-=-=-=My leave of absence, my vacation, my journey-=-=-=

 whatever you want to call it has only been a few months in the making, but that was more then enough time for the GWE to destroy itself.

What a shame.

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Setai Hotel Clerk-= Hello and welcome to Hotel Setai sir. How may I be of assistant this evening?

-= Hey, how are you? [she smiles] Uh...I’m just here to check into my room. I’m a bit early for my reservation so if my room isn’t ready I’ll just come back.

Clerk-= I’d be more then happy to check for you sir. What’s the name of the reservation?

-= It’ll be under Vince Danes.

Clerk-= Ok let’s see...(she types in my name as she checks the computer.) Here we are. Mr. Danes your room is ready for check in, if you would be so kind as to show me your driver’s license I’ll get you checked in.

Vince-= Not a problem. (I reach into my back pocket to remove my wallet and tugged to get my license.) I just hate it when it won’t come loose don’t you? (She giggled, I didn’t) There we go.

She examined my “identification” as she confirmed my reservation. As she returned my license and handed me my room key she looked at me with a slight glare in her eyes.

Vince-= Is there something wrong?

Clerk-= Oh no sir, you just look familiar that’s all. I was almost certain your name was ????.

Vince-= I’m not quite sure who that is but maybe I just have one of those faces.

Clerk-= Yes sir. I hope you have a wonderful stay here at Hotel Setai, if you have need anything or have any questions please don’t hesitate to call the front desk.

Vince-= Will do. You have a good night.

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Better find a way to better disguise myself...

Victor Danes, another alias I picked up along the way, except this time Danes was a legit identity. I managed to get all the necessary documentations birthday certificate and all which then helped me obtain this driver’s license, and even a couple of credit cards. I’ve made Victor into my real identity in Akron, Ohio where I moved into a town home in suburbia. It was like having a completely new life. I made a few new friends and even faked a job as a buyer so I could easily explain my periods of time from the neighborhood. I needed the house as a safe house when I got tired of the random traveling but I knew if I stayed put for too long someone there would catch on.

I took a trip out to Miami, Florida in hopes of attending the Summer Brawl Pay-Per-View strictly as a fan but instead I felt it be best to watch it from my luxurious five-star hotel room.

It had been a few weeks since I last checked up on the GWE, but the small glimpse of advertisement was more then enough for to plan on short stay in South Beach. I expected great things from it due to the high success of last year’s Brawl

But....

As I laid back on the lounge chair positioned on the balcony of my room I browsed the GWE website from my laptop.

Vince-= You’ve got to be kidding me!

I was itches away from tossing myself from the balcony after viewing the Summer Brawl card.

Vince-= Michael Marion, Tylenol Jones? Who the hell are you?!

I could live with the remainder of the card but the main event was a brutal stab to my heart

How could GWE do this...

To me?

After years of service never once demanding a World Title shot, never getting my main event spotlight I get to see it handed off to some child in the business for four months.

 God damnit!

Four months in the GWE and I’m not even sure I had a fan base yet. I had gold, but back then that was never enough. The roster was stacked with amazing skill and out of this world potential that the fans loved. It took years before you were truly recognized by your peers and the world as a serious competitor, after you achieved that then maybe the boss will feel it’s your time to reign over the entire organization.

I knew I wasn’t crazy

   The GWE was a shell of it’s former self.

Vince-= Fuck that! After what I gave to you Regence this is what I see you doing with the GWE that I loved!

After the blood I spilt in the ring, the numerous times I put my life on the line just to make an event memorable my goodbye was nothing more then a pat on the back and a cheesy “the door is always open” line.

Vince-= What the hell are you two thinking?! You rather face Ryan Cooper and John Knight and let these two take your spot...the fucking Steve Mathias I thought I knew wouldn’t have stood for that bullshit.

I paced around the room in a sweat of pity, and my hands were shaking uncontrollably. I didn’t know what to do with myself, I was on the verge of devouring the entire mini-bar, but I knew the smart thing wasn’t to go down that road again.

Room service how may I help you?

Vince-= Hello this...this is Vince Danes in room C02. Does the kitchen have any specials tonight?

