stare at it!

“What the Hell?” one of the men asks as text begins to fill the screen…

***Streaming to you live from the Scotia Bank Arena***
APW Undisputed Champion Kurt Noble presents…
Nobledrive!

Noble’s face appears on the screen, and he merely stares forward for a few moments. The workers just scoff as they turn back to their work.

“That’s the jackass! I’m not doing overtime just to listen to his shtick!”

“To Hell with that guy!”

After a few more moments, Noble begins…

“On behalf of the last nine month of my career…

“I’m sorry APW.

“It seems like every time in life that I have a plan, a real outline of how my life is going to go…the final path is never the one I expected. Every single time problem I’ve had over the last few months has veered off course somehow…and I’m streaming this Nobledrive live because I believe I’ve finally found the answer. It isn’t my managers, who have done their damnedest to get me to this stage. It’s not my boss President Jeff, who without his guidance, I’d never even get to call myself an APW wrestler. It’s not my loving wife, who has supported me despite my failures. Hell…it’s not even CJ Gates, the man I will face off against ay Mayhem on May 20th.

“The problem is me.”

Noble’s statement gets the workers to stop their mopping. The camera pans around the arena, where other workers have stopped to watch Noble’s message across the TV.

“I thought I knew the person I was supposed to be. Virtuous, protective, and fighting only when my enemies appeared.

I thought I knew them too, and how to fight them. I told myself after Rasslemania that I would never let men like Johnny Rebel and Level-One walk all over me, and I haven’t. I’ve done what I’ve done since the beginning of APW: fight, and beat bad people. I thought I knew APW.

“I don’t. Not yet. When APW changed, I didn’t.

“And that’s where CJ Gates comes in.

“I know there are mountains between us CJ, and I can never correct that. Every time over the last month that we’ve tried to air out our grievances, we come closer to understanding that you and I…we’re different. I thought understood our ‘friendship,’ and when things were good last year, I did…but life changed.

“You changed CJ.

“You were the one thing I thought I truly understood about APW. You and I were supposed to be APW’s Knights, fighting alongside one another like soldiers charging into the inferno together, with nothing to hold onto minus our wits. Whenever Kurt Noble and CJ Gates teamed together, APW knew it was safe. Hell, I thought I was safe standing next to your side.

“I was wrong.

“I could go on and on about how you’ve abandoned APW. I could go on and on about you spitting on APW during Supremacy, about you losing focus during Survive and Conquer’s invasions, or even about how you shut me out before Rasslemania because you thought I was a thief. You’ve heard those tales, and you’ve learned to live with them. You’re probably even fine after the riot we just caused.

“And that is NOT okay.

“But you just don’t get it. These recent events in APW prove that.

“Last week, you left me to fight the Sindicate overnothing. Just under an hour, you left APW to fight itself. You threw the punch that signified one thing to me, one thing that I haven’t realized in nine month with APW:

“You and I are enemies.

“I know you think that I changed CJ, that I was the one that killed our friendship; Hell, there’s nothing I can say to you or your supporters that would change their minds…but therein lies the problem CJ: You see one angle to every problem. You see yourself.

“And for the last nine months, I’ve tried to be like you; the revered Champion, the loved competitor, the man that could do no wrong. I became so engrossed in wanting to be like you that I didn’t see APW changing. I didn’t see you starting to resent me. I couldn’t see it in your eyes when I tried to bring you YOUR Undisputed Championship back before Rasslemania. I couldn’t even see it after claiming your throne as mine.

“I can tell you tonight, after seeing the real CJ Gates, the one that allowed our fight to move to the APW fans…I see it now.

“And after all these months, before Mayhem begins… I want to be nothing like you.

“That means destroying the old Kurt Noble…and beginning anew. Tonight, on May 10th, you’ve made a very, very dangerous kind of enemy CJ:

“The kind that gets back up.

“And at Mayhem, 10 days from now, on May 20th…I will get back up…but this time, as a new man. I’ll erase the problem that’s plagued me for nine months.

“Me.

