THAT'S COOL

Revival 51

The Skybox

“What were you thinking,” Victoria Henderson stared down at her daughter, arms folded across her chest as she asked the question. Olivia just stared down at the ground, her hands clasped on her lap while her mother's shoe tapped against the floor. She knew she shouldn't have been out in the backstage area alone, but when her mother went to the restroom and the opportunity presented itself –  she decided it was the perfect chance to meet her new favorite couple.

Tony Gamble sat comfortably on one of the seats in the sky box, his hand inside the bag of popcorn he had confiscated from his daughter a few moments ago. He pulled out a handful of popped kernels and started to fling them into his mouth one at a time as he watched STRONK lift Rob Williams into the air. He already had a conversation with Olivia about how dangerous it could be backstage while they made their way back to the sky box, but the last thing he was going to do was try and stop Victoria from scolding her for the way Olivia snuck out when she went to the bathroom.

The Grin checked his watch as Anna Daniels dropped an elbow onto STRONK's back, his match with Youngblood was scheduled to start after Clay Byrd faced off against Hayes Hanlon, so he'd have to leave as soon as this Tag League match ended.

“Your father said you were talking to some random guy,” she shook her head. “How do you know he wasn't some pervert that kidnaps kids to sell them on the black mark–”

“We may never know,” Tony turned to look over his shoulder, as Daniels tossed Dick over the top rope and onto the unforgiving floor at ringside. “I got there before he had a chance to do anything, but he probably would have brought her back once she started talking anyway.”

“You're not helping, Antonio,” she didn't even turn in his direction as she spoke, her eyes narrow and fixated on their daughter.

“I was joking,” he replied with his usual smile. “Want some popcorn?”

“Now isn't the time for jokes,” her focus never wavered. “You've been telling me for months that you cannot trust anyone backstage, and now with everything going on between Coral and Cancer there's probably even more to worry about now that they know who's daughter she is.”

“Coral and Cancer are fine,” the look of disbelief on her face caused his eyes to widen slightly as he leaned back in his seat. From her point of view – being on the outside looking in – he could understand why she would have thought there was an issue after what happened at the beginning of the show. “That's just the way they talk to each other sometimes.”

“I know you didn't have a good view when you and Bobby were cowering in the corner,” her eyebrows raised as she continued. “But there is definitely something going on between Coral and Cancer, and I know you enough to know that you're not as naive as you're acting right now.”

“What?” Tony scoffed as he brushed her comment away with a swipe of his hand in the air in front of him. “You're crazy.”

“Don't you ca–”

“Oh, look,” Tony interrupted, his finger pointed toward the ring. “The match is over, I better go get ready for my match. I'll see you after, okay.”

He walked past his daughter, gave her a hug, and whispered in her ear. “Good luck.”

Olivia smiled and called out to him as he pushed the door open.  “Love you, dad!”

“Love you, too,” could be heard as the door clicked close, which caused her smile to widen a bit more. She had noticed something different in his tone when he heard John Obvious swear in front of her, and she felt how much he cared when he led her away. It was something she had only seen in others, because until now she hadn't had a father of her own.

“So about your little adventure.”

And just like that, the smile was gone.

=-=-=-=-=

The

Yellow

Pages

“I have to say, Cecilworth, my ego has been thoroughly stroked. Thank you, and I hope none of it got on your hand.”

This is where the HA! would go if the man sitting before you was cool.

“Color me surprised when I found out that after such a grueling and physical match against a former two time Universal Champion like Brandon Youngblood, that I would not be able to rest for a bit like I usually do. I mean, even the great Cecilworth Farthington was able to take some time to heal after what some are calling a rather embarrassing loss to my cartonmate, Cancer Jiles.”

Apart from the permanent grin Tony Gamble usually has on his face, there is a bit of malice hidden in his words.

“Their words, not mine, because I for one knew that he was more than capable of beating you. Don't get me wrong, I know full well how good you are in the ring, because not only does your reputation precede you…your record since arriving is pretty dang impressive too.”

A simple shrug of his shoulders shows how truly impressed he is.

“Thing is, Cancer is no slouch, and he proved that at Tropical Turmoil by beating you. I was out there and saw it with my own eyes.”

The Permascar Superstar runs his hand along his chin, and allows a smile to form on the right side of his face.

“I also felt first hand how much of a sore loser you are. It's sad how fragile your ego is, that you felt the need to take your loss out on me instead of the man that was responsible for it. You and Joe really did a number on me, but that just wasn't enough for you. Luckily for you, you have friends in high places that happen to not be a fan.”

