Where were you the night Dan Alexander died?

Salt Lake International Airport, several hours after Battle Grounds. Stygian, Lilith and Lilah make their way through the airport at the ungodly late hour. None of the shops or restaurants are open. Rows upon rows of closed and locked security gates frame the way as the trio of them are all wearing hoodies and sweats, carrying their carry-on bags over one shoulder, and laptop/tablet messenger bags over the other. The look tired, as most IWF employees do catching a red-eye after Battle Grounds wraps. As they get to their gate, two uniformed Salt Lake Police Department officers are waiting at the counter.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Mr. Gabriel, I presume?

Stygian looks them over curiously.

Stygian: You guys looking for an autograph?

Salt Lake PD Officer: No sir, I’m Officer Jones and this is Officer Tyler. We would like you to come with us, sir.

Stygian: What is this, a joke?

Salt Lake PD Officer: I’m afraid not, sir.

Stygian: Am I being arrested?

Salt Lake PD Officer: Not at this time, sir. We’d like you to come downtown, though. Detective Shepherd would like to ask you some questions.

Stygian: How long will this take?

Salt Lake PD Officer: Honestly, sir, I don’t know.

Stygian: Will I make my flight?

The officer looks up at the gate, checks his watch, and shakes his head.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Your flight leaves in 45 minutes, we won’t even have you down to the station by then.

Stygian: Then if I’m not under arrest, I’m not going. If the Salt Lake Police Department needs to depose me, you can contact my home in Denver, and we’ll have a conference call with my lawyer.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Sir, you aren’t under arrest, but it would really be in your best interests to come with us. If we have to extradite you back from Colorado…

The officers’ radios crackle.

Radio: Sierra 110, Sierra 110, this is Salt Lake Central, over.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Give me a second, please. The officer takes a few steps away and takes his radio off his belt. Salt Lake Central, this is Sierra 110, go ahead over.

Radio: Sierra 110, have you made contact with the person of interest? Over.

Salt Lake PD Officer: That’s affirmative, over.

Radio: Sierra 110 be advised; the victim is now deceased, the person of interest is now considered a suspect, arrest and transport for processing and questioning.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Copy that, Central. Sierra 110 out.

Immediately the other officer draws his weapon and points it at Stygian.

Stygian: Whoa, what the hell?!?! Easy there, Dirty Harry!

Salt Lake PD Officer: Sir I need you to drop your bags and put your hands up now!

Lilith: What the fuck is going on here?

Salt Lake PD Officer: Ma’am, this is a lawful arrest, I need you to step away.

Stygian: Just do it, Tina.

Lilith grabs Lilah and takes a few steps back. Stygian drops his bags and raises his arms. The officer maneuvers him over to the wall and places his hands against it. He pats Stygian down and turns out his pockets, which are empty.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Put your hands behind your back, sir. Jason Gabriel, I am placing you under arrest in connection with the death of Dan Alexander.

Stygian: What?

Lilith: Huh?

Lilah: Dan’s dead?

Salt Lake PD Officer: Apparently he just passed away.

Lilith: What does this have to do with Jason?

Salt Lake PD Officer: Mr. Gabriel assaulted the victim.

Stygian: No, it was a fucking wrestling match! It was…that was all planned! You do realize it’s all choreographed, right?

Salt Lake PD Officer: We realize that, sir, but we still have to take you in and sort this out.

Stygian: I didn’t do anything to him! He was fine! I saw him in the training room, he was getting patched up.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Sir, I understand, but I have orders to take you in.

The cops cuff Stygian with those zip-tie things.

Lilith: Jason…what the hell do I do?

Stygian: Call…call Corey. He’s not flying out til tomorrow! He probably hasn’t even left the arena, yet. Call Corey, he’ll know what to do.

Lilith: Alright. Call my cell when you find out where they’re taking you, Amber and I will come down.

Stygian shakes his head.

Stygian: No sense in staying around here, who knows how long this will take. Go home to Denver.

Lilith: NO!

Stygian: Tina, honey, go home. Try to get some rest. Oh, tell Corey I need a local lawyer, since mine is in Colorado. Corey probably won’t be able to find one til tomorrow morning, but I’m sure he will.

Lilith sniffles, tears running down her cheeks. Lilah wraps her arms around her.

Lilith: O-ok. Is there anything else you want me to do?

Stygian: Just go home and sleep, this will all be alright, it has to be. I’m innocent.

Lilith: Alright. I’ll call Corey.

The police lead Stygian away as Lilith buries her face on Lilah’s shoulder and cries. Lilith watches Stygian go with a vacant expression.

