Back to Basics

[Jace]

The scene opens up at an indy show. Two men are in the ring wrestling, as about one hundred fans in attendance cheer them on. One of the wrestlers is a large man, not muscular, but fat. He is six foot even , and weighs three hundred, and fifty pounds. He wears a black singlet, and his name is Black Wall. The smaller guy is a bit more muscular, but is out weighed by one hundred and fifty pounds. He wears red, and white trunks, and stands at five foot, ten inches. His name is Dashing Dan. The two men are going back, and forth with rights, and lefts. Finally Black Wall knees The Dashing One in the midsection. He then comes down with an elbow, as Dan is doubled over. Dan falls to the mat, and Black wall drops a leg across the back of his neck. Black Wall gets up, picks up Dashing Dan, and whips him to the corner. Following up with running splash The Dashing One gets his foot up at the last second, planting it in Black Walls chin. Black wall stumbles backwards for a moment. Dan runs at Black Wall , and leaps zfor a cross body. Black Wall catches him, and reverses it in to a power slam he calls, Shaking The Nations. Black wall pins Dan. 1...2...3....

Announcer: And your winner, and final contestant to the tournament......Black Wall!!!!!

Now entering for the final match of the tournament, and for the night Jace Savage!!!!!!!

Jace comes out from behind the small curtain, they put up for the show. My Time plays as Jace walks up to the ring, walks up the steps, wipes off his feet then climbs inside the ring. Jace walks around to the uproar of cheers from the crowd. He goes to his corner,and the bell rings.

Jace, and Black Wall square off on one another, they let the rights, and lefts fly. Jace is starting to get the best of the exchange. Right after right he delivers to Black Walls face, and body. Black wall sticks his thumb in Jaces eye to the booing of the audience. Black Wall body slams Jace to the mat, and goes for a big splash. Jace rolls out of the way, and Black Wall smashes face first into the canvas. He is stunned. Jace climbs the turn buckle, as Black Wall gets up, and he hits The Bank Roll on Black wall. Jace makes the cover 1...2...3

Announcer: And Your winner, The New Indy King Jace Savage!!!!!!!

The scene fades into Jace sitting in the locker room the Indy show promoters provided him. Jace is just getting changed into this street clothes, when he sits on a bench in front of the camera.

Jace: I can't believe this is Meltdowns final show. It's been a few months since I first arrived to Action Pact Wrestling, and left the indy scene. Meltdown was home to me. I wanted to make it to where it would rival all other shows. I guess it just wasn't in the cards. At least I'm given the opportunity to wrestle one last time under the Meltdown banner, for this I am extremely grateful. To be able to go out there, and perform for the people who made me what I am now. I get to be one of the last people to say I was there at the end. Oh well, so be it.

Jace takes a deep breath for a second, and then exhales. He puts his hands together, and rubs them in a circular motion. Jace notices he forgot to remove the tape from his wrists, so he begins to do that as he continues.

Jace: I was invited to come compete in this tournament earlier tonight. I didn't do it because it's an easy win for me. I did it because everyone who has climbed to the top, has forgotten where they came from. They've forgotten that once they were the rookie. They have forgotten the basics. Every Mega Star has to pay their dues. Whether it was T-Marv, Level-One, Evan Envi, Jason Kash, and you Shadow. No matter who you are you paid some sort of due to get to where you are at now.

Jace stops to think about what he is going to say next. He rubs his hand through his hair, showing signs that these last couple of weeks have been stressful. He puts his hands back in front of him.

Jace: As I understand it, Shadow likes to pick on rookies. He likes to stomp on them like they were cockroaches. He doesn't seem to believe that rookies have a place here. Shadow wants to take out younger, and far superior talent like myself. Do you know why? I do. Shadow was once in the spot light. A former Over Drive Champion if you will. When newer, and better talent came along, Shadow was over shadowed. His career started to plummet. Evan Envi removed the Over Drive title from Shadow.

Shadow reminds me of someone......someone who thought the same way. I think his name was Sampson. Look what happened to him. He thought he was going to teach this young gun a lesson. I will admit he got the best of me a few times, but I'm the one standing here, before the fans, I'm the one standing here in APW, I will be the one standing with his hand raised come the final Meltdown. I may still be a rookie, but there's only one way for me to go, and that's up.

