Jimmy: Y’alright? I have a meeting with Wes Ikeda for 12.
Receptionist: Name?
Jimmy: Jimmy Ha-
Jimmy realised this was a formal setting and stuttered his words.
Jimmy: Jim Mcahren.
The man checked a computer.
Receptionist: Yes , no problem. You’ll just step into the elevator. Press 30. The elevator will ask for an access code. Type in this one use code.
The receptionist slid a card across the desk with a four digit code.
Receptionist: Ms. McClinton, Mr. Ikeda’s assistant will greet you when you arrive.
Jimmy thanked the receptionist, and went to the elevator and got in it. As the elevator went up, Jimmy stood there wondering why he had been called here. He worried for his career, his push, his lifestyle. Jimmy felt like a child at school again, getting told off by teacher. He knew he was nervous, but he also knew he had to keep the act up, you can’t be in front of cameras all the time and get nervous with an audience of one. This wasn't any audience though, this was the man at the top of the chain. Jimmy stepped out of the elevator. He stepped into a posh looking lounge area, and directly in front of him was an elaborate desk. He recognized the EBWF Public Relations Coordinator right away.
Lynne McClinton: Jimmy, right on time.
Jimmy: Yeah, 12pm. Tell him Jim is here, if that's okay.
Wes Ikeda’s door stood open, but Lynne used her desk phone and mentioned that someone was here to see him. She put the phone down and motioned for Jimmy to go into the office. Wes sitting behind his desk, there eyes met as Havoc stood in front of the desk and held his hand out for a handshake. Wes stood up. He was wearing a black Metallica “Ride the Lightning” t-shirt, with dark wash blue jeans. He shook Jim’s hand, and then plopped back down in his chair, motioning for Jim to take a seat.
Jimmy sat down in the chair facing Ikeda and both men stayed quiet for a moment.
Jimmy: You, err, called me here?
Wes Ikeda: Did I? Oh, okay. I’m Wes. I feel like we weren’t properly introduced.
Jimmy: Yeah, I’m Jim. Jim Mcahren, it’s great to finally meet you man. You may not know my real name though, very rarely use it. Jimmy Havoc on TV though, not really used to this official meeting sort of stuff to be honest. England was just walk into the back, get paid and leave. All a bit foreign to me this bloody stuff.
Jimmy started to shift uncomfortably, he really wasn't used to this.
Wes Ikeda: Well, you know, I’m wearing a t-shirt, so it’s not really that formal. I didn’t get to do much in England, pity really. I’ve followed your stuff in the CZW Tournament of Death, and all that. Good shit, man.
Jimmy appreciated the comment as it felt like a weight was lifted. He motioned to his arms, to show the scars.
Jimmy: Yeah, I bloody remember them too. There is a reason I wrestle in a T-Shirt you know. Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes and D-Von Dudley, you know there foreheads? Imagine that but all over my back man. I’d never take it back though, deathmatch wrestling was so much more fun. I’d take a deathmatch over a match with Nakamura again that’s for sure.
Wes Ikeda: Before you got here I think I had more deathmatches than anybody here. If you stick around, maybe at Christmas Eve of Destruction 2017…
Wes pointed to himself.
Wes Ikeda: America’s favorite glorified stuntman and…
He pointed out to Jim.
Wes Ikeda: England’s favorite masochist can get a little something going for bringing the deathmatch back to EBWF.
Jimmy had a sudden smile come over his face, this was not foreign to him. Deathmatch wrestling was his life before EBWF.
Jimmy: You know what, that actually sounds really really nice. I’d wrestle deathmatch style on every show if you’d let me.
Wes Ikeda: If the network would let me, we’d do it.
He laughed and stood up.
Wes Ikeda: Can I get you a drink? Scotch, bourbon, tequila, rum, what time is it? Oh, water, I have water too.
He made his way over to a bar near his sofa, and pulled out two rocks glasses.
Jimmy: I ain't got my license yet, Colby drives everywhere so yes, I would definitely love a drink. Could you just put them all together in a glass? Scotch will do though, thanks.
Wes poured them both a black label scotch on the rocks. He delivered Jimmy’s to him, but rather than going back around the desk, he pulled out the chair beside Jimmy, turning it slightly so they were sitting across from one another.
Wes Ikeda: So I actually invited you here, because Jim Ross said you might want to talk to me. Seems I took that a bit too literally and thought that meant you had requested a meeting. Talent Relations department treating you okay? You like JR, at least enough to be okay here?
Jimmy: I mean, I haven’t got anything bad to say about them. JR treated me great when I signed and everything. I’m getting booked every week, I’m holding 2 belts. Pretty much on top of the world. I suppose I’ve got you to thank for that, right?
Wes Ikeda: Well, no. You’ve got your work ethic and your ambition, talent to thank for that. All you really need to be thankful to me for is the time I spend in the board room convincing people that 5’10, 175 pound wrestlers can headline shows.
Jimmy: Again, thank you, so goddamn much. I never thought I'd see stateside wrestling in my career but, here I am. However, I kinda did want to talk to you.
Jimmy took a drink out of his glass, seemingly to calm his nerves.
