All Star Wrestling... TEXAS FOREVER (Cverse)

[TCP1]

This is a Cornellverse dynasty, inspired by the original dynasty by BriFidelity all those years ago and by the irrepressible InfinityWPI’s Welcome to the Zone series. Seems wrong not to mention them both. This will be my 3rd attempt to make a Texas Wrasslin' diary that doesn't end in catastrophe.I should also note this is a personally edited Cornellverse to represent my previous diaries on earlier games; So long story short, things are different. But I'll reveal info as and when it becomes important or noteworthy. Finally a big thank you to King Bison and the other superb artists we have on the GDS boards for their stellar work on graphics.

 

Fort Worth Texas... Late 2019

 

A man enters a diner, but it's no joke.

 

Thomas Patrick

 

American’s didn’t know how to make hashed browns.

 

The oddly shredded birds’ nest of shredded potatoes and onions was simultaneously overcooked and al dente. A jab with the fork did nothing to loosen the consistency. So I opened my notebook and began to right down a description of the place. Donny’s Diner; 8th Street, Fairmount-Southside Historic District, Fort Worth, Texas.

 

Folded in the notebook was a FINAL NOTICE BILL. I needed this job.

 

“More coffee love?” the attractive blonde waitress shrilled and filled up the plain white mug without a word from me. “What brings you to Texas?”

“Job interview,” I replied.

“Oooo are you from Australian?” she giggled. “Throw another shrimp on the Barbie.”

“London actually.”

“London, as in Canada?” she replied.

“England.”

“Oh England, that’s where Tommy Cornell is from,” she said happily before turning to the large man behind the grill. “Ain’t that right Donny?”

“What’s that?” he yelled back.

“This young man’s from the same place as Tommy Cornell.”

 

The overweight and balding Donny shrugged and went back to massacring another breakfast.

 

“Whose Tommy Cornell?” I asked.

“Whose Tommy Cornell?” she said in surprise and then gestured to one of the photos on the wall. “Only the most famous wrestler of all time. My Donny fought him once in the West Texas Coliseum.”

 

The photo she was pointing at showed a large balding man fighting a good looking, muscular one. Judging the men solely on their appearance, her Donny was unlikely to have lasted more than a minute.

 

“Impressive,” I said, only partially placatingly. “Maybe you can help me. I was meant to meet someone here about a job an hour ago, but he hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Oh,” she said brightly. “Oh are you the writer?”

“Yes.”

“For the ‘TV’ job?” she continued.

 

I didn’t like the emphasis she’d put on the TV, but nodded along.

 

“Donny, Donny, this fella from London is here for the writer’s job.”

 

Donny wiped his hands on a cloth so dirty, I wondered if he’d made them more unclean and wandered around the counter.

 

“You any good?” he said abruptly.

“I’d like to think so,” I replied instinctively. “Are you the person interviewing me?”

“That a problem?”

“No, not at all.”

 

This was a lie. I’d come to New York to get a job in a writers room and hopefully one day get my own show. I did not believe for one second that Donny from Donny’s Café was the owner of a writer’s room. Or a show. Or even a clean vest. His hulking great hands moved quicker than I expected and he was riffling through my notebook.

 

“Hey, give that back. That’s private.”

“The owner of Donny’s Café was a giant man with hands the size of hams, but with no ability to actually cook ham,” he read and narrowed his eyes at me.

“That’s another Donny, with another café,” I replied and slid the uneaten hash browns to the other side of the table.

 

Then something really odd happened… he laughed. A guttural, booming laugh which filled the café and made the glasses rattle. The waitress snatched the notebook and took her time to read it. Then she laughed to.

 

“Well he’s got good taste in food at least,” she said and handed me back the notebook. “I think you better take him to the auditorium Donny.”

“Yeah alright, come on Englander, follow me.”

“Where we going?” I said, completely at a loss for what was happening.

“Just across the road, don’t worry, I’m not gonna murder you or anything,” he said and laughed again.

 

I hesitated. Was I really about to follow a stranger in New York to an abandoned gym across the road.

 

“You want the writers job or not?” he snapped.

 

It turns out that’s exactly what I was going to do.

 

***

 

The ‘Auditorium’ as he called it was a surprise. After getting in through a hole in the chipboard covering the large double doors, Donny switched a large lever and lights chunked into life revealing a surprisingly large indoor space. There was rows of fold out chairs surrounding an old, tatty looking boxing ring. Or was it, a wrestling ring? The awning around the outside read “Madison High School Fighting Bullfrogs.”

 

“This is the Fort Worth Sportatorium,” Donny grumbled. “Take a seat. They’ll be here soon.”

“Who will?”

 

As if on cue the door around the back opened and more light flooded the main area. It seemed there was a whole other area back-ended on the one we were in. Silhouetted in shadow was a man.