Shadow has been in the dumps since he buried Slade Craven. When is the last time Shadow has even held a title? When was the last time Shadow had a main event match? When was the last time anybody even cared about Shadow? Shadow is a dinosaur that should have went extinct years ago. He never should have came back after his injury. His golden years have passed, and all he wants to do is stop the younger generation from achieving success. You picked the wrong rookie, and the wrong fight old man. Don't think for a moment I'm intimidated by you. Don't think for a moment you scare me. Don't think your going to just come in, and walk all over me because I have got some news for you. I won't let it happen. I wasn't ready for my Over Drive match. After losing to Robina in Test For The Best, I began to feel sorry for myself. I started drinking, and I didn't stop. This cost me my match. I wasn't ready. After taking a look at myself in the mirror, I vowed never again. Never again, would I allow myself to become so distraught that I wouldn't be ready. I'm ready for you Shadow. I'm ready to put you to bed big boy.

Jace stands up, as he begins to put his gear in his bag. He paces back and forth for a moment, showing more signs of stress. He sits back down after all of his gear is packed.

Jace: I came here tonight to get back to my basics. To remember that no matter who you are, there is always a due to pay. Shadow I'm not paying that due to you. Come the night of Meltdown I'm going to end your career like I did Sampson's. Shadow I'm going to tell you like I've told everyone The NewGen Rising isn't going to sit back, and let old relics like you put us out. It just isn't going to happen. I'm going to beat that ass all over the ring, and hit you with that one...two...three. Do you get that it's no use for you to even show up. You might as well forfeit the match right ow, before you ed up breaking your hip. There is no room for you anymore. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you can go back into retirement, and enjoy life without having to worry what rookie is going to take your job.

Day in, and Day out the more you wrestle the more likely your going to have a career ending injury. With that, you won't be able to come back once in a great blue moon like Sally Talfourd. It's ok Shadow leave, take yourself home, and enjoy the rest of your life. Your past your prime, there is no shame in it. Come back on special occasions to have a match here, or there, but please do us all a favor, go home. No one wants to see you anymore. Nobody cares about you. Why don't you get a job backstage? I know you can get a job setting up the ring. You need to start thinking about your future. What is going to happen to the Hall a Famer Shadow, when he seriously gets hurt. What is Shadow going to do when all of the sudden, He can't pay those medical bills? I know you can be my bag boy. Yeah, that's it! That must be what you want, thinking your going to put this rookie out of APW. You must want an another retirement accepting this match.

Your to confident in yourself. Where once the Shadow was on top. The Shadow now falls. When it is all said and done Shadow, You will have been replaced by me, or someone like me, and that is what you truly can't accept. The fans cheering the name of someone else.

Jace sits silent for a moment in seemingly a deep thought. He grabs his chin with his right hand, as he begins again.

Jace: It's all about The NewGen Rising. Those of us who will no longer lay down, to the old school way of doing things. Those of us who will no longer accept the treatment had here in APW, by those of you who are scared to be replaced. My time is now, The NewGen Risings time is now. It has already began. There is no stopping us. We will take APW back for the fans, for those who hold, and abuse power now, people like Raab, your time for extinction is coming.

Already the top brass see something in the NewGen Rising. My friend, and co-member has a match against the legendary Ms. Sally. Some would think that this match is to give her a win. I say, this match will show case Ron Rufio's abilities. To bad it's not a hardcore match, where he excels in innovation,pain and violence. This match does nothing, but good for Rufio. The crowd will cheer his name. Rufio...Rufio...Ruffiiioooo!!!!!! Sally may be a former champion, but the NewGen Rising will soon replace her as well. The people know that we are the next big thing.

Shadow the final episode of Meltdown is going to mark two things. First it will prove that you no longer have the talent to be here in APW. The fact of the matter is, you lost the talent to be here along time ago. People stopped buying your shirts, your foam fingers, they have stopped buying your posters, and toys. Your not worth your pay anymore. Your lucky President Jeff still needs a place, for your talent of losing. How else is he suppose to build stars like me and the NewGen Rising? How else is it Champions keep their titles. It's because they are forced to defend their titles against people like you, people without talent, who can't step aside, and let us younger stars have our shot.

Come the final Meltdown show. NewGen rising brings in a new member. This man has been trained by some of the best. Shadow when you come out on stage, walk down that ramp, and climb into this ring, you will be starring at four NewGen Rising Megastars. Your going to witness the future of Action Packed Wrestling. You get to be part of my history. When they talk about me, they will remember the day, on the final Meltdown card, how the legendary Shadow fell to the rising star Jace Savage!

