Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2013 16:12:14 GMT -6
March 11, 2013
When the opportunity came up, there was no question who would answer the call.
Hollywood Elite Wrestling wanted tag teams from all over the world, and EXODUS put their name in the hat; why wouldn't they? The promotion had already sent one to Pro Wrestling FRONTIER for Open House, two to Phoenix Wrestling for Iron King, and was establishing a regular spot for gaijin in Kingdom of Japan Pro Wrestling. Jonathan Collins knew from his days as a name at the top of the wrestling world that spreading talent around the world meant more people knew about his and Rufus Frost's little outfit in San Diego.
What Jon couldn't have expected, though, was the inclusion of the Universal Wrestling League; the same place that had sparked his desire to track down Rufus Frost and launch EXODUS. In an instant, Jon not only called HEW and entered his promotion, he knew exactly the team to send...
October 20, 2012
The Marauders couldn't be happier if they tried.
Fresh off a win over three of the remaining members of the Five Star faction, it seemed like the UWL Television Champion Jonathan Collins, and the new UWL World Tag Team Champions, Fiona Rourke and Jimmy Riley, had finally gotten what they fought so long for.
Acceptance.
The fans had accepted them long ago, taking the fight first to Five Star, then to the returned Mainstream faction. But this...these belts...would be the piece needed to get them taken seriously as a threat to the rest of the UWL. Now all Jon needed was to trade that Television title in for the UWL World Heavyweight Title...
November 18, 2012
Jimmy Riley heard the phone ringing on his nightstand. He rolled over, slowly, one hand rubbing his eyes as the other reached for the phone. He picked it up, looking at the caller ID. Somewhere, in the back of his head, he had expected this call; perhaps, though, he hadn't expected it so soon.
Jonathan Collins
Less than 24 hours before, Jon had come up short in his bid to become the UWL World Heavyweight Champion, and Jimmy wasn't exactly sure about what was next. After a quiet sigh, Jimmy slid the bar on the phone and put it to his ear.
“....Yes?”
Jon's voice was far more awake; the sound of a man who had been working on a plan for some time.
“Get dressed; we're going to Vegas.”
Jimmy Riley was suddenly more awake.
“What, you want to drink that loss away?”
“Not quite. Got another plan. We'll be there in fifteen.”
The call ended. Jimmy wasn't quite sure what was in his future, but he couldn't help but shoot a glance at the UWL World Tag Team Title belt that was on the floor next to his travel bag. It didn't seem to be long for his possession.
March 12, 2013
He'd gotten a replica. It was the only reasonable thing to do, given the situation.
The UWL World Tag Team Title belt was in storage, though; along with his replicas of the Hudson River Wrestling Heavyweight Title and the White Mountain Wrestling Merrimack River Title. Jimmy Riley kept track of the titles he'd won this way, something that he enjoyed having. One day he planned to put them in some kind of trophy case...though he definitely intended on getting more before then.
The story of EXODUS' founding was fairly well known, but the story of The Marauders' departure from the UWL was a bit more...cloudy. What's known is that Jonathan Collins and Fiona Rourke left at the same time. Kliff Ulysses wanted his revenge for losing his chance at the UWL World Title, and he left of his own volition. Jimmy Riley, on the other hand...
He didn't really want to leave. Reigning tag team champion. On the rise, taking the World Champion to the limit in a non-title match, everything looked right for Jimmy Riley. Except...for the sudden lack of backup.
Now he was a lone man standing against an army that wanted to take their revenge on The Marauders...and he was the last Marauder standing. With those facts facing him, Riley was faced with few other options as he carefully packed his and Fiona's World Tag Team Titles into a box, bound for the Knoxville offices. It was a decision Jimmy looked back on regularly, and one that he was in the middle of when the buzz of a phone came from his pocket. Fishing it out, he saw the name on the caller ID, and got a sense of deja vu.
Jonathan Collins
He certainly couldn't turn down the call of the man who had just gotten him back into EXODUS as an active wrestler. Or the man who had opened his home to him after the split with his ex-girlfriend. Jimmy again slid the bar.
“Hey, man...what's up?
“I'll make it short, because I'm pretty sure I know your answer. Tag tournament, Valour's gonna be there, I want you and Fiona to make a claim to what's really yours. You in?”
In the absence of The Marauders, Angelo Valour had proceeded to hold the UWL World Tag Team Titles...technically twice, after Justin Brooks left the UWL (to join EXODUS) he had just found a new partner and “won” the titles again. At the mere thought of beating him, Jimmy's eyes lit up.
