Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2021 21:18:06 GMT -5
It was a week after my debut in Uprising. I had mixed emotions going into the next Revolution. I was booked against the very man who interrupted my amazing set, kicked the living shit out of me, and left my ribs bruised. That man was of course known as “The Master" SAW. The obvious emotion I had been feeling was pissed the hell off. What business did he have coming at me like that? Was he truly offended at the fact that a self-made artist would step into his playground? People cross over to different businesses all the times, utilizing the people they know to do so. Clearly another emotion I had was confusion. It wasn’t until this week however that I had felt scared. I wasn’t scared of SAW, that wasn’t it at all. I was scared that he may be right. Maybe this WAS his playground and maybe I was the new kid in town that just didn’t quite fit in.
For as many years as I could remember, I had always wanted to step foot into the professional wrestling business. I had watched man of greats come and go through the years and had also watched people try to break out, and fail almost as quickly as they had appeared. Obviously, I wanted to be one of the greats, but I couldn’t help but think about becoming a failure. Truthfully, I didn’t know what failure felt like, and I wasn’t ready to find out.
When I was 15 years old, I was invited to D-Day’s house. D-Day was a very well known rapper in the St. Louis area at the time, and I just so happened to befriend his nephew at school. We were getting into all kinds of mischief and he heard me get into a few rap battles at school, so he thought he’d be the cool friend and bring me over to his uncle’s house to rap for him. This was truly the first time I had been nervous or afraid to do what made me who I was as a person. Walking through that front door, standing in front of a man who you had idolized and hearing his nephew say, “now spit for him man". That shit was nerve-wracking as hell, but I did it.
After my moment with D-Day had passed, I honestly thought it was just over. I went back to being a normal 15 year old kid who loved to make songs and watch professional wrestling, all while trying to balance life's fucked up curveballs and of course the dreaded high school years. It wasn’t until a few months later, that I realized what had happened. “Scoop", D-Day's nephew, had his uncle record those bars I spit and I was featured in my very first song, without even realizing it. At first, I was pissed , because again, I was nervous someone from school, or even my parents would hear it. Both of those things actually happened, and it wasn’t nearly as horrible as I had imagined it would be.
After the leak went around the town, we decided to officially record the song together , so it didn’t sound so shitty. The first time I stepped foot into the studio, was a surreal moment for me. The moment felt larger than life. I was on top of the world, and I had just begun. D-Day kept me on the straight and narrow for the months to come after the song officially dropped. He helped me get some shows booked and some local press coverage to expose Hayden, the artist. It wasn’t until my first interview with local radio station, 99.3 “The Buzz", that “H.O.T" was born.
I was talking to Don Carter, the morning show host, and he asked D-Day what made me different from the rest of the artists in the area, other than my age. D-Day’s response was golden. He said “just look at the kid, he’s a fucking fireball, waiting to explode, he’s HOT!! Spell it, H.O.T!” The look on Don’s face was priceless, but my expression after his rant made him realize he had just spelled out my destiny.
A year went by and D-Day, Scoop, and H.O.T had taken over the scene. We were doing shows across Missouri, and started making pretty good money doing it. We were just two hungry kids following in the footsteps of one of our idols. We didn’t realize that on November 16th, 2005 would be the day that changed us forever. We had a show at some dive bar in Kansas City. We always played the same show at different venues, in order to tighten up our act, so were ready for the big leagues when they called on us. I’d go out first and do my thirty minute set. Scoop would go out next, and then D-Day would headline. The last song on the show was the song that started it all for me and all three of us would be on the stage, killing it.
I’ll never forget when that song ended that night and the loud “BANG" rang through the club. The screams of horror, and the mobs of people dashing in every direction, just to get the hell out of dodge. To this day, I still hear Scoop sobbing uncontrollably. When I looked over to see what was going on from behind the speaker I had hid behind, it was too late. Someone had shot D-Day. Months had passed and the momentum of our shows had died off, and I hadn’t heard from Scoop. It wasn’t until a year later that I would even see Scoop again.
My junior year in high school had begun and I would keep mostly to my tight group of friends, that consisted of just under ten or twelve kids. One of the kids in our group had gotten into an altercation with another junior during lunch and his friends all jumped up saying we were trying to jump him. This situation quickly turned into approximately thirty kids in the lunchroom screaming and yelling at each other, until another “BANG" rang through my ears. Not again… When my eyes opened, I didn’t want to see who was laying lifeless, covered in blood. Slowly, I opened my eyes and there was only one person, standing over me. It was Scoop. Did he shoot me?
Scoop was hauled away for a year after the stunt in the lunchroom, locked in a juvenile detention center until he turned 18 years old, where he’d be placed on probation and be viewed as a criminal the rest of his life. The moment I turned 18, I was ready to leave that god forsaken city and the people in it. My parents weren’t around anymore. My best friends were gone, and my music career disappeared with them, or so I thought.
Scoop called me on my 18th birthday. He said he was out and ready to get our names in lights again, but this time “our way". I didn’t really know what he meant by that but he had a pretty heavy rap sheet already, so I wasn’t sure I wanted to be associated with the crime scene, but he was one of my best friends so I said fuck it and we started putting together some shows. Scoop had extreme talents when it came to music, but his skills as a promoter were far superior. He was getting us on the hottest shows and we really were blowing the hell up. He got us into multiple studios, in almost every different city we hit.
