HWA Message Board: Mental Descent

Off Camera

I was sick to my stomach and couldn’t wait to leave the arena after Havoc. Not only had me and Sarah lost our match, not only had Sean and Michelle lost their match as well…but the night ended with Maniac being named #1 contender to the World Championship. I couldn’t stop pacing the floor for a good thirty minutes before I calmed down enough to begin to think straight. I lost track of time but all I know is I need to escape this arena. I grabbed my luggage and headed for the door. The moment I exited and turned the corner there was Mandy Banks with her damn Youtube show, Havoc Hangover and she spotted me.

(Jeremy): Shit!

I really don’t have time for this. There was something different about her lately too, but I can’t put my finger on it and I don’t care. To think she was fuking Maniac somehow makes her less of a person to me, but I guess I need to keep things professional with her. Here she comes….cameras and mics in tow not giving me an opportunity to escape.

On Camera

(Mandy): Folks we’re live with Jeremy Branson here on the Havoc Hangover and Jeremy it was quite the night wasn’t it?

(Jeremy): Uh, quite the night….sure!

My response is as uninterested as it could possibly be. She either ignores the obvious fact that I rather be left alone, or she doesn’t care and continues.

(Mandy): You came away with a loss, but you were in there with a partner who hadn’t been ring active in some time, and of course with the World Champion so there’s no shame in that.

What the hell is she talking about? Alexis was far from rusty, Sarah was away foe months too and they both did great.

(Mandy): …..Speaking of the champ, Butch Parker threw a curveball into the main event and made Stu-E Price the guest referee and then surprised even the champ himself announcing Maniac as the #1 contender based on the pinfall of the match, an obvious secret he kept to himself. What are you’re thoughts on the title match now set for Fatality?

At the mention of Maniac’s name I suddenly felt like Bruce Banner. I could feel my muscles tighten as if I was about to transform. I’m probably some shade of green. I’m about to lose my shit here. I think she does this on purpose. Look at her batting her eyes at me like she’s “just doing my job” is what she’d say if I raised complaint. Why doesn’t she go find out who the hell’s been on Hans’ ass the past few weeks, that should be more priority than pestering me.

(Jeremy): My thoughts?

I can’t think. I want to punch something. Punch her, punch the wall, something. I just need to hold it together.

(Mandy): Yes, you’re thoughts on Stu-E Price defending against the New #1 Contender to the HWA World Championship, Maniac.

This bitch knows what she’s doing. She’s egging me on, on purpose. Why does she feel the need to accentuate every goddamn syllable? “The New Number One Contender To The HWA World Championship, Maniac!” I want to headbutt her!

(Jeremy): Mandy, I don’t know. Do I think Maniac earned a title shot? Of course not. He’s the last person in this company that deserves one. Rob Sharpe and Travis Levitt just walked in the door and I’d give one to them before he ever got one.

What the hell’s that look on her face? Why did she just smile at me like that, its not like she agrees with me.

(Mandy): I understand, switching gears…William Draconis is back, and he’s brought the family back with him. Fans seemed pretty excited to see them all again, how about yourself?

Great, another subject I’d like to avoid. At least this is more palatable.

(Jeremy): They got a huge response from the fans, I don’t know where they’ve been since Ring Master last year, and its none of my business, but I guess you could say I’m excited to have them back too. Look, William was on a tear in 2023. He went undefeated for months, then he brought in his kids…Jesse who was an instant hit with the fans, Luna Rain had a rough start but came out of it strong, Kratos, Angelous, then Wyatt all in the mix. I guess anything to enhance the brand, bring competition can’t be a bad thing.

(Mandy): Well alright, thanks for stopping Jeremy.

Off Camera

She turns away from me to the camera and I honestly stop listening to what she’s saying as she continues on. It’s my window to get out of dodge and I’m taking it. I head off to the garage and look at my watch as I speed walk putting enough distance between us that I can pretend not to hear her if she decides to call out to me. I hit the double doors and…what the fuk? I immediately dodge right and duck behind a production truck. What the fuk is Stu-E doing walking to Maniac’s bus? I hear the knock, and then I hear his goddamn voice.