Lilah: Dan’s dead?


Stygian lies in something resembling the fetal position; just about the only position which allows his seven foot frame to fit onto the bottom bunk of an otherwise empty holding cell. He kept his shoes on and is wrapped in a thin wool blanket, lazily dozing when an SLPD officer comes around and shakes the bars to make noise.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Gabriel! Wake up!

Stygian groans and opens his eyes, looking up at the officer.

Stygian: What’s up?

Salt Lake PD Officer: Got good news, man. You’re goin’ home.

Stygian’s eyes shoot open and he rolls off the bed, stretching his aching frame out slowly and looking at the guard.

Stygian: Really?

Salt Lake PD Officer: Yeah, eventually.

Stygian: Eventually?

Salt Lake PD Officer: Yeah, they gotta ask you some questions. Your lawyer will be here in half an hour. They’re gonna question you and you can go.

Stygian: Oh, thank god, common sense finally prevails.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Yeah. I guess that Alexander dude had some heart condition. He’d been paying a doctor to lie about it for years so he could keep wrestling.

Stygian: Aw man…another one.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Yeah, man, you guys don’t seem to live long, do ya?

Stygian: Sadly, no.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Yeah, steroids, drugs, now you got them concussions goin’ around like whatshisname? Dude killed his family and hung himself…

Stygian: Benoit.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Yeah. Makes me wonder why any sane man would want your job.

Stygian: Coming from a man who works around thieves, lowlifes and murderers day in and day out?

Salt Lake PD Officer: I heard that. The cop laughs. I heard that.

Stygian: At least the ones I deal with don’t try to shoot me. They just try to steal my paycheck.

Salt Lake PD Officer: No kiddin’. That why you left that place you was?

Stygian: Kinda. Boss was lettin’ his old lady run the joint. She was picking out her favorites and telling the rest to fuck off. If he’d divorced her three months sooner, I’d have never left.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Well, these guys must be doin’ alright. Was one of them who hooked you up with a lawyer.

Stygian: They’re good guys.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Yeah. Say, man, you want some coffee while you wait?

Stygian: Sure.

Salt Lake PD Officer: Alright, I’ll be back to get you when detective Shepherd is ready.

Stygian: Thanks, man.


Stygian walks slowly down the corridors of the Salt Lake Police Department’s first precinct. He’s been given back his Raiders hoodie that was taken the night before. He meets a short balding man in a dark blue suit and tie sitting on a chair outside a door marked “CONFERENCE ROOM 1”. He stands and stick his hand out to Stygian.

Man in Suit: Jason Gabriel?

Stygian: Yeah. You my lawyer?

Man in Suit:: I am. Mitch Anderson. Mr. Casey hired me to represent IWF in this investigation locally, he asked that I come for your deposition this morning.

Stygian shakes the man’s hand.

Stygian: Do I have to do this?

Mitch Anderson: Eventually, yes. You’re not legally obligated to do it now, but the SLPD would “greatly appreciate” your cooperation, and I was told by Mr. Casey to tell you that it’s in everyone’s best interests for you to cooperate with the investigation now. IWF is trying to clear this up as quickly as possible on all fronts.

Stygian: Right. Is this us? Nods towards the conference room.

Mitch Anderson: Yes. Before we go in there I wanted to go over a few things. They’ve formally cleared you of any wrongdoing and all questions in there are voluntary. However there is expected fallout from this situation.

Stygian: Define “fallout”.

Mitch Anderson: Mr. Alexander’s surviving relatives have hired their own representation and are looking into the incident. It is possible that they will file litigation against IWF and/or you and they would subpoena any statements you will have made to the Salt Lake Police Department. If I hear any questions that might possibly compromise you, I’ll ask you for a word. If they ask you anything that will compromise you, I will tell you not to answer. Since this is a voluntary deposition, they cannot compel you to answer. Since Mr. Alexander’s death has been declared accidental, the cannot arrest you or further detain you for not answering any questions.

Stygian: So if you tell me not to answer, don’t answer and they can’t do shit?

Mitch Anderson: Correct. Shall we?

Stygian nods and the lawyer opens the door. Three men in suits sit on the opposite side of a long, neutral colored table in high-backed upholstered office chairs. They stand when Stygian and the lawyer enter the room. The detective in the middle is the only one who speaks.

Detective John Shepherd: Mr. Gabriel, I’m Detective John Shepherd, these are detectives Carson Beckett and Rodney McKay, they’re assisting me with the investigation. Mitch, nice to see you again.

Mitch Anderson: John.

Handshakes all around, and all five men sit down.

