The young man that would soon be making his debut in PAW, Adrian Nixon sat in his sleeping room listening to the tirade of Russian being slung back and forth on the other side of his wall. The old Russian Couple next door were having another of their fights that seemed to be mostly about who drank the last of the Vodka--Though Adrian didn't understand Russian, but at this rate he would speak it fluently with all of the fights.
Since coming back to the U.S. Adrian had spent most of his days in his little Sleep Room living on a diet of Top Ramen and Cheese Crackers, while working out several times a day just to pass the time. He had found a job to subsidized his meager income from Wrestling right now, and even spotted a Gym he was planning on checking out, later on, today. But there was still one thing missing.
Adrian stared at his Cell Phone with the call screen pulled up and just waiting for him to hit send to place the call to the number highlighted with Three little letters....M.O.M. He takes a deep breath and hits that button waiting for the phone to ring on the other end. Adrian Nixon had left home at eighteen to chase his dreams of being a Professional Wrestler. But his family hadn't exactly been supportive of this decision. In fact, they didn't even know about this Decision.
They thought he was on his way to a degree at UAB in Physical Therapy thanks to a Gymnastics Scholarship. It came as a pretty big shock when he called from the Mexico Border to break the news and they hadn't had anything to do with him since.
The phone rang several times before that familiar voice came on the line " Hello?"
Monica Nixon is what Adrian always referred to as a True Lady. She never left the house without makeup, she wore nothing but designer clothing that just had to look impeccable from head to toe or she wasn't happy. She was a rather well-known Dentist in the Montgomery area, but both parents believed you had to make your own way in this World, hence why Adrian was expected to get Scholarships and not just get a big fat check for College Tuition.
Ryan swallowed down the Softball size lump in his throat and spoke" Hi Mom"
He could hear her voice catch on the other end of the line. He wasn't sure she would recognize his voice after four years of not hearing it, but that sound that bordered on almost a gasp was answer enough to that question.
All he could hear was his Mother's breathing as he worked up the courage to speak again " I just wanted to call to Wish you Happy Mother's Day Mom. I'm back in the states now working for a real nice company in Louisiana. I would love if you and Dad could maybe come down sometime and see me perform"
The click and the ensuing dial tone was answer enough. It was like a gut punch that comes with finding out the Lady you love is getting married to another, that your beloved Pet just got ran over, or your favorite Uncle has a terminal illness all rolled up into one big ball of pain nestled right in the center of your chest like a heavy weight pushing down upon your heart like Wrecking Ball.
Adrian stared at the phone for several minutes before finally tossing it down on his bed and walking out the door of his Room. The Russians were still going at it, only now the noises seemed to be of making up instead of fighting. He wasn't sure which sounds were more disturbing, but he was just glad it was time for a run to clear his head of family problems, nervous energy,and the sounds of two old Russians getting their groove back.
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A little over twenty minutes later into Adrian's run he stood in front of the Gym he had been passing several times each day during his runs. Going to a new Gym after spending so much time at his Trainer-Blue Demon's gym was kind of unnerving to the young man. But he had a match fast arriving and while the place looked like a throwback to a Seventies Era Boxing Gym it would have to do. Adrian wandered through the door with the faded lettering that read Pops Gym and found himself looking at a Set of Stairs. At the top of the stairs, there was a few Exercise Bikes, a Treadmill that looked like it was out of the early 1900's, a large Boxing Style Ring, some heavy bags and a single set of free weights.
Adrian chuckled to himself...All it was missing was Mick yelling at Rocky Balboa to Spit Lightning and Crap Thunder to make the moment complete. " Can I help ya Boy?"
Adrian looked to his left to a short old man with cotton top hair standing in the doorway of what appeared to be an office staring in his direction. Adrian attempted a smile " Just looking around, what's a membership cost?"
The old man snorted " Don't got memberships Boy if you want to use something then use it. Don't break it! Like I tell everyone else if you keep the place clean and don't break my stuff...It's yours to use"
The old guy turned walking back through the door, slamming it behind him before Adrian could say anything else to him. He smirked to himself, muttering " Nice meeting you too"
Nix hit the Exercise Bike for a few to limber up his legs and then moved on to the Free Weights getting warmed up before spotting two long bars in the corner that were likely used at one time to hang another Heavy Bag or some other piece of equipment. They were about Seven feet off the floor and about four feet apart. It wasn't ideal but it would work. Nix got a bit of a run leaping up and hooking the one bar. When it didn't rip out of the ceiling, he transitioned across to the next and started moving back and forth between them.
In High School, the Parallel Bars were his favorite, and he always excelled at them. He was just naturally agile and like his Coach use to tell him. He didn't have fear...Fear is the one thing that slows you down in life. Fear of the consequence, fear of the unknown, just fear of anything really. But Nix didn't have that fear, he would leap and then hope he made it before ever giving it a second thought.
" What in the sam hell are you doing up there boy?"
Nix stopped his swinging back and forth, dropping down to see the old man standing there. " Uh, just working out some. I didn't mean any harm"
" You didn't harm me, boy, I was asking you a question and now you answered it. If you want to swing around like a Monkey then be my guest"
Nix snickered" Well it's just that I am a Professional Wrestler and I got a match coming up"
" Over at that damn Amusement Park that's never quiet?"
