"TOMBSTONE"

 

Shawn steps out into the aisle of the plane and reaches above him to open the overhead compartment and retrieve his carry on as well as Renees. He stretches a bit and takes his time looking down at the redhead with a grin as she fixes her hair. The two had become well acquainted during the flight. Shawn and Renee were the only two in first class besides a businessman who spent the entire time asleep with headphones in and a sleep mask obstructing his vision.

Once in a while a flight attendant would stop by to offer drinks or snacks and the two would spring apart like teenagers being caught by a parent. The two now having arrived in Phoenix had a drive to Tombstone ahead of them. Shawn slings the two carry on bags over his shoulder and offers his hand to Renee, he guides her into the aisle and leads her off of the plane towards baggage claim.

“I’m glad Tommy let me come with you. Now that I’m here, I’m even more nervous than I was to begin with. My first ever wrestling event and I get to experience it from backstage.” Renee beams and leans against Shawn as they wait for their luggage to appear on the conveyor. Shawn puts an arm around her and pulls his phone out of his pocket with his free hand, turning it back on for the first time since taking off from Philly.

“Once we get to Tombstone we’ll check in to the hotel and run over to the arena and cut a promo if you wouldn’t mind filming it for me?” Shawn smiles down at Renee

“Of course.” Renee is interrupted by Shawns phone repeatedly vibrating as new notifications begin to flood his screen.
Shawn unlocks his phone to find messages from JoJo.

“Oooooh burned.”

“Overton Shredded you!!!”

“What’s a Marf?”

“Don’t you know your not supposed to wear white after Labor Day?”

“I’m not doing any of these chores I hope you know that.”

“Are you gonna eat this leftover Chinese? Can I have it?”

“Too late I ate it anyway.”

"Your vehicle is totaled. Just kidding. I know you parked it elsewhere. Anyway, your car got stolen... Okay see when you
get back from Norway."

Shawn shakes his head and puts his phone back in his pocket just in time for his and Renees bags to appear on the carousel. “There’s our stuff I’ve got it.” He says to her and walks over picking up both of the bags and signaling to her to come on. “We gotta figure out where to pick up the rental car. Would you mind looking that up?”

Shawns phone continues to vibrate in his pocket but his hands now full he ignores it. Renee after speaking to a baggage attendant walks over to Shawn “Cmon, follow me.”

Renee walks off leading Shawn through the airport towards the auto rental desk. A few minutes later they have the keys to a new Dodge Charger.

“I’m driving!!” Renee squeaks with excitement as Shawn snatched the keys from her hand.

“I was given instructions strictly to not let you drive.... did you do something to Tommy’s truck or something?” Shawn chuckles.

“What a jerk! No! He has me pick him up from physical therapy one day when Erin was busy. Said he’s never get in the car with me again. Something about riding the break and making him carsick.” She purses her lips. “Oh well looks like your my driver while we’re here. Come servant carry my bags and drive me to my hotel.”

Shawns brow furrows. “Great, thanks Tommy.” He grumbles as he carry’s the luggage out the door. Shawn pops the trunk loading the bags in closing the trunk and walking over to the passenger door. He opens it for Renee. “Your ride awaits mam.”

She steps into the car and buckles herself in as Shawn closes the door and walks around to the drivers seat opening the door and sliding into the drivers seat himself putting The keys in the ignition throwing the car in drive and taking off for the Tombstone grand hotel.

A couple hours later and the two arrive where they would be staying a bellhop and a valet immediately crowd the car opening the doors for the two and grabbing their luggage from the trunk. Shawn extends his arm to Renee and she hooks hers around it, Shawn then leads her through the revolving doors and straight to the counter. Renee taps the bell even though the attendant is already looking right at them. “The rooms are under Romeo Management you can cancel the one we’ll be sharing a room.” Shawns mouth hangs open surprised by Renees decision and he looks down at her to see her already looking at him. She winks up at him and looks back to the attendant. “We are not to be disturbed.”

The attended rolls his eyes “There is a sign you can hang on the door inside the room mam. Here are your keys room 215 Enjoy your stay.” He immediately turns and walks into the back “Fucking people man.” Can be heard before the door closes behind him. Shawn and Renee burst into laughter and turn to walk to their room almost trampling the bellhop standing behind them waiting to lead them to their room. The bellhop guides them to the elevator and awkwardly rides it up with them then leads them to the room. Shawn pulls his wallet out tipping him at the door then picks their things off the cart and carries them into the room behind Renee.