Detective John Shepherd: Let’s begin by informing you and your counsel that this deposition is being recorded, both audio and video, and it will be part of the permanent record of the Salt Lake Police Department’s formal inquiry into the death of Daniel James Alexander.

Mitch Anderson: Agreed. Since this is part of the permanent record, I’d like it stated that my client, Jason Gabriel, is here voluntarily at your request, and is cooperating fully your inquiry.

Detective John Shepherd: Agreed.

Mitch Anderson: I’d also like it stated for the record that Jason has been cleared of any wrongdoing, and the death of Dan Alexander has been ruled accidental.

Detective John Shepherd: Mr. Gabriel has been cleared of any wrongdoing, we’re not entirely sure that it was accidental.

Mitch Anderson: Detective Shepherd, I’m going to have to ask you to clarify that last statement, or I may have to advise my client to leave without answering any questions.

Detective John Shepherd: We believe Dan Alexander had an underlying heart condition that he was aware of, we believe he was paying a doctor in California to falsify the results of his physicals to allow Mr. Alexander to keep performing as a professional wrestler. As a result we are leaning towards labeling the death of Dan Alexander “Suicide by Proxy” and we’ll be forwarding the matter of the medical fraud to California’s state medical board so they can deal with the fraudulent physician.

Stygian: Wait, suicide?

Detective John Shepherd: Yes. We can get to that if you and your attorney are satisfied we can begin?

Stygian looks at the lawyer, who nods.

Detective John Shepherd: For the record, would you please state your name.

Stygian: Jason Gabriel.

Detective John Shepherd: It is Monday January 09, 2012, 8:52 am. Mr. Gabriel, how long have you been performing as a professional wrestler?

Stygian: A little over five years.

Detective John Shepherd: Where did you receive your training?

Stygian: Golden State Wrestling in California, further training under experienced veterans in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ultimate Elite Championship Wrestling and Insurgency Wrestling Federation.

Detective John Shepherd: So is it fair to say that your training and skillset is constantly evolving?

Mitch Anderson: A word, Jason.

Stygian leans in and he and the lawyer whisper back and forth before the lawyer nods.

Stygian: It would be fair to say that experiences are always shared in my profession, but I have never entered the ring without sufficient knowledge to insure the safety of myself and my opponent. Like any vocation one never “masters” professional wrestling. You guys have regular training interludes, do you not?

Detective John Shepherd: We indeed do. Would it be accurate to say that you felt you had the adequate skill necessary to insure the safety of Dan Alexander on January 7, 2012?

Stygian: I believe I did, yes.

Detective John Shepherd: Did the performance, the “match” as you term it go according to plan?

Stygian: It did.

Detective John Shepherd: Were you under the influence of alcohol or any mind-altering substance, prescribed or otherwise?

Mitch Anderson: Jason, a word.

Stygian shakes his head and waves the attorney off.

Stygian: No, I was not.

Detective John Shepherd: Do you regularly use any mind-altering substance, prescribed or otherwise.

Stygian: I do not.

Detective John Shepherd: Do you drink alcohol?

Stygian: On occasion.

Detective John Shepherd: How frequently would you say you use alcohol?

Stygian: On the road, hardly ever. At home, maybe once a week, but probably fewer than three times a month. I also smoke the occasional cigar.

Detective John Shepherd: Fair enough. To your knowledge, did Dan Alexander regularly used alcohol or any mind altering substance, prescribed or otherwise?

Stygian: Not to my knowledge.

Detective John Shepherd: Can you describe the nature of your relationship with Dan Alexander.

Stygian: We had a professional relationship.

Detective John Shepherd: You were not friends?

Stygian: Not as such, no.

Detective John Shepherd: Have you and Dan Alexander ever been in any altercations, physical or verbal?

Stygian: Yes. There was a match about two months ago where Dan went into business for himself.

Detective John Shepherd: “Went into business for himself?”

Stygian: it’s an industry term when a wrestler takes over a match or changes the scripted finish without consulting his opponent or the promoter, usually to make himself look better. Dan did that, that night. He was supposed to “put me over”, which is to say I was supposed to win the match by pinfall, but instead he no-sold most of my moves, that is to say when I executed offensive maneuvers he didn’t act like they did any damage to him. He instead manipulated the finish of the match into a disqualification. After the match I confronted him in the back.

Detective John Shepherd: Did you threaten to do any harm to Mr. Alexander?

Mitch Anderson: Jason, a word.

Stygian and the lawyer huddle up, and the exchange becomes quite heated before the lawyer sighs and gestures towards the detectives.

