Traveling. There is nothing Like it.

Action Packed Wrestling



Overdrive Roleplay
Previously

Shadow's Anger

Music to Your Ears

Not the Music You Would Expect Though



The loud revving engine of the A.K.A. truck fills the air. It’s Wednesday, November 18, 2009, the day of Overdrive. Slade and Shadow are tearing ass I-880 heading from San Francisco to San Jose. They have been driving all over this entire week in order to get the attention of everyone who will look. The fake donkey in the back shakes as the truck roars down the highway past other cars all the while, inside the car Slade and Shadow blare some Motley Crue, the Dr. Feelgood CD. The song is on “Kick Start my Heart” as Slade pushes the gas pedal down and the engine fires down the concrete. Shadow is leaning back in his custom bucket seat that Slade installed. It was a whole lot better than the single bench seat that came with the model. Slade made several modifications to the truck, new CD player and sound system, not to mention the all new lighting system for the interior. It was a hell of a job Craven did to do all this work. Shadow actually was not involved in the remodeling at all. The Truck has been Slade’s pet project ever since he went on the wagon. As Shadow leans back in his chair he remembers Slade’s words when he showed up at the arena for the first time in the truck.

Slade- Hey, if I’m going to be on ‘On the Wagon’ I am going to be on one hell of a wagon.

Shadow listens to the song as he replays the events that transpired last week on Overdrive in his head, the attack from Victor Hades weighing heavily in his mind. Despite the recent change in outcomes, Slade and Shadow are still getting attacked. While they get the wins in the record books, the people who have it out for them are doing everything they can to make them seem like losers. Slade’s victory over Chris Cyrus was a nail in the coffin to half of the A.K.A/Axis feud. Now the only thing left for Shadow was to prove he could defeat Biggs, again. This was what awaited Shadow inside that dilapidated barn in Hayward California at the end of the month. Biggs and Shadow on the Experts stage. The last time Shadow took part in one of their matches he was working for ECFW, he walked away a victor after taking on Jack Killa. It was in June of last year, Crimson’s Quest. Jack Killa was someone Shadow fought again in DUW and decimated. That was an annoyance. Biggs was something different; he was a problem, one that had to be dealt with. Not because of who he was, but because of what he represented. Biggs was an example a wrestler who catapulted himself to superstardom without ever earning it. Shadow worked for years to get a singles title shot, and he fought hard to retain it. Biggs felt his defenses against meaningless imitators were the same as what Shadow stood against. No, instead they tarnished the gold around his waist. Even Shadow’s official rematch on Overdrive was a stain on the belt. It was time to finish what Shadow started at Shockwave. Rival Factions would be end of this war. However while Biggs alone is what awaited Shadow at Rival Factions, Biggs and Victor Hades awaited him tonight. That was not a problem either; it was Shadow’s tag partner who would be a problem. Last time Pence and Shadow teamed up, Pence failed to watch Shadow’s back and the match went to hell. But maybe thing would be different. It was something worth hoping for. While Shadow would love to trample Biggs and Hades in a handicap match, even Shadow knew the difference between bravery and suicide. If Pence successfully watched Shadow’s back tonight, he would do the same for the self proclaimed Reaper.

Slade- Hey Shadow, you asleep, man?

Craven cranks the volume on the stereo up, the song shaking the walls as Slade plows down the highway. He begins to sing along with the music as they sadly see traffic up ahead. Luckily they are only twenty miles out of San Jose and its not even noon yet. Shadow keeps thinking about Hades attack. The man was a sore loser. After all that boasting about being indestructible all it took was Shadow to wake Hades up. With his little fantasy world shatter, Hades could only sit in his corner and hope the razor blades would cut deep enough. After crushing Hades dreams of beating him, Shadow felt a true sense of accomplishment. That was gone though when Hades attacked Shadow from behind last week. With every swing, gave Shadow a reason to put him in his place, and that’s what would have to happen tonight. As much as Shadow longed to brutalize Biggs in front of the crowd, he would have to put that aside to split his focus between the two. The moment he shifts his full wrath upon one of them, the other will be able to cut him down. If that were to happen though, Pence would be the cavalry. His job tonight would be to protect Shadow, and vice versa. After the huge eight man tag match, it seemed like Pence and Shadow could Co-Exist, combined with last week’s save, perhaps Shadow could put some trust in Pence. After all, they shared a common enemy, Victor Hades.

