Post by brady on Mar 15, 2022 12:16:11 GMT
It’s around 2 days before Vengeance and the match with Matt Sydal. Brady Booker is in the gym at the hotel, in the middle of a run on the treadmill. Jesse James is standing nearby. Booker’s sweat soaking through his shirt, as James is discussing things with his steadily winded student.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: I don’t get it though, I haven’t had any call backs. It’s voicemail after voicemail. I’ve called at least ten, twenty, fifty people.
BRADY BOOKER: Fifty?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Well, maybe not. But, I did call people that could call for me. Anyway, like i said, no calls.
Brady strides just right to get off the treadmill. His breathing is trying to catch up to the fact that the run is over. Jesse leans over and shuts the treadmill off. Booker raises his hands over his head as he continues to catch his breath.
BRADY BOOKER: Now. What?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Now? Well, we’re going to have to delay this idea of the Ministry of Brady. I mean, you can’t have a cult without followers, right?
Brady cracks a grin. Jesse seems confused.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: What’s funny, Double Bravo? A cult was the point of calling it a “Ministry.” Wasn’t it? Not that I like that sort of thing.
BRADY BOOKER: I don’t mind making a change or two with the wording. It’s not the point. It was point of trying to get people’s attention. Just like you wanted to get people’s attention with that silly “The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker” stuff. Something that I’m selling to the fans any time I can, I might add. Look. I’ve been thinking. When you were concerned about paybacks, that speech wasn’t payback. That emeritus talk, that was respect. Respect and concern that you’d be a target. Your health is more fragile than you and I would want to discuss. Not to mention that your family isn’t all that happy you’re trying to crack the big time again.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Don’t worry about family. You need to worry about how to spin this if we can’t get anyone to cover you. I’m telling you, I know people that can be there for you this week. At least unti—
Booker, grabbing his water bottle, interrupts James.
BRADY BOOKER: Jesse, I know that you can have Billy, Sean, or anyone that Jeff knows, or anyone that Justin Credible or whomever knows. It’s just that, the last thing I want is
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: So you overheard my phone call to the missus.
BRADY BOOKER: Why do you think I had her call you?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: So it wasn’t cause you were hot for a cougar?
James smirks. Booker gives a smirk of his own.
BRADY BOOKER: Maybe. But seriously, I’m already starting out as a freak show. The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker is a freak show. Not what I signed up for, others making me look bad. Good intentions or not, man. At least with my plan, I’m doing it my way. My. Way.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Well, let’s talk about this later.
James walks off. Booker follows. .
BRADY BOOKER: Either way, it’s no big deal. But we do need to do this in a way that do–
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: We need to do this and get it started. This search is going to last longer than you want. I have a feeling. At least with my guys, they will listen. They will run the things how you want them! They all just want one last chance in the limelight. Plus, they’ll be ready as fast as you want them around.
BRADY BOOKER: Jarrett too?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: No. No, not Jeff. He’s got his money. He’s had his fun. Him and Karen have plans. He was a connection, that’s all. Now, Gunn and Waltman? They want one more time in the sand pit, so to speak.
Brady sighs and stops walking. Jesse stops and turns back. People pass by for a moment.
BRADY BOOKER: Well, I wanted to search for other wrestlers that we could also name “Brady.” They wouldn’t do that.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: What? You wanted guys all the same name as you to be a part of your group. Having me get all my friends in the business to come help you was a bad idea, but you wanted to have people named after you join you. Sure, that’s no cult, right?
James chuckles. Booker shrugs. His faces showing signs of beginning to understand.
BRADY BOOKER: Right. It’s no cult. So, how many guys can you get?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: How many do you need?
BRADY BOOKER: Four? Seven? Whatever number you think shows “following.”
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Seven? You wanting nWo too right?
Brady shakes his head. He’s a bit perturbed. Jesse shrugs.
BRADY BOOKER: I want enough to do the work. Maybe we can use that many. Like, have them split between the shows and the pay-per-views.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Good thought. We can try for that. Eight to twelve guys split between things. No kind of preferences. Just get them and get them fast.
Booker nods.
BRADY BOOKER: That’s it. Just make sure you have people around to watch after you. Your time playing up the crowd does us no good if you’re getting hurt during every match. So, find people able to handle that.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: You want people to watch after me? I don’t need any—
BRADY BOOKER: Hey! I know you’re the “Road Dogg.” I know you can handle yourself. But, you’re nowhere close to what you were in your heyday with that D-X bunch. None of the buddies you’re gonna bring back are young, so I’m just saying…I’m just saying, protect them and protect yourself on this. At least do that for me, if you’re gonna have people hop on what bit of coat tails I have so far.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Ah ha! Good point then. I’ll also make sure there are guys that can do some things in the tag team division. Maybe not so much win, but just do “the bidding of the great fearless leader, ‘The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker.’”
James pulls some sort of face crossed between sacred genie and scared of a ghost. Brady laughs.
BRADY BOOKER: That probably wouldn’t hurt. Maybe some huge guys. Bigger than the both of us. Yeah! Do it.
