[C-Verse] Behind the Curtain: The Nick Mason Story

[DAVEFAN95]

January 3rd, 2048

Mason Entertainment Studios,

Los Angeles, California

 

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteAnnouncer_006_zpspzdhpfsn.jpg

 

Hello there, my name is Nick Mason and I am a director, editor and writer, however, I am most known as the founder and owner of Mason Entertainment Studios, a large multimedia company and this year, I turn 60. I am a normal guy, worked my ass off to get to where I am and had many road bumps along the way. However, this documentary film isn't about me and my achievements. Or at least not in the industry of media. I want to talk about my experience in professional wrestling. Nowadays, all the fans know all about the behind the scenes and going ons of a wrestling promotion and at the heart of that is politics. However, what I went through in the industry, was more than simple politics. I encountered greed, selfishness and many other things that I knew existed but I never expected what I got. Today, I am going to expose what pro wrestling in, and how you the fans know nothing of it's ruthlessness. I don't want to turn you off professional wrestling with this, that's not it at all. I just want to show you what your favourite wrestler are really like and without further ado, it all started about 42 years ago.....

 

December 19th, 2016

Cindars Hospital,

Los Angeles, California

 

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteMale_056casual_zpsyi40chiw.jpg

 

I was 28 years of age and I was working as an editor in Los Angeles and I was a simple guy who liked comics, movies and of course professional wrestling and I was down on my luck. Well, actually, that was a lie, everything was going really well for me. I had a great job that I loved, that paid well, I had just recently got married to an absolutely stunning girl, I had just bought a house. Everything was going good, but when life gives you good times, it usually hits you hard with the bullsh!t. Almost like it builds up your happiness just so it can tear you back down to the depths of sadness, it's truly ruthless and everybody can relate to. The world is a sh!tty place sometimes and in 2015, it proved to me once again that you should never get comfortable with your life.

 

Cancer

... Not me, but my wife. Her name was Lucy and she was a teacher. She was also 28. I would have preferred if I got it, would have been less painful for her and honestly, easier for me to deal with. I know it's a bit cliche, but that's what happened. Luckily, I had a great paying job, unluckily, it still wouldn't covered the cost of everything. Doctors appointments, chemo treatments, x-rays, scans, you name it. It's not cheap and I can tell you that at that moment, I wasn't going to let her die at least not without a fight. Thing is, we didn't have the money saved up to deal with this. We had just bought a house and our savings were shot to sh!t. We needed money and we needed it now.

 

I remember the day of her first chemo session, she sat on that chair with that needle in her arm. It was painful, and that's me talking. You can only imagine how she felt.

 

"Can we pay for this?"

 

"Of course we can"

 

And we could at least this session anyway. I hated watching her sit there, she was pretty helpless. I hate to introduce her to you this way, but this is what I lived through. Honestly, it pains me to present her this way, but I guess that's how I saw her. This isn't about making you feel sorry for me, I just need to show you why I did what I did because after this, you might think a lot different of me.

 

"But we need money right?"

 

"Yes, honey, we're a bit short right now, but I'll pick up a second job, everything will be okay."

 

"That isn't gonna cut it Nick"

 

I couldn't pull the wool over her eyes. She was right. Not many jobs were available at that time and a waiter job wasn't exactly going to cut it. Not that she would let me take something like that. Lucy was always selfless, she didn't want me to be down. I suppose that's one of the reasons why this happened the way it did.

 

"Well, maybe, you could do one job, a dream job"

 

"A dream job?"

 

"Yeah, you've always wanted your own company and you could open a wrestling company?"

 

"Haha, yeah right."

 

"You could always ask John, just check it out. For me?

 

I couldn't say no to her. I knew this was one of her ways to get my mind off her illness, if I had a company, I was going to be distracted, which is what she wanted but I wasn't overly thrilled about her idea, for one, I'd need to spend money to start it up. I wasn't sure where the future was going to lead me, but I guess asking John wouldn't have been awful, but that's where it starts, that's where my journey in pro wrestling began

 

January 11th, 2016.

