August’s body ached that night, the night he brawled with his own tag-team partner and was set on by a group intent on making a name for themselves. It wasn’t his greatest night.
“Well the substitution of Dixie Leigh for Tristian Michaels was a surprise.”
August’s wife, Xanthe looked down at him as he was packing his bag.
“An’ it worked well fo’ the Michaels girls. What Tristian lacks in experience she makes up fo’ in bein’ on the same wavelength as her sister.”
Benjamin Doi chimed in as he stood leaning on the door frame to the locker room.
“I hold my hands up, they kicked our asses.” August says as he tosses his tights into his bag. “Or, to be more to the point, they kicked my ass.”
“Now don’ be like dat, man.” Doi tosses a dirty towel at his friend.
Joyce shrugs, thinking back about the match. “I’m aware I was the weak link, I let Jace down. Hell, I let myself down. On the night Tara and Tristian were the better team and they ended my little run as PSW Tag-Team Champion. I have no problems with the result of the match.”
Joyce has finished packing his bag and slings it over his shoulder as he stands up, looking across the room towards his best friend and his wife.
“My only issue is what occurred after.”
——————————————————————————————————————— ——-
Jace, I understand your anger. I understand how pissed off you were to lose that match, to lose those titles. But should you ever lay your hands on me like that again I’ll make sure that you’re in no fit state to ever challenge for those titles, or any other, ever again!
You probably won’t give a shit about me anyway, not with your recent foray into High Octane Wrestling and your series of wins there. But should you and I ever cross paths here in Peach State again… I won’t be the same friendly August Joyce I had to be when I got saddled as your tag-team partner. The August Joyce who went from wrestler of the month to bottom of the pile during my time teaming with you. The August Joyce who was happy just to be getting back to basics and re-learning some skills here in Fayetteville. That August Joyce is now pissed off and out for blood.
To be honest that’s not all down to Jace Parker Davidson.
On my Peach State debut I was randomly attacked by John Empires. Here I am several months later on the receiving end on what appeared to be another random attack, this time from the Young Lions.
Jacobs, King and Svenson… whatever you were trying to do, whatever statement you were trying to make… you chose the wrong person to take out.
Chris, I know I took out a little retribution over in FRONTIER when I came to congratulate you on your big win there. I just wanted to say that was just the beginning. By the time you and I are in that ring together this coming weekend you’ll be wishing you’d never crossed me.
The fans lucky enough to be in Fayetteville this weekend are in for a treat. Dixie Leigh and myself are looking to teach the Young Lions a valuable lesson in respect. And the lesson that everyone should learn from… what goes around, comes around.
So, Young Lions, it’s time to take a seat in the class of Joyce and Leigh. Time to realise that you’re not the alpha males of the Peach State pride; you’re the snot nose cubs picking a fight with the wrong person.
Chris, at FRONTIER I debuted a new move I like to call The Choice. I get someone up in a Canadian Backbreaker and I make a choice of just how to put them away. Piledriver, Yokosuka Cutter… hell, maybe even a Burning Hammer. But with you and King… I’m highly tempted to choose them all.
——————————————————————————————————————— ——-
Benjamin Doi and August Joyce are stood outside Dixieland Fun Park, having just spent the day there. Doi had wanted to see the place ever since he arrived from Vancouver to visit his oldest friend.
“So you all ready for da show?” Doi says in his messed up accent. And that’s to be expected when you’ve lived in as many places as Doi. Born in Nigeria, raised in Chicago by his adopted Japanese parents and then moving to Canada in his teens.
August nods. “Yea, I’m ready. When I came to Fayetteville I was all about moving on, leaving the past behind me and getting back to basics. But I hadn’t changed. I was the same August Joyce, just in a different ring against different people.”
“An’ now you changed?”
“I’m starting to.” August says with a smile. “Learning new moves, training in new ways, spending more time down here.”
“An’ is this new you gonna be teamin’ with Dixie this weekend?” Doi says with a raised eyebrow. “I know she couldn’t be at last months show. She all set for this?”
August shrugs. “I’m not sure. I hope so. Dixie’s been through a lot, her not being around last month was understandable. We’ve not had a chance to train together in preparation for this, but we know each other well enough that it shouldn’t really matter.” He pauses. “Why you asking anyway?”
“Just sayin’, while I’m down here, if you need a partner…” He flashes a big smile at his friend.
“You’re pretty eager to get back in the ring, eh?”
Doi nods. “Hell yes. And what better partner for the Peoples Choice than his old buddy, the Omega Man!”
“True.” August says with a smile, patting his friend on the back. “Just like old times.”
“Exactly!” Doi stops in his tracks, realising something. “An’ that’s why you don’t want me as yo partner.”
August turns towards Doi, looking down at the ground and sighing.
“Part of moving on, of changing, is letting go of certain aspects of the past.” He says with a heavy heart. “The Omega Choice was a hell of a team in its day, but that day is long gone.” He looks his friend clear in the eyes. “If I need an emergency partner, if I need back-up for any reason, I’ll always know I can trust you and I’ll be glad to have you around. But I’m all about moving forward, not looking back.”
“Aight, I get it.” Doi nods. “Now let’s go find dat wife of yours and go eat.”
——————————————————————————————————————— ——-
This weekend, Fall Fight. Yours truly and Dixie Leigh take on the Young Lions in tag-team action. Dixieland be prepared, you’re going to witness four top stars tear up Fayetteville.
But in the end there can be only one choice for winner.
The Peoples Choice.