Slade- Whoa! Yeah! Baby!

Shadow loved the song, and while Slade could sing somewhat, he wasn’t in the mood. He had to get his mind right for tonight. But, sadly, Slade would have none of it. “The Main Man’s” approach to fighting was to relax, not stress about anything and go out there and have a good time. While Shadow usually felt the same way, tonight was different, tonight was going to be ground zero. The song was coming to a close and Craven was flipping through the CD holder looking for a new CD.

Slade- Oasis or Bee Gees?

Shadow: What?

He turns to Craven who is rifling through the CDs as they are now sitting in traffic.

Slade- Take you pick, Oasis or Bee Gees?

Shadow: How long till we get there?

Slade- No idea.

Shadow: I don’t know dude. You pick.

Slade- Alright.

He pops in a CD that looks like a record and suddenly the opening to Staying Alive begins. Craven hits the power windows and cranks up the stereo to a level just short of blowing out the speakers. Everyone around them can hear the beat coming from this monstrous truck. Craven is smiling as he begins to sing.

Slade- Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk; I'm a woman's man, no time to talk. Music loud and women warm. I've been kicked around since I was born. And now it's all right, it's O.K. And you may look the other way. We can try to understand, The New York Times' effect on man.

Suddenly Shadow begins to sing as well, hell the song is a classic.

Slade and Shadow: Whether you're a brother, or whether you're a mother, You're stayin alive, stayin alive. Feel the city breaking and everybody shaking and we're stayin alive, stayin alive. Ah, ha, ha, ha, Stayin alive. Stayin alive. Ah, ha, ha, ha! Stayin alive!

People all around them can look up and see both the driver and passenger sort of bobbing their heads to the music. It’s a strange sight to see to hardcore ass kicking guys in a decked out diesel pick up truck rocking the Bee Gees. But that’s what is happening. As they sit there in traffic moving their necks to the Shadow thinks about Overdrive. Hades was so certain he would beat Shadow, he just couldn’t take the fact he lost. Same with Biggs, so sure of himself that he would win the ladder match. When Shadow’s arm was being raised Biggs could not live with the fact he lost. Defeat, its word people like Victor and Biggs cannot comprehend. They don’t realize that they are weaker, slower, or just plain less than Shadow. As they continue to listen to the song, Shadow’s nerves start to calm. It’s therapeutic and Slade is right. Over thinking, heavy debating and fretting over a match can hinder a person’s performance. The song draws to a close as Slade pops out the CD. They haven’t moved very far so Craven is switching things up.

Shadow: Oasis?

Slade- You bet your ass.

Shadow: Don’t you think that’s a little strange?

Slade- Not anymore than Bee Gees. Lets hit it!

Before Shadow can say another word the intro for Champagne Supernova begins to play. It’s a nostalgic song for him. There are stories that Slade used to tell about a friend who would drive faster and faster on the Dallas highways if you didn’t scream the lyrics at the top of your lungs. As Shadow remembers this Slade passes the police officer on the highway that has been slowing up traffic. He is busy writing a ticket and everyone else panicked thinking they were next. Slade begins to rev the engine as they drive, the roar telling Shadow that Craven is going to continue the tradition, he didn’t usually. The beginning lines of the song are heard as the truck his eighty miles an hour. Shadow knows it’s pointless to argue, celebrities get away with a lot in California. Instead, he decided to go along with it.

Shadow: Slowly walking down the hall! Faster than a cannonball!

Shadow begins to yell the lyrics, off key, at the top of his lungs. The wind whips through the windows of the truck blowing Slade and Shadow’s hair back. He lets his mind rest for a few minutes, well seven actually, as the song fills their ears. As Slade remains at eighty miles an hour, Shadow keeps screaming the lyrics. Finally, just before the song ends Shadow sees the sign for San Jose, and the exit for the arena. He points to the exit as Slade swerves, just for the hell of it, and cuts someone off. Finally the song comes to a close and Shadow reaches out to pause the stereo. He looks over at Slade who seems a little displeased with the music.

Shadow: So, been meaning to ask man, what’s with the donkey?