McCarthy’s Bar,

Los Angeles, California

 

Although, I promised my wife that I’d consult John, I wasn’t too keen on the idea. Sure it seems like it might be an easy way to get money, but let’s be honest here, it could also bankrupt me, and how would that help. I’d be royally screwed and for the next few days any time Lucy brought it up, I gave her a short answer and changed the subject. I wasn’t seriously thinking about it to be honest but as time went by, it kinda became my only option. I decided a few beers were needed and I went down to the bar with a friend.

 

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteMale_056casual_zpsyi40chiw.jpghttp://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteMale_002casual_zpsozicokut.jpg

 

“Man, you really think you can do it?”

 

“Uh, not really no”

 

This was Michael “Mike” Colton. My best friend since I was about 12. He was two years older than me, but he was a huge wrestling fan. He was like the big brother I never had, he lived a few houses down my street and he was the only guy around my age when he moved there in ‘99. Mike had some wrestling training back in the mid 2000’s and was a very good amateur wrestler in his college days. Mike always had my back, he was a legit friend who’d never let me or Lucy down, he was always there for me.

 

“Well, I’ll help anyway, I can. I have plenty of contacts.”

 

“I know, I still don’t think I can do this. But I can’t just…”

 

I was breaking down and Mike knew it. He didn’t say much, he just put his hand on my shoulder and consoled me. It wasn’t much but it meant a lot to me. Mike knew what Lucy meant to me, he knew she was really the only girl I ever loved. He could feel my pain as much as I could.

 

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteMale_017casual_zpskovghiue.jpg

 

“Am.. Am I interrupting something?”

 

“Not at all Gray, sit down, I need to tell you something”.

 

Graham “Gray” Penn was a colleague of mine. A very talented camera man, I met Gray in 2010, once I began working in this industry. Gray was my age and had been a great friend to me over the last few years and again, was a wrestling fan. The three of us were like the three musketeers, we were great buddies but Gray had been away in Toronto on a project and I thought that I’d prefer to tell him in person than over the phone and I did.

 

“Oh, wow. I don’t know what to say… I’m so sorry Nick.”

 

“Thanks, but that doesn’t make me feel any better.”

 

“Hey, tell him the rest.”

 

So I did. Honestly, Gray had always wanted to become a professional wrestler so, he was over the top excited. Gray was always that type of guy, kind of get distracted by what the real issue was. Mike and I always reeled him back in, we covered each other’s flaws pretty well.

“I think you should go for it.”

 

“This isn’t about us, Gray. This is for Lucy's sake and Nicks too.”

 

“Yeah, of course, but it’d be easy, us three coming up with ideas. We’d be great”

 

“No... well, actually, he makes a point Nick”

 

That actually did make sense. We always thought we could be good bookers and if we could make money too, then I’d be sold. That was the real problem here, the money. I only had 10k and I was going to be the sole owner of this company, so I could take out any profit we made. Sure, I wasn’t going to make amazing profits straight out of the gate but if we could start out with a profit and build our way up we’d be golden.

 

“Yeah, but money is the issue, right Nick?”

 

“Money is an issue. Nick, your the financial whiz, got any idea how to make a money?”

 

Honestly, I hadn’t. Well, until that very moment. I never thought about it in depth before so I guess I never really had my thinking cap on in terms of how I’d make money, but it just came to me. I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but it just did. I thought it would be a very good idea.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“Making a call…. Hello is this John? It’s Nick Mason, would you be available for a chat?”

[DAVEFAN95]

OOC

 

Quick post here to explain what this is. This is based on a story I wrote when I was twelve. That I recently found some pages for. I guess I wanted to explore the story and here’s this diary. Now it’s not exactly what I wrote when I was twelve, it’s a bit different. I changed a few things. I suppose if I could explain what this will be, it’ll be a little like my CV97 diary with Todd Cusson in TEW13 that I ended pre-maturely. Expect ups and downs, comedy and tragedy and whole bunch of other things.