Nix nodded " Yeah"
"Shit, those Boys, and Girls are crazy over there. You need some more training than just swinging around like a Monkey. Get in the ring there and I will give you a few pointers"
"Well it's just"
The Old man turned again not letting Nix finish his sentence and walked towards the ring. Adrian sighed following behind him. The Ropes in a Boxing Ring are closer together and not as loose when you hit them as a Standard Wrestling Ring would be. " My name's Adrian Nixon, most people just call me Nix"
The old man responded with barely a grunt and pointed towards the center of the ring. " Show me what you got Boy"
Nix shrugged his shoulders and went at the old man. He easily tied up with the old and tried to take him over with a hip-toss. The old man stomped down on Nix's foot, reversing and sending Nix flying. Nix bounced back to his feet only to have the old man toss him over by his head with a sort of Judo throw.
" Don't be so damn impatient boy, let the fight come to you, don't rush to it. '
Nix had heard that before, he could be a bit overzealous in the ring. He laid there looking at the ceiling with the old man climbing out of the ring " Good luck Boy with your Match, remember...Let the fight come to you"
There was some laughter from beside the ring with Nix rolling onto his side to see a large black man standing there looking at him with a big smile. The guy was probably Six-eight and easily three bills in the weight department. " Don't you just hate when he does that?"
Nix frowned"Huh?"
The big man climbed up onto the ring and stepped in over the ropes, helping Nix to his feet. " When the blind guy kicks your ass. He has done it to me too, don't feel bad"
Nix brow furrowed in to join his frown " Wait, what? Blind?"
The door slammed to the office with the big guy laughing and patting Nix on the shoulder " Yeah, Pops is blind. Took a punch to his head or something years and years ago in a Boxing Match..." Snapping his fingers " Turned his lights out for good"
Nix stared at the door " So a blind guy just made me look like a fool?"
The big man laughed harder " Yup, yup he did. My name is Rodney by the way, and you are?"
"Nix"
" Nice to meet ya. You new here?"
Nix nodded " Yeah, first time here"
Rodney grinned" Then Pops must like ya, he didn't kick my ass until I was here a couple weeks trying to learn to Box because the Wife insisted it was good Cardio for me"
Nix continued to stare at the door " Blind..." Shaking his head" How the hell did he do that?"
Rodney is heard laughing " No clue but come spot me on the Bench if you don't mind"
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Show night, it was finally here after all of the waiting. Nix stood there staring at the Crowd buying their special Tickets to get into the Pure Arena for tonight's DVD taping. He took a deep breath as a lanky man with beady eyes and a hook-shaped nose came up next to him. " Well Kid, what are you waiting for? Go get'em"
Nix nodded walking out into the foyer as the crowds walked by..." POPCORN....FRESH, HOT POPCORN HERE!!"
Nix held a big tray of Popcorn bags strapped around his neck and resting against his stomach. He needed a job to help with expenses and that job turned into helping with Concessions during the beginning of shows and after his matches, as well as running the Frozen Lemonade Stand out on the Midway four days a week in the evenings. It wasn't anything glamorous but it was helping to keep him stocked in Top Ramen and Cheese Crackers so he couldn't complain. Plus the guy he reported to, Freddy "Roach" Roberts was pretty decent and funny as hell with his Opinions on everything from politics to the new M&M flavors...I don't want any damn Coffee Nut M&Ms...I want my coffee in a cup!!! Was Roach's Rant of the day so far.
" POPCORN!! FRESH HOT POPCORN...JUST THREE DOLLARS!!! "
Adrian walked the foyer and down through the arena stopping to stare at the ring that he would soon be in. He loved the day of a show, the excitement in the air, and the adrenaline pumping to just get in there and do what you have dreamed of doing all of your life. Soon...Soon he would be more than just a Popcorn Vendor and newbie Wrestler.
After selling two trays full of Popcorn and turning in his money. Roach slapped him on the shoulder at the bell for the opening match rang. " Go get ready kid. Bounce around that ring like my Dog after a Flea Dip"
Nix smirked at him " I'll see you after the match Roach"
"Just remember to shower first, no one wants their Popcorn smelling like Man Crotch and Sweat"
Laughing " Sure thing Roach"
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With the match between Al Envy and Johnathan Alexander going on in the ring. The P.A.W. cameras catch up with Airborne back behind the Gorilla Curtain, knelt down deep in thought.
" Tonight is the big night for both of us Julian. In just a few minutes when that match out there is over, we will be walking through this curtain and leaving it all out there in the ring. Tonight is really very bittersweet for me. I am going to be taking another step tonight towards my dreams of being a success in the business I love with all of my being. But the bittersweet part is there will be no one out there from my life watching or supporting me. I am alone and that's kind of a hard pill to swallow at times. I know you will have your girl supporting you and at least half if not more of the fans out there. But honestly that's all I got, I have got to get the fans behind me, Julian, to feel like I am truly not alone.
Airborne looks towards the camera, offering up a slight smile " My trainer Blue Demon Jr. once told me that the minute those fans love you, you will never be out there alone again. The way that I can make those fans love me and support me moving forward is taking this match to the Air. We are going to go to the Air here tonight Julian and I am going to bring everything I got in my arsenal at you in hopes that it will be enough"
Airborne nods his head,staring at his hands and smiling " I mean this is nothing personal. You seem like a great guy and I like to believe I am a good guy. So I have to go beyond some dire need to hurt you that doesn't exist and look at this match from a technical standpoint. The only thing I can really come up with is I have been touring throughout Mexico for the last couple years. I have been competing in front of several thousand people at some of the bigger shows while you are still fresh out of the Academy. I am kind of hoping that could be the tipping point for me. My experience in front of the bigger crowds while you might be overwhelmed with it. I shall hope that's the case, but even if it isn't I am going to do my best to be the best between us two tonight. I will bring my A-Game, and expect nothing less from you."
Nix stands up " It's time to catch some air"
Nix walks away with the Camera trailing after him.
END