Slade- You mean Kelly?

Shadow pauses then turns around, looking out the rear window at the fake donkey in the back of the pick up truck. Slade keeps driving as Shadow just stares at the donkey in silence. Slade made the donkey’s gender slightly obvious.

Shadow: Dude, that donkey is a dude.

Slade- Kelly can be a guy’s name too, hey!

He gives a thumb’s up as Shadow looks at him in disbelief.

Shadow: What the hell?

Craven cuts him off.

Slade- The original slogan was not supposed to be “Hauling Ass” and all that stuff back there. It was supposed to just say, “Level One Sucks Ass.” But, Noooo! Jeff said I couldn’t use that one.

Shadow’s jaw drops. Craven didn’t just say that, did he? Horrible images of Slade driving a truck like that a across the country comes to mind. Then the real thought. What the hell stopped Jeff? Was it the idea Slade might have used a double sided cardboard cutout of Level One? Was it the possible lawsuits? Or would it have been the possibility of Slade getting arrested? Shadow: You’re kidding right?

Slade- Nope. Come on, you never thought about doing something like that? Maybe something about Biggs and his little bitch?

Shadow: The Beast?

Slade- I said ‘little.’

Shadow: No, I didn’t think about broadcasting something implying Biggs and Chris Cyrus were jousters. They do enough of that on their own.

Slade- Well what about Victor and Biggs? You don’t sense a Pulp Fiction like Gimp and Zed relationship there?

Shadow: I really don’t want to think about that. Hades is weird enough as is.

Slade- How many times you need to be told? His name is Victor, it ain’t Hades. It will never be Hades. He’s just plain old emo Victor. That man has no Greek legacy running through his veins. He is no different than John Green, piss and wind. Some bad ass he turned out to me. Pinned one, two, and three, just like everyone suspected. He has not earned any title like a former Greek god, or even earned a reference to raising hell.

Shadow: Okay, on that note, Pence. What do you think about him being called “The Reaper?”

Slade- Sure, the man is a former World Champion. He beat Level One, he can kick some ass. Let him call himself “The Reaper.” But you’re still worried about what happened before Test for the Best, the tag match between you two and Level One and Strange.

Shadow: A little, but the thing I am really wondering about is why in the hell he showed up. You were on your way to the ring, why is Pence jumping into this?

Slade- No idea.

Shadow stops the conversation there just nodding. There is something more going on here. He doesn’t know what. Slade senses Shadow is starting to brood again so he hits the pause button on the CD player once more and Wonderwall begins. Craven revs the engine loudly as they “Haul Ass” towards the arena. After a few seconds Shadow begins to sing, not because its ‘tradition,’ but because he doesn’t want to go to jail. Because if he goes to jail he will miss what’s going to happen tonight.


OVERDRIVE

The ring is abuzz with the premise of a huge tag team match tonight. Harvey and Chase are already at ringside waiting for all the dark matches to end. The fans are teeming with excitement, Pence and Shadow teaming up to take on the revolting duo of Victor Hades and Biggs. As they await the beginning of the next match the lights go out. To the enjoyment of the fans, Shadow’s music begins to play.

Harvey: Whoa! Shadow is coming out!

Chase: About time, after all those jokes he was making.

Harvey: Shut up you nitwit, I mean he is coming to the ring.

Chase: Ah, well he should do both.

Shadow bursts from backstage wearing the same gear he wore two weeks ago. The dark tattered trench coat and the long leather pants with the pentagrams on them. He has no shirt on, his hair let down and sunglasses covering his eyes. Shadow is already prepared to wrestle. As the smoke floods the stage he walks down the ramp, leaving a small wake behind him, before sprinting and sliding under the top rope as the blue and grey lights slowly shift to the natural lighting of the arena. He climbs a single turnbuckle and raises his arm high while fire erupts from the other three corners. Then as the fans continue to unleas1 Tsunamis of cheers, Shadow paces around the ring before pulling a microphon e from one of his coat pockets. He seems steamed.

Shadow: I know all of you are happy to see me, here in San Jose California!

The fans begin to cheer wildly once again as Slade keeps walking in a slow circle.

Shadow: And while you all might be all bright and cheery, I have to say someone has utterly pissed me off.

