Storming Raven [vs.] Jack Savage

Storming Raven...well...storms [for lack of a better word!] back into IWF looking to advance in the Siege Perilous Tournament at the expense of The Empire's most loyal and dedicated follower, Jack Savage!

Prologue:


I wake up in the bright sterile whiteness of a hospital room, and slowly look around. How did I get here? Last thing I remember is blacking out after my last match in IWF. Soon the white coat walks in.

“Well, Mr. Cochran. It looks like you're gonna have to make some life changes. You have an enlarged liver, and fluid on your lung. You're going to have to stop smoking and drinking.”

The doctor gives me a shit eating grin, and I snarl at him.

“Do NOT call me Mr. Cochran. My name is Storming Raven. As far as purging myself of any poison goes, that's fine.”

I whip the thin cover off of the bed and see I'm still in my street clothes.

“And now, I'm out of here. Vaya Con Dios, Doc.”

I jump to my feet and sprint toward the open second story window. I land easily on my feet and sprint off into the woods. I feel free. The silence of the woods is so peaceful, but it does nothing for my inner warrior. I HAVE to fight to survive. It's time to go back....Back to where it began.

Scene one: Want to know how I got these scars?

Seems a lot of things have changed since I've been away. I was unceremoniously dumped from The Empire. No matter, I was never really a team player. Not for their ways anyway. Every new beginning, comes from some other beginning's end. Every Journey begins with a single step. I can't escape my past. So here I am again. People are gathered in a circle around me and a much bigger opponent in an abandoned warehouse on the edge of the Laredo city limits. This probably isn't one of my better ideas, but I need the money to get to Philadelphia. The opponent is outweighs me, and is about fifty pounds heavier. I can tell by the look in his eyes, he's underestimating me. Big mistake. The announcer makes the introductions, and I take off my shirt revealing the scars on my body, making it look like a patch work quilt. This isn't my first rodeo so to speak.

The opponent is slow, clumsy. He goes for a hay maker and I quickly duck under it, and counter with an open palm strike to the pelvic bone. I hear it snap and he falls instantly. Easiest five hundred dollars I've ever made. I take my money and walk out amid the angry shouts of those who bet against me. Score one for the under dog.

Scene two: The ride.

Well I made it to Kansas City,Missouri. I've run out of funds so it looks like I'm thumbing it the rest of the way. I spend a few hours on the side of the highway before a stranger stops beside me in a black Cadillac. He rolls down the window. He is ghost white pale.

“Where you headed son?” He asks in a quiet voice.

“Philadelphia.” I answer with my guard up.

“I can take you that far.” A cocky smile on his face.

“You're a wrestler huh?”

I nod as I open the passenger door and put my bag in the back. As I sit down, I turn on the radio and notice the radio is playing wrestling themes from the past. One happens to give me chills. The Blue Blazer theme.

A sad smile comes on the stranger's face. We ride in silence for many hours. An hour away from the Philadelphia time line the stranger runs a hand through his blonde hair and speaks.

“Son, can you keep the butts on the edge of the seat? Can you reach that bottom rope? Can you get back up when others can't? Have you paid your dues? Can you make the fans feel what you feel inside? Because if you're superstar bound let me warn ya, it's a long hard ride.”

He smiles just south of Philadelphia, and turns the car around.

“This is where you get off, son. I'm going back to Calgary.”

I grab my bag and step out of the car, and tell him

“Mister, many thanks.”

The stranger smiles at me and says.

“You don't have to call me Mister, Mister. The whole world called me the Black Hart.”

I walk a few steps into the Philadelphia town line. I turn back to wave, and the car is gone. Was it ever really there?

Scene three: Guess who's back.

As an unfamiliar music hits the speakers of the arena the crowd is on their feet curious to get a look at who this new comer might be, not suspecting it's not a NEW comer at all.

Winter is here, again, Oh Lord
Haven't been home in a year or more
I hope she holds on a little longer
Sent a letter on a long summer day
Made of silver, not of clay
Ooh I've been runnin' down this dusty road

The crowd goes into a frenzy as I step out on to the stage.

The wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'
I don't know where I'll be tomorrow 
Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'

I sprint down to the ring, run a lap around it, and take a microphone from a ring attendant before sliding in the ring. I jump to my feet with a smile.

“You missed me didn't you?”

The crowd nearly blows the roof off the place. I raise a hand to quiet them as the deafening wave of cheers rolls over me.

“First things first. It seems a lot has changed since I've been gone. For one Corey Case is calling himself “lord”. Well I'm hear to tell ya right now there's a pox on the phony king of IWF! Right here and now I am telling you all, I am entered in the siege perilous tournament. Now I know as much about this tournament as you do. It's a mystery to us all,and everyone knows I love a good mystery. One thing I do know, is my first opponent is one Jack Savage. The Empire is like a tree, and like any tree, you take out the roots, and the tree dies. Jack Savage is one of the strongest roots of the Empire. I shall set fire to the roots of the Empire like only I can. Then I will go on to win this tournament. Why? Simple. I am hungrier than anyone else, I want it more. I know everyone will be looking past me, and those who look past the present to the future are doomed to fail. This is my destiny. The time of the Cherokee is upon you. The Cherokee are brave, we are not afraid to die!”

I drop the microphone and back flip out of the ring,sprinting back up the ramp and through the curtain.