 

“Donny you’re here, come on through and see the place,” the figure said. "Don't sit down new blood."

 

Donny walked towards the door before stopping and turning around, “Well come on, you’ve come this far. You want the job, it’s through that door.”

 

With a knot of nerves in my chest, I stepped into the light and through the door.

 

I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but a small studio full of muscular men in small pants was not it. They cheered as Donny and I entered. A quick scan of the place, more to avoid eye contact with the half-naked people, showed an odd TV set. There was a raised main platform with a brand new widescreen TV and a small podium with old-fashioned long microphones.

 

“Whose the new boy?” called out one of the wrestlers.

“Writer,” said Donny with a smile. “From England. Taking him to meet the boss. He in the office?”

The crowd of wrestlers cooed in union and one shouted out “He sure is, you’re lucky he’s in a good mood.”

 

Still thunderstruck from the bizarre situation I was in, I allowed myself to be lead by Donny into a backroom office. A single hanging bulb illuminated a desk covered in legal documents. In a chair behind the desk, hidden in darkness sat a man.

 

“Are you the writer?” said the man in a thick New York accent. “From London?”

“Err, yes,” I replied. “But I think there’s been a mistake. I’m here to join a writers room.”

“You got it. This is the writer’s room. A writer’s room of one. For our new monthly events.”

“Wrestling?” I said aware that I had no idea about wrestling, or Texas or even who this man was.

“You got it?” said Donny.

“I did,” replied the man and Donny grinned and cracked his knuckles. “We got the lease, the name and the belts. It all starts here. We’ll take em down.”

“Take down who?” I asked, utterly bemused.

“An old friend in New York,” said the man.

“Why would you want to take down a friend?”

“I said an ‘old friend’ as in, past-tense. Now, he’s our enemy.”

 

He slid a paper across the desk. I was surprised newspapers were still a thing.

 

NYCW Empire City Showdown IV A Masterpiece

The hottest wrestling company at the moment is NYCW owned by Larry Vessey and run out of New York. With help from a team of backstage dynamos, they have revolutionized independent wrestling the USA and last night’s big event did not let down their rampant fanbase. In the main event, NYCW Megastar Ross Henry defended the Empire World Title against Casey Valentine in a late Match of the Year candidate. The success of the formerly quiet, low key company has sent shockwaves through the wrestling world and with a new streaming service on the horizon, the sky is the limit for Vessey and his team.

 

“So you hate Larry Vessey,” I said. “Why? What did he do to you? And who are you? And what is this place? And frankly, WHAT IS GOING ON?”

“Firstly, a question for you; you want the job?” he said.

“I want answers,” I replied.

“Yes or no?”

 

My hand instinctively went to my notebook and thought about the bills.

 

“Yes!”

 

“Good. So to answer your questions; This; is All Star Wrestling. You are here to write us some storylines. As for who exactly I am,” he said as he leant forward, the light from the bulb highlighting his shockingly good-looking face. “I’m Brutus Milano, and the Larry stuff is a long, ugly story…”

 

Brutus Milano

 

Next time on All Star Wrestling... We get to know our staff and, more disappointingly, our wrestlers...

[TCP1]

Reserved.

[eayragt]

I would love to see what type of owner Brutus turns out to be...

[TCP1]

I would love to see what type of owner Brutus turns out to be...

 

Yeah me too. Having spent so long fiddling with the database, I left him till last. But I’ll do my best to bring across his ownership cred.

[TCP1]

The following weeks went by in a blur.

 

The Sportatorium had constant work happening to it. Wrestling ring was updated, the lights replaced, cameras brought in. The place still looked like a relic of the 1970s, but one with modern technology driving the process. Brutus ran through the basics of what was expected and gave me a lot of old wrestling magazines to read through to get an idea of what the press were looking for. Then he gave me a load of DVDs of classic wrestling so I could see what the fans wanted. Finally he showed me the finances of the company so I could see what the wrestlers wanted. After I’d picked my jaw up off the ground, I looked to Brutus.

 

“I’m a good saver,” he said with a smile. “Plus there is no limit to the money and resources I'll put into ending Vessey’s rise.”

 

No matter how much I pushed about the reason for his hatred, he remained quiet. All I needed to know what Larry Vessey wasn’t to be trusted and our goal was to beat them. Beat them in viewers, attendance and press coverage.

 

The problem was, the more I read about this Vessey character and his family, the more impossible the job seemed. Larry Vessey was a winner. He’d been a winner in wrestling and he was a winner as an owner. Over the last four years he’d invested time and effort along with an upstart booker/announcer by the name of Matthew Morris to create something of a super promotion. They’d poached all the best talent they could from around the world and used them to crush people who had been in an alliance with them. Companies like Pittsburgh Steel, Freedom Caribbean and Grimm SoCal Wrestling had been run out of business by the growing and expanding NYCW.

