Worth Fighting For?

05.04.24 Freeman Estate Los Angeles, California There is perhaps no greater embarrassment for Kenny Freeman than having to take the first flight out of Paris due to, as one PRIME stagehand could best describe it, “a rough go of things” following his loss to Dabney Doubleday. Kenny knew he should’ve been making his way to Eckbolsheim for ReVival 48, but was specifically told by Alexei Ruslan to “take some time to refocus”...an oddly alarming statement for Freeman, considering his recent failures. The concern was far from alleviated as Kenny makes his way to the front door of his family home. For most, the opportunity to be home is a welcome one…but for Kenny, it’s simply a reminder that he does not speak with his kin very often. The reasons why start to rush through his mind as he reaches to open the doorknob…which gets swung open from the inside instead, revealing his brother Jack. “Well look who decided to darken our doorstep once again,” he says with a smirk, the tone intended to be jovial…something Kenny is none too pleased with. “Hey man, I’m sorry I disappeared,” Kenny replies, waiting for his brother to step out of the doorway so he can enter. “I got pulled away by--” “I know, the Committee or whatever,” Jack states, drawing a look of surprise from Kenny in the process. “They left an apology card on the porch after you left. Something about ‘important Kenny business’...doesn’t surprise me, you’ve always thought the world revolved around you.” Kenny is gobsmacked by that last statement, but he is given no time to respond as Jack walks away from the door frame. This leaves the junior member of the Red Army shaking his head as he finally enters the house, quickly noticing his mother and father sitting in the living room on the sofa. Jack takes to the nearby recliner, leaving Kenny with just a wooden stool with which to take his seat with the rest of the proverbial clan. “So, uh…” Kenny’s voice starts to trail off, quickly thinking of something witty to break the tension. “What do you guys wanna talk about?” “What’s happened to you?” his father snaps in response, staring Kenny down with a level of fury the son has not seen in quite some time. “You go galavanting wherever on your little journeys, and then you start spouting off your mouth on these promos of yours on TV, talking a lot of smack to a family man and a big ol’ slab of meat that could tear you apart.” Kenny just stares back at his father, unable to process a reply of any sort with what he’s just said…something the father is quick to pick up on. “What?” he asks, still scowling at Kenny. “You don’t think I watch the product?” “Don’t mind your father, dear,” the mother chimes in with a soft tone. “We all know how much this wrestling thing means to you, it’s just…when you go calling out two guys like that, it becomes a bit concerning.” “You have no idea what Jared’s done to me,” Kenny finally replies, shaking his head. “Him or Stronk, for that matter. I’ve got Sykes getting ready to go down that long winding road to retirement before I can even get my revenge--” “For what?” asks his father, now looking just as confused as he has been angry. “What terrible thing did he do to you, other than beat you fair and square once upon a time?” “It’s gonna be okay, dear,” adds Kenny’s mother. “You’re dealing with a lot of stress lately, especially working with that Stanislav fella, we just think you need to--” “Pull your head out of your ass,” Jack chimes in, drawing a side-eye glare from his older brother. “Figure out what it is you’re trying to prove, and prove it already. I for one am gettin’ kinda sick of listening to you whine and complain, whether it’s here or on television. Figure it out, Kenny…I know you’re capable of that much.” Kenny cannot believe his ears, listening to his entire family essentially slam him during his rare break from the grind of pro wrestling. Shaking his head again, Kenny merely rises from the stool before making his way out of the living room. “Coming home was a mistake,” Kenny mutters to himself, taking the long climb up the stairs toward his bedroom. For however he felt about his trip back to the estate, he could take a sliver of solace in knowing there was always a place for him there. Kenny enters the bedroom, closing the door behind him as he plops himself on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. - 05.17.24 Freeman Estate Los Angeles, California One might be surprised at how quickly time flies when on a vacation such as this. The days quickly blend together, revealing just how unproductive one can be. Such is the case with Kenny, opting to spend most of his days dealing with a regular routine of helping around the house and handling small errands with nary a complaint. The routine is broken precisely once during the course of this stay, as the family surrounds the television in their living room. They have kept their eye on the proceedings of ReVival 48 throughout the night, because the family that watches wrestling together stays together…or something like that. Kenny can’t help but pay special attention to what transpires between Daytona Diamonds and Alexei Ruslan, his brow furrowed as he comes to realize that he will be called to something of a rendezvous in two weeks’ time between the Red Army and the Poor Whoresmen. “Well ain’t that some shit?” remarks Kenny’s father, immediately turning his attention to the man most directly affected by what just occurred. “You see that, Kenny? Seems your pal Ivan wants to forgive and forget.” Kenny, for his part, opts not to respond verbally, still staring at the screen until a buzz from his pocket indicates he’s received a text message. Not five minutes after he was just seen chatting it up with the Intense Champion, Ruslan relays a message to his comrade simply stating: “Adam Ellis.” Kenny knew exactly what the name was referring to…Ruslan went and acquired the necessary information to get him ready for his next match. Kenny pockets his phone, rushing out of the living room as the family stays focused on the rest of the program. Alas, Kenny doesn’t even get to watch as his “boy” Jared Sykes gets stomped all to hell by FLAMBERGE…but he is determined to get back on track, heading to his room to follow up via a phone call as we fade to black. -

Everyone’s path in this business is different, but they all have one destination…glory. It could be championship gold, building a legacy, or even just doing what you can to make people proud of you…but that pursuit is what binds us together.

We’re all fighting for something, it’s just a matter of figuring out what’s worth fighting for. That’s not something to take lightly, either…lord knows I’ve been trying to figure out what I’m trying to achieve lately. It’s a sad reality I have to face everyday, that my mind gets on a single track sometimes and just runs as far as it can before it has to finally come to a stop…so when I found out I was facing Adam Ellis in Barcelona, my mind immediately went back to that fateful day in his old training grounds. To be clear, I don’t recall crossing paths with the guy at Bergman’s Barn, but I remember watching my old buddy Xander Azula training there and coming to a stunning realization…Bergman’s way ain’t the way for me. My training regiment went a bit different from the usual “paying your dues” stuff that comes with the territory, but somehow I feel like I can relate to Mr. Ellis and his constant struggle to really make a name for himself. He and I have a penchant for making what I can best describe as “side quests”...whereas I travel through the multiverse, Adam takes on the task of proving himself at MVW among other places. That’s a hustle I can respect, Adam…you make whatever money you can, try and build that legacy for yourself and perhaps more importantly, do something your wife can be proud of. Ugh, to think you’ve got a kid on the way too…just like Jared Sykes, you’ve already got your eyes on the end of the road don’t you? That’s something I respect a little less. Barely got one foot in the door of this business and you’re already got your attention drawn elsewhere. That is where our paths are the most different, because I ain’t nearly finished trying to prove myself…to my family, and to my Army. I’ve had my eye off the path I’ve walked for far too long, and ReVival 49 marks the turning point where I walk right over you to get where I need to be. I’ve studied so much of your tape that I can just about recite the pattern of your offense. “Take them down, work the legs, go for the Boston Crab.” I get it…but I need you to know you’re not the only one whose mother didn’t raise a quitter. I ain’t been in a fight I gave up on yet, Adam…and I will fight with every fiber of my being to take you down in Barcelona. When it’s all said and done, and my hand gets raised, I’ll finally feel like this has all been worth the trouble. Like my cause is actually worth fighting for. See ya soon, Adam.