Another year went by, living life in the fast lane with Scoop. It was somewhere in here that I got hooked on opiates and became the person I would eventually grow to hate. One night, after playing our set, I was approached by a representative from “Hopeful Records". Scoop was pissed that he wasn’t offered the deal and said that we would be done if I took it. At this point in my life, I really gave zero fucks about friendship, and it was all about making the money to support my expensive habit now. I chose money and fame over friendship and am horribly sorry that it turned out that way, but ultimately it did land me where I am today.
Today
Unknown Voice
Hayden, you go on in five minutes. Are you ready?
H.O.T.
Shit, I must’ve dozed out again. I’m sorry man. I haven’t been getting much sleep lately. It feels like I’ve been pullin' double duty. In some ways, I guess I have. I’m ready man. Let’s do this.
I was sitting backstage with none other than Drew Griffin, famous late night talk show host. I was about to promote my newest song , “Rockstar", and my debut match in uprising. I cant believe I fuckin' fell asleep on him. Holy hell.
Drew Griffin
Ladies and gentlemen, I promised you a special guest tonight, and boy did I deliver. This kid has all the potential in the world to take it over. He has won 6 musical awards in his career and has had 10 songs at the top of the billboard charts. I’m talking about the one and only “H.O.T" Hayden Triggs!
I flew out of the curtain and reveled in the reaction of the live crowd. I could only imagine how man people were watching at home, and that made it all the better. I lightly jogged over to Drew , after slapping hands with some close fans.
H.O.T
What’s up Drew?
Drew Griffin
Hayden, it is an absolute honor to have you on the show tonight. Let’s get down to it. You’ve been in this scene for over 16 years now. You really hit the ground running at the age of 18 years old and haven’t stopped since. Tonight marks a special night for you though. You had a new single drop last month, which skyrocketed to the top of the charts overnight, reaching millions of people across the world. Today marks three weeks at the number one spot on the charts for “Rockstar". I’d say the title describes it flawlessly, but what does this truly feel like?
H.O.T
This is what I live for man. Like you said, I’ve been doing this for an extremely long time and for the first time in a long time, I’m doing it clean, so that makes it ten times better. I continue to record tracks daily, looking for the next chart topper, but I came to talk about something else that’s going on in my life that I’m super proud of as well.
Drew Griffin
You’re about to be a dad?
H.O.T
Shit, I hope not. Not because I don’t like kids, but I wouldn’t be able to handle that man. No way could I be responsible for someone else’s life. I am about to start a new journey over at the professional wrestling promotion known as Uprising. I made my debut on January 9th, and have my first official match on January 23rd. You’d think they’d book me against another rookie, but no. They booked me against some crazy martial arts maniac, who smashes cinder blocks with his feet for fun.
Drew Griffin
Jesus, how do you even prepare for something like that?
H.O.T
You don’t. I’ve talked a lot of shit during this duration of time between our first encounter and the match itself, but as it gets closer I’ve realized that I really haven’t mentally or even physically prepared myself for the ass whoopin' that’s about to ensue. I got so caught up in my feelings that I even challenged the dude to a fuckin' cage match at the first super show , Coronation.
Drew Griffin
Why the hell would you do something that stupid!?
H.O.T
I figured that if I could go out there and just impress some people, then I have already started my new journey off on the right foot. I may stumble and fall in the early part of my Uprising career, but I WILL get back up again and fight my way through every punk bitch who stands in my way to the top of the mountain. SAW just happens to be the first contestant on the HOTTEST segment in Uprising history. I figured I may as well make it interesting while we were at it, and a cage match seemed fitting. So after this two on one handicap match at Revolution, I hope to go on to face “The Master" once more in a cage match at Coronation.
Drew Griffin
You hope to?
H.O.T
You see, the match hasn’t officially been announced yet. I’m just hoping that the more its talked about, the faster it becomes a reality.
Drew Griffin
I’m sorry, but I think you signed a death wish with this one man. Nothing about this seems sane. But, you haven’t made a name for yourself by being same, have you? I’m rooting for ya kid, but don’t get too cocky. Partner or not, this SAW guy sounds like he’s kicked some serious ass in his career. Just don’t go out there and freeze up. Do what you do best, prevail no matter the cost. I heard you wanted to drop a few bars tonight, ahead of your match at Revolution. You still down to do that?
H.O.T
Calm down Griffin, or is it Peter?
You didn’t yet meter
But already ready to eat her.
I’ve told you once. I’ve told you twice.
I’ll just nurse these fucking wounds with ice.
My chances are like winning the lottery, I think I’ll roll the dice.
Yea, it doesn’t matter if I have two or three.
I’ll even do it with just little ole me.
It wont matter when the ref counts to three.
I’ll raise my arms up in victory.
Soon we’ll have to end my celebration
Because two weeks later we’ll be locked in a cage at Coronation.
At this point, I had my face so close the main stage camera, that when I stumbled, I knocked it off the rolling cart. The audience was on fire as the director of the show yelled.
CUT