Groundwork (Invite)

[Jeremy Pendelton III]

Backstage in the arena's medical facility, Jeremy sat on a slab, having stitches poked into his recently opened head wound. It was as recent as seconds ago it was so quick and sudden. Back and forth inside of the ring did he and Tommy Tryton go, at stake the grandest prize in the company...and the momentum was in his favor.

Small incision after incision, all he could think of was how close he was to becoming the new World Champion. But as was the case in the entire match, momentum shifted again unexpectedly, and the champ...already busted open himself from almost halfway through the match...willed himself to regain the upper hand and put the exclamation point on what was arguably one the best matches in XWA's history.

History however, was not on Jeremy Pendelton's mind right now. How that match stacked up with other classic battles of the past was not his concern. What was however was the stark reality that on this night the "holy grail" was at his fingertips, only to suddenly slip through them.

"All done, Jeremy."

The medic's word broke his train of thought.

"It should be healed by the next show. Try to take it easy until then."

Easy? There's no such thing in my line of work.

That simple response sent the medic on his way to tend to some other competitors ailments. Monitors in the infirmary were showing the OTS broadcast for all who were interested in it. Only the tournament itself remained now, but Pendelton, his arm folded sat still on that slab with a somewhat disheveled yet still focused look on his face.

Too close. I was just too close to simply let it slip away. You've got it this time, Tryton...

Again, someone else inside this facility would break Jeremy's train of thought...

["The R*" Robby Sylk]

Robby Sylk wasn't exactly enjoying this Italian holiday either. Earlier in the night he was on the losing end of the GrandSlam Championship match. A bandage covered his own battlescars of the night as he soon approached the latest challenger for the XWA title, sitting and pondering whatever he was pondering.

That must've been a tough one to take out there Pendelton. I thought you had it. Guess it just came down to who was gonna pull of the biggest finish, huh? Things like that happen though, so it's all good.

He then extends his hand out to Pendelton in greeting.

Don't think I've introduced myself...Sylk. Robby Sylk.

[Jeremy Pendelton III]

As Jeremy looked up to who was talking to him, he sees that it's one of the veterans of the company. A man who in his own way made his mark in the business without a care of what anyone thought of him. He accepts Sylk's handshake with an iron wrist.

You don't have any need to introduce yourself, Sylk. A man with a reputation like yours is recognized without saying a word. Those are the spoils of success.

So, what does an accomplished "XWA Original" want with another "cocky rookie", hmm?

["The R*" Robby Sylk]

Yeah...haha...I can't begin to tell you how familiar that sounds, dude. Listen up, the one thing you should never accept in this biz, is being labeled. That's just one of many ways that other people will just keep you down or blow you off. It's not who you are that matters, it what you are and how you do what you do.

And you? Hell...tonight you proved that you can do it as good as anyone in this whole joint. You think that just because you lost tonight that the world is gonna forget about you? Oh no...in times like these, losing is even better than winning, because now you've got to make everyone know that you're here to stay.

That sometimes can do your career even better than winning a title belt.

[Jeremy Pendelton III]

Pendelton eyebrow raises. Was it some kind of advice here that Sylk was trying to give?

This being spoken by someone who already knows how it feels to be on top. The whole lore behind the XWA World Title is the fact that it's so difficult to attain, considering the amount of competition that exists now in this place.

Just look, Devil's Night is coming up now, and 5 other men will have a chance to win that title this time around. Tryton's chances of winning are 1 in 6, and if he doesn't win, some other man is going to have the glory that could've been mines, except he'd have gotten help whereas I put my own efforts into it, and mine alone.

This is a game, Sylk...it's all a game. The days of winning by your own skill are over and done. To be a success, you need an edge. A trump card. I see that now. Just being a gifted athlete or a technical genius or a high flying daredevil or powerhouse or brawler isn't going to cut it anymore.

Take a look at what O'Dell, Primo and Jasta have managed to accomplish. In one year's time they've made more impact in this business together than any of them could have on their own, despite their reputations and individual gifts. It's a numbers game. They played it, and next thing you know others joined them. They got stronger to the point where now, you know who is the dominant force of Overload.

I was led to believe at one point that I could be the dominant force of TakeDown and do it on my own. But that's a daunting task. Just look back as far as you can in this business. Nobody gets to the top on their own. Everyone gets a push somehow. If it's not on camera it's through "corporate influence". Why do you think Roach was so adamant on having you face Kris Cade for the GrandSlam title so many times? Because they wanted Cade to win. They wanted him to be the face holding that belt, not you anymore.

It's all the same. The players may change, but the game never does.

["The R*" Robby Sylk]

Jeremy's words made Robby think back to that fateful night. Independence Day 2008, the American Classic match and the first time he had won the World Title. True words Pendelton spoke, because at that point he was in the ring with many of the XWA's best at the time, and took advantage of the situations he could to emerge victorious. In a way, he got plenty of assists to that victory.

Then came the thoughts in his mind that had he not won, would the "corporate influencers" have given him another opportunity, or let him languish...choosing just to label him as he had said earlier? And even to this very moment now, with him no longer in possession of the GSC, he looked back at how bound and determined the new GM Mike Roach was to screw him at every given chance.

There were a lot points to Pendelton's speech, but that was the point that hit hardest.

You might be onto something there, Pendelton. Question is...what do you want to do about it?

[Jeremy Pendelton III]

Jeremy nods. A slight smile creeps onto an otherwise granite-etched face.

Just like you said, Sylk. We make the world know we're here to stay. WE become the influencers, not the suits sitting in their Penn Plaza office suites. Upper Echelon realized that if you want to hold your ground here, you have to take it by force. My father once told me "never follow someone else unless they're successful in what they've done."

It's all about what we are and how we do what we do, right? Haven't you predicated yourself on doing what you want, how you want, without a care of what anyone else thinks? I think that just may be what the doctor ordered. A much needed wake up call to Roach, to TakeDown and to the front office of just who makes things happen here. Us...not them.

["The R*" Robby Sylk]

You know something? I'm beginning to like the sound of that. Viewer Discretion was good while it lasted...but that's all in the past now. It's time I start looking to the future and not just cement the name Robby Sylk into the minds of these people, but tattoo the fucker on there!

Robby nods himself.

I'm gonna make some calls and get back to you, JP...but I'm liking the way you think. I think we just might be able to make something happen.

With those words, Sylk and Pendelton part ways, but it's a guarantee that they'll be crossing paths again, very soon.