“Absolutely. If she's in, I'm in.”
“She was already on board. April 28.”
The call ended unceremoniously, and Jimmy looked at the person across the table from him; his girlfriend and Fiona's cousin, Maggie.
“Looks like your cousin and I are gonna be teaming up a little sooner than either of us thought!”
April 16, 2013
This Jimmy Riley is...well, not “considerably” different than the one from that day in March, but different never-the-less. The war with LEGION in EXODUS is starting to take its toll on him, along with the lingering and growing mystery of his dad's location.
But this setup isn't about LEGION. The EXODUS banner hangs in the background of the tripod-set camera's shot, and Jimmy sits in a chair, leaned over with elbows on knees and looking at the camera.
“I'd be lying if I said my main goal, the goal of myself and Fiona, wasn't to simply beat Angelo Valour and shut him up, send him back to Knoxville with his tail between his legs. To claim victory over the guy who holds the belts that we mailed back to the UWL and left behind. If we did that, and lost in the second round? I don't know about Fiona, but I could go back to San Diego, back to EXODUS, and be content.”
He nods, letting that sink in for a minute.
“But where's the fun of that? Why not go all the way to the finals? Why not win? As such, it requires me to talk about the other thirteen of you. And where better to start than that partner of Angelo...Frank Merritt. Here's a guy who has the body of a mailbox; stout, hard to move. Thankfully for the rest of us in this tournament, Frank also seems to have the brain...of a mailbox. It's the only way to explain why he'd team with Angelo, because his last two partners had the sense to get out of the UWL. Hell, one had the sense to get out of wrestling entirely, that's why Frank's here and not pushing a broom in Knoxville!”
Jimmy grins, moving on.
“Now, let's talk about the only other team I've really got any familiarity with at all. Tiami Tyler-Johnson and her...eh, other sister...since Danielle's still in the grasp of LEGION and Tiami's second partner Jessica Harmony...Nikki Tyler. The Icy Knockouts are in here, and I'll admit; Tiami, Fiona, myself...we're on the same page. We all have our reasons to get at LEGION. But this isn't in our bubble, Tiami. If it turns out we're across the ring from each other, you'll get no preferential treatment from The Marauders. I expect the same from you; a battle of honor, where the best team wins. Just know...in my opinion? You'll find us standing tall.”
Jimmy pauses, leaning back in the chair and placing his hands behind his head.
“The second sibling team in this tournament has a bit more experience, a bit more of a regular schedule working together than Tiami and Nikki. The Carnival Connection might actually be free agents now, but they're the only other team I've seen any of in person; taking a trip to WARPED a few months back allowed me to see them work. There's no doubting their ability, particularly as a team. Rottentreats, Douglas, you're no slouches. I'm sure that if we cross paths, you'll certainly give Fiona and myself one hell of a fight. But what we lack in teamwork we make up for in individual styles; The Marauders, we run the gamut. Between Fiona's flying, and my striking, we're difficult to gameplan for, something that every team has to deal with when they look at us. You guys better spend less time listening to Rod Stewart albums, and more preparing for the fight ahead.”
Jimmy pauses, not sure what to make of the next team that came to mind.
“One team that's already broken the ice...”
He cracks up, clearly realizing what he had done.
“Oh man, I didn't even think about that until now! Get it? Any Given Sundae? Ice cream? Break the ice? Ah, forget it. You know, it's hard to put a finger on those two. Part of it is the masks, part of it is the silliness, but people seem to see that, and they overlook one very important thing; this is a world class tag team. Put aside those masks, the pajama-like outfits. These are amateur wrestlers, veterans of the ring, and a pair of guys who have been working together for quite some time. If we step in that ring, Sweet Treat, Cone, I think it'd be a hell of a match...and a hell of a notch in our belts to beat such a tough and successful tag team as yourselves.”
Then...silence. Jimmy closes his eyes, pushing his head further back into his cradled hands, sinking in the chair and the moment simultaneously. After a moment, while still in that position, Riley continues.
“At the other end of the bracket from us sit two teams...one is the North Atlantic Wrestling representatives, the Latin Kings...the other is the, shall we say, 'home team,' Party Nation. I'm not going to say that either of these teams are outright pushovers, but let's start with Party Nation. These two guys, they're pretty obviously more focused on their dancing and their women than wrestling. That's going to hurt you...not in the long run...but in the short run. The run that begins with you in the Top Tag Tournament, and ends with you in the showers, planning an early exit to the club.
