Third round...part two Mike Extreme...the time has come...

{I can see her now. Even though she does not stand before me, I can still look deep into those beautiful blue eyes of hers. Those eyes, those…captivating eyes. They caught me when we first met, and held me until the end. They were the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. She would smile, and they would almost gleam with joy. How I miss those eyes….but they too were set in that pretty face of hers. A face that would look upon me with adoration and care. That face that would smile and greet me each and every time I would come home after a long hard fought match in the local area. That face would be the same face that would welcome me every time I trudged down those stairs and walked into the kitchen. Oh how she would move about that kitchen, like a dove gliding through a gentle breeze. She was the most beautiful person I had ever known. Her hair that would surround me, her arms that would hold me….I can still feel her loving embrace. The touch of her lips to mine…the sweet smell of her perfume….they all resonate within me. Those soft hands of hers would caress my face, and would gently glide over my wounds. The soothing sound of her voice would ease my mind. She was everything to me. She wasn’t just a wife, or a lover, she was my best friend. She was somebody I could confide in, somebody I could trust. She appeared loyal and faithful. She was smart, and had everything I could ever want in a woman. But then I realized, she was nothing at all…}

(BigErn pauses for a moment as he records yet another entry into his journal. A tear drops from his eye as he resumes.)

{Stacy meant the world to me. She was the only person who ever truly knew me, and who I could ever truly love. I miss her, but when I think on her, I realize that everything we ever had was based on a lie. She had slept with another man on our honeymoon for crying out loud! I still love her for the person she was to me, but I hate her for what she really was underneath. She plagues my thoughts and my dreams. Half the time I’m in that damned wrestling ring, I’m thinking of my estranged wife. How could she be the person she turned out to be? How could I have been deceived so easily? Was it my fault? I tell myself no…it wasn’t my fault for what happened. She was a tramp, a good for nothing. She was a person not to be desired by myself, or any man looking for a decent woman. She wasn’t loyal to me…she wasn’t faithful. I gave her my time, my love and my heart. She wasted my time, she stole my love….and she broke my heart. Using this, I feel there’s nothing I can do, but move on in my life. I have to get over it, but it’s been about a month or so now, and I still don’t feel any better. A couple of nights ago I went for a drive, trying to sort matters out. Today, everything comes to a head. I have my third round match up which I will be leaving for shortly…and soon afterwards….I’m meeting with Stacy for dinner. She said she hopes to be civil about everything. She feels working out this divorce would be the best thing. I think she’s up to her old tricks again. I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried luring me in just one more time. She will…because that’s just the kind of person she is. I best be off to my match now.}

(BigErn closes up his black journal. Several more tears drop from his eyes. For the self proclaimed, toughest son of a bitch on the wrestling circuit today, he sure is a softie when it comes to dealing with his ex. But then again, who could blame him…he had been through so much with her, only to find out that she was a lying, cheating, no good piece of trash. She had slept with so many other men, and she had said so many terrible things about Ern. Now she wanted to be civil about it? BigErn has bigger plans, but right now, he has to deal with something that means just a little bit more to him at the present moment…The Tournament of Champions.)

(BigErn locks up his house and strolls down his walkway. He heads over to his black pick up truck and hops in. Starting up the engine, he quickly backs down his driveway and heads off toward the highway, heading toward the Tournament of Champions Arena. BigErn speeds up his truck, topping off at around 85 mph. As he races down the highway, all he can think about are the dreams that have been disturbing his slumber for the past week or so. Last night, his dream was a bit distorted. Something wasn’t quite right about it. Now, his dreams were a little off to begin with, but the addition of a disturbing voice last night during his dreams only made him a bit more nervous. Ern’s eyes remain glued to the road, they squint against a bright summer’s day. His teeth remain clenched in rage. The thoughts of his dreams have started to get to him.)