 

The bigger promotions like SWF, TCW and USPW had in turn taken the big stars from NYCW and now some of the biggest wrestling stars in the world had, at one time, been through the New York Company. His son Cameron was the top wrestler in the only remaining Canadian promotion CWA and his nephew was a rising star in New York. Former heroes Ernest Youngman, Nelson Callum, Logan Wolfsbaine and Roger Cage were now plying their trade in the biggest shows and in Ross Henry, NYCW had their guy. Henry I recognised from his time in the NFL. Watching his matches and I was amazed how easily he connected with the crowds. It was watching him that created a sense of my own first goal. I wanted to work with wrestlers who could do what he could do.

 

And I wanted to help them get there.

 

Another issue was a group known affectionately as DAVE. Or at least, they were called DAVE. Someone named Phil Vibert, whose podcast I had at least heard of, had setup a company in Hawaii of all places. Lethal Ring was the hottest name in wrestling. At this point I stopped to consider how much my life has changed that I actually cared about it. Cared is a strong word. Understood might be more accurate.

 

I walked through the sounds of drilling and hammering at the Sportatorium and started to get to know the guys we’d be working with. First things I noticed were four gigantic men. I mean, Brutus was big, but these guys were something else. I approached the foursome as they chatted with one another.

 

“Hi there,” I said. “I’m the new Booker.”

They smirked and a fifth, older gentleman approached.

“Howdy Bookerman, trying to get a feel of who you’re working with right?”

“Yes that’s right,” I said and quickly consulted the ring-bound folder I’d put together with people’s names, photos and history. “It’s nice to meet you Travis Century. I see you used to be part of DAVE and had a nice run with WEXXV.”

“Very good,” he said. “Tell me though, that little book of yours tell you who else we got standing around here?”

“Of course,” I said, ignoring the slight mocking tone. “These two are BB Colossus and Boneyard AKA State of Destruction, while the other two are the legendary Dean and Dallas McWade.”

The McWade’s high-fived.

“You hear that Dean?” said Dallas.

“Certainly did Dallas, we’re legendary,” said Dean.

Despite the enormous size of BB and Boneyard, they both just pleasantly smiled as I ran through their histories. There was a lesson here about not judging a book by its cover. Just then, a rangy man in a cowboy hat sauntered by and spat chewing tobacco on the floor.

“That’s disgusting,” said Travis.

“Blow me,” snarled the man.

A quick check in my folder told me he was Cowboy Buck Winchester, a man not so much playing a character as living it. Despite his rudeness however, there was a certain appeal to his gruff demeanor.

“Don’t mind him,” said Travis, he’s an asshole, but he brings the goods. Come on bookerman, I’ll introduce you to the others.

 

As good as his word, ‘Preacher’ Travis Century walked me around the barn, giving a short introduction to each worker; probably to avoid the embarrassment of having to read through my folder.

 

Alistair Shufflebotom – Skinny guy, mainly used to make big guys look great.

Bob Casey – Like Alistair, his job was to make others look great, and he was one of the best at it in the business.

James Diaz, Carlos Barrera and Miguel Rivera – A group known as The Cartel. All of loose Hispanic heritage, all brawlers and part of the mainstay of our midcard.

Outlaw Wes Revell and Tex Tagan – A cowboy themed tag team called Dead or Alive. They were also part of The Wanted stable with Cowboy Buck Winchester.

Charlie Corner – An impressive looking body with a million dollar smile. He was a newcomer to wrestling, but had the look and charisma to succeed. Apparently.

Dustin Deuce – Sat, reading a book by Satre and eating what looked like a raw piece of fish. An oddball, but a talented one.

Jack Pryde – Another youngster, but with a dynamite nickname ‘Prime Time’ and a rare talent on the microphone.

Roger Monteiro and Wild Red Stallion Billy Chase – I guess you couldn’t have a clichéd Texas company without some native Americans. And these two fit the bill.

Zippy Deverell – Small, mouthy and packed with potential (if Preacher is to be believed), Zippy played the cowardly heel better than most and that alone meant a fairly bright future.

Dewey Libertine and Matthew White – Referees, and very referee-like backstage. Libertine especially carried a lot of respect and was highly regarded; and by none moreso than himself.

William Hayes - Arguably our finest in-ring talent, coming off the back of a really successful tour in Japan. we'd have to dress him up a bit for the Texas crowd, but he was our crown jewel.

 

Next up was a meeting with Brutus who made it clear that growth was the key and I had a year to get us to a tiny size. Also he had no interest in Impactful style or a comedy style in his wrasslin. I cast a glance around to the cowboys and Indians and chose not to comment. We then discussed the upcoming first show, One Night in Texas when the door to his office opened and Donny came in with his girlfriend.

