Post by Xavier Lux on Dec 16, 2022 14:50:32 GMT -5
You sit down in front your ‘Beyond Definition’ 24K 250-inch TV, hey, it’s the year 2045 but putting a chip directly into your brain just hasn’t been quite yet approved by the United Interamerican States, so for now, this TV that will blind you completely in a month’s time, unless you buy the special glasses that cost thousands of dollars more, will do… A lot to unpackage there, I know, specially the UIS, what’s that about? Long story there, but it sounds right…. So, as you sit there, you are flipping through the channels, looking for something to do on this boring Friday evening and you come across ESPN El Super-Ocho Max Plús. Huge merger took place between HBO, ESPN ‘plus’ a bunch of other networks and this is what you get. You stopped your flipping through here, as what is being advertised by the news anchor catches your attention because you are a wrestling mark after all.
“Coming up at eleven, our series on ‘Where are They Now?’ continues, focusing on the “wrestling” class being inducted tonight into this year’s Pro-wrestling Hall of Fame. This episode will feature the man with ‘venom in his veins’, Xavier Lux, who has been retired for ten years, leaving the business he loves at the ripe age of fifty years old. His last match however, taking place five years earlier than that, in 2030, do you remember against who? We will have highlights from that match. He along with nine other legends will be inducted tonight, with the ceremony taking place at what many consider a holy ground for wrestling: Madison Square Garden.. “Venom” as he was known for many decades, becomes only the third member of the Seven Deadly Sins franchise to be inducted, but the first of what is considered the “second class” of said franchise. For those who do not recall, the other Deadly Sins inductees are “The Punisher” Blake Ka’Derrion, and Xavier’s father, “The Scorpion” Javier Quinn. In the special, their strained relationship, to put it mildly, will also be covered. Plus, Xavier’s quick rise and early exit from the sport just three years later; a return to greatness after an eleven-year absence and the quick one-year rise only to fall hard a year later and the event that not only turned his career around but saved it: The World Series of Wrestling. All of that and more, coming up now…”
The TV gets turned off, but not by you, you are still in your mom’s basement watching with excitement, yelling at her to bring you more Cheetos. We are transported to the luxury hotel suite of the man that was just being talked about, Xavier Lux, except that it is not his voice we hear first.
“Wait, dad, why did you turn it off?!” A small kid asks.
A young teenage girl follows up with: “Yeah, don’t you want to watch YOUR story?”
“I don’t need to watch my story, I already lived it once, and that is more than enough.” Xavier appears, sitting in between the two of them. He is much older, obviously, but has aged well despite wrestling into his mid-forties and does not look bad for an almost 60-year-old man. His voice has changed quite a bit, not so broken but much raspier, hardly recognizable; his famous smirk remains the same however.
“Well, I want to watch it!” The small kid retorts, bringing his knees in and crossing his arms over them, showing his daddy how upset he is.
“Son, you are too small to be watching that, you wouldn’t understand a lot of what’s going to be talked about. Maybe when you’re older.” Xavier says as he pats him on his brown, curly hair.
“I’m old enough, so I’m going to watch it.” The daughter responds.
Xavier rolls his eyes. “You are supposed to be setting an example for your little brother, Alexa.”
“She is, by watching it so I can watch it! Please daddy? Please! She can cover my eyes and ears for the parts I’m not supposed to know about.” He jumps onto Xavier, and playfully tries to put his father into a headlock.
“I’ll tell you what Xander, after the ceremony tonight, the after party and post Hall of Fame events this weekend, when we are back home, ready to relax for my life after wrestling, all four of us will sit down and we will watch it together.”
“You promise?” Xander asks, very hesitant to believe his old man.
“I promise. We’ll have popcorn and everything.” Xavier reassures him.
“And if he doesn’t, I’ll make sure I make him taste my venom!” A female voice we do not recognized comes from one of the rooms.
“Ew mom, gross…” Alexa says, whipping her long curly hair the way teenage girls do, making a face and walking away to the kitchen.
“What? That’s not how he said it? Wasn’t that your famous line?” A gorgeous brunette comes out, fixing one of her earrings, and we can see where the kids get their locks and looks from… She is wearing a tight black dress and red high heels, and is simply stunning.
“Not even close sweetheart, but nice try.” He smiles at her as he body-slams his son on the sofa, then gets up, embraces her and gives her an affectionate kiss on her forehead.
“You know I don’t know any of your wrestling lingo.”
“And that’s why I married you, because you are from the real world.”
“Still, I wish I would have met you a lot sooner to watch your wrestling career up close.”
“I don’t, I was a different man in my thirties, and just a young punk during my debut run… I didn’t know what I wanted, and was too obsessed with winning matches and titles…”
“And staying alive!” Alexa shouts from the kitchen.
“Woah, shush!” Xavier tells her, looking back at Xander to see if he had heard, but thankfully he didn’t as he is playing on his Nintendo Switch.
“Just saying!” She retorts.
“Zip it… Anyway, I wouldn’t have given you the time of day I’m sorry to say, as gorgeous as you are. But once I left my boots in the middle of that ring and got a backstage job, things became easier, more relaxed and I had time, and eyes for the woman who would become the love of my life.”
“Well, aren’t you the sweetest?”
They kiss.
“Ugh, I think I’m going to vomit… Get a room you two!” Alexa exclaims from the kitchen, acting as if she’s going to puke the ice cream she has been eating.
“Why don’t you, go to yours and do like your mom and go get ready for tonight..”
“FINE!” She storms away into her room, again, like any other teenager would.
“She’s got your temper.” Xavier’s wife says to him playfully.
“Yes, the venom that flows in my veins, flows in hers… I cannot deny that. I’m just glad she got your looks.”
“Oh, stop it.” She laps him on the shoulder playfully and then continues to get ready. Xavier turns to his son who was about to grab the remote.
“Busted! Nice try Xander, but you need to go get ready too, chop-chop!”
The boy groans and reluctantly gets up and walks away, heading into one of the rooms. Xavier, who is the only one in the family who appears ready to go, wearing black loafers, slacks and a gray long-sleeve shirt buttoned up except for the collar. He walks towards the sliding the door that leads to the balcony outside, steps out and admires the New York Skyline, taking a deep breath, letting the cold air from the nearby Hudson fill his lungs. He then sits down and notices his book on the chair next to his, grabbing it, he takes a moment to take in the idea that he actually wrote a book sink in. “How the Infection Died…” is the title, and the cover design is pretty much the same as his World Series of Wrestling T-shirt from all those years ago. He grabs it and begins flipping through it and skips to the middle pages where all the photos are. He sees one of him dressed in a nice suit, sitting in ‘gorilla’ with a headset on. The description underneath the photo reads:
“Lux, calling a match during his last event as a wrestling producer for the ICWF, promotion he purchased from Dougg Jimenez in 2022. He remains owner to this day but has left the day-to-day operations to many of his trusted colleagues he met over the years. He was fifty years old at the time this photo was taken.”
Xavier checks out a few others, flipping through pages and then comes across another set, both pages are dedicated to his very last match. One of the photos is of him squaring off against “Mr. Personality” Douglas Crane, the younger and last member of the ‘new’ Seven Deadly Sins. Crane, a tall, cold individual with piercing blue eyes, his nickname given due to the fact that he suffered from dissociative identity disorder, and to this day, it is unknown how man personalities he had, but at the time of this match he was up to 64. One of those, was a very good friend of Lux, and Crane felt that of all the members of the Seven Deadly Sins, Lux understood him the best. Lux felt the same way, and this is why he would choose Crane to be his very last opponent ever in the ring. The description of the photo reads:
“Xavier’s last match was significant not only because it was his last, but because it was against the last active member of the ‘new” Seven Deadly Sins. Marcus Ka’Derrion, “Cholo” Santana, The Malvados, and even “The Weapon” who made a brief reappearance, had all retired, in that order. Lux and Crane were the last two, and after this, Crane would be the last one left to carry the flag for the stable.”
