SPACE Ring rust.
One of the most despised stipulations of a returning superstar. Many
who go on furlough, so to speak, and return to the squared circle
are almost cursed it seems. Whether it’s sloppy performance, a common
mistake, slip or fall, or maybe just stuttering over the microphone…
Ring Rust is not in Danny Starr’s dictionary. Speaking of mistakes…
I have many regrets, yet to this day, all my regrets have pathed a
way to my success. Despite these ‘mistakes’ so-called, my name still
rings true in your mind: The Sensation. Ah yes, The Sensation; a name
only myself could self proclaim to this day. No matter what obstacle
President Neil, Or Anderson threw in my way; Danny Starr would always
end up on top. But enough about me, I would like to apologize for
my absence these last few years. I do understand the Hardcore Wrestling
Alliance has missed such a great, former World Champion. Believe you
me, I have seen the HWA’s talent after my downfall and continue to
laugh as I enter back into the realm of this undying association.
After my Mother’s death… Everything I had, had burned down along with
the home my mother had cursed with her ignorance. I do have regrets;
my friends… but my Parents death define my entire reason for being
here. You see, after the trial was over, I found myself in a dark
wood so to speak. What some would call ‘Ring Rust’ proceeded to overcast
this Sensation… an evil spirit only spoken from the mouths of priests
endured my body, my mind, my soul. I was unable to concentrate; unable
to focus on what I really needed… and this regret, I will admit to
you. My loss to Sett in the Inferno Match placed me in a state of
mind at which I was unable to bring myself to reality. Some say I
got what was coming to me after causing the death of his soon to be
wife, Heather… which I regret. At the time, it was purposely done
to get his attention… I didn’t mean to end her life, but I couldn’t
show remorse. It was a time during which I had to take back what was
mine… and the only way by doing so was destroying the only thing my
enemy had left. Everything was taken from me… my friends; therefore
I had no reason to care anymore. The only way to find peace in myself,
and recover what was left of the mind that had been possessed, was
to disappear and relinquish my thoughts. I traveled to Peru and made
it my home for some time, leaving no trace of my existence. Not even
Cass or my nephew Shawn would be aware of my existence… This too,
I regret. I love them… and I vanish what I say about not having anything
left… All this time I had Shawn and Cass, but I was ignorant to what
really mattered. I returned to the States… only to find HWA’s death
awaiting me. I sat back in my car, with no where to go, and drove
to what seemed like an endless road of confusion. Like a light bulb
above my head, I quickly struck up the idea to visit my once standing
estate. For I had left one thing behind… and it wasn’t my mother.
SPACE It was nearly
12:30 in the afternoon when I arrived to my old premises. It wasn’t
long before the haunting memory of my Mother’s voice found its way into
my thoughts. A shiver went up my spine; it almost felt as if my mother
was still here… haunting my presence. I tried to look past the feelings
I was getting in my chest and saw only the Foundation was left, nothing
was rebuilt. Ash and wood were now residents of this tragedy almost
a mark of spite just mocking me as I walk past the rubble. I see nothing
worth salvaging; anything not broken or burnt would have been stolen
by on-going trash-pickers or collectors.
SPACE I continue to walk towards my destination,
wondering to myself how the property was still owned and not built over.
It’s been three years since the fire… and not one piece of charcoal
has been removed from the grounds. Strikes me odd how the city hadn’t
jumped right on the opportunity to build another golf course over my
once standing mansion… but my confusion wouldn’t be necessary, for I
now see what I was looking for. The only thing left to me… the only
thing that could possibly revive my existence. It was the Hall of Sensation;
still standing without a scratch or blemish. Only one key would unlock
the platinum doors, and no fire could ever melt the key… especially
since I hid it a while back before the inferno.
SPACEI almost didn’t
remember where I left it; it had been almost 4 years since I’ve stepped
foot inside the Hall of Sensation. Even then was the first time since
its creation. Steven Fury… leader of the High Society which I had once
again, made the mistake of defying. While looking inside the statue
I left the key, I felt the evil of its solid texture flow through my
veins causing me to drop it on the dry ground. Another shiver travels
up my spine as the wind blows, almost whispering into my ear a deceitful
note of a requiem all too familiar… It was then I thought of Cass and
Shawn again which was followed by a sigh of regret; I had to call her.