BigErn(to himself): What the hell could it all mean anyway!? I can understand the light…and the tunnel. I can decipher what that heavy fog meant. Christ, this tournament really is going to my head….but anyway, what the hell was that voice all about. It was so soft, almost inaudible. I could hardly hear it but it was saying something….it wasn’t a pleasant sounding voice….no, not in the least….it was a deep voice….something not of this world. I’ve heard that voice before…but where….???

(BigErn pulls to the side of the highway and slams on his brakes. The black pick up truck comes to a screeching halt. Some cars speeding by beep and holler at BigErn for his reckless driving, but he does not take notice of them. He remains focused on his thoughts…he recognizes everything now. His eyes widen with surprise. Beads of sweat begin to form on his forehead. As they form rivers and streak down his cheeks, his heart begins to pound. It pounds so hard, it feels like it’s going to explode out of his chest.)

BigErn(to himself): It was HIM….he was right…wherever I would be…there he would be as well. My shadow, a man I could never elude. Somebody who knew where I was and what I was doing…whenever he wanted. That damn stalker. That’s what the voice was saying…”JOIN US….”…”JOIN US..” It would trail off, becoming barely audible, but I caught it! It was that guy. That same guy who blew my Harley to pieces. The same guy I ran down in that truck, but who somehow was able to get away without me knowing. The same guy who killed Henry with those two shotgun shots to the abdomen….shit….if these dreams all culminate at the tournament…then that means….

(BigErn puts his truck back into drive and floors it down the highway shoulder. He puts the pedal to the metal and hits 100mph as he speeds down the highway, now returning to the far-left lane.)

BigErn(to himself): He’ll be at the tournament…waiting for me…he’ll be there in hiding, just waiting for me to show up…God damn it!! I have a third round match with Mike Extreme to concentrate on, and now I have to worry about protecting myself from this guy…this guy….who is seemingly indestructible….this guy….who will stop at nothing until I “join” him, whatever that means. Now is not the time to grow paranoid. I have to regain control of myself. Just think…Mike Extreme….Mike Extreme…..

[3 HOURS LATER….]

(BigErn pulls into the back parking lot of the Tournament of Champions arena. A horde of screaming fans, some with huge signs, cheer as he pulls into the lot and parks his truck just outside the arena. Police and event security ward off the fans with steel barricades. BigErn doesn’t look to the fans. He opens up his door, and hops out of his truck, slamming the door behind him. BigErn walks to the first entrance into the arena he sees. He has a stern look about him. A take no prisoners attitude…something he hasn’t really shown in the past couple of days. BigErn walks into the arena and is greeted by SmackCCW correspondent, and color commentator, Matt Holton.)

Holton: Good to see you could make it.

BigErn: Matt, I wouldn’t miss this match for the world.

Holton: Marty’s still shaken up about Henry’s death last week. That poor guy, killed in cold blood. Who the hell do you think that guy is?

BigErn: I don’t know Matt, but I have a funny feeling he may even be here as we speak.

Holton: Don’t get all paranoid on me now Ern, you’ve got Mike Extreme in about two hours or so, you should really only be thinking about him.

BigErn: I know, I know, but I’ve had these strange dreams the past week or so, and they’ve really gotten to me…

Holton: What the hell is the matter with you?! You’re the best SmackCCW has to offer god damn it! You’re the five star athlete, the one guy who I personally wouldn’t want to fuck with, because you just don’t fuck with BigErn!

BigErn: I’ll save the catch phrases for my interview with you in about five minutes.

(Matt emits a small chuckle)

Holton: Sure thing, Ern. I’ve got John here, he’s going to film for us.

(A sort of lanky character walks up to BigErn. He carries a camera in his right hand, down to his side.)

Holton: John, meet BigErn…Ern, this is John, he’ll be taping you.

John: Pleasure to meet you Ern…

(John runs his hand through his greasy black hair and sticks it out to shake Ern’s. BigErn looks down at it and almost refuses, but he can’t just disrespect the guy. BigErn shakes his hand, and pulls back. John sets the camera up on a tripod and Matt Holton lines up, standing next to BigErn. Ern readies himself to deliver yet another stellar promo.)

