Sat next to each other at the centre of the desk are Mike Killian and Josh Isenberg, part of the team of WrestleZone dot com, filming a new episode of their hit Internet show "Chairshot Reality". To their left, attired sits the HWA World Champion Butch Parker. He is attired in a grey t-shirt with the Superman symbol emblazoned across the centre of his chest, the Scottish blue and white flag decorating the famous "S". The HWA World Championship belt is slung over his right shoulder, the famous gold plate in full view of every camera in the room.
(Mike): Welcome ladies and gentlemen once again to another episode of "Chairshot Reality" where members of the WrestleZone team discuss the topics of the past week in the world of wrestling, this week myself and Josh Isenberg will be discussing WWE Payback, Daniel Bryan vacating the Intercontinental Championship, Bully Ray and Velvet returning to TNA as well as the several new additions to Jeff Jarrett's Global Force Wrestling.
(Josh): That's right, Mike, but first of all, what a way to kick off the show than being joined by none other than the newly-crowned HWA World Champion, the one and only "The One Man Tartan Army" Butch Parker. Welcome Butch!
(Butch): Great to be here guys.
(Mike): So Butch, first of all its a pleasure to have you here with us so thanks for taking the time to talk to us today.
(Butch): The pleasure is all mine, Mike, I'm a big fan of the website and very happy to be here.
(Josh): So Butch, it's the first time you've been on Chairshot Reality, and you're now a four-time HWA World Champion. How does that feel?
(Butch): I'm a bit divided if I'm being honest, Josh.
(Josh): Divided? How so?
Butch takes a sip from a plastic cup of water siting on the desk in front of him before replying to Josh's question,
(Butch): Well, on one hand I've got the most prestigious and revered championship in professional wrestling back around my waist whilst sticking to the man whose made it his mission in life to make my family's life a misery.
(Mike): And the other hand I'm assuming has something to do with what transpired before the Lion's Den match at Road to Ruin?
Butch doesn't answer immediately. He knows exactly what he is referring to and Mike is right on the money.
(Butch): Just a little bit yeah.
(Josh): So you thinking that your title win seems a bit watered down on the back of what happened to Elizabeth Shevington?
(Butch): I wouldn't say watered down. But I would be lying if I said I had it thought out differently in my head in the lead-up to Road to Ruin.
(Josh): And would you say Wisdom was at least somewhat responsible for that?
Butch's brow furrows, his eyebrows lowering in a dismissive manner which is matched by a flick of his hand.
(Butch): Not at all. The only one responsible for that is Senester. He was the one who drew up that contract and put Elizabeth Shevington in the predicament where there was the possibility of getting hurt. But because he gave Wisdom and I a choice he tries to make us look like the bad guys.
(Josh): I hate to be Johnny-Rain-Cloud, Butch, but you did have a choice and Wisdom still put her hands and obliterated a defenceless woman. Surely there has to be consequences for that?
Mike Killian looks slightly uncomfortable by the brashness and boldness of Josh's question and shifts awkwardly in his seat but Butch isn't bothered.
(Butch): You make a fair point, Josh and in all honesty, it's not something I've not heard a million different versions of since Road to Ruin. Remember, as much we may not like it, what happened between in the ring between Wisdom and Mrs Shevington was a booked match; not some blindside attack on the streets. If there are consequences to be suffered, legal or otherwise, those will be placed at Senester's door for placing a HWA employee who wasn't contracted as an active competitor in an environment where she could be brought to physical harm.
Wisdom is completely innocent in all of this. She's been a victim of this ordeal as much as anyone else. Anyone whose followed HWA for the past two years knows of both the physical and verbal abuse that Michael James has singled out my wife for. All those combustible elements mixing together just needed the slightest catalyst to set off an explosive reaction and Wisdom made an impromptu choice on instinct and vengeance. She knew how much I wanted the chance to avenge the atrocities Michael James has been responsible for committing against me and my family. Yes, I was willing to take the high road and think of another way to do that but as I said, Wisdom made a decision and no matter the end result of what came about following that decision, I will stand by my wife through absolutely everything.
