The Curtain Call
Off CameraHollywood, CaliforniaAnother day of training in the books and my brother wanted to see me upstairs when I was done with hitting the showers. I’m sure he wanted to talk to me about Damien Drake. I had my mind set on calling him out but my brother was really against it. I didn’t know why he protested so much against me wanting to fight Damien. I had seen what Damien was capable of and I wasn’t even the least bit impressed. The guy was big, strong and talked a big game sure, but whenever a real threat was posed he failed.
“What’s up bro you wanted to see me?” I stepped inside his office as he looked up from his paperwork, it was weird seeing him like this after knowing him for what he once was. Now he was a businessman and shit. I laughed while he nodded to close the door and so I did.
“Have a seat...” as he shuffled the papers and filed them away in the drawer to his left I folded my hands in front of me.
“So...” twiddling my thumbs I waited for my brother to start going on and on as he was so accustomed to doing.
“I needed to talk to you about this whole Damien Drake ordeal. Look I know you want to face him but before you say anything just listen alright?” As much as I wanted to protest and plead my case my brother was level headed with his approach so I said fuck it and let him continue.
“Now I know you’ve seen tape on old Damien Drake and I’ve shared some of my stories from running with HFF and him but he’s not the same person. It’s not just a physical appearance thing either Rome. This is a serious change. His mental strength has become increased tenfold. I think it’s due to Vincent Jarrod. Vincent and I had a long conversation despite me not wanting to we both know this is still a business and I still have a job to do. When I talked with this Vincent Jarrod his ideologies are VERY convincing. If I was younger, still active and this guy came to me and taught me and mentored me I believe I would easily become a champion.”
“Are you fucking kiddi-” Alex cut me off holding up a finger. I folded my arms in front of me and leaned back in my chair huffing and puffing letting him know I wasn’t pleased with that move.
“Damien Drake is NOT the same person Roman. He is NOT the Damien of old and he is most certainly NOT my old friend. He’s changed. While I will always regret what Ace and I did that day to Damien it was probably the one thing that ultimately saved his life. He was on a one way track to a personal hell fueled by his addictive behavior and lust for heroin amongst many other drugs. Rome you aren’t ready to fight this monster. You’re not ready kid...”
I stopped listening and just nodded my head as he continued on babbling. Fuck him. He had no idea what I was capable of. He didn’t even know what Damien was capable of anymore. He had lost touch. I knew myself better than anyone else did. I knew that I could walk into the ring and beat Damien Drake. This would be my moment. He hadn’t lost since he had come back and I hadn’t had a match since the Path to Valhalla. I’d walk down to the ring look the monster in it’s eyes and beat him like my name was David. Take every win he worked for away and pull the momentum my way. It was going to happen. I was going to call him out on Battlegrounds and my brother wouldn’t even see it coming, the hype would be too big by the time he could step in to stop it. The people would be buzzing, the board would demand the match to be made, my brother’s hands would be tied.
“I got you bro, don’t worry I’ll keep my cool.” Yeah I was lying right to his face. I didn’t care. Even once he found out I had already taken that into account. With a smile I tapped him on the shoulder throwing my towel over my head and heading out of his office.
Roman Dillinger was about to make a big splash.
Off CameraMalibu, CaliforniaWaking up to the warm weather with a nice hint of that ocean breeze. The sun was creeping up slowly. Malibu had become home. My beach house was where I always wanted to be. No matter the time of day whenever I was here I was at peace. Something about the ocean, the sand, the peacefulness, the privacy...it was my own little private Idaho.
“Morning...”
Her voice sent my heart into a whirl. Looking back to her I could see her bright smile and perfect little dimples as the sun kissed her face. She was my everything.
“Morning, you’re up early.” I said to her as I walked over placing my arm around her waist and running my opposite hand through her long black hair. Giggling she softly bit her bottom lip before placing her arms around the back of my neck.
“I didn’t want to miss the sunrise.”
We walked out onto the beach together hand in hand. Sitting down on the sand we watched as the sun continued to rise up into the clouds. Paige and I had been off and on for some time now. I put in the word with my bro to get her a job with IWF but ever since I had done that for her she had resented me for it. She was prideful and came from nothing. I didn’t know how that type of life was, truth be told I’ve never really had to struggle for much.