I reached into my slack pocket and reach out my cellular phone… hitting
OK on Cass’ name and embracing it to my ear waiting for her sweet voice
to touch base again.
SPACE Silence. Silence
followed by a voice automated woman telling me the number does not exist.
I tried again, hoping a glitch in the phone caused this to happen, but
to no avail. A sharp pain went up my chest… I grabbed my heart through
my ribs… grasping my shirt, begging for the pain to stop.
SPACE Looking down,
I see the key I had dropped… and slowly bend to pick it up and do so.
An all too familiar silence overtakes the entire city… and it almost
feels like slow motion as I twist the solid key in the door. The silence
is broken by a click, loud enough to be a gun cocking, which immediately
opens the door. It’s Dark. Almost scary, but I remembered the snitch
to my left which would light up the hall I had built for all of my achievements
as a professional wrestler. I close the door behind me; it sounded like
a jail cell locking me inside forever, but I was where my destiny lied.
Dying here would be the perfect ending to my life; an ironic climax
to a story of power and greed.
SPACE As I walk down
the hall, I see portraits of the ones I had put out of wrestling for
good. I saw faces I hated with a passion, framed and staring at me with
vengeance in their eyes. People like Jason Corlett… and Hollywood D.
People like Anderson and Judge. Darren Copeland and others from various
federations. An entire timeline of careers ended at the hands of ‘The
Sensation’. Towards the end of the hall, there were unfilled framed,
with names under them such as ‘Sett’ and ‘Maxem’. People I should be
staring at right now… framed and staring back.
SPACE The remorse
for Sett’s loss overtakes the feeling of hate I caught inside my stomach
as I quickly turned to continue into the door to my left. Another dark
room… but the door triggered the music to play. Princes of the Universe
by Queen; it was the High Societies theme… I quickly shut the door,
not wanting to remember such scenes, along with another empty frame
or two.
SPACE Another door
to my right… I open it to see the light was already on. It startled
me… Maybe I left the light on? It has to be the only explanation. I
walked in… as if it was nothing, but still confused when I saw my desk…
along with the chair… my throne. It was faced away from me… which is
not how I left it… so now I was starting to think maybe I didn’t leave
the light on. This door triggered Fixxxer by Metallica… it was my theme
music. The same music that causes a rush of blood to those enemies of
mine who hear it. Only this time, it caused my blood to rush… I slowly
approached the throne… and placed my hand on the back of it… slowly
twisting it around to find a piece of paper… leaning up against the
leather texture; it said Danny.
“What’s this…?” I asked out loud…
SPACE I picked it
up and opened the envelope, proceeding to slip out the paper inside
that was left for my eyes only. It read…
Inside the
letter...
Dear Danny,
SPACE If you are reading this, you are
home from Peru. Welcome back, Old friend. I do regret to inform you,
however, that your beloved sister and nephew have moved to Europe
for the time being. They left no number or address to be reached at…
Other than that, I truly hope you are staying this time… of course,
due to the fact I’ve been paying the city to leave your only real
salvation standing, along with the rubble you left to replace you.
SPACE The HWA is not dead, Danny… it
has rebuilt itself… believe me, I’ve stepped in the ring myself… and
I was quite honestly disgusted with the fact everyone thought I was
you. No offense, but that was just too much for me. I showed up at
the end of the show, just foreshadowing your existence and everyone
thought I was Danny Starr.
SPACE This is a new chance for you, Danny…
whether it is 1 month, or 10 years… your return is very relevant in
the history of your career. You don’t want to be titled a one hit
wonder, now do you? Of course not, Danny Starr’s pride would not allow
that breed of animal to step near him. Do what you are born to do,
Danny… you have a gift. I’ll be in touch when I see you have made
your decision… make it wise, chum.
SPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACESPACE Sincerely Eric Rayne
SPACESPACE
PS. And if you are wondering how I got inside, I think a statue is
a little obvious being the head isn‘t even aligned to the neck, Danny.
SPACE I stood stunned… I knew what I had
to do. I may have lost my mansion and family… But the one thing I still
have left in this world… is my destiny. My reputation. My excellence.
