Post by JaceParkerDavidson on Jan 15, 2023 22:27:11 GMT -5
We opened up later that evening inside the estate of Jace Parker Davidson and Samantha Tolson. The place they call Sanctuary is where Jace returned after the late-night dinner. The 7 bedroom and 10-bathroom mansion happened to be the site of last year’s Halloween party. It was the first time that Jace and his opponent had met.
Samantha had left the restaurant and headed to New York to make her weekly appearance at the Velvet Rabbit on time. This gave Jace time to sit alone and reflect on the day and everything that’s happened in the 24 or so hours. We can pan out and see that Jace is seated on a brown leather chair inside of the large study inside of the home. Books lined the shelved walls as a bottle of Jack and a cigar nestled comfortably inside of a glass ashtray was placed on the small wooden table next to the chair. The fireplace inside of the room was going and keeping things warm. However, the fire wasn’t big enough to set fire to the room and the entire mansion.
Jace had set up a camera on the other side of the room and had a small remote control in his left hand. His attention was on the fireplace as he sat quietly and gathered the words in his head. He reached over and poured a healthy amount of Jack into a glass and took a drink from it. Some might think of Jace as an alcoholic seeing as he had a few just earlier at the restaurant. It was true that Mr. Davidson could knock them back with the best of them. Jace wasn’t a fan of beer in any form and stuck to the hard liquor. He would partake to unwind or celebrate but nine times out of ten he wouldn’t drink enough to deal with a hangover in the morning.
Davidson took in a deep breath then exhaled as he turned his attention towards the camera. He raised his left hand and hit the record button before placing the remote down onto the table. He adjusted the way he was sitting in the chair before speaking.
“Molly Doo… where are youuuuuuu?” He said out loud in a mocking tone. “Wait, I know where you were. You were on the football field today in an LFL game. Your Detroit Rampage lost a game against the Baltimore Bombshells. I happened to catch the game before The Denver Dimes game started earlier today. Such a shame that your team blew a 10 - 0 lead and ended up losing 17 - 10. While my team won very convincingly 28 - 3.”
Jace smirked a bit proud of his team's accomplishment earlier while rubbing it in on Molly for her team's total collapse.
“I would say the highlight of the game in Baltimore was without a doubt you flashing your butt to your own teammates after kicking that field goal. All of the players on the Dimes thought your little Scottish booty was cute. I looked at it and felt nothing but pity for you. It’s one thing to be flat as a board in the front but to look like a 2x4 in the back too? Truly disappointing but I guess we all can’t win the genetics lottery. It was at that moment that I decided that I was going to help you out… in my own way. I vow to kick you in your backside so many times at Frozen Fury in Chicago that your butt has no choice but to swell up afterwards.”
Jace paused and leaned back in his seat. Was it low hanging fruit? Of course, but sometimes the fruit that hangs the lowest happens to be the sweetest.
“I wonder how you reacted after the loss. I wonder what you decided to do after the game was over. I honestly haven’t heard much of anything from you since Choi decided to add his two cents on our match. Like I told you on Twitter after you got grumpy and misgendered him, which I found hilarious, that Choi or rather Shelley is an idiot. That being said I can’t sit here and lie about the fact that he didn’t have some good points. But I’m not going to waste anyone’s time going over his drug fuel monologue. I just can’t help but wonder how you went from coming at me full force with a renewed sense of self to completely dropping off the map just days after. But then thanks to the miracle of the internet I found out where you were, or rather, where you had been.”
Jace reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. He swipes his finger over the screen a couple of times before landing on his desired destination. He raised the phone up towards the camera and showed off a picture of Griffin Hawkins at some kind of amusement park getting fans.
“Seems like you snuck off and decided to have some away time with your good buddy Griffin. I’m sure you’re going to deny being, wherever this is, with Griffin but I’m willing to bet serious money that this is you in that picture.”
Jace raises his free hand and points to the small figure in the picture with the black hoodie on.
