Post by geoff on Feb 2, 2022 5:53:20 GMT
He looks across and watches the two members of the Motor City Machine Guns lean against a rail and look out towards the illuminated city of New Orleans. With a chill in the air the man known as the Icon collects his thoughts and remembers what it was like to be in their shoes. Years ago when he finally took off his wrestling boots for the last time he promised himself to do everything he could to make the wrestling business better and to take care of those who always did right by him. Steve Borden once took over the wrestling world as Sting. Over his long career he had to adapt to the times and evolve with the rest of the world. With the pandemic in what everybody hopes to be its final throes and the world staggering out of a three year nightmare it was well and truly time to make good on what he set out to do.
It was not easy to step back into the business after he had called it a career a few years ago. His final match was reminiscent of the final match on WCW Nitro in Panama City, Florida. Except this time he felt more like Ric Flair than “The Stinger”. Tired, jaded, and just all around angry Steve Borden turned his back on the world after the fans let him know that their childhood hero had finally let them down. He walked into the shadow of retirement and stayed there for several years. The only thing that kept him busy was turning down the thousands of requests to do podcasts, magazine interviews, and multi-million dollar offers to show up to some convention with that damn facepaint on.
Thankfully the Icon was always smart with his money and was able to sit back and watch the wrestling world eat itself alive. Company after company would fold into each other and even though he was no longer a competitor he kept his eyes on individuals that could form the nucleus of a wrestling promotion if the Icon ever went into business for himself. While he never did get the chance to start his own promotion Steve Borden did make sure those individuals were taken care of. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley were two of those individuals. So here he was back in the business with a pair of machine guns from the motor city. This would be their first true test as a team and this match against the Varsity Blondes could make or break the comebacks for all three men.
Wearing a black suit with a white tie, Steve Borden walks up to Alex and Chris. The Icon’s eyes are hidden behind blue tinted sunglasses. Alex and Chris look back to the Icon as he stands near them.
STEVE BORDEN I know the both of you were hoping to make it into the finals of the rumble but the two of you have turned heads regardless. Your time will come as singles stars but first you guys need to make history and be ready to step up to the challenge of being the first tag team champions in WLCW history.
Alex looks back at the Icon with a look of confusion. The Icon smirks back at Alex and just shakes his head slowly.
STEVE BORDEN Don’t look at me like I am crazy, Alex. I am sure you are thinking the same thing as well, Chris. I am serious though. There is a ton of talent in this company but there are only a few true tag teams and none of them have been together longer or have the big time experience as you two. Once you two get your rhythm back as a team…..
Chris Sabin holds up a hand to try and stop the Icon’s delusions of grandeur.
CHRIS SABIN: Easy there Icon. I appreciate the vote of confidence but you went from the first match back as a tag team to becoming champs in the same statement. To be honest I was hoping to make it further in that battle royal. Singles action has been my thing the past couple of years and I really wanted to prove a point.
Alex nods in agreement. The gesture catches Sabin’s attention as Alex responds.
ALEX SHELLEY I wanted to prove to myself that I could still keep up with some of the guys on this roster. That and I need to prove to Chris that this thing wasn’t just some nostalgia cash in. If the Motor City Machine Guns were going to get back together I want it to be for real. So yeah I am OK with setting our sights on being the first tag champs in WLCW history. Considering that there aren’t any more companies out there it would mean we would be the undisputed champions. Period.
The Icon smirks. A little bit of fire in the voice of Alex Shelley was good to hear after his ho-hum approach to the battle royal was a good change of pace.
STEVE BORDEN I’ve done a little bit of scouting on the Varsity Blondes and they remind me a lot of where you guys were at early in your careers. These guys are going to go flat out from the sound of that bell so don’t waste any time with them. If Brian Pillman Jr. is anything like his father I suspect this match will get pretty intense very quickly. Pillman is going to have a lot to prove out there, just like you guys.
Chris Sabin looks out to the open water as the sun starts to set.
CHRIS SABIN: What was his father like? I know we all heard the stories and watched the matches but you have been in the ring with him.
The Icon pauses for a moment and looks down at the ground. Alex and Chris notice a look of sadness for a brief moment before the Icon looks up and collects his thoughts.
STEVE BORDEN He was somebody that fought like there were no boundaries and had my respect. Expect both Garrison and Pillman Jr. to come at you with everything they have and something to prove. You aren’t going to be the only team fighting for attention and respect.
Alexand Chris nod in agreement and then look at each other. The sun drifts towards the horizon as another ship passes in front of them.
ALEX SHELLEY I remember our first match as a team. It was in a high school gym against these two old guys. Now we are the vets and these guys are the young guns with something to prove. I remember looking across the ring from them and just saw the looks on their faces. They were tired and looked like they were just doing it for the money.
Sabin let out a loud laugh and slapped Alex on the back.
CHRIS SABIN: Yeah and they showed us a thing or two before beating the hell out of us. We came out of the gate smoking hot and after five minutes they had us huffing and puffing. Those guys were laughing while taking shots at us. We got played. It is a shame we never got another shot at those guys.
Alex chuckled and smirked as he remembered that match.
ALEX SHELLEY I remember rolling out of the ring after watching you take the pin after that nasty superkick and thinking we would never be as good as those guys. Eventually we got better than we thought. Now we are the “old guys” and the Blondes are going to give us a hell of a fight.
The Icon looked at both men and nodded slowly. Sabin looked towards Alex and then back out to the water.
CHRIS SABIN: We’ll just have to fight harder. Like we always have.