(Maniac): Well, hey, Champ wasn’t expecting you, but please come in.

Are you kidding me right now? Am I really seeing this shit? What the hell is he doing? I feel like Bruce Banner again. I let go of my luggage and move closer along the line of the truck. I can’t help but pace again, and once more I lose track of time until I hear the door to the bus open. I look at my watch… 30 Minutes? It’s been 30 fuking minutes? There’s Stu-E stepping out now, and there’s Maniac sticking his damn head out the door.

(Maniac): One more thing, if you are looking for an interview, I would go with Roddy right now or another intern. Mandy is...ummm, not feeling like her usual cheery self.

(Jeremy): No shit!

…but what the hell was Stu-E doing there? What do they have to even talk about for half an hour? I need my phone. I reach into my pocket and pull it out and I’m frozen. I’m just fuking frozen to the core. I have that photo of me and Matt from our first date as my background photo. I see it a hundred times a day but right now, it’s like a sledgehammer. I don’t want to cry right now. He should be here with me. We should be leaving together both with our ring gear. I bet he’d have stolen the show as he always did……………but not anymore. Not since…him.

He targeted Matt from day one, goaded him. He knew he was the top star and wanted him under his wing, but Matt was too smart for that. He didn’t need his ass. He carried this company for 8 years without him, who the hell was this fuker coming along trying to steal the spotlight back? Matt had never been arrested before in his life until he came along. He never delved into that extreme wrestling crap until Maniac came along. Other than a few minor things, hell he never had any major injured before Maniac came along. It may not have been my place early on when we weren’t together, but it is now.

I can feel my teeth clenched so tight they feel like they’ll break. How does “He” get a World Title shot? Him? How does he keep getting away with anything and everything? Why do the fans cheer him? How blind can they fuking be? I can feel my phone in my hand but I don’t remember what I pulled it out for. I look at the screen again, who was I going to call? Look at him. My baby, my love, my world, my everything. I can’t stop the tears now. He should be here with me. I shudder.

(Jeremy): I’m sorry.

My finger strokes the screen, his digital cheek, that adoring smile of his. I’m sorry baby, I can’t. I can’t move on. I don’t know how. It’s not fair. It’s not fair that he gets to walk out to that ring and you don’t. I know this is wrestling, I know what we sign up for but that’s not an excuse for what he did. It’s an explanation at best. This is the only profession in the world that allows people like him to be monsters, and for the weak and feeble-minded to love them.

I can hear Mandy again in my head and her damn overexaggerated pronunciation… “New #1 Contender to the HWA World Championship, Maniac.” He’ll never win that title again. He’ll never win any title again. I don’t care what it takes. I won’t rest until he’s gone. Every match I’ll be watching. Every move he makes, I’ll be watching. Everything he does, I’ll be watching. If he orders a sandwich I want know how much mayo is on it. It’s time I finish this once and for all. I want Matt to come home and not have the insult of looking at him in this business ever again. I want us to start fresh in a new house when we find one to buy, and get this company back in the direction we had it before Maniac fuked it up! I won’t stop. I won’t be stopped. I look at my screen again to that face, at the man I adore and love with every fiber of my being.

(Jeremy): I love you baby. Don’t worry…I may not be able to heal your body, but I can heal this company. I can heal this business and remove that parasite, that tumor, that cancer…I can remove Maniac.

Let me get out of here. I have to get to the airport, have to get home. I’ve wasted too much time as it is. I look back at Maniac’s bus, he hasn’t come out or drove off yet, probably waiting for his ##### to finish her live stream. I get to the rental car and without Matt with me, I’d normally stay an extra day in a city like Seattle, but I want to leave. This car sucks, I hate Prius’ but Hertz screwed up my reservation and I didn’t have time to wait around for them to fix it. I look at Maniac’s bus once more as I start the ignition, almost hoping he steps out so I can run him over, so I can smash his body against his bus until his flesh is flat…but all I get is a light come on inside.

(Jeremy): Soon…soon!

I speed out as fast as this piece of shit car will go out into the Seattle night, nothing but Maniac on my mind.

Fade to black.