“How many times can you be seen alone with Griffin before people start rumors about the two of you? I mean I know I commented about it before but you’re going out there just making it blatantly obvious. I have to say that I’m a little shocked, Molly. You made this big grand speech about how you were going to make your way back to the top and take the Uprising World Championship belt back from Chris Mosh. That you were going to rid Uprising of the One Percent. You got your feathers all ruffled about the fact that I, and apparently others, had made light of the length of your Championship reign. I would have thought were someone with such a chip on their shoulder that you’d be hitting the gym like no other. That you’d have the motivation to not only shut me up but to prove your title victory wasn’t just a fluke.”
Jace lowers his phone and places it back in his pocket before shaking his head.
“Instead, you spent your time having a date night with Griffin. I’m going to pull out my crystal ball here and take a stab at what this little rendezvous entailed. I’m guessing you flip flopped back to being in your feelings about what happened at the last show in 2022 or over what Choi said about you. Maybe a combination of the two. Either way, Griffin, being the Knight in shining armor that he likes to cosplay as, decided to try and lift your spirits.”
Jace lifted his hand into the air and rubbed over his beard a little bit as he continued to think.
“I’m guessing there was a lot of ass kissing done between the two of you. I recall how highly you spoke of your match against him. So, no doubt you both really jerked each other off about that. And knowing Griffin the way I do. I’m pretty sure they went on about his usual spiel about how I, and others, are mean and we’re nothing but bullies. That people like me only say the things that we do because we’re either jealous or have some kind of brain damage over the fact that we need to put down others to feel better about ourselves. All while naturally talking shit about everyone else like his own shit doesn’t stink. It’s pretty much a guarantee that the old Captain block button gave you the full Dr. Phil treatment while you soaked it up like a sponge. Sugar coated words and blind praise are better than sex for some people.”
Jace took another drink from the glass of Jack before crossing one of his legs over the other.
“I’m sure behind closed doors that Griffin has given you an earful about me. I expect that to be a natural thing even after all of these years. Katie Anderson getting banned on Twitter, Taxes, and Griffin Hawkins holding a grudge against me. Things that will never let you down in life. And I’m positive that you’re taking his word to heart because you two are such good friends. Tell me though, how did you get so bent out of shape when I said what I did about you but yet you can Griffin can beat the fuck out of each other then be bosom buddies afterwards? Make it make sense, Molls. You would rather me fracture your skull inside of the ring instead of telling you the harsh truth? Seems backwards if you ask me. 100 times out of 100 I would rather someone call me an asshole than to injure me inside of the ring. Or maybe I’m just crazy.”
Jace bobs his head side to side debating with himself the accuracy of his last statement but decides that he’s as sane as a person in his profession can be.
“My issue is that you don’t have to hide away, Molly. If you’re going to hang out with someone like Griffin, whose head I’ve been living rent free for the better part of a decade, just to talk shit about me then do it to my face. Everyone else does… well… everyone else that’s not named Griffin Hawkins. Or are you one of those people that can’t just call me a dickhead in front of everyone in fear I might say something back? I was happy, Molly. I was excited about this match because I was going against one of the so-called best. I was hyped to be stepping into the ring with a former Uprising World Champion even if your reign only lasted slightly longer than Griffin Hawkins did on his wedding night. Yet, as Frozen Fury gets closer and closer, I’m starting to realize that maybe I’m not getting the worthy opponent that I thought I was.”
“You made a big deal about me ruining our friendship but is it really even a friendship? I’ve heard through the grapevine that the requirement for your friendship is bending over backwards for you without ever asking anything in return. I KNOW that is how Griffin operates but I guess I thought better of you. I really feel like when you said you were expecting to face Chris Mosh at Frozen Fury instead of me that it wasn’t just a passing comment or some heartfelt statement. I’m starting to believe your legit butthurt over the fact that you didn’t get handed a rematch for the title on a silver platter. That you don’t see me as a challenge or a threat, just some major convenience to what YOU want. Really puts into question the kind of World Champion you would be if it lasted a full 24 hours or more. I don’t really get the feeling that you would be welcoming to ALL challengers.”
Jace grabs his glass and finishes off the remaining amount of Jack inside of it.
“It would seem that in a perfect world that you and Griffin would face off one-on-one in the main event just about every week. You would put on, in what your opinions, would be five star matches and literally trade the World title back and forth between the two of you like this was some kind of self-gratifying fantasyland. I know the realities of this world and this business. I’m not mad, Molly, I’m just really disappointed.”
