Casanova English Vs. Zach van Owen

Seb didn’t understand what the Chaos Championship truly represents and that is why he isn’t still gripping the gold plated leather any longer.

This isn’t a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

This is an opportunity to sharpen your skills, to defend this week in and week out and prove that you are at the top of your game -- not in theory -- but in fucking practice.

In short, this title means you’re the face of Carnage -- I can’t think of a more fitting role for myself.

Ransom and I were in the back of a rented limo following my championship win and his debut at Act of Defiance. He cracked the top off of some champagne and haphazardly poured it into two glasses overflowing both slightly.

“Promise, this won’t make me relapse, just some celebration,” he said downing it in one gulp. “I told you. I told you if you had me out there... if you let me loose you would walk out with the title and look… we did it Cas.”

I smirked, running my hand over the championship resting on my lap and sip from the glass of bubbly.

“With me by your side you can’t lose. I’m not going to let that smug little punk Seb and his band of buddies try and snatch it back. This is our time Cas. This is our chance to run the wrestling world.”

I let him have his moment. He needed it. We didn’t talk about him coming out. That never mattered to me, as long as he has my back -- as long as he keep tearing heads off and leaving them at my feet -- anything outside that didn’t really matter.

“So, where did Voodoo come from? What’s her story?” I ask.

“She kind of just popped up at the training centre. I don’t think she thought she’d stick wrestling out, but you know what happens once you are part of this world. She was always weird, into that Tarot shit, magic, you know that pseudoscience crap,” he said. “Or so I thought, she’s turned my mind a little.”

“Yeah,” I said. “I found her at her apartment last week just nailing a dummy representing Sebastian with a kendo stick… it’s a little too much of a coincidence I found that weapon in my hand at Act of Defiance and used it to win.”

“She turned you into a believer?”

I let out a laugh, “It’ll take a little more than that I think. Maybe if she conjures up a world championship win for me.”

The limo stops in front of my shitty rowhouse, the driver opens the door and I push a few bills into his hand as Ransom guides me up the walkway and opens the door to let me in. I flick the lights on, make my way to the cupboard and pull a crystal glass out. I toss some ice into the glass and fill it half way with whiskey, topping it off with some ginger ale.

I lay the championship out across the kitchen table and slowly inch toward it to look down at my own reflection. It’s funny. I’ve always been like a dog chasing a car -- don’t know what the fuck to do once I catch up to one.

Am I proud of this title? How I took it? Maybe -- maybe not. I did what I said I was going to do in record fashion -- it’s your dance partner who has to keep up the other part of the deal. And if you don’t come prepared for anything -- how is that my fault? I told the kid I’d show him what a hot spotlight feels like and he melted like fucking butter.

One thing is for damn sure, the reflection glaring back at me as I sip my whiskey is looking a lot like the man I used to be -- but a little more refined -- a little more dangerous.

I don’t know who should be more worried… Carnage… or myself.

All the people want is superheroes and villains. Wrestling of the 1980s and this week I plan on giving it to them. I had Ransom shaking his head as he pulled on the powder blue blazer to match the rest of his suit.

“This is ridiculous,” he said looking at himself in the mirror, his muscles almost popping the seams.

“It’s high-brow satire actually,” I say smirking, putting on a pair of aviator glasses and pulling a leather jacket over my shoulders, the Chaos Championship around my waist.

Voodoo was dressed prim and proper. Her dreads tied back slick, she was in a gray suit and had a silly black handle bar mustache stuck to her face with the sideburns to match -- offering a throwback to wrestling interviewers of days gone by.

“My name is V and I am here with the biggest superstar in Carnage wrestling, someone off a red hot win at Act of Defiance. A new champion in this company. It’s ‘The Modern Day Messiah’ Casanova English.”

I step in front of the Carnage Wrestling logo and straighten out my jacket, being sure to highlight the Chaos Championship -- Ransom stands behind me, his head almost being cut off by the camera framing.

“Well I did what I said I was going to do V, I walked in there and made short work of Sebastian, I got my big PPV pay check and this fancy new championship in nearly record time. He fell into my trap simply and with this man,” I point behind me with my thumb. “With this genetic freak named Alex Ransom by my side -- well it’s just a matter of time before I take over.”

“How does it feel to be a champion again after taking a hiatus?,” V asks, pushing the microphone toward my face.

“I’ll tell you one thing, people in this company have not respected this championship enough. It’s more than just the most frequently defended title in Carnage Wrestling… it means relevance. It’s an invitation to be great. It’s a stage, it’s the goddamn talking stick because,” I pull the belt off my waist and hold it up toward the camera, “because when you hold this people listen. People take notice when you are a champion V, and that’s all that matters to me… being heard.”

“What about backtracking this week and facing someone you have beaten and made a mockery of before?” V asks, smirking.

“Ah, Zach van Owen. I’ve been in the ring with him and I certainly am not going to underestimate him. I know embarrassment and loss can be powerful motivators Zach. See I know you want this title, I know you honestly believe I got lucky the last time we faced off, but make no mistake you aren’t even up against the same Casanova English who beat you a month ago.”

I step toward the camera and rest the Chaos Championship on my shoulder once more.

“I know you want this. I know you want relevance like everyone else, but like I said.. Something has changed since we last faced off,” I slap the chest of Ransom behind me. “I hope you bring the best version of yourself Zach. I hope that hunger carries you further than poor little Seb at the PPV. This is the main event, the real show -- and week by week I am going to chip away. I am going to defend this championship -- main event after main event until this title and I are recognized for what we are -- the pinnacle of the wrestling industry.”

I place a cigarette between my lips and continue talking.

“Get out your $35 out Maryland, put on a pair of fresh panties and make sure to buy some shirts so the other fellas in the locker room can eat. See Zach you might have battled your way back to a number one contendership, but this week my reign begins. I usher in a new era in Carnage Wrestling. I know I brought some anger out in you Zach. I saw shades of myself the way you locked in that hold on Tyler, the way you wanted to maim him at Act of Defiance… but I’m just a little bit better… a little bit badder… and that’s all it comes down to… you and I have both been around long enough to know that.”

I pull a lighter up and ignite the cigarette taking a few sharp inhales and blowing smoke streams toward the camera.

“You wanted to take his arm, break his hand, remind the people that you are fucking here. I get it. That’s what I wanted for you when I stepped in the ring. A shift in perspective. I hope you hang on to that anger, I hope you bring that same energy to our championship contest -- trust me, you won’t survive without it. I’m The Modern Day Messiah, The Face of Carnage, The Gatekeeper of Chaos… and my legacy has only just began.”

I turn around and push the cigarette slowly into the Carnage wrestling logo until eventually it ignites and starts to smolder. Soon it starts to burn as I casually turn around, and walk off camera with Ransom and V following.

The scene fades as the Carnage logo slowly slowly burns up.