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Shawn Warstein · (04-06-2020)

I sit upon my throne, ever watching as soon the room begins to fill with people. One by one they come and stand at the foot of the throne, only to catch a glimpse and to be sent back to the huddled masses. After what seems like an eternity, the final man steps up, gives a quick bow and is into the masses. I slowly rise from the throne extending my hands skyward.

“My fellow beings…” I slowly lower my hands, and give the gathered crowd my eye. “Thank you all for being here today. You, my garrison, is what fuels me to continue on my journey that has led me not only to the brink of death…” I lower my hands towards the ground, and then shoot them up towards the sky. “But also to immortality. I will forever be linked to the XWF and their faithful. Without all of you by my side, it would have been for not.”

“Here we all stand. Together.” I clasp my hands together linking my fingers, as I shake my hands. “Linked as one being. Me being the leader, and you my fellow disenfranchised. For far too long have we been scuttled to the side. One too many times have we been overlooked on our own quests to greatness.”

“Here I stand in front of all of you, a changed man. A man that once was seen as a nothing, as an afterthought in the grand scheme of everything. Here I stand on the throne. I fought to get here, and I can promise all of you that in the end, I will do everything to keep this throne.”

I sit down on the throne as a few members of the garrison begin to funnel out of the room. I grin and await for them to all leave.

Once they are all out of the room I glance over to the side where a man is standing holding a smattering of papers in his hands. I wave him over and he shuffles to my side.

“My liege…” He says while turning his head towards the ground.

“That’s rather unnecessary, what is the good word from the outside?” As I grab the papers from him and begin to flip through them quickly. “This can’t be right?”

“Oh but it is sir. Word from the outside of your glorious victory has reached the masses and they are none too pleased with the manner in which you achieved the throne.”

“What are they not pleased with?” As I stood up and flared at him menacingly. He cowered a bit and answered sheepishly.

“They think it was obtained from ill gotten means.” I let out a deep sigh, followed by a low growl.

“I don’t know what they want from me anymore. I could’ve gotten it the honorable way, but where's the drama in that?” I once again take a deep sigh, and slink back onto the throne. “The point of all of this was to get the throne by any means necessary, and that’s just what I did. If some people don’t care for the means that I did it… that’s on them. Anyone can come for my spot on the throne.” A fierce expression comes across my face. “Just let it be known that I will show them no mercy to keep my throne. I will lay siege to everything and everyone they hold dear to them. So go out there to the masses…” Pointing towards the door with a fury unseen before. “And tell them all, the King is waiting, with bated breath.”

The man shuffles off out of the room in a hurry. Leaving me alone, again, on the throne.

“Well here we are once again. Left alone with my thoughts. The night for both of your personal journeys to finally come to an end. I am looking forward to the inevitable crash and burn from both of you.” I mimic an airplane with my hands and the crash that ensues. “ I'm sure you’re going to put up a valiant effort.” I hold back a heavy laugh. “ And by valiant I mean, that you’ll at least be there.”

“I can without a shadow of a doubt say this.” Deep sigh and a quick shake of my body. “I’m looking forward to this. It will be just under two weeks from me gaining this title and I’ll already be defending it. Do either of you know what a big deal it is to be in the ring for the BIG ONE?”

“Do you know about the pressure that comes with not only being in the ring for a shot at this title? Or even better knowing what it’s like holding it above your head in victory? It’s orgasmic. There’s no greater feeling in the world.” I reach over and grab the Universal Title and sling it over my shoulder as I begin to walk around the room. “Knowing that you are the top of the industry. Knowing that all eyes are on you and what you’re about to do next. It makes everything worth it.”

“From the battles with the Mafia. From winning the Lethal Lottery, to holding the X-Treme title for as long as I did…” I glance down at the title draped down my shoulder. “None of it compares. The first taste of this apple is the sweetest of all, but let me tell you something.”

“It’s the second bite at the apple that is much more delicious. You see the first time I held this title I was young. I was brash, and naive. Now I have over two decades of experience behind me. Now I know what to expect. A few things I’ve noticed is, there are no more briefcases floating around out there in the ether.” I hold my hands up and do a quick spin. “I also know that people have to come to me now for their opportunities. But that’s not good enough for me. No….”

I stand there for a moment thinking about what I’m going to say next.

“I’m the one who knocks. I’ve already beckoned the quote unquote GOAT, we shall see what he decides. It’s not like I already vanquished the other half of the Suicide Kings.” A grin and chortle.“Maybe he’d fair better, but I doubt it.”