Jace pauses as his whole attitude and voice becomes much more serious and darker.
“It’s just a shame that I had to figure all of this out on January 15th.”
Jace had been acting a bit off all day and wouldn’t reveal the full truth of why to Samantha earlier. Now that he was alone, he felt more comfortable opening up about the situation.
“This might just seem like a normal Sunday to you and everyone else. Yet, to me this day has great significance. Just last night I made a business decision to purpose drop one of my three Championship belts at an event in Anaheim. It was a Tag Team Championship belt that I held alongside someone that I just didn’t enjoy teaming with. So, when that person was in trouble and being pinned, I just hopped off of the apron and let the other team win.”
“Why would I do something like that is probably what you’re wondering.”
“I did it because the person that was my partner was the same man that threw me off of a three-story steel structure back in November of 2016 and watched me fall right through an announcers table below. Not only did I lose that match and lose the title I held at the time. It ended up costing me five whole years of my career. I was forced into early retirement because this man decided to take a short cut to try and get one over me. My titles and my livelihood were snatched out from under me in a blink of an eye and there was nothing I could do about it. I had broken my neck and had to have fusion surgery. The doctors told me that I would never wrestle again. Obviously, I didn’t accept that as my fate and for five years I fought and rehabbed like crazy to make sure I could do what I love once again.”
“In April of 2021 I was finally medically cleared to compete again. I got a new lease on my career and since that moment I’ve done everything in my power to live the career to the fullest. I didn’t come back and try to be conservative. I put the pedal to the metal and turned everything up to 11. From matches to working out to appearing in different federations and testing myself against people I had never faced before. That is why I’m here in Uprising. But that guy responsible for my neck injury? We got paired together by management and actually won those titles. We defended them successfully but the thing about some people is that they never change. Not only did this man not pull his own weight in our team but he was actively trying to win one of my other titles away from me. So, I did what I had to do.”
“What did this have to do with January 15th? Nothing at all, that was just explaining my actions from last night.”
Jace uncrossed his legs and leaned forward in his seat.
“I came back and won titles; I’ve been inducted into the Hall of Fame in one promotion. I’ve started a business with a friend of mine. I bought a mansion for myself and Samantha Tolson along with an LFL football team. I’ve been told more than once that I am stretching myself too thin. That I’m burning the candle at both ends. Sitting back and putting my focus on just one thing and being good at it would be easy. That’s what I did before I was forced to retire. Now? All of this is a challenge that I am determined to face head on. All of that I had done or was damn close to accomplishing until January 15th, 2022.”
Jace takes a deep breath and preps himself for the words that are about to come.
“What I’m about to say isn’t kayfabe or some goddamn gimmick. It’s not some cry for attention or a pity party. What is it is the truth and something I hadn’t told almost anyone at all. On this day last year, I had a heart attack in my sleep and was found unresponsive by my former manager Madison Carter. 911 was called and paramedics arrived at my place in Miami. I was loaded up onto a stretcher into an ambulance and rushed towards the nearest hospital. Only on the way there my heart stopped, and I died.”
Jace goes quiet and just sits there with an emotionless stare.
“Clearly, I was revived, and my heart was restarted. However, when I arrived at the emergency room the outlook was dark at best. Madison was told by the doctors that they did not feel like I would make it. In the small chance that I did make it the prognosis was that I would never walk again, that I would never talk again, and that I would have sustained major brain damage. I was put on a ventilator because I was unable to breathe on my own and the doctors had no idea just how long I had gone without oxygen to my brain. Everyone that the world saw happen to Demar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago is exactly what I went through.”
“Watching it all unfold on television was a sobering thing and almost triggering for me. You see, I don’t remember having a heart attack. I don’t remember being taken to the hospital or dying on the way there. I don’t remember having a ventilator tube shoved down my throat. All I remember is that one day I woke up strapped to a hospital bed with all kinds of tubes stuck in my body. I was confused, weak, and felt like I had died and woke up in Hell. A grand total of 42 days passed before I was able to leave that hospital and begin my journey to once again get back to the point where I could wrestle again.”
“Twice in less than a decade my career and my life were snatched away from me. Good thing I’m a tough, stubborn, son of a bitch and I don’t go down easy. And when I do go down, I don’t stay down.”
