Owen Lee vs. Derek Adonis

[Corner G]

ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY)

A Derek Adonis Tale…

The fall from grace continued for Derek Adonis. One month after hiring a prostitute to manage her personal affairs, she had cleaned out what little the disgraced former womanizer-turned-preacher had left. Who would have thought that you could not trust a prostitute you meet on a Las Vegas bus? So at present, he lives arena to arena, sleeping in the locker-rooms that SCW occupies for it’s Breakdowns and house shows, stowing away some discarded catering and sleeping in areas where man dare not tread, escaping the women’s locker-rooms (hey, they smell nicer) before morning when actual humans may catch him. 

It’s a precarious life. 

Still, as long as he remained under SCW contract, Derek felt as though there was still a chance for him. If he could get in with the right crowd, his career would be resurrected, his cash flow would increase, and his life would be infinitely better. Still, Cookie had moved on and wouldn’t even answer his texts (typically because he just sends the words “Heavy breathing” to her - Derek doesn’t understand how texting actually works), and Manvel had moved on. His former Presidential running mate, Beard, had seen through his charade as an attempt to maintain relevance and dropped him like a bad habit, and Stacy Kissinger hadn’t been heard from since Derek defeated her for the Championship of Television.

So he sang…

ADONIS: “Left standing in the lurch at a church

Were people saying, My God, that's tough

She stood him up

No point in us remaining

We may as well go home

As I did on my own

Alone again, naturally”

Adonis was a mess. 

It was because of his singing, however, that he was unaware of the presence of another individual. Call it fate… call it destiny… call it whatever you want. But the individual approaching the sad scene was not deterred by the off-key singing nor the questionable odours. And as Adonis sang, he was unaware that he was about to be kidnapped.

ADONIS: “Leaving me to doubt

Talk about, God in His mercy

Oh, if he really does exist

Why did he desert meEEEEEEEEE…!!!”