 

My goal here is to concentrate on the backstage/real life segments and make you feel for the characters. While the shows will be brief summaries of what happened in the match. So essentially it’s the exact opposite to my DAVE diary. DAVE is still my priority but this is just a little side project to keep things fresh.

 

Thanks for reading

[DAVEFAN95]

<div style="text-align:right;"><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>January 13th, 2016</em></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>

John Campbell's Office,</em></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>

Los Angeles, California</em></span></span></p></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';">

</span></p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteMale_056casual_zpsyi40chiw.jpg</span><span>http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/Nemisis_ager_zpsxtyf81bi.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';">

</span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>John Campbell, or as you know him Nemesis, was a good friend of my dad's when I was young. I used to watch him wrestle for DAVE back in the day. If I really wanted to get a promotion up and running, John would be a real help.</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>"Well, Nick, I'm really sorry to hear that, but to set up a wrestling promotion to earn money isn't exactly a fool proof way to earn money"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"I know, but I'm kind of desperate John. Is there anything you can do for me?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"I'll... make a couple of calls."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>I knew this was a huge chance but honestly, I just wanted to try it out just once and see how I got on. This meant a lot to me and I had to at least try something, anything.</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>"Okay, I have something. I called Gil and he's willing to help you out."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Really?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Yes. As a favour to me, Gil is willing to pay for one show for you and he will bankroll the whole thing, he's even willing to let you keep all the profits. Maybe this will help you gauge if this could be a success for you."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>That's all I needed to hear. I was buzzing with excitement. One show where I could look at everything. The pro's, the con's, the possibility of profit. It looked good, really good I couldn't wait tell Lucy. It was the first time in quite a while where things were looking up, but it wouldn't last long.</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';">

</span></p><div style="text-align:right;"><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>January 14th, 2016</em></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>

Nick Mason's Apartment,</em></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>

Los Angeles, California</em></span></span></p></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';">

</span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>With the date set for our show, I was in my apartment, thinking of ways to book my show. I decided that I'd book the show. John said he'd help me. I was writing down my idea when..</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em> </em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>

*Brrrrring Brrrrrring*</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>"Uh, hello?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"This Nick Mason?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Yes, who is this?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"I wouldn't concern yourself with dat. I hear your having a wrestling show"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"What's that got to do with you?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"It's got everything to do with me. Let me tell you, Nick Mason, you have dat wrestling show, you gon' regret it."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>*Beep beep beep*</em></div></div>

[Jaysin]

Is this still a thing? I just stumbled on it and love what you've written so far.

[DAVEFAN95]

This is still going, but is extremely casual at the moment. I'm concentrating more on getting my DAVE diary back on track but this diary has a half written post in one of my tabs so expect an update soon enough, either tomorrow or Monday.

[Jaysin]

Look forward to it

[DAVEFAN95]

January 16th, 2016

Sunpound Coffee Company Cafe,

Los Angeles, California

 

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteMale_056casual_zpsyi40chiw.jpghttp://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/Nemisis_ager_zpsxtyf81bi.jpg

 

The call was a little worrying but it wasn't anything I was concentrating on. I had the show in mind and that was my main goal. John wanted to meet me for coffee just to see what kind of ideas I had in mind. I decided I should mention the call.

 

"John, I got a call a few days ago"

 

"What kind of a call?"

 

"Somebody threatened me."

 

"Well, you're going to get that in this industry, Nick. Get used to it."

 

"Why?"

 

"The territory system may be over but people don't like competition. I'm sure it was just somebody try to scare you off. I've got plenty of those calls, you'll be fine. Now what was that idea?"

 

John was right, he was a vet in this business and he knew what he was talking about. Thing was, I wasn't a vet. I was a new guy, a guy from a different industry. I didn't have the rep that John had.

 

January 16th, 2016

Sunpine Hill Multistory Car Park,

Los Angeles, California

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteMale_056casual_zpsyi40chiw.jpg

 

Our chat didn't last very long. It took about an hour and although it was still evening the car park I had parked in was quite dark and almost completely empty. I walked to the car and opened the car door. As I went to open the door a felt a sharp thin object pressed up against my back, before an arm sprung around and wrapped around my neck. I couldn't see who was behind me but I felt a bandana like material against my cheek, I guess he had it over his face.