 

“Hope you’ve got a spot for us?” he said slightly more sheepishly than normal.

“Of course,” said Brutus before addressing me. “Tell em what they’re doing.”

“Well, Don I’ve got you in the first ever match in ASW history.”

“Thanks boss,” he said, misty-eyed.

“What about me?” said his waitress girlfriend.

“Oh,” I said. “I didn’t know you were part of the team. I mean, a performer. Obviously you’re attractive enough to draw the eye…”

Donny’s wistful expression changed to one of irritation.

“That’s ok honey,” she said. “I’m a good valet though. I could accompany Donny to the ring.”

 

The door opened again and a good-looking, young wrestler entered tossing a football in the air.

 

“Hey boss man, heard you was meeting all the guys. I was a bit late, but…” his eyes fell on the waitress. “Well hello there, we’ve not met, I’m…”

“Her name is Nicki,” said Donny. “She’s my girlfriend.”

“Ok sasquatch,” replied the young guy. “No need to stake you’re claim to anything, I was just being polite.”

He winked at Nicki, who blushed.

I ran through my notes quickly, but didn’t find anything showing the young man.

“Who, are you?”

“This,” interjected Brutus. “Is Tucker Maynard. Former five star high school football recruit-turned wrestler.”

“Oh ok, I’ll add him in to the card.”

“I’ll fight him,” said Donny with a grin.

“I’m game,” said Tucker.

“No,” I replied. “I’ve got your match sorted. I’ll find something for Mr. Tucker.”

“Texas Forever!” said Tucker Maynard.

“What?” the rest of us said in unison.

“Texas Forever!” he repeated.

“Ok,” I replied after a pause. “Thanks.”

 

And with that, we had our inaugural card. Now all we had to do is wait, and hope that nothing went wrong:

 

ASW One Night in Texas

Prime Time Jack Pryde vs. Devastating Don

Bob Casey vs. Tucker Maynard

The Black Hill Warriors (Wild Red and Monteiro) vs. State of Destruction

Charlie Corner vs. James Diaz

Zippy Deverell and Alistair Shufflebottom vs. Notorious

ASW Texas Heavyweight Title: Cowboy Buck Winchester vs. Dustin Deuce

ASW World Tag Team Titles: Dead or Alive vs. The McWade Brothers

ASW World Heavyweight Title: William Hayes vs. Brutus Milano

 

Next time on Texas Forever… One Night in Texas…

[TCP1]

A group of misfits and fired employees attempt the impossible and take on New York… TEXAS FOREVER!

 

The night of the first show came in the blink of an eye. Our announce team of Marv Ernest and Joey Poison were prepped at their table and all the guys were in the locker room awaiting the ring of the bell and the first match. William Hayes, dressed in leather jacket we’d picked up from the thrift store and ring trucks which read ‘Slick Billy.’

 

“You ready William?”

“I sure am. By the way, I’ve been training with some of the young guys and I’ve got to say that Tucker Maynard kid has got it. I can’t tell you what ‘it’ is, but I can tell you he’s got it. I have no issues with you putting him over me sometime soon. It could help him?”

“That’s very thankless of you William, but I’ve got plans already for tonight.”

“No worries boss, break a leg.”

 

ASW One Night in Texas

Saturday, Week 4, January, 2020

Sportatorium, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas

Attendance: 77

 

OPENING MATCH: ‘Prime Time’ Jack Pryde vs. Devastating Don

In a decent match, Jack Pryde defeated Devastating Don in 7:41 by disqualification after Don sat on his opponent and wouldn’t (couldn’t) get up to break the referee’s count.

Rating: 23

As promised Donny got himself the opening match and he did what he does best and accidentally cost himself a match because he’s so out of shape. Prime Time looked smooth as silk; and despite the tiny gathered crowd not knowing him, they started to respond to him by the end. Crowd enjoyed the match as a whole and it heated them up for later fights.

 

INTERVIEW: In a pre-recorded interview at the ASW Zone (the backstage interview area), Marv Earnest introduces Prime Time to the live studio audience (the rest of the locker room).

 

Prime Time – “I was born and raised in Minnesota… Texas and the ting about Minnesota… Texas is; it’s cold. So you have to learn how to heat up the place you’re in. And I, Prime Time Jack Pryde am here to heat things up.”

 

Marv Earnest – “It says here you were a standout High School footballer.”

 

Prime Time – “Yes I was.”

 

Marv - “That is until an injury ended his hopes of an NFL career. That must’ve hurt.”

 

Prime Time – “It did Marv, it did. I know what it’s like to be a championship quarterback. But I also know what it’s like to have your position ripped away from you. And then to be replaced, but someone who isn’t as good as you are.”

 

Marv – “You’re talking there about Tucker Maynard.”

