Post by Adrien | Adam on May 18, 2018 23:32:35 GMT -5
(Got permission from GOL to also share this here)
Date: Sunday, April 29th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
“And Coral Rose is the winner of tonight’s final match! What a big victory!!”
“You’re not kidding, Barkley! Dead Eye is one of the biggest names in the history of NGW, and she just spoiled his big return!!”
Click…
The television that was broadcasting what was happening out in the ring across the building turns to black after the push of a button. This episode of New Generation Wrestling Dissension has concluded for the week. The man who pressed the button to turn off the television sets the remote down on the table that sat a few feet under the mounted television. The man stares at the now blank television. There were bags underneath his dark blue eyes and slightly above a few wrinkles. Above that is his dark hair that is spiked upwards, adding almost another six inches to an already fairly tall gentleman. He takes a deep breath before turning to face his client, who is sitting on the ground with a guitar connected to a pair of headphones that are hanging across his neck.
Eddie: “Quite a show, aye?”
Since the headphones weren’t actually covering the ears of Adrien Cochrane, he heard the words coming from his manager and best friend, Eddie Walker. His lighter blue eyes don’t leave the neck of the guitar as he continues playing a few notes in succession to one another. He’s still wearing the #Believe shirt that he wrestled in earlier in the evening. He replies without looking up.
Adrien: “Eventful, that’s for sure.”
Eddie: “Well, you were the one who set said events in motion, sir.”
The blonde haired wrestler and musician gives a faint smile, knowing Walker’s words were accurate. Walker adds on to his sentence as he changes the way he addresses the Dropkick King.
Eddie: “Mr. Number One Contender.”
After the announcement made in the ring by Adrien Cochrane himself to declare his intention to use his title shot earned from leading the winning team in the big Warfare match for an opportunity at WrestleForce, NGW’s biggest pay per view of the year, coming early July. The championship in question...the NGW Heavyweight Championship.
Adrien’s smile widens a little bit as soon as Eddie refers to him as the number one contender. He sets down the guitar, a black Fender Stratocaster with a pearl pickguard, and removes the headphones from around his neck. The six-foot New Orleans native rises to his feet.
Adrien: “Don’t you think it was time for me to make my mark in this company?”
Eddie believes Adrien to be the greatest wrestler on planet Earth, unashamed of that opinion possibly being biased since he is Adrien’s manager and best friend. Adrien may do his best to humble himself as much as he can and keep himself wanting to push himself forward, but his manager has no problem hyping him up to be the best there is. Walker gives one of the widest grins he can give before placing a hand on each of his friend’s shoulders.
Eddie: “Absolutely. No bigger stage for you to claim that championship and solidify yourself as one of the absolute best in the business.”
For a moment, there’s a polite knock on the door before it opens without an answer. A lithe woman with soft blonde hair, sapphire eyes, and a red dress that compliments her curves takes a step into the occupied locker room with a soft sigh. The emotional weariness clashes with her simple beauty as she regards Adrien and Eddie.
Everalda: “I hope you don’t mind our intrusion...”
She says “our”. Glancing back at the open door, she nods as a younger woman with blonde hair and soft blue eyes. Although she’s a smaller woman, her body structure is toned, in particular, her lower body, and she’s donned in her own colorful and nerdy ring attire. She’s seen better days, a scowl of frustration clear on her youthful face, and she doesn’t veer away from the events of this night.
Jessica: “So much for my guaranteed championship shot… Fucking wasted.”
They were the Sears Sisters: Everalda Sears-Theron and Jessica Sears. The first thing that happens once both women enter the room is the elder sister wraps her arms around the Dropkick King, burying her face in his shoulder. Cochrane places one hand on Everalda’s back and another on the back of her head. As this embrace takes place, Walker turns to the younger Sears.
Eddie: “It was unfortunate that you had that jerk stick his nose in your title match, Miss Sears. Perhaps the circumstances in which this went down will allow you to get another opportunity soon…”
The younger Sears sister softly groans and shakes her head.
Jessica: “Amber has some sort of vendetta against her own sister, Kayla, and Matt, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she has the rematch lined up. However, I want to earn the opportunity just like I’ve earned everything else in my life.”
With a soft sigh, she turns to regard her older sister and her potential future brother-in-law. A slight frown crosses her face and her eyes soften.
Jessica: “But it’s not just the interference that upsets me.”
Everalda feels her sister’s eyes on them and she presses her lips together. She slightly moves back from Adrien but stays in his arms as she turns towards Jessica and Eddie.
Everalda: “It was my own fault. With everything going on between you and Matthew, I should have known that he would approach me when I was alone. I only left the room to get a bottle of water and then…”
Eddie: “He shouldn’t be putting his hands on a non-wrestling young woman who is not in the company in any fashion in the first place. I don’t see how he wasn’t placed in handcuffs immediately for aggravated assault. He should be sitting in a jail cell, to be perfectly honest. Especially with how society views such actions these days.”
The three-time World Heavyweight Champion turns his girlfriend back around and looks at her. He wasn’t concerned about whatever legal ramifications could happen or why it happened. There was one very burning question on his mind.
Adrien: “Are you okay?”
