Post by brady on Feb 19, 2022 19:45:26 GMT
The first ever World League Championship Wrestling pay-per-view has long since ended. The rumors about Ascension are quite positive. Just as most any “first.” Including Genesis 1:1. What does that mean to Brady Booker? The first time he got that notice of becoming a new hire for WLCW.
BRADY BOOKER: What’s this?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Latte. Just how you like it.
Jesse James sets the cup in front of the already seated Brady Booker. James follows and sits down at the two person table in the back of the Starbucks. He takes a sip of his drink. Booker smells his drink, he sighs that sound that a person would make knowing it’s the favored drink choice. Brady takes a sip.
BRADY BOOKER: Alright, I’m here. What time is this meeting?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: You mean with the WLCW people?
Booker nods and takes another sip.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Yep. Scratch that, though. They had to move it up, so I just had the meeting with them myself.
BRADY BOOKER: Oh? That’s weird.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: I thought so too. But, it worked out. All the papers are complete. You’re on the roster. They did ask if you had certain requests, I took care of that without a problem.
James smiles and drinks on his coffee. Brady just stares at Jesse.
BRADY BOOKER: What do you mean?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Well, for one thing, your nickname. I told them, your nick names were B. B., but I’ll work on that one. Also said your nickname was “The Wrestler” and Brady Booker.
Booker sips his coffee, taking a long pause.
BRADY BOOKER: Wait, what? You told them Brady Booker was my nick name? What the hell, man?!
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Easy Brady. It’s a selling point.
BRADY BOOKER: A selling point? I gotta hear this.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Yes. You having your real name as your nickname is going to help you be remembered. Because very few people are going to remember your full name.
James and Booker both drink their coffee. Booker sighs.
BRADY BOOKER: I still don’t get it. I mean, if “Brady Booker” is a nick name, what’s my full name then?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Ok, look. I told them to call you “The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker.” Now, they’ll probably shorten that for their media to just “Brady Booker.” But, it fits what you’ll be trying to do. That being to show you’re the top wrestler in the company. Get you over.
BRADY BOOKER: That sounds stupid! We both could solve the problem you say I have, and get me over, if you just let me call myself “Nature Boy.”
Brady smiles confidently and nods his head. Jesse takes a drink. Moments pass.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: I suppose you’re right, Brady. All I did may have been silly. Trying a way to get you over in this sport as easily as possible. Being the Road Dogg makes it easy to be over these days. I can be in my old wrestling attire, in blue jeans, in a tuxedo…hell, I can be on my deathbed…and if I’m able to hit a few of the old lines around some of the older fans the arena blows up just one more time. That’s why I put on that profile about me having that feeling of nostalgia for everyone. Hell, even I get tingles for one more match when my music hits or when I hear those cheers. But, that damn heart attack put me on the shelf. Everyone talks to the old timers about the cliched “one more match.” That final time. Well, this is how I get my final time. Managing you in World League Championship Wrestling. Again, you’re right. Being “Nature Boy” Brady Booker would be great. But, are you Buddy Rogers? Buddy Landel? Because Lord Jesus Christ knows you are nowhere close to Ric Flair! So, everyone would nit pick you every match so much that you’d be considered a laughing stock. You’d have to change. You want to be “The One,” or “The Man,” or “The Franchise?” Maybe “The Icon” or “The Immortal” Brady Booker, is that it?
Booker rolls his eyes. James smirks.
BRADY BOOKER: Don’t make me look like a loser before I even have a match in the big time, Jesse.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Hey now! That’s what I’m trying to avoid. If you walk into World League Championship Wrestling as any of those nicknames I mentioned or any similar to it, you’ll be done faster than a well done steak at freakin’ Texas Roadhouse! This way, there is z-e-r-o, zero percent concern of being some type of savior or great future to the sport. The lower expectations for your right now, kid, the better. You have to build this for yourself and in a way that people talk. That’s why I’m here. I can rile up a crowd in five minutes or less. All you have to do is wrestle. With this dull, silly idea of “The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker,” you get a bit of heat. What did Rogers, Landel, Flair, and all the rest of wrestling’s bad guys have? People hating them from the start. You’ll get that at this first pay-per-view, if you talk about things like you wanted to as “Nature Boy.” Just do it knowing you’re “The Wrestler.” read up on things. Get some ideas.
BRADY BOOKER: I guess you’re right.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Damn right, I’m right. I’m so right, I already started some looking into how you pull this all off. Your entrance music. It has to be something that’ll work with you as you’re being bad. It has to do the same thing for the good times too. I told the WLCW folks your entrance music is gonna be Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page.” It fits, talking about having long hair. Just like you. Being up on that so called stage. The squared circle is your stage. Every new match, new show, new chance, you can turn the page and take care of things. Don’t have to dwell on things. Turn that page!
BRADY BOOKER: It’s just all so, bland.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: I told you, bland is good. You can work this to your advantage. Another thing is: you want to be a hit in this business and you want to put it out there that you’re the new sensation. Every new wrestler to a company does that, including the veterans. But, nobody really acts like a guy that is hesitant to do it. Like it’s a burden to be a savior. I think you need to look at that viewpoint. Be that kind of guy. Nobody else has saved WLCW or has showed they are a true star there in it’s short time being open. Their first World Champions are being crowned in this pay-per-view, man! I think you need to go today and, instead of training in the ring, you need to watch some things. I was with my family a couple of days ago and all my siblings and I watched that Avengers Infinity War and Avengers End game with their kids. I saw this Thanos dude and one of his guys, something Maw, and the thoughts of you just hit me! It’s a way to be something for this company. I thought all this even before finalizing things for you earlier today. That reluctant hero. Losing to you would be the joyful sacrifice they make to helping you make World League Championship Wrestling the best it could ever be! It’s all there.
James takes a big sip of coffee. Booker stares out the window thinking over Jesse’s words.
BRADY BOOKER: It’s dumb. Totally and completely dumb. I have never been like that. There is no way—
In the pause, Brady stares at his coffee cup. He looks at Jesse.
BRADY BOOKER: Do you really think it would work? That it’s the perfect fit?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: No. No, I don’t know if it’ll work. I never know what works until it does. But, it won’t hurt to try it. If, after a couple of months of me saying “oh you didn’t know” and “suck it,” this idea doesn’t work out, fire me and be “Nature Boy” Brady Booker. Hell, I’ll get in touch with Ric Flair myself as my last act as your manager and beg him to let you woo just like he did for 50 plus years.
Jesse James stands up as he takes another drink of coffee. He holds out his hand.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: We got a deal?
Brady Booker stands up and stares at James’ hand.
BRADY BOOKER: Just, be like Thanos?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Thanos and Maw, but word things your way.
Brady shakes Jesse’s hand.
BRADY BOOKER: Can’t hurt to try. You’ve been a good manager this far, through all these big shows and this training. Without you, I’d never make it past these road trips and all this small money. So, regardless, you’re my manager.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Great! Now let’s look at those movies and really nail this thing down. We don’t have much time before you make yourself known to the fans at Ascension!
Both men walk to the exit of Starbucks. They toss their cups in the trash receptacle and begin working towards the pay-per-view segment.