Mid-chorus, a king-sized pillowcase is brought down, encasing Adonis’ head as a large individual wraps arms around him, carrying him off like he were a sack of potatoes. Adonis realised this and, in his hunger, could not separate the thought of his being potatoes with the thought of him EATING potatoes and willingly gave up the fight.

~~~~~~

Voice: “Get him up.”

Derek Adonis could only see blackness, the oversized pillowcase still wrapped around his head as he sat on a cold steel chair, laying across a metal table illuminated by a single light. The male voice instructing his position echoes in his ears, sounding oddly familiar. Another pair of hands follows the instruction, pulling him to an upright position and ripping the pillowcase away from his head. Adonis squints as his eyes adjust to the sudden inflow of light, but it isn’t long before he able to focus on the smiling visage of Shawn Mason(?)!

Mason: “Hello, Derek.”

Adonis: “Wha… what are you…?”

Mason: “Relax. I have no bearing in what happens to you here. But you, Derek… you have made a bit too much of a splash. I was asked… hired, really, if we’re going to split hairs… to assess your mental status. So how are you?”

Adonis: “Confused.”

Mason laughs. 

Mason: “Yes, I do suppose your current state would not exactly lend itself to lucidity, so let me clarify… how is Derek Adonis’ place in the world today?”

Adonis: “Wha…?”

Mason: “You owe a lot of money to a lot of people, don’t you? Including my employer.”

Adonis: “I don’t owe Kelcey Wallace anyth…”

Mason laughs, cutting Adonis off. 

Mason: “I am not referring to the Perfect Ten, Derek. See, my services, while steeped in loyalty, remain for sale. I’m a professional, after all. I cannot, in good conscience, stay with one client while others exist who are willing to pay. Call it freelancing if you must.”

Adonis: “... I must.”

Mason: “So be it. I represent a Syndicate out of Atlantic City that sought to expand into Las Vegas, and even made a few inroads. But your recent bout with religion put a bit of a snag on those expansion plans. You got loud. Investors got cold feet. So now, you owe my employer.”

Adonis: “Look, I have nothing left, okay? N-o-t-h-i-n-g l-e-f-t.” 

Mason: “We know.”

This smug response gets under Adonis’ skin in a manner that hasn’t quite been experienced, at least not recently. 

Adonis: “Then why am I here!? How can I hope to repay anything if you know I have nothing!?”

Despite his insistence, Mason doesn’t flinch.

Mason: “Because your very existence provides value.”

Derek perks up a bit. Was that a compliment?

Mason: “I don’t mean that as a compliment.”

It was not. Derek slouches back to his seat. 

Mason: “But the fact that you are still alive means you have the capability to… how should we say… recompense my employer for your deeds. Derek… Mr. Adonis…”

Mason smirks, really starting to pour on the charm against the dunderheaded Adonis. 

Mason: “My employer wishes to purchase your contract and take your spot on the SCW roster. You will be compensated fairly, and the money would allow you to continue to pay your alimony towards your ex-wives and child support for your… what was it? One son?”

Adonis: “Yes.”

Mason: “Well, one that you know of. Womanizer like you… who knows how many bastard children you have behind the curtains that are secret to even you?”

Adonis went to respond, but couldn’t muster any words. He was a fish on the hook, with the cash of Mason’s “employer” acting as the most delicious bait. After failing in his response, Adonis takes it as a sign… not from any God or any higher power, but from his gut.

Adonis: “They want my spot?”

Mason: “My employer wishes to profit from your position. You sell her your contract, she profits from your appearances and merchandising while paying you a base salary. You get the upfront payment, the consistent wage and everyone wins.”

Adonis thinks about those words… “Everyone wins”... until…

Mason: “Unless you don’t in the ring. Then she reserves the right to remove you from the spot and insert someone else, or assume the position herself.”

Adonis: “Can… can I think about it?”

Mason: “You may, but don’t take too long. My employer is not known for her patience.”

Adonis nods. Mason smiles, motioning to the hired goons. 

Mason: “Gentlemen, please show Mr. Adonis here to the exit. And Derek… I say this not as an employed negotiator, but as The Perfect Mind. You’ll never find a better deal than this. This is how you rebuild your shattered life. My advice? Take the deal. We’ll be in touch.”

Adonis takes in Mason’s words, nodding his head in acknowledgement as he is guided out of the room. As Shawn stands in place, he is joined by a long-legged blonde bombshell. She strides towards Mason, standing beside him,

Mason: “I didn’t think you’d join us today.”

Jenni Anderson, The Queenpin, smiles as she rests her arm on Shawn’s shoulder. 

Anderson: “And miss seeing “The Perfect Mind” at work? That was masterful.”

Mason smirks, almost chuckling. 

Mason: “Please… Derek Adonis? It’s like dealing with an impulsive child. All I needed to do was appeal to his current situation and he melted.”

Anderson: “Yes… pity we had to rip his life away to get here, but sometimes you have to make a little mess to get what you want.”

Mason smirks.

Mason: “He’ll agree. He has no choice.”

Anderson: “Good. See to it that he does. We’ll be in touch.”

Jenni steps towards Mason, planting a soft kiss on his cheek before stepping away. Mason smirks as she strides away. The scene fades.

—

THE FOLLOWING IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT

“Derek Adonis is seeking a career revitalization. The talk of the town… once upon a time, he was what one would consider enhancement talent. His job once upon a time was to happily lose to enhance the career and the rise of others. 

Then he stopped.

This is a man who one day decided he was not going to perpetuate the same cycle and become the Champion of Television. Over two year transitions, he carried that Championship. A proud and boastful Champion, Derek Adonis became a force to be reckoned with.

And then it all came crashing down. 

He lost his friends. He lost his wife. He lost his business. He lost his mind. He lost his religion. He lost everything. 

At Breakdown, you will witness a broken man. But you will witness a broken man who will not stop. You will witness a broken man with nothing left to lose but his very heartbeat.

You will witness a man with his entire future ahead of him. Owen Lee has not yet hit his prime. Derek Adonis’ prime is clearly behind him. But Owen Lee will be in a dangerous situation, facing a wounded bear that is ready to lash out. 

God dammit, what a show it’s gonna be!”

Paid for by the Queenpin Syndicate