NOT TONIGHT

Uneventful and PRIME are two words that simply don’t go together in the same sentence. Unless you’re saying that PRIME and uneventful are two words that simply don’t go together in the sentence. But that seems like a Catch-22 and we are not here for Catch-22s. Or are we?

The Lost Soul himself, Dusk, emerges from the dressing room, ready for his upcoming match against the definition of Cool, Cancer Jiles. As he does, there is a quick roar from the crowd, but we don’t have time to dwell on that. No, not at all. We instead have more pressing matters to attend to.

Each step he takes, he takes with a purpose. His mind is focused on the task at hand: dispatching of Cancer Jiles and claiming victory in his final ReVival match.

As he turns the corner though, he nearly runs into one of his few friends in the backstage area, the Intense Champion himself, The Anglo Luchador. Cue another roar from the crowd as they see the Intense one himself.

Dusk wraps his arms around TAL’s shoulders.

Dusk: Sorry about that, buddy. I almost didn’t see you there. Mind focused on other things, in other places, doing other things.

TAL: Been there, done that. Besides, I’d be distracted if I had to dispatch a carton of eGGs.

Dusk: Exactly.

He looks TAL over.

Dusk: So, you look to be doing okay. Why don’t you walk with me to the Argyle position? 

TAL: Sure. Look—

They turn a corner and begin to walk past catering.

Dusk: You know, I’m always surprised when I walk by this place and it’s not devoured. Like, does Bobby Dean not realize we have catering? 

TAL: This is the fourth time they restocked everything here. Buffet staff is starting to get testy.

Dusk pauses in his tracks and looks at TAL.

TAL: It’s like this every show that Bobby is at. He arrives like four hours early for the show, which is probably twelve hours early for him.

Dusk: Seriously? How did I never notice that?

Dusk places his hands on his hips, ponders that for a moment, and then shakes his head.

Dusk: The amount of information that is useless and yet needed all at the same time. It’s wild. Okay, let’s continue.

They continue their walk towards the Argyle position.

TAL: So yeah, just wanted to thank you for coming out to help me with Tact last week. Did me a real solid with everyone else wanting a pound of my flesh lately. Tact’s a real sore loser, huh.

Dusk: No kidding. Still, not a problem, my friend. Look, I’ve been watching Tact and know what he is capable of. He is on the precipice of cracking, his frustration has built to a point that he has no hope of bottling it. I knew you had it in the bag, but I knew if he didn’t win, that he would snap. Sure enough, he did just that.

TAL: Not many people I can count on to help me out when I need it. You know, there’s Ria. Rezin, maybe. Fighting for Nora. Probably Anna Daniels depending on what mood she’s in. Colton and the Mix Boys for sure. You know, maybe I should form a stable. What do you think?

Dusk gives the old luchador the side eye given the climate in PRIME lately.

Dusk: I mean, it sounds like you probably didn’t need me after all last week and I don’t think you included me in that stable of yours, but that’s okay. I was still happy to be there. 

TAL nods his head, placing his hand on Dusk’s shoulder.

TAL: I was joking about the stable. I don’t think it works logistically. Lots of big egos, y’know? Still, thank you, glad your ego still isn’t as big as your age.

Dusk shoots a look back that says “really?” while the old luchador smirks. As the two look at each with the moment turning a bit awkward, Angelica Brooks turns up at just the right moment.

Angelica Brooks: Dusk, you have a moment before your upcoming match?

Dusk looks at Angelica and then back at TAL, who slowly removes his hand.

Dusk: Yeah, sure. Anything else?

TAL: Yeah… you sure about this retirement thing? Is this really it for you?

Dusk’s smile slowly vanishes as he can feel the seconds winding down upon his skin. He slowly nods his head.

Dusk: Yeah, I think it is.

TAL nods his head one last time.

TAL: Well, if I don’t get to see you at UltraViolence, just know it’s been a blast having you around again. It’s always good to have a friend to count on, y’know?

TAL extends his arm, his fingers curled into a fist bump, and Dusk matches it.

TAL: Alright, let me get out of here. I’ll see you around man. Enjoy your interview.

TAL then exits from the screen and Dusk turns his attention to Angelica, his smile returning to his face.

Dusk: Angie… not too many more times we get to do this.