She sees the way her boyfriend looks into her eyes. The expression of pure, absolute concern for her wellbeing. She presses her lips together in a thin line, breathes in through her nose, and nods slowly.
Everalda: “I’m alright… A little shaken, but I’ll be fine. I promise.”
Jessica looks to her older sister and shakes her head.
Jessica: “You’re taking this too lightly. Why? For what Matt did to you, he deserves to SUFFER.”
Everalda: “All he wanted was information. It was confidential, but I could tell by his reactions that it was crucial for him to know… I talked to Ms. Yamamoto, herself. Minoru is Mr. Shields’ biological son. The reasons why she kept this secret from Matt are very personal.”
Adrien: “Regardless, this is not the kind of treatment I want for MY girlfriend. And believe me…”
Eddie Walker chuckles at Adrien using the word “believe”. In fact, “believe me” might be one of the most common two-word phrases in Adrien’s vocabulary. Hence the hashtag most associated to him and the very word in light blue letters that is on the black shirt he is wearing: #Believe.
Adrien: “...Jessica and I will remember this when the two of us are in the ring with Matthew Shields and his goons when Victory and Honor come around.”
Victory and Honor was a super card between this show and WrestleForce, taking place on the last Sunday of May. The show will be headlined by the Destroyers, which consists of Matthew Shields, his fiancee Kayla Richards, her brother Jaxon Richards, and Dogs of War member Jack Tillman, facing off against the Guardians, which is Adrien, Jessica and their two friends, Joshua “The Jew Blazer” Goldstein and Jazmyn Rain. It should be the battle to end the war between the two groups once and for all.
After addressing the entire room with his previous statement, Cochrane places both of his hands on a cheek of Everalda Sears-Theron. They make eye contact for a second before he presses his lips against her soft forehead. He whispers softly to her, not to hide his words from Eddie or Jessica, but to make the message more intimate. The tone of the voice was that of someone making a promise to the person they love.
Adrien: “I don’t want to see anything like this happening to you again. I’m going to make sure it doesn’t.”
Such intimacy, the love he pours into his words, and the complete realization of what took place earlier in the night. For a moment, Everalda feels Matthew’s hand on her throat in strangulation, threatening her life for answers she knew. Her entire body shivers. Though she has always been strong in her emotional capabilities, this time she allows the tears to spill down her cheeks and onto Adrien’s hands. Her arms tighten around him and her hands grip his #Believe shirt, wrinkling the shirt in between her fingers. She buries her face in between her beloved’s chest and shoulder and lightly trembles. In response to feeling just how the shock has not worn off, Adrien presses his lips against his girlfriend’s temple. He pulls her face up so both sets of blue eyes can make contact with one another once more.
Adrien: “We’re going to spend the rest of the evening at DHS for the afterparty. Johnny Maverick, me, your sister, Joshua, Jazmyn, Dean, Avery...you’ll be in a room filled with people that won’t let such a thing happen to you there, okay? Take a deep breath and go with your sister, okay? I’ll be there just a few minutes behind you. I promise”
It's difficult to look into her lover's eyes, not because she's afraid, but because she's always been so strong. To be seen with tears of sorrow and fright in her sapphire eyes… she considers it a weakness. However, Everalda does comply with Adrien’s request and she kisses him, her lips over his. Once she pulls away, she turns to her younger sister who's trying her best to be a pillar of strength for the both of them. Jessica leads her older sister towards the door, but she stops and glances back towards Adrien and Eddie.
Jessica: “...See you at DHS.”
The sisters who walked in together walk out together all the same. This leaves the Dropkick King alone in the room with his manager once more. Adrien runs his hands through his blonde hair before delivering a deep exhale as he takes a seat on the small couch in his locker room. The demeanor of his manager is much different though. While Adrien may try to carry the weight of all sorts of events on his shoulders, Eddie Walker tends to be the perennial optimist, not letting any sort of burden bringing him down. With a grin on his face, Walker takes a seat next to his best friend with his phone in his hand.
Eddie: “Mind if I offer a change in the subject?”
Adrien’s curious glance gives him a peek at what discussion he and Eddie was about to have. The first thing Adrien sees on Eddie’s phone is a red bird that is used as a logo for Guerreros of Lucha! This leads Adrien to believe that this is about the Super Falcon Cup.
Adrien: “Brackets announced?”
Eddie: “Want to know who your first round opponent is?”
The curve of Walker’s mouth widens as the manager begins to feel outright giddy over this tournament for his client. Cochrane’s smile rivals Walker’s as he thinks about the opportunity he was presented when Devlin Scott told him that he approves Adrien entering the Super Falcon Cup on behalf of NGW. After all, this was an event that their company has been very successful at, to say the least. The last two had representatives from NGW in the winner’s circle: Avery Miles III and former member of the Guardians with Adrien, Honey.
Walker begins to slowly swipe his thumb upwards to scroll down on his iPhone. Adrien’s match finally appears at the bottom of the screen.
Adrien: “Chase Robinson…”
Walker sets his phone down, snapping his fingers, trying to pull his mental file on Robinson.
Eddie: “Wasn’t he the one from...who made that comment!!”