Jimmy: Listen, I just want to apologise for the Twitter shit, right? To give you a backstory, in the UK, we don’t have any other characters other than the ones the fans see. In the UK, I was Jimmy Havoc and only Jimmy Havoc, I guess when I came here I brought that mentality with me. I’ve never truly been Jim Mcahren, I don’t hate you or anything like that. I fucking loved your stuff man, half the shit I did was stuff you did first. I don't know man. I'm just new to the whole TV thing I suppose. I am, however, truly apologetic and I hope we can, you know, put that shit behind us. I’ve been bloody worried sick thinking you were gonna fire me for that shit.
Wes laughed a bit, and nodded.
Wes Ikeda: I don’t usually take Twitter too personally unless I have a history with somebody, so really, don’t mention it. I wasn’t going to say anything about that bit where you were doing stuff I did first, because you ended up doing some of it better than me.
He shrugged with another laugh.
Wes Ikeda: You married, Jim? Kid? Mom, Dad? Where you living while you’re working here?
Jimmy: No, none of those. Left my Mom, Dad and my...now Ex-Girlfriend back in Camden. Living in hotels too, ain't really found anywhere I like so far. St. Louis is nice though, Canada was great too.
Jimmy dropped his head at mentioning his family.
Wes Ikeda: Well, we don’t really leave our parents. You still have ‘em. I hope I pay you enough to get over there and visit now and again. Jim, I intend to have you here to fill a role on television that EBWF has been missing for a long time. I intend to have you here for a very long time. I encourage you to find a place you like, and make it home. Not a requirement. Just a suggestion. Have you met my sister, Nicole, in person?
Jimmy: I appreciate that man, how’s the housing market round here? Also no, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her or Randy. Paths haven’t crossed, I keep to myself also. Don’t really have friends other than Colby right now, Tom is good company too.
Wes Ikeda: She mentioned that she liked your style, and I like to think she’s a pretty good judge of character. This isn’t the UK, Jim. The EBWF is poised to put you on a rocket ship to the stratosphere. You are not a character in the UK, you are about to be a global superstar. Anonymity is gone. You could live and breathe the character, be the character for the fans, 100% of the time, with no hope for a personal life or meaningful relationships, and the silent prayer that it doesn’t actually turn you into a homicidal maniac, but I see more guys lose everything that way. Your best bet, to not get eaten alive in this machine? Put on one hell of a show, but put Havoc away and let Mcahren get to know some people and be somebody people don’t mind being around. It makes the ride a hell of a lot more fun.
Jimmy paused for a moment, put his head down and let everything Wes said kick in. He looked back up at Wes, as if he opened a door in Jimmy’s life.
Jimmy: You’re absolutely fucking right. I mean, I’ve always wanted to just put everything aside and be me but I’ve always thought it wasn't right. I don’t know what I was really thinking. I would absolutely love to meet Nicole, Randy and the whole family. I want to be able to sit here and not be totally fucking nervous. I want to be someone you can depend on, on and off the screen. Thanks for opening my eyes though man.
Wes Ikeda: Listen, you don’t have to be nervous unless you’re going to go after my kids. Then you can be nervous.
Wes chuckled.
Wes Ikeda: I’m a family first, get your head right first, kind of boss. I want you guys taken care of. You don’t have to like me. We don’t have to be friends. I just want there to be mutual respect, and for you to know that if you’re not getting what you need from Talent Relations, you can come to me for whatever. And if you ever want to go eat half a pizza and talk about every Necro Butcher match that’s ever been, we can do that too.
Jimmy took out his cell phone and scribbled something on a piece of paper and hands it to Wes.
Jimmy: That is my number, I think i wrote it down right. I don’t understand US numbers all that well. Anyway, pizza, beers and Necro sounds fucking fantastic to me. You gotta hear about the deathmatch guys in the UK, I’ve got some stories for you man.
Jimmy stood up out of his chair and held his hand out once more.
Wes stood up too, and gave Jim’s hand another shake.
Wes Ikeda: I’ll shoot you a text so you have my personal cell, don’t pass it around though, I don’t use it for business.
The office door opened, and Wes put his glass down, as he smiled broadly at the woman walking in.
Wes Ikeda: Speaking of meeting the whole family.
The short, spunky, blonde woman crossed the carpeted floor, and Wes embraced her.
Wes Ikeda: This is Jim. Jim is meeting new people.
Her jeans were tucked into a pair of ankle boots, and she wore a form fitting black sweater. She swept her hair back a bit, and extended her hand.
Natalie Neidhart: Hi Jim. I’m Nattie. Nice to meet you.
Jimmy looked starstruck for a second. He knew who Nattie Neidhart was, her and the whole family were talked about up and down the UK scene. He accepted her hand and shook it.
Jimmy: Hey, it’s an absolute honor to meet you Nattie.
Natalie Neidhart: I hope I didn’t interrupt. I was here to make my husband go to lunch, because he’s terrible about remembering to eat while he’s busy.
Wes Ikeda: Jim was actually just leaving. I’ll hit you up, man. I’m looking forward to hearing those stories.
Jimmy nodded and made his way to the door.
Jimmy: Again, Thanks man. Glad I made the trip. It’s been great to meet you both.
Jimmy left and on his way out he thanked Lynne McClinton for seeing to everything. He got in the elevator and breathed a sigh of relief and left with a smile on his face.
