Post by kaster on Jun 3, 2024 4:00:01 GMT
"Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too."
- Marcus Aurelius
He had seen it happen. Every moment of it. There had been a changing of the elite. It was an event that would surely be etched in history. His ears still rang with sounds of the closing bell, not to mention the sudden uproar of thousands of voices. His heart threatened to beat so fast that it would not beat anymore. A knot formed in his stomach. He turned away and ducked behind the curtain. As he walked through the corridor, he caught a glimpse of the live feed.
The man dressed in scarlet had done it. A brutal affair on all fronts, but he had succeeded in his quest. He held his prize aloft, emotion rippling across his face. Confetti trickled from the sky like colorful rainfall. “Done With Everything” blared on the PA, but it barely made a dent in the unrelenting din of the audience. He was happy. The people were happy. This was his moment.
But soon… that moment would pass.
Static buzzes before grainy footage appears. It’s an old IWF broadcast, with a CRT filter on top of it. The footage has a date in the top right corner. 8/20/2022 is what it reads. For a second, Caleb Cannin appears. He’s sat upon a weightlifting bench with a towel over his shoulder.
"My name is Caleb Cannin and I am the FUTURE of the IWF-"
Before another word comes out of his mouth, static cuts him off. Another clip comes in through the fuzz. 10/20/22. Caleb is now in a backstage “interview”, though he has completely dominated the shot.
"You have dozens of guys who claim they’re the best in the business. I only say it because I am IT-"
10/27/2022.
He looked sick. Like something had been keeping him up at night. There seemed to be a dark desperation in his eyes.
"I want to win. I’ve always wanted to be the best. It’s been in my blood since the day I was born. I just knew I was destined for great things. Do you want a story-"
1/27/2023.
He is at a press conference, dressed in shades and a gray three-piece suit.
"People talk about Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson. Guys who were the best at what they did. Soon enough, they’ll be adding Caleb Cannin to that list-"
5/27/2023.
Another press conference, though he looks a lot less tense and plenty more confident while he talks. The Television Championship is proudly displayed on his shoulder as the centerpiece for attention.
"A real man, an iron man if you will, only needs his name and his ability to make himself immortal-"
8/20/2023.
He stands in the ring, with the audience booing at every word he says. He holds up the Joker in the Pack briefcase, letting everybody see the power he holds.
"The second I unhooked this briefcase and held it above my head, I knew what it felt like. It was a taste of raw, unmitigated power. It was a taste of things to come, sooner or later. It was a taste of… of change-"
10/22/2023.
The eyes, oh god, the eyes. The windows into the soul, right? This soul was fractured and rapidly decaying with every second.
"Ambition wants to turn my body inside out and leave it all to the vultures. And I would let it. I’ll let it do that and more if it means I get to win-"
12/13/2023.
He stands in the middle of the ring, trying to be candid about his situation. It was all from the heart on this one.
"…I will cash in this contract and I will be cashing it in for the IWF World Championship. I am still ironing out some kinks with the contract but rest assured, I do not plan on leaving empty-handed-"
The shot suddenly zooms out. A mechanical back-up of the camera reveals that all of these clips are being played at the same time, all on different television screens. Some depict Caleb as young and cocky. A few portray him as desperate and maniacal. Maybe even one or two show off his vulnerability. But they all have got one thing in common-
"THE FUTURE!"
"THE FUUUUUUTUUUUUURE!"
"THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
It all plays at once, with most of them overlapping each other in near-perfect synchronization. The shot then slowly tilts down to reveal a chair stood right in front of all the screens. A figure sits in the chair whilst multiple Caleb Cannins put an end to their promos. After all is quiet, the figure applauds. The camera is positioned right at the back of the figure, with much of the person being obscured by shadow.
One by one, the screens all shut off, leaving a wall of dark glass. The figure stands up whilst their claps burst through the tense silence. As soon as the applause slows down and eventually comes to an end, a light casts a better view on the scene. The figure turns around to reveal, of course, Caleb Cannin. That infamous sly grin appears as he nods at the camera.
"Showtime, baby."
He takes a step towards the camera. His hands reach out and push the camera over, causing it to tumble to the ground. As the scene turns to black, a light shuffling can be heard in the background. Suddenly, the camera is picked up. Now, the scene is put inside the famous Rome Colosseum. It’s broad daylight out as the camera sweeps the amphitheater, seemingly from the perspective of the building’s center. After doing a full 360 degree view of the Colosseum, it finally comes to the center, where Caleb Cannin stands on a platform. He leans up against the railing, taking in the view. As he turns to the camera, he takes the sunglasses off.
"It’s serious business now."