Xavier looks up, and begins remembering the match, and the ending of it…
:~:We’re transported back to 2030, to the Dawn of Insanity Pay-Per-View, Both Lux and Crane are down on all fours, catching their breath, having endured a grueling wrestling match so far. Our view changes to the announcing team where we see Genuine Miller looking so fresh and so clean in one of his fancy suits and Paco “The Drinking Time Bomb” Perez looking like he always does, drunk or high… or highly drunk… all the above, with a series of empty bottles in front of him. :~:
Miller: I don’t know who’s going to win this one Paco, it’s been thirty-five minutes or some hard hitting, pure fighting with some great wrestling sprinkled throughout.
Paco: Sure has amigo, Xavier is leaving it all in the ring tonight, and why shouldn’t he? It’s his very last match… But for Douglas, he’s got to be wondering what does he have to do to put the veteran down for the count?
:~:They both make it to their feet, kind of leaning on each other and then begin to trade blows. The slightly taller Crane gets the upper hand and backs Lux to the corner, he then nails him with a chop and a headbutt that stunts Lux. He then whips him to the opposite corner but Lux reverses it and as Crane crashes hard, Lux follows thru, delivering a picture perfect drop kick to Crane’s jaw! The crowd gets to their feet, knowing The Toxin has been delivered and The Cure is coming. He lifts Crane onto the top turnbuckle and then climbs to the second turnbuckle himself before lifting Crane unto his shoulders. Then with all his power and might, he steps up to the top turnbuckle while still holding Crane on his shoulders. He then hooks Crane’s head, ready to deliver a DVD off the top rope but Crane fights him off, and somehow frees himself and falls behind Lux, standing on the cable that holds the turnbuckle and the post together. The crowd shrieks, expecting someone to fall off but they manage to stay up. Crane then quickly wraps his arms around Lux’s head while hooking one of Lux’s arms and applies his cobra clutch submission he calls Release Me! The crowd lets out a huge gasp in unison, as Crane then lifts Lux up and jumps off with him, delivering a cobra clutch slam off the top! They land very awkwardly, but Crane lands with his arm on top of Lux so the ref counts! One! Two! Th… Kick out! Lux sits up and that opens him up for Crane who applies the Cobra Clutch again while screaming like he usually does: “Release me! Release me!” Lux tries to fight it, but then Crane wraps his legs around Lux’s waist, and he has nowhere to go. The ref is on Lux’s face, asking him if he gives up, but after a little while, Lux doesn’t answer! The ref grabs his arm and raises it one time, it drops… a second time, it drops again! The ref lifts it again, and holds it like some refs do, to let him, the crowd, everyone know, this is it! He lets the arm go and it drops, but only slightly, no, it does drop! Xavier Lux is out, and the ref calls for the bell… :~:
Mimi Vega: Here is your winner… “Mr. Personality” Douglas Crane!
Miller: Xavier is out! Douglas Crane has put him to sleep!
Paco: Well, that is that my friends, Xavier’s last match goes down in history and even though this lunatic Crane yells for himself to be released, clearly, in a poetic way, Xavier Lux has been released from all this madness. Going to miss him, I’ve known him since he was a young punk, taught him to take his first bump, and taught him to never quit..
Miller: and he didn’t quit tonight, you should feel proud, but Crane’s submission was too much to overcome.
Paco: I am proud Miller, very.
:~:Mimi Vega announces Crane as the winner, who has long since released the submission but still cradles Lux in his arms, and is talking softly, saying words that only Lux can hear… Hopefully he is conscious enough to hear them. The crowd is still on their feet, some too stunned to do anything, some applauding and yes, there are even some tears being shed. :~:
The memory starts to fade due to Xavier opening his watery eyes; he smiles and goes back to the photos. One shows Xavier down and out and the ref raising Crane’s arm in victory. Another of the two embracing in a hug and the last one, Xavier’s boots in the middle of the ring and him walking away in the background, back up the ramp, with the whole ICWF roster waiting atop of the entrance, clapping.
“Honey we’re ready, where did you go?” His wife calls out.
“I think he’s at the balcony” Alexa responds.
A tear falls on the photo and he quickly wipes it away before answering.
“Be right there babe.”
He ensure the page has dried up and then closes the book and puts it back where he found it. He gathers himself, takes a deep
breath and heads back inside.
“Alright, let’s do this!”
Montage time! Xavier’s Limo is seeing arriving at Madison Square Garden and then getting out with his family and walking the red carpet, waving to fans, signing some autographs, and even taking selfies. We then see another clip of him talking to reporters, answering questions while his family is off to the side talking to other members of the Seven Deadly Sins family in attendance tonight. We switch to the inside of the garden, and the conference rooms, each one being reserved for each hall of fame inductee and their invited guests. The whole second class of the Seven Deadly Sins are there with their families. We also see the only two original Deadly Sins still alive, “Owner” Dougg Jimenez and Suicidal Juvenal, his name meaning the suicidal youth, how ironic it is that he is the only original ‘wrestler’ still alive. There are some other wrestlers there, close friends of Lux plus other people we have never seen before. Xavier is shown mingling, having a good time and sharing laughs and moments with everyone. Our last clip takes us to his dressing room, where he has now changed into a nice tuxedo. In the room with him are his wife, Paco’s daughter Leslie Jimenez as well as her brothers, The Malvados and “Cholo” Giovanni Santana, their cousins and Xavier’s best friend though he will never admit it publicly. Plus, Douglas Crane would definitely have something to say about that… Well, one of his personalities anyway. There is a knock on the door and a stagehand lets him know there are 15 minutes until they come back from intermission, and he’ll be the first one inducted. Xavier nods and then asks them all to please go back to their seats, he just wants to have a moment alone to reflect and think about what he is going to say. They all oblige and head out, his wife giving him a kiss for good luck. He smiles and once they all leave and the door closes, he looks at himself in the mirror and takes a deep breath.
“This is it…or is this… it?”
He exhales, pondering that question… Clearly, there is a lot on his mind, and it is to be expected, it is not every day you get inducted into the Hall of Fame. Just then his phone starts ringing, and he lets it go to voice mail.
“Not now..”
He says, continuing to stare at himself in the mirror. The phone starts to ring again, and frustrated he takes it out, ready to put it on
“do not disturb” when he says who the call is from.
“It’s not possible.”
The call says it’s from his father, Javier Quinn, but he has never had his phone saved on his, let alone with his shoot name. He knows it’s a prank, got to be, so he hits ignore… But it starts to ring right away again, and now annoyed, swipes right and answers it.
“Who the hell is this?!”
No answer and then the line goes dead.
“That’s what I thought…”
Just then he starts to get texts non-stop, one line at a time, from the same number. He reads them out loud.
“Sorry…”
“Can’t talk…”
“Too choked up…”
“Rooftop, now!”
“Hurry son…”
“Before it’s too late…”
Lux stands up, not believing what he is reading… Can’t be his father, he was buried alive next to his dad… He saw his remains… and even if it wasn’t him, he would be like eighty-nine years old! What eighty-nine-year-old man is sending texts? Nah, it’s a prank, someone is obviously messing with him on his special day. He looks at himself in the mirror.
“Nah, it’s not him. He’s gone, long gone, get that… him out of your head!”
He nods and then turns off the phone and places it on a table. He then checks his tuxedo in the mirror and goes to head out of the dressing room, opening the door and as soon as he does a ‘silenced’ shot is heard, causing Xavier to stop ‘dead’ on his tracks. His eyes grow wide with shock and his bottom lip trembles, another shot and that one sends him stumbling onto the mirror and he falls to the floor. He touches his chest with both of his hands and then looks at them, painted in red. The man holding the gun comes in, slowly, using a cane but wearing a Tuxedo as well, his face is covered with the ninja mask his father used to wear. Xavier puts his hands down and stares at the man who shot him in disbelief; the man in turn tosses the gun to the side and then uses that hand to remove the mask. The man that is revealed is indeed old, bald, wrinkled as can be, but there is no mistaken who it is.