Adrien remembers the tweet that followed the announcement Adrien was selected to participate in the cup. As for the where, Eddie was probably thinking about CWC. Which is inaccurate now, since a handful of CWC regions broke off from the conglomerate and forming a new alliance called the Global Wrestling Association. In a way, it reminded him of the company he got his start, which was a region part of the WWA, which had broken off from the NWA.
But that was thirteen years ago.
Adrien: “Yeah. That’s the guy.”
Adrien gets back to his feet before offering his best friend a hand to get off the couch himself. After all, Eddie is quite older...a fact most of the circle seems to remind him, mostly Adrien’s sister, Alexis.
Eddie: “Well, the mission is clear in terms of the Super Falcon Cup.”
Adrien gives a weak smile as he lifts his bag, prepared to head down to the after-party at Johnny Maverick’s club. He slings it over his shoulder before looking at his manager. There’s a certainty to his tone, as he doesn’t blink in his response.
Adrien: “The mission has always been clear. The goal remains the same. The only thing that’s changed is the first obstacle has a name now.”
Date: Friday, May 18th, 2018
Cameras: ON
Some time has passed since the Dropkick King was given the official notification who he would be across the ring from in the opening round of the Super Falcon Cup. Ten days prior to the event, Adrien Cochrane finds himself face-to-face with the GoPro Hero 6 that he always uses for his videos for the purpose of his wrestling career. The New Orleans native stands in front of the backdrop of the sun setting in Central Park in New York City. With the sun now behind him and almost beyond the horizon, Cochrane removes his sunglasses and places them in the pocket of his black jacket. To keep the color scheme, he is wearing a pair of black jeans and a black Rise Against t-shirt.
“Greetings, Chase Robinson. It appears to be our responsibilities to welcome one another to the host company of the Super Falcon Cup, the Guerreros of Lucha! Rather unfortunately, one of us will have a short stay. It’s unfortunate because I truly believe that the two of us could have made for an interesting finals match. But that wasn’t the way the bracket was made for the Super Falcon Cup and we have to live with it.”
Sans the sunglasses, Adrien’s blue eyes can look into the camera.
“But maybe I’m a minority in that opinion. I remember your reaction to the announcement that I was going to represent New Generation Wrestling.”
A tweet is edited into the video for a moment.
Adrien reappears on the screen, chuckling a little bit.
“Based on that reaction, I guess you got what you wanted, in a way. You probably want this person you’re not too impressed with ejected from the Super Falcon Cup as soon as possible and you get to be the guy to do it, right? After all, you’re ‘FLAWless’ Chase Robinson, right? Your cover photo is literally an image that reads ‘Future Legend’. No way you’d be the one to be sent back home on the first night of the Super Falcon Cup, right?
“I thought about your moniker, on the flight to Manhattan. Flawless. With the first half of the word capitalized, I presume for the way you pronounce it with the accent on that half of the compound word. It means without blemish or imperfection. It means you make no mistakes and have no shortcomings. It’s an incredibly high standard to keep yourself to, which I almost admire to a degree. But the problem is: no one stays undefeated forever.
“What happens to you when the first loss comes around? How will you handle that day? I imagine you probably will respond immediately with how that will never happen, but if you want to live in a world of unrealistic expectations, that’s your decision. I’ve been in this business a good bit so I can tell you one thing: one day it will come. It’s inevitable. Could be against me. Could be against your next opponent or maybe even twenty opponents from now. How will you go on from that first loss?”
Cochrane nods his head a little bit with his blonde hair moving gently in the wind.
“But back to the match at hand: Chase Robinson versus Adrien Cochrane. Seems we’re on track for quite the head on collision. I figure that I got your attention initially because I was representing the company that has historically done well in the Super Falcon Cup. Apparently, you heard of me based on that tweet literally seconds after I declared my intention to enter, before Guerreros of Lucha! even had a chance to react to it. I was half-tempted to reply with a GIF from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Pretty sure you could hazard a guess which one I’m talking about.”
Cochrane attempts a Jack Sparrow impersonation, knowing very well that impersonations were not his strong suit.
“But you have heard of me.”
Feeling the groan coming from anyone watching the video once it aired, he returns to his normal voice.
“You, of course, then ask in your video who hasn’t heard of me. You suddenly seemed a lot more familiar with me once the cameras were on rather than when you were making knee-jerk reactions on Twitter. Videos tend to be more refined than Twitter. On Twitter, you can slip up. You can speak out against something and be very wrong, and everyone sees it as it happens. Once the camera starts rolling, you’re usually going into it after research, perhaps a script, maybe rehearsed. You could just be doing what I’m doing where I study up as much as I can but I make it up as I go along. GWA has my protege floating around in Empire, Kenzie Rydell. She can confirm that I’m just a guy that rambles on camera with the best of them. But the difference is that I try to be informed prior to opening my mouth. Better results, typically.
“There was another thing that seemed a bit different on Twitter versus what you said back in March. You seemed disappointed in the fact that the great New Generation Wrestling sent a little Dropkick King to compete. I even said that I was sorry to disappoint your expectations, which you proceeded to do exactly what anyone who has even taken a quick glance at your profile would assume you would: acted as though you’ve already won and that you are the absolute best wrestler on the planet.