Later that night

Shawn and Renee walk into the center of Historic Tombstone where the XWF crew is hard at work setting up the Venue for High Stakes. Shawn removes his shirt revealing the Whyte Spyder top underneath and pulls his mask from his jeans pocket realizing his phone was still back in the hotel room In the process. “Would you mind recording this for me?” He says pulling the mask over his face. “Of course but there’s XWF staff here why don’t you see if you can get someone to shoot this with a camera instead?”

“That is actually a fantastic idea.” Shawn replies and begins moving towards the crew. “Where can I get a camera guy!?” He shouts at a group of workers just standing around the ring. One of them emerges from the group. “I got you bud. Your that new guy huh?”

“Yeah I’m Shawn. Here to make my big debut heh.” Shawn smiles then realizes he already has his mask on so the smile was pointless.

“Over here Shawn we got a camera set up already for early promos.” The crew member leads Shawn over to a camera set up with the ring set in the background. “We’re recording go ahead when your ready.”

“Hello XWF. I’m Shawn Wylde and I’ll be making my debut Sunday at High Stakes. It’s come to my attention that my opponents have started to pass judgement on me without knowing anything about me. So allow me to educate you. I am the former UBW lightning champion. I earned that shit. I don’t just lay down and that’s what’s gonna happen here in the XWF. I’m gonna work my way to the top. This is me putting you all on notice. Now let’s talk about Sunday, Two of my opponents have decided to shit on my ring attire. The third remaining completely silent. He seems to be the smartest of the lot. Marf and Overton however you both seem to ramble like fools. If either of you could form a cohesive sentence I would be surprised but when your beaten over the head repeatedly there is bound to be some sort of brain damage. My roomate texted me while I was on my way here he asked me what a Marf was, After watching your promo you clearly underestimate what’s coming for you on Sunday you see it’s not I that needs to be worried about getting stuck in a hold sir it’s you. I will break your back if you don’t watch it. Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders. Something that after High Stakes you may suffer from so take your dumbass cowboy hat and ride off into the sunset while you have a chance.
Mr Overton.. you said white spiders don’t exist in the animal world. Time for an education. Latrodectus pallidus known as the White Widow that’s right sir Widow not Willow but it’s okay after the bell rings I’ll give you an education on the difference between a tree and a spider. It may have been a slip of the tongue and that’s okay. Maybe a boot to your head will straighten that out for you. You underestimate my size and weight and that means you underestimate the amount of damage I can do perfect. Because my venom will send you home in a stretcher. Brian Storm may be the wisest of the three of you. My mother always said if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything at all. In some cases that is the smartest thing you can do. I won’t listen to her today. I hope you come to fight sober. If your not on your game I’m going to run circles around you. But don’t expect me to grab some beers or blaze some blunts afterwards. I’m here to work when the work is done it’s time to work some more. Work is done when the entire XWF is stuck in my web then it’s time to eat.” Shawn turns to walk away from the camera but quickly twists back and pulls his mask up to uncover his mouth. “Look to the skies. Or else you’ll never see me strike.” From out of nowhere Tommy Romeo appears in frame of the shot next to Shawn.

“SHAWN! I’ve been calling you! Where is Your phone!?” Hi Renee.” He waves off camera.

“Tommy, man what are you doing here I’m in the middle of cutting a promo. I told you I didn’t need you to come. That I was going to make a name for myself.” Shawn is visibly irritated beneath the mask.

“Dude! I’ve been calling you for hours if you had picked up I wouldn’t have come out here. Your not in the Battle Royal right?” Tommy asks concerned.

“No man I’m in a dark match with a couple tool bags.” Shawn grins the mask still revealing his mouth.

“Good I came to warn you. It may be. Coincidence but. Tommy lowers his voice to a whisper but what is said is still caught by the camera.”Erin has been looking in to some stuff regarding The High Society. It would seem that someone named The Baphomet was with each member of the High Society before they kicked the bucket in prison. I was looking into the roster here and it seems someone with the same name is going to be fighting here at High Stakes on Sunday as well.”

“Well he’s not fighting me...” Shawn Replies.

“Good I’m going to stay and observe the situation here I’ll look over Renee while your busy. Sorry to interrupt, just be careful man.” Tommy exits the camera frame and Shawn looks back into the lens and shrugs as the camera fades to black.