SWF -- This Means War! (diary)

[Scapino1974]

INTRODUCTION

The phone jolted me out of my deep sleep. Rolling out of bed, I shambled over and answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, kid! This is Tommy! How ya doin'?"

Even in my sleep-deprived state, I could easily recognize the voice of Tommy Cornell, the owner of TCW and my boss. I glanced at the clock.

"Mr Cornell, it's three in the morning!" I grumbled, then realized that, given our recent problems, respect might work better. I sighed. "What can I do for you?"

"Hey, I just wanted to call and wish you good luck!"

I frowned. Good luck for what? Before I could ask him any questions, he continued.

"... Because you're fired."

I closed my eyes. I should have seen this coming. I was a referee in Hollyweird Grappling Company when Cornell took it over. I was one of the few staff members that he kept on, although I suspect he regretted that decision. I was perhaps a bit too outspoken about how I thought he should run the promotion, especially when Cornell made himself TCW World Heavyweight Champion. My being let go was inevitable, I guess.

"But don't worry, you already got a new job."

"I do?" I asked.

"Yeah, you're gonna go to work for Richard Eisen. You're his new head booker."

My head swam. I had to be dreaming! Everyone in the business knew that Eisen was looking for a new head booker for SWF, but why would he hire a lowly, outspoken referee? It didn't make sense!

"He's expectin' you to be there in a week, buddy. Maybe you can take your high-falutin' ideas and see if they work!"

With a laugh, Tommy hung up, leaving me to stare at the receiver in absolute bewilderment.



The week flew by quickly. To add insult to injury, Tommy had me barred from TCW headquarters, making it impossible for me to collect what few belongings I had there. To make matters worse, most of my friends wouldn't talk to me for fear of reprisals from the head office. Thankfully, Robert Oxford, a really stand-up vet at TCW, filled me in on what happened.

Apparently Tommy and Richard Eisen wound up playing poker against each other at some big media party. Both of them were pretty trashed, and at one point, after the other players had folded, Tommy suggested that they make a personal bet. If Tommy won the hand, Eisen would be forced to take me on as his head booker. I don't know what Eisen's stipulations were, but it really doesn't matter. Turns out Tommy had a royal flush and Eisen had been bluffing. Hence the 3:00 phone call, hence my new, baffling career.

In hindsight, it makes sense. Tommy and Eisen hate each other. I suppose that's what happens when you own the "Big Two" wrestling promotions. Tommy saw this as a way to get rid of a thorn in his side (me) and use it to bring down his worst enemy's company.

At the end of the week, I met with Richard Eisen. My first impression of him was that most of the rumors were true. He seemed like a pompous jerk, but apparently he was going to stand by the bet. How could he not when it was witnessed by all those people?

"Kid, welcome to SWF," he said, shaking my hand with a fake smile. "Over the next couple of days, I'll be giving you some business goals I want you to meet. Take a day or two to familiarize yourself with our product, but keep in mind, the first TV show you're going to book is coming up in two days."

I swallowed hard but nodded.

"Good. Oh, and one other thing. This is just between you and me, and if you breathe a word of this to anyone, I'll deny it. But one of your 'unofficial goals' is to make sure we beat TCW at everything we do. What do you say? Want to stick it to Tommy Cornell?"

A feral grin tugged at the corners of my lips. "Sir, it would be a pleasure."