aries reed...it all started with a piece of cake.

“You all love watching me lose, don’t you?”

Aries chuckles to himself as he sits on the top rung of the far turnbuckle. Slowly he wraps his hand in athletic tape and up towards the middle of his forearm before looking up at the camera with a large smile. The warehouse better known as the Lion's Den is empty today, giving Aries the space and time he needs to train when needed.

The perks of being the first and the most successful pupil of the International Champion in the Lion's Den.

“It’s okay, to admit it, to be honest if I was on the outside looking in, I’d be glad to watch me get my ass kicked too.”

“But for all of those who are happy to see me...barely...lose to Christian Kane, well, they are the same ones who sit back on their hands and expect things to just happen to them.”

“They put me against Christian Kane because honestly, out of the new crew that’s rolled into EXODUS who was really going to test their mettle, let alone push Kane to a point where the young, brash, arrogant, and the often sharp-tongued Aries Reed made a few of you shudder at the thought that I just might pull off what some may consider the “Upset of 2015” but alas…”

He sighs and shrugs his shoulders slightly.

“...instead everyone got what Chris Strike likes to call ‘their feel good moment’ as Kane did what he was supposed to do.”

“And that’s beat lil’ ol’ me, of course.”

“Some would like to say that I’ve learned my place, that I’ve been humbled...but honestly, folks...look who we are talking about here.”

“Humble has never and will never be apart of my game plan because honestly...I don’t have to think about losing or defeat because if you come into this business with just a ounce of doubt in your abilities or your skill...then you might as well just go home because this business doesn’t have any place for you.”

“But as always it takes a catalyst to spark change, even the largest fire all started from a single spark, so I take these ‘teachable moments’ as I like to call them and I turn them into small victories.”

“Because when I win...I win and when I lose, well, I still win.”

“Taking the defeat from Abby Park, I learn and I grow.”

“I take the loss from Kane, and I learn and I continue to grow…”

“...I continue to evolve because that’s what this is all about isn’t it?”

“To continue to grow, adapt...to evolve. All for the sake of bettering yourself for the next go ‘round, making sure that you’re ready for the next fight and not make the same mistake twice.”

“Personal growth, folks….it’s what keeps us from getting stagnant and boring.”

“And despite the general opinion about me, regardless of the names you all want to call me...the fact of the matter is, at the end of the day I continue to grow, I continue to evolve and it shows every other week in the middle of that ring.”

“Say what you want about my attitude.”

“Get pissy over my spectacular grasp of the English Language.”

“Curse me underneath your breath and on Twitter...not a single one of you watching this has the balls...the ovaries...to say it to my face. Not a single one of you has the courage to meet me in that ring and see if you’re better than Aries Reed.”

“Hell, Kane can...even Abby Park can...for now.”

“But for the rest of your sorry sacks of shit, who want to sit behind a keyboard or shit behind your phones, I implore you...I encourage you...I welcome you...to come find out if you’re better.”

“But you won’t.”

Aries chuckles to himself and his head slowly.

“Because for the rest of you there is going to be that sliver that in the instance that Aries Reed is all that he says, all that he’s advertised to be…”

“...then you’re all out of excuses.”

“It’s why Carey Dean keeps his ass in REVO because he knows better.”

“It’s why Sydney Christensen, continues to fight for her REVO Title back because she knows that in Exodus, she’s just another quasi-pretty face with a nice ass.”

“It’s why Shinji Uchikawa can sit back with the Pacific Bay Title with that half cup of Downs Syndrome look on his face because outside of Japan, he’s just another slanty eyed face in a sea of pasty ones.”

“Oh...was that over the line? Was that a bit too much for your over-sensitive ears to handle?”

With a smirk and a roll of his eyes, Aries waves his hand dismissively.

“Tough tits, it gets worse from here kids.”


“Bryan, I’m getting shafted and you know I am. Collins doesn’t like me and it shows when it comes to the bookings. Where the hell is my Pacific Title match? More to the point why the hell wasn’t I even invited to be in the damn thing.”

Aries shakes his head slowly at the seemingly blatant frustration that was starting to rear its ugly head towards him.

