ENTER STAGE RIGHT
We return from the commercial break to the lights dimming inside of the Enterprise Center as “Only One King” by Tommee Profit and Jung Youth plays, to a smattering of boos and cheers.
‘Cause there’s only one king
And there’s only one crown
And there ain’t enough room for us both on the throne
So it’s ’bout to go down (So it’s ’bout to go down)
So you better start running
So you better start running
So you better start running
Because I’m coming right now
‘Cause I’m coming right now
Nick Stuart: Well, we saw one member of KING wrestler earlier tonight–
Richard Parker: If we never have to see Garry Ray-Ray Bolamba in PRIME again–
Nick Stuart: Well, we will be seeing him at ReVival 38, Nick. Sorry.
Richard Parker: Sure.
From the backstage area emerges the daughter of the PRIME Hall of Famer, Dusk. She strides onto the stage, filled with confidence and bravado, as the very steel her father walked down repeatedly lies under her feet.
Rose looks out at the audience and takes in her reaction, mixed as it is.
Nick Stuart: It seems like Rose may have curried some favor with a few fans here in St. Louis, courtesy of her father.
Richard Parker: Or maybe those fans are tired of The Anglo Luchador.
Nick Stuart: I guess that could also be the case. No other members of KING are with her tonight, though.
Richard Parker: Meh, they’re around. I wouldn’t be stupid enough to assume she’s by herself.
Time and time again I wake up and
Enemies might attack, but
All that matters in my opinion
Is that the dynasty lasts
So be careful how you talk to me
‘Cause there’s only one king
And there’s only one crown
And there ain’t enough room for us both on the throne
So it’s ’bout to go down
With her brown hair tied into a tight ponytail, Rose walks down the metal ramp. The black leather pants she’s wearing fit tight around her legs but show no restraint as her pace picks up before she turns towards the steel stairs. As she walks up the stairs, her dark black heels stiffly hit them.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
She stands on the ring apron and slips through the top and middle rope before marching towards the center of the ring. Her eyes scan the crowd as she’s in a position she never imagined.
Having the spotlight on her.
A ringside attendant hands her a microphone, and swiftly escapes out of the ring like the good Clarence he is. She looks over at Ivan and Alexei, who seem deep in conversation. Pleased with this, she can ignore them.
As she places it against her lips, the boos rain down upon her, cut with a tidy amount of cheers. Her eyes close as she takes it all in, feeling the butterflies in her stomach and pushing them down as hard as possible.
When she opens her eyes, it’s like they’ve been replaced by the subtlest of conviction, of fire.
Rose: St. Louis… I guess I’ve got some ‘splaining to do.
BOOOOOOOOOO!
RAAAAAAAAAAH!
A devilish smile appears on her face.
Rose: I never intended to step foot in this ring. This was not meant to be my domain, not to be my lot in life, so to say. Yet, on October 6th, 2023, I’m in this very ring. So what did I know? Two weeks ago, I walked out in Chicago, and let me tell you, I felt like throwing up ten times backstage. It was like nothing I ever experienced before, having tens of thousands of eyes locked firmly on you and only you. I will never understand how my father not only came out here but sometimes charged out here with reckless abandon.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Nick Stuart: The PRIME faithful is very fond of the PRIME Hall of Famer.
Richard Parker: They are, but I imagine those cheers won’t last long in this arena.
She looks out at the crowd, proud of her father.
Rose: Of course, my first time out on this stage, in this environment, and The Anglo Luchador is at my feet, nearly unconscious and unsure of what the hell is going on.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
It’s like Richard is a prophet or something.
Rose: There will be plenty of time to discuss The Anglo Luchador. I know he’s back there, still recovering, ever the brave hero, needing to hear the adoration of his fans. Tonight, though, isn’t about him.
She then holds her head up high, looking out at the crowd.
Rose: It’s about me.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
That smile reappears on her face, seductive and alluring all at the same time. She drops the microphone to her side as she walks around the ring, letting the jeers soak in, getting comfortable with that feeling of being hated by the masses.
She raises the microphone to her lips.
Rose: It’s okay, let it out. Let it all out.
The intensity and volume of the jeers only increase as the crowd does not appreciate being told what to do. And yet they eat out of the palm of her hand in the process.
Rose: Because that hatred you feel in your heart, the anger you shower me with, pales in comparison to how I feel. And let me tell you, after the year I’ve had, that’s all that matters to me now: how I feel, standing here in this ring, the very ring that took years away from me.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Nick Stuart: These fans are letting Rose have it.
Richard Parker: They’re pawns, Nick. All of them. Simple pawns.
She walks over to the turnbuckle and leans against it, chuckling.
Rose: You see, my father slaved in this ring. For everyone in this crowd, everyone standing around the ring working it. For the announcers sitting up there, to everyone in the backstage area. He killed himself for every one of you because he thought that being a good guy meant something to everyone.
She draws a shallow breath.