“Because that what APW needs: The man that isn’t you. The man that isn’t me. APW needs an Undisputed Champion that will do anything to protect it, and I do mean anything CJ. It needs someone not afraid to use every method of attack possible. The end…APW’s end…always needs to justify the means.

“So in order to prove that I’m this man, that I’m the one that will not only protect, but *fight* for APW…I have a demonstration for you.

“It’s time to kill the old Kurt Noble.”

The camera switches away from Noble for a moment, moving to a small alleyway with the arena in the distance. The camera is focused on Kylie Demens, who is standing in front of a large pile of Kurt Noble merchandise! She smiles for the camera as she drops an empty gasoline tank, pulls a lighter from her pocket…and tosses it on the merchandise!! It goes ablaze as Kylie jumps in excitement, before tossing her own Undisputed title replica into the inferno!!! Noble’s voice is heard in the background.

“This is what I do for APW, something you can never do CJ:

“Let myself burn.

“’The Noble One’ must burn so that APW can live. Everything I became, I became because of you. Because of your tutelage. Because I wanted to be you CJ.

“But this wasn’t your fault. It was mine. The blame lies at my feet for walking in your shadow for far too long. Even when I stepped out of it by dethroning you at Rasslemania, I thought we could still be friends. Even tonight, I thought we could talk things out in the ring. I thought I could burry our conflicts away for the sake of ‘protecting’ APW.

“I will never make that mistake again…not with you CJ.

“So at Mayhem on May 20th, I won’t let you capitalize on my mistakes anymore. I won’t let you walk away and leave me to clean up the mess. I won’t let you take the first strike like you have so many times. I won’t let you destroy me.

“I won’t let you become the APW Undisputed Champion…because that will destroy APW.”

Noble raises the belt into view, tapping his finger against the name ‘Kurt Noble’ on the belt.

“I will never let you take this from me CJ. I won’t ask you to ‘believe’ it…because I’m done trying to convince you of anything. You and I have exchanged so many words over 9 months, but if this fire, this destruction of the old me means anything…actions rise when words fall on deaf ears; your ears, CJ. I won’t have any words for you when that bell rings before the Main Event of Mayhem.

“Just action…what I should have had all this time. What I’ve been too afraid to give you for 9 months.

“When I called you out earlier tonight, I should have known you wanted a fight. After all, you needed to prove to me that you could compete on the same level as me. Think about it: Over the last two months, you and I have attempted to out-wrestle one another at every turn. I defeat Terry Marvin and John Dionysus, you pin defeat Keaton Saint. I put down Michael Harris, you beat Terry Marvin more convincingly than I could. You and I have been fighting the battle of who’s the better man even when we weren’t wrestling one another.

“But even as I thought I one-upped you, I couldn’t shake the feeling I was still walking one step behind you. Even when I secured the pin in our tag team match against the Studmuffins, I heard whispers backstage that it was your victory; that I hadn’t been strong enough to do it without you.

“I thought winning the APW Undisputed Championship would make me the best; instead, it’s made me feel like I’m still on your leash, just waiting to bring it back to you. People still look at you like you’re the Champion.

“It ate me up that despite everything I had done…you were still CJ Gates…the man that was better than me. For all the things I’ve said about you, you’re a man that knows how to take charge. You can take control of APW.

“But you can…and already have leveled APW as Undisputed Champion.

“When you shined your belt, GIW and PW invaded.

“When you posed with it over your shoulder, Johnny Rebel manipulated APW to the point of near destruction.

“When you proclaimed that it was your belt, APW suffered under the rise of men like Terry Marvin, Blade, and Level-One.

“When you gripped it tightly to yourself, and did a prayer before every defense, you didn’t see the damage you were doing to not only them; but to me. I was living your lie.

“You’ve always been good at what you do CJ….but what you do is not very good for us. It has brought us to the brink. It has brought you and I to the point of no return. Nine months of standing by your side, watching you without action has led us to tonight: The breakdown of APW.

“Enough is enough.

“Look for yourself.”

The camera pans around the section of the stadium where Noble and Gates brawled, showing broken guard-rails, mangled steel chairs, and numerous spilled drinks. The camera zooms out to outside the arena, where there still unmoving cop cars and an ambulance. The camera moves back to Noble, whose hand is shaking on the title belt.