"We’re not talking about some squabble over respect. This isn’t fun and games. It’s a matter of making my whole career. It’s about taking over an empire. I, like the men who battled in this very Colosseum, enter as a warrior with the stakes as high as they ever could be. Everything I have done, every match I’ve been in, every single word I have ever said… it all culminates in this match. The little kid that was surrounded by addicts and abusers… this is his dream. I’m bringing his dream to life right now. I know you understand my upbringing, Warren. You might understand it more than anybody. I had issues with my father. Hell, he wasn’t Spike Kane, but he put pressure on me like nobody else has. And every time he told me I wasn’t good enough, I wanted to sock him right in his goddamn face. I’ve been through that hell. It’s a unique type of hell for people like us. My father still walks on this earth and I’ll be damned if I don’t prove him wrong. Your father is dead and buried. I’m not going to hold that against you, Warren. In fact, I feel relieved for you. You have proven that you’re capable of getting out of his shadow. Warren, I am my own fucking shadow. This is not your little love story between you and Dean, this is MY chance to earn a rightful place at the top of this industry."
"Congratulations, Warren. You managed to dethrone one hell of a champion. And you tapped him out, no less. I can’t say I’m not impressed. What I can say is this: I know that you believe I’m a loudmouth kid who doesn’t have a shot at winning that championship. Good, Warren. That’s exactly what I would expect out of you. While you’ve been occupied with this fucked up soap opera with your husband, I’ve been watching, waiting and planning. Do you think I fell ass backwards into this match? Your brain really must be fucked then. I wanted to have my moment at Night of the Immortals. I have bided my time with this guaranteed shot at the world title so that I could take every measure in making sure the time was right. And now, fancy that, I get the world champion coming off his grueling title win just one week later. I couldn’t really ask for better odds than that. And yeah, I know that fuck Chaney will want to make our match like his burgers and make it a triple. If that’s the case, then he is going to sorely disappointed when I wrap a chair around your fucking head. I would wrap a chair around Allen, but I got a feeling his fat head won’t get through it."
"You’ve treated me like an afterthought over and over again. I get it. Focus on Dean, then you can get the main course after. I know that you think this all will end with you walking out of Rome with that title around your waist. If you keep thinking that, then I’ll make sure that your biggest moment turns into your worst nightmare. What you’ve done over the course of your career is nothing short of incredible, Warren. You simply forget that there is always an ending to every story and I intend to be your ending. I can make you be etched into history forever… as the man with the shortest World title reign in IWF history. I have been waiting my whole life for an opportunity like this. It’s been my goal ever since I got into professional wrestling. Despite all the odds being against me, I have brought myself to June 2nd. I have earned this match. You can piss and moan all you want about how I’ve handled Joker in the Pack, but I know even the smallest part of your mind is overwhelmed with the fear of me beating you. I am here to be the beginning of a new age in professional wrestling. The era of the Kanes, Harpers and Blakes will come to an end. People will come from all around the world to watch us fight. They want to see if you can truly show up and be the champion they all think you are… but they also want to see if I can make good on a promise that’s been simmering for nearly two years. I have put in the work, I have run the gauntlet of some of IWF’s best and even though I haven’t always succeeded, I have been competitive with every single one of them. I have studied both you and Dean in preparation for this match, so I know every single move, every step and every fucking breath you take while you’re in the ring. This isn’t a game built on strength, it’s a war won with strategy. And I have maintained that I am the best strategist in this business. You have the heart and the passion, Warren, I saw it in your eyes as you submitted Dean on night one. Heart and passion can only get you so far. I have the mind and the hunger to take that title from you with a smile on my face."
"You have never faced me in the ring. This will be a first-time match for both of us. The difference is that while you’ve had to prepare yourself physically, emotionally and mentally for two matches, I have only had to prepare for one. And when you walk back into that arena, you will feel every ache and soreness in your body. That’s where I will be at my best. Think about everything that’s led you to this point. The Roulette was an impressive performance, Warren, I can’t deny that. But I plan on taking everything that you’ve worked for. It’s not personal, at least not for me. It’s a matter of you being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You couldn’t let Dean go and I admire that you have sacrificed your own husband, the man closest to you, in order to win championship gold. When I look at that, I see a man that is willing to do anything to keep that glory. But I’m not your husband. I won’t be waking up and meeting you for breakfast the next morning. And I certainly won’t be the one getting fucked by the end of all this. It will be my battle against a man who holds the only thing that I’ve ever coveted. Even when I was Television Champion, all I could think about was that World title. Every night, I went to bed dreaming about holding that championship above my head. The Joker in the Pack was my chance to make that dream come true. I knew that it had to happen on the biggest stage possible. You’ve had your main event win. Now, it’s my turn to make history. God damnit, I AM the future of this business, and it’s about time I proved it! This may be my one and only chance to fight for the World Championship at Night of the Immortals, so I will do anything to put that championship around my waist. You and I, Warren, aren’t as different as you think. The way I see it, we may just be two sides of the same coin. You have managed to climb to the top of the mountain, but I don’t think it was simply a matter of gold for you. There was more on the line for you. You still get to walk out with a potential relationship in repair. If I don’t walk out with that World Championship… then what do I have? That’s why I need to win this, Warren. It will be do or die for me. Everything that I’ve said and worked for, it has to result in the IWF World Championship. Nothing less will satisfy. And I’m not asking you to understand that, I’m telling you that will be the reason why you lose on Sunday."