Mitch Anderson: Fine, I’m not comfortable with that answer, but it’s your decision.

Stygian: After the match I confronted Dan in the back, we exchanged some words. I thought Dan had been unprofessional, Dan thought it wasn’t my place to reprimand him. The confrontation then became physical. A few punches were thrown and we had to be separated. I told him to meet me in the parking lot and we’d settle it, but it never happened.

Detective John Shepherd: Was that the end of any physical confrontation?

Stygian: It was. Corey Casey took me to a bar and calmed me down; we had a few shots and took a cab back to the hotel. I don’t know who calmed Dan down.

Detective John Shepherd: And you didn’t confront Dan Alexander again?

Stygian: No.

Detective John Shepherd: Was Dan Alexander well-liked in IWF?

Stygian: I understand he had been once, but by the time I joined the company, opinions of him had started to go sour.

Detective John Shepherd: Why would you say that happened?

Stygian: Dan was kind of “old school” if you will. He spent most of his career in Japan where they still adhere to the older ways of the business. He felt that people should earn their keep and then everyone should have to “pay their dues” when coming to a new company. He wasn’t pleased that another wrestler, a young wrestler named Yuko had been pushed, his character had been emphasized because the fans had been reacting to him. He was being given high-profile matches in prime circumstances against well-known opponents. Dan felt he hadn’t earned that treatment. There was constant friction between Dan and Yuko. When I signed on after my contract with UECW expired and I started getting pushed, Dan felt I didn’t deserve it either. He felt I should have to pay a lot more dues as a new guy in the company, even though I’d been successful in major promotions in two countries. Dan felt he was a bigger star and he felt that because he was in the business longer that Yuko or I combined that he should have gotten the pushes we were getting. He went out of his way to remind people of his past successes and constantly told people he was better than everyone else.

Detective John Shepherd: Would it be fair to say Dan Alexander had fallen out of favor with IWF management?

Stygian: I couldn’t comment on that. I know Yuko and he weren’t great friends. I pretty much just avoided him. Until the match Saturday.

Detective John Shepherd: Yes, getting back to that, you have testified that you weren’t under the influence of any mind-altering substances, and that you couldn’t say for certain whether Dan Alexander was using any or not habitually, in your opinion had Dan Alexander been using and mind-altering substances, prescribed or otherwise that night?

Stygian: He appeared to be coherent and in a clear state of mind.

Detective John Shepherd: Whose responsibility is it to make sure a performer is able to perform?

Stygian: There are about a dozen people a performer passes on his way to the ring alone, and any of them can pull the plug. There’s usually someone checking guys in the gorilla position—the area right behind the stage where we enter the arena.

Detective John Shepherd: Who is that?

Stygian: It depends, usually a veteran of the business who isn’t easily fooled. Another wrestler or a road agent.

Detective John Shepherd: Who was checking people that night?

Stygian: Johnny Electric.

Detective John Shepherd: Is that his real name?

Stygian: I doubt it, but I don’t know his real name.

Detective John Shepherd: Alright. Does anyone else check performers’ fitness before a scripted match?

Stygian: Failing all else, the referee checks out both guys before the match, gives them a once over. If he detects a problem he signals the back by making an X with his arms, like this.

Detective John Shepherd: So it would be fair to say that multiple people checked Dan Alexander’s condition before the match in question and he appeared to be fit to perform his job.

Stygian: I believe it would, yes.

Detective John Shepherd: Were you aware that Dan Alexander had a heart condition?

Stygian: No.

Detective John Shepherd: To your knowledge, was anyone else aware that Dan Alexander had a heart condition?

Stygian: To my knowledge, no.

Detective John Shepherd: Do you believe IWF would have allowed Dan Alexander to perform if they were aware of his heart condition?

Stygian: I certainly do not.

Detective John Shepherd: Have you ever heard of IWF forcing wrestlers to perform if they were unwilling or unable to perform on a given night; perhaps by withholding pay, or threatening to terminate their employment?

Stygian: I have never heard of that happening in IWF.

Detective John Shepherd: So you believe that Dan Alexander was preforming that night with a clear head and no impairments, completely of his own volition?

Stygian: I do.

Detective John Shepherd: And you said the match went well?

Stygian: Off without a hitch.

Detective John Shepherd: How often do wrestlers communicate about the performance in the middle of a match?

Stygian: All the time, we’re always going through spots or telling the other guy what to do, or what we plan to do.

Detective John Shepherd: Were you communicating with Dan Alexander regularly through the match?

Stygian: I was.

Detective John Shepherd: At any time did Dan Alexander communicate that he was feeling chest pains or shortness of breath?

