(Assistant): Sorry to rush you through, but you’re 20-minutes late and we’re already live. We don’t have time to run you through make-up, I hope that’s ok. I bet you’re not used to LA traffic, it will get ya every time.
She says something else they can’t hear as they continue their discussion from the car, rushing along behind her.
(Michelle): No make-up? Are you kidding me? I need a touch up or something, I can’t go out there like this.
(Matt): You guys look fine. Just remember what Butch said, take a breath. Don’t be eager to spout the first thing that comes out of our mouths.
(Michelle): That’s easy for you to say Matt, at least you’ve got some experience doing this. I’m so clenched-tight nervous my panties are strangling my kitty cat.
(Jeremy): TMI Michelle…ya think?
(Matt): Guys, we’re all nervous I know, but we got this. This is important, this is our time. We’re the first new era stars fans around the world are going to get to see. We can’t let Butch and Wisdom down here.
(Jeremy): Speak for yourselves…I’m not nervous. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. You’re right about one thing Matt, it is our time to shine.
The assistant stops at a doorway and waves them in ahead of them passing them off to one of the producers.
(Producer): Great, you’re here. Heather, guys get in here…mics now!
A flurry of staff surrounds them rushing to get mics on them. There’s a quick few brushes of face powder to dim their natural shine for the camera lights and its straight onto the set.
(Jerry O’Connell): I’m excited for our next guests, it’s no secret I’m a big wrestling fan, and we all know some of this big names in the game like Hulk Hogan and The Rock, but our next guests you might not know too well yet, but you’ll be seeing more of them soon as HWA makes its huge return.
(Sheryl Underwood): Please welcome HWA stars Matt Miller, Michelle Learner and Jeremy Branson.
Matt, Michelle and Jeremy make their way out to applause from the audience and are greeted by Jerry and Sheryl. They take a seat doing their best not to look nervous and are pulling it off pretty well.
(Jerry O’Connell): Guys, welcome…thank you for being here.
(Jeremy): Our pleasure!
(Jerry O’Connell): So let’s get right into it…HWA…its back! How’s it feel to be the new blood of the company?
(Matt): To be fair Jerry, HWA never really left. We’ve definitely been thrust back into the spotlight, but we wouldn’t want to discount the hard work that’s taken place these last years.
(Sheryl Underwood): An excellent point…and you were there in 2015 I believe right Matt, when HWA… “went under” for lack of a better word. Tell us about that transition…
(Matt): I was, and I had a lot of anxiety at first. I had just gotten to HWA, which in and of itself was major accomplishment for any wrestler to be there in the biggest and best in the business. I honestly didn’t know what was going to happen to me. I had my bags packed every day just waiting for them to tell me it was all over.
(Jerry O’Connell): But it wasn’t, I mean…you guys survived. You regrouped and carried on, albeit in a diminished capacity.
(Matt): We did, and along with the restructure of the company came new faces like Michelle and Jeremy here. We’ve been doing what we love since, and have had probably the greatest trainers and mentors you could ask for.
(Sheryl Underwood): Wrestling has changed a lot of the years, and I’m proud to see women come to the forefront of the sport. Michelle was it hard for you coming into this?
(Michelle): Yes and no. I really joined HWA to train to be a wrestler in its new school. At the time, the company wasn’t on air and my plans were to put my time in and move on, but when we started Youtube shows it really occurred to me that I wasn’t as ready for the big time as I thought.
(Jerry O’Connell): How about you Jeremy, you did you feel seeing yourself of Youtube, unsure who was watching, or reading the comments?
(Jeremy): I joined for training too, its hard work anywhere, but when you have the opportunity to learn from someone like Butch Parker you have to take it. I think we were all ambitious, and sure of ourselves but one of the first things Butch and Craig taught us was to leave our egos at the door.
(Sheryl Underwood): How about now? HWA Reunion show was just announced for Madison Square Garden. It’s the big comeback, am I right? You guys are competitive athletes, have you picked some of that ego up off the floor and are ready to dive into this?
(Matt): Of definitely! Looking back, I’m glad things happened for me as they did. I have more experience under my belt now, Bryan Deas, Stu-E Price, Butch…these guys were all superstars when I came in…to be honest they’d have wiped the floor with me.
(Jeremy): I think it would have crushed all our egos, but now look at us. We’re the top talent coming into this new era. Our fanbase is growing and with the new tv deal we have a broader audience to show wrestling fans around the world who we are and what we’re all about.
(Jerry O’Connell): Michelle, you mentioned there were only two of you when you started, how about now? Is the Women’s Division going to take center stage in HWA’s big return?
(Michelle): A lot of the girls from the past few years have moved on to other things. A few went off to NXT, ROH after getting their initial training in, but there’s a few of us remaining. I can’t say we’ll be front and center, but I think there’s definitely going to be a respectable presence felt for women’s wrestling in HWA.
(Sheryl Underwood): It had to be hard these past years struggling to make it. The small grungy arena shows, changing in your cars. Your reunion show is weeks away. What are you looking forward to the most…the big crowds, a real locker room?
(Jeremy): Like Matt said, we’re proud of the work we’ve done these past years, but its time to take that next step and the spotlight is calling. I’m looking forward to seeing superstars I looked up to as I trained, and I think they’ll feel that we’ve done their legacies in HWA proud carrying it into this new era.