“So a champion needs to earn their title right? That’s what you said Hanari? Tell me how I didn’t EARN this title. Tell me all about how everything I’ve done since September wasn’t for this moment… what just because I didn’t take the morons way and demand a one on one match for the title, is that what means I didn’t earn it?” I smile and take a deep breath. “I’ve done more in the past 6 months here than you could ever hope. In that time frame I was a double champion. The second longest reigning X-Treme champion of the current era. I won the Lethal Lottery. So please tell me all again what I haven’t earned.”

“No Hanari, the only people here that haven’t earned anything are you and Grif. Neither of you deserve or have earned your right to be in the ring with me. Yet you say that you’re going to teach me a lesson?” I begin to smile, laugh and then a quick flinch in my neck. My eyes go dead, as my head slowly drifts off to the side.

“If it’s a lesson you want…”

“He’s always right around the corner.” I fight the urge and shake my head. I smile widely, run my hand through my hair.

“Whether you think I earned this title or not is not only your opinion, it’s completely irrelevant. Much like you, and how did you say it? Expendable?” I nod my head and a slight smile of disbelief crosses my face. “Well if I’m so expendable explain why Theo and Vin went out of their way to keep Engy in the building at March Madness. Explain to me why I’m the one with the title and you are just jerking yourself off at night hoping that one day you might be able to measure up to me.”

“You call me expendable? I call you vermin. I’m the Universal Champion. I’m the Legend. I’m the gold standard for the XWF. What are you? You’re a second rate Jose Chavez, with half the charisma and a third of the brains.” I hold out my hands towards the window, and walk towards it. “The entire world is mine for the taking. You on the other hand are just so concerned with how I won the title, that you have overlooked the biggest thing in all of this.”

“I have that title. You want it. There isn’t a man, woman, or child on this earth that I’m going to allow to take this from me. Hanari you’re going to have to break me more than I’ve ever been broken before to take this from me. The problem is, I don’t think you don’t have it in you. I know that you don’t.”

“Just like a certain someone didn’t the last two times we fought, yeah this is about you. Next time I see you, it’s on sight! I’m swinging on you like I’m Frank Thomas in the home run derby.”

“Anyways, before I was so rudely interrupted, back to Hitachi. So I’m a whining sniveling piece of shit huh? Why because I know what my worth is? Because I know what I’m all about?” I shake my head and begin to laugh. “So what is it that you’re all about? Failing constantly? Did you ever think that the reason people don’t know you exist is because you don’t know how to promote yourself? I mean I get it. You're a hard working Latino man who doesn’t take handouts, and wants to be known as the best. The problem there is I’m here. The fact that Atty is here. Hell the fact that over three quarters of the roster is here makes you basically worthless. You don’t know the opportunity that has been granted to you. You should smile like the good little bitch you are and be thankful that I’m allowing it to happen.”

“Yet no, you’re staring a gift horse in the mouth and you’re more concerned with the fact that you’re not facing Engy. Instead why don’t you hit the gym, add some mass, maybe some cardio, and then you won’t be embarrassed too badly in the ring.”

“I want you to put all of your energy on me. I want you to give it your all, that way when you fail.” A quick head nod and half smile. “We will all know the truth. You were never good enough. You thought in your heart that you could do it. That you would be the one to right the SOOO many wrongs I’ve done, but you won’t. Winning the big one just isn’t your style is it? No. Myself on the other hand…” I let out a shrug. “All I do is come up big when the lights are the brightest. Shall we run down the list? Or can everyone here name them off verbatim? Good.”

“But that’s not the crux of your argument is it? You honestly can’t stand that I’m where I am, you aren’t. That’s what all this is. Nothing more than petty jealousy. Rather than thank me for keeping this fucking sinking ship a float for the last six months, you’d rather be green with envy.”

“Playing like you don’t know who I am. Pretending to be tough on the outside, when inside the doubts are screaming. From your bones, to your brain, they are all saying the same thing…” As I hold one finger to my lips. “Shhhh you sound like a moron. Everyone knows what I stand for. That hasn’t changed. Speculation on what has changed isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. The only thing that has changed is the branding. I’m not running from my past, I’m finally allowing it to become a part of me. For the first time in the XWF I am complete. The good and the bad merged into one person. Not afraid of his flaws, not afraid of a single thing in this business. While Fuzz's name is dead, he still lives inside of me…”

“And who is that?”

“Your Universal Champion….” I smile and lower my face creating a light side and darkened side of my face.

“Shawn Fuckin Warstein.”

“A name that is so nice, They’ll have to induct me twice. A name that you or anyone else won’t soon forget.”

I turn and walk back towards the throne. I turn to sit down as a bright light begins to emanate from a door in the back. As I turn towards it a voice calls out to me. As I stand up and begin to walk towards it the camera fades.

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