Stygian: At no time did he say such.

Detective John Shepherd: What’s the protocol for something like that?

Stygian: In the case of minor injuries we “go home”, or finish the match quickly. More severe injuries, the referee signals the back with an X and the match is stopped immediately.

Detective John Shepherd: After the match you and Dan Alexander performed a rather dangerous stunt with gasoline, tables and barb-wire.

Stygian: We did. Although it wasn’t gasoline, it was lighter fluid. It was in a gas can, but it was lighter fluid. Lighter fluid doesn’t burn as hot or as persistently. It goes out with a good stiff wind, like the impact of a man going through a table or two. So it was lighter fluid, and it worked. Watching the video, the fire pretty much goes out when Dan and I hit the tables. There were people standing by with fire extinguishers just in case.

Detective John Shepherd: Had you ever performed that stunt before?

Stygian: That specific stunt, no. I had performed several like it in the course of my career.

Detective John Shepherd: Had Dan Alexander ever performed that stunt before?

Stygian: He said he’d never performed it specifically, but he had performed all the elements of it separately many times in Japan. Two tables, barb-wire, fire.

Detective John Shepherd: Did the two of you rehearse the stunt at all?

Stygian: We rehearsed it as much as we could earlier in the day. We went over all aspects of the stunt and we did the full thing once without any problem. Dan wore a flack jacket to protect himself during the rehearsal and we landed on a crash mat.

Detective John Shepherd: Did the stunt go according to plan when you executed it after the match?

Stygian: Like clockwork.

Detective John Shepherd: Was Dan Alexander conscious after the stunt?

Stygian: He was.

Detective John Shepherd: Did you check on his condition?

Stygian: I didn’t because I was selling the stunt and rolling on the mat, just in case I had caught on fire, same as Dan.

Detective John Shepherd: Did someone check his condition immediately?

Stygian: The referee did, and he must have signaled to the back that Dan was ok, because the post-match went as scripted.

Detective John Shepherd: When did you last see Dan Alexander?

Stygian: I stopped by the training room to see if he was alright.

Detective John Shepherd: And was he?

Stygian: He was fine but for some scrapes and minor burns.

Detective John Shepherd: Did you have a conversation with Dan Alexander at that time?

Stygian: A brief one. Just “good match, glad you’re ok” and then I went to shower and meet up with my companions. We had a flight at midnight back to Denver.

Detective John Shepherd: When did you hear about Dan Alexander’s death?

Stygian: I first heard about it when I was arrested.

Detective John Shepherd: I see. I’m sorry about that, Mr. Gabriel, but when someone dies we have to try and keep all responsible people from leaving Salt Lake, and arresting you at the time was the logical thing to do while a preliminary autopsy was conducted. Once we realized that Mr. Alexander had an underlying heart condition and interviewed his physician via phone in California we realized you were not at fault. Please accept the apologies of the Salt Lake Police Department.

Stygian: Eventually. I realize you had a job to do, but you put me in handcuffs in a major airport in front of my family. I appreciate you clearing this up quickly, however.

Detective John Shepherd: Alright, those are all my questions. Detective Beckett? No questions. Detective McKay? No questions. Alrighty, your free to go. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Gabriel.

Handshakes all around again and departing salutations are exchanged. Stygian and his lawyer depart and walk through the halls to the prisoner discharge area. Stygian sighs a release form stipulating that he had all the property he came in with, and is buzzed out a guarded door. He shakes his head.

Stygian: Aww man. I left everything in my bag. Fuck, my wallet, my phone.

Brandon MacDonald: Well I've got a phone right here

Stygian and the lawyer turn to see Brandon sitting by in warmups, a jacket, and an IWF t-shirt. Brandon pulls out his iPhone and hands it to Stygian.

Stygian: Brandon.

Brandon MacDonald: You look like hell, Jason.

Stygian: Then I look how I feel.

Mitch Anderson: Uh, Mr. Gabriel, if you don’t have any questions, I’ll be on my way.

Stygian: Yeah, thanks Mitch. The lawyer leaves and Jason turns to Brandon. What are you doing here, man?

Brandon MacDonald: Tina told me they took you away before you could grab your phone or your wallet, so I came by to drive you to Denver.

Stygian: Drive me to Denver?

Brandon MacDonald: Yeah, the soonest flight we could get to Denver was in 13 hours. You can drive to Denver faster than that. Corey is handling things here, Chuck and Rick took the company jet to Chicago, and then Rick continued on to Boston. Chuck’s handling things for the network, Rick’s on top of things at corporate, so I’m gonna be the guy on the ground in Denver. Figured you could use a lift since you live there.