 

Prime Time – “Yeah that’s him, and I hear he’s working around here too.”

 

Marv – “Could be a good chance to set the records straight; prove to everyone that you’ve always been better than him.”

 

Prime Time – “Exactly.”

 

Rating: 38

Interview was fine, but hopefully one day it wouldn’t be so obvious that our commentator was feeding story points to the rookie. Pryde was charismatic at least. Obviously just needed more experience.

 

TAG TEAM MATCH: Alistair Shufflebottom & Zippy Deverell vs. Notorious

In a bout that had good wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Notorious defeated Alistair Shufflebottom and Zippy Deverell in 7:37 when Carlos Barrera pinned Alistair Shufflebottom with a Drop Off.

Rating: 34

Shufflebottom does his ‘job’ and Notorious get the win for The Cartel. We’d have to make sure not to bore the crowd with the same matches over and over, but if we were smart we could extend mini-feuds to keep the fires burning. Was it me or were the crowd getting louder?

 

INTERVIEW: Back in the ASW Zone with Marv Earnest and now we have Tucker Maynard wearing a letterman jacker and with a gorgeous blonde next to him.

 

Marv – “Welcome back to the Zone. Now we have Tucker Maynard joining us. Tucker, you’re a high school standout quarterback and someone pegged to join the NFL until you ‘changed your mind’ and joined us here in ASW. What brought about such a change?”

 

Maynard – “Good to be here Merv.”

 

Marv – “It’s Marv.”

 

Maynard – “Whatever. You’re right though, I was going to join the NFL. Probably as the number one pick and would likely have gone on to the Super Bowl. It’s just how Tuck rolls. But I decided to grace you all with my presence. Titles and trophies are only so good, sometimes you’ve just gotta trust yourself, and The Tuck always trusts himself.”

 

Marv – “We spoke to Prime Time Jack Pryde earlier and he mentioned you took his spot as quarterback.”

 

Maynard scoffs and rolls his eyes.

 

Maynard – “I didn’t take nothing. It was given to me. Coach said to me, he said ‘Tuck my boy, that no good useless Pryde is gone and I need you to save us. Will you save us, do it for me Tuck. For old Coachy.’ And frankly, when an old man begs, it’s uncomfortable so I just said yes. I’m really just a normal guy whose become a hero.”

 

Marv – “Ok then. And who do you have on your arm.”

 

Maynard – “This, you old perv, is Nicki an she’s my own personal cheerleader, ain’t that right honey?”

 

Nicki – “Sure am. Goooo Tuck!”

 

Maynard – “Adorable.”

 

Rating: 32

Good interview and Tuck and Nicki have this sort of natural chemistry. And now I had to make sure Donny didn’t rip off Tuck’s arms.

 

SINGLES MATCH: Bob Casey vs. Tucker Maynard

In a decent match, Tucker Maynard defeated Bob Casey in 13:24 by pinfall with a Third and Long (short-arm clothesline into a Rock Bottom).

Rating: 27

After such an impressive interview it made zero sense for Tucker not to get the win here HE could well be a major star for us down the line, but for now we trusted Casey with our diamond in the rough.

 

ANGLE: In the ring James Diaz and The Cartel are out dressed as cowboys. They pretend to shoot things with toy guns and mime rustling up some cattle. The crowd are not appreciative of their antics.

Rating: 39

Hey, I don’t know the level of these fans interests. It could be that they enjoy the pantomime elements. The only way we’d know for sure is if we tried.

 

SINGLES MATCH: Charlie Corner vs. James Diaz

In a decent match, James Diaz defeated Charlie Corner in 9:47 by pinfall with an Asian Thumb Spike.

Rating: 31

Simple victory for Diaz. Corner has all the tools, but is way to ‘green,’ which apparently means he needs experience. And what better experience than losing to the more established stars.

 

TAG TEAM MATCH: The Black Hill Warriors (Wild Red and Monteiro) vs. State of Destruction

In a decent match, State Of Destruction defeated Billy Chase and Roger Monteiro in 7:54 when BB Colossus pinned Roger Monteiro with a Spiked Powerbomb.

Rating: 32

God I just love State of Destruction. Sure they might be slow and have zero stamina, but the sheer look and impressive strength certainly has me convinced and we were sure the crowd would learn to be impressed by them too.

 

ASW TEXAS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: Cowboy Buck Winchester vs. Dustin Deuce

In a decent match, Cowboy Buck Winchester defeated Dustin Deuce in 9:48 by pinfall with a Neckbreaker. Cowboy Buck Winchester wins the ASW Texas Heavyweight title.

Rating: 38

I had it on good authority that these were two of our best singles performers, so we let them go for it and see what they could do. Plus, if you’re going to have a Texas Heavyweight Title, you gotta start with a cowboy. Right?

