Post by Dusty Griffith on Jan 18, 2022 12:07:40 GMT -5
Team Danger University.
Long Beach, California.
The big blue Jeep pulls up outside of the complex, a former K-Mart that has since been remodelled into a state of the art breeding ground for aspiring pro wrestlers. The engine growls as it idles for a moment before being cut off and Dusty emerges into the warm sunlight of Southern California.
Stretching his arms out, Griffith rolls his neck after a long drive and then takes in his surroundings. It’s a drastic change going from the cold serenity and natural beauty up north to the sunshine, concrete, and constant noise of the city. A grumble of discontent escapes him, but that’s the extent of his complaints.
“Alright, we’re here.” Dusty announces as he goes around to the back of the Jeep and opens the gate.
He’s greeted by his enormous travel companion, the nearly eight year old English Mastiff, who gurgles out an exhale while Dusty rubs his enormous head. That is until the smell of his breath hits Dusty’s nose.
“Christ! Did you eat the ass out of a dead skunk?” Dusty grimaces and then makes way for the Old Man to vacate the truck.
Once he does, the Old Man ambles about for a moment while stretching after the long journey. Meanwhile, Griffith pulls his huge, stuffed duffle out of the truck and slings it over his shoulder.
“Alright, let’s go.” He commands and they head for the entrance to the complex.
Upon entering they find the place to be pretty quiet with only a few random people milling about from station to station in between sets.
“What up, Old Man?” Calls the voice of friend and occasional trainer, Tyrone Walker, who calls out to the dog. “C’mere!”
The Old Man turns to see Walker and barks loudly and rushes over to get spoiled by the attention he’s sure to receive. Griffith walks over to one of the nearby rings and drops his duffle on the apron. Setting his hands on the canvas, Dusty leans over a bit and works out a few kinks in his aging, battle tested body.
Walker looks up from playing with the dog and recognizes the pain Dusty is working through. Ty pats the Old Man on his side and then rises from a crouch.
“Getting old sucks, eh?” Being Griffith’s senior by about six years, Ty asks rhetorically with a knowing smile that has been earned after twenty years of experience in wrestling.
“That it does, brother.” Dusty grunts when he feels the click in his neck and shoulders that precede a feeling of relief.
The two men approach and shake hands, before pulling each other into a bro-style hug. Letting go, they turn towards the main office of the complex with the Old Man following along. Once inside, Dusty locates a nearby couch and plops himself down, followed by the Old Man, who rests on the floor nearby. Ty moves in and takes a seat on the other side of the couch with Dusty.
“A good thing you’ve decided to take up residency here then.” Ty grins snarkily. “Driving all over the damn place ain’t for us. Gotta leave it to the youngin’s, yanno?”
“Pretty much, man.” Dusty nods. “Pretty much.”
“Anyway.” Ty begins to change direction. “Sorry about Andrews. I thought you had him, but he’s always been a crafty bastard.”
“Yeah.” Dusty shrugs. “It is what it is, but I’m ready to move it along. You know?”
“Definitely.” Ty nods. “So, yeah. It’s good to have you here on a more permanent basis. I think you and the team will really benefit each other.”
“That’s the plan, ain’t it?” Dusty asks facetiously and then takes a brief look through a window in the office that peer into the gym, once again noting the lack of activity. “Speaking of that. Where is the team?”
“Well, Jordan’s still down in Puerto Rico with Davis. Jay and Dyno took off for Halifax yesterday to get ready for the Cruiser Cup. And everyone else is off doing whatever it is they do.”
“Sounds about right.” Dusty bobbles his head slightly.
“Yeah, so.” Ty begins again. “You ready for this kid you got coming up?”
“I reckon so.” Dusty says confidently.
“Word.” Ty nods along. “Whatchu think?”
“About what, Yoon?” Dusty asks, to which Ty nods a confirmation. “Not much to be honest. I mean, he looks the part with his intimidating handle and hey, he’s even got a fancy name that tells you how great he is.”
“Heh, yeah.” Ty scoff laughs. “Master of his own destiny or whatever, right?”
“Something like that.” Dusty shrugs. “The truth is, he’s ’busy work’ for me until I get myself a shot at Chris Card.”
Griffith pauses for a moment and considers those words.
“Still, until that time comes.” Dusty clears his throat. “Busy work or not, he’s the first of many standing in my way; and that alone is all the reason I need to crush this kid and send everyone a message that I’m here and I’m not going away.”
“Gotdamn!” Ty exclaims with a pleased smirk curling the side of his mouth. “That’s what I like to hear, bruh.”
Dusty, however, is not smiling. He’s dead serious.
“Yeah, well.” Griffith snorts and thumbs his nose. “This is my last real run, brother and I’m not stopping until I get what I want. If that means I have to stomp guys like Yoon down, then so be it.”
“Heh, sounds like you’re the one with murderous intent.” Ty jests with a snicker.
“I’m just saying.” Dusty continues. “He’s got the benefit of time that I don’t have. So, if that means he’s got to get wrecked and left in my wake, so be it. I’m not here to play hero to the masses.”
Griffith draws a heavy breath and exhales, feeling a sort of relief to have spoken those words out loud for the first time in his career.
“If the people want to follow me, that’s fine. If not, that’s okay too. I’m here to be the World Champion, first. Everything else is a distant second.”
