Tension, Pt.1

[Tommy Knox]

//- Tension, Chapter 15, Pt. 1 -\\

“So close, only to let it slip through my fingertips. Fuck it, what’s done is done. I’m only lookin’ at what’s in the road ahead of me. Congratulations Kash, you’re the big dog on top now. Everyone’s goin’ to be comin’ for the crown, even me. I’ll deal with you later. Right now, I have two little punk bitches that need to be dealt with for the last time and put to bed. One Night In Hell was exactly as the name describes but next week at Asylum, we’re goin’ deeper in the depths of Hell. It seems that week after week APW wants to throw the same two roadie clowns at my feet. After Asylum, I’m through with both of those schmucks. I’m done with it, washing my hands of them. If White and Morrison think for one moment that they’ve seen the best of me, they are in for a rude awakenin’. Over these past few days I’ve had quite some time of solitude, thinkin’ to myself and what I want to do for myself. Over these last couple months, I’ve worried more about others rather than takin’ a step back and lookin’ out for number one. My situation has been a bit odd as of late but only now do I see where it’s takin’ me. My head is one hundred percent back in the game. The fuck up I once was is nothing more than a mere memory. A new man has evolved, or created so to speak. Fella’s, I’m sorry but it’s time to get right down to business. No one is safe.”

“You take a mortal man, and put him in control
Watch him become a god, watch people’s heads a’roll “

Sunday 12:21 PM [October 30th, 2011]
Brooklyn, New York

Overhanging Plex’s Gym, the sky is bright blue today with a gentle breeze flowing through the air. The neighborhood is quiet today, parking lot empty except for a black sports car sitting in the far corner closest to the rear entrance. As we move inside, we find Knoxville in the center of an empty ring with all the lights turned off in the gym except for a single one above. Sitting in the center of the ring, he tilts his head back as he looks above at the light with a look on his face as if he were lost.

“It wasn’t supposed to go down that way. Tony’s goin’ to fuckin’ have my head after this.”

In the shadows, Michael Salieri looks on in silence. Dressed casual, he stands there with his arms crossed listening to Knoxville’s every word. As the room itself fills with silence, he steps from the shadows and gets Knoxville’s attention.

“It’s alright Tommy. No need to worry yourself with my uncle.”

Slowly standing to his feet, Knoxville turns around and looks down at Michael from the ring. He thinks to himself for a moment before responding.

“Really, how so? He told me himself right there in front of you that he was bettin’ the whole “farm” on me. I came up short. Now, I’m even deeper in his pocket. What the fuck am I supposed to do now?”

“Well, for starters you could try catching your breathe and relaxing for a moment. Calm down Tommy, nothing is going to happen.”

“That’s easy for you to say…”

“Oh, it is. Believe me, it is. What you don’t know is that my uncle didn’t bet on you at all. He betted against you. He would never bet on you.”

Knoxville thinks to himself for a moment.

“Then why the fuck am I around? Why is he tryin’ to be my manager?”

“He’s not going to be your manager anymore. The rumors you heard about him starting a management group are true. After you went out in the chamber, he said he was done with you.”

“Then I’m getting’ the fuck out of here! I can do better on my own than under his authority.”

“Slow down Tommy, you’re still going to be managed underneath Salieri.”

“But you just said…”

“I know what I said. Tony is overlooking your career personally anymore. I am.”

Taking a few steps back, Knoxville rubs his forehead as he stares off into the shadows. Laughing to himself for a moment, he pulls out his pack of cigarettes and removes a nicely rolled spliff. Without hesitation, he places it between his lips and with the strike of a lighter; he takes a big inhale of Tangerine Dream. Holding it in for a moment, he slowly exhales with a slight cough towards the end.

“You’re goin’ to be my manager? Seriously, Michael? I have no beef with you so please don’t take this the wrong way but what experience as a manager do you have? You’ve only wrestled in the ring a handful of times. No disrespect, but I think I’d be better off on my own.”

“Like it or not Tommy, you’re stuck with the family... for now. I can manage you to success with ease. As for training… I’ll be your trainer as well. I believe I can help you a lot more than that jackass Plex. Right? I mean shit, if Knuckles came in ten yards, even one hundred yards he run like a girl with his tail tucked between his legs. You need someone fearless guiding you Tommy.”

“And that’s you?”

“With me by your side, no one will fuck with you.”

“What other agendas do you have involvin’ this?”

“I’m doing it for the same reason you’ve been, to slap my uncle in the face. I’m tired of him thinking I’m just an errand boy of his. I’m showing him that I can stand on my own two feet. I need you to be my client in this little business investment he’s putting together.”

“What business investment?”