“But then you came on camera and started talking about you know I work hard, you know I have accomplished quite a few things in my career. You even went on to call me an NGW Icon, which on the heels of someone here trying to tell me that I’m the ‘face of the company’, still makes me feel like I still have lots left to accomplish before I believe I’ve properly earned that praise. Because you said one thing that I agree with, the past is the past. I’m not worried about my last match. I’m worried about my next match. I’m always trying to be better than the man I was the day before. It’s the only way to truly reach your true potential, something I’m not sure you quite understand as you’re still very new to the industry. You said you knew I worked hard. Dude, you don’t know the half of it.”
The Dropkick King finally takes a seat on the bench. The key-shaped necklace that he normally wears hangs in front of his jacket. At this point, the sun has completely disappeared beyond the horizon and the lights around the park flicker on.
“But that’s the danger of believing yourself to already be there. You think there is no more work to be done. You live in the delusion that you are already better than everyone else, then you become content. Which means you don’t want to become better than you are today. Which means...you slip up. And if you see yourself as ‘FLAWless’ then I guess you aren’t exactly thinking you need to constantly improve to become the best Chase Robinson could possibly be, am I right? Despite what you may or may not believe about yourself, you are a man. You are a mortal being that can be beaten, whether you realize this or not.
“You mention your streak. You’re very proud of that. Perhaps a bit obsessed, even. See, you mention that you’ve only been doing this three months. I’ve actually gone a year without being pinned, spanning that time window among two different companies. Sometimes, when you get hot, you get hot. Those streaks are usually good indicators that you’re really rolling on all cylinders. You boasted that I must so be disappointed that we are under a special match stipulation and that I won’t be able to be the first person to finally gain that pinfall and end your streak…”
After a brief sigh and a quick shake of the head, Adrien looks fairly annoyed as he replies to that comment.
“Bro, I’m just trying to win a tournament.”
Now the Dropkick King has both of his hands, open palms facing up, almost in a shrug.
“I’ve ended undefeated streaks several times in my career. You seem familiar enough with my career to know some of them. Am I undefeated? Nope. I win a lot more than I lose, but I’m not perfect. I’m not ‘FLAWless’ nor do I want to be. If you don’t remember why, please hit the rewind button, I already covered that. But your three months of being unpinned is just as much in the past as any titles of mine you see as irrelevant. You want to talk about the present and the future, mentioning how you are the ‘RVP’ and now the ‘LVP’. Yeah, well, I’m the number one contender to the NGW Heavyweight Championship, a title I will be holding prior to the end of this tournament. I am the Dropkick King, and I will be leaving our match the victor. I might not be the one that will pin you for the first time. Someone else will get that honor. But I #Believe that I have what it takes to be the one holding that Super Falcon Cup when this whole tournament is all said and done.”
Adrien gives a quick smile before the video feed ends.
Date: Monday, May 20th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
“One more trip…”
That’s what Adrien Cochrane tells himself as he leans into his trunk, grabbing a large pack of water bottles under each arm, and closing the trunk of his Mercedes-Benz with his foot. He was back home in Louisiana, just a few minutes outside of New Orleans. After a quick stop at the grocery store with his girlfriend, Everalda Sears-Theron, Adrien has finally completed all the errands he needed to run today.
Adrien: “Easy peasy…”
He pushes the front door open with the same foot he closed his car’s trunk with so that he can drop off all the groceries in the kitchen. Everalda, who has pretty much declared the kitchen her kingdom since she moved in with Cochrane a couple of weeks ago, was sorting everything they bought into the locations she desired them, most of which was not where Adrien previously stored them. Adrien decides it is best he stays out of her way while she does that.
After patting his pockets, Cochrane realizes he left his phone in the car, turning back around to head back to his car to retrieve it. He shuts the front door behind him before clicking the button on his keys to unlock the vehicle before opening the driver’s seat door. He grabs his phone from the cup holder before he realizes what his ears are hearing...a car engine.
His first reaction is to make sure his car wasn’t running, but remembered that the keys are still in his hands and not in the ignition. He glances at Everalda’s car, which shouldn’t be running since he just saw her in the kitchen three seconds ago. After a simple process of elimination, Adrien looks on the other side of the gate leading to his driveway. There was GMC sitting outside the gate with a man standing near the control console to the gate, about to press the button to call for Adrien before he saw him digging in his own car. Adrien immediately recognized the man.
“You going to let me in?”
The people in New Generation Wrestling see the man on the other end of the gate as a former Marquee Champion and a member of the Rebel Society. Anyone involved in Guerreros of Lucha! think of him more as the first Super Falcon Cup winner, Hall of Famer, and current Rey de Reyes Champion.
Avery Miles III
I've been waiting for a good day
I've been holding back long enough
I've been hurting to tell you some things
It's not the falling of the temperature
That's making all our bones run cold
It's the breeze you make
The presence felt when you're around me
And it feels like I'm at an all-time low
Date: Sunday, April 29th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
“And Coral Rose is the winner of tonight’s final match! What a big victory!!”
“You’re not kidding, Barkley! Dead Eye is one of the biggest names in the history of NGW, and she just spoiled his big return!!”