Tony stands up, and for the first time we see the star of the show.

“Not sure if it was your idea to have Youngblood soften me up first, or if that was just Troy's bitterness and resentment towards me seeping through. Either way, he didn't get the job done, because I'm still standing.”

The Stool is here!

=-=-=-=-=

Revival 51

In the ring

I came into this match ready to prove I could topple the Tower of Babble, knock him down to the foundation and walk out of Boise with a win over the two-time Universal champion. Confidence is such a fickle thing, because the moment I felt Youngblood grab hold of my foot and start twisting – it all became clear. I realized at that moment what the rest of the people in the arena already knew when the match was announced…I was screwed.

I knew why I was in this match, why I was being fed to the wolf if you will. Brandon knew why we were having this match too, for some reason I was being punished for my actions in the Cecilworth versus Jiles match at Tropical Turmoil. Some would call it a fitting punishment for my actions in that match, especially when you take into account how those actions affected the way that match ended. I wouldn't call it that, but there are people out there that aren't as wise as me and might see things differently.

That person's name is Lindsay Troy, and she has never been a fan of my actions. Actually, I don't think she has ever liked me. Even the first time we ended up as a tag team, she was quick to tell me that she didn't trust me. Trust is something people have had a hard time giving to me, because it is something that has to be earned and I'm not interested in working that hard.

The thing is, I knew the game she had decided to play and I did not intend to make this easy for the Suplex Daddy. Well, that was the plan when I walked out from the back and made my way down the ramp, but now that I am in the center of the ring with my foot in Youngblood's grasp; my whole game plan has changed. Right now, I need to think about whether or not I want to spend the next few weeks in a walking boot. It didn't take me much longer to decide that I would rather enjoy the ability to walk without crutches, so I slammed my palm against the mat quicker than Ria could change her last name. I don't think Ashley Barlow even had time to drop down on the mat, and Youngblood practically released the hold before the bell sounded.

My first instinct is to get the hell out of the ring, so I roll out like Optimus. That's when I come face to face with Jiles, who does not look happy at all…I'm just not sure if it is because I lost – again – or because Brandon won and there wasn't anything he could step in before he kicked him in the face.

Guess he won't be giving anyone Terminal Cancer tonight.

Either way, as I walk up the ramp with my head hung low, I'm just glad that I'm not being carried to the back. If Jiles is upset with me I can deal with it later, like there's not enough going on with the Bandits already. I hate it, and won't actually admit it to her, but Victoria was right earlier. Hopefully we can get this all figured out and put it behind us, because this is the time that we need to show a united front…and Jiles not coming out to the ring with the rest of us to start the show wasn't a good look. Him saying he would make an eggception to challenge Coral was an even worse look.

They really need to sit down and talk this through before things get worse, because I really didn't want to have to choose a side – not really sure I know which side I'd even choose.

Luckily things haven't gotten physical, because the moment they do…I'm screwed.

=-=-=-=-=

The

Yellow

Pages

“The plan was probably to have The Dream Killer walk into our match with nothing but causing pain and destruction on his mind after his most recent loss. He was probably supposed to suplex me all over the ring, and leave me a crumpled mess for a vulture like you to pick apart like I was common roadkill.”

Despite the fact that it is not the only thing in the room, it is the Stool that is the center of attention. The Grin is simply a side character in the story of our true hero.

“I can't say that I was expecting this match with you Cecilworth, but despite my initial intention to go bell to bell with Youngblood. To prove to him that I still had the ability to counter his strength with the technical prowess that earned me a place in the PRIME Hall of Fame.”

A beat.

“Well self preservation kicked in and reminded me that I didn't have to prove a damn thing to anyone, and it would be best to get the hell out of the ring before I wasn't able to walk out on my own. So, really, I lost that match more than the Tower of Babble won it. I'm sure someone as refined and sophisticated as you would understand. I mean, you walk around acting like you won a match, because people would rather forget the person that actually did even existed.”

It's obvious that the one and only true star never skipped leg day, always proud to have them front and center for all to see.

“It’s probably for the best, but regardless of how people want to look at it – you're always going to have an asterisk next to that win. The powers that be may not want to see it that way, but I've lived my whole life not really giving a damn about what anyone else thinks and I'm not about to start now. I have to say though, I'm sure you feel good about how things turned out, you got a Five Star title win out of it. Should have been a Universal title, well if you had actually won. ”

Strong like a Redwood, those legs are what help support the weight of Tony's ego, and at times carry the countless pounds of bullshit he spews.