“As for the Latin Kings; I'll admit, when I heard that name, I drew back a little bit. Latin Kings, one of the most dangerous gangs in North America, known for stealing, for killing...these Latin Kings, on the other hand.”
He pauses, coming back to a regular sitting position and opening his eyes, his hands coming to rest dangling between his knees.
“These Latin Kings seem more interested in going to the zoo, watching animals, and talking about...well, a lot of nothing, it seems like. I don't like writing teams off, but neither of you seem very capable of hanging with myself and the EXODUS Pro Champion, the holder of the title that makes you the best in the world, Fiona Rourke.”
Another pause, now, as the final team remained.
“The spectrum of talent in this tournament runs from the likes of those two teams...to those who are talented but foolish like Valour...to the likes of the UK Dragons. FRONTIER's premier tag team, Evangelista and Laurel Anne Hardy. Two women who are undeniably strong, undeniably quick, incredibly talented. I look at the two of you the same way I look at the two sibling pairs in this tournament; closer than close, unmatched teamwork, and a great challenge.
“No matter how you cut it, this night is a challenge, though. Eight teams stand, three victories separating them between disgrace and glory. That glory? Fifty thousand dollars; I don't know about the rest of you, but that money would go to good use in my hands. A title match, against the champions of any competing promotion. Perhaps, if Fiona and I win, we decide to take back what we believe to be our UWL World Tag Team Titles. Maybe we walk into NAW, or into FRONTIER. Perhaps we stay right here in HEW to take those. The options, while not limitless, are definitely vast.
“But all it takes is one slip.
“One fall.
“And we're done. The same applies to the rest of you, and if you don't think that, allow The Marauders to light things up for you.”
One last pause as Jimmy looks down, his thoughts turning to his downed friend. He grins, then turns his gaze back to the camera.
“There's a little saying that Fiona uses...used...when teaming with Jonathan Collins. You bring a gun, we'll bring an arsenal.
“April 28, you other seven teams can bring all the arsenals you want. The energy we have? It's nuclear.”
He flashes the peace symbol with his right hand.
“I believe this is where my partner would say, 'Deuces, bitches.'”
The camera fades out.
When the opportunity came up, there was no question who would answer the call.
Hollywood Elite Wrestling wanted tag teams from all over the world, and EXODUS put their name in the hat; why wouldn't they? The promotion had already sent one to Pro Wrestling FRONTIER for Open House, two to Phoenix Wrestling for Iron King, and was establishing a regular spot for gaijin in Kingdom of Japan Pro Wrestling. Jonathan Collins knew from his days as a name at the top of the wrestling world that spreading talent around the world meant more people knew about his and Rufus Frost's little outfit in San Diego.
What Jon couldn't have expected, though, was the inclusion of the Universal Wrestling League; the same place that had sparked his desire to track down Rufus Frost and launch EXODUS. In an instant, Jon not only called HEW and entered his promotion, he knew exactly the team to send...
-----
October 20, 2012
The Marauders couldn't be happier if they tried.
Fresh off a win over three of the remaining members of the Five Star faction, it seemed like the UWL Television Champion Jonathan Collins, and the new UWL World Tag Team Champions, Fiona Rourke and Jimmy Riley, had finally gotten what they fought so long for.
Acceptance.
The fans had accepted them long ago, taking the fight first to Five Star, then to the returned Mainstream faction. But this...these belts...would be the piece needed to get them taken seriously as a threat to the rest of the UWL. Now all Jon needed was to trade that Television title in for the UWL World Heavyweight Title...
-----
November 18, 2012
Jimmy Riley heard the phone ringing on his nightstand. He rolled over, slowly, one hand rubbing his eyes as the other reached for the phone. He picked it up, looking at the caller ID. Somewhere, in the back of his head, he had expected this call; perhaps, though, he hadn't expected it so soon.
Jonathan Collins
Less than 24 hours before, Jon had come up short in his bid to become the UWL World Heavyweight Champion, and Jimmy wasn't exactly sure about what was next. After a quiet sigh, Jimmy slid the bar on the phone and put it to his ear.
“....Yes?”
Jon's voice was far more awake; the sound of a man who had been working on a plan for some time.
“Get dressed; we're going to Vegas.”
Jimmy Riley was suddenly more awake.
“What, you want to drink that loss away?”
“Not quite. Got another plan. We'll be there in fifteen.”