(Mike): Well I know there have been a lot of mixed reactions after what took place at a Road to Ruin but the one constant throughout it all is that everyone seems to be glad Michael James is no longer undefeated in HWA and no longer HWA World Champion and Butch Parker is the reason behind those facts. Tell me Butch, despite the controversy in Montreal, do you feel any sort of vindication after defeating Michael James in the fashion you did?
(Butch): For what he did to my family, for the unforgivable things he's done to me and my family, yes. As I said before, in the grand scheme of things, Michael James is nothing more than a bully and a flash in the pan. They happen in this company all the time; a new guy on the block emerges in the scene, targets the main threat, builds up a ton of momentum, wins a couple of championships along with some high profile matches but when the pressure is really on to deliver when it truly matters, when the opportunity arises to really cement a legacy that has been teased, they all fall at the final hurdle. They all did in the past; Thane Givens, Renegade, Eddie, Logan, Belial and Duriel, AC, Derrick Hall and now Michael James is part of that prestigious "could have beens".
(Josh): So you don't feel Michael James has earned the achievements he has accomplished during his time in HWA then?
(Butch): No, I'm not saying that at all. Anyone who walks into this company and wins the two major championships in the first eighteen months of his contract deserves recognition but there's a certain decorum that earns the respect of your peers. You can go undefeated for ten years and win hundreds of championships but if you act like a complete and utter arsehole, you are either going to be remembered for the wrong reasons or not remembered at all. It may be a bit of an extreme basis for comparison but how many people do you hear talking about Chris Benoit? One of the most gifted in-ring technicians the wrestling world has been gifted with but one fatal lapse in judgement and he's now the office everyone notices is at the party but tries to pretend doesn't exist.
Both Mike and Josh puff their cheeks out and exhale loudly upon Butch's mention of the Rabid Wolverine and Butch senses it.
(Butch): Now obviously I'm not insinuating that Michael James is a murderer or accusing me him of being able to commit such a horrendous crime, that was just, as I said, an extreme basis of comparison for the point I was trying to put across there.
Mike clears his throat and shuffles the small bundle of papers on his desk before trying to move the interview on as quickly as possible.
(Mike): Well we appreciate you clearing that up and I would also like to quote on record that WrestleZone dot com that the opinions and thoughts shared during any interview on our website are those only of the individuals concerned and not of anyone affiliated with WrestleZone. Anyway, moving on, there is still one more match left in your Best of Three series with Michael James, your confidence is back to an all-time high like it used to be, are you keen to have this match with himself as soon as possible to take advantage of all the momentum currently in your favour?
(Butch): Not at all, Mike, there's no rush. I'm still suffering from several injuries I took at Road to Ruin, my concussion still hasn't fully cleared up among other things and I know Michael is a few weeks away yet from competing again in the ring. I may despise the man with every fibre in my being but a man still deserves to rest and heal after a battle like the one in which we both engaged in.
(Josh): Something tells me that if the shoe were on the other foot, Michael James wouldn't be as courteous, Butch.
Butch adopts a passive expression and simply shrugs his shoulders nonchalantly.
(Butch): Well it's a good job he's a different shoe size from me then so meh, f*** him.
A small ripple of laugher trickles through both Mike and Josh before they compose themselves and recommence the interview.
(Josh): So moving on Butch. Obviously this isn't your first rodeo as World Champion here in HWA; you're now in your fourth reign, only second now to Buff Bridges in number of HWA World Titles won, do you see yourself beating or equalling his record of eleven title wins?
Butch laughs lightly as he lounges back in his chair, shifting the HWA World Championship belt back up onto his shoulder from its slouched position.
(Butch): Well they all said that Ric Flair's record of sixteen World Titles would never be touched but look at John Cena; fifteen title wins in ten years. I'm a very proud man, Josh and I'm honoured that out of all the truly great competitors in the past who have worn this belt on numerous occasions, only Buff is ahead of me.