He stops and looks to the entryway.

Shadow: Victor Hades.

The crowd begins to boo at the sound of his name.

Shadow: Victor Hades did not piss me off when he jumped me last week, granted I did notice him. I guess someone has to be a coward and attack me from behind to actually get my attention here, well someone who really is not worth my time. You see, guys like Biggs and Victor Hades…

More boos.

Shadow: they just go around demanding this and claiming to be able to beat that. Then the moment they find out their talk is just an illusion they snap. And then they ramble on for hours on end about crap no one wants to hear about. Its all the same with these guys. And what has pissed me off is someone douche bag who shall remain nameless,

He shouts loudly without the microphone.

Shadow: Victor Hades!

He takes a breath and talks normally again.

Shadow: Goes around talking like a convict in training. Con-vict. No Con-sh-beep-!

The fans erupt. Harvey and Chase are a little taken aback.

Harvey: Did he just say that?

Chase: They should fine him!

Harvey: Other guys say worse!

Chase: But not on camera.

Harvey: What the hell is the matter with you?

Shadow: He wants to droll on and on like a disease, a virus, thinking no one will ever notice. Spouting cheap movie lines to make his point. Victor Hades, do you need your ass handed to you again to prove all your tripe wrong? You’re like Biggs in so many ways its staggering. You wanted something. And when you didn’t get it you came at me from behind with what you like to think is an equalizer. I refused to fight Biggs because I didn’t want to hurt him, so he went and got “The Beast.” You got put down like a sick animal two weeks ago, you went and got yourself a chair. And now you want to tell everyone how you will not stop, that the attacks will get worse and worse each week if you continue to lose. Let me offer you some free advice so it doesn’t “have” to come to that, don't suck so much!

He lowers the microphone for a second.

Shadow: You despise assholes, what makes me one of those? You want to go off and place titles on people, yet never define why. You call me fake, pathetic, the gum on the bottom of this industry. What have you done to skyrocket yourself to the top, son? I’ve sat back and watched you wrestle. Your greatest moment here was beating Jesse Nunez, and you think that makes you special? Sorry cupcake but you’re no different than every other curtain jerker who walks through that curtain thinking you’re the next big thing. Hades, tonight you have to learn your place, and Pence and I are going to be happy to acquaint you with it. Your place is flat on your back while the ref is raising our hands. Go on, run your mouth, talk about how you are going to hunt us down. Prove to the whole world that you cannot beat someone face to face. When you lose tonight Hades take your walk of shame, go back in the locker room and cut yourself and bleed on the walls. Then when you’re done you can write in your little journal about how Shadow beat you ass, again!

He lowers the microphone to the onslaught of cheers once again. Then he raises back to his lips.

Shadow: And Biggs, don’t think I forgot about you. Biggs this war between you and me, its gone on long enough, but even I will admit, it’s far from over. Tonight Biggs, you got a partner you know nothing about. And there seems to be a trend for you when it comes to tag matches Biggs. You can’t win them. You and Cyrus against Slade and Assassin, your entire faction versus Slade and I, all the champions versus myself and a few others and even the ladder match. Biggs, you have not won a tag match since you got here. A trend that I plan on continuing tonight. I have a score to settle with your tag partner, but I have an even bigger one to settle with you. I will be honest, I am not going to tear you apart tonight Biggs, no, I wont do that tonight. You see I want you to make it to Rival Factions. Because aside from silencing you in front of our audiences, Biggs, I plan on doing it in front of the entire wrestling world! Rival Factions Biggs, its slowly drawing near. I told you after One Night in Hell that you were on borrowed time, and guess what, time is running out!

Shadow lowers the microphone as his music begins to play. He smiles from behind the sunglasses, a dark and sinister smile. But Shadow is in control of himself, he does not pace, nor does he flinch. He is not stressing about tonight’s match, he is waiting for it, like a dog about to burst out of the chute. Someone was going to fall tonight, and Shadow was the only one who knows.

Harvey: Short words to Biggs, Chase.

Chase; Because Shadow doesn’t have anything to say to the man that beat him.

Harvey: You couldn’t be further from the truth, Shadow knows; Actions speak louder than words.

The camera pans around Shadow as it fades to another pre show segment.