Rebel Rousing #4: Progress & Dethroning of Heroes

[Johnny Rebel]

Rebel’s Rousing #4:
“Progress and the Dethroning of Heroes”

“Progress might have been all right once, but it’s gone on too long.”
- Ogden Nash

*****

“Today’s lesson is…progress.”

It had been a few weeks since Rebel had been given the keys to the Sindicate training school in an effort to build up an army that believed in the mission of the group. Felipe wasn’t confident that anything worthwhile would come of the ordeal but it would pacify Rebel and keep him out of trouble.

“At some point a goal becomes nothing more than a memory if you aren’t pushing forward.”

This was the Sindicate’s time to shine. They had only one thing on their mind: a complete reboot of the APW and they were certainly on the cusp. President Jeff was grasping at straws until there was only one place left to turn…Kurt Noble and Chris Hart.

“One of my favorite parts of training is watching the progress that takes place. Sometimes it’s so minute, that an average untrained eye would miss it. Other times, it’s so unbelievable big, that you couldn’t let it pass you by because it smacks you in the mouth!” Rebel says with confidence, leaning up against the top rope.

“And yet…many don’t appreciate the beauty of it.” Sarah chimes in from the corner of the ring.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Rebel prompts.

“Making progress means you’re still not done. You have more work to do!” Sarah responds to Rebel’s snarky comments. “You…you on the other hand…act like you have already arrived!”

Rebel wasn’t pleased with Sarah calling him out in front of the trainees. It had become a trend over the past few weeks and he was ready to snap at her continued lack of respect.

“Take five, boys.” Rebel said waving the trainees standing below him. “You know…I’ve about had enough or your mouth! You have one job: to make sure that I get my job done. I don’t know where you get off thinking you run this place! Maybe you have forgotten but understand that this is a Sindicate operation and you aren’t above getting cast aside. You answer to me!”

Sarah wasn’t prepared to back down from Rebel…she had been subjected to more than one idle threat over the past year and she was willing to call his bluff.

“Save it, Johnny,” she said.

Their relationship was at a boiling point and it was starting to become obvious that the Sindicate had changed his mindset. Perhaps Felipe was starting to get through to him after all.

“You have been walking around lately like the world is beneath you and spouting off about the Sindicate this and the Sindicate that. You might be making progress in the APW but our relationship has been in regression for months!”

Sarah’s stance didn’t surprise Rebel. He was struggling to keep up the pace and she was becoming a leach…sucking the life out of Rebel. The anxiety of what was coming next had been eating at him to the point where he felt physically ill.

“The ultimate goal of progression is completion. Perhaps this whole thing we have going here has officially jumped the shark.” Rebel’s comments caused Sarah to stare a hole through him.

“What are you trying to say?” Sarah asked.

“I’m telling you…” Rebel couldn’t bring himself to say the words. “I’m telling you…”

“You’re pathetic! You can’t even say it!” Sarah scolds. “Here, let me make it simple for you: we’re through! I’ve dealt with your insecurities, I’ve managed to find a work around for all the crazy shenanigans that you consistently drag me through and I’ve even handled the fact that I’m in harms away night-in and night-out. I can’t, however, deal with cowardice. That’s one thing that I didn’t think I’d ever see coming from you!”

“It’s not that easy, Sarah,” he said.

“You stand here and act like you’re on your throne but you need to understand that you still have more to learn than you think. Progress is dramatically different from completion. Progress is about the journey from where you are to where you want to be. Yes, it can be long and irritating and sometimes even uncomfortable but you press forward no matter what!”

“Listen…” Rebel tried to get a word in but Sarah cut him off immediately.

“No, you listen! I’ve done enough listening to you for a lifetime. If you’re smart, you’ll shut-up for the first time in your life! Progress is methodical. It’s a steady march forward…it was never about how fast you got to the top but it’s a matter of when you get there!” Sarah said while pushing Rebel back in to a corner with her index finger. “You blew it…you brought this on your own. Goodbye, Johnny!”

She didn’t leave Rebel a chance to respond before she left the ring and disappeared through the front door. He knew it needed to be done but couldn’t utter the words verbally. The distractions were gone…he didn’t have any more excuses. There was only one problem: it cost him the only thing that he cared for. How would he respond?

*****

Rebel opens the door and drops his keys on the desk next to an answering machine as the blinking light illuminates the room. He presses the button and opens the door to the refrigerator, sifting through what’s left.

“Hey Johnny,” the voice of Level-One comes over the answering machine. “I just came from the Sindicate training center and a couple of the trainees were talking about Sarah storming out. It’s about time…man! Let’s hit the town tonight. Call me!”