She had just finally started to come around again. I had to work back in with her and I still wasn’t sure if she had fully accepted me back into her life. Either way I knew I wanted to be with her. I knew that there was no one else like her that could make me feel the way I felt.
For this very moment everything was perfect. I didn’t have a care in the world. I didn’t have to worry about some big match and climbing into the ring to face off against some guy probably more experienced than me. All the stress of living up to a legendary family name. It was all getting to me. Eating me alive inside. When I held Paige in my arms and looked out onto the ocean it was pure and utter paradise...
On CameraIndianapolis, IndianaI’ve come a long, long way. I’ve doubted my abilities and I’ve been on a high where I’ve even felt unstoppable. Yet I’ve been shelved for almost a month now. All thanks to you Damien Drake. All thanks to the big bitch that walked behind Ace Static and my brother Alex Dillinger. Damien the big dumb lackey as I’ve been told. So what the moose decided to act like a buck?
You’re better off letting Vincent Jarrod do all of the talking for you, at least he’s somewhat articulate...fucktard. I can’t wait to climb in that ring and prove to the world that while you’ve been steamrolling over rejects and curtain jerkers you’re about to climb into the ring with ME...a fucking LEGACY! I’ve got so much riding on this that it’s not even funny man. I’m putting it all on the line against you and I know that. I know that this match is going to either prove to the world that I’m as good as advertised and that Damien Drake is a fucking joke.
The Dillinger mindset is that you know you’re better than whoever it is you’re looking across the ring at. You need to know that shit, you need to feel that shit and you need to LIVE that shit. I don’t just walk around with my head held high and my swag on full. No I walk around knowing that I’m a fucking Dillinger and in this world that means something. When I go somewhere in Los Angeles I get the prime seating, I get the VIP treatment. If you walk in everyone would just wonder where the superhero to take you out is.
I’m THAT superhero, man...I’ve got what it takes to put a stop to the big bad Damien Drake. Not like it’ll take much but I WILL win the match. There’s no stopping me Damien. I’ve been on a roll ever since I got signed to a developmental contract and my brother started to train me. I’ve been trained by the best to BEAT the rest my dude.
FUCK YOU DAMIEN!
I hope you walk into that ring thinking you’re going to be able to walk right through me like I’m fucking nothing. Carry that confidence and arrogance with you and hoist it over your shoulder...drag that mother fucker into the ring and wrestle the match with all the weight cause once I hit you and you stumble...you’re going to falter.
What happens when the monster gets put on his ass and what happens when this young phenom makes you bleed? The world gets to see you for what you are, what you’ve always been...nothing but a man, a weak man. Someone that falls under peer pressure be it from Alex and Ace or Vincent Jarrod.
My brother talks about you like you’re some kind of changed man that you’ve found your focus again and that this Vincent Jarrod is some sort of genius. I could give a fuck what he thinks Damien because my brother has lost touch with this sport and with himself. He’s not who he once was unlike you. You’re still a lazy, worthless, talentless hack that couldn’t even make it as a God damn muscle lackey role.
I’m the superstar and the fastest rising commodity currently signed to IWF....the hottest newcomer to burst onto the scene since the man himself Axle Vengeance. Get on my level Damien Drake and then come talk to me. I’m going to BEAT you and you already know this. How’s it feel to know you’ve lost before it’s already begun? Yeah I’m on a full head of steam now, riding that wave of confidence. I can feel it all the way in my fingertips man this shits crazy. Can you feel that Damien? Do you hear it? The sounds of all the people watching at home...they’re crying and they’re begging for justice. They’ve seen what you’ve done and they’ve seen how you’ve been walking around like some larger than life persona yet in reality you’re a bum in a costume. I’m not buying it and neither are any of them!
Take a walk for a moment in reality Damien. Reality says you’re a man and I’m a man. Reality also says that I’m a far better wrestler than you’ll ever be and that I come from a greater pedigree. You are no match for me in REALITY. While you live on delusions of being some prophet or some demigod I’ll wait for the bell to sound to strike you down and prove my fucking point. Damien Drake is a joke, always HAS BEEN always...will be. See you around Damien, it’s my legacy to win this match and that’s not your fault.