“You know what felt good to me – what brought an actual smile to my face – was knowing that despite this is Troy's pathetic excuse as punishment for me, you wanted this match Cecilworth. That your anger was enough to make you forget that I'm not on your level, that I'm not the caliber of opponent that you're used to facing, but you're willing to ignore that and step into the ring with me because I have apparently pissed you off that much.”

Pious Penguin probably sits up at night praying he could be half as supportive as the Stool.

=-=-=-=-=

Revival 51

After the show

“What the hell was he thinking?”

Johnnie Newsman watches me walk back and forth in front of the television, one hand on my head while the other is clenched into a fist so tight my knuckles are white. I don't know what is worse; the fact that Cancer had hit Coral with a Terminal Cancer, or the way Victoria had turned and given me that damn ‘I told you so’ look before Coral had even hit the ground.

That's why I am in Johnnie's hotel room instead of my own right now, because every time I look at her I can feel her condescending eyes looking down at me. I knew she was right, hoped that it wouldn't come to this, but with one swift kick it had all come crashing down like a house of cards.

“Maybe Jonathan-Christopher wasn't target after all?”

“No,” I shake my head. “There's no way Cancer intended to hit Coral that night. If that was his intention, he wouldn't have missed.”

Am I really that delusional?

“Cancer is smart man,” Johnnie shrugs his shoulders. “Maybe this his plan all along.”

It was one thing for Bobby to be the captain, but after the snub heard around the world – maybe having Coral as captain of the Bandits leading up to War Games bothered Cancer more than he let on. Now with the Golden Bandit actually carrying the Universal title Jiles has been trying to get back – and claims belongs to him – it may be what cracked the eggs shell.

But Johnnie is wrong, this wasn't Cancer's plan all along. No, this was Troy's doing. She knew that Jiles wouldn't be able to play second fiddle in his own band, and watching Avalon’s sudden rise in the ranks did just that. The Universal title, well there was no way she could know for sure that Coral would win, but he did and she probably loved it.

Because she knew Cancer would hate it.

“No, it wasn't,” I reply, shaking my head when I stop pacing and turn to face him. “But I'm pretty sure I know who's been pulling our strings.”

Johnnie's brow furrows in confusion.

“You know what, it doesn't even matter anymore,” nothing does after that damn kick. The only thing that matters right now, is figuring out whether Coral was serious about him wanting Bobby and I to side with him if it came down to it. More importantly, if he would even trust me if I chose to.

=-=-=-=-=

The

Yellow

Pages

“I take pride in being able to rub people the wrong way, Cecilworth, to know what I need to say or do to bother someone so much that they do something they don't normally do. That doesn't always translate to a checkmark in the win column, but it gives me a chance I otherwise wouldn't have. Sometimes it is enough, and other times I fall just a tad bit short of what I wanted to accomplish.”

It's happened almost twenty times now, and this whole time the Stool has just been winning.

“Am I going to stand here and say that I'm going to walk out of ReVival fifty-two with a victory over you? I'm not delusional enough to pretend that this is going to be easy, but I'm not going to make it easy for you either.”

What isn't easy is having to listen to Tony ramble, as if anyone is even paying attention to his pathetic attempt to even be half as intimidating as the Stool.

“Much like Youngblood did at ReVival fifty-one, you're going to find out first hand that sometimes you need to work a little harder for a win against Tony Gamble. It's crazy when you think about it, since I've been the person people are booked against when they want that easy win.”

Unlike the winner to his left, Tony is a bit of a loser, so his words should be taken with a grain of salt.

“Do me a favor, Cecilworth, and don't do what everyone else does. Don't focus on my record, don't come into this match thinking that you don't have to bring everything you have because I'm not Coral Avalon or Jonathan-Christopher Hall. Because while I may not be the Hall of Famer that once ruled the ring here in PRIME…you shouldn't underestimate me.”

It is the Stool that has been underestimated, not given the credit for his role that a Jetski or even Ria's step ladder have been given lately.

“I need you to know that the man stepping between the ropes to face you in San Francisco, isn't going to be in there wondering whether Cancer or Coral are going to kick each other's head off in the main event. I'm not even going to be in there looking to make you pay for what you and Joe did to me after the match, because I probably deserved it. What I am going to be focused on, Cecilworth, is proving what I failed to do last week against Youngblood…that regardless of how the match ends, I am still one of the best technical wrestlers in PRIME.”

The smile on the right side of his face stretches toward his ear a bit more than usual.

“I'm really excited, Cecilworth, because I just realized that most people's finish line is just another pit stop for me, and knowing that is pretty damn – dare I say – cool.”