The sound of the beep ends the message and Rebel simply shakes his head. He plops down on the couch and closes his eyes hoping to have a few minutes of peace and quiet. Unfortunately for him, little did he know that he couldn’t escape reality, even in his dreams…

****

“Come on Kurt!”

“Knock ‘em out, Noble!”

“Welcome back, kid!”

The crowd was in a frenzy as Kurt “Knuckles” Noble drove another right in to the side of number two contender Keaton “Sinister” Saint. The crowd couldn’t believe that an underdog would be taking it to one of the best boxers in the world.

It was October 1929 and the majority of the world had collapsed in the biggest stock market crash since it’s inception. Most American’s were struggling to keep their heads afloat and money didn’t exactly grow on trees. Kurt Noble was a former professional wrestler that was trying desperately to get back on his feet. He had carried feedbags at the docks, at the farm scooping up cow manure, and even emptying the spit buckets at the local gym. Noble was getting one last shot in the boxing ring as a favor from Promoter Jeff.

“You did the best you could, Kurt,” said Kurt’s agent and corner man, Chris Hart. “When the bell rings, take a dive and stay down. Collect your money and let’s get you home safe to Amy.”

“Hey, you got any pills?” Kurt mumbled under his breath. Hart shrugged his shoulders and slipped a few in Kurt’s mouth following it with a mouthful of water from the squirt bottle.

The bell rung and Kurt stumbled out of the corner in a daze from his latest round of narcotics. Hart groaned from the corner as Saint came rushing in…prepared to end the fight right there. Keaton threw a hard right but Noble tripped over his left foot and dodged the strike. He threw a right hand at the fledgling Saint and dropped him for the ten count.

“I can’t believe it!” The voice of the announcer for NBC rang throughout Madison Square Garden. “Kurt Noble has done the impossible! He’s defeated Keaton Saint…the number two contender for the Undisputed championship!”

Noble hightailed it out of the ring and began immediately searching for his cane. However, Hart jumped on his back and forced Noble to carry him to the locker room.

“Kurt! You’re the savior of the world!” Promoter Jeff was the first to greet the two down the aisle. “I was desperate for a challenger to Johnny Rebel and I think we have finally found someone worthy! We’ll completely bypass the fact that you have only fought one match inside a boxing ring and you failed several drug tests along the way…here’s your golden ticket to the championship!”

“Thanks!” Noble slurred. “I can’t wait to have everything handed to me!”

“You deserve it, champ!” Jeff responded. “We have got to get you ready for the big press conference. You can’t imagine the amount of people that are going to be lining these hallways hoping to get a glimpse of the next champion of the world! Who can’t identify with you? You have it all: the pills, barely being able to stand without a cane, and reliant on other people to do everyday tasks. You are an everyday hero!”

“Aw, shucks…” Noble said as his face filled with crimson. “Can I get my corndogs now?”

“Absolutely,” Jeff said and snapped his fingers as little C.J. Gates to do whatever Noble wanted him to do. “You are the champion of my heart!”

The love affair between Noble and Jeff was stomach curdling. However, Noble knew that he had Jeff and the rest of the APW eating out of the palm of his hand.

“Hey, speaking of being reliant…” Noble said continuing the theme of having everybody do his dirty work. “Chris, I need someone to help me peel these tights off of me.”

“Wait a second,” Jeff said putting up his hand. “With your win out here tonight in your very first boxing match, you are automatically being pushed to the top of the card. The APW boxing commission has made you the number one contender! You’ll fight…”

Kurt interrupted Jeff’s comments with a horrific look coming over his face.

“Don’t say it!” Noble mumbled. “Don’t you *dare* say it!”

“I’m sorry, Kurt,” Jeff tried his best to reassure his prized possession, “If you want to be the best than you’re going to have to beat the best. You are scheduled to fight Johnny ‘Iron Fist’ Rebel next month at the United Center in Chicago!”

“But…” Noble’s face was as white as a ghost. “That’s Johnny Rebel’s hometown! We’ll never win there!”

Promoter Jeff saw his visions of dominating the boxing world begin to slowly drift away. How could he put all of his eggs in one basket?

“Oh,” Jeff interjects once more, “I forgot to mention that he’ll have the world renowned and former champion of the world, Lester “Level-One” Only in his corner.”

“Sweet mercy!” Hart cried out. “I could never add up to someone like Lester! I’ll be the fourth wheel.”

*****

The phone in Rebel’s pocket buzzed and caused him to snap out of a deep sleep. After taking a few seconds to gain his composure, he slid the phone out of his pocket and held it up to his ear.

“What?” was the only thing he could remember to say.