R.S.-= Yes sir. Tonight the main entrée is a bacon wrapped steak Diane with a side of shrimp and crab stuffed ravioli which is served in a creamy dill sauce, and this all comes with vegetables and potatoes.

Vince-= Sounds great, I’ll have it well done but not burnt.

R.S.-= Not a problem sir, please allow us 25-30 minutes for an attendant to bring your meal.

Vince-= Thank you.

--=--=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The Pay-Per-View was well under way but I kept the television set off. My main focus was the delicacy that was prepared with my utmost satisfaction. The never ending flavor was just enough to consume my thoughts and bring me to a state of tranquility. It was a high that would soon wear off, and I would once again I found myself in the same boat I was in just fifth teen minutes earlier. The feeling that would give any normal man a heart attack was just giving me goosebumps, I was nervous to change the channel. I didn’t want to see the end of my life, the destruction of all I had left. A part of me felt selfish but a part of knew something wasn’t right with this situation. It wasn’t supposed to be this simple, glory wasn’t supposed to come this quick.

Was I just jealous of their success?

Was my time in the GWE just a joke, was I just being used by the puppet master as jobber to the stars?

I could not, and would not believe such things.

Maybe times have changed and I should forget about the old days

Maybe the fact that I’ve never been in the ring with these new age athletes clouds my judgment towards them. I’m used to battling the shoe-in Hall of Famers but even some of them lost their touch, left their care at home. All I had now was the memories of my success to keep me going. It’s not over for me, not for a long shot. I had to prepare myself for whatever would be awaiting me when I would return. The beginning stage would be to flip the switch and just deal with watching Michael Marion or Tylenol Jones receiving my golden prize.

The Summer Brawl main event took me by surprise. For the most part I was quite entertained but not enough to drown out my views. I’m a hard-headed man and the only right way is my way. At times I thought about the way GWE would be if I managed to take it over, one thing is for sure these two first rate book lickers would be smacking each other over the Television title.

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Vince-= Please let this end in a no contest. Someone get your ass down there and stop this!

Levy: That’s just smart wrestling. If Marion is able to get a hold of Tylenol, he could use his strength to put him away.

Borden: Tylenol might not be strong but he’s got his whole body to fight with. He put away Apocalypse in the tournament using his whole body.

Vince-= Strength my ass! Tylenol isn’t even 200 pounds soaking wet with a fat suit on.

Borden: These two seem to have a knack for knowing what the other man is going to do. I haven’t seen wrestling like this since Steve Mathias and Danny Szatkowski fought for GWE gold.

Levy: It’s funny how similar this feud has been to those early days between Mathias and Danny. Could things go full circle tonight with a turn by one of the wrestlers? That would be exciting

Vince-= The nerve of you assholes to compare these rookies to Mathias and Danny. I might not like them, hell I don’t like any of them but I know who’s a bad ass mother fucker and who aint.

Borden: Both these men have a lot on the line. Just think of the respect the winner of this match is going to get in the long run for claiming the GWE World Championship so fast in their career.

Levy: I almost wonder who slept with Dan Regence first to get this shot…Tylenol or Michael

Vince-=I’m glad someone said it..

Climbing up a turnbuckle as far away from Tylenol as he can, he positions himself. Leaping off for the Best Legdrop Ever, he nearly connects with his target, but Tylenol rolls out of the ring at the last second. Marion crashes down hard and his leg is in pain.

Vince-= Yes! Ha-ha! You cocky bastard, just had to try and show off didn’t ya?!

Taking flight, he flies down with the IM-Press

Vince-= Oh my god! No...way...

In mid-air, Marion’s able to quickly kip up to his feet and catch him. As he comes down, he twists him over and nails the Marionette Driver. Hooking his leg for the pin, the referee drops to count it

Vince-= Kick out!

One...

Vince-= Kick out!!!

Two...

Vince-= Come on! Kick out!

Three...

Vince-= NO!!!...!!!

Just like that I watched as Mr. Happy Meal won it all. The top of the company was a kid whose celebration drink was a glass of apple juice. I should have gone with my guy instinct, why didn’t I just go to the event...I could have stopped this from happening, even if I only stopped it for another day. It would have been another day I kept the balance to in the GWE to where it should be. It’s far too late now, the change has already begun and the downfall was well under way.

Where is Phantasm when you need it?