Behind him, several photos adorn the walls depicting various events, moments matches held by HWA over the years. One particular photo captures a passionate moment when Butch defeated David Hollis and Thane Givens to win the 2004 Ring Master event. It’s an emotionally-charged picture as it cemented Butch’s status as a main event performer only months after he made his debut in the company almost 20 years ago. The photo catches Butch’s eye-line as his gaze wanders absentmindedly around the room as he waits on the camera crew getting ready. He smiles when he sees the photo, thinking back to that night. The victory over one of his best friends, Hans von Richtoven, defeating Maniac in a hellacious Last Man Standing match… but he was pretty much alone in the HWA at this time. He hadn’t yet begun to date HWA Hall of Famer ICE yet and Hans hadn’t long arrived on the scene too. It was a much different landscape than it was now. Suddenly, Butch’s train of thought is interrupted by one of the techs.
(Tech): Mr Parker?
Butch’s head snaps round to face the camera crew, momentarily caught off-guard from his daydream.
(Butch): Sorry, what?
(Tech): I was just saying, we’re ready for you…whenever you’re ready.
Butch gathers his thoughts for a moment before nodding to the crew he’s ready to begin. A tech behind the camera cuts Butch down silently with his fingers and points at when he gets to one to signal he can begin. Butch’s tone starts off light serious as he begins speaking to those watching him from behind cameras.
(Butch): Good afternoon, everyone. This address I give you today is directed at everyone associated with our great company. You, the fans, our incredible fans…and our roster of talent… of whom, mostly, I’m incredibly proud of especially after a history-making Havoc in San Francisco.
Butch stops for a moment, looking down at his feet. He doesn’t talk for about for about ten seconds but those ten seconds feel like an eternity. He eventually looks back up at the camera.
(Butch): You know… when Wisdom and I inherited this company, we swore things would be different than how it was run under the previous…regime. I’ll admit, a lot of the previous history of the company was etched in blood, in controversy, in the macabre, even death. And I’ll also be the first to admit a lot of that history has me at the forefront. But Wisdom and I swore to each other we wanted something different for our viewers. We wanted to get away from the blood, the controversy, the macabre and all that crap. We wanted to give you back professional wrestling in its purest art form. We wanted to give you matches that told biblical-level stories, high-octane action and drama of the best kind. And do you know what? For the most part, albeit to a smaller audience, I think we delivered on our promise. Life as the owners of a once-world-renowned wrestling institution-turned-independent outfit was actually fun. There was no backstage drama, no politics, no ringside brawls, no bullshit… and now…
Butch makes a swirling motion with one of his hands, emphasising his next point.
(Butch): … fast-forward a few years and it’s our first show back and what does it give us? We had backstage drama, we had politics, ringside brawls and a load of bullshit. A lot bullshit that detracted from the incredible performances put on by the likes of William Draconis and Stu-E Price, Sarah Callahan and Michelle Learner, Matt Miller and Maniac and of course, Will Ospreay and Jeremy Branson. We even managed to pay tributes to the late, great Eddie Phoenix…but even that wasn’t without its own controversies and stresses.
Butch pauses again. He takes a deep breath in. His mind races back to the many incidents that took place at Havoc. He feels his pulse quickening and his fingers start to tingle. He tries to remember what the medic told him. He whispers to himself quietly so as not to be picked up by the boom mic hovering over his head as he breathes in through his nose deeply.
(Butch): in for five….
Butch exhales through his mouth before whispering…
(Butch): … out for five…
He takes another brief moment before continuing again.
(Butch): Stresses… that word seems apt and it brings me on to my next point. As everyone will have no doubt either seen, heard or read, I did in fact suffer an stress-induced anxiety attack after Havoc… I’m not ashamed of it but I owe it to the fans who pay to watch our product, to the talent all around me, not just in the ring but behind the scenes, to be honest and not shy away… but I assure everyone listening to my voice that whilst this may humanise me in some way in your eyes, it by no means weakens me and it sure as hell doesn’t define me… which also brings me on to my next orders of business that I want to address… whilst there many performances that brought me a great deal of joy and pride at Havoc, there were some incidents that were at the opposite end of the scale…Fallen and Legion… your actions at Havoc when you stormed, uninvited into my wife’s office, attacked two newly-signed superstars, acting like you were in some Texas bar, were unnecessary and dangerous. Not only is Wisdom my wife, she is also your boss and you are damn lucky she wasn’t injured in your little scrap.