“Scorpion…. How?” Xavier asks, struggling to breathe… His father scoffs and then speaks in a low but understandable tone.
“Even now, you can’t bring yourself to call me dad, how deeply rooted is your anger. Surprised to see me son? I’m sure, can’t believe I have to invite myself to my son’s hall of fame ceremony. You’re such an ingrate, I was your hero, I am the reason you became a wrestler, and this is how you thank me? Do you even mention me in that five page speech you have prepared for tonight?”
“How… do you… k…”
“Know? I’ve have always known, never have stopped knowing. You remember the Don? How he wanted me to end you in your biggest night ever? Turns out that one wasn’t it all those decades ago, when you were about to win your first World Heavyweight Championship… No son, tonight is the tonight… Tonight you become, well, were going to become a Hall of Famer but not anymore. Since you never tried to find me, or even find out how I died… Someone actually murdered me by the way, thanks for asking… If you would have just tried harder you would have found out and could have avenged me too but no… You only care about yourself, about winning matches and titles. About being one day in the hall of fame, well the day has come but sadly you will not be inducted. Like Moses, when he led his people to the promise land and saw it, but was not allowed in, you would have seen the Hall of Fame, but will never enter it. And why? Because you never got over me, you never forgave me, you never moved on… Well son, I’m here to fulfill that old contract once and for all, and to tell you that this is how the infection dies, not in what you wrote on your horrible book.”
He reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a small Sterling semi-automatic .22 LR pistol, he aims it at his son’s head, and Xavier, not having any will left to fight his father, simply closes his eyes and accepts his fate. Scorpion fires one single shot, right between the eyes. The gunshot echoes loudly, not having a silencer, and Xavier sits up, holding his forehead in pain.
“Honey, honey! Woah, are you okay?!”
Xavier puts his hand down and looks at his wife who is holding him in place… He looks around and finds himself in his Limousine, his kids sitting across from him but paying him no mind as they are busy on their phones. He looks down at his hands, they’re clean, and then back at his wife who is looking very concerned.
“What’s going on?” Xavier asks, very confused.
“We hit traffic, were stuck for a while and you kind of dozed off. I left you alone since I know you need the rest.”
“I was sleeping?”
“Yes, were you having a nightmare?”
“Oh yeah, THE nightmare…”
“Not your father again…”
“Yes, but this one was different, felt so real.”
“It’s been years since you’ve had a nightmare… Maybe it’s the pressure from tonight.”
“Maybe…”
“Want some champagne? Should help calming you down.”
“Yeah sure…”
She grabs a couple of glasses from the minibar and then gives him a glass, she then pours from the already opened bottle into both glasses and puts it back on the ice. She then taps his glass and smiles; he forces a smile and then drinks, the whole thing.”
“Another?”
“Uh huh.”
“He’s gone Xavi, you know that right?”
“Yes, I know… I know… Just, so vivid… but yes, gone.”
“Don’t let him ruin your big night, look, we’re here.”
She pours him some more and then points to the outside, where Madison Square Garden is lit up like a Christmas tree. Another montage starts, just like the one we saw earlier, scene by scene, but this one clearly being the real deal. We’re back at the dressing room, and the stagehand has just told Xavier the exact same thing he told him on the nightmare. Xavier’s response this time is different, and instead of asking to be left alone he just checks himself in the mirror and leaves with everyone to their seats. The montage continues, showing us Xavier mingling with the other Hall of Famers and their families. Once the ceremony gets started again, with intermission being over, inducting Xavier is none other than this tag team partner for many years, Marcus Ka’Derrion. He has plenty of nice things to say about him, some jokes, some fun stories and then it’s time to introduce the man himself.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to induct into the Wrestling Hall of Fame, my partner, my friend, the man with venom in his veins… Xavier Lux!”
“The Infection” by Disturbed plays for the very last time as Xavier stands up and so do the thousands in attendance. He hugs and kisses his family and shakes hands with the other inductees and anyone nearby he recognizes. He then makes his way towards the stage, down the ramp, up the steps and unto the stage where Marcus is waiting with his hall of fame ring in hand. He gets down to one knee, which causes the crowd to laugh loudly and Xavier to chuckle. He sticks his hand out and Marcus places the ring on his finger. He then gets up and they hug affectionally. Marcus then raises Xavier’s arm and the crowd roars. He then steps aside so Xavier can go to the podium and then Marcus goes to his seat on the floor. Xavier’s music dies down, and after a deep breath or two, he speaks.
“Thank you Marcus, love you bro…”
“First and foremost, I want to thank God... Like many wrestlers late in their career, I found him when I needed him the most and in his words, peace. I only wish I would have turned to him sooner; I know that without Him, I wouldn't have made it this far and I wouldn’t have been able to forgive my father.”
“Second, but always first in my heart, I want to thank my mother. My 'Ma. I lost my mother at the age of twenty-five, I was just three years into my wrestling career when she fell ill, and I decided to leave the business to take care of her since we've always had each other's back and the reason for that is we were all we ever had. A year later, in twenty-ten, she would lose her battle to the illness... But during those twenty-six years of my life, my mother was the one that was always there for me… I thank her for all she did… Her effort as a single mother was never lost on me… Leaving the life she had lived behind to take care of a child she wasn’t ready for, or even want, couldn’t have been easy… She had a good life, some of you will judge, and I don't care, but she was having fun, she was making money, she was travelling, and I came in and flipped her world upside down... Yet, she never once showed me that she resented me for it or blamed me for how hard things got for us... and things got very hard. But all on her own she raised me, she put me not only through regular school, but once I graduated, wrestling academy. Without her support, I wouldn't have had the career I did. I was just six years old when I decided to become a wrestler, and despite what it meant for her, she never discouraged me. Once I made it at the age of twenty-one and got my first real wrestling contract, it felt so good to take care of her... It sucks that she only got three years to enjoy the fruits of her labor, but I did everything I could to make sure she did... I also tried to make sure that during that last year of her life, she was as comfortable as possible. For many years after her passing, I turned very bitter, and let my hatred for my father consume me even more.. Consume all the love I had for her. But eventually I moved on and focused in filling my heart with her memories again. I know she is not here right now physically, but I can feel her right here *points to his heart* and my heart is very full. I know she's up there, watching over me tonight, and smiling. Thanks Ma'.”
He pauses as the crowd gives a nice reaction.
“Third, I want to thank another person that is no longer with us, and that is my Godfather, my manager for most of my wrestling career, my life coach for real but most important than all of that, he was my friend. Paco "The Drinking Time Bomb" Perez, for sure I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your help and your guidance and sometimes just constant nagging.... I can't remember the number of times he ripped me a new one both in English and Spanish, but I can tell you that I deserved each one of them and I learned my lesson after each one too. I'm so thankful to him for all of that, and while he is not here in the physical form, his daughter Paola Perez and twin sons, Victor and Hector, The Malvado Brothers are here as well as his nephew and longtime friend of mine, “Cholo” Giovanni Santana… He is well represented and to you guys I say thank you. If I said it once, I said it a million times, he filled the void left by the father I always wanted. He was there with me since I was a teenage boy with a wrestling dream. He was there when I won my first official match, my first tournament, my first title but probably more important, my first loss and every loss thereafter… He was there during my eleven-year absence from the sport I love, and when I returned, he was there… and for the thirteen years that followed he was there until he couldn't any more due to health reasons and simply old age. He helped mold me into the wrestler I became, and even more, the man he wanted me to be. It wasn't easy, it took me a long time, but I know I got there thanks to his encouraging words... Just like he did with his sons and nephew, Paco made a man out of me. He fought a good fight though, and he died as he should have, of natural causes, sitting on his couch, watching wrestling and sipping Tequila. Speaking of tequila, if you wouldn't mind humoring me for a moment.”