“Rebel,” a familiar voice said on the other end of the phone. “Time to get moving…we need you here in Chicago. We have a few things to discuss on the verge of your tag match with Noble-Hart.”

“Alright,” Rebel said while running his free hand through his hair. “I’ll be there soon.”

Rebel hung up the phone and immediately fell back over on the couch.

*****

You couldn’t even begin to describe the setting of the United Center with Rebel-Noble looming. The amount of reporters and diehard fans of the sport pressing forward to get closer to the head table of the press conference was staggering. Promoter Jeff sat smugly at the center of the circus with both competitors sitting on opposite sides of him.

“Let’s get on with the question part of this conference, shall we?” Jeff asks.

The commotion in the room is deafening as each reporter waves their hats in the air for the chance at getting a question in. Jeff settles for a gentleman in the back.

“My question is for Rebel,” he begins, “How do you anticipate beating the combination of Kurt Noble and Chris Hart? When Hart’s been in Kurt’s corner, they have never lost a championship match.”

“That’s an easy one! I have zero respect for Kurt Noble and Chris Hart…and neither one them should ever put money down on that changing any time soon! I’m not here to put Noble over and I’m not here to be some push over that is used to create a new star for the business. I don’t think Kurt fully realizes what it takes to get to my place! He may have held one fluke championship and come up second on a number of different occasions but he doesn’t know what its like to be in my shoes! I’m the target of every no-name Nancy that steps through the curtain each and every night! He’s a nobody and I’m going to make sure that he leaves the greatest city in the world in a bodybag!”

The crowd erupts in applause as the attention turns to Noble. “Same question, Kurt.”

“I…” Noble stumbles over his words. “I…”

“Save your breath, Noble!” Rebel interrupts. “There is no beating me. You may have your own little strategies and a few sneaky moves hidden in your back pocket but you can’t expect to pull those out when my agenda is to tear your arms off and beat you with them!”

Hart jumps up and covers Noble with his arms in an effort to keep him from seeing the laughter of the crowd.

“Next question,” Jeff declares.

“No…no more questions.” Rebel answers Jeff’s call. “I’m tired of these two delusional mouthbreathers thinking they can come in and expect the rest of the world to bow at their feet! I knew that this place was in desperate need of some change but I wasn’t aware of just how bad things have deteriorated until recently. This entire place is swarming with curtain-jerkers and nose-pickers that are practically begging for me to give them the privilege of letting them touch the hem of my pants pocket. You want a show…you’re going to get one!”

The trip of Felipe DeLoren, Lester Only and Johnny Rebel leave the conference table and weave through the crowd. Noble peaks through to make sure they are gone before shoving Hart backwards and inching closer to the microphone.

“What a bunch of arrogant jerks!” Noble said displaying a newfangled confidence.

“Yeah!” said Hart.

The crowd started to get behind Noble and Hart. It was a confusing time to be a fan of the two…with the love affair, the illegal drugs and the silver spoon hanging out of their mouths; it was hard to know where they really stood. However, the underdog was easier to root for than the accomplished champions.

“We’ve got time for one more,” Promoter Jeff said poking his head out from underneath his shirt where he had retreated during Rebel’s diatribe.

“Over here,” someone from the crowd shouted drawing the command of the room.

The room begins to part as an older man using a cane wobbles down the aisle with a small child following in tow. They get to the front of the room as the old man removes his hat and holds it across his chest.

“Mr. Noble,” the man begins, “We are sick and tired of watching people like Rebel and Only strut through live without having to face any repercussions. We don’t have many people to look up to anymore and the entire country is looking for somebody that they can believe in. Bills are piling up and there’s no work anywhere. Food is becoming a luxury. A warm bed is nothing but a memory. We’re in desperate need of a hero. The entire world is going to be behind you on Sunday evening…”

The room erupts in cheers as they await Noble’s response with baited breath.

“Um…” Noble stumbles over his words. “I’m taking up a collection to help fund the Noble Vicodin fund. If you guys are truly behind me then throw a few dollars in the hat!”

*****

The door slams and causes Rebel to leap off the couch as Sarah comes storming in to the apartment.

“What the heck are you doing here?” Rebel asks.

“I’m collecting a few of my things. Don’t worry about me…go back to preparing for your match at Test for the Best.” Sarah said in disgust to the sleeping Rebel.

“I wonder what it’s like to be perfect,” Rebel responded to Sarah with his own bit of sarcasm.

“You had every chance and you failed…miserably. Goodbye again, Johnny.”

*****

“What a surprise this fight has been!” the announcer comments on the fight. “Noble’s lasted eleven rounds with Rebel and he doesn’t look like he’s ready to throw in the towel just yet!”