Jace lowers his eyes to the floor beneath his feet and tries to steady his breathing and control his emotions before continuing.
“People say a lot of things about me. Some of them deserved and some of them not. However, none of you out there has walked the miles I have walked in my shoes. You can call me an asshole, you can call me toxic, but please remember one thing. I truly don’t not give a single fuck about your feelings or your opinion of me. I am who I am, and I have no plans on changing or catering to anyone else’s bullshit but my own.”
“Why?”
“That’s because none of you have had the thing you loved most tried to be taken from you not once but twice. None of you played a game of chicken with the Grim Reaper himself and made that motherfucker flinch first. Death could not put me down permanently. What makes you, Molly Hatchet, or anyone else think they can do what the Reaper couldn’t?”
Jace leans back in his seat and grabs the bottom of his shirt with both hands. He pulls his shirt up exposing his abs and chest, but more importantly, the large skull, among other things, tattooed over his chest and stomach.
“I got this ink done as a daily reminder of what I went through. To remember that every single moment is precious and to live MY life to the fucking fullest. But as I sit here one year later on the anniversary of it happening, I found a new symbolism for it.”
“Now, every single time I head down a ramp and step into the middle of the ring without a shirt on. It’s a warning to my opponents and a source of strength for me. When we’re standing across the ring from each other at Frozen Fury, Molly. This skull is YOUR reminder that Death is inevitable for everyone except ME. You can pin my shoulders down to a canvas for three seconds. You can climb a ladder better than me or what have you. What you CANNOT do is keep me down for long. What you’re unable to do is kill me. That means win, lose, or draw, Molly, I’m going to keep coming after you, after Justin York, and after anyone that dares to try and stand in my way. I don’t need something handed to me. I don’t need prep talks and sweet little words for false assurance from my friends. I’m going to take this third shot at my career and my life and I’m going to gamble on me and my ability.”
“Be my guest if you want to ante up and try me. The Devil himself went all in and even he crapped out when it counted the most. Good luck trying to overcome those odds.”
“See you in Chicago.”
Jace grabs the remote then presses the stop button. He shifts his body back towards the fireplace and pours himself another drink. He grabs a hold of the cigar and places it between his lips before lighting it as the scene fades.
Samantha had left the restaurant and headed to New York to make her weekly appearance at the Velvet Rabbit on time. This gave Jace time to sit alone and reflect on the day and everything that’s happened in the 24 or so hours. We can pan out and see that Jace is seated on a brown leather chair inside of the large study inside of the home. Books lined the shelved walls as a bottle of Jack and a cigar nestled comfortably inside of a glass ashtray was placed on the small wooden table next to the chair. The fireplace inside of the room was going and keeping things warm. However, the fire wasn’t big enough to set fire to the room and the entire mansion.
Jace had set up a camera on the other side of the room and had a small remote control in his left hand. His attention was on the fireplace as he sat quietly and gathered the words in his head. He reached over and poured a healthy amount of Jack into a glass and took a drink from it. Some might think of Jace as an alcoholic seeing as he had a few just earlier at the restaurant. It was true that Mr. Davidson could knock them back with the best of them. Jace wasn’t a fan of beer in any form and stuck to the hard liquor. He would partake to unwind or celebrate but nine times out of ten he wouldn’t drink enough to deal with a hangover in the morning.
Davidson took in a deep breath then exhaled as he turned his attention towards the camera. He raised his left hand and hit the record button before placing the remote down onto the table. He adjusted the way he was sitting in the chair before speaking.
“Molly Doo… where are youuuuuuu?” He said out loud in a mocking tone. “Wait, I know where you were. You were on the football field today in an LFL game. Your Detroit Rampage lost a game against the Baltimore Bombshells. I happened to catch the game before The Denver Dimes game started earlier today. Such a shame that your team blew a 10 - 0 lead and ended up losing 17 - 10. While my team won very convincingly 28 - 3.”
Jace smirked a bit proud of his team's accomplishment earlier while rubbing it in on Molly for her team's total collapse.
