December 29th, 2016

Micheal is pacing back and forth in the kitchen of his Pittsburgh residence. He seems to be troubled by something. His wife Stephanie can't help but notice as she walks in to put away an empty glass. Micheal doesn't seem to notice as she walks over and places the dirty glass in the sink.

Stephanie Graves: “Micheal!”

Micheal jumps, shocked by his wives sudden interruption.

Stephanie Graves: “Why are you pacing?”

Micheal walks over to the kitchen table and takes a seat.

Micheal Graves: “I've opted in.”

Stephanie seems confused by his answer.

Stephanie Graves: “What does that mean?”

Micheal smiles, he had forgotten that Stephanie wasn't really a part of this life the last time. They had just started dating towards the end of his XWF run.

Micheal Graves: “It means that I made myself available for bookings again.”

Stephanie Graves: “Well that's great!”

Mike looks down towards the floor with an unsure look about him.

Micheal Graves: “Yeah I guess...”

Stephanie Graves: “Ok, what's wrong?”

Micheal Graves: “Nothing, I'm just worried.”

Stephanie Graves: “About what?”

Micheal Graves: “About not being able to compete at the level that I need to.”

Stephanie Graves: “Honey, you'll do fine.”

Micheal Graves: “That's exactly what I'm worried about. That I'll do fine.”

Stephanie Graves: “Um... Ok I don't understand.”

Micheal Graves: “It's going to take a whole lot more than fine to do anything of significance. Problem is I think I have an entire career of doing fine.”

Stephanie Graves: “Honey calm down. You were great at Wild Card Weekend!”

Micheal looks up to his wife, shaking his head.

Micheal Graves: “No, I'm pretty sure that impostor was just that bad.”

Stephanie Smiles as she takes a seat across from her husband and reaches out taking his hand into hers.

Stephanie Graves: “You are your own worst critic. The problem isn't that you aren't good enough. The problem is you always push yourself to be better, and honestly that's not a problem, it's why you're so good.”

Micheal Graves: “Did you watch the show?”

Stephanie Graves: “Wild Card? Of course, you know that I did.”

Micheal shakes his head no.

Micheal Graves: “Not just my match, I meant did you watch the whole show?”

Stephanie Graves: “Um, I saw bits and pieces.”

Micheal Graves: “There is some real talent here babe. Far more than there was ten years ago.”

Stephanie cuts Micheal a disbelieving look.

Stephanie Graves: “You have always told me just how good the old guys were. Steve Jason, CYREN, Weapon:Ashen, um... that Killjoy fellow.. um... I can't remember, I know there are more.”

Micheal Graves: “Yes, we had some very talented guys back then, but it's different now.”

Stephanie Graves: “How is it different?”

Micheal Graves: “I knew I could beat anyone on the roster back then. Now I'm not so sure. I'm just afraid that I'm going to go out there and fail.”

Stephanie Graves: “...and so what if you do?”

Confusion, that's the emotion that just took over Micheal Graves.

Micheal Graves: “Huh?”

Stephanie Graves: “So what if you fail? Two months ago these guys didn't even remember you. The fans quit asking for autographs years ago, and we were living a happy life despite all of that. So I ask so what if you do fail?”

Micheal Graves: “I guess that I can't really argue with that logic, other than to say that I just don't want to fail.”

Stephanie Graves: “Then don't.”

Present Day


I've declared my goal for all to know. Okay, more like I declared it to myself and my former manager, but it's out there none the less. I want to challenge for the Universal Championship. Do I think that I'll get a shot anytime soon just because I want it? Of course not. I know that I will have to put in the work to get what I want, and for the first time in my life, I think that I'm willing to do so. A lot has changed for me since I was last in the XWF. So much so that it kind of scares me how different I am now. I used to whine about being over looked like so many others do, like Thaddeus does. I used to think that because of my raw talent, everything I wanted in life was owed to me. When I defeated Killjoy for the XWF World Title back in the day, I wasn't happy that I won the World title. I just used that win as ammunition to bitch about not having been given a chance to challenge for the Universal Title. That's exactly what I think Thaddeus will do if he ends up winning the X-Treme Championship.

I see a lot of my younger self in Thaddeus. He's talented and cocksure. He has a bright future ahead of him if he would just shut his mouth and put in the work. Instead he places too much focus on the opportunities that everyone else is getting, and not enough focus on the ones he is given. I don't think he realizes his match with Louis D'Ville had the potential to get him more heat than any title belt would have. D'Ville is considered one of the very best here in the XWF, and a win over him would really mean something. Anyone can fall into a title win. The moon and the stars could align just right, and Mungbean could make an epic return to defeat Chris Chaos for the Universal Title. It wouldn't legitimize Mungbean in the slightest. However if Mungbean returned and uncharacteristically blazed a trail of broken bodies through the top names in the XWF, well that's how you become a legend.

I aim to be a legend. I aim to stand toe to toe with the best XWF has to offer. I aim to leave a trail of broken bodies far and wide until there is nobody left but the guy holding the Universal Championship, and when that time comes, I will aim to leave him broken too. Can I do it? I'd love to tell you yes. I could be a cocky little bastard and talk about how nobody in the XWF is even on my skill level. I could explain how I've done this or that, won all of these titles. Truth is, I'm older, and I'm wiser. Things I did ten or twenty years ago hold no water today, and when I look out into the sea of talent that has came up since my last stint, I'm not afraid to say that I'm scared.

Fear can drive a man, or it can stop him dead in his tracks. I watch guys like Chris Chaos, Dr. D'Ville, Peter Gilmore, and yes Thaddeus Duke. I watch them, and I feel a feeling of dread. I fear that when I get into the ring with these guys, I'm going to look like a joke. Where is that cocksure attitude I used to have? Sit out the prime of your career and return at my age. We'll see how cocky you remain.

When I first returned to the XWF, I decided to head down to the tape archives and try and catch up on what I had missed. While down there I came across a body of work by a man called CYREN. I remember CYREN pretty well. He kicked my ass quite a few times. So it really drove the point home when I realized that during his last run here... He kind of sucked. From what I saw, his drive and motivation was completely drained. He was just going through the motions at every aspect of his job. This great warrior from back in my day was reduced to a mid-carder that struggled to win. Then I thought to myself, if a Guy like CYREN can become that pathetic when faced against this generation of stars, what is going to become of me?

I struggled man... I struggled for a minute. I've spent the last month struggling with this. I'm not going to lie. I felt it... in the ring with Michael Graves... Father time was in that ring too, and he was reminding me that my time is up. Sure I won, but I think that says more for Michael Graves talent than my own. No, I was definitely feeling the disadvantages of being over 40, but I'll tell you this. Even with age working against me, I still feel like I'm a viable competitor. During the last month I thought long and hard about it, and I realized that I'm not one to kick frozen with fear. Instead I face my fears and I push myself to accomplish goals that even I think are impossible to achieve. Through all of the bullshit with vampires and demonic entities, that's the one thing that has always held true. I'm a natural born winner.

When I stand across the ring with Thaddeus Duke, there will be a feeling of dread. I will question how my skills will hold up against his, but by the time the final bell rings I will know that I pushed myself to my limits. I will stand victorious because I defeated the first obstacle on my journey to the top, or I will stand victorious because I left everything I had in that ring and came out of the match wiser and better prepared. Either way I plan on being a winner.