Stygian: Thanks, man. I can’t even begin to…

Brandon MacDonald: Don’t, just don’t. Don’t worry about it. You doin alright?

Stygian: I…don’t even know at this point. I just…he was fine after the match. He was great.

Brandon MacDonald: I understand man.

Stygian: What even happened?

Brandon MacDonald: He was doing alright, he came by for a wrap-up with creative, we talked about the match you guys were going to have at Rising Monarchy and he went to take a shower. Next thing we know we hear this commotion, and Rueben found him on the floor of the locker room and he wasn’t breathing. The paramedics showed up and managed to get him breathing again on the way out the door.

Stygian: And nobody thought to call me?

Brandon MacDonald: Dude, it was all a blur, for all of us. We had paramedics and venue people wandering through and then the cops came in and were questioning people…they went and grabbed you as an afterthought.

Stygian: I’m sorry Brandon; I don’t mean to snap on you.

Brandon MacDonald: It’s alright. Let’s hit the road. There’s a Burger King by the exit, I’ll buy you breakfast.

Stygian: I’ll pay you back when we get to Denver.

Brandon MacDonald: Jase, don’t worry about it. A couple crossanwiches and coffee isn’t going to bankrupt me. Let’s go.


The Rocky Mountains are always a beautiful drive, even in the dead of what has actually been a fairly mild winter. Brandon and Stygian cut through a fairly open and empty stretch of I-70 in a red Buick Rendezvous with Enterprise rental tags, Brandon is driving, Stygian has to lean the seat back in order to not brush his head against the ceiling. The built in GPS has a long yellow arrow going halfway across the state of Colorado. The stereo is blaring out “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites” by Skrillex. Brandon is nodding his head and drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. Stygian is just shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

Stygian: You know, if I’d have known you were gonna play this shit the whole way I’d have walked.

Brandon laughs and turns the stereo down.

Brandon MacDonald: We’re gonna have this argument again? You always lose.

Stygian: I always lose? You always lose. You’re the one trying to convince me this is music. It sounds like R2D2 getting blown by Rosie from The Jetsons.

Brandon MacDonald: You know what? You don’t get dubstep, and that’s fine. That doesn’t mean you have to hate on it. It’s one of the most popular genres of music at the moment.

Stygian: Yeah, Tangerine Dream had a #1 hit once upon a time too.

Brandon MacDonald: Skrillex is not a one hit wonder.

Stygian: Oh the hell he isn’t. He only has one song! It’s the same song over and over.

Brandon MacDonald: It is not, they’re all distinct. Pick any song on there and I’ll tell you what it is, they all sound different.

Stygian: Because you’re a fan. I can pick Dragonforce songs apart because I’m a fan, that doesn’t mean they all sound the same.

Brandon MacDonald: I…just, no. I refuse to argue music with someone who hates on a genre because they don’t like it.

Stygian: It’s more than just not liking it. It’s not music. It has no adherence to theory, no thematic elements, you can’t sing along with it…I can understand genres I don’t like. I can see why someone would put on 2pac and go, “yeah, crank that shit up.” I don’t get what human being listens to a guy testing his equipment and goes “hey, I gotta dance to that shit.” I used to build satellites for the Air Force, this shit sounds like their data stream feed.

Brandon MacDonald: Look, I know you hate this stuff, you’ve been a good sport about it for four hours, look through there and see if there’s something you’d rather listen to. We’ll just have to agree to disagree on dubstep.

Stygian: No shit. Stygian and Brandon laugh as Stygian grabs Brandon’s iPod and thumbs through it. Let’s see…hmmm…Van Halen? You like Van Halen?

Brandon MacDonald: Fuck yes! Who doesn't right? I’m going to go see them in March, I think. Tell me, do you really have one of Eddie’s guitars?

Stygian: I do, Tina gave it to me for Christmas. She didn’t really steal it from 5150 though. She and Amber are gonna pose for the cover of their new album and be in one of the videos; that’s actually the trade they made.

Brandon MacDonald: That’s pretty fucking awesome.

Stygian: Wait…did I just see…Stygian looks at Brandon with disbelief. Is that Neil Diamond?

Brandon MacDonald: Uh…I don’t know how that got there. It probably scrobbled from some…thing...or…I just kinda let Pandora run and it makes these crazy connections and sometimes it…uh…downloads…uh…I actually…Keagan might have…that is…probably…

Stygian: Mmm-hmm. So if I were to do this…Stygian clicks it screen and “Sweet Caroline” starts playing.