“I would say the highlight of the game in Baltimore was without a doubt you flashing your butt to your own teammates after kicking that field goal. All of the players on the Dimes thought your little Scottish booty was cute. I looked at it and felt nothing but pity for you. It’s one thing to be flat as a board in the front but to look like a 2x4 in the back too? Truly disappointing but I guess we all can’t win the genetics lottery. It was at that moment that I decided that I was going to help you out… in my own way. I vow to kick you in your backside so many times at Frozen Fury in Chicago that your butt has no choice but to swell up afterwards.”
Jace paused and leaned back in his seat. Was it low hanging fruit? Of course, but sometimes the fruit that hangs the lowest happens to be the sweetest.
“I wonder how you reacted after the loss. I wonder what you decided to do after the game was over. I honestly haven’t heard much of anything from you since Choi decided to add his two cents on our match. Like I told you on Twitter after you got grumpy and misgendered him, which I found hilarious, that Choi or rather Shelley is an idiot. That being said I can’t sit here and lie about the fact that he didn’t have some good points. But I’m not going to waste anyone’s time going over his drug fuel monologue. I just can’t help but wonder how you went from coming at me full force with a renewed sense of self to completely dropping off the map just days after. But then thanks to the miracle of the internet I found out where you were, or rather, where you had been.”
Jace reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone. He swipes his finger over the screen a couple of times before landing on his desired destination. He raised the phone up towards the camera and showed off a picture of Griffin Hawkins at some kind of amusement park getting fans.
“Seems like you snuck off and decided to have some away time with your good buddy Griffin. I’m sure you’re going to deny being, wherever this is, with Griffin but I’m willing to bet serious money that this is you in that picture.”
Jace raises his free hand and points to the small figure in the picture with the black hoodie on.
“How many times can you be seen alone with Griffin before people start rumors about the two of you? I mean I know I commented about it before but you’re going out there just making it blatantly obvious. I have to say that I’m a little shocked, Molly. You made this big grand speech about how you were going to make your way back to the top and take the Uprising World Championship belt back from Chris Mosh. That you were going to rid Uprising of the One Percent. You got your feathers all ruffled about the fact that I, and apparently others, had made light of the length of your Championship reign. I would have thought were someone with such a chip on their shoulder that you’d be hitting the gym like no other. That you’d have the motivation to not only shut me up but to prove your title victory wasn’t just a fluke.”
Jace lowers his phone and places it back in his pocket before shaking his head.
“Instead, you spent your time having a date night with Griffin. I’m going to pull out my crystal ball here and take a stab at what this little rendezvous entailed. I’m guessing you flip flopped back to being in your feelings about what happened at the last show in 2022 or over what Choi said about you. Maybe a combination of the two. Either way, Griffin, being the Knight in shining armor that he likes to cosplay as, decided to try and lift your spirits.”
Jace lifted his hand into the air and rubbed over his beard a little bit as he continued to think.
“I’m guessing there was a lot of ass kissing done between the two of you. I recall how highly you spoke of your match against him. So, no doubt you both really jerked each other off about that. And knowing Griffin the way I do. I’m pretty sure they went on about his usual spiel about how I, and others, are mean and we’re nothing but bullies. That people like me only say the things that we do because we’re either jealous or have some kind of brain damage over the fact that we need to put down others to feel better about ourselves. All while naturally talking shit about everyone else like his own shit doesn’t stink. It’s pretty much a guarantee that the old Captain block button gave you the full Dr. Phil treatment while you soaked it up like a sponge. Sugar coated words and blind praise are better than sex for some people.”
Jace took another drink from the glass of Jack before crossing one of his legs over the other.
“I’m sure behind closed doors that Griffin has given you an earful about me. I expect that to be a natural thing even after all of these years. Katie Anderson getting banned on Twitter, Taxes, and Griffin Hawkins holding a grudge against me. Things that will never let you down in life. And I’m positive that you’re taking his word to heart because you two are such good friends. Tell me though, how did you get so bent out of shape when I said what I did about you but yet you can Griffin can beat the fuck out of each other then be bosom buddies afterwards? Make it make sense, Molls. You would rather me fracture your skull inside of the ring instead of telling you the harsh truth? Seems backwards if you ask me. 100 times out of 100 I would rather someone call me an asshole than to injure me inside of the ring. Or maybe I’m just crazy.”