“Better yet, the San Diego Bay Championship hasn’t even been DEFENDED yet and Hardaway does nothing more but come to the ring and lay waste to everything around despite the fact that he’s loses week in and week out. Yet, I’m the one squared up in the Main Event putting everyone on noticed going up against EXODUS Champions and I can’t even get as much a nod towards my skills in the ring. Honestly, Bryan...I think it’s horseshit, man. You know it, I know it, REVOLUTION knows it, hell even all of EXODUS knows it...but they refuse to recognize it. Now I know, I’ve might’ve fallen off of the wagon a bit with the whole ‘don’t harass non-competitors’ and such...but when half the fans are fuckin’ ‘em at this point who do I harass?”

“Well for starters...stop harassing all non-competitors for one is a good place to start.”

Bryans demeanor is one that is cool and collected. His young mentor was easily excitable, like a young puppy, but there was much for the two-time EXODUS Pro Tag Team Champion to know.

“And I was doing that and look where that got me? I was supposed to be facing off against the Andreas Lasiewicz, right?”

Bryan nods his head silently in affirmation from behind his desk.

“Spending my time to bolster the stock of Aries Reed be taking on the bigger names that Exodus has to offer. They put me up against Park, they put me up against Kane and while yeah, I’ll admit it, the pinfall didn’t go in my favor, you have to admit that I had ‘em all scared. I showed everyone that when the lights are on and cameras are rolling that Aries Reed can hang with the big boys and girls of Exodus without so much of a second thought. So where the hell is Lasiewicz?”

“Where the hell is my match?”

“They going to protect another Exodus Patriarch from me because they are afraid that someone is going to tarnish that Ivory Tower that they sit upon? Com’n Bryan...what gives? I can’t get title matches, I can’t get be in the ring the Biggest Name in Exodus...is it me? Do I have bad breath?”

“No Aries, rest assure your personal hygiene is fine. I can’t speak for Exodus nor do I want to. I can’t speak for Andreas Lasiewicz, nor do I want to. I can only speak on the behalf of Aries Reed because that’s what you pay me for. Now I can’t explain why you’ve been so-called ‘snubbed’ from said title opportunities but while you want to think that just facing the likes of Abby Park and Christian Kane have bolstered your stock, the fact remains that you’ve lost to those individuals. Just because looked fantastic in the ring doesn’t take away from the fact that you’ve lost, Aries.”

For a moment, Aries is completely silent as he looks away from his manager. Running his wide tongue over the front of his teeth, he lets that fact sink into his head for a quick second.

“Between you and me, you are coming better than expected and despite the small setbacks in the ring the only person who is holding you back isn’t Jonathan Collins, even though at times, it feels that way. It isn’t the new Director, even though she’s a convenient target...it’s you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You have all the potential in the world, you have all the ability that most kids in your position would kill for...but you let that mouth get in the way. You need to learn how to shut it every once and a while and actually understand when someone is trying to teach you something or just blowing smoke up your ass. You were upset in REVO because you felt as if everyone else was ignoring and overlooking you...like it was you against the world. And even now, you sit here across from me, all you see is Aries Reed against the World.”

“Because it is Me against the World. Nobody gave me shit in the business and…”

“That’s just it!”

Bryan slammed his hand on his wooden desk, immediately silencing the Blackest Sun of Exodus.

“Understand, Aries, everyone isn’t against you. GRENDEL isn’t against you. The rest of REVOLUTION isn’t against you. Your brother isn’t against you...you’re new wife isn’t against you.”

Aries looked up into the eyes of Bryan for a moment as the elder smiled softly before sitting back into his large leather bound chair.

“Thanks for the invitation by the way.”

The sarcasm wasn’t lost on Aries who smirked and nodded his head slowly.

“We kept it small and private, you understand?"

“I do, I do. Congrats all the same, she’s a lovely woman. But back to my point, you have the potential to the EXODUS Pro World Champion, just realize that while everyone else wants to doubt you, criticize you, curse your name...the ones who matter will always have your back. You want a chance to prove them all wrong, don’t you?”

“More than you’ll ever know.”

“Then I’ll make sure I give you the stage to do it on.”