"You may think that I’m lazy. That I’m a cheater. That I won’t ever be able to back up anything that I say. If any of that were true, then it should be a cakewalk for you. But it won’t be. I will be ready for anything that you try to throw at me, Warren. Cry foul all you want, but I can and will outperform you at Night of the Immortals. I have to. This business may be in your very blood, but I’ve gotten to this point despite my blood. My heritage isn’t decorated with champions or legends. I didn’t need to be a Kane or a Harper to become a star. I got to this point by being Caleb Cannin in the only way I knew how. If you have a problem with that, then I suggest you try to prove me wrong. I want to be the best wrestler in the world and that championship is a symbol of being the best. It means that you are the pinnacle of our sport. And I know there will be people that believe that me holding it will taint the lineage of the championship. To them, fuck you. To people who support me, they add fuel to the fire within me."
"So when we stand toe-to-toe in Rome, the differences between you and I will show. Again, two sides of the coin. Your pride and willingness to fight versus my confidence and strategy. It will be a match for the ages. I only hope that we can have our match with no fucking blowhards trying to insert themselves into it. Ironic coming from me, I know. But I plan on taking gold like a conquistador and showing why I have been calling myself the Future. The Future is what I have to be, because you’ve got motherfuckers like RAM, Nick Danger and the Kings of Flight. Guys who can’t get to that top level. I have to carry the flag for the next generation. The next generation begins with me and ends when a new Future comes around to rear his head. Night of the Immortals will be the chance for the Future to finally become the present. Right now, I stand before you as a man with hunger in his heart. When I leave Rome, that hunger will be satisfied with the gold that I wear. I will prove that I am the best in the world. This match is a must-win scenario for me. You call it cockiness, I call it ambition. I have to be the wrench thrown into your World Championship plans. This will be the moment that I’ve been waiting for almost an entire year for. Once I socked JC Keeton in the face and unhooked that briefcase, I knew what I had to do. Night of the Immortals was the only appropriate stage for what is going to happen: the crowning of the Future. Warren, I know you will give me one hell of a fight. But while you’ve been busy trying to fix a marriage and worrying about love, I’ve been waiting to create the one opportunity that I’ve been afforded throughout my entire career. You’ve won the title before, Warren, so you know how important that first time is. I plan on popping my World title cherry in front of thousands roaring with anticipation. It is more than fitting that we settle this in Rome, the home of one of the most powerful empires in history. The IWF, an empire of the pro wrestling industry, will see a shift in power. In the center of our very own Colosseum, quite like this one, we find out who is the best in the world. Warren Harper or Caleb Cannin. The second-generation champion versus the smack-talking upstart. So while you’re busy trying to be a thirst trap and talking about whatever fucking sex position you and Dean do, I’m over here talking about making history and the desire of greatness. I think I know whose head is more in the game on this one.'
"I’ll leave you with a final message, Warren. I hope you’ve enjoyed every waking moment with that championship. Cherish it, savor it, remember it. It will make it sweeter when I walk in as the brash, loudmouth, lazy bastard that you think I am… and I walk out as everything that I’ve believed I am. Night of the Immortals will be the start of the new age. The empire of IWF will see a new champion rise. He is the fastest rising star in the business. The breakout star. The Joker in the Pack. The man who will make Warren Harper wish that he wasn’t in his daddy’s shadow, but his fucking grave. He is the FUTURE…"
Caleb pauses, as it appears that he’s about to start that signature catchphrase. He then snickers and shakes his head.
"The future… IWF World Champion. Caleb. Cannin. When in Rome, Warren, when in Rome…"
He winks at the camera before looking out towards the surrounding Colosseum. Even though it is a relic of a past age, something about the building speaks to him. From every bit of history can rise a new and better future. He wants to be that future. It must be his time.
The arena is empty. Most of the workers have filed out, leaving only Caleb Cannin to stand in the center of the ring. He looks around the stadium, knowing that every seat will be filled. The place he stands is the very same place where he saw his opponent be decided. Where everyone rejoiced for the victory. He knows that the reaction would never be the same for him, no matter what.
He pulls out his wallet and flicks through it. Cards, IDs and cash are found in the folds, but he stops and pulls out one particular thing: a folded-up paper. As he unfolds it, the paper is revealed to be a worn photo. His eyes lock onto the photo briefly, as he looks visibly emotional.
The photo is of a young boy held in the arms of a woman, supposedly the boy’s mother. He flips over the photo and looks at some writing on the back.
"Caleb,
There is nothing in this world that makes me more proud than you.
I wish there was more I could have done for you, but I know you will be okay.
Don’t let people get to you. You have a heart of gold, never forget that.
You can be anything you want, as long as you are willing to make your own future.
Love you forever and always,
Mom"
He folds the paper back up and shoves it back into the wallet. A long sigh escapes from his lungs as he longingly scans the stadium.
This would be his time to define his career.
A new champion.
A new era.
A new Future.
Well howdy there pardner.