 

ASW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLE MATCH: Dead or Alive vs. The McWade Brothers

In a superb match, The McWade Brothers defeated Dead or Alive in 9:38 when Dallas McWade pinned Tex Tagan with a Murder On the Mountain. The McWade Brothers win the ASW World Tag Team titles.

Rating: 42

Dead or Alive were a great team with bags of potential and chemistry, but for our inaugural winners we wanted to make a splash. The McWade’s are arguably the most famous names on our entire roster and it would be good somewhere down the line to say that they were our first champions.

 

INTERVIEW: Back one final time to Marv Earnest who know has a leather jacket-wearing gentleman with him.

 

Marv – “It is my great pleasure to introduce to you all; Slick Billy Hayes. How are you Slick?””

 

Slick Billy – “I’m tree-mendous my sweet man. I am looking forward to getting out there and introducing this loyal Texas crowd to their new hero. Me, Slick Billy. After all you don’t want a New Yorker as your champion do you?”

 

Crowd (AKA our guys) all boo as invited.

 

Marv – “Well quite, Brutus Milano is a name better associated with the Big Apple than Texas Strong. This is a Texas-based promotion after all. You can tell by all the Cowboys and Indians running around the place.”

 

Marv looks to the camera for a moment, before returning his view to Slick Billy.

 

Slick Billy - “That’s right Mean Marv and tonight these fine, upstanding Texans are gonna see exactly what I’m made of. TEXAS FOREVER!”

 

One voice, which sounds a lot like Tucker Maynard yells ‘Texas FOREVER!’ in response.

 

Rating: 40

 

ASW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH: Slick Billy Hayes vs. Brutus Milano

In a bout that had great wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Brutus Milano defeated Slick Billy Hayes in 10:20 by submission with an Italian Backbreaker after blatantly cheating. Brutus Milano wins the ASW World Heavyweight.

Rating: 40

I mean seriously though, were we really going to put the title on anyone else but the boss? I’m not mad.

 

OVERALL RATING: 39

 

I went to see Brutus after the show had finished. He was sweaty, but not as much as Donny. And more importantly he was smiling.

 

“We do good?”

“That was great,” he replied. “So good to get back out there doing what I do best. And now no-one can say I’m not World Champion Material. Even better I only lost $7k for the show. Awesome.”

“Is it?” I asked, thinking that was quite a lot to lose.

“You gotta spend money to make money,” he replied.

“Good to know.”

“So let’s have another show next month I think, over to you Mr Booker.”

 

Next time on Texas Forever… More shows, give me ALL THE SHOWS!!!!...

[TCP1]

<p>One show is good. But four shows, that’s where the money is… TEXAS FOREVER.</p><p> </p><p>

I was getting used to the crazy lifestyle these guys lived. Most of our stars would be travelling most of the month. Sleeping in cars, wrestling for pocket change and travelling again to do the same time and time again. No wonder they’d developed an, odd, sense of humour. Constantly ribbing one another backstage, or in the company Whatsapp group. </p><p> </p><p>

Brutus, who seemed happy mere days earlier now walked around backstage like a bad cloud. Our skeleton staff were still working on upgrading the facility, but all realised quickly to avoid him. Despite his age and appearance, I’d come to realise Brutus was really just a kid at heart. He wanted to play wrestling with his friends and he wanted to win. Obviously what had happened in New York had got in the way of that level of fantasy. And his bad mood was often related to that company and those people. This time NYCW had signed an exclusive TV deal and launched their own show Welcome to New York. The first episode had kicked off with a bang as Ross Henry had lost his Empire World Title to Casey Valentine. It’s all anyone in the industry could talk about. And that attention had irritated Brutus.</p><p> </p><p>

In petty retaliation he demanded that run our own weekly events. One a month wasn’t enough. We therefore, on the fly, created Thursday Night Bandits and made the relevant calls to the boys to get in their beaten up old cars and head to the Sportatorium.</p><p> </p><p>

Our stories seemed pretty set and we’d look to run less matches to fit the shorter one hour running time. Plus we thought having full-blown shows every week would be exhausting for everyone involved. Then at the end of the month we’d run a bigger show in place of Bandits. February therefore had: Gunfight at the Sportatorium. If nothing else it was suitably west-feeling.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>ASW Thurday Night Bandits</strong></p><p>

Thursday, Week 1, February, 2020</p><p>

Sportatorium, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas</p><p>

Attendance: 59</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>OPENING MATCH:</strong> Slick Billy Hayes vs. Devastating Don</p><p>

In a bout that had good wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Slick Billy Hayes defeated Devastating Don in 9:42 by pinfall with a Slick Trick.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 39</strong></p><p>