John: We’re on in three….two…..one….

(John points over to Matt Holton, who begins the interview.)

Holton: Hello folks, I’m here live with BigErn at the Tournament of Champions. Ern has worked his way into the third round of the tournament, and he now hopes to take on, and defeat a very tough, very ready, Mike Extreme.

(Matt turns to Ern.)

Holton: BigErn, you’re representing SmackCCW amidst a flurry of big time federations. Your goal is ultimate success within the tournament. What are your thoughts on your present match, and what chances do you think you have of defeating the Living Legend, Mike Extreme?

(BigErn turns to Matt, and then back at the camera.)

BigErn: Matt, I’d like to say that it’s actually very simple, but if I did, I’d be lying. Never have I ever been involved in something so heated and so complex. This tournament presents quite possibly the greatest talent the world over. It presents the greatest competition that anybody will ever have to face inside a wrestling ring. Some say my first round win was easy…a little too easy, but my second round match brought me back down to Earth. Percy Snow gave me a decent match, but he wasn’t enough to take out the five star athlete. Now I go up against a man by the name of Mike Extreme. And you ask me what I think my chances are of defeating Mike? I think they’re pretty good. I have never lacked confidence in my ability to succeed. I sure as hell don’t lack confidence in my ability to defeat Mike Extreme. He’s one hell of a competitor, and he’s going to give me the best match I’ve had thus far…but will it be enough to finally take me out? I don’t think so Matt. BigErn has never been cocky, but that doesn’t mean I doubt myself. I give Extreme his dues…he’s a respectable man, and somebody who deserves great success…however he had the unfortunate instance of having to face me in the third round of this tournament. I will anything and everything it takes to beat him. I will throw any suplex, I will lock on any hold…I will everything but cheating, in order to pin his ass down to the mat, for the one…two…three. I sure as hell hope Mike has been preparing for this match up, both physically and mentally, because it’s going to take every bit of manpower within him to contain me.

Holton: Ern, it’s been rumored that he’s actually on a so called…”vision quest”.

(BigErn looks over to Matt as a look of confusion envelops his face.)

BigErn: What?! Well, I’m not going to label anything anybody does as absurd, because I’ve had one confusing week myself. If going on a vision quest is what Mike Extreme needs to do in order to win, then so be it. I give the guy all the credit in the world, and if venturing off to dream, or whatever it is that you don on a vision quest, is what he needs in order to focus on our match, then more power to him.

Holton: Ern, it’s clear as glass that you’re the under dog here…

BigErn: Listen Matt, nobody ever thought I would make it to the final 32 in the tournament. Everybody has been counting me out from the beginning. I don’t mind being the under dog, because I enjoy looking at the surprise on everybody’s face when I win. Everybody said I was going to lose from the beginning, and I’m not about to let it get to me now. I am the toughest son of a bitch on the wrestling circuit today, and I’m here to prove once and for all, that you don’t need to be from a big time federation in order to make it in this tournament. Mike Extreme, if you’re in the building and you can here me right now…get ready, because in a few short hours, you’re going to step into the ring with the five star athlete. I’m going to teach you, just like I taught those other two fools in the first two rounds, exactly why…you just don’t F*CK with BigErn…..

(BigErn turns away from the camera and begins walking away. Matt Holton looks back into the camera.)

Holton: Well folks, there you have it, short and sweet. This is Matt Holton of SmackCCW, we’ll see you ring side…

(John cuts the camera and stops recording. He sets it down on the ground and begins to fiddle around with it. Matt runs back and catches up to BigErn.)

Holton: Listen man, one last thing…

(BigErn turns around)

Holton: Good Luck…

(BigErn looks to Matt)

BigErn: Thanks man…

(They shake hands and depart in opposite directions. Matt Holton heads off to the SmackCCW Television truck with John, as BigErn heads off the locker room area of the arena.)

(Now being mentally prepared for the match, there’s only one thing left to do….wait….)