The call ended. Jimmy wasn't quite sure what was in his future, but he couldn't help but shoot a glance at the UWL World Tag Team Title belt that was on the floor next to his travel bag. It didn't seem to be long for his possession.
-----
March 12, 2013
He'd gotten a replica. It was the only reasonable thing to do, given the situation.
The UWL World Tag Team Title belt was in storage, though; along with his replicas of the Hudson River Wrestling Heavyweight Title and the White Mountain Wrestling Merrimack River Title. Jimmy Riley kept track of the titles he'd won this way, something that he enjoyed having. One day he planned to put them in some kind of trophy case...though he definitely intended on getting more before then.
The story of EXODUS' founding was fairly well known, but the story of The Marauders' departure from the UWL was a bit more...cloudy. What's known is that Jonathan Collins and Fiona Rourke left at the same time. Kliff Ulysses wanted his revenge for losing his chance at the UWL World Title, and he left of his own volition. Jimmy Riley, on the other hand...
He didn't really want to leave. Reigning tag team champion. On the rise, taking the World Champion to the limit in a non-title match, everything looked right for Jimmy Riley. Except...for the sudden lack of backup.
Now he was a lone man standing against an army that wanted to take their revenge on The Marauders...and he was the last Marauder standing. With those facts facing him, Riley was faced with few other options as he carefully packed his and Fiona's World Tag Team Titles into a box, bound for the Knoxville offices. It was a decision Jimmy looked back on regularly, and one that he was in the middle of when the buzz of a phone came from his pocket. Fishing it out, he saw the name on the caller ID, and got a sense of deja vu.
Jonathan Collins
He certainly couldn't turn down the call of the man who had just gotten him back into EXODUS as an active wrestler. Or the man who had opened his home to him after the split with his ex-girlfriend. Jimmy again slid the bar.
“Hey, man...what's up?
“I'll make it short, because I'm pretty sure I know your answer. Tag tournament, Valour's gonna be there, I want you and Fiona to make a claim to what's really yours. You in?”
In the absence of The Marauders, Angelo Valour had proceeded to hold the UWL World Tag Team Titles...technically twice, after Justin Brooks left the UWL (to join EXODUS) he had just found a new partner and “won” the titles again. At the mere thought of beating him, Jimmy's eyes lit up.
“Absolutely. If she's in, I'm in.”
“She was already on board. April 28.”
The call ended unceremoniously, and Jimmy looked at the person across the table from him; his girlfriend and Fiona's cousin, Maggie.
“Looks like your cousin and I are gonna be teaming up a little sooner than either of us thought!”
-----
April 16, 2013
This Jimmy Riley is...well, not “considerably” different than the one from that day in March, but different never-the-less. The war with LEGION in EXODUS is starting to take its toll on him, along with the lingering and growing mystery of his dad's location.
But this setup isn't about LEGION. The EXODUS banner hangs in the background of the tripod-set camera's shot, and Jimmy sits in a chair, leaned over with elbows on knees and looking at the camera.
“I'd be lying if I said my main goal, the goal of myself and Fiona, wasn't to simply beat Angelo Valour and shut him up, send him back to Knoxville with his tail between his legs. To claim victory over the guy who holds the belts that we mailed back to the UWL and left behind. If we did that, and lost in the second round? I don't know about Fiona, but I could go back to San Diego, back to EXODUS, and be content.”
He nods, letting that sink in for a minute.
“But where's the fun of that? Why not go all the way to the finals? Why not win? As such, it requires me to talk about the other thirteen of you. And where better to start than that partner of Angelo...Frank Merritt. Here's a guy who has the body of a mailbox; stout, hard to move. Thankfully for the rest of us in this tournament, Frank also seems to have the brain...of a mailbox. It's the only way to explain why he'd team with Angelo, because his last two partners had the sense to get out of the UWL. Hell, one had the sense to get out of wrestling entirely, that's why Frank's here and not pushing a broom in Knoxville!”
Jimmy grins, moving on.
“Now, let's talk about the only other team I've really got any familiarity with at all. Tiami Tyler-Johnson and her...eh, other sister...since Danielle's still in the grasp of LEGION and Tiami's second partner Jessica Harmony...Nikki Tyler. The Icy Knockouts are in here, and I'll admit; Tiami, Fiona, myself...we're on the same page. We all have our reasons to get at LEGION. But this isn't in our bubble, Tiami. If it turns out we're across the ring from each other, you'll get no preferential treatment from The Marauders. I expect the same from you; a battle of honor, where the best team wins. Just know...in my opinion? You'll find us standing tall.”