Click…
The television that was broadcasting what was happening out in the ring across the building turns to black after the push of a button. This episode of New Generation Wrestling Dissension has concluded for the week. The man who pressed the button to turn off the television sets the remote down on the table that sat a few feet under the mounted television. The man stares at the now blank television. There were bags underneath his dark blue eyes and slightly above a few wrinkles. Above that is his dark hair that is spiked upwards, adding almost another six inches to an already fairly tall gentleman. He takes a deep breath before turning to face his client, who is sitting on the ground with a guitar connected to a pair of headphones that are hanging across his neck.
Eddie: “Quite a show, aye?”
Since the headphones weren’t actually covering the ears of Adrien Cochrane, he heard the words coming from his manager and best friend, Eddie Walker. His lighter blue eyes don’t leave the neck of the guitar as he continues playing a few notes in succession to one another. He’s still wearing the #Believe shirt that he wrestled in earlier in the evening. He replies without looking up.
Adrien: “Eventful, that’s for sure.”
Eddie: “Well, you were the one who set said events in motion, sir.”
The blonde haired wrestler and musician gives a faint smile, knowing Walker’s words were accurate. Walker adds on to his sentence as he changes the way he addresses the Dropkick King.
Eddie: “Mr. Number One Contender.”
After the announcement made in the ring by Adrien Cochrane himself to declare his intention to use his title shot earned from leading the winning team in the big Warfare match for an opportunity at WrestleForce, NGW’s biggest pay per view of the year, coming early July. The championship in question...the NGW Heavyweight Championship.
Adrien’s smile widens a little bit as soon as Eddie refers to him as the number one contender. He sets down the guitar, a black Fender Stratocaster with a pearl pickguard, and removes the headphones from around his neck. The six-foot New Orleans native rises to his feet.
Adrien: “Don’t you think it was time for me to make my mark in this company?”
Eddie believes Adrien to be the greatest wrestler on planet Earth, unashamed of that opinion possibly being biased since he is Adrien’s manager and best friend. Adrien may do his best to humble himself as much as he can and keep himself wanting to push himself forward, but his manager has no problem hyping him up to be the best there is. Walker gives one of the widest grins he can give before placing a hand on each of his friend’s shoulders.
Eddie: “Absolutely. No bigger stage for you to claim that championship and solidify yourself as one of the absolute best in the business.”
For a moment, there’s a polite knock on the door before it opens without an answer. A lithe woman with soft blonde hair, sapphire eyes, and a red dress that compliments her curves takes a step into the occupied locker room with a soft sigh. The emotional weariness clashes with her simple beauty as she regards Adrien and Eddie.
Everalda: “I hope you don’t mind our intrusion...”
She says “our”. Glancing back at the open door, she nods as a younger woman with blonde hair and soft blue eyes. Although she’s a smaller woman, her body structure is toned, in particular, her lower body, and she’s donned in her own colorful and nerdy ring attire. She’s seen better days, a scowl of frustration clear on her youthful face, and she doesn’t veer away from the events of this night.
Jessica: “So much for my guaranteed championship shot… Fucking wasted.”
They were the Sears Sisters: Everalda Sears-Theron and Jessica Sears. The first thing that happens once both women enter the room is the elder sister wraps her arms around the Dropkick King, burying her face in his shoulder. Cochrane places one hand on Everalda’s back and another on the back of her head. As this embrace takes place, Walker turns to the younger Sears.
Eddie: “It was unfortunate that you had that jerk stick his nose in your title match, Miss Sears. Perhaps the circumstances in which this went down will allow you to get another opportunity soon…”
The younger Sears sister softly groans and shakes her head.
Jessica: “Amber has some sort of vendetta against her own sister, Kayla, and Matt, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she has the rematch lined up. However, I want to earn the opportunity just like I’ve earned everything else in my life.”
With a soft sigh, she turns to regard her older sister and her potential future brother-in-law. A slight frown crosses her face and her eyes soften.
Jessica: “But it’s not just the interference that upsets me.”
Everalda feels her sister’s eyes on them and she presses her lips together. She slightly moves back from Adrien but stays in his arms as she turns towards Jessica and Eddie.
Everalda: “It was my own fault. With everything going on between you and Matthew, I should have known that he would approach me when I was alone. I only left the room to get a bottle of water and then…”
Eddie: “He shouldn’t be putting his hands on a non-wrestling young woman who is not in the company in any fashion in the first place. I don’t see how he wasn’t placed in handcuffs immediately for aggravated assault. He should be sitting in a jail cell, to be perfectly honest. Especially with how society views such actions these days.”
The three-time World Heavyweight Champion turns his girlfriend back around and looks at her. He wasn’t concerned about whatever legal ramifications could happen or why it happened. There was one very burning question on his mind.
Adrien: “Are you okay?”
She sees the way her boyfriend looks into her eyes. The expression of pure, absolute concern for her wellbeing. She presses her lips together in a thin line, breathes in through her nose, and nods slowly.
Everalda: “I’m alright… A little shaken, but I’ll be fine. I promise.”
Jessica looks to her older sister and shakes her head.
Jessica: “You’re taking this too lightly. Why? For what Matt did to you, he deserves to SUFFER.”
Everalda: “All he wanted was information. It was confidential, but I could tell by his reactions that it was crucial for him to know… I talked to Ms. Yamamoto, herself. Minoru is Mr. Shields’ biological son. The reasons why she kept this secret from Matt are very personal.”