Angelica Brooks: No, not at all. Obviously, we just saw TAL and you walking together. You came out at ReVival 14 as Tact, post-match, started a vicious attack on TAL after losing the Intense Championship. You seemed ready for Tact compared to ReVival 13. What was the difference?

Dusk: You know, Angie, I’ve been trying to play diplomat since returning to PRIME. Trying to not get into backstage brawls and let my emotions get the better of me. In some ways, I wonder if that was the right way to go about things. Look at Phil Atken. Look at Larry Tact. Enough was finally enough. These fans, they know who I am. They know that I’m a no bullshit kind of guy and when it came to it, it was time to remind them, everyone exactly who I am. Let me tell you Angie, that steel chair colliding with Tact felt so sweet.

Angelica Brooks: Oh, I bet. I’ve wanted to take a steel chair to a few pe— you know what, never mind. UltraViolence is going to be here before you know it and you have your chance to settle things in the ring with Larry Tact once and for all, in your final match. What are your feelings going into that match.

Dusk slowly shakes his head. 

Dusk: Not time to talk about that yet, Angie. I can’t look past my match tonight or else I’m going to be caught on my back foot against Tact. Time will come for you and I to talk about Tact though.

Angelica Brooks: Fair enough. So then, you have Cancer Jiles tonight. This is a huge match for you, going up against someone who will be main eventing UltraViolence, his second PPV he will be headlining in three such events. How have you prepared for him tonight?

Dusk: You know, Angie, many people look at Cancer Jiles and think that he’s a joke and wonder how he has gotten to exactly where he is today. And that’s how he did it. By making everyone believe he is a joke when he is nothing of the sort. He’s dangerous in that ring. He’s conniving and always three steps ahead. He’s not afraid to do what it takes to win in that ring. The moment you underestimate him, that you give him an inch, he is going to take it and you’re going to wonder how you just lost to someone that you believed you shouldn’t have lost to. So my preparation these last two weeks is simply that; to take him seriously.

Angelica Brooks: And how has that translated to what we will see in the ring tonight?

Dusk: If anything, Youngblood gave us the blueprint for Jiles. Remain physical with him, stay in his face, and just extract punishment upon him. Even with that, it’s going to be an uphill battle, but I didn’t come back to PRIME to simply coast. If I wanted to be World Champion, be the top dog, I could be that anywhere else. Instead, I decided to continue to test myself. Cancer Jiles is a test, but unlike Cancer, I have nothing to lose tonight. Cancer has to win and desperation makes people do funny things. He absolutely cannot go into UltraViolence with a loss under his belt. That’s the one thing we know about Cancer, he has an ego the size of Texas and it is every bit as fragile. That’s how I attack him tonight, making him have to earn his victory tonight.

Angelica Brooks: Your final ReVival match—

Dusk: Not tonight, Angie. Not tonight

Angie nods her head as Dusk turns and finds himself face to face with the Suplex God himself, Brandon Youngblood.

Dusk: Well…

Brandon Youngblood: The Bandits are feeling frisky tonight. Been feeling frisky in a lot of places lately. They ain’t doing no more of that shit like they just pulled on Paxton and Rhine. Bobby Dean or Doozer come around the corner? They’re going through the wall.

Dusk smiles as he looks at Youngblood.

Dusk: Appreciate it.

Brandon Youngblood: Craig, this is your last stand. Might not be by your own hand. Might not be by circumstances any of us want to face. From Atken on out…I know how much PRIME means to you. Know if you had it how you want, you’d be going out on top with the Universal Title. You might not get that storybook ending, but you can…you will…go out there and show you belong…that you always have. Take a piece off Cancer Jiles? You can’t kick Father Time’s ass, but you sure as shit can his.

Dusk is touched by the sentiment and places his hand on Brandon’s shoulder.

Dusk: Thanks. Look, sorry about what happened with Atken–

Youngblood holds his hand up.

Brandon Youngblood: Tonight ain’t about him. Right now, it’s about you. Your time. Your moment. Go out there and do what you do. Make a statement. Make sure they will always remember you.

Dusk nods his head before he finishes his walk towards the Argyle position and prepares himself for his final ReVival match. Each step feels heavier than the last, until there are no more steps left to take.