“I don’t get it, old man...I really don’t.”

“The last time anyone saw you in this capacity, you were losing your Tag Team Titles and Steve Lenton was getting carted off after getting his large, tree-trunk sized neck broke by GRENDEL.”

“And now you’re back with a pool cue...a cute little name...and apparently some hard on for damn near everyone who isn’t EXODUS-faithful as of late. You nearly take out my boy Shozo and honestly, I think you’re better than that.”

“Coming from me, that’s a big deal.”

He smiles into the camera, giving it a playful wink.

“But regardless of the name change, regardless of the new accessories that you may have now, the fact of the matter is simple, Wulf.”

“I’ve beaten you on three different occasions now and I’m going to do it again for an unprecedented fourth time.”

“Wulf, it’s coming to a point where I’m not just beating you, I’m goddamn abusing you as if you were nothing more but a mutt dog and I was Mike Vick. It’s becoming such a chore that at this rate the only way I’m going to get rid of you is to stuff your burlap sack and drown you like the unwanted puppy that you are.”

"GRENDEL is right about you, you know?"

"You're a relic of a past age that has long passed you by and to watch you continue to trudge on, thinking that you hold some holier than art thou purpose around here is sad if not extremely laughable."

“Maybe it should’ve been you that GRENDEL pile drove into those steel steps all those weeks ago. It would’ve save us all a lot of trouble and headache, if was you who had his neck broken and carried off onto a cart. Then again GRENDEL would’ve had his little black heart broken if that was case.”

“He wants to be the one to end you.”

“He wants to be the one to break you.”

“He wants to be the one to destroy you.”

“But sadly, GRENDEL isn’t getting you in a ring...yet. Instead it’s me, which leads me to think one thing.”

“What does Aries Reed want?”

His arrogance shines through with his ever-widening smile, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

“I want to beat you...again.”

“I want to embarrass you...again.”

“I want to prove that I’m better than you...again.”


At the advice of Jimmy Riley, I had finally travelled from San Diego to Arlington to get the experience that I was going to get in REVO. A chance to sharpen a skill set without the bias of a crowd or a roster for that matter who had already labelled me as everything but what I was.

Talented and driven.

Out west they were so engrossed in their Twitter accounts that they couldn’t see undeniable talent unless it was right in front of them. And even then...they were still blind.

But it was nothing to be worried about.

Soon enough, they’d all see..even if I had to peel back their eyelids and force them to watch.

Arlington was a bit different then out West, they didn’t give a shit about gimmicks, they didn’t give a shit about your ‘act’, they just wanted to know one thing:

Can you wrestle?

After that, everything else took care of itself.

Sat in my small locker room, making a successful XFF debut in which I made short work of the guy across from me. Carefully, I peeled the tape from around my wrists and my gloved hands creating a small pool of dirty and sweat soaked athletic tape at my booted feet. I could hear the roars of the crowd through the thin walls of the locker room as I freed myself from the tape and pulled the black and red leather Mizuno batting gloves from my hands, dropping them to the floor.

I was ready to get out of the arena, collect my check and get back to the apartment that Jimmy had set up for me so I could get some sleep before waking up and heading back towards the Lion’s Den for another training session, just like REVO, I didn’t come to the XFF or Arlington for that matter to make friends, I came to win...I came to get paid...I came out West to prove back those beach-bummed morons that Aries Reed was more than just the other black guy that wasn’t named Black Jones.

I was tired of playing second fiddle to a guy who…


My train of thought was interrupted by the light knock on my locker room door as I arched a brow not expecting any visitors, especially with Jimmy already back in San Diego only days earlier.

“Yeah, come in.”

The door opened slowly as a small frame of young Puerto Rican woman stepped in holding a small white box in her hands and a large smile on her face. A small black t-shirt hugged her frame rather flatteringly enough, revealing the toned midsection underneath, completed with a pair of tattered blue jeans that sat low on her hips. She tilted her head to side slightly as she studied my curious look on my face.

“Aries, right?” She asked softly, her voice seeming to brighten up the darkened locker room.

“Yeah...you are?”