(Michelle): I agree, I want to meet a few people I’ve always wanted to meet. I’m hoping that the fans that have watched us the past years continues to grow on this new platform we have to showcase our talents. Its really the best time of my life.
(Matt): I agree with my friends here, this is going to be an epic night. We’re talking about giants in the professional wrestling world all converging on this event that honors the past and also focuses on our role as setting the stage for the future.
(Jerry O’Connell): Matt, Michell, Jeremy…we wish you all the very best. We can’t wait to see the reunion and I honestly have to say that I think the future of HWA is in good hands with you guys. It’s been a pleasure having you. When we come back, we’re going to talk with families going into their second week stuck in the snow in the mountain areas waiting for help, resources and members from the National Guard are now on site to do just that, but is it enough?
Matt, Michelle and Jeremy each give mutual greetings as the show goes to commercial. The stand shaking Jerry and Sheryl’s hand as they are escorted from the stage to cheers from the audience. They wave to them as they make their way off the stage. Backstage their mics are removed.
(Producer): Thank you guys so much for coming, your car is waiting for you, and we have a few goodies in there for you. Take care!
(Michelle): Thanks for having us!
The trio are escorted back out to the parking area where the Escalade has pulled back up front for them, the doors are open and they get inside to find, goodie bags from The Talk, just the typical t-shirt, mug and a few snacks wrapped in a CBS box. Michelle exhales loudly slumping down into her seat.
(Michelle): OMG that was intense, I hope I didn’t look like an idiot.
(Matt): You did fine, I think we all did fine.
(Jeremy): They kept throwing in comments about when the company went under and the dark days, felt like they were degrading us in a way, I was hoping they’d steer it more to the here and now.
(Matt): I guess that’s typical Hollywood, they needed to set framework for it and these LA folk live off drama.
(Jeremy): I think we got the message across eventually, I’d have just liked more time to point out the positives and discuss the future. They didn’t even ask about Havoc coming back on the air.
(Michelle): I’m just glad it’s over. I was trying to channel my best Wisdom Parker with the poise she has in her interviews, all I could hear was my voice cracking from being nervous.
(Matt): I couldn’t tell, and I doubt anyone else could either.
The phone in the car rings and the drive presses a button turning on the screen on the back of the headrests where we see a video call coming in from HWA Headquarters. Butch and Wisdom pop up on the screen with smiles on their faces.
(Butch): You guys did great!
(Wisdom): Really great, how do you feel?
(Michelle): It all happened so fast, we got there late in this dumb traffic and they herded us in like cattle, Wisdom…I didn’t even get make-up, and my mouth was so dry.
(Wisdom): Sweetie you looked fine, you all did.
(Butch): This is just the beginning guys, remember your training, be proud of what you’ve accomplished and own this moment.
(Matt): Thank you sir.
(Jeremy): It can only get easier from here, right?
(Butch): Depends, sometimes you have decent interviews like you just did, and other times you get some arse trying to put you in a bad spot and is just an Irn-Bru away from having to walk in an orthopedic boot for six months.
Wisdom elbows Butch, and he grins.
(Butch): Seriously though, each time is different, and you’ll learn to get a feel for the environment and the questions coming at you.
(Wisdom): Listen, you guys go enjoy the rest of the weekend in LA. Go get some amazing food, see some sites and relax, you’ve truly earned this down time. Bye guys.
(Jeremy): Thank you!
Wisdom and Butch wave as the call ends and the screen goes black. Their heading towards the 101 Freeway to make their way south on the 405. They’re staying at Shutters in Santa Monica and have plans that evening to go to the famous Santa Monica Pier. Michelle has her phone out looking for places to go and eat later. Jeremy has put his AirPods in and is relaxing to some music and Matt is looking out the window watching traffic speed by. He’s thinking about the coming weeks and while he’d never admit it to the guys a pit rests in his stomach. Over the years he had become what is known as the “locker room leader.” When he first heard it he felt it was simply by default, he had been there before any of the others and was the go to for questions, but he recalls a conversation with Craig who pulled aside one day and brought some unexpected perspective to him. He remembers the bewildered look on his face. He had just finished a sparing session in the ring and was stepping out after getting some stretches in. Craig walked up to him and said, “So what’s the locker room leader got on his books for the week?” His eyes got wide as he said, “The what?” It was a moment he’d never forget….
(Craig): You heard me. I know…you didn’t ask for it, you may not even want it, but that’s who and what you are.
(Matt): But I didn’t…
(Craig): Yeah you did, you did do something. You’ve taken initiative, and you care about this company, you care about your peers and making everyone better. That’s what a leader does…see the big picture, not just their own reflection in the mirror. You may not have ever recognized it on your own, so you had to be told. Not to drop the weight of the world on your shoulders but it is what it is kid.
(Matt): What do I do?
(Craig): You do what you’ve been doing, nothing more, nothing less. I didn’t tell you this to change you’re routine, I told you so you would understood your worth, and the appreciation others have for you. It doesn’t always come in those specific words, but when one of these other kids comes to you and asks a question…that’s respect. When someone wants to go a few more minutes with you until they get something right, that’s them valuing your knowledge or showing admiration for what you can do. You’ve done the same, you just don’t know it.
(Matt): I don’t know what to say.
(Craig): Say nothing, just be you.
Matt turns his head from the window looking over at Jeremy and Michelle. He thinks of all the other trainees and up and coming talent, those long gone and those still there. A smile comes to his face, just as they hit the 405 freeway and he feels…Pride…as the scene fades to black.
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