Upon crossing the threshold, the interior of the public house reveals itself, a rich tapestry of textures and hues. Weathered wooden beams, darkened by the passage of time, cradle the ceiling, which seems to sag under the weight of countless stories. The walls are adorned with framed photographs, each capturing a moment in the town's history, a reminder of the countless generations that have sought solace within these hallowed walls.
The bar, a worn and well-loved fixture, stretches along one side of the room. Its polished wood glistens with a comforting patina, and behind it, an impressive array of spirits, each with its own story to tell, awaits the discerning connoisseur. A row of ale pumps, bearing the names of local breweries, proudly stands ready to dispense pints of frothy, amber liquid.
The patrons, a diverse tapestry of characters, occupy a collection of mismatched chairs and stools, each as unique as the individuals they support. Old friends and newcomers alike gather to share tales of the day's triumphs and tribulations. The hum of conversation, occasionally punctuated by hearty laughter, fills the room, creating a sense of community that transcends time.
At a dimly lit corner table of the quaint pub, a group of old friends and former wrestlers had gathered, their laughter and camaraderie echoing through the wooden beams and cozy atmosphere. Stu-E Price, the man who had returned to the wrestling business rather successfully, sat comfortably among the familiar faces.
Adam Todd, known worldwide as Tumbler, exuded an aura of perpetual youth and energy. His once-mighty frame had mellowed with age, but his eyes still sparkled with the same exuberance that had endeared him to wrestling fans around the globe. Stu-E remembered the days when Tumbler would soar through the air with gravity-defying leaps and flips, leaving audiences in awe. Now, Adam's presence was a reminder of the high-flying glory days, and his infectious laughter filled the room.
Sitting beside Tumbler was his older brother, Lee Todd, who had once been known as King Nothing before evolving into the rough-and-tumble persona of Lee F'N Todd. The scars of countless brawls etched across his body, and his grizzled exterior reflected his transition from the flamboyant wrestling character to a more grounded and gritty style. Despite his intimidating appearance, Lee's heart was as big as ever.
On the opposite side of the table sat Daniel Bamlett, known to the world as Plague, a highflier like Tumbler. His wiry frame and agile movements had once enthralled audiences, as he executed breathtaking acrobatics from the top ropes. Stu-E couldn't help but marvel at how age had barely dimmed the twinkle in Plague's eyes, which still held the same gleeful enthusiasm for the sport they had all loved.
Next to Daniel was Paul Rutherford, who had briefly graced the wrestling world under the mysterious mask of Grave Robber. Paul had left the business relatively early in his career, but his deep connection with the others transcended their shared experiences in the ring. His quiet demeanour and thoughtful reflections on their time in wrestling always provided a sense of balance to the table, offering an occasional respite from the raucous laughter and boisterous stories.
“I hope you lads have got those pictures I sent across hanging up on the walls!” says Price, his arms stretched out, there’s a shared laugh at first.
“I’ve got mine in the office, to be honest.” Remarks Paul, who had been gifted a signed photo of The Warlord which read ‘Southampton FC sucks!’ while Dan had been sent a signed photo of Ron Simmons which read ‘Man Utd sucks!’ The Todd brothers however had been gifted more personal photos.
Lee had been sent a signed photo of Kato which read ‘I wish I could have been there that time you were so drunk you drank your own vomit!’ while Adam’s was a Max Moon photo which read ‘Wow! You’re really trying to prove to us you’re not gay! Congrats on the birth of your Son.’
The gifts were symbolic of their bond, wrapped in comedy.
“To be fair, it was better than getting a photo of you!” says Lee, before Adam chimes in, “That would at least keep the kids away from the fire!”
All five of them share a laugh and take a swig of their pints.
“You all set for the pay-per-view?” Asks, Dan, Price sighs briefly.
“I reckon so, I’ve trained and worked out and planned something a bit special for it, so we’ll just see how it goes. He’s a bit of a big bastard, but it’s not like he’s a German Ivan Drago so I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not going to do another daft entrance are you?” enquires Adam, to which Price smiles.
“No, not this time, bud. Don’t think the higher ups have much of a sense of humour with everything going on, but it is Halloween after all. Maybe I should have had you ugly bastards with me.”
“#### off!” replies Dan, to which Stu-E laughs.
“You’re not doing too bad, but just your luck there’s no titles to win.” Says Lee, who, out of the group has had the most World Championships out of them all and was even a World Tag Team Champion with Stu-E for almost 18 months.
“Yeah, it’s a bit of a shame, really. Maybe one day they will bring something in, but I’m just happy being back in ring shape and not losing every week.”
“There’s hours and hours of your losses on YouTube already, Stu!” says Adam, “Least my matches are available to the public, unlike yours!” comes the reply from Price.
“How’s Laney finding it?” asks Dan.
“She’s doing amazing, taking it all in and learning so much. You know what she’s like, she’s not been scared of anything since she slid out of her mother.” Comes the reply from Stu-E, with a tremendous sense of pride in his eyes.
“You managed to work your way through the women’s roster yet?” asks Lee rather sarcastically. Although all similar in personalities this is one part of life, they are drastically different from Price. All four of them are married with kids while Stu-E has always gone from girl to girl.
“To be honest, I haven’t even thought of that. They’re all too young, beautiful, but I’m old enough to be their dad!”
“You’re just scared they’d tire your old arse out and you’d have to stop halfway through!” jokes Dan,
“That’s what them blue pills are for, aren’t they?!” comes the instant reply from Price.
As the evening progressed, Stu-E Price and his friends, the once-mighty warriors of the squared circle, revelled in the company of old companions. The pub's ambiance, with its cozy corners and nostalgic decor, seemed the perfect backdrop for their reunion. Amidst shared memories, heartfelt laughter, and the enduring bonds forged through their wrestling days, time seemed to melt away, and they were all just a group of friends, savouring the camaraderie of old tales and the enduring spirit of their wrestling brotherhood.
After several more beers, the jokes have been coming thick and fast muddled in between serious questions, but the night is rolling on and the once busy pub has slowed down to just a few tables of people chatting.
“I have to ask, what’s the deal with that Maniac dude?” asks Lee, who must have been keeping up on recent happenings. Price takes a swig of his beer before answering.
“Nothing, really, he’s just got some interesting opinions. You know what I’m like, I don’t have to get on with someone to listen to what they have to say. The business has changed a lot since we were creating mayhem wherever we went. I can’t even make a joke without hurting someone’s feelings it seems.”
The group nod in agreement, “That’s not just the wrestling business, it’s everywhere, though.” Says Dan to which Stu-E begins shaking his head.
“It’s probably what I struggle with the most being back in the public eye, always someone to offend or think I’m slating them. People should go back and watch WXWA and FHW stuff, we did absolutely all sorts just to make each other laugh and we were the good guys.”
As memories of the old days pop into their heads there’s smiles all around. Adam remembers the time he interfered in one of Stu-E’s matches, helping a jobber get the win just so they could laugh at Price. Dan remembers all the time his friends would make out in promos his mother was a bit of a ##### for a cheap laugh.
Lee remembers when they had condoms filled with a bit of liquid soap in them to make it look like they were used and had a thousand of them drop from the ceiling in a pay-per-view main event, featuring two strait laced wrestlers who took themselves far too seriously. Paul remembers being the voice of reason, and all their plans that weren’t put in practice as he said it was too much.
“Maybe you should just go into Halloween Harvest and just do whatever the hell you want, and not worry about offending anyone?” reasons Lee.
“You know what, #### it; yeah. This little surprise I’m working on, just got a bit more interesting.” Answers Stu-E, a devilish smile flashing across his face as the scene fades.
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