Donny goes back to losing (or jobbing as its apparently called). Slick Billy is our top non-champion and therefore needed a win or people would assume he had no shot against Brutus. But the pity here is the normally awkward-moving Don was even worse against Billy. The crimes of bad chemistry.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>SINGLES MATCH:</strong> Bob Casey vs. Tucker Maynard</p><p>

In a bout that had a decent reaction from the crowd but sub-par wrestling, Tucker Maynard defeated Bob Casey in 24:20 by pinfall while using the ropes for leverage.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 21</strong></p><p>

The rematch and this one went long. Too long perhaps? It was a good test of Tucker’s skills at least, and his win wasn’t as convincing as before either. Potentially a third match?</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>SINGLES MATCH:</strong> Jack Pryde vs. Dustin Deuce</p><p>

In a bout that had a decent reaction from the crowd but sub-par wrestling, Jack Pryde defeated Dustin Deuce in 8:02 by pinfall with a PrydeFall.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 17</strong></p><p>

Deuce goes from competing for a title to losing to Pryde. But now we were getting a feel for what our workers were like and the idea of a Pryde vs. Maynard feud excited us. Well, me. And hopefully the tiny crowds we were drawing. That being said, this match sucked as Deuce didn’t have the stamina.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>INTERVIEW:</strong> Marv Ernest is at the ASW Zone, and with him is the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION… Brutus Milano.</p><p> </p><p>

Marv – “Evening folks, today I’m joined by…”</p><p> </p><p>

Brutus – “They know who I am Marvin. How could they not? I’m the superstar from the Big Apple. New York’s Finest. I’m everything these overweight, Texas yahoos wish they could be.”</p><p> </p><p>

Marv – “You’re clearly not interested in making friends.”</p><p> </p><p>

Brutus – “I don’t need friends. I’ve had friends before and they let you down. But do you know what doesn’t let you down? Gold. This here is all the friend I need.”</p><p> </p><p>

Marv – “If you don’t mind me saying, that’s quite a cold approach to life. Is this the same approach you used when you were in New York?”</p><p> </p><p>

At these words, Brutus walks off. </p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Rating: 32</strong></p><p>

Hmm, not so good on the mic as others and that made it even more noticeable.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>No.1 CONTENDER TAG TEAM MATCH:</strong> Dead or Alive vs. State of Destruction</p><p>

In a bout that had good wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Dead or Alive defeated State Of Destruction in 8:13 when Boneyard was disqualified when Carlos Barrera ran in and attacked Outlaw Wes Revell.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 35</strong></p><p>

That’s how we do that. State of Destruction couldn’t lose properly, but Dead or Alive needed to get a shot at the gold. Perfect result for all and it continues to light the touch paper on the Cartel vs. Wanted feud.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>ANGLE:</strong> After the match is over James Diaz joins his Cartel hombres in beating down Dead or Alive. There is a sound of a cow bell and here comes Cowboy Buck Winchester, complete with lasso. He’s obviously ready for his title defense in the main event, but for now, it’s a LARIAT PARTY! He then ties up Diaz and Rivera, leaving only Carlos Barrera standing.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 37</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>ASW TEXAS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH:</strong> Carlos Barrera vs. Cowboy Buck Winchester ©</p><p>

In a bout that had great wrestling and good heat, Cowboy Buck Winchester defeated Carlos Barrera in 23:43 by pinfall with a handful of tights. Cowboy Buck Winchester makes defence number one of the ASW Texas Heavyweight title.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 43</strong></p><p>

The Wanted stand tall at the end of the show and I just wish we had some music, or production ability to highlight the sheer fun of the show. Time for a meeting with Bruno.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>OVERALL RATING: 41</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Cowboy Buck Winchester, the ass-kicking, name-taking wrasslin legend was fast becoming my favourite worker at the top end of the card. All my research had shown me high-fliers, technicians and luchadors, but the genuine bad ass was hard to come by. And we had one.</p><p> </p><p>

As we prepped for the second show of the month, I wandered the backstage area. The structural work had stopped and the leaking in the locker room had stopped. I noticed Charlie Corner organising a video game tournament. The competition never stopped.</p><p> </p><p>

Some of the other guys had setup a mock court and our road agent, the Masked Mauler was banging a gavel. Apparently Roger Monteiro had made a mess and now had to cover the travel costs of Wild Red Stallion.</p><p> </p><p>

Then I wandered into Brutus’ office, now with a framed copy of the World Heavyweight Title on the wall. It had the nickname ‘Big Gold.’</p><p> </p><p>

“Ahh booker man,” he said. “Listen I’ve looked at the lineup and you’ve got me in a twelve minute match.”</p><p>

“Yup, main event too,” I replied, obviously missing the point.</p><p>

“It’s too long.”</p><p>

“What is?”</p><p>

“The match, I don’t think I can last that long. These crowds aren’t like in New York, they want brutal, fast-paced brawls. Knock it down to eight minutes would you?”</p><p>