He nods to someone at his side, and he is joined by Paco's sons, daughter, and nephew. Someone from the academy brings a tray with a tequila bottle of Paco's favorite brand and 5 shot glasses. She quickly serves the tequila and then holds the tray out for each one of them to take a glass. She then takes a step back and awaits as Xavier, surrounded by his family, holds up his glass.
“Paco, amigo, you taught me so many things, and drinking properly was definitely one of them. Here is to you, compadre, until we meet again. Salud!”
Paco's family reply 'salud' and the audience, who had gotten to their feet in anticipation and respect, give a heartfelt applause to Paco's memory. His picture is shown on the big screens at each side of the stage, smiling as always. The family says their goodbyes for now to Xavier, and once they are off the stage he gets back to his speech.
“Next I would like to thank, not a person, but a place... A wrestling promotion that I wrestled in for a whole year and where I, without a shadow of a doubt, had the most struggles of my career ever... Of course, I am talking about THE X-Treme Wrestling Federation. My record in that promotion was thirteen and ten and those were thirteen of the most hard-fought wins I have ever earned and ten of the most heartbreaking losses I ever had to endure. In four tries, I never won a pay-per-view match. In four tries, I never won a title. I was never recognized by management or my peers in any way shape or form in and out of the arena except for two men, Peter Vaughn and Chris Page and to them I do want to say thank you. But during that year I grew to be a very bitter man, refusing to accept that I just wasn't good enough to not only win against their big dogs, but to win when it mattered the most... When the spotlight was the brightest. Having to leave that place gold-less was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but at some point you just must know when to say when. But over the years I learned to appreciate the competition a place like the XWF had to offer. Over the years, I looked back at the caliber of opponents I had... You may remember guys like Raion Kido, Alias, Mac Bane and Bobby Bourbon to name a few. I lost to all of them in some great matches, and the "sting" of those losses hurt so badly that I couldn't appreciate the great matches I had with all of them. I know they are not watching now, but I hope they know I am thankful. People always asked me “why you don’t enjoy the wins more?” “why don't you appreciate those thirteen wins?”. My response was always the same, and to this day, it has not changed... I am a winner; I expect to win. Me winning those thirteen matches was nothing out of the ordinary for me... But losing those ten was, regardless of how much I respected or hated my opponents then. But now, looking back, because it was the toughest promotion I was ever a part of it definitely helped me for the promotions that came after. I wrestled for ten more years after XWF, won a lot more matches than I lost, won titles again, but I honestly believe that if it wasn't for XWF to humble me back in 2022, who knows how I would have turned out. I don't know where they are now, but to Vinnie Lane, Theo Pryce, and many others in the XWF front office, I thank you.”
A nice reaction from the crowd is given.
“I’m almost done, I promise. I also want to thank the Seven Deadly Sins stable… Both the one I was a part of, the second iteration, which included The Malvado Brothers, whom I actually faced one time with Marcus as part of the Sins of the Fathers but that match did not have an ending… Oh well, I guess we’ll never know which was the best tag team in the stable huh muchachos?”
One of the Malvados, let’s say Victor, responds: “WE WERE PUTO!” The crowd and Xavier laugh.
“Not even close pen-de-ho! Anyway! Thank you to a damn good guy and probably the babiest of baby faces in Cholo Santana. Someone who was an ally and a foe, a partner and a nemesis, but as I see him out there tonight, I definitely consider a friend and a brother, Marcus Ka’Derrion. Also, two guys who were seriously misunderstood and never really given a chance, Douglas Crane and “The Weapon”. Yeah, he still won’t let me call him by his real name. *cough* It’s Steve *cough*, just kidding, like Enigma, we don’t know what his real name is which is too damn weird but you know, some guys just will not let kayfabe die. But I also got to thank the original sins… Incognito, Suicidal Juvenal, Jake Navaja, The Punisher, again, The Enigma, ODJ, the bastard, and of course, my father, The Scorpion. All these men, whether you knew of them or didn’t, they were all great in their unique way and some left us way too soon, and some stayed way too long… But regardless of all of that, they all had an effect in my life, for better or worse, just kidding, for the better, I can think of so many positive ways in which they did… So, for those of you who are here with me tonight, would you mind standing up right quick.”
The Malvados and Cholo, who are still hanging out on the stage behind the curtain, come out and wave at the crowd and point at Xavier who claps along with the crowd. On one of the VIP balconies, we see the only two original Deadly Sins still alive, stand up and wave: “Owner” Dougg Jimenez and Suicidal Juvenal. There also is Marcus Ka’Derrion and Douglas Crane in the back seats, and behind them, lurking in the shadows, a masked individual wearing a tuxedo. Could be the Weapon, or could it be... ODJ looks back at him and nods. He nods back...
“Thank you familia. “
They sit back down, guess we'll never know for sure. Xavier continues.
“I also want to thank “The Sauce Boss” Tim Applesauce for his amazing creation, The World Series of Wrestling. I also want to thank the judges, Larry Tact, Denzel Porter, Theo Pryce, Todrick Tabor, The Meagan G., The Sauce Spouse, Applesauce Jr. and anyone and everyone involved in the World Series of Wrestling. I entered this event many years ago during a dark time in my career, a time when I was considering giving it all up and going back to retirement because I felt the business had passed me by and I didn’t have “IT” anymore. I was an alternate entrant, one of the “Lucky 7” to be chosen and frankly I accepted because I honestly had nothing left to lose. I thought then, well this will be a nice measurement of where I am in my career and if it truly is over, the WSOW would manifest it to me. Well after the first four events I wasn’t sure, but after making the first cut my confidence grew a little and after making the second cut I started to believe in myself again. We all know how it ended, but regardless of the result, it told me straight up, you are not the problem. You can do this, and you belong here… It will not always be easy, you may not always win, but you belong. This event saved my wrestling career, it took me out of the darkness and brought me into the light… I will be forever thankful for that.”
The crowd gives a nice reaction.
“Plus, it gave me my best-selling T-shirt ever AND a video game cover! I mean come on! Can’t beat that!”
He laughs loudly and some of the crowd do as well.
“Lastly, I want to thank everyone and anyone that has ever helped me, with a special mention to “Chronic” Chris Page and the CPPE. We were never a stable, and most of us didn’t get along, but what we were was a collection of great wrestlers who believed in the man and his mission, and who believed in us. During that dark year, I had many discussions with Page and they all always ended with him encouraging me and believing in me… I saw him in the back earlier and I know he’s out there in one of the VIP sections, thanks Chris!”
“There are too many more of you to name individually, too little time I’m afraid but if you were a friend or a foe, a fan or a staff, a casual or a damn mark, THANK YOU! You know, for the second half of my career my tag line was “you are an infection, and the infection must die”. It came from my theme song by Disturbed, big shout to them as well. But it came from there and I always thought that I carried both the toxin and the cure… So, I would like to use my line one more time, but amend it a little… This goes out to everyone in the building here tonight, including the other Hall of Fame inductees and those of you watching at home. I am now part of the past, but all of you out there, you are the future… You are all an infection and the infection….”
He pauses to set up the crowd, and most of them fall for the trap, replying accordingly: “Must Die!” Xavier smirks and shakes his head.
“No-no. The infection must… stay alive… We are wrestling and wrestling is THE infection… a good one, so spread it… grow it… ENJOY IT and make it last… forever!”
“Thank you.”