Jace bobs his head side to side debating with himself the accuracy of his last statement but decides that he’s as sane as a person in his profession can be.
“My issue is that you don’t have to hide away, Molly. If you’re going to hang out with someone like Griffin, whose head I’ve been living rent free for the better part of a decade, just to talk shit about me then do it to my face. Everyone else does… well… everyone else that’s not named Griffin Hawkins. Or are you one of those people that can’t just call me a dickhead in front of everyone in fear I might say something back? I was happy, Molly. I was excited about this match because I was going against one of the so-called best. I was hyped to be stepping into the ring with a former Uprising World Champion even if your reign only lasted slightly longer than Griffin Hawkins did on his wedding night. Yet, as Frozen Fury gets closer and closer, I’m starting to realize that maybe I’m not getting the worthy opponent that I thought I was.”
“You made a big deal about me ruining our friendship but is it really even a friendship? I’ve heard through the grapevine that the requirement for your friendship is bending over backwards for you without ever asking anything in return. I KNOW that is how Griffin operates but I guess I thought better of you. I really feel like when you said you were expecting to face Chris Mosh at Frozen Fury instead of me that it wasn’t just a passing comment or some heartfelt statement. I’m starting to believe your legit butthurt over the fact that you didn’t get handed a rematch for the title on a silver platter. That you don’t see me as a challenge or a threat, just some major convenience to what YOU want. Really puts into question the kind of World Champion you would be if it lasted a full 24 hours or more. I don’t really get the feeling that you would be welcoming to ALL challengers.”
Jace grabs his glass and finishes off the remaining amount of Jack inside of it.
“It would seem that in a perfect world that you and Griffin would face off one-on-one in the main event just about every week. You would put on, in what your opinions, would be five star matches and literally trade the World title back and forth between the two of you like this was some kind of self-gratifying fantasyland. I know the realities of this world and this business. I’m not mad, Molly, I’m just really disappointed.”
Jace pauses as his whole attitude and voice becomes much more serious and darker.
“It’s just a shame that I had to figure all of this out on January 15th.”
Jace had been acting a bit off all day and wouldn’t reveal the full truth of why to Samantha earlier. Now that he was alone, he felt more comfortable opening up about the situation.
“This might just seem like a normal Sunday to you and everyone else. Yet, to me this day has great significance. Just last night I made a business decision to purpose drop one of my three Championship belts at an event in Anaheim. It was a Tag Team Championship belt that I held alongside someone that I just didn’t enjoy teaming with. So, when that person was in trouble and being pinned, I just hopped off of the apron and let the other team win.”
“Why would I do something like that is probably what you’re wondering.”
“I did it because the person that was my partner was the same man that threw me off of a three-story steel structure back in November of 2016 and watched me fall right through an announcers table below. Not only did I lose that match and lose the title I held at the time. It ended up costing me five whole years of my career. I was forced into early retirement because this man decided to take a short cut to try and get one over me. My titles and my livelihood were snatched out from under me in a blink of an eye and there was nothing I could do about it. I had broken my neck and had to have fusion surgery. The doctors told me that I would never wrestle again. Obviously, I didn’t accept that as my fate and for five years I fought and rehabbed like crazy to make sure I could do what I love once again.”
“In April of 2021 I was finally medically cleared to compete again. I got a new lease on my career and since that moment I’ve done everything in my power to live the career to the fullest. I didn’t come back and try to be conservative. I put the pedal to the metal and turned everything up to 11. From matches to working out to appearing in different federations and testing myself against people I had never faced before. That is why I’m here in Uprising. But that guy responsible for my neck injury? We got paired together by management and actually won those titles. We defended them successfully but the thing about some people is that they never change. Not only did this man not pull his own weight in our team but he was actively trying to win one of my other titles away from me. So, I did what I had to do.”
“What did this have to do with January 15th? Nothing at all, that was just explaining my actions from last night.”
Jace uncrossed his legs and leaned forward in his seat.