“Errr, sure thing,” I replied.</p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>ASW Thurday Night Bandits</strong></p><p>

Thursday, Week 2, February, 2020</p><p>

Sportatorium, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas</p><p>

Attendance: 81</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>SINGLES MATCH:</strong> Charlie Corner vs. Devastating Don</p><p>

In a decent match, Charlie Corner defeated Devastating Don in 9:44 by pinfall with a Corner Cutter.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 29</strong></p><p>

Donny was our opening guy and he just loved to put over the young guys. Well, the young guys not named Tucker Maynard.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>SINGLES MATCH:</strong> Jack Pryde vs. Boneyard</p><p>

In a decent match, Boneyard defeated Jack Pryde in 10:07 by disqualification.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 30</strong></p><p>

Prime Time was holding his own against the massive Boneyard. That is until Maynard interfered. Clearly the grudge from their high school has transferred to the wrestling ring.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>ANGLE:</strong> A fired up Prime Time grabs the mic.</p><p> </p><p>

“Listen to me you little punk. You may have been gifted my spot at High School, but that was then. This is now. You don’t get to run in like a yellow-bellied toad and cost me a match. Not you, not your little SL*T, not nobody. But seeing as you’re obsessed with me, what say we have it out. Like men. At Gunfight at the Sportatorium.”</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Rating: 49</strong></p><p>

The crowd, such as it is responded well to this and the fact they seemed to know the events and the wrestlers AND the story between them was a huge boost for me personally.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>TAG TEAM MATCH:</strong> The Black Hill Warriors (Wild Red and Monteiro) vs. Notorious</p><p>

In a decent match, Roger Monteiro and Billy Chase drew with Notorious in 10:04 when the referee lost control and stopped the match.</p><p>

Rating: 37</p><p>

Black Hill Warriors are a decent team, but they lack the drive and story of Notorious. But I didn’t want them buried before I’d even started.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>INTERVIEW:</strong> Marv Ernest is stood with the muscular leader of The Cartel; James Diaz.</p><p> </p><p>

Marv – “Today’s guest is James Diaz.”</p><p> </p><p>

Diaz – “It’s pronounced ha-mez.”</p><p> </p><p>

Marv – “I’m sorry, James Diaz. So tell us Mr Diaz, what is going on with you and The Cartel. The crowds here in ASW haven’t been too happy with your actions recently.”</p><p> </p><p>

Diaz – “I couldn’t care less what they think. In fact I don’t care what you think. The Cartel are a brotherhood. We look out for one another, ever since we were kidz. Now we just doing it again.”</p><p> </p><p>

Marv – “But you must admit, The Wanted are a popular group.”</p><p> </p><p>

Diaz – “I ain’t admitting nothing. They just a bunch of punk hicks, like you and like everyone in this crowd.”</p><p> </p><p>

The crowd boo, and the suspiciously similar-sounding voice to Devastating Donny boo loudest. Diaz waves them away dismissively.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>Rating: 28</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>SINGLES MATCH:</strong> Alistair Shufflebottom vs. James Diaz</p><p>

In a decent match, James Diaz defeated Alistair Shufflebottom in 9:41 by pinfall with an Asian Thumb Spike.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 35</strong></p><p>

Decisive victory for the leader of The Cartel as he further establishes himself as a threat.</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>ASW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE MATCH:</strong> Zippy Deverell vs. Brutus Milano ©</p><p>

In a decent match, Brutus Milano defeated Zippy Deverell in 7:51 by submission with an Italian Backbreaker. Brutus Milano makes defence number one of the ASW World Heavyweight.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 30</strong></p><p>

Brutus’ lack of stamina was an issue for the stories we wanted to tell. But how do you broach that with the owner of the company you work for?</p><p> </p><p>

<strong>ANGLE:</strong> Slick Billy is out and he says that when he’s finished teaching that ‘not cool dude’ Tucker Maynard a lesson, he’s coming for Brutus’ title. He then invites the champ to sit at the announcers desk for the main event.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 51</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>SINGLES MATCH:</strong> Slick Billy Hayes vs. Tucker Maynard</p><p>

In a bout that had good wrestling and a decent reaction from the crowd, Slick Billy Hayes defeated Tucker Maynard in 11:42 by pinfall with a Slick Trick following interference from Jack Pryde.</p><p>

<strong>Rating: 39</strong></p><p> </p><p>

<strong>OVERALL RATING: 39</strong></p><p> </p><p>

Decent show all in all. More than anything these first few months were a learning curve. But for now, I had to think of a way to have a really hard conversation.</p><p> </p><p>

Next time on Texas Forever… We need to talk…</p>

[Historian]

Very promising start!