Kacy Knight, the woman that we ALL thought was dead. Tim Worthington, the man whose CAREER we all thought was dead.
The MWA has shown that anyone can come back from anything, apparently including death. August and I are just another example of that. Together we both failed here in the MWA. August was pretty much forced out after what Gambino put him through and I had a crisis of confidence that put me out. But now, together, we’re looking to shine brighter than anyone else.
And by together I don’t just mean in tag-team matches, I mean both being there for each other. Helping each other prepare for matches, physically and mentally. Helping each other train, helping each other in promos.
I think it’s that help, that camaraderie that I’ve been missing in my career. Sure I had Hannah before, and Marcie. But this is different. This feels like a new beginning for me, a chance to get back to the very top of my game.
Let’s face facts; it’s been almost a decade since I did anything meaningful in the MWA. My career took off so fast and I reached the top at a young age. I plateaued. Then I fell. I continued to try and climb back only to fall further. Eventually I stopped trying.
But I’m still only thirty two years old; I have plenty of good years left in me yet. And despite a little ring rust that showed when we lost last Monday there’s still a lot left in the Worthington tank. And there’s going to have to be if I’m going to stand a chance of besting Kacy Knight on BattleZone.
I like Kacy; I respect her a great deal. She’s an MWA Hall of Famer and former MWA World Champion. So am I. On paper this match should be a classic. But in reality you’re all going to witness the start of something special. You’re going to see a new attitude, some new moves. You’re going to see a tougher, rougher Tim Worthington. And with any luck you’re going to see me wipe the floor with Kacy Knight.
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It’s a cold dark and wet night, as you’d expect for this time of year in England. Fortunately for Tim his native Southampton has missed a lot of the snow and ice that seems to be causing havoc in other parts of the country. He’s stood in his apartment looking out of his balcony doors at the marina below, the moonlight reflecting off the water and illuminating the area. He draws the curtains to help keep the heat in and then heads to his sofa, picking up the TV remote and firing up the box as he sits down.
The apartment is small and cosy. A large screen TV in one corner, a bookshelf next to it that’s less than a third full and a large reclining sofa. In the far corner is a small desk and computer. There are no pictures on the walls, no coffee table, no ornaments or decorations of any kind. There is a PS3 under the TV and Blu-ray cases scattered in front of it. A selection of men’s magazines are strewn under the computer desk. This is the very definition of a bachelor pad.
Tim looks at the recordings on his TV service and begins to play the last episode of MWA BattleZone, fast forwarding to his return match where he and August came up short against Barajas and Maximum Violence. He rests his head back on the sofa and runs a hand through his messy brown hair before resting it on his unshaven chin.
Just as the match reaches its conclusion there’s a loud buzz and Tim leaps up, picking up a phone on the wall by the door.
“Hello?” He says, sounding tired and croaky.
“Hey, it’s me.” A woman’s voice comes back.
Tim presses a button on the phone. “Come on up, doors open.”
He heads back to the sofa and re-winds the match to re-watch it. A few moments later there’s the sound of a door opening and closing and then the face of Marcie du Toit pops around the door. The same Marcie that tried to get Tim back into the MWA after Hannah’s death in 2007. The same Marcie that goes by the ring name of Veronique, a former MWA Legacy Champion.
“Hi stranger.” Marcie says in her mixed French/Cypriot accent as she strolls into the room and takes a seat next to Tim, having to move a few TV remotes to make space for herself. “What you up to?”
“Not a lot. Anything new with you?”
“Nah.” Marcie says, shaking her head as she spots what Tim is watching. “So how was the MWA return? Other than the result…”
Tim chuckles. “It was great. Good to see the crew again, met a lot of the new guys. The place has certainly changed since I was last under contract there.”
“Well, so have you.” Marcie points out. “Shame that you and August didn’t get the result you wanted. Didn’t get a chance to make that impact.”
“True. Would have been nice. But we’re a new team, still figuring each other out. It’ll take a few matches for us to gel. And for me to shake of the old ring rust.”
Marcie watches the TV for a moment, seeing the finish of the match. “So what’s next?”
“I’m looking at different opportunities. Had a couple of interesting phone calls from promoters. I have this desire to find new challenges, to get out somewhere new and try to make a name for myself all over again in a new ring. It’s like I have this label in the MWA. Hall of Famer, former two time World Champion. How can you live up to that when you’ve been out of the game so long?”
“So you’re leaving the MWA? Already?” Marcie is stunned.
Tim looks at her with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t be so stupid. I’m not leaving the MWA, that place is my home. But there’s time in my schedule for a little something else so why not pursue it?”
“This something else, would that be with August too?”
“No, something separate. August has Peach State, we both have MWA… I’m just looking for a side project, something to keep me busy on the off weeks between BattleZone’s.”
Tim sits for a moment, suddenly realising something.
“Ronnie, are you pissed that my comeback is with August and not with you?” He asks.
“Pfft.” Marcie rolls her eyes. “Don’t be silly, I’m just happy to see you back in the ring again. August has managed to get you more fired up about competing again than I ever managed to, and that’s a good thing.”
“I think it took someone who had sunk as low as I had to make me realise what I was throwing away, to show me what was still possible.”
Marcie nods. “Well he’s certainly done a good job with you.” She looks around the room. “Now if only someone could get you motivated enough to clean this place and make it a little more homely…”
“Ha! Good luck with that!” Tim says with a smile.
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Four World Title reigns, 3 Tag-Team Title reigns, 2 Heritage Title reigns and a Millennium Title reign. That’s a shit tonne of gold. Over the years Kacy Knight has become accustomed to wearing championship gold around her waist. She’s arguably the greatest British talent to grace the Millennium Wrestling Alliance. And with the likes of Andersen, Glory Braddock, Jason Talbot and Cuchulain on that list that’s some achievement.
But where do I stand on that list? At one time I would have been at the top. Mind you, that was during a time before any of those people had ever stepped foot into an MWA ring. Some people would say I opened the doors for other great British talent to come to the MWA; that without me there would be no Glory Braddock; be no Kacy Knight. There are others who look at it the other way; that every single British star to have stepped foot in the MWA has been better than me.
Who knows, maybe that’s true. Or at least, maybe it was true. That was the old Tim Worthington. Kacy Knight is going to be facing the new Tim Worthington; with a new lease of life and a new attitude. Granted there’s a little ring rust that I’m still working off and I’m carrying a little more weight than I used to… but I feel better than ever. And I’m ready to climb the ladder of success and get myself back to being the best British star in the MWA. And it all starts in Beijing next week.
Zàijiàn!