Rose: And all I see is a bunch of people playing dress up, thinking they’re the hero, and falling far short of that mark. So you give me all of your hate, I couldn’t give a damn. Because I know who I am, and I’m one of the few around here who understand that. And each of you cheer these people who come out and play to your emotions, yelling how they’re the good guys, yet their actions are anything but that.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Rose: Keep it coming, assholes. Because I’ve got all night, I’m the one with the microphone and being paid to stand in this ring. You’re the ones who paid for entrance in here. You’re the ones who have made the behavior of these petulant children okay. Do you want an example? HAYES. HANLON.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
It’s unclear if the jeers are for Rose or Hanlon. It could be either at this point.
Rose: Sure, boo him. Hate him for stabbing Sykes in the back at UltraViolence. The problem is that your hypocrisy is not refreshing. Because Hayes Hanlon has been showing you for months as to who he is. Hey, Hayes, baby. I hope you’re in the back listening to this. Please listen closely. Take the glue out of your ears.
She inches towards the ropes facing the ramp to the backstage area.
Rose: You and me are more alike than you realize. Not because I’ll stab someone in the back to get what I want. No, I’ll do it to your face and tell you I will do it beforehand. You’re a coward, through and through. No, we are more alike in ways no one here will truly get. The difference? I don’t hide it. I don’t hide from it. I am who I am, baby, and that’s the dream of being me. People like you, who try to mask over it? They make me sick. Because you’ve lied to everyone for months and I was the only one wise enough to see it lurking behind your pretty eyes.
Nick Stuart: Do you have a clue as to what she is referring to?
Richard Parker: Not in the slightest.
Rose: You’re not the only, though, Hayes. Your partner, man, his transgressions are rich. Hey Jared. How you doing, Jared? Got a forklift you want to hit me with? Want to use your significant other to lure people into traps? The Heart of PRIME would have loved to put a blade of steel through the heart of our new Universal Champion a few months back. Such a big boy, and not just in the tushy department.
The cackle escapes her lips before she can hold it back.
Rose: And yet, when your boy, Nathaniel, was clearly acting out and dealing with untold pain, where were you? Do you want a pat on the back because you didn’t gang up on him like the Brandon Youngbloods and Adam Ellis of the world? Tell me, Jared, did you sit down and talk to him? Be a shoulder for him? Or how about confronting him for the indirect way he opened Justine to absolute bullshit lies? I see you, sugar. One of the few real ones around here. Of course, your man has had no problem hogging the spotlight since those tag titles were retired, right? I sure as shit didn’t see him stand aside for you, put his career on hold for you.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Richard Parker: These people boo her, but hell, tell me she doesn’t have a point.
Nick Stuart: Because there’s context in all of those situations.
Richard Parker: But… shouldn’t people expect more from their heroes?
As the jeers continue throughout the Enterprise Center, she holds her arms out and gestures for them to continue, as if she’s feeding off it.
Rose: Give me everything you have because I could give two shits less. I could go on all day and talk about every single person back there because I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired of watching your so-called heroes acting like they’re the best when they live in the gray and black far more than being the white-hat paladins they claim to be. I would have no problem if they simply strived to be their best and acknowledged when they fell far short, but instead, they acted justified.
She looks directly at the camera at that moment.
Rose: And to that, I say. FUCK. OFF. I mean, did anyone see Brandon Youngblood come out on Night Two of UltraViolence? Did you notice the marks on his face, the way his arm was far more injured than it should have been after what Ivan Stanislav did to him at ReVival 35? None of that burrowed its way into the back of your brains and left you with a nasty thought back there? Or maybe I just happen to know what happened because of the WhatsApp group all of the kids of PRIME wrestlers happen to be in. Didn’t know about that, did ya, Brandon? Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.
Her smile lets on that she’s the keeper of far more secrets than anyone could ever truly know. Ivan and Alexei laugh at the mere mention of the foe they conquered. Rose shoots them a look and they quickly stop laughing and return to their conversation.
Rose: All of this to say, you’re on notice. Each and every single one of you. You don’t have to worry, though. KING isn’t going to run around beating the shit out of everyone, sneaking up on you in the ring during your matches, and knocking you the fuck out. No, no. You see, the battle is done in this ring and only in this ring. We want to fight you? Don’t worry, we will do it in this ring. Because unlike you children in the back, who think you run the asylum, I’ve got enough respect to handle my business where everyone can see it.
She inches towards the ropes once again, hanging onto the top rope.
Rose: All of this to say, don’t come find us. We will come find you when it’s your time.
The microphone drops, the percussive echo ringing throughout the Enterprise Center as a cacophony of boos, jeers, and cheers explode out of the mouths of the fans in attendance. She slips through the ropes and begins to strut towards the top of the ramp, as some fans are just dumbfounded at what they heard.
Nick Stuart: Jeez, what would you call that, Richard?
Richard Parker: I would call that a manifesto and I think it’s very clear that Rose isn’t here to make friends or play nice; she’s here for a purpose, and we started to see just the very corner of it.
Nick Stuart: It came across that way. Let’s head backstage, where I understand The Next Diamond, Nate Colton, is at.