Adrien: “Regardless, this is not the kind of treatment I want for MY girlfriend. And believe me…”
Eddie Walker chuckles at Adrien using the word “believe”. In fact, “believe me” might be one of the most common two-word phrases in Adrien’s vocabulary. Hence the hashtag most associated to him and the very word in light blue letters that is on the black shirt he is wearing: #Believe.
Adrien: “...Jessica and I will remember this when the two of us are in the ring with Matthew Shields and his goons when Victory and Honor come around.”
Victory and Honor was a super card between this show and WrestleForce, taking place on the last Sunday of May. The show will be headlined by the Destroyers, which consists of Matthew Shields, his fiancee Kayla Richards, her brother Jaxon Richards, and Dogs of War member Jack Tillman, facing off against the Guardians, which is Adrien, Jessica and their two friends, Joshua “The Jew Blazer” Goldstein and Jazmyn Rain. It should be the battle to end the war between the two groups once and for all.
After addressing the entire room with his previous statement, Cochrane places both of his hands on a cheek of Everalda Sears-Theron. They make eye contact for a second before he presses his lips against her soft forehead. He whispers softly to her, not to hide his words from Eddie or Jessica, but to make the message more intimate. The tone of the voice was that of someone making a promise to the person they love.
Adrien: “I don’t want to see anything like this happening to you again. I’m going to make sure it doesn’t.”
Such intimacy, the love he pours into his words, and the complete realization of what took place earlier in the night. For a moment, Everalda feels Matthew’s hand on her throat in strangulation, threatening her life for answers she knew. Her entire body shivers. Though she has always been strong in her emotional capabilities, this time she allows the tears to spill down her cheeks and onto Adrien’s hands. Her arms tighten around him and her hands grip his #Believe shirt, wrinkling the shirt in between her fingers. She buries her face in between her beloved’s chest and shoulder and lightly trembles. In response to feeling just how the shock has not worn off, Adrien presses his lips against his girlfriend’s temple. He pulls her face up so both sets of blue eyes can make contact with one another once more.
Adrien: “We’re going to spend the rest of the evening at DHS for the afterparty. Johnny Maverick, me, your sister, Joshua, Jazmyn, Dean, Avery...you’ll be in a room filled with people that won’t let such a thing happen to you there, okay? Take a deep breath and go with your sister, okay? I’ll be there just a few minutes behind you. I promise”
It's difficult to look into her lover's eyes, not because she's afraid, but because she's always been so strong. To be seen with tears of sorrow and fright in her sapphire eyes… she considers it a weakness. However, Everalda does comply with Adrien’s request and she kisses him, her lips over his. Once she pulls away, she turns to her younger sister who's trying her best to be a pillar of strength for the both of them. Jessica leads her older sister towards the door, but she stops and glances back towards Adrien and Eddie.
Jessica: “...See you at DHS.”
The sisters who walked in together walk out together all the same. This leaves the Dropkick King alone in the room with his manager once more. Adrien runs his hands through his blonde hair before delivering a deep exhale as he takes a seat on the small couch in his locker room. The demeanor of his manager is much different though. While Adrien may try to carry the weight of all sorts of events on his shoulders, Eddie Walker tends to be the perennial optimist, not letting any sort of burden bringing him down. With a grin on his face, Walker takes a seat next to his best friend with his phone in his hand.
Eddie: “Mind if I offer a change in the subject?”
Adrien’s curious glance gives him a peek at what discussion he and Eddie was about to have. The first thing Adrien sees on Eddie’s phone is a red bird that is used as a logo for Guerreros of Lucha! This leads Adrien to believe that this is about the Super Falcon Cup.
Adrien: “Brackets announced?”
Eddie: “Want to know who your first round opponent is?”
The curve of Walker’s mouth widens as the manager begins to feel outright giddy over this tournament for his client. Cochrane’s smile rivals Walker’s as he thinks about the opportunity he was presented when Devlin Scott told him that he approves Adrien entering the Super Falcon Cup on behalf of NGW. After all, this was an event that their company has been very successful at, to say the least. The last two had representatives from NGW in the winner’s circle: Avery Miles III and former member of the Guardians with Adrien, Honey.
Walker begins to slowly swipe his thumb upwards to scroll down on his iPhone. Adrien’s match finally appears at the bottom of the screen.
Adrien: “Chase Robinson…”
Walker sets his phone down, snapping his fingers, trying to pull his mental file on Robinson.
Eddie: “Wasn’t he the one from...who made that comment!!”
Adrien remembers the tweet that followed the announcement Adrien was selected to participate in the cup. As for the where, Eddie was probably thinking about CWC. Which is inaccurate now, since a handful of CWC regions broke off from the conglomerate and forming a new alliance called the Global Wrestling Association. In a way, it reminded him of the company he got his start, which was a region part of the WWA, which had broken off from the NWA.
But that was thirteen years ago.
Adrien: “Yeah. That’s the guy.”
Adrien gets back to his feet before offering his best friend a hand to get off the couch himself. After all, Eddie is quite older...a fact most of the circle seems to remind him, mostly Adrien’s sister, Alexis.