The two stand in the middle of the ring trading lefts and rights with both men using the ropes to maintain their ability to stand.

“Finish him, Kurt!” Hart screams from one side of the ring.

“Move-in, Rebel! Move-in now!” Lester Only shouts from the other.

The crowd is firmly in the corner of Noble as his sudden rise from rags to riches has given them something to believe in. The fans are sitting on pins and needles at every swing of Noble’s glove.

Kurt connects on a wild-right as Rebel stands tall in the middle of the ring with a grin on his face. His entire demeanor has changed and he begins to stalk Noble around the ring.

“Rebel doesn’t seem to be fazed by Noble’s punches!” the announcer says.

Noble jabs and continues the offensive with several combinations that don’t seem to budge Rebel. He stares over at Hart and sticks his hands in the air wondering what to do next but Chris can’t be found anywhere. The fans groan as they realize the mess that is unfolding in the ring.

“Get ready to pay the price!” taunted Rebel.

He dances circles around Noble and dares the challenger to take a swipe at him but Kurt can’t muster up the courage to accept Rebel’s offer. In the meantime, Rebel begins to pick him apart and drive his right hand against Kurt’s temple repeatedly. Noble’s hunkered down to the point where he’s about to fall over before Rebel stops and sizes him up one last time.

“It’s a shame Kurt…” Rebel chides the challenger. “Happy endings only happen in fairy tales!”

Rebel winds up his fist a few times and delivers the final knockout blow as the crowd is eerily quiet.

“Down goes Noble!” the announcer yells out. “Down goes Noble! This one is over folks!”

*****

The slam of the door from Sarah leaving the apartment wakes Rebel up for the final time.

“What have I done?” He said to himself.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just made the ultimate mistake and he didn’t know how to make it right. The rest of the Sindicate was depending on him to hold up his end of the bargain.

*****

I don’t even know what to say anymore.

Kurt Noble couldn’t handle facing Johnny Rebel by himself again for the umpteenth time because he was deathly afraid of being embarrassed…again.

So, he recruited Chris Hart…the man who couldn’t find the main event unless Noble led him there on a leash! It’s like the two of them playing pin the tail on the donkey but the donkey is Kurt’s rear and the pin is a very small body part of Hart’s anatomy.

I’m well aware that the two of you have enjoyed tremendous success as a partnership and I completely understand! You’re the only two men that can claim their cycles have linked up.

While I’m impressed that you managed to step-up and try and tackle the challenge of trying to stop the Sindicate…it’s a lost cause. For the past several weeks, Level-One and I have run roughshod through the APW. Jeff tried to throw a wrench in our plans by drawing an old, decrepit Hall of Fame team that had one foot in the grave already back in to the ring and we saw how that worked. He scanned through the rest of the roster and found that there wasn’t a team on the horizon that would even cause us to break a sweat and conceded that the tag team division in the APW wasn’t worth saving and allowed us to do as we please!

Enter Tweedle-dumb and Tweddle-dumber to lay down on the train tracks knowing that the train could arrive at the station at any moment. You two are moments away from being wiped from the memories of those moronic fans that throw themselves at your feet weekly.

You know, Kurt…I predicted your downfall a long time ago. I knew that at some point your lack of talent was going to eventually catch up with you. I know that everything inside of you is fighting to become a star and let’s be honest; you have had all the stars lined up for you since your arrival here. When you signed on the dotted line, President Jeff rolled out the red carpet and used me as your personal welcome mat allowing you to do whatever you wanted without repercussion. However, that ship has sailed and I know Jeff is waiting to wash his hands of you. He’s counting on the Sindicate to finish the job.

I know that the target is going to be painting on my back this weekend. When you scan the competitors in the match…it’s easy to define the roles of the other three. Kurt Noble is the APW champion and he doesn’t have the pressure of winning on his back. If he loses this match…he’s still leaving as the champion. Level-One? The True Expert of all Expert’s. The book has already been written on him and despite what happens, he’ll continue to be looked at as the best there is. Chris Hart? He’s just happy to even be in a match that doesn’t involve Mr. Dangerous…nobody is expecting the slightest out of him. Then there is me.

They all are waiting with bells on to write the next chapter in the book of Johnny Rebel. They keep saying that he can’t win the big one and the Level-One has carried the Sindicate to its current height.

And do you know what I say to that?

Bring it on.

I dare the two of you to try and beat me.

I dare the two of you to lay claim to being the best.

I’m not going to let you stand in the way of accomplishing the Sindicate’s purposes.

As far as I’m concerned, there isn’t any need for a test…we’re already the best.

#SIMPLY
#F’N
#PUT!