My thoughts would then be interrupted by a low toned ringing coming
from my left pocket. I felt the vibration and slipped it out to answer
it.
Danny: Hello?
SPACE(A young man’s
voice replied almost immediately.)
Voice: Mr. Starr?
Danny: Yes…
Voice: Hello, this is Edward Morgan from the Hardcore Wrestling Alliance
3000... We have just got a fax you are interested in a contract…?
SPACE I smirked,
shaking my head thinking to myself ‘Eric,
you are always one step ahead, aren’t you.”
Danny: Yes, that’s correct.
Edward: Well, it was good timing, Mr. Starr… President
Neil and the commissioner had an empty slot for someone to face Mental
Mark in the second main event. Are you willing to accept this challenge?
Danny: Mental Mark? You have me in a debuting match… against a psychopath?
Edward: Well it’s just a na…
Danny: Sign me up. It doesn’t matter if you place me in a match with
a Mental Mark or a Silly Willy… an impressive athlete or… a Ryan Maxem.
What does matter is the fact Danny Starr isn’t coming to HWA as a wrestler…
he is coming to HWA as the ONLY Last Man Standing… not once, but twice,
my friend.
Edward: I understand that, Congratulations… You’re
not going to like… ya know, kill anyone are you?
Danny: Do not disrespect me, Ed…
Edward: I’m sorry Mr. Starr, I was told to ask
you that by President Neil.
Danny: Neil?
Edward: Yes… he was trying to get a hold of you
for some time, and word got back to Kevin Conner when he returned, and
he was kind of skeptical to sign contract.
Danny: is that so? Well you tell little Kevvy Conner that he has nothing
to worry about, and has everything to worry about. Now that I am back…
anyone who gets in my way will be… how should I put this?
Edward: Killed?
Danny: No! You imbecile, they will be…
Edward: Murdered?
Danny: Just forget it… I will pin them 1, 2, 3.
Edward: With all due respect, sir… You are just starting to sound like
one of those WWE wrestlers that have no microphone skills whatsoever.
Danny: I’m not on a damn microphone. Just tell Neil I appreciate his
enthusiasm on my return. Edward: But he’s not enthu…
SPACE I interrupted
him by hanging up my phone. It seems as if the HWA personnel have new
employees that lack respect for true legends in the company. I make
sure to turn the lights out as I make my way out of the Hall of Sensation.
I shut the door behind and go to place the key inside the statue’s neck…
remembering what Eric said, I smile and put the key inside my pocket.
SPACE Other things
started popping up in my mind… Where will I stay? Where will I live?
As I walked towards my 300 M, I lose my train of thought, for I am interrupted
by the sounds of a large maintenance truck. I look up to see a construction
team parking outside by the curb, and a man with a yellow helmet approaching
me with a clipboard. I look behind him and see a sign being pegged into
the tender grass, spoked deep within the earth’s crust. He finally gets
to me.
Worker: Mr. Starr, we just need you to sign here…
SPACEWithout hesitation,
I signed.
Worker: Thank you.
SPACE The worker
walks away from me after I signed the paper… I looked up to see a crew
assembling and walking towards me. In sight, I could see the sign was
successfully pegged right next to where my gates stood open. The sign
reads ‘Under Construction: Starr Estate” I smile whispering to myself…
“You’re something else, Eric.”
SPACEA week from now, no one will talk
to me like another scum bag, cold blooded murderer. A little weasel
like that on the phone shall not ruin my day… for this is a NEW
day… a day for me to revive the Foundation….
SPACE Of my career that will allow me to
rebuild a new era in the HWA. Mental Mark, sadly enough, you are the
first win on my score board. I don’t know your reputation, young man…
but I know for a fact… you know mine. That alone is going to cost you
the mere chance of victory on Saturday Survival.
SPACE You see, Mark… the HWA is really
only about… Surviving. And if you can’t survive among the others who
do… you will be eaten alive. So Mental Mark, I suggest committing yourself
to a clinic immediately… otherwise, eat good… I like my food to have
a lot of meat on it. It’s been a long time… but here it goes… “Now THAT’S
Sensational!”
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