He kisses his HOF ring and raises it high in the air, making a fist, the crowd cheers loudly and get to their feet. His music hits and he steps away from the podium to take a bow and wave to everyone. Paco’s family comes back out and give him a group hug. You see Xavier fight his emotions but then is joined by his wife and two kids and the emotions overtake him. The crowd continues to cheer as he waves to them one last time, he points to the VIP section where the rest of his ‘family’ is and managing to smile, exits stage left, to do a backstage interview probably, more media but eventually hit the after party and begin to enjoy his retirement.
“Coming up at eleven, our series on ‘Where are They Now?’ continues, focusing on the “wrestling” class being inducted tonight into this year’s Pro-wrestling Hall of Fame. This episode will feature the man with ‘venom in his veins’, Xavier Lux, who has been retired for ten years, leaving the business he loves at the ripe age of fifty years old. His last match however, taking place five years earlier than that, in 2030, do you remember against who? We will have highlights from that match. He along with nine other legends will be inducted tonight, with the ceremony taking place at what many consider a holy ground for wrestling: Madison Square Garden.. “Venom” as he was known for many decades, becomes only the third member of the Seven Deadly Sins franchise to be inducted, but the first of what is considered the “second class” of said franchise. For those who do not recall, the other Deadly Sins inductees are “The Punisher” Blake Ka’Derrion, and Xavier’s father, “The Scorpion” Javier Quinn. In the special, their strained relationship, to put it mildly, will also be covered. Plus, Xavier’s quick rise and early exit from the sport just three years later; a return to greatness after an eleven-year absence and the quick one-year rise only to fall hard a year later and the event that not only turned his career around but saved it: The World Series of Wrestling. All of that and more, coming up now…”
The TV gets turned off, but not by you, you are still in your mom’s basement watching with excitement, yelling at her to bring you more Cheetos. We are transported to the luxury hotel suite of the man that was just being talked about, Xavier Lux, except that it is not his voice we hear first.
“Wait, dad, why did you turn it off?!” A small kid asks.
A young teenage girl follows up with: “Yeah, don’t you want to watch YOUR story?”
“I don’t need to watch my story, I already lived it once, and that is more than enough.” Xavier appears, sitting in between the two of them. He is much older, obviously, but has aged well despite wrestling into his mid-forties and does not look bad for an almost 60-year-old man. His voice has changed quite a bit, not so broken but much raspier, hardly recognizable; his famous smirk remains the same however.
“Well, I want to watch it!” The small kid retorts, bringing his knees in and crossing his arms over them, showing his daddy how upset he is.
“Son, you are too small to be watching that, you wouldn’t understand a lot of what’s going to be talked about. Maybe when you’re older.” Xavier says as he pats him on his brown, curly hair.
“I’m old enough, so I’m going to watch it.” The daughter responds.
Xavier rolls his eyes. “You are supposed to be setting an example for your little brother, Alexa.”
“She is, by watching it so I can watch it! Please daddy? Please! She can cover my eyes and ears for the parts I’m not supposed to know about.” He jumps onto Xavier, and playfully tries to put his father into a headlock.
“I’ll tell you what Xander, after the ceremony tonight, the after party and post Hall of Fame events this weekend, when we are back home, ready to relax for my life after wrestling, all four of us will sit down and we will watch it together.”
“You promise?” Xander asks, very hesitant to believe his old man.
“I promise. We’ll have popcorn and everything.” Xavier reassures him.
“And if he doesn’t, I’ll make sure I make him taste my venom!” A female voice we do not recognized comes from one of the rooms.
“Ew mom, gross…” Alexa says, whipping her long curly hair the way teenage girls do, making a face and walking away to the kitchen.
“What? That’s not how he said it? Wasn’t that your famous line?” A gorgeous brunette comes out, fixing one of her earrings, and we can see where the kids get their locks and looks from… She is wearing a tight black dress and red high heels, and is simply stunning.
“Not even close sweetheart, but nice try.” He smiles at her as he body-slams his son on the sofa, then gets up, embraces her and gives her an affectionate kiss on her forehead.
“You know I don’t know any of your wrestling lingo.”
“And that’s why I married you, because you are from the real world.”
“Still, I wish I would have met you a lot sooner to watch your wrestling career up close.”
“I don’t, I was a different man in my thirties, and just a young punk during my debut run… I didn’t know what I wanted, and was too obsessed with winning matches and titles…”
“And staying alive!” Alexa shouts from the kitchen.
“Woah, shush!” Xavier tells her, looking back at Xander to see if he had heard, but thankfully he didn’t as he is playing on his Nintendo Switch.
“Just saying!” She retorts.
“Zip it… Anyway, I wouldn’t have given you the time of day I’m sorry to say, as gorgeous as you are. But once I left my boots in the middle of that ring and got a backstage job, things became easier, more relaxed and I had time, and eyes for the woman who would become the love of my life.”
“Well, aren’t you the sweetest?”
They kiss.
“Ugh, I think I’m going to vomit… Get a room you two!” Alexa exclaims from the kitchen, acting as if she’s going to puke the ice cream she has been eating.
“Why don’t you, go to yours and do like your mom and go get ready for tonight..”
“FINE!” She storms away into her room, again, like any other teenager would.
“She’s got your temper.” Xavier’s wife says to him playfully.
“Yes, the venom that flows in my veins, flows in hers… I cannot deny that. I’m just glad she got your looks.”
“Oh, stop it.” She laps him on the shoulder playfully and then continues to get ready. Xavier turns to his son who was about to grab the remote.
“Busted! Nice try Xander, but you need to go get ready too, chop-chop!”
The boy groans and reluctantly gets up and walks away, heading into one of the rooms. Xavier, who is the only one in the family who appears ready to go, wearing black loafers, slacks and a gray long-sleeve shirt buttoned up except for the collar. He walks towards the sliding the door that leads to the balcony outside, steps out and admires the New York Skyline, taking a deep breath, letting the cold air from the nearby Hudson fill his lungs. He then sits down and notices his book on the chair next to his, grabbing it, he takes a moment to take in the idea that he actually wrote a book sink in. “How the Infection Died…” is the title, and the cover design is pretty much the same as his World Series of Wrestling T-shirt from all those years ago. He grabs it and begins flipping through it and skips to the middle pages where all the photos are. He sees one of him dressed in a nice suit, sitting in ‘gorilla’ with a headset on. The description underneath the photo reads:
“Lux, calling a match during his last event as a wrestling producer for the ICWF, promotion he purchased from Dougg Jimenez in 2022. He remains owner to this day but has left the day-to-day operations to many of his trusted colleagues he met over the years. He was fifty years old at the time this photo was taken.”
Xavier checks out a few others, flipping through pages and then comes across another set, both pages are dedicated to his very last match. One of the photos is of him squaring off against “Mr. Personality” Douglas Crane, the younger and last member of the ‘new’ Seven Deadly Sins. Crane, a tall, cold individual with piercing blue eyes, his nickname given due to the fact that he suffered from dissociative identity disorder, and to this day, it is unknown how man personalities he had, but at the time of this match he was up to 64. One of those, was a very good friend of Lux, and Crane felt that of all the members of the Seven Deadly Sins, Lux understood him the best. Lux felt the same way, and this is why he would choose Crane to be his very last opponent ever in the ring. The description of the photo reads:
“Xavier’s last match was significant not only because it was his last, but because it was against the last active member of the ‘new” Seven Deadly Sins. Marcus Ka’Derrion, “Cholo” Santana, The Malvados, and even “The Weapon” who made a brief reappearance, had all retired, in that order. Lux and Crane were the last two, and after this, Crane would be the last one left to carry the flag for the stable.”