Her smile faded slightly at my failure to recognize her which was only short lived as she brightened up immediately.

“Melody...Melody Torres, you asked for the German Chocolate Cake, remember?”

I perked up slightly at the mention of cake, allowing a smile to spread over my face. “Oh yeah, now I remember you. Gotta excuse me there, honestly, I didn’t think you were serious.”

“If I wasn’t serious, I wouldn’t have asked.”, she shot back quickly impressing me with the quick wit.

“Touche’, Melody.”

Slowly she shook her head slowly as her dark brown hair sways behind her. “Mels...it’s just Mels.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I nod my head slowly.

“Alright...Mels, it is.”



“Everyone wants to be shining knight and finally shut Aries Reed up.”

With a defiant huff of breath and a roll of his eyes, he continues.

“But my question becomes, what the hell makes you think it’s going to be you Savannah?”

“What the hell makes you think that you got what it takes?”

“Because you say so?”

“Nah, sweetcheeks, it’s going to take more than that. You might have been the best San Diego Bay Champion that may grace Exodus but let’s get one thing straight that everyone seems to be CONVENIENTLY forgetting or or doesn’t want to mention…”

“...that if it wasn’t for Cleon Gray, you wouldn’t even be a thing in Exodus. If it wasn’t for Cleon Gray, you wouldn’t even be blip on the Exodus radar. If it wasn’t for Cleon Gray…”

“...we wouldn’t be talking about Savannah Taylor in the first place.”

“The ONLY reason why you were the San Diego Bay Champion in the first place is the fact that Cleon Gray gave it to you.”

He let that simple fact hang in the air for a moment as he cocked his head to side and arched a brow.

“You didn’t fight for it.”

“You didn’t earn it.”

“It was handed to you, it was given to you because you were being a good little dog and did what your owner told you to do and when he dangled that little trinket in front of your face...you sat, rolled over, begged, or whatever it is that good lil’ dogs like you do.”

“So no wonder that you busted you ass to add some credibility to title that frankly hasn’t amounted to a hill of beans until you got your mitts on it and frankly watching Cleon give that title to you...and as if that wasn’t enough tarnish, your first defense is by a forfeit?”

Aries just starts to laugh as he stands to his feet and starts to sarcastically begins to clap his hands.

“Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen...let’s give it up to the best San Diego Bay Champion that’s ever walked the face of the Earth, Savannah Taylor everyone, yes! Let’s give it up...she’s so awe-inspiring...she’s so driven.”

The act is quickly dropped as Aries falls back into his seat with a smirk over his brown lips.

“Horseshit...you’re entire reign and all those bullshit defenses against bullshit competitors was nothing but complete horseshit, I don’t care how hard you make seem as if you’ve done something spectacular, the fact of the matter is...you’re a fake.”

“A fraud.”

“Bogus.”

“fabricated, fictitious, forged, a sham…”

“You were as much as a viable San Diego Champion, like Lexy Chapel was to the International Championship.”

“...but at least Lexy won the title on her own merit.”

“And while you can easily try to downplay my Tag Team Championship at the end of the day I can say that I earned mine...while you were just given it with the only reason that you backed the right horse at the right time. And even still, when it was all said and done...when Cleon Gray was punched out of existence...Savannah Taylor gets off scot free.”

“Cleon Gray doesn’t exist.”

“Magnus Gunner gets buried six feet deep.”

“Hell, even Ryuji Kamigawa had to leave and change his own damn name.”

“But yet, Savannah Taylor gets off scot free to pursue the dream of trying to make the world forget that she’s nothing more but a paper San Diego Bay Champion...only to get beat by her little school ground crush.”

“Yeah, this is the chick that’s going to be a ‘hero’ and try to shut up the Blackest Sun of Exodus.”

“Good luck, sugartits, but unless Cleon Gray comes back to your aid...or even better yet, unless Jonathan Collins comes to your side...then you’re going to have do something that I’m quite sure if a foreign concept to you…”

“...you’re going to have to actually fight and earn it like a big girl.”

“But you want to be a hero, please, I hope that you do...because like I told the Ghostbuster, a hero is one of two things, dead or a sandwich…”

“...which one are you?”