Curtain Call

[Billy]

Aiden English was standing in front of a red curtain, the shot framed with him dead center. He stared down at his feet idley for a few moments. He tilted his head back and rolled his head from side to side. His gaze fell on the camera.


Aiden English : Hello internet, I am AIIIIIDEN ENGLIIIIIISH and this is Curtain Call! The only show on the net starring yours truly! Now I’ve had an ear to the ground and I’ve been listening to the rumors and speculation. I’d like to address one of those rumors right away. EBWF! I know, I know unsubstantiated claims have been on every news site this last week. Well, I’m about to substantiate those claims! That’s right! The Drama King is about to hold court in the E..B..W..F..

Aiden English pulled a rope from off screen, the red curtain opened to reveal a black background covered with the EBWF logo in diagonal lines. He smirked at the camera and dropped the rope letting it swing back off screen.


Aiden English : I know your next thought. Surely, with news like this Aiden English is weeks out from his first match. With that guess, you’d surely miss! No, Aiden English isn't waiting weeks or months to grace an EBWF ring with his presence. That happens this Monday on Warfare! That happens when I take on Shane Douglas. Don’t worry, I don’t know who he is any more than any of you! But, I am proud to hear that the company is giving young talent the opportunity to make a name for themselves by getting pinned by Aiden English! Let’s see if we can grab a picture of this guy from google.


Aiden English leaned forward and began typing. He reeled back in fake shock, his hand covering his agape mouth. His audible sigh was almost too cheesy to pass for decent acting. He leaned forward again and squinted his eyes at the monitor behind the camera. He moved the mouse of the computer around a bit, clicking on several things. The image of Shane Douglas materialized on screen next to him, outlined by a thick white border.


Aiden English : Holy hell. I was so busy trying to keep up with the latest wrestling news that I must have overlooked something in my emails. Surely the company didn’t forget to let me know Warfare was a special bring your grandfather to work episode. Oh, wow. I just.. I’m going to be doing a hip toss and he’s going to need a hip replacement. I might go for an Ab Stretch and he’ll have to be taken out on a stretcher. You know! I could attempt a Wheelbarrow Suplex and he’ll spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. It’s a lot of pressure to put on a good match against a geriatric wrestler. Maybe it’s a publicity stunt! That has to be it. It’s a cross promotion for Cialis or Entresto. You know, show what you can do with your life if you get off the couch and really get that heart pumping. One way or the other! Since no one is going to be getting his heart racing in the bedroom, I mean look at that face, he’s going to attempt a comeback. If he was fifteen years earlier we could call this a midlife crisis! But, since he’s not we may as well call this his post life crisis! You know, some people are called gatekeepers in this business. Not Shane Douglas, he’s more likely to be called the crypt keeper! I don’t know if I’ve gotten my point across but he is just seriously old! All kidding aside, I’m proud of him for doing this. It takes a lot of guts to get in the ring with guys half your age with TWICE your talent.


Aiden leaned in and clicked a few more times on the mouse. The image of Shane Douglas dissolved. Aiden shifted his weight forward and found his balance leaned in. His expression grew more menacing.


Aiden English : You listening Shane? I’m proud of you! You’re achieving the unbelievable just by climbing in that ring Monday! Who would have imagined that Aiden English’s first step to EBWF greatness would be an old worn out crumbling one? I sure didn’t. I figured that management would have more respect for someone as naturally gifted as myself. I figured that management would want to keep their museum pieces in safe matches. Parade that worthless heirloom out in front of the crowd, say a few words into the microphone for nostalgia’s sake, and hide him behind the curtain the rest of the night. Wrong on both counts. No, they’ve put me in some dog and pony show to open Warfare against a relic from a bygone age. They’ve put Shane in a match against someone hungry. Against someone coming to make a splash. Against someone who is going to hurt him physically and tarnish his good name. They’ve put him in a position that all the experience in the world can’t get him out of. I’m going to batter him. I’m going to destroy him. And most importantly, I’m going to beat him right back into the retirement home he shambled out of.