“I came back and won titles; I’ve been inducted into the Hall of Fame in one promotion. I’ve started a business with a friend of mine. I bought a mansion for myself and Samantha Tolson along with an LFL football team. I’ve been told more than once that I am stretching myself too thin. That I’m burning the candle at both ends. Sitting back and putting my focus on just one thing and being good at it would be easy. That’s what I did before I was forced to retire. Now? All of this is a challenge that I am determined to face head on. All of that I had done or was damn close to accomplishing until January 15th, 2022.”
Jace takes a deep breath and preps himself for the words that are about to come.
“What I’m about to say isn’t kayfabe or some goddamn gimmick. It’s not some cry for attention or a pity party. What is it is the truth and something I hadn’t told almost anyone at all. On this day last year, I had a heart attack in my sleep and was found unresponsive by my former manager Madison Carter. 911 was called and paramedics arrived at my place in Miami. I was loaded up onto a stretcher into an ambulance and rushed towards the nearest hospital. Only on the way there my heart stopped, and I died.”
Jace goes quiet and just sits there with an emotionless stare.
“Clearly, I was revived, and my heart was restarted. However, when I arrived at the emergency room the outlook was dark at best. Madison was told by the doctors that they did not feel like I would make it. In the small chance that I did make it the prognosis was that I would never walk again, that I would never talk again, and that I would have sustained major brain damage. I was put on a ventilator because I was unable to breathe on my own and the doctors had no idea just how long I had gone without oxygen to my brain. Everyone that the world saw happen to Demar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago is exactly what I went through.”
“Watching it all unfold on television was a sobering thing and almost triggering for me. You see, I don’t remember having a heart attack. I don’t remember being taken to the hospital or dying on the way there. I don’t remember having a ventilator tube shoved down my throat. All I remember is that one day I woke up strapped to a hospital bed with all kinds of tubes stuck in my body. I was confused, weak, and felt like I had died and woke up in Hell. A grand total of 42 days passed before I was able to leave that hospital and begin my journey to once again get back to the point where I could wrestle again.”
“Twice in less than a decade my career and my life were snatched away from me. Good thing I’m a tough, stubborn, son of a bitch and I don’t go down easy. And when I do go down, I don’t stay down.”
Jace lowers his eyes to the floor beneath his feet and tries to steady his breathing and control his emotions before continuing.
“People say a lot of things about me. Some of them deserved and some of them not. However, none of you out there has walked the miles I have walked in my shoes. You can call me an asshole, you can call me toxic, but please remember one thing. I truly don’t not give a single fuck about your feelings or your opinion of me. I am who I am, and I have no plans on changing or catering to anyone else’s bullshit but my own.”
“Why?”
“That’s because none of you have had the thing you loved most tried to be taken from you not once but twice. None of you played a game of chicken with the Grim Reaper himself and made that motherfucker flinch first. Death could not put me down permanently. What makes you, Molly Hatchet, or anyone else think they can do what the Reaper couldn’t?”
Jace leans back in his seat and grabs the bottom of his shirt with both hands. He pulls his shirt up exposing his abs and chest, but more importantly, the large skull, among other things, tattooed over his chest and stomach.
“I got this ink done as a daily reminder of what I went through. To remember that every single moment is precious and to live MY life to the fucking fullest. But as I sit here one year later on the anniversary of it happening, I found a new symbolism for it.”
“Now, every single time I head down a ramp and step into the middle of the ring without a shirt on. It’s a warning to my opponents and a source of strength for me. When we’re standing across the ring from each other at Frozen Fury, Molly. This skull is YOUR reminder that Death is inevitable for everyone except ME. You can pin my shoulders down to a canvas for three seconds. You can climb a ladder better than me or what have you. What you CANNOT do is keep me down for long. What you’re unable to do is kill me. That means win, lose, or draw, Molly, I’m going to keep coming after you, after Justin York, and after anyone that dares to try and stand in my way. I don’t need something handed to me. I don’t need prep talks and sweet little words for false assurance from my friends. I’m going to take this third shot at my career and my life and I’m going to gamble on me and my ability.”
“Be my guest if you want to ante up and try me. The Devil himself went all in and even he crapped out when it counted the most. Good luck trying to overcome those odds.”
“See you in Chicago.”
Jace grabs the remote then presses the stop button. He shifts his body back towards the fireplace and pours himself another drink. He grabs a hold of the cigar and places it between his lips before lighting it as the scene fades.