---

It had been a year since that fateful incident involving his tag team partner Goldsworthy who had attacked him after losing their tag team belts, thus beginning Mastermind's hatred of tag teams. After that incident it took him a good year to break free of those demons before his career blossomed again.

He had just beaten the number three ranked Heavyweight at that time, to get him back being noticed.

He was back stage after his match, discussing the match with his new manager Mr. Rhyno.

MR RHYNO: "Kid you did well, I've seen enough in you today to suggest that you are back from where you were a year ago."

Mastermind felt his cheek.

"Thank you sir, but I think he got in a lucky shot."

MR RHYNO: "Well, you don't need to worry about that, you got the win after all. A very important win."

"I think I may need to do something that will get me more attention."

MR RHYNO: "Listen to me kid, if you just continue down the road that you are, you will get back there in no time at all, don't be in a hurry, good things will happen for you."

"Yes sir, I understand."


45 minutes later during the last match before the big main event, this match was a Triple Threat Match, it was to see who was to become the Number 1 Contender for the New Zealand Heavyweight Belt. Mastermind's arch enemy Goldsworthy was even in this match. His career had skyrocketed since the incident. He got as far as being the Number 1 contender on several occasions but just couldn't quite win the belt itself.

It looked like Goldsworthy had the edge over his other two opponents, he was about to go for a pin, when all of a sudden there was a stir from amongst the crowd. He looked up, to see a Hooded Man jump over the railings, dive through the ropes into the ring, forcing Goldsworthy to stand guard, but that was his mistake as the Hooded Man hit him with a gigantic spear that took him out. The crowd was gasping. The Hooded Man then left the ring, and disappeared into the crowd on the other side of the ring.

Goldsworthy was so badly injured, that one of the other two won the match.


It was ten minutes before Goldsworthy was taken from the arena, a crowd of people mostly from the Roster were lining the corridor to get a good look at Goldsworthy being taken away. Mastermind walked up behind a friend of his.

"What's going on?"

"Goldsworthy's been hurt in his match. They're taking him away."

"Goldsworthy? How?"

"Did you not see the match?"

"No, I was indisposed."

"This Hooded Man came from out of nowhere, and speared Goldsworthy out of the match, it wasn't even scripted to happen."

"Wow, that's crazy."

"I know right, it looks as if Goldsworthy broke his ribs."

"That's plain bad luck."

---

For the next few weeks, the house shows that Mastermind wrestled at, the Hooded Man attacked again, and again, either the penultimate match of the night or the very last time he was sighted, the main event. He speared the New Zealand Heavyweight Champion. Although he was nearly caught by security, he did escape.

Mastermind was not around at all during the times that the Hooded Man made his attacks, as he was either indisposed, or he had left the arena.

But then Mastermind got his career on track, and he started appearing in the right matches, but the attacks from the Hooded Man stopped. A month or so later Mastermind became the New Zealand Heavyweight Champion at the age of 20.

---

With the closure of Impact Wrestling Association of New Zealand a few months later, Mastermind spent the next few years working house shows across the country. But then in 1998 he got an invite to join International Wrestling Association in New South Wales, Australia.


A 24 year old Mastermind crossed the ditch (so to speak (aussie-kiwi slang - for crossing the ocean between Australia and New Zealand)), and at first found it hard going. He lost his first few matches, before he linked back up with Mr. Rhyno.


Mastermind had just sat down with the trainer who was tapping up his foot, because the week before he had sprained it, he was getting ready for a match, when there seemed to be people running from the stadium to the other end of the stadium passed his locker room door. Mr. Rhyno walked in looking confused.

"What's wrong Mr. Rhyno?"

MR RHYNO: "The first match had interference, really weird."

"How so?"

MR RHYNO: "One of the participants was speared by a Hooded Man. He looks like the same Hooded Man who was in Wellington a few years a go."

"Wow, are you serious?"

MR RHYNO: "Of course I'm sure. Where were you when this was going down?"

"Just got here, getting my foot bandaged. It's pretty sore today. Are you accusing me of being that Hooded Man guy. Did he look like he was limping?"

MR RHYNO: "I'm not accusing you of anything, no he wasn't limping. I was just asking if you saw him?"

"No I didn't, I didn't even see the first match, let alone the hooded dude."

MR RHYNO: "Just get your foot fixed, and then start focusing on winning your match. You need to do it how I explained it."

"Yes sir."

And win it Mastermind did, but all the talk had been about the Hooded Man from the first match, but Mastermind had been noticed winning his match.


For the next few months won most of his matches, lost one or two, but he was getting spotted. The Hooded Man was making more of an impression before once again he disappeared. This coincided with Mastermind getting to the top ranks of the International Wrestling Association for the New South Wales area.

---

The camera fades in to the Mansion of Mastermind, and as it fades in to the Thinking Room, there is a suspicious character sitting on Mastermind's chair. It was the Hooded Man.

He stands up, and suddenly takes down his hood, it revealed a smiling Mastermind.

"That's right Bitches, it was me all along....."



For an explanation of how Mastermind got away from being discovered as the Hooded Man even though there was suspicion always pointed at him but never could be proven, tune in next time.