Xavier looks up, and begins remembering the match, and the ending of it…
:~:We’re transported back to 2030, to the Dawn of Insanity Pay-Per-View, Both Lux and Crane are down on all fours, catching their breath, having endured a grueling wrestling match so far. Our view changes to the announcing team where we see Genuine Miller looking so fresh and so clean in one of his fancy suits and Paco “The Drinking Time Bomb” Perez looking like he always does, drunk or high… or highly drunk… all the above, with a series of empty bottles in front of him. :~:
Miller: I don’t know who’s going to win this one Paco, it’s been thirty-five minutes or some hard hitting, pure fighting with some great wrestling sprinkled throughout.
Paco: Sure has amigo, Xavier is leaving it all in the ring tonight, and why shouldn’t he? It’s his very last match… But for Douglas, he’s got to be wondering what does he have to do to put the veteran down for the count?
:~:They both make it to their feet, kind of leaning on each other and then begin to trade blows. The slightly taller Crane gets the upper hand and backs Lux to the corner, he then nails him with a chop and a headbutt that stunts Lux. He then whips him to the opposite corner but Lux reverses it and as Crane crashes hard, Lux follows thru, delivering a picture perfect drop kick to Crane’s jaw! The crowd gets to their feet, knowing The Toxin has been delivered and The Cure is coming. He lifts Crane onto the top turnbuckle and then climbs to the second turnbuckle himself before lifting Crane unto his shoulders. Then with all his power and might, he steps up to the top turnbuckle while still holding Crane on his shoulders. He then hooks Crane’s head, ready to deliver a DVD off the top rope but Crane fights him off, and somehow frees himself and falls behind Lux, standing on the cable that holds the turnbuckle and the post together. The crowd shrieks, expecting someone to fall off but they manage to stay up. Crane then quickly wraps his arms around Lux’s head while hooking one of Lux’s arms and applies his cobra clutch submission he calls Release Me! The crowd lets out a huge gasp in unison, as Crane then lifts Lux up and jumps off with him, delivering a cobra clutch slam off the top! They land very awkwardly, but Crane lands with his arm on top of Lux so the ref counts! One! Two! Th… Kick out! Lux sits up and that opens him up for Crane who applies the Cobra Clutch again while screaming like he usually does: “Release me! Release me!” Lux tries to fight it, but then Crane wraps his legs around Lux’s waist, and he has nowhere to go. The ref is on Lux’s face, asking him if he gives up, but after a little while, Lux doesn’t answer! The ref grabs his arm and raises it one time, it drops… a second time, it drops again! The ref lifts it again, and holds it like some refs do, to let him, the crowd, everyone know, this is it! He lets the arm go and it drops, but only slightly, no, it does drop! Xavier Lux is out, and the ref calls for the bell… :~:
Mimi Vega: Here is your winner… “Mr. Personality” Douglas Crane!
Miller: Xavier is out! Douglas Crane has put him to sleep!
Paco: Well, that is that my friends, Xavier’s last match goes down in history and even though this lunatic Crane yells for himself to be released, clearly, in a poetic way, Xavier Lux has been released from all this madness. Going to miss him, I’ve known him since he was a young punk, taught him to take his first bump, and taught him to never quit..
Miller: and he didn’t quit tonight, you should feel proud, but Crane’s submission was too much to overcome.
Paco: I am proud Miller, very.
:~:Mimi Vega announces Crane as the winner, who has long since released the submission but still cradles Lux in his arms, and is talking softly, saying words that only Lux can hear… Hopefully he is conscious enough to hear them. The crowd is still on their feet, some too stunned to do anything, some applauding and yes, there are even some tears being shed. :~:
The memory starts to fade due to Xavier opening his watery eyes; he smiles and goes back to the photos. One shows Xavier down and out and the ref raising Crane’s arm in victory. Another of the two embracing in a hug and the last one, Xavier’s boots in the middle of the ring and him walking away in the background, back up the ramp, with the whole ICWF roster waiting atop of the entrance, clapping.
“Honey we’re ready, where did you go?” His wife calls out.
“I think he’s at the balcony” Alexa responds.
A tear falls on the photo and he quickly wipes it away before answering.
“Be right there babe.”
He ensure the page has dried up and then closes the book and puts it back where he found it. He gathers himself, takes a deep
breath and heads back inside.
“Alright, let’s do this!”
Montage time! Xavier’s Limo is seeing arriving at Madison Square Garden and then getting out with his family and walking the red carpet, waving to fans, signing some autographs, and even taking selfies. We then see another clip of him talking to reporters, answering questions while his family is off to the side talking to other members of the Seven Deadly Sins family in attendance tonight. We switch to the inside of the garden, and the conference rooms, each one being reserved for each hall of fame inductee and their invited guests. The whole second class of the Seven Deadly Sins are there with their families. We also see the only two original Deadly Sins still alive, “Owner” Dougg Jimenez and Suicidal Juvenal, his name meaning the suicidal youth, how ironic it is that he is the only original ‘wrestler’ still alive. There are some other wrestlers there, close friends of Lux plus other people we have never seen before. Xavier is shown mingling, having a good time and sharing laughs and moments with everyone. Our last clip takes us to his dressing room, where he has now changed into a nice tuxedo. In the room with him are his wife, Paco’s daughter Leslie Jimenez as well as her brothers, The Malvados and “Cholo” Giovanni Santana, their cousins and Xavier’s best friend though he will never admit it publicly. Plus, Douglas Crane would definitely have something to say about that… Well, one of his personalities anyway. There is a knock on the door and a stagehand lets him know there are 15 minutes until they come back from intermission, and he’ll be the first one inducted. Xavier nods and then asks them all to please go back to their seats, he just wants to have a moment alone to reflect and think about what he is going to say. They all oblige and head out, his wife giving him a kiss for good luck. He smiles and once they all leave and the door closes, he looks at himself in the mirror and takes a deep breath.
“This is it…or is this… it?”
He exhales, pondering that question… Clearly, there is a lot on his mind, and it is to be expected, it is not every day you get inducted into the Hall of Fame. Just then his phone starts ringing, and he lets it go to voice mail.
“Not now..”
He says, continuing to stare at himself in the mirror. The phone starts to ring again, and frustrated he takes it out, ready to put it on
“do not disturb” when he says who the call is from.
“It’s not possible.”
The call says it’s from his father, Javier Quinn, but he has never had his phone saved on his, let alone with his shoot name. He knows it’s a prank, got to be, so he hits ignore… But it starts to ring right away again, and now annoyed, swipes right and answers it.
“Who the hell is this?!”
No answer and then the line goes dead.
“That’s what I thought…”
Just then he starts to get texts non-stop, one line at a time, from the same number. He reads them out loud.
“Sorry…”
“Can’t talk…”
“Too choked up…”
“Rooftop, now!”
“Hurry son…”
“Before it’s too late…”
Lux stands up, not believing what he is reading… Can’t be his father, he was buried alive next to his dad… He saw his remains… and even if it wasn’t him, he would be like eighty-nine years old! What eighty-nine-year-old man is sending texts? Nah, it’s a prank, someone is obviously messing with him on his special day. He looks at himself in the mirror.
“Nah, it’s not him. He’s gone, long gone, get that… him out of your head!”
He nods and then turns off the phone and places it on a table. He then checks his tuxedo in the mirror and goes to head out of the dressing room, opening the door and as soon as he does a ‘silenced’ shot is heard, causing Xavier to stop ‘dead’ on his tracks. His eyes grow wide with shock and his bottom lip trembles, another shot and that one sends him stumbling onto the mirror and he falls to the floor. He touches his chest with both of his hands and then looks at them, painted in red. The man holding the gun comes in, slowly, using a cane but wearing a Tuxedo as well, his face is covered with the ninja mask his father used to wear. Xavier puts his hands down and stares at the man who shot him in disbelief; the man in turn tosses the gun to the side and then uses that hand to remove the mask. The man that is revealed is indeed old, bald, wrinkled as can be, but there is no mistaken who it is.
“Scorpion…. How?” Xavier asks, struggling to breathe… His father scoffs and then speaks in a low but understandable tone.