“I’ve told you, management. Right now he’s out of town meeting with another potential manager to bring to the table. This is going to be big Tommy. I’ve watched you in the ring since my uncle came back in the picture. You’re getting better and I can see it in your eyes that you want to be on top.”

Taking a slow drag from the joint, Tommy exhales through his nostrils before walking to the ropes and looking closer in the eyes of Michael.

“I knew this shit was cookin’ for quite some time. I’ve overheard a few phone calls of his. Fuck it, let’s do this. I can work better with you. Tony is too old to keep up with me. I’ve heard a lot of shit lately. I know where this is goin’. I was just fightin’ to be the cream of the crop when this thing went in motion.”

“There’s still a chance. What else have you heard?”

“Nothing much, besides talks of forming a management company and reaching to outside sources. He’s doin’ this as a front for the majority of work he’s associated, both of you are associated with. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t be surprised if he skimmed off the top of everyone who is involved, even you. That’s all this is to him, a source of income. By the way, just who did he bet the whole “farm” on?”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t ask. From what I’ve heard from Carter, he put it all on your boy, Kash. From what Carter was telling me, he made quite a bit of money with Kash winning the title and you falling short. It makes me sick.”

Exhaling a huge cloud of smoke, Knoxville laughs to himself as he takes a quick couple puffs. Holding in the smoke, he looks at Michael shaking his head. “I fuckin’ knew it.” Exhaling once more, he bends over and exits the ring under the top rope. Standing on the apron, he sit sits down as his feet hang over the side and takes another hit.

“I got your back Knox. Shit, I might even be a tag partner of yours if the situation were to ever arise. If you need me, I’m here. I’ll give you the day to yourself. Smoke up, because tomorrow and forward, I’m going to work your ass into the ground. You will be a champion by the time I’m finished with you.”

“Where are we trainin’?”

“Right here.”

“What’s Plex goin’ to do when he sees me workin’ with you now in the ring?”

“I’ll deal with that fucking idiot, schmuck. You just get your head right. You have two little bugs that will pester you next week, we need to squash them.”

Laughing aloud, Knoxville steps down to the floor and steps in closer to Michael with the joint hanging from his lips.

“Manhattan White and Mike Morrison have been a nuisance for too long. I want this match more than anything. I’m goin’ to beat the livin’ hell out of the two with a grin on my face from ear to ear.”

“You’re going to do more than that. Next week is the one year anniversary show for Asylum. All matches are going to be extreme rules. You’re going to do more than beat the living hell out of them. You’re going to fucking murder them and paint the town of Long Island red with their blood. Asylum is going to be in our backyard. You need to conquer above all and show APW, the whole fucking city that we’re here and we aren’t going anywhere. I won’t accept anything but a win from you, Tommy.”

“Don’t worry so much, it’s already fuckin’ done. Once I heard about the next card, my eyes opened. I’m goin’ to make an example out of these two for the entire APW roster. Morrison, he’s the least of my worries. I am goin’ to break White in half! I’m tired of the new kid on the block struttin’ around like he’s top shit. It’s time to put the kid in his place. I haven’t gotten over the last one on one meetin’ we had. What happened then, sure as fuck won’t happen now. There’s only goin’ to be one man walkin’ out of this match a winner and I can guaran-fuckin’-tee you that I’ll be that man, Der Eiserne Mann. The kid’s had a horseshoe stuck up his ass since he signed with APW. At Asylum, I’m kickin’ that bitch straight up through that little brain of his!”

“It doesn’t stop there either if that’s what you’re wonderin’. His face has done nothin’ but bother me from the moment he stepped onto the scene. I can’t take it anymore. It’s time to do a little custom rearrangin’ by my own two hands. I just need you to do me a favor and make sure there are a few little surprises waitin’ for me underneath that ring. These two have slowed me down long enough. If I didn’t have to babysit them the other night, that fuckin’ title would be around my waist and not Kash’s. The fun and games stop here, I’m through with them. I’ve worked my ass off to get that opportunity only to have it robbed from me by the consequences of two little children. No more. This is my game; those two are just along for the ride. After the match is over and my hand is raised, I don’t want to ever hear either of them speak my name. The last few weeks have been a transformation for me. I’m no longer that “punk” everyone pointed their fingers at. To say it without soundin’ cocky, I’m what I once was, if not better. I haven’t come this far only to walk away empty handed. I’ll earn another chance at the gold, one way or the other.”

“Then be here tomorrow morning, early.”

“Ten four hombre’. Let’s get the fuck out of this dump.”

Turning their backs to us, the two slowly walk into the darkness as they leave the building leaving nothing behind but a trail of smoke.