Dark

Plenty good the light has done for anyone

Sometimes when we’re blind,

We see the prettiest things

Sometimes when we’re blind,

I swear we live like kings

In castles made of art

Don’t go too far

We’re all in the dark

We’re living in the dark

I don’t care who you are

We’re living in the dark

---

Saturday, September 30th
Cameras ON

Darkness. That’s all that’s on the camera. Slowly, a small light appears in the left portion of the screen with another appearing on the right. More start to appear and burn brighter. Once there is enough to reveal that they are all candles lit all around the camera. In the middle of the room is a chair. Sitting in the chair is Dropkick King himself. There is now enough light to see Adrien clearly enough as he rises from the chair.

“I apologize for the lighting. We’re having some technical difficulties with the lights in this auditorium, namely that I think my esteemed employee can’t figure out the electrical box. So we’re going to be doing this little video a bit in the dark. Which is fitting because I think that the comments of a member of our roster show that he might just be in the dark just a tad. Let’s circle back to him in a moment.

“Avery Miles. I applaud you for staying true to who I expected you to be. Your words in your first video are not that dissimilar to what I had said which continues the tradition of what happens when our paths cross: we’re very alike. It’s rare to see someone who thinks like me. I think even the ambition in your second video reflects that. You’re going for a golden championship belt. I’m trying to overthrow a kingdom. Both are great goals for a wrestler to have in their sights set to.

“You said you can see a WrestleForce main event coming one day soon: Adrien Cochrane versus Avery Miles the Third with the New Generation Wrestling Championship. I’ll admit, I see that championship and I keep seeing people putting my name in the conversation with that belt. Granted, one of those was Honey so she might have some bias in that regard. Either way, it excites me. And if somehow both of those goals intersect into one path, it would be interesting to see how it goes down. If given the opportunity to capture that championship, you better believe I’m going to do everything in my power to do so...it would be my fourth World Title.

“But for now, dealing with target number one is priority one for my overall goal. But right now, for this show, my focus is this match. You, Alex, Karston, Gunnar, Blade, Hixx...you guys are the ones I’m worried about until that final bell. This is about learning to be an effective team with my newest friend in a match with some talented opponents.

“Alex Jones, the way we’ve spoken to each other changed a lot since the last time we were in a match with one another. I think respect was gained amongst us once we were able to pummel each other for a little bit. You can understand how talented someone is by getting in the ring with them a lot more than any match watching you can do. And that’s what happened here. I know what Alex can do and he knows what I can do. And a bit of perspective was given to us when we could look at one another without the desire of the #FSociety Heavyweight Championship clouding our judgment of one another.

“I appreciate that you see what I’m trying to do in NGW, Alex. You pretty much summed up what my goal is in our company. I’ve always said that to be the best in the business, you need to be a leader of men and women to go out and be the best you can be, and I think the current climate is hindering that goal due to the existence of the Destroyers. But tomorrow night isn’t about the Destroyers. It’s about the eight of us. And I hope to show you that Jazmyn and I are a capable pair.”

Adrien makes a disapproving expression as he moves on to his next opponent.

“Alicia Hixx, thanks for acknowledging me.”

He shakes his head as he continues.

“Karston Daire. Welcome to the big leagues. I hear the pay is a lot better here than it is in West Coast Genesis so I hope that you are using your newly increased income wisely. It’s always a good idea to try to not increase your spending immediately.

“It’s also not a good idea to increase your arrogance to the point where you think you are better than people who have been on a bigger stage than you. Yeah, I said respectfully you guys have the experience and chemistry advantage. That helps your team. But that, in no way, means that we’re going to back down to you like you are some unstoppable force. I tend to be polite to anyone who is polite to me. A great example that shows I can be respectful to an enemy is Coda. I open up with polite and respectful. When you respond with how I better respect you and you’re going to kick my teeth in. Wonderful, I was hoping I would have someone in this match that I actually want to dropkick in the face. Thanks for giving me that edge and putting that chip on my shoulder.

“Let’s make one thing perfectly clear, Karston, and I guess I should address the Gunnar Wahl mouthpiece, Aaynet as well. None of us are afraid of you. We address a fact: you have the most experience one another. That’s something none of us can take away from you. It’s undisputed. Anyone in this match that tries to is a moron. But I want you to look at another undisputed fact about the competitors in this match, gentlemen: count the World titles. Don’t worry, I did the math for you. Thirteen among two of these teams that you spent so much time trying to discredit. Teaching lessons to people who have done so much more than you have in your career? Laughable.

“I’m not saying there is no way you can’t be future NGW Tag Team Champions. It is within the realm of possibility. But you’re the biggest question mark in this match. Whether you like to hear it or not, you two are the biggest unknown quantity in our contest. And with your quips about how the ring size is the same and a number of fans make no difference to you, you clearly don’t understand what playing on a bigger stage actually means. It has nothing to do with the arena, but the level of talent in the locker room, a completely different roster. Yeah, block out the fans all you want, but that won’t stop the fact that you are facing a much more stacked competition. What kind of tag division did West Coast Genesis exactly have? Pretty much nonexistent, right? Have fun comparing that experience to the Young Cubs, literally anyone Jew Blazer tags with, the Destroyers, and good luck if they ever decide to let Rebel Ink tag again and put you in a match with them. I’m not saying you can’t have a future. I’m just saying beat someone other than Blade and Hixx before you go get yourself a high horse or a pedestal to stand on or whatever metaphor you feel like fits.

“Also thanks for publicly stating you align yourself with the Destroyers and continued to talk about kicking in me and my friend’s teeth in. Now I won’t feel guilty when one or both of you are lying motionless after an Adrien Cutter. You want to be an enemy of mine, gentlemen, then be prepared to face the consequences of your words. Want to become part of the evil I’m trying to fight? Just remember one thing, I’ve been fighting darkness for twelve years. Scare tactics don’t work on me. Wanna play the bully? Find someone who is actually afraid of the dark.”

As Adrien’s last sentence leaves his lips, every candle blows out. Nothing is visible once more as the entire scene is shrouded in blackness.

---

Plenty good the light has done for anyone

Cause everyone forgets that they were young once

And they could run once

Now they’re all wiser

But can they run?

Don’t go too far

We’re all in the dark

We’re living in the dark

I don’t care who you are

We’re living in the dark