Eddie: “Well, the mission is clear in terms of the Super Falcon Cup.”
Adrien gives a weak smile as he lifts his bag, prepared to head down to the after-party at Johnny Maverick’s club. He slings it over his shoulder before looking at his manager. There’s a certainty to his tone, as he doesn’t blink in his response.
Adrien: “The mission has always been clear. The goal remains the same. The only thing that’s changed is the first obstacle has a name now.”
Slightly bruised and broken
From our head on collision
I've never seen this side of you
Another tragic case of feeling
Bruised and broken
From our head on collision
I've never seen this side of you
Another tragic case and I’m still
Date: Friday, May 18th, 2018
Cameras: ON
Some time has passed since the Dropkick King was given the official notification who he would be across the ring from in the opening round of the Super Falcon Cup. Ten days prior to the event, Adrien Cochrane finds himself face-to-face with the GoPro Hero 6 that he always uses for his videos for the purpose of his wrestling career. The New Orleans native stands in front of the backdrop of the sun setting in Central Park in New York City. With the sun now behind him and almost beyond the horizon, Cochrane removes his sunglasses and places them in the pocket of his black jacket. To keep the color scheme, he is wearing a pair of black jeans and a black Rise Against t-shirt.
“Greetings, Chase Robinson. It appears to be our responsibilities to welcome one another to the host company of the Super Falcon Cup, the Guerreros of Lucha! Rather unfortunately, one of us will have a short stay. It’s unfortunate because I truly believe that the two of us could have made for an interesting finals match. But that wasn’t the way the bracket was made for the Super Falcon Cup and we have to live with it.”
Sans the sunglasses, Adrien’s blue eyes can look into the camera.
“But maybe I’m a minority in that opinion. I remember your reaction to the announcement that I was going to represent New Generation Wrestling.”
A tweet is edited into the video for a moment.
#FLAWless Chase Robinson @wrestleflaw_
Replying to Adrien | Adam @gol_Lucha @ngwfed
Oh it's this guy. I heard about you...
Not impressed.
7:30 PM - 30 Mar 2018
Replying to Adrien | Adam @gol_Lucha @ngwfed
Oh it's this guy. I heard about you...
Not impressed.
7:30 PM - 30 Mar 2018
Adrien reappears on the screen, chuckling a little bit.
“Based on that reaction, I guess you got what you wanted, in a way. You probably want this person you’re not too impressed with ejected from the Super Falcon Cup as soon as possible and you get to be the guy to do it, right? After all, you’re ‘FLAWless’ Chase Robinson, right? Your cover photo is literally an image that reads ‘Future Legend’. No way you’d be the one to be sent back home on the first night of the Super Falcon Cup, right?
“I thought about your moniker, on the flight to Manhattan. Flawless. With the first half of the word capitalized, I presume for the way you pronounce it with the accent on that half of the compound word. It means without blemish or imperfection. It means you make no mistakes and have no shortcomings. It’s an incredibly high standard to keep yourself to, which I almost admire to a degree. But the problem is: no one stays undefeated forever.
“What happens to you when the first loss comes around? How will you handle that day? I imagine you probably will respond immediately with how that will never happen, but if you want to live in a world of unrealistic expectations, that’s your decision. I’ve been in this business a good bit so I can tell you one thing: one day it will come. It’s inevitable. Could be against me. Could be against your next opponent or maybe even twenty opponents from now. How will you go on from that first loss?”
Cochrane nods his head a little bit with his blonde hair moving gently in the wind.
“But back to the match at hand: Chase Robinson versus Adrien Cochrane. Seems we’re on track for quite the head on collision. I figure that I got your attention initially because I was representing the company that has historically done well in the Super Falcon Cup. Apparently, you heard of me based on that tweet literally seconds after I declared my intention to enter, before Guerreros of Lucha! even had a chance to react to it. I was half-tempted to reply with a GIF from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Pretty sure you could hazard a guess which one I’m talking about.”
Cochrane attempts a Jack Sparrow impersonation, knowing very well that impersonations were not his strong suit.
“But you have heard of me.”
Feeling the groan coming from anyone watching the video once it aired, he returns to his normal voice.
“You, of course, then ask in your video who hasn’t heard of me. You suddenly seemed a lot more familiar with me once the cameras were on rather than when you were making knee-jerk reactions on Twitter. Videos tend to be more refined than Twitter. On Twitter, you can slip up. You can speak out against something and be very wrong, and everyone sees it as it happens. Once the camera starts rolling, you’re usually going into it after research, perhaps a script, maybe rehearsed. You could just be doing what I’m doing where I study up as much as I can but I make it up as I go along. GWA has my protege floating around in Empire, Kenzie Rydell. She can confirm that I’m just a guy that rambles on camera with the best of them. But the difference is that I try to be informed prior to opening my mouth. Better results, typically.
“There was another thing that seemed a bit different on Twitter versus what you said back in March. You seemed disappointed in the fact that the great New Generation Wrestling sent a little Dropkick King to compete. I even said that I was sorry to disappoint your expectations, which you proceeded to do exactly what anyone who has even taken a quick glance at your profile would assume you would: acted as though you’ve already won and that you are the absolute best wrestler on the planet.