Brandon MacDonald: Nah I mean, it’s fine, if that’s what you’re in to.

Stygian: Well you can turn it off, it’s your iPod.

Brandon MacDonald: No, I told you to pick something…this is all you.

Stygian and Brandon both look right at the road in silence as the legendary song goes through its intro and Neil starts singing. Brandon starts humming along, and Stygian gives him a look, so he stops. Then Stygian starts tapping his foot in time with it, only to stop when Brandon raises an accusatory eyebrow. Of course then the chorus comes and all hope is lost.

Brandon MacDonald and Stygian: Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet Caroline—da da da—good times never seemed so good—SO GOOD, SO GOOD, SO GOOD—Iiiiiiiiiiiiiii’ve been inclined—da da da—to believe they never would…

And then it quickly falls apart as neither one of them know the words to the verses so they give up rather quickly, laughing hysterically instead.

Brandon MacDonald: You dick.

Stygian: Man everybody loves this song.

Brandon MacDonald: I was about to say, you do have Katy Perry on your iPod, I’ve been in a car with you a few times.

Stygian: Uh, well, Tina…

Brandon MacDonald: Bullshit, Tina hates Katy Perry. Oh shit, here we go again…

Brandon MacDonald and Stygian: Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet Caroline—da da da—good times never seemed so good—SO GOOD, SO GOOD, SO GOOD—Iiiiiiiiiiiiiii’ve been inclined—da da da—to believe they never would…

Stygian: I don’t know any of the other words.

Brandon MacDonald: They never do any of the other words at football games. Or any sports for that matter

Stygian: We’re gonna go with the sporting event excuse?

Brandon MacDonald: I won’t tell anyone any differently if you don’t.

Stygian: Deal. Okay, no more “Sweet Caroline”, let’s go with Van Halen.

Brandon MacDonald: So tell me, man, why Denver?

Stygian: Boulder, actually.

Brandon MacDonald: Whatever, why here?

Stygian: Oh, it’s sort of a nice neutral site for all three of us. I’m from Arizona, Amber is from Idaho by way of Las Vegas, Tina’s from Utah; not that Tina goes home much.

Brandon MacDonald: Yeah, I heard that promo she cut on the crowd. That was vicious.

Stygian: It was from the heart. A lot of the antagonism she gets from her family comes from the Mormon religion.

Brandon MacDonald: Is it the whole, other girl thing?

Stygian: That’s…well, first off she fucked up by leaving Utah. That didn’t win her any favors, going to Stanford.

Brandon MacDonald: Wow Stanford. Would have never picked her for a Cardinal.

Stygian: Yeah, right? But anyway, that was her first fuck up. Then she married me, and I’m not Mormon so that pissed them off. Then she came out as bisexual to them and really…they don’t talk much, and when they do it’s not for long. I never talk to her family. I think they’re just waiting for her to come to her senses an divorce me and come back and be a concubine for the church.

Brandon MacDonald: Right. So you just wanted somewhere in the middle of Arizona, Utah and Idaho?

Stygian: Well, there’s the airport, you can pretty much always get a flight in to or out of Denver. And I went to college out here. Sort of grew to like the area.

Brandon MacDonald: Oh yeah, Air Force is in…Colorado Springs, isn’t in?

Stygian: Yeah.

Brandon MacDonald: So how do you go from the Air Force into wrestling? Don’t you have like a PhD or something…

Stygian: I have two Masters’, actually. Electrical Engineering and Avionic Engineering.

Brandon MacDonald: Dude, those are, like, seven-figure a year jobs.

Stygian: In all fairness, I make seven figures now.

Brandon MacDonald: Yeah, but you just broke through to that. Seriously, that’s the kind of a job you get with a penthouse and a car and stuff.

Stygian: Yeah, but I mean first you’re a kid and you’ve got all these rules. You know?

Brandon MacDonald: Yeah, rules weren't my strong suit. Got arrested multiple times in high school, faked my way into TCU, among other things.

Stygian: I see. Well I followed the rules for the most part. Then I go the Air Force Academy and it’s like, I’ve got this whole life mapped out for me. And all sorts of new rules. I spent 24 years of my life following the rules. When I got out I didn’t want to just go to work in the private sector building more airplanes and shit. I wanted to be on my own for a while. So I took a job as a security guard out in California, then I’m punching out a guy who used to be a famous wrestler and they’re yanking me into the promotion and training me…then they’re asking me to come to Japan and pretend I’m the Undertaker. I can always go build satellites and air planes after I retire. Not sure that I don’t want to now…

Stygian takes a deep breath and looks out the window wistfully.