Butch can feel his heart racing again, the skin on his neck, his arms and his back feels like a prickly heat is engulfing him. He closes his eyes and counts to five and back again in his head.
(Butch): You know, the old Butch Parker wouldn’t have hesitated in beating the ever-loving shit out of the both of you for the little stunt you pulled and for the way you spoke to my wife… I don’t have to remind you Legion of what I did to you all those years ago at Ring Master 2009…. but I’m not the same old Rampant Lion anymore. As such, in lieu of cracking open both your skulls like watermelons, I am fining both of you $50,000 each for your actions and trust me, that’s being generous, you can count yourselves lucky I am not terminating your contracts with immediate effect…and make no mistake, you pull any of that shit again, I will not hesitate to fire you both. Whatever issues you have with Kain and Abel, you can settle it in the ring like professionals…. And my second order of business… my old friend, Maniac….
Butch pauses for a moment, contemplating his next words carefully.
(Butch): Maniac, you’ve had a lot of shit to say about me ever since… well pretty much since you found out HWA was returning to the big leagues… and why? Because I didn’t answer your phone calls all those months ago? You antagonised my students for weeks on end, then when one of them had the balls to call you out for your bullshit, you took the hump. And now you’re trying to take credit for what happened to me after Havoc? You know, I thought you were a smart man, Maniac, I really did but you’re literally dumber than a bag of rocks. I don’t know what game you think you’re playing with me. You’re not the rebel trying to take down the evil boss. You’re not Stone Cold Steve Austin and I’m certainly not Vince McMahon. So do me a favour and keep my name out of your f***ing mouth if you know what’s good for you. I might be your boss but I’m by no means retired. Oh and that beating you decided to put on Matt, don’t think I’ve forgotten about that. Just remember, whilst we have not reintroduced any championship belts back in HWA yet, I know you’ve got aspirations to be a World Champion again. If you pull any shit like what you did at Havoc again, I’ll see to it that you never see yourself competing for championship gold and if you think I’m bluffing, just think, if I made the decision to take my own nephew off the first Havoc card on eight years for insubordination, what else would I do? Think on it, Maniac…oh and one more thing, Mandy Banks is an HWA employee, not your floozie. Do what you want on your time but when the camera rolls, I expect you both to be professional otherwise you can kiss the cooshty wee set-up you have with your own personal camera crew goodbye.
Butch takes another moment to compose himself. His fingers and hands are still tingling but he ignores it, subtly flexing his fingers in and out behind his back.
(Butch): and lastly, I’d just like to formally welcome our newest acquisitions to HWA - as I’ve mentioned already, former HWA superstar Kain Blaze and his brother Abel have signed multi-year deals with the company and I’m excited to see what they bring to the table this time around. And I’d like to welcome a very talented woman who’s been tearing it up on the independent scene the last few years. She’s the longest-reigning Apex Championship Wrestling Women’s World Champion, Alexis Rose. Alexis joins an already exciting fledgling women’s division here in HWA and I can’t wait to see her in action. Thank you very much for your time, everyone, more information on the card and location for our next Havoc will be published on our website and on our various social media accounts in the coming days. Thank you!
Butch nods off-camera to the one of the techs who gives him the thumbs up to let him know the promo message recorded successfully.
(Tech): That’s great, Mr Parker. We’ll get this posted to the HWA’s social media platforms within the hour.
(Butch): Thanks, just lock up when you’re finished, I need some air.
(Tech): Are you okay, sir?
Butch waves his hand in a politely dismissive manner as he makes his way hastily out of his office.
(Butch): I’m fine, it’s just hot in here is all. Let me know when the footage has been published, please.
(Tech): Yessir.
Butch power-walks out of his office, breathing heavily through his nose as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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