Aiden pulled back away from the camera and looked around. He rotated the left side of his body backwards a half step. A smirk grew across his face.


Aiden English : I digress, we don’t need to talk about Shane Douglas any longer. No, let’s talk about the reason you’re here. The reason you’ll be tuning into Warfare on Monday nights from now on. Let’s talk about Aiden English, and the blatant disrespect the EBWF has for the biggest star they’ve ever signed. You see, they’ve given me the Moose Murders of professional wrestlers for opening night when I deserve to be competing with Hamlets, Virginia Woolfs and Oedipus Rexes. I’m the lead whose name deserves to be on the marquee competing against the understudy to the spear carrier. I’m the star of the production, I deserve better. Monday, I’m going to prove that to the brass when I bury Shane Douglas at ringside. Then, it’s bigger and better things for the Drama King. It’s titles and accolades, awards and trophies. I’m setting my sites on changing my title from Drama King to KING OF THE RING! I will have the competition I deserve. I will have the glory that is owed to me!


Aiden leaned to the side and tugged at the rope off screen again. The red curtain closed in front of the black backdrop. Aiden held his chin with his right forefinger and thumb.


Aiden English : Let’s recap. Aiden English is coming to EBWF starting Monday. Shane Douglas is my first opponent. He’s old, worn out, tired and about to get beat. The next step for Aiden English is King of the Ring. That sums it up for EBWF news but don’t close the video yet. No, that’s not the end of Curtain Call! I’ve got a nice little behind the scenes video to show you. You’re going to get a peak at how I’m preparing for my debut match with my trainer Richard. Enjoy!


The screen slowly faded to black then back to a scene of Aiden English sitting on a wooden patio chair. There was an older gentleman sitting across a small table from him wearing a brightly colored Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts. Aiden wore a pair of black board shorts and a self branded t-shirt with Drama Masks on either side of his name. Aiden had a coconut with an umbrella sticking out of the top in his hands. There was a similar drink sitting on the other side of the table between the two men.


Aiden English : Are you sure we should be working this hard to get in shape for Douglas?


Richard : Look, I get it. But, he has experience and we have to factor that into the equation. So yes, you need to sit here for at least another hour.


Aiden English : Richard, I know when I hired you on as my trainer I told you to push me. This is cruel and unusual though. I mean, didn’t they understand angles and framing in any of the promotions he used to wrestle for?


Richard : Look, they call him the Franchise for a reason. He was the best that tiny little company had to offer. A big actor on a small stage if you will.


Aiden English : Hey! Leave the performance references to me. You stick to fishing stories and “when I was your age”. Those are your strong suit. Still, watching this guy wrestle for another hour is going to kill any buzz I could gain from a dozen of these little coconut drinks.


Richard : The next match is from a much larger company, more updated camera work and presentation.


Aiden English : Was he the big actor their too?


Richard : Barely a footnote!


Aiden English : Just like he’s going to be in EBWF. End Scene.


Aiden English tilted the coconut up to his mouth and took a long drink. With coconut still lifted he winked at the camera. Richard stood up, brushed himself off and left the camera’s view.


Richard : You owe me for this one English!


Aiden English : Good acting Rich, you really sold it! Even I believed you were a hired trainer for a moment.


Richard : Next time we do this, I want a better part with more lines!


Aiden English : I’m giving you work the world is going to watch, don’t get greedy.


The screen slowly faded to black again. Words flew in from the side of the screen. “Aiden English is coming to,” followed by the EBWF logo. The dropped off the screen and were replaced with the logo for Aiden English’s vlog, Curtain Call. The video ended.

[Jayme]

"I’m going to be doing a hip toss and he’s going to need a hip replacement. I might go for an Ab Stretch and he’ll have to be taken out on a stretcher. You know! I could attempt a Wheelbarrow Suplex and he’ll spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair."

This made me laugh a good bit. I really enjoyed this piece and I'm excited to see where you go with Aiden English!
Welcome to the EBWF fam. :)