“Even now, you can’t bring yourself to call me dad, how deeply rooted is your anger. Surprised to see me son? I’m sure, can’t believe I have to invite myself to my son’s hall of fame ceremony. You’re such an ingrate, I was your hero, I am the reason you became a wrestler, and this is how you thank me? Do you even mention me in that five page speech you have prepared for tonight?”
“How… do you… k…”
“Know? I’ve have always known, never have stopped knowing. You remember the Don? How he wanted me to end you in your biggest night ever? Turns out that one wasn’t it all those decades ago, when you were about to win your first World Heavyweight Championship… No son, tonight is the tonight… Tonight you become, well, were going to become a Hall of Famer but not anymore. Since you never tried to find me, or even find out how I died… Someone actually murdered me by the way, thanks for asking… If you would have just tried harder you would have found out and could have avenged me too but no… You only care about yourself, about winning matches and titles. About being one day in the hall of fame, well the day has come but sadly you will not be inducted. Like Moses, when he led his people to the promise land and saw it, but was not allowed in, you would have seen the Hall of Fame, but will never enter it. And why? Because you never got over me, you never forgave me, you never moved on… Well son, I’m here to fulfill that old contract once and for all, and to tell you that this is how the infection dies, not in what you wrote on your horrible book.”
He reaches inside his jacket and pulls out a small Sterling semi-automatic .22 LR pistol, he aims it at his son’s head, and Xavier, not having any will left to fight his father, simply closes his eyes and accepts his fate. Scorpion fires one single shot, right between the eyes. The gunshot echoes loudly, not having a silencer, and Xavier sits up, holding his forehead in pain.
“Honey, honey! Woah, are you okay?!”
Xavier puts his hand down and looks at his wife who is holding him in place… He looks around and finds himself in his Limousine, his kids sitting across from him but paying him no mind as they are busy on their phones. He looks down at his hands, they’re clean, and then back at his wife who is looking very concerned.
“What’s going on?” Xavier asks, very confused.
“We hit traffic, were stuck for a while and you kind of dozed off. I left you alone since I know you need the rest.”
“I was sleeping?”
“Yes, were you having a nightmare?”
“Oh yeah, THE nightmare…”
“Not your father again…”
“Yes, but this one was different, felt so real.”
“It’s been years since you’ve had a nightmare… Maybe it’s the pressure from tonight.”
“Maybe…”
“Want some champagne? Should help calming you down.”
“Yeah sure…”
She grabs a couple of glasses from the minibar and then gives him a glass, she then pours from the already opened bottle into both glasses and puts it back on the ice. She then taps his glass and smiles; he forces a smile and then drinks, the whole thing.”
“Another?”
“Uh huh.”
“He’s gone Xavi, you know that right?”
“Yes, I know… I know… Just, so vivid… but yes, gone.”
“Don’t let him ruin your big night, look, we’re here.”
She pours him some more and then points to the outside, where Madison Square Garden is lit up like a Christmas tree. Another montage starts, just like the one we saw earlier, scene by scene, but this one clearly being the real deal. We’re back at the dressing room, and the stagehand has just told Xavier the exact same thing he told him on the nightmare. Xavier’s response this time is different, and instead of asking to be left alone he just checks himself in the mirror and leaves with everyone to their seats. The montage continues, showing us Xavier mingling with the other Hall of Famers and their families. Once the ceremony gets started again, with intermission being over, inducting Xavier is none other than this tag team partner for many years, Marcus Ka’Derrion. He has plenty of nice things to say about him, some jokes, some fun stories and then it’s time to introduce the man himself.
“Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to induct into the Wrestling Hall of Fame, my partner, my friend, the man with venom in his veins… Xavier Lux!”
“The Infection” by Disturbed plays for the very last time as Xavier stands up and so do the thousands in attendance. He hugs and kisses his family and shakes hands with the other inductees and anyone nearby he recognizes. He then makes his way towards the stage, down the ramp, up the steps and unto the stage where Marcus is waiting with his hall of fame ring in hand. He gets down to one knee, which causes the crowd to laugh loudly and Xavier to chuckle. He sticks his hand out and Marcus places the ring on his finger. He then gets up and they hug affectionally. Marcus then raises Xavier’s arm and the crowd roars. He then steps aside so Xavier can go to the podium and then Marcus goes to his seat on the floor. Xavier’s music dies down, and after a deep breath or two, he speaks.
“Thank you Marcus, love you bro…”
“First and foremost, I want to thank God... Like many wrestlers late in their career, I found him when I needed him the most and in his words, peace. I only wish I would have turned to him sooner; I know that without Him, I wouldn't have made it this far and I wouldn’t have been able to forgive my father.”
“Second, but always first in my heart, I want to thank my mother. My 'Ma. I lost my mother at the age of twenty-five, I was just three years into my wrestling career when she fell ill, and I decided to leave the business to take care of her since we've always had each other's back and the reason for that is we were all we ever had. A year later, in twenty-ten, she would lose her battle to the illness... But during those twenty-six years of my life, my mother was the one that was always there for me… I thank her for all she did… Her effort as a single mother was never lost on me… Leaving the life she had lived behind to take care of a child she wasn’t ready for, or even want, couldn’t have been easy… She had a good life, some of you will judge, and I don't care, but she was having fun, she was making money, she was travelling, and I came in and flipped her world upside down... Yet, she never once showed me that she resented me for it or blamed me for how hard things got for us... and things got very hard. But all on her own she raised me, she put me not only through regular school, but once I graduated, wrestling academy. Without her support, I wouldn't have had the career I did. I was just six years old when I decided to become a wrestler, and despite what it meant for her, she never discouraged me. Once I made it at the age of twenty-one and got my first real wrestling contract, it felt so good to take care of her... It sucks that she only got three years to enjoy the fruits of her labor, but I did everything I could to make sure she did... I also tried to make sure that during that last year of her life, she was as comfortable as possible. For many years after her passing, I turned very bitter, and let my hatred for my father consume me even more.. Consume all the love I had for her. But eventually I moved on and focused in filling my heart with her memories again. I know she is not here right now physically, but I can feel her right here *points to his heart* and my heart is very full. I know she's up there, watching over me tonight, and smiling. Thanks Ma'.”
He pauses as the crowd gives a nice reaction.
“Third, I want to thank another person that is no longer with us, and that is my Godfather, my manager for most of my wrestling career, my life coach for real but most important than all of that, he was my friend. Paco "The Drinking Time Bomb" Perez, for sure I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your help and your guidance and sometimes just constant nagging.... I can't remember the number of times he ripped me a new one both in English and Spanish, but I can tell you that I deserved each one of them and I learned my lesson after each one too. I'm so thankful to him for all of that, and while he is not here in the physical form, his daughter Paola Perez and twin sons, Victor and Hector, The Malvado Brothers are here as well as his nephew and longtime friend of mine, “Cholo” Giovanni Santana… He is well represented and to you guys I say thank you. If I said it once, I said it a million times, he filled the void left by the father I always wanted. He was there with me since I was a teenage boy with a wrestling dream. He was there when I won my first official match, my first tournament, my first title but probably more important, my first loss and every loss thereafter… He was there during my eleven-year absence from the sport I love, and when I returned, he was there… and for the thirteen years that followed he was there until he couldn't any more due to health reasons and simply old age. He helped mold me into the wrestler I became, and even more, the man he wanted me to be. It wasn't easy, it took me a long time, but I know I got there thanks to his encouraging words... Just like he did with his sons and nephew, Paco made a man out of me. He fought a good fight though, and he died as he should have, of natural causes, sitting on his couch, watching wrestling and sipping Tequila. Speaking of tequila, if you wouldn't mind humoring me for a moment.”