Alex looked out towards the water as the sun faded from view. The lamps around the trio finally flickered to life as the city of New Orleans lit up in the distance.
ALEX SHELLEY Like we always will.
The scene fades to black as the Icon motions for the Machine Guns to follow him away from the water. The city of New Orleans is known as the Big Easy but defeating the Motor City Machine Guns will be anything but a walk in the park.
It was not easy to step back into the business after he had called it a career a few years ago. His final match was reminiscent of the final match on WCW Nitro in Panama City, Florida. Except this time he felt more like Ric Flair than “The Stinger”. Tired, jaded, and just all around angry Steve Borden turned his back on the world after the fans let him know that their childhood hero had finally let them down. He walked into the shadow of retirement and stayed there for several years. The only thing that kept him busy was turning down the thousands of requests to do podcasts, magazine interviews, and multi-million dollar offers to show up to some convention with that damn facepaint on.
Thankfully the Icon was always smart with his money and was able to sit back and watch the wrestling world eat itself alive. Company after company would fold into each other and even though he was no longer a competitor he kept his eyes on individuals that could form the nucleus of a wrestling promotion if the Icon ever went into business for himself. While he never did get the chance to start his own promotion Steve Borden did make sure those individuals were taken care of. Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley were two of those individuals. So here he was back in the business with a pair of machine guns from the motor city. This would be their first true test as a team and this match against the Varsity Blondes could make or break the comebacks for all three men.
Wearing a black suit with a white tie, Steve Borden walks up to Alex and Chris. The Icon’s eyes are hidden behind blue tinted sunglasses. Alex and Chris look back to the Icon as he stands near them.
STEVE BORDEN I know the both of you were hoping to make it into the finals of the rumble but the two of you have turned heads regardless. Your time will come as singles stars but first you guys need to make history and be ready to step up to the challenge of being the first tag team champions in WLCW history.
Alex looks back at the Icon with a look of confusion. The Icon smirks back at Alex and just shakes his head slowly.
STEVE BORDEN Don’t look at me like I am crazy, Alex. I am sure you are thinking the same thing as well, Chris. I am serious though. There is a ton of talent in this company but there are only a few true tag teams and none of them have been together longer or have the big time experience as you two. Once you two get your rhythm back as a team…..
Chris Sabin holds up a hand to try and stop the Icon’s delusions of grandeur.
CHRIS SABIN: Easy there Icon. I appreciate the vote of confidence but you went from the first match back as a tag team to becoming champs in the same statement. To be honest I was hoping to make it further in that battle royal. Singles action has been my thing the past couple of years and I really wanted to prove a point.
Alex nods in agreement. The gesture catches Sabin’s attention as Alex responds.
ALEX SHELLEY I wanted to prove to myself that I could still keep up with some of the guys on this roster. That and I need to prove to Chris that this thing wasn’t just some nostalgia cash in. If the Motor City Machine Guns were going to get back together I want it to be for real. So yeah I am OK with setting our sights on being the first tag champs in WLCW history. Considering that there aren’t any more companies out there it would mean we would be the undisputed champions. Period.
The Icon smirks. A little bit of fire in the voice of Alex Shelley was good to hear after his ho-hum approach to the battle royal was a good change of pace.
STEVE BORDEN I’ve done a little bit of scouting on the Varsity Blondes and they remind me a lot of where you guys were at early in your careers. These guys are going to go flat out from the sound of that bell so don’t waste any time with them. If Brian Pillman Jr. is anything like his father I suspect this match will get pretty intense very quickly. Pillman is going to have a lot to prove out there, just like you guys.
Chris Sabin looks out to the open water as the sun starts to set.
CHRIS SABIN: What was his father like? I know we all heard the stories and watched the matches but you have been in the ring with him.
The Icon pauses for a moment and looks down at the ground. Alex and Chris notice a look of sadness for a brief moment before the Icon looks up and collects his thoughts.
STEVE BORDEN He was somebody that fought like there were no boundaries and had my respect. Expect both Garrison and Pillman Jr. to come at you with everything they have and something to prove. You aren’t going to be the only team fighting for attention and respect.
Alexand Chris nod in agreement and then look at each other. The sun drifts towards the horizon as another ship passes in front of them.
ALEX SHELLEY I remember our first match as a team. It was in a high school gym against these two old guys. Now we are the vets and these guys are the young guns with something to prove. I remember looking across the ring from them and just saw the looks on their faces. They were tired and looked like they were just doing it for the money.
Sabin let out a loud laugh and slapped Alex on the back.
CHRIS SABIN: Yeah and they showed us a thing or two before beating the hell out of us. We came out of the gate smoking hot and after five minutes they had us huffing and puffing. Those guys were laughing while taking shots at us. We got played. It is a shame we never got another shot at those guys.
Alex chuckled and smirked as he remembered that match.
ALEX SHELLEY I remember rolling out of the ring after watching you take the pin after that nasty superkick and thinking we would never be as good as those guys. Eventually we got better than we thought. Now we are the “old guys” and the Blondes are going to give us a hell of a fight.
The Icon looked at both men and nodded slowly. Sabin looked towards Alex and then back out to the water.
CHRIS SABIN: We’ll just have to fight harder. Like we always have.
Alex looked out towards the water as the sun faded from view. The lamps around the trio finally flickered to life as the city of New Orleans lit up in the distance.
ALEX SHELLEY Like we always will.
The scene fades to black as the Icon motions for the Machine Guns to follow him away from the water. The city of New Orleans is known as the Big Easy but defeating the Motor City Machine Guns will be anything but a walk in the park.