 

"I warned you man. I god damn warned you!"

 

"What the hell are you talking about?"

 

"Wrestling man. This industry is ruthless, the new guys are the dead guys"

 

"You're going to kill me?!"

 

"No. However, consider this your final warning you hold that show, I won't be so nice next time. Understand?"

 

"Uh, I..."

 

"Nick?!"

http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/Nemisis_ager_zpsxtyf81bi.jpg

 

The sound of Johns deep voice rang around the car park. The sharp object in my back was gone and the arm flung under my neck was quickly removed. I looked as the man ran away

 

"Holy sh!t, Nick. That could have ended really badly. What the hell was that about?"

 

"Wrestling"

 

"Wrestling?!"

 

"He told me that if I hold the show, he'll kill me, or hurt me, or something along those lines."

 

"Well, you know what you got to do now right?"

 

"Yeah. Guess the show is cancelled."

 

"Cancelled? Like hell it is. Empty words, Nick. Empty words. You want to make it in this business?"

 

"Well, I..."

 

"Damn right you do. We gonna do this show and show these thugs who's boss."

[DAVEFAN95]

<div style="text-align:right;"><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>January 29th, 2016</em></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>

The Simmons Centre,</em></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"><span style="font-size:8px;"><em>

Los Angeles, California</em></span></span></p></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';">

</span></p><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/CVFP_WhiteMale_056casual_zpsyi40chiw.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';">

</span></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>It was the night of the show and Nemesis did most of the contacting for getting guys to come along. Truthfully, I just gave him a list and he did the rest. He added a few guys to the line up as well, some IPW guys came along, I didn't have any problem with that. I walked in through the door to be greeted by John and a man I didn't know. He had a huge smile on his face before introducing himself.</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><span>http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/Nemisis_ager_zpsxtyf81bi.jpg</span><span>http://i1368.photobucket.com/albums/ag183/darragh2oo9/Nick%20Mason/Gil%20Thomas_zpsspptazaf.jpg</span></div><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>"Hey, Nick. This is.."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Gil Thomas, charmed to meet you. I'm really sorry to hear about what happened. I give you my condolences"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Thanks.. very much."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>It sounded like he was trying to console me at a funeral, it was really bizarre. He was very upbeat and... odd. Very odd, but he had the dollar bills, so I wasn't going to open my mouth.</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>"Mr. Thomas, I can't thank you enough for covering the costs of tonight, I really appreciate it"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"No bother at all, young fellow. Just helping a friend of a friend out, as they say. People in need and all that."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Oh, um, yeah, of course."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>He was really bizarre, it was weird. This whole situation was bizarre, it's not like I had been in a locker room before a wrestling show, not gonna lie, the place was electric. There was a certain buzz in the air that I had never felt before, it.. it... was awesome.</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>"And of course, IPW is co-producing the show. Really helps our promotion aswell, everybody wins. Yes, indeed."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Of course, great to have some IPW guys here".</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Speaking of which where is my champion"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Who?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"He's looking for Hustle Muvva, Nick. He said he'd arrive on later. I haven't booked him tonight."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Oh, righto, John."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>And that was it, Gil skipped away like a Pixie. In all fairness to the guy, he went around and talked to everybody, made sure they were okay. Even guys that weren't IPW employees.</em></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>"Happy Nick?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Very. How did you get all these guys?"</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong> </strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>

"Most volunteered. Everybody has been hit by something, Nick. I guess this is there way of giving back."</strong></div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><span style="font-family:'Ariel Narrow';"></span><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>The stage was set, a few hundred people were going to pack into this arena to watch my show. I mostly kept Lucy in the dark, she wasn't a wrestling fan after all and I'm happy I did. The next 2 hours, was going to turn not just my world, but the world of California wrestling upside down.</em></div></div>