Second, You and I do have something in common though Shadow we are both on a losing streak. I have lost the last two matches, you the last two hundred. There's a little difference between the number, one hundred and ninety eight to be exact, but who is counting anyways right? I have won more matches in the time I have been here then you have since RassleMania. The odds are i my favorite, when you think about it. Your old, I'm young. Your way past your prime, I have yet to hit my prime. Your on your way out, I'm on my way up.

Jace stops for a moment smiling as he thinks some more, and takes another deep breath.

Jace: You once held the Over Drive Title I will hold it one day. You failed at being a tag team, I will excel at being a tag team. Brian Hollywood and I will do what you could not, obtain the Tag Team titles, and hold on to them. We will be the greatest tag team to ever walk through the doors of APW. We will be better then the Dying Breed, better then Foul Play, even better then EnviKado, We are better then Sang Real. We are Better then the Black Hand.

It all starts with you Shadow. A new beginning for me. Once I beat you, and step foot in the tag division, Everyone one will know that the NewGen Rising is here to stay, and we mean business. We will not stop until everyone recognizes, that the new talent in APW is here to stay. Shadow no matter how hard you fight, I will not go quietly into the darkness. I will not silently fade away. I know it's your mission to put me out because you don't want anyone to take your place. I say to you Shadow put on your dancing shoes because this is going to be one hell of a waltz.

Jace grabs a water bottle from his bag, and chugs it. He seems a bit thirsty, as he downs the entire container.

Jace:I promise you this Shadow, I will walk out of the last Meltdown to be produced as the winner. I head into the next Over Drive with a winning momentum. That momentum will help push me to the tag titles. It will all be thanks to you Shadow, for your compulsions to get rid of the newer talent, you will actually propel us into stardom. There's nothing like having a win over a legend such as yourself, even though your a talentless hack know. It will look good, when people look into my history, my records and see that I beat a once former glorified champion. The staff who run Action Pact Wrestling will finally see my true potential, when I cover you for the one...two...three. With my hand raised in this victory, and many more to come, I will thank you Shadow, for push I'm about to receive.

The fans cheer for me now, but when I beat you Shadow, their roars will be deafening to the ears. The will chant my name through the halls, everyone, man, woman, and child cheer when my hand is raised. They will come from all over, they will pay whatever price because the will know, that with me, it's worth the price of admission. I will bring in a new generation of fans. People who don't even watch Action Pact Wrestling will tune in once they here my name. Shadow your time is over, My time is now. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you can hang up your boots. Independent leagues will call you, you can be a star there. The schedule will be so much easier on your broken bones. People will cheer you there, you will be wanted there. There's just to much talent in APW for you to hack it anymore. Give up the mainstream, go into the Shadows because there is no room for you in the light.

At that moment there is a knock on the door. Jace stands up, walks over to the door, and answers it. Jaces Girlfriend Sally Cambridge is standing at the door. She is wearing a pair of jeans with a Jace Savage t-shirt on. Jace opens the door all the way to let her in.

Jace: Did you enjoy the show babe?

Sally C: Yeah I enjoyed it. I was scared for a moment when the big fat guy tried to jump on you, but I know your better then that, to let someone squish you into a million pieces. Are you ready to go? We have a flight to catch to Houston, then to Biloxi, Mississippi for your match against Shadow. Then we have to fly back to L.A to finish up the shoot for the APW magazine re-launch. So, grab your stuff, and lets get going dear. Oh yeah I want to stop and get a healthier bite to eat then the grease ball food they are trying to serve here. come on hurry up, and grab your things, we have to go.

Jace nods his head in agreement. He walks over, grabs his bag checks to make sure he has everything, and isn't leaving anything behind

Jace: I'm glad you enjoyed the show. It's been a while since you have had the time off to come. I always perform better when your around. Wait, the final show is in Mississippi? I better bring a lot of water, it's dirty down there, almost as bad as South America. Also, thanks for heading up the photo shoot on the magazine. Once you retire from modeling you definitely have a job.

Jace smiles at Sally as he holds the door for her to turn around and walk out. Jace turns around and looks at the camera.

Jace: Shadow get ready, I'm coming for you .

Jace turns and walks out of the door as the scene fades.