The match had been a gruelling one, with Stu-E going head-to-head with Legion, a formidable opponent known for his unyielding strength. Price, an aging professional in the world of wrestling, had been driven by a burning desire to prove himself to the World. He remembered the deafening cheers of the crowd, the sweat dripping down his face, and the pain coursing through his body as he struggled against Legion.
As the footage rolled on, Stu-E watched the pivotal moment when he seemingly gained the upper hand. Legion had appeared to slip, a look of disbelief crossing his face as he tumbled to the mat. Stu-E had seized the opportunity and capitalized on it, executing a Stun Cutter to secure the victory. The roar of the crowd had been deafening as he stood victorious in the centre of the ring.
But now, as he watched the replay, Stu-E's brow furrowed in confusion. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was amiss. He rewound the tape, watching the moment again and again, his eyes narrowing as he studied every frame.
And then it became clear.
In the background of the footage, he saw a tiny figure darting out from the shadows at the edge of the ring. It was his daughter, Laney. She had been watching the match like normal, staying cool, calm and collected until her tiny hand had reached out to give Legion's foot a gentle nudge just as he was about to execute a lionsault. It was such a subtle act, but it had caused Legion to lose his balance and slip.
Stu-E's heart sank as he realized the truth. He had thought he had won the match fair and square, but it had been his daughter’s intervention that had turned the tide in his favour. His initial elation turned to a complex mix of emotions—pride in his daughter's love for him, but also guilt for allowing her to interfere.
He saw Laney's face, filled with a mischievous grin as she watched her father's victory unfold. In that moment, he knew that his daughter was just trying to make him proud. But she had also inadvertently tainted his triumph.
Stu-E turned off the television and leaned back in his chair, his thoughts swirling. He knew he would have to have a difficult conversation with Laney about the true nature of his victory. Since his return wrestling had been about honour and sportsmanship to him, and he wasn’t a fan of winning through deception.
As he sat there, the room remained shrouded in silence, and Stu-E Price grappled not only with the revelation of his daughter's actions but also with the choices he would have to make in the world of professional wrestling, where the lines between victory and integrity were often blurred.
“Laney?”
Laney walked with measured steps down the narrow corridor, her heart pounding in her chest as she approached the room where she knew she would soon be questioned. Kids always know ‘that’ tone of voice. Her footsteps echoed softly on the polished linoleum floor, creating a haunting rhythm that seemed to mimic the uncertainty swirling within her mind.
The corridor was stark, the walls painted a sterile shade of off-white, devoid of any adornments or distractions. Fluorescent lights overhead cast a cold, unforgiving glare, making every step she took feel like an unrelenting march towards the unknown.
She paused for a moment outside the door, as she reached for the doorknob and walked in. Laney took a deep breath, trying to steel herself for what lay ahead.
“Hi Daddy?”
As she entered the room, she was met with a tableau of stark contrasts. The room was dimly lit, the blinds drawn to let in only a sliver of the outside world. The walls were a sombre grey, adorned with a few nondescript pieces of artwork, perhaps intended to lend a semblance of warmth to an otherwise austere space.
Laney approached the couch her Dad was sitting at, her eyes darting, trying to glean any clues from his demeanour. The air was thick with tension, and the atmosphere seemed to close in around her.
She took her seat, next to him, the creak of the chair's leather upholstery echoing in the quiet room.
“I’ve just got round to watching the match with Legion, what were you thinking out there?” Stu-E asks his daughter, who shrugs her shoulders.
“Part of the reason I said you could come to America and watch me was because you promised to never get involved. Yes, I’ve shown you some things, but you can’t just decide you want to help me, out of the blue. Not only does that open yourself up to someone doing something just as bad or worse, to you. You’re putting someone at risk, I’m not his greatest fan but Legion is a big guy, and he was going for a bloody Lionsault! He could have been crippled if he landed wrong.”
Laney folds her arms defensively, “Do you really want to be responsible for another Hayabusa?” she looks down at the floor for a moment, remembering his colourful ring attire and face paint. When her Dad had told her stories of various wrestlers around the World he had always used Hayabusa as a reminder of how it can all go wrong in an instant.
“No, Dad. I’m sorry.” She leans over for a cuddle, her Dad obliges. “What about the other guy, Fallen?” Laney glances up at her Dad who seems a bit perplexed with the situation. He lets out a bit of a sigh before answering.
“I don’t know anymore, Laney, I really don’t. I was so angry with what he did to Michelle, I would have shown Sean where to bury a big problem. But now, all this stuff with some of the women on this wrestling show. I just don’t know any more.”
His daughter is confused, it’s written all over her face, as she doesn’t watch most of the shows as she’s only 8, after all. “Why, though, Daddy?” Price just shrugs his shoulders, not entirely sure of where his thoughts were going on that particular issue.
“Maybe that’s a talk for another time, darling, when you’re a bit older.” Laney rolls her eyes at her Dad.
“But Daddy, I’m 9 next year and I’ve watched Stranger Things; I know boys and girls can be a dumbass!” Price looks down full of warmth and a smile, he reaches his arm round and ruffles her hair, before kissing her on the forehead.
“Guess who I’m wrestling next show?” Not even a brief second cuts past before Laney jumps in, “I already seen, it’s Sean Parker again. It was on Snapchat! Hopefully I’ll be able to hang out with Michelle again without that man showing up, are you looking forward to it?” she asks, as kids do, with multiple questions.
“Well, you know what to do if he does, don’t you? That swift punch isn’t going to work every time, remember that.” Laney gives a little mischievous smile, allowing her Dad to continue.
“As for Sean, yeah, I’m really looking forward to it to be honest. I like him, he’s a good wrestler and he’s certainly helped an old bugger like me gain a new modern day fanbase. He’s pretty funny too when I dangle a little wind-up rod out there.”
“Why? How would you wind up now?”
“Oh, it doesn’t take much, darling. I’d remind him he was expected to beat someone like me the first time round, and blaming a distraction is a bit weak. As for the second time round he claims I couldn’t put him away but just maybe that wasn’t my job, it’s the job of these rookies to get rid of the old tough leather boots around here and he’s now failed twice.
The facts don’t lie, before I came back he was stuck on YouTube and Twitch, I show up with you and we’re on prime time networks and pay-per-views, charting private planes to and from England whenever we want, bay bay!”
Laney throws up a couple of fist pumps, “Prime Time Prices!” They both break out laughing, the whole conversation very clearly just being a joke as the scene fades out.
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