Brandon MacDonald: Look, man, it wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault but Dan’s. Dan…Dan knew what he was doing.

Stygian: I’ve asked myself a hundred questions. Questions I know the answer to. But I still ask them. Did I hit him too hard, did I mess up this move or that move, did I miss something? Should I have called off the table spot after the match?

Brandon MacDonald: Jason, Dan finished the match just fine. We talked to him afterwards, you talked to him, he was wandering around the back and joking with guys, he was fine. You didn’t do anything to him. Dan was incredibly selfish doing what he did. He knew he was a ticking bomb. It could have happened to anyone. Hell, look at the match I had with him at Violent Impulse. He could have died during that match, we’re finding out now. He could have died at any time. You can’t blame yourself. If anything, and I’ll say this now because there’s no camera and I don’t think you’re one to go of running off and blabbing it, but if anything, blame us. Rick, Chuck, Corey and me. We should have caught it. We should have insisted on a physical by an independent doctor in Boston. In fact, we’re gonna start setting that up. We’re gonna pick the doctor who handles all IWF physicals now. Dan and his doctor out in California conned us, alright? Dan’s had this heart condition for about seven years now.

Stygian: Then why didn't he quit?

Brandon MacDonald: I don’t know. Dan was a lifer. He got into the sport at 17. He was piling into a car with six other guys and sleeping on the floor of a high school gym the night after he wrestled in it. He was living off tuna and crackers without a penny to his name and working shows to half-empty gyms and armories for 40 bucks a night. He was one of those guys who set out in this business and worked his way from nothing. Dan didn’t know anything else but wrestling. He didn’t even finish high school I don’t think. No education to speak of, no other skills to sustain himself. All Dan had was wrestling. Maybe he was afraid he couldn’t make a living without it. Maybe he just wanted to die doing what he loved, I don’t know. But Jason, Dan was on borrowed time, and you can’t blame yourself. It was Dan’s time. He would have died that night if he’d wrestled any of us. He would have died if you hadn’t put him through that table. Dan had a bad heart and he finally ran out of time.

Stygian: Yeah, I know. I just can’t look past the fact that I was the last guy in the ring with him.

Brandon MacDonald: And I understand that. If I’d been in the ring with a man who died, I’d be the same way. Look, take the week off. Take a couple weeks off. We’ll work around the High Impact Title, it’s not a big deal. Or hell, I’ll wrestle you this week. Whatever you need. If you still feel like quitting the business after it’s sunk in a little more, I won’t blame you. If you feel like you can’t stay in IWF, we’ll release you. I can see how that ghost of Dan Alexander might haunt this place a little too much for you.

Stygian looks out at the Rock Mountains slowly movin by in the distance and shakes his head.

Stygian: No, I think I need to get back to work. I think I need to do it sooner than later. The show’s in Denver this week, I can spend another week in my own bed, in my house. I can get my head together. But I think the best thing is to go back to work. To go back to doing what I do. I need something to focus on. I need an outlet. I need some routine and normalcy. I need background noise to get over this and face the fact that I didn’t kill Dan Alexander. It’s like some nut jumping in front of your car on the freeway to kill himself. You know? It just happened to be my bumper he bounced off of.

Brandon MacDonald: Good, man. That’s good. That’s real good. Look, we were going to give you a three way dance with Yuko and Reuben, but if you’re not up to it, I’ll wrestle you. Give you someone you can work with and take your mind off of this.

Stygian: No, Yuko and Reuben will be fine. Kinda funny that Yuko and I would be in a match the week after Dan Alexander dies. We seem to be the ones he clashed with the most.

Brandon MacDonald: Yeah, that is kinda funny. We’re gonna have to make some changes to Rising Monarchy, you realize now. I think I have an idea already

Stygian: Well, yeah. I obviously can’t face Dan now. I mean, I’m good at casket matches, but…

Brandon breaks into laughter and shakes his head.

Brandon MacDonald: That’s bad.

Stygian: Yeah, I know, I’m going to hell.

Brandon MacDonald: I’ll save you a stool at the bar.

Stygian sighs and reclines his chair all the way back.

Stygian: We still have about three hours. I didn’t sleep too well in that cell.

Brandon MacDonald: Yeah man, go for it.

Stygian: Wake me up when you start seeing exits for Denver, I know a short cut to Boulder this GPS doesn’t.

Brandon MacDonald: Alright.

Stygian: And Brandon, thanks. For everything.

Brandon MacDonald: Hey man, don’t mention it.

Stygian doses off, once Brandon isn’t sure he’s gonna wake up, he switches from Van Halen back to Skrillex.