(Mike): And of course you'll know of the other trials and tribulations that are part and parcel of being the World Champion and of those is being the target of everyone on the roster and you're no different and in this case, you were highlighted by the newly-crowned All-Star Champion Freddie Styles. Now you had your run-ins with Styles before back when he initially debuted and of course when Wisdom inadvertently cost him the All-Star Championship ironically enough against Michael James. Any avid wrestling fan also knows of the history you've had with Freddie's uncle, another multi-time HWA World Champion Ronnie McNeil. Do you see yourself having a champion versus champion match against Styles?
(Butch): Don't let Freddie hear you say that, he seemingly hates being labelled alongside Ronnie which I can actually understand, he wants to be known for his own accomplishments and skills rather than just the nephew of Ronnie McNeil and create his own legacy which I completely respect. Of course Ronnie is also a man, as a competitor I have a great deal of respect for and is probably the most technically-gifted athlete I've ever been in the ring with. Do I see myself competing against Styles in the near future? Given how sparse the roster is these days I'd pretty much guarantee it. Both titleholders competing against each other, it's a surefire moneymaker and as everyone knows I'm always willing to step in the ring with anyone and Styles, whether I've beaten him before or not, is no different.
(Josh): Well I'm sure Mike would agree that it's a match we would both definitely like to see.
(Mike): Hell to the yes!
(Butch): Well, like I said, I'm sure it'll happen sooner or later.
(Josh): Just a couple of more questions before we wrap up, Butch, if that's okay?
(Butch): Sure thing.
(Josh): Great, so at Havoc, we're getting a preview of the final chapter of the Butch Parker-Michael James Best of Three Series, can you give us any sort of indication as to what the final chapter will reveal?
Butch smiles mysteriously, winking and tapping his nose with his index finger in a teasing manner.
(Butch): I'm afraid you'll just have to watch Havoc and find out like everyone else.
(Mike): Aw boo, spoil sport!
The three share another laugh before Mike speaks again.
(Mike): One last question then Butch before we wrap things up. You've been known in HWA to have had some of the most intimidating entrances and theme songs to lead you to the ring, from the likes of "Onward Battle" and "Halo" to "Ground Shaker" and "Face the Pain" but at Road to Ruin you brought out, in some aspects a new side but gave HWA fans a glimpse to the young and green Butch Parker of the old EFWA days in a very unorthodox yet still intimidating entrance. Was that something you'd planned well in advance on doing and do you think it played any part in your victory?
(Butch): Haha, you've done your research. The body paint was something I did back in my late teens slash early twenties, sort of a Braveheart tribute and plus I loved it when Roddy Piper did it at WrestleMania Six and when we combined it with "Onward Battle" it just fit. At Road to Ruin I wanted to bring something different to the table; I knew Senester and James had something up their sleeves to try and throw a spanner in the works so I thought I'd at least try and give James something he didn't expect. He'll flat-out deny it obviously but when I jumped up to my feet and stared him in the face, covered in the paint, I could tell he didn't expect it and it shook him up a bit. I'm not saying it was a influential factor in me winning the match but it definitely threw his focus and gave him a different dynamic of me to try and absorb in a very small period of time and that is a big part of a wrestler's entrance. The likes of Sting, Undertaker, Kane, Goldberg, Brock Lesnar and in HWA you had guys like Hell's Guardian and Dark Messenger whose entrances put you on the spot, especially if you came out first and had to watch these guys walk to the ring knowing they were coming to face you and that intimidation factor is always understated and should never be forgotten.
(Mike): Well I can't disagree with that. Ladies and gentlemen, that was HWA World Champion Butch Parker, I've been Mike Killian...
(Josh): ... And I've been Josh Isenberg...
(Mike): ...that's all we've got time for in part one but we'll be back with much more after the break. Butch, thanks so much again for taking the time to speak us today, it's been an honour.
(Butch): Not at all, gentlemen, as I said, the pleasure is all mine and thank you for having me on the show.
Butch stands up from the desk and reaches across to shake hands with both Mike and Josh as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
« Back to index