“But then you came on camera and started talking about you know I work hard, you know I have accomplished quite a few things in my career. You even went on to call me an NGW Icon, which on the heels of someone here trying to tell me that I’m the ‘face of the company’, still makes me feel like I still have lots left to accomplish before I believe I’ve properly earned that praise. Because you said one thing that I agree with, the past is the past. I’m not worried about my last match. I’m worried about my next match. I’m always trying to be better than the man I was the day before. It’s the only way to truly reach your true potential, something I’m not sure you quite understand as you’re still very new to the industry. You said you knew I worked hard. Dude, you don’t know the half of it.”
The Dropkick King finally takes a seat on the bench. The key-shaped necklace that he normally wears hangs in front of his jacket. At this point, the sun has completely disappeared beyond the horizon and the lights around the park flicker on.
“But that’s the danger of believing yourself to already be there. You think there is no more work to be done. You live in the delusion that you are already better than everyone else, then you become content. Which means you don’t want to become better than you are today. Which means...you slip up. And if you see yourself as ‘FLAWless’ then I guess you aren’t exactly thinking you need to constantly improve to become the best Chase Robinson could possibly be, am I right? Despite what you may or may not believe about yourself, you are a man. You are a mortal being that can be beaten, whether you realize this or not.
“You mention your streak. You’re very proud of that. Perhaps a bit obsessed, even. See, you mention that you’ve only been doing this three months. I’ve actually gone a year without being pinned, spanning that time window among two different companies. Sometimes, when you get hot, you get hot. Those streaks are usually good indicators that you’re really rolling on all cylinders. You boasted that I must so be disappointed that we are under a special match stipulation and that I won’t be able to be the first person to finally gain that pinfall and end your streak…”
After a brief sigh and a quick shake of the head, Adrien looks fairly annoyed as he replies to that comment.
“Bro, I’m just trying to win a tournament.”
Now the Dropkick King has both of his hands, open palms facing up, almost in a shrug.
“I’ve ended undefeated streaks several times in my career. You seem familiar enough with my career to know some of them. Am I undefeated? Nope. I win a lot more than I lose, but I’m not perfect. I’m not ‘FLAWless’ nor do I want to be. If you don’t remember why, please hit the rewind button, I already covered that. But your three months of being unpinned is just as much in the past as any titles of mine you see as irrelevant. You want to talk about the present and the future, mentioning how you are the ‘RVP’ and now the ‘LVP’. Yeah, well, I’m the number one contender to the NGW Heavyweight Championship, a title I will be holding prior to the end of this tournament. I am the Dropkick King, and I will be leaving our match the victor. I might not be the one that will pin you for the first time. Someone else will get that honor. But I #Believe that I have what it takes to be the one holding that Super Falcon Cup when this whole tournament is all said and done.”
Adrien gives a quick smile before the video feed ends.
Waiting for a good day
I think I've held this long enough
I think it's safe to tell you some things
It's not just what you say to people
And it's not the way you look at me
It's the way you present yourself
For all your worst critics to see
And it feels like I'm at an all-time low
Date: Monday, May 20th, 2018
Cameras: OFF
“One more trip…”
That’s what Adrien Cochrane tells himself as he leans into his trunk, grabbing a large pack of water bottles under each arm, and closing the trunk of his Mercedes-Benz with his foot. He was back home in Louisiana, just a few minutes outside of New Orleans. After a quick stop at the grocery store with his girlfriend, Everalda Sears-Theron, Adrien has finally completed all the errands he needed to run today.
Adrien: “Easy peasy…”
He pushes the front door open with the same foot he closed his car’s trunk with so that he can drop off all the groceries in the kitchen. Everalda, who has pretty much declared the kitchen her kingdom since she moved in with Cochrane a couple of weeks ago, was sorting everything they bought into the locations she desired them, most of which was not where Adrien previously stored them. Adrien decides it is best he stays out of her way while she does that.
After patting his pockets, Cochrane realizes he left his phone in the car, turning back around to head back to his car to retrieve it. He shuts the front door behind him before clicking the button on his keys to unlock the vehicle before opening the driver’s seat door. He grabs his phone from the cup holder before he realizes what his ears are hearing...a car engine.
His first reaction is to make sure his car wasn’t running, but remembered that the keys are still in his hands and not in the ignition. He glances at Everalda’s car, which shouldn’t be running since he just saw her in the kitchen three seconds ago. After a simple process of elimination, Adrien looks on the other side of the gate leading to his driveway. There was GMC sitting outside the gate with a man standing near the control console to the gate, about to press the button to call for Adrien before he saw him digging in his own car. Adrien immediately recognized the man.
“You going to let me in?”
The people in New Generation Wrestling see the man on the other end of the gate as a former Marquee Champion and a member of the Rebel Society. Anyone involved in Guerreros of Lucha! think of him more as the first Super Falcon Cup winner, Hall of Famer, and current Rey de Reyes Champion.
Avery Miles III
Slightly bruised and broken
From our head on collision
I've never seen this side of you
Another tragic case of feeling
Bruised and broken
From our head on collision
I've never seen this side of you
Another tragic case then you were gone
You were gone
All this time you just didn't know it yet
You were gone
All this time you just didn't know it yet
You were gone