James slaps Booker on the back and they start walking again. James' arm stays on Booker’s shoulder for a short moment.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: My man, you’re gonna see some sparks of nostalgia all up in your ministry! Ha! Ha!
Fin.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: I don’t get it though, I haven’t had any call backs. It’s voicemail after voicemail. I’ve called at least ten, twenty, fifty people.
BRADY BOOKER: Fifty?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Well, maybe not. But, I did call people that could call for me. Anyway, like i said, no calls.
Brady strides just right to get off the treadmill. His breathing is trying to catch up to the fact that the run is over. Jesse leans over and shuts the treadmill off. Booker raises his hands over his head as he continues to catch his breath.
BRADY BOOKER: Now. What?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Now? Well, we’re going to have to delay this idea of the Ministry of Brady. I mean, you can’t have a cult without followers, right?
Brady cracks a grin. Jesse seems confused.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: What’s funny, Double Bravo? A cult was the point of calling it a “Ministry.” Wasn’t it? Not that I like that sort of thing.
BRADY BOOKER: I don’t mind making a change or two with the wording. It’s not the point. It was point of trying to get people’s attention. Just like you wanted to get people’s attention with that silly “The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker” stuff. Something that I’m selling to the fans any time I can, I might add. Look. I’ve been thinking. When you were concerned about paybacks, that speech wasn’t payback. That emeritus talk, that was respect. Respect and concern that you’d be a target. Your health is more fragile than you and I would want to discuss. Not to mention that your family isn’t all that happy you’re trying to crack the big time again.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Don’t worry about family. You need to worry about how to spin this if we can’t get anyone to cover you. I’m telling you, I know people that can be there for you this week. At least unti—
Booker, grabbing his water bottle, interrupts James.
BRADY BOOKER: Jesse, I know that you can have Billy, Sean, or anyone that Jeff knows, or anyone that Justin Credible or whomever knows. It’s just that, the last thing I want is
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: So you overheard my phone call to the missus.
BRADY BOOKER: Why do you think I had her call you?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: So it wasn’t cause you were hot for a cougar?
James smirks. Booker gives a smirk of his own.
BRADY BOOKER: Maybe. But seriously, I’m already starting out as a freak show. The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker is a freak show. Not what I signed up for, others making me look bad. Good intentions or not, man. At least with my plan, I’m doing it my way. My. Way.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Well, let’s talk about this later.
James walks off. Booker follows. .
BRADY BOOKER: Either way, it’s no big deal. But we do need to do this in a way that do–
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: We need to do this and get it started. This search is going to last longer than you want. I have a feeling. At least with my guys, they will listen. They will run the things how you want them! They all just want one last chance in the limelight. Plus, they’ll be ready as fast as you want them around.
BRADY BOOKER: Jarrett too?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: No. No, not Jeff. He’s got his money. He’s had his fun. Him and Karen have plans. He was a connection, that’s all. Now, Gunn and Waltman? They want one more time in the sand pit, so to speak.
Brady sighs and stops walking. Jesse stops and turns back. People pass by for a moment.
BRADY BOOKER: Well, I wanted to search for other wrestlers that we could also name “Brady.” They wouldn’t do that.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: What? You wanted guys all the same name as you to be a part of your group. Having me get all my friends in the business to come help you was a bad idea, but you wanted to have people named after you join you. Sure, that’s no cult, right?
James chuckles. Booker shrugs. His faces showing signs of beginning to understand.
BRADY BOOKER: Right. It’s no cult. So, how many guys can you get?
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: How many do you need?
BRADY BOOKER: Four? Seven? Whatever number you think shows “following.”
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Seven? You wanting nWo too right?
Brady shakes his head. He’s a bit perturbed. Jesse shrugs.
BRADY BOOKER: I want enough to do the work. Maybe we can use that many. Like, have them split between the shows and the pay-per-views.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Good thought. We can try for that. Eight to twelve guys split between things. No kind of preferences. Just get them and get them fast.
Booker nods.
BRADY BOOKER: That’s it. Just make sure you have people around to watch after you. Your time playing up the crowd does us no good if you’re getting hurt during every match. So, find people able to handle that.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: You want people to watch after me? I don’t need any—
BRADY BOOKER: Hey! I know you’re the “Road Dogg.” I know you can handle yourself. But, you’re nowhere close to what you were in your heyday with that D-X bunch. None of the buddies you’re gonna bring back are young, so I’m just saying…I’m just saying, protect them and protect yourself on this. At least do that for me, if you’re gonna have people hop on what bit of coat tails I have so far.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: Ah ha! Good point then. I’ll also make sure there are guys that can do some things in the tag team division. Maybe not so much win, but just do “the bidding of the great fearless leader, ‘The Wrestler Known As Brady Booker.’”
James pulls some sort of face crossed between sacred genie and scared of a ghost. Brady laughs.
BRADY BOOKER: That probably wouldn’t hurt. Maybe some huge guys. Bigger than the both of us. Yeah! Do it.
James slaps Booker on the back and they start walking again. James' arm stays on Booker’s shoulder for a short moment.
ROAD DOGG JESSE JAMES: My man, you’re gonna see some sparks of nostalgia all up in your ministry! Ha! Ha!
Fin.