Pulling back the reality curtain

[Rotten]

"Imagination was invented for man to compensate for what he is not, and a sense of humor to console him for what he is."

~Author Unknown

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[Push ups]

[Weights]

[Treadmill]

I usually hit the gym four times a week. My off days were spent at Tsurto's training or dodging the broomstick as I liked to call it. But since the announcement of Cold Snap, I had amped my routine, hitting the gym daily. I knew this match wasn't going to be one of those five minute don't blink or you'll miss something matches... I needed my cardio to be at a premium level. Tiny was really working me at the dojo too... We alternated days between wrestling and mixed martial arts. He was taking me to a level I hadn't been to before. It made me wonder if Jay O'Brien was doing the same or, would he be content with the judicious analyzing of every minuscule detail of my promos. Look I used big words too.

[Fade in to Tiny Tsurto's Dojo.]

Tsurto: Johnnyson... Shoot the dojo.

[Johnny's face said it all. It was flush and covered in sweat. His Grey "World's Laziest Ninja" Hoodie made it looked like he had just come in from the rain.]

My quads burned. I could actually feel them tremble as I practiced shooting in on my invisible opponent. The secret was getting low and driving through past your point of impact.

CRACKKKKK

Tsurto: [Bringing the broomstick back up as if reloading a weapon] The fight is not up there Johnnyson... You must get lower.

[Johnny drops the knee and comes in low.]

Tsurto: Faster.

Tsurto: It must be perfect... Perfection is the fight Johnnyson.

[Johnny continues to shoot from one side of the dojo and then back to his starting point.]

Tsurto: Good... Take break.

[Johnny collapses and is entire body is outlined in a sweat angel on the mat when he finally gets up to take a drink. The dojo was pretty full, and for the most part Johnny was still the new guy.]

Guy: Hey... Superstar.

[Johnny swings his head around swallowing the water in his mouth. He looks at three men all wearing Young Dragon's Gies. Johnny points to himself.]

Guy: Yeah you.

[Johnny extends his hand and introduces himself as "Jaysen Taylor" He doesn't get his full name out when the guy doing all the talking slaps his hand away.]

Johnny: There a problem.

Guy: Hell yeah there is.

Guy2: Your hogging Sensei Tsurto

Johnny: [Smiling] Sorry guys... It's just I got a big figh...

Guy: Shut up punk. [Pause] Your a freak.

Guy3: Yeah, Nice earrings Nancy.

[Johnny rolls his eyes. Tsurto calls the class to the floor breaking up the confrontation. As the three walk by, the ring leader drives a forearm into Johnny's chest and tells him to find a new place to train.]

As per usual... Jaysen Taylor the person, not wrestler, does nothing. He takes it and buries it. It had always been like that with me. People hack on me for my looks or the way I dress and instead of standing up for myself, I fold like a newspaper. Another character flaw I guess, but I don't want to get into that right now. Lets just say that never is the case when I'm Johnny Rotten... But I digress.

[Transitional Fade to the bat cave, or in this case, Johnny and Jeff's Mill woods apartment. As the scene changes, we see Johnny in his wrestling attire and make up complete with studded collar cornering what looks to be a very scared Jeff Fox.]

Johnny: [Screaming] You left me high and dry Fox... You screwed me on that promo, and I know it was because of the money you cheap son of a bitch.

[Rotten reaches out and grabs a thumb and finger full of man breast as he titty twists Jeff Fox to his knees.]

Fox: [Crying] I'm sorry... I got you something.

Johnny: [Not releasing] What... An etch-a-sketch so I can pump out another high quality promo.

Fox: [Out of breath] Noooooo... A car.

Johnny: A what?

Fox: A car... I bought you a car.

[Johnny lets go and steps back. Jeff stands and tosses him a set of keys.]

Fox: Now we don't have to bus it to our matches. It's a wagon... I know that sounds geeky, but theres room for our gear and we can sleep in it, if we get in a jam.

[Johnny cracks a smile and runs like a kid to the door. In the background Jeff can be seen icing his nipples.]

[Insert catchy jingle... Cars cost less in Wetaskiwan.]

-----------------------------------------------------------

[Same piece of cardboard, same name scribbled in black marker.]

[Rotten Promo.]

[Same old black and white camcorder operated by the steady hand of Jeff Fox.]

[Chalkboard, Desk, your typical school like setting. The camera pans around the room to more of the same, and when it comes a full three-sixty, Johnny Rotten is standing at the front of the class. Only he's not the punk rocker Johnny Rotten, he's Professor Rotten, more-so, he's dressed like a professor, ala lab coat, pointing stick and glasses which he wears low on his nose. Under the lab coat you can see his studded dog collar around his neck.]

Professor Rotten: [Sigh, A big Sigh] Jay, Jay, Jay... Look what your making me do. Your forcing me to pull back the curtain that separates what we are in the ring and the true reality of what we really do. Now before I begin, anyone who believes in the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, or the hope that O'Brien has in beating me... Please leave the room.

[Johnny stops and waits for people to leave. Interesting enough, nobody does.]

Professor Rotten: Alrighty then... [Johnny moves behind a podium and starts a power point presentation.] First of all this is wrestling.



Professor Rotten: And this is Professional Wrestling.

[Pictures of a luchadore in a mask and a guy dressed in an army uniform standing in a wrestling ring.]

Professor Rotten: Now who can see the differences.

[Johnny snaps his pointer against the chalkboard.]

Professor Rotten: [Pointing with pointer] Wrestling ring... Mat... Wrestler... Professional Wrestler. You see one needs a gimmick and ring ropes, and the other gets to go to the Olympics.

[Rotten shakes his head with a disappointed look.]

Professor Rotten: Now I think most of us have gotten the point of this... But because I'm assuming Jay didn't even get the hidden meaning of his picture being covered up by my shadow, I'll continue... Oh by the way it was rhetorical imagery meant to deliver the statement that you are indeed in my shadow.

[Click, a picture of a convict.]

Professor Rotten: Wrestler... Or Professional Wrestler.

[Click, a picture of a Knight, complete with armor.]

Professor Rotten: Wrestler... Or Professional Wrestler.

[Click, a picture of a Caveman.]

Professor Rotten: Once again... Wrestler... Or Professional Wrestler.

[Pause]

Professor Rotten: Now if you answered Wrestler to any of these then you make me very sad inside. But sadder than that... Is the guy that believes his own hype. That can't tell the difference between Jay O'Brien the wrestler and Jay O'Brien the man... (Cu-Kooo) And you say you love this business.

TSK TSK TSK

Professor Rotten: Jay, I know your watching and your probably confused as hell by most of this, or angry... Probably angry. That's okay, It'll all make sense when the sky in your world isn't purple... PS, the Easter Bunny doesn't exist either.

[Wink]

[Smile]

Johnny: Seriously Jay... Let's not pull back the wrestling reality curtain again. It's not fun. I have my life, you have yours, and then on top of that, we have our wrestling lives. The ladder is where we play, in case you weren't sure.

[Static]

[Loud Static]