Jimmy pauses, leaning back in the chair and placing his hands behind his head.
“The second sibling team in this tournament has a bit more experience, a bit more of a regular schedule working together than Tiami and Nikki. The Carnival Connection might actually be free agents now, but they're the only other team I've seen any of in person; taking a trip to WARPED a few months back allowed me to see them work. There's no doubting their ability, particularly as a team. Rottentreats, Douglas, you're no slouches. I'm sure that if we cross paths, you'll certainly give Fiona and myself one hell of a fight. But what we lack in teamwork we make up for in individual styles; The Marauders, we run the gamut. Between Fiona's flying, and my striking, we're difficult to gameplan for, something that every team has to deal with when they look at us. You guys better spend less time listening to Rod Stewart albums, and more preparing for the fight ahead.”
Jimmy pauses, not sure what to make of the next team that came to mind.
“One team that's already broken the ice...”
He cracks up, clearly realizing what he had done.
“Oh man, I didn't even think about that until now! Get it? Any Given Sundae? Ice cream? Break the ice? Ah, forget it. You know, it's hard to put a finger on those two. Part of it is the masks, part of it is the silliness, but people seem to see that, and they overlook one very important thing; this is a world class tag team. Put aside those masks, the pajama-like outfits. These are amateur wrestlers, veterans of the ring, and a pair of guys who have been working together for quite some time. If we step in that ring, Sweet Treat, Cone, I think it'd be a hell of a match...and a hell of a notch in our belts to beat such a tough and successful tag team as yourselves.”
Then...silence. Jimmy closes his eyes, pushing his head further back into his cradled hands, sinking in the chair and the moment simultaneously. After a moment, while still in that position, Riley continues.
“At the other end of the bracket from us sit two teams...one is the North Atlantic Wrestling representatives, the Latin Kings...the other is the, shall we say, 'home team,' Party Nation. I'm not going to say that either of these teams are outright pushovers, but let's start with Party Nation. These two guys, they're pretty obviously more focused on their dancing and their women than wrestling. That's going to hurt you...not in the long run...but in the short run. The run that begins with you in the Top Tag Tournament, and ends with you in the showers, planning an early exit to the club.
“As for the Latin Kings; I'll admit, when I heard that name, I drew back a little bit. Latin Kings, one of the most dangerous gangs in North America, known for stealing, for killing...these Latin Kings, on the other hand.”
He pauses, coming back to a regular sitting position and opening his eyes, his hands coming to rest dangling between his knees.
“These Latin Kings seem more interested in going to the zoo, watching animals, and talking about...well, a lot of nothing, it seems like. I don't like writing teams off, but neither of you seem very capable of hanging with myself and the EXODUS Pro Champion, the holder of the title that makes you the best in the world, Fiona Rourke.”
Another pause, now, as the final team remained.
“The spectrum of talent in this tournament runs from the likes of those two teams...to those who are talented but foolish like Valour...to the likes of the UK Dragons. FRONTIER's premier tag team, Evangelista and Laurel Anne Hardy. Two women who are undeniably strong, undeniably quick, incredibly talented. I look at the two of you the same way I look at the two sibling pairs in this tournament; closer than close, unmatched teamwork, and a great challenge.
“No matter how you cut it, this night is a challenge, though. Eight teams stand, three victories separating them between disgrace and glory. That glory? Fifty thousand dollars; I don't know about the rest of you, but that money would go to good use in my hands. A title match, against the champions of any competing promotion. Perhaps, if Fiona and I win, we decide to take back what we believe to be our UWL World Tag Team Titles. Maybe we walk into NAW, or into FRONTIER. Perhaps we stay right here in HEW to take those. The options, while not limitless, are definitely vast.
“But all it takes is one slip.
“One fall.
“And we're done. The same applies to the rest of you, and if you don't think that, allow The Marauders to light things up for you.”
One last pause as Jimmy looks down, his thoughts turning to his downed friend. He grins, then turns his gaze back to the camera.
“There's a little saying that Fiona uses...used...when teaming with Jonathan Collins. You bring a gun, we'll bring an arsenal.
“April 28, you other seven teams can bring all the arsenals you want. The energy we have? It's nuclear.”
He flashes the peace symbol with his right hand.
“I believe this is where my partner would say, 'Deuces, bitches.'”
The camera fades out.