The scene opens to the ESPN SportsCenter…
(Kevin): Good evening Kevin Conners and Cindy Brunson here in the SportsCenter and what a treat we have for you this evening.
(Cindy): That’s right Kevin. The infamous Hardcore Wrestling Alliance has the professional wrestling world buzzing this week following Havoc. The company has been in the spotlight recently as it undergoes a federal trial facing a number of charges. In recent months the company has seen a notable loss of top talent which has opened opportunity for new stars to establish themselves.
(Kevin): Havoc kicked off with what was scheduled to be a championship celebration party for Talon Wilkinson. Those plans however we shelved by Elizabeth Shevington, HWA’s new Executive Director of Business Affairs.
(Cindy): How apropos is it that it takes the strength of a woman to take the horns of this runaway ship, and get it steered in the right direction?
(Kevin):Her British accent isn’t her only strong characteristics, she is undoubtedly an uncompromising disciplinarian when it comes to following and enforcing rules and regulations.
(Cindy): Uncompromising? Some remark that her demeanor is an overdue necessity in a company where the over-the-top antics in and outside of the ring of its superstars has kept it in the spotlight and now in the courtroom.
(Kevin): That may be true, we need look no further than perhaps one of the fastest developing stories involving the suspicion surrounding Antonio Romano in the death of his ex-wife. While not a suspect in local officials ongoing investigation, fellow superstar Santa Claus claims to have information that could associate him with the crime.
(Cindy): Antonio Romano successfully hid from the Italian mafia for years, and this is what cracks me up, this guy in a Santa costume could be the one that brings him down.
(Kevin): Mr. Romano’s attorney was spotted at Havoc attempting to….well let’s call it what it is …. “bribe” Santa into relinquishing his alleged evidence to no avail. Mr. Romano took actions into his own hands.
(Cindy): Disgusting. This is the exact reason the company is in the trouble it is with the law. There’s enough violence against women on television and he practically raped her on live television in front of children.
(Kevin):Whoa…Whoa…Whoa…I in no way condone his actions, but assault is one thing, and rape is another. In all fairness that is not at all what happened.
(Cindy): Joining us now via satellite, taking some time out of her very busy schedule is HWA Executive Director of Business Affairs, Mrs. Elizabeth Shevington…welcome thank you for joining us.
(Mrs. Shevington): Thank you for having me.
(Kevin): It was Mia Ward’s debut this past Havoc, and we certainly miss her around the SportCenter, but it seems HWA snagged her away from us.
(Mrs. Shevington): We are pleased to have her, she is a very welcomed addition to the HWA family.
(Cindy): Mia isn’t the only one with a new role in HWA; you yourself are as well. How difficult would you say your role is in HWA? Some suggest all these rules you’ve begun to enforce have no place in the sport, and some tend to agree with a little tightening of the reigns so-to-speak. How do you address that.
(Mrs. Shevington): First, I’d like to say that HWA has a well established history as does the sport of pro-wrestling each synonymous with a certain amount of athleticism, violence, pageantry, etc. I do not wish to devalue nor strip away the very primary characteristics that are the foundation of this industry, but to control them in a manner feasible with operating the organization effectively for our business needs and responsibly for both out superstars and talent.
(Kevin): Mrs. Shevington we were discussing Havoc and certain actions of Antonio Romano, in comparison to HWA’s ongoing legal troubles. Can you shed some light on the situation for us?
(Mrs. Shevington): Indeed I can, I actually just finished the paperwork this morning and can now announce that effective immediately Mr. Antonio Romano has been issued a fine of $15,000 for his actions at Havoc involving himself and Mrs. Claus. The manhandling of officials, referees, superstar valets or managers will not be tolerated. Mr. Romano exhibited gross negligence in the manner in which he physically assaulting Mrs. Claus.
(Kevin): $15,000 seems rather stiff don’t you think?
(Mrs. Shevington): It is actually on the lower end of the infraction scale, this being his first “official” offense. The same will be applied to anyone hereafter.
(Cindy): How do the fans distinguish between what has been scripted and what falls outside the boundaries of HWA regulations?
(Mrs. Shevington): Unfortunately, watching live television the fans have no way of determining whether what is happening is part of the production or if a superstar has as you said stepped outside the boundaries. Where appropriate I will make announcements instantaneously, or information may be addressed online.
(Kevin): Switching gears here…Talon Wilkinson…HWA World Heavyweight Champion. Tell us about the opening of the show. He expected a championship celebration, you not only cancelled it, but you put him in the ring that night as well unexpectedly. It would appear to some that you’re out to punish certain superstars.