He nods to someone at his side, and he is joined by Paco's sons, daughter, and nephew. Someone from the academy brings a tray with a tequila bottle of Paco's favorite brand and 5 shot glasses. She quickly serves the tequila and then holds the tray out for each one of them to take a glass. She then takes a step back and awaits as Xavier, surrounded by his family, holds up his glass.
“Paco, amigo, you taught me so many things, and drinking properly was definitely one of them. Here is to you, compadre, until we meet again. Salud!”
Paco's family reply 'salud' and the audience, who had gotten to their feet in anticipation and respect, give a heartfelt applause to Paco's memory. His picture is shown on the big screens at each side of the stage, smiling as always. The family says their goodbyes for now to Xavier, and once they are off the stage he gets back to his speech.
“Next I would like to thank, not a person, but a place... A wrestling promotion that I wrestled in for a whole year and where I, without a shadow of a doubt, had the most struggles of my career ever... Of course, I am talking about THE X-Treme Wrestling Federation. My record in that promotion was thirteen and ten and those were thirteen of the most hard-fought wins I have ever earned and ten of the most heartbreaking losses I ever had to endure. In four tries, I never won a pay-per-view match. In four tries, I never won a title. I was never recognized by management or my peers in any way shape or form in and out of the arena except for two men, Peter Vaughn and Chris Page and to them I do want to say thank you. But during that year I grew to be a very bitter man, refusing to accept that I just wasn't good enough to not only win against their big dogs, but to win when it mattered the most... When the spotlight was the brightest. Having to leave that place gold-less was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, but at some point you just must know when to say when. But over the years I learned to appreciate the competition a place like the XWF had to offer. Over the years, I looked back at the caliber of opponents I had... You may remember guys like Raion Kido, Alias, Mac Bane and Bobby Bourbon to name a few. I lost to all of them in some great matches, and the "sting" of those losses hurt so badly that I couldn't appreciate the great matches I had with all of them. I know they are not watching now, but I hope they know I am thankful. People always asked me “why you don’t enjoy the wins more?” “why don't you appreciate those thirteen wins?”. My response was always the same, and to this day, it has not changed... I am a winner; I expect to win. Me winning those thirteen matches was nothing out of the ordinary for me... But losing those ten was, regardless of how much I respected or hated my opponents then. But now, looking back, because it was the toughest promotion I was ever a part of it definitely helped me for the promotions that came after. I wrestled for ten more years after XWF, won a lot more matches than I lost, won titles again, but I honestly believe that if it wasn't for XWF to humble me back in 2022, who knows how I would have turned out. I don't know where they are now, but to Vinnie Lane, Theo Pryce, and many others in the XWF front office, I thank you.”
A nice reaction from the crowd is given.
“I’m almost done, I promise. I also want to thank the Seven Deadly Sins stable… Both the one I was a part of, the second iteration, which included The Malvado Brothers, whom I actually faced one time with Marcus as part of the Sins of the Fathers but that match did not have an ending… Oh well, I guess we’ll never know which was the best tag team in the stable huh muchachos?”
One of the Malvados, let’s say Victor, responds: “WE WERE PUTO!” The crowd and Xavier laugh.
“Not even close pen-de-ho! Anyway! Thank you to a damn good guy and probably the babiest of baby faces in Cholo Santana. Someone who was an ally and a foe, a partner and a nemesis, but as I see him out there tonight, I definitely consider a friend and a brother, Marcus Ka’Derrion. Also, two guys who were seriously misunderstood and never really given a chance, Douglas Crane and “The Weapon”. Yeah, he still won’t let me call him by his real name. *cough* It’s Steve *cough*, just kidding, like Enigma, we don’t know what his real name is which is too damn weird but you know, some guys just will not let kayfabe die. But I also got to thank the original sins… Incognito, Suicidal Juvenal, Jake Navaja, The Punisher, again, The Enigma, ODJ, the bastard, and of course, my father, The Scorpion. All these men, whether you knew of them or didn’t, they were all great in their unique way and some left us way too soon, and some stayed way too long… But regardless of all of that, they all had an effect in my life, for better or worse, just kidding, for the better, I can think of so many positive ways in which they did… So, for those of you who are here with me tonight, would you mind standing up right quick.”
The Malvados and Cholo, who are still hanging out on the stage behind the curtain, come out and wave at the crowd and point at Xavier who claps along with the crowd. On one of the VIP balconies, we see the only two original Deadly Sins still alive, stand up and wave: “Owner” Dougg Jimenez and Suicidal Juvenal. There also is Marcus Ka’Derrion and Douglas Crane in the back seats, and behind them, lurking in the shadows, a masked individual wearing a tuxedo. Could be the Weapon, or could it be... ODJ looks back at him and nods. He nods back...
“Thank you familia. “
They sit back down, guess we'll never know for sure. Xavier continues.
“I also want to thank “The Sauce Boss” Tim Applesauce for his amazing creation, The World Series of Wrestling. I also want to thank the judges, Larry Tact, Denzel Porter, Theo Pryce, Todrick Tabor, The Meagan G., The Sauce Spouse, Applesauce Jr. and anyone and everyone involved in the World Series of Wrestling. I entered this event many years ago during a dark time in my career, a time when I was considering giving it all up and going back to retirement because I felt the business had passed me by and I didn’t have “IT” anymore. I was an alternate entrant, one of the “Lucky 7” to be chosen and frankly I accepted because I honestly had nothing left to lose. I thought then, well this will be a nice measurement of where I am in my career and if it truly is over, the WSOW would manifest it to me. Well after the first four events I wasn’t sure, but after making the first cut my confidence grew a little and after making the second cut I started to believe in myself again. We all know how it ended, but regardless of the result, it told me straight up, you are not the problem. You can do this, and you belong here… It will not always be easy, you may not always win, but you belong. This event saved my wrestling career, it took me out of the darkness and brought me into the light… I will be forever thankful for that.”
The crowd gives a nice reaction.
“Plus, it gave me my best-selling T-shirt ever AND a video game cover! I mean come on! Can’t beat that!”
He laughs loudly and some of the crowd do as well.
“Lastly, I want to thank everyone and anyone that has ever helped me, with a special mention to “Chronic” Chris Page and the CPPE. We were never a stable, and most of us didn’t get along, but what we were was a collection of great wrestlers who believed in the man and his mission, and who believed in us. During that dark year, I had many discussions with Page and they all always ended with him encouraging me and believing in me… I saw him in the back earlier and I know he’s out there in one of the VIP sections, thanks Chris!”
“There are too many more of you to name individually, too little time I’m afraid but if you were a friend or a foe, a fan or a staff, a casual or a damn mark, THANK YOU! You know, for the second half of my career my tag line was “you are an infection, and the infection must die”. It came from my theme song by Disturbed, big shout to them as well. But it came from there and I always thought that I carried both the toxin and the cure… So, I would like to use my line one more time, but amend it a little… This goes out to everyone in the building here tonight, including the other Hall of Fame inductees and those of you watching at home. I am now part of the past, but all of you out there, you are the future… You are all an infection and the infection….”
He pauses to set up the crowd, and most of them fall for the trap, replying accordingly: “Must Die!” Xavier smirks and shakes his head.
“No-no. The infection must… stay alive… We are wrestling and wrestling is THE infection… a good one, so spread it… grow it… ENJOY IT and make it last… forever!”
“Thank you.”
He kisses his HOF ring and raises it high in the air, making a fist, the crowd cheers loudly and get to their feet. His music hits and he steps away from the podium to take a bow and wave to everyone. Paco’s family comes back out and give him a group hug. You see Xavier fight his emotions but then is joined by his wife and two kids and the emotions overtake him. The crowd continues to cheer as he waves to them one last time, he points to the VIP section where the rest of his ‘family’ is and managing to smile, exits stage left, to do a backstage interview probably, more media but eventually hit the after party and begin to enjoy his retirement.
Word count: 7000 via wordcounter.net