“I will do everything in my power to make sure this never happens again.

“So, on behalf of President Jeff…

“On behalf of good men like Keaton Saint and Dionysus…

“On behalf of my friends, family, Amy, Monkwood, Medea, and Chris Hart…

“And on behalf of Action Packed Wrestling…

“I will break you down…so you can’t break us down anymore.

“I gave you everything I thought I had at Rasslemania, and I just barely defeated you. You truly are one of APW’s best, not just of today; but of all time. It nearly destroyed my body just to put you down for three seconds."

Noble motions towards his still bandaged arm, a remainder of the Rasslemania Main Event.

“But I didn’t give you everything. I didn’t give you the thing I was told I possess the first day I stepped into APW:

“My rage. The one that has been building for nine months.

“The rage that built when you pinned me cleanly last October.

“The rage that built when I lost my Overdrive title, and you kept chugging our title defenses like it was easy.

“The rage that built in seeing the shame in your eyes when Rebel and Blade stole the Undisputed title.

“That is what I’ll give you at Mayhem: The real Kurt Noble.

“If you attempt to give me a phony apology before our match, I’ll slam it into your face the moment the bell rings. If you attempt to leave before the match is over, I’ll drag you back out and make you face me. If you try and cripple me like so many other men have tried, I’ll put you in more pain than I’ve felt in 5 years of walking with a cane.

“And you will do the same to me…

“Or you will lose everything.

“To stop you from hurting APW, I have to hurt you. I have to show you all the pain you’ve caused in APW with your selfishness. I am going to push you harder than anyone has before because you pushed me to this point. To pushed APW to this point. We’ve to a point past civility, and that means one of us is going to get hurt when we step into the ring together. I made the mistake of letting you have the first blow before Rasslemania. I made the same mistake tonight when I called you to the ring.

“I will not make that same mistake at Mayhem.

“And I will not enjoy it either.

“You probably are thinking of me as some sadistic bastard who wants to kill you…but I don’t want that. I want to push you to the point that you care about APW. That way, even if you do take the Undisputed Championship away from me…you’ll be the Champion that APW needs. I am destroying the last 4 years of my life so that one of us will finally be great.

“I told you that I am doing all of this because of everyone in APW…but I left out one person:

“You, CJ Gates.

“I will not let you bully me.

“I will not let you give half an effort against me.

“I will push you to your physical point, and will not step there…

“I will destroy you CJ…just like you’ve made me destroy myself.

“I do this for you…and I will not apologize for it…

“Because at one time…you were my friend…”

The camera zooms away from Noble, moving to Amy Noble, who is watching the Nobledrive episode with one hand over her mouth. A tear slowly moves down her cheek as she closes her eyes…

“You were my idol.”

The camera moves to Chris Hart, who has his eyes glued to a television screen in the public APW locker-room. His eyes resemble stone as he watches.

“You were my teacher.”

The camera shifts to President Jeff, who has a solemn look on his face as he covers his mouth. The dark circles under his eyes appear to be growing larger.

“You were the greatest wrestler I had ever known…

“But after May 20th.

“After that bell rings.

“After the crowd watches us end this war between.

“After one of us emerges as the unchallenged leader of APW, the one sworn to defend it…the Action Packed Wrestling Undisputed Champion…”

“After this Mayhem ends CJ…”

The camera switches one last time to the inferno destroying Noble’s merchandise, focusing on one item: a burning replica of the Undisputed Championship with ‘Kurt Noble’ across it.

“You will be nothing to me.”

The screen fades to blackness…

-
-
-

“I did exactly what you asked!”

Kylie flashes Medea a smile as the two watch the fire dwindle from afar. Kylie wipes off the bruise make-up as Medea takes a deep breath while she watches the final embers go out.

“I pray it is enough,” Medes mumbles to herself.

“And if you can’t control him?” asks Kylie in a girlish, curious undertone.

Medea walks away, looking back to the Scottia Bank Arena.

“Then we have just destroyed Action Packed Wrestling.”