(Mrs. Shevington): Contrary to what anyone believes, I am not out to punish anyone. I am here to manage the varied situations our superstars put themselves into in the best interest of the company which they are a part of.
(Cindy): You have to admit that it was a bold move. A celebration following a championship win is not only expected it’s practically tradition. I can’t imagine the LA Kings winning the Stanly Cup just the other week and heading straight to the locker room and home afterwards. We covered the post game celebrations for hours.
(Mrs. Shevington): Again, it is not my intention to distract or take anything away from the superstars or the fans. Talon Wilkinson has been in the spotlight since coming to HWA. He was part of a new breed of superstar who engaged fans differently than some others in the past, he lives his life out in the open and anyone who is a fan of his is certainly not lacking in that area following him on various forms of social media.
(Kevin): He is the champion, champions do or shouldn’t they have some degree of influence?
(Mrs. Shevington): They do and they should, but influence and carte’ blanch are two different things. In previous years Senester has granted nearly free reign to many superstars, which as we have now come to discover can have damaging effects.
(Cindy): Tell us about Senester. You’ve in fact been working for Dark Horse Corp. for years now, few but the devoted fan even realized HWA was only a small part of a much larger organization.
(Mrs. Shevington): Senester is a complicated individual. He built Dark Horse from the ground up which includes associations with a wide spectrum of industries from legal, to government to entertainment etc.
(Kevin): We’ve seen and covered in previous stories involving Senester, his employees and his relations with other world officials particularly those in government and positions of authority. He is a global trendsetter and a powerful individual, but his methods have more than come into question at times. How do you justify his ruthlessness?
(Mrs. Shevington): I make no attempt to speak for Senester, or to justify his actions. What I can tell you is that often in business you have executives who don’t know anyone but those in their direct line of sight. The guy who mops the floor, brings the mail, or caters is often unknown. Senester elects to have a more intimate relationship with each of his employees.
(Cindy): How does it feel to in some way…be his boss now?
(Mrs. Shevington): I’m hardly his boss, at best I am his advisor. I have been tasked with a specific duty in running HWA, he has agreed to allow me to facilitate those duties without his direct oversight to the extent that the foreseeable outcomes are as I said previously…in the best interest of the company. He will not always agree with my decisions, but he has bestowed a significant confidence in me and trusts that I am making the right ones.
(Kevin): Do you feel he’s losing his focus, or better put…is he stretched too thin? He’s an athlete which is a full time job in and of itself, he’s the owner of a multi-billion dollar organization, which is more than a full time job, and for nearly the past year his attentions have been drawn to protecting HWA.
(Mrs. Shevington): Honestly I do not believe he sleeps to be honest with you, but this is who he is, this is the level he has operated at for years juggling responsibilities and interests. Like any manager, he places around him people such as myself to facilitate tasks that he chooses not to address directly or hasn’t the time.
(Cindy): Let’s talk about some of your other superstars Toast, Judas Mercury, Bryan Deas, what can you tell us about them? All are either new superstars or such is the case with Bryan Deas seasoned superstars who hadn’t up until this point really reached the spotlight in HWA.
(Kevin): Well Cindy let’s just put it out there…guys like Bryan Deas who has been around for years, and some hairy guy like Toast, or a guy in a Santa suit are in HWA in a time where more elite athletes have departed. Ronnie McNeil a world class athlete just left the company, Hans von Richtoven, Eddie Phoenix, and Butch Parker before him.
(Mrs. Shevington): I understand that those gentlemen where in fact some of the men who carried the torch for the company, they were elite athletes. Their departures and retirements only open opportunity for new stars. It is often the case in this industry where up and coming stars feel held back, and those looking to break into the business have little to no opportunity for growth. Judas, Toast, and Santa while unique individuals in their own right may not be “elite” compared to the aforementioned superstars. Those like Bryan Deas who have been around for some time, are having their time to shine and further developing their skills. It is a new and very different era in HWA than in years past, but with that comes new ideas and new challenges.
(Cindy): How serous do you think people are going to take a guy in Santa suit, or a guy like Judas who is just another “painted Faced” wrestler?
(Mrs. Shevington): No one is a superstar overnight, and everyone starts somewhere. We have talent such as Santa, Toast, and Judas who are unknowns and it will take some time for some fans and critics to look past the “character” if you will, to see the athlete and grow to respect them. It’s a process.
(Kevin): Thank you so very much Mrs. Shevington for joining us, we look forward to having you again, please give Mia our regards.
(Mrs. Shevington): Thank you and I will.
With that the ESPN Sport Center fades to black.
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