-fin-
Long Beach, California.
The big blue Jeep pulls up outside of the complex, a former K-Mart that has since been remodelled into a state of the art breeding ground for aspiring pro wrestlers. The engine growls as it idles for a moment before being cut off and Dusty emerges into the warm sunlight of Southern California.
Stretching his arms out, Griffith rolls his neck after a long drive and then takes in his surroundings. It’s a drastic change going from the cold serenity and natural beauty up north to the sunshine, concrete, and constant noise of the city. A grumble of discontent escapes him, but that’s the extent of his complaints.
“Alright, we’re here.” Dusty announces as he goes around to the back of the Jeep and opens the gate.
He’s greeted by his enormous travel companion, the nearly eight year old English Mastiff, who gurgles out an exhale while Dusty rubs his enormous head. That is until the smell of his breath hits Dusty’s nose.
“Christ! Did you eat the ass out of a dead skunk?” Dusty grimaces and then makes way for the Old Man to vacate the truck.
Once he does, the Old Man ambles about for a moment while stretching after the long journey. Meanwhile, Griffith pulls his huge, stuffed duffle out of the truck and slings it over his shoulder.
“Alright, let’s go.” He commands and they head for the entrance to the complex.
Upon entering they find the place to be pretty quiet with only a few random people milling about from station to station in between sets.
“What up, Old Man?” Calls the voice of friend and occasional trainer, Tyrone Walker, who calls out to the dog. “C’mere!”
The Old Man turns to see Walker and barks loudly and rushes over to get spoiled by the attention he’s sure to receive. Griffith walks over to one of the nearby rings and drops his duffle on the apron. Setting his hands on the canvas, Dusty leans over a bit and works out a few kinks in his aging, battle tested body.
Walker looks up from playing with the dog and recognizes the pain Dusty is working through. Ty pats the Old Man on his side and then rises from a crouch.
“Getting old sucks, eh?” Being Griffith’s senior by about six years, Ty asks rhetorically with a knowing smile that has been earned after twenty years of experience in wrestling.
“That it does, brother.” Dusty grunts when he feels the click in his neck and shoulders that precede a feeling of relief.
The two men approach and shake hands, before pulling each other into a bro-style hug. Letting go, they turn towards the main office of the complex with the Old Man following along. Once inside, Dusty locates a nearby couch and plops himself down, followed by the Old Man, who rests on the floor nearby. Ty moves in and takes a seat on the other side of the couch with Dusty.
“A good thing you’ve decided to take up residency here then.” Ty grins snarkily. “Driving all over the damn place ain’t for us. Gotta leave it to the youngin’s, yanno?”
“Pretty much, man.” Dusty nods. “Pretty much.”
“Anyway.” Ty begins to change direction. “Sorry about Andrews. I thought you had him, but he’s always been a crafty bastard.”
“Yeah.” Dusty shrugs. “It is what it is, but I’m ready to move it along. You know?”
“Definitely.” Ty nods. “So, yeah. It’s good to have you here on a more permanent basis. I think you and the team will really benefit each other.”
“That’s the plan, ain’t it?” Dusty asks facetiously and then takes a brief look through a window in the office that peer into the gym, once again noting the lack of activity. “Speaking of that. Where is the team?”
“Well, Jordan’s still down in Puerto Rico with Davis. Jay and Dyno took off for Halifax yesterday to get ready for the Cruiser Cup. And everyone else is off doing whatever it is they do.”
“Sounds about right.” Dusty bobbles his head slightly.
“Yeah, so.” Ty begins again. “You ready for this kid you got coming up?”
“I reckon so.” Dusty says confidently.
“Word.” Ty nods along. “Whatchu think?”
“About what, Yoon?” Dusty asks, to which Ty nods a confirmation. “Not much to be honest. I mean, he looks the part with his intimidating handle and hey, he’s even got a fancy name that tells you how great he is.”
“Heh, yeah.” Ty scoff laughs. “Master of his own destiny or whatever, right?”
“Something like that.” Dusty shrugs. “The truth is, he’s ’busy work’ for me until I get myself a shot at Chris Card.”
Griffith pauses for a moment and considers those words.
“Still, until that time comes.” Dusty clears his throat. “Busy work or not, he’s the first of many standing in my way; and that alone is all the reason I need to crush this kid and send everyone a message that I’m here and I’m not going away.”
“Gotdamn!” Ty exclaims with a pleased smirk curling the side of his mouth. “That’s what I like to hear, bruh.”
Dusty, however, is not smiling. He’s dead serious.
“Yeah, well.” Griffith snorts and thumbs his nose. “This is my last real run, brother and I’m not stopping until I get what I want. If that means I have to stomp guys like Yoon down, then so be it.”
“Heh, sounds like you’re the one with murderous intent.” Ty jests with a snicker.
“I’m just saying.” Dusty continues. “He’s got the benefit of time that I don’t have. So, if that means he’s got to get wrecked and left in my wake, so be it. I’m not here to play hero to the masses.”
Griffith draws a heavy breath and exhales, feeling a sort of relief to have spoken those words out loud for the first time in his career.
“If the people want to follow me, that’s fine. If not, that’s okay too. I’m here to be the World Champion, first. Everything else is a distant second.”
-fin-
