In the year 2013, Gavin Taylor was signed to a dual-contract between Dominion of Canada Wrestling, a subsidiary of the Next Evolution Wrestling Alliance, and the eponymous Network. Spearheaded by September Mills, a representative of said Network, Gavin’s lucrative deal was to work in synergy between the wrestling promotion and the network upon which it aired. However, in a matter of months, DCW and NEWA as a whole were relegated to the history books and, as a result, Gavin’s contract with the company was bought out. What was not bought out, however, was his Network deal. Gavin continued receiving a paycheck from the Network without having to really do anything. The five-year deal, which was not exclusionary in nature, expired in 2018 – but by that point, Gavin had already regained prominence through the Independent Wrestling Cartel, the subsequent Uprising Wrestling Association, and finally having taken his spot on the EMERGE roster. Things were looking up for the All-Star, as eventually he would find himself in Supreme Championship Wrestling, where he is now a former Adrenaline Champion, and a wrestler on the precipice of great things.
But, as it always seems to go in professional wrestling, just when someone feels at their most secure… just when someone thinks everything is finally going their way… a big ol’ wrench gets thrown into the works and makes a mess of things. This is that story.
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Tacoma, Washington
Meeting Room B
Our scene opens up inside a rented meeting room turned into a promo studio in a Tacoma, Washington luxury hotel. Gavin Taylor can be seen sitting within, waxing poetic about his upcoming Tag League match. In Gavin’s mind, the Tag League had accomplished one thing: It kept him back from moving towards the upper echelon of the Supreme Championship Wrestling roster, taking his time in an effort to lift a relic of yesteryear, Katie Steward, and carrying her to the World Tag Team Championships in the process. That was unsuccessful as, in Gavin’s eyes, there’s only so much a man with talent gifted from God above could do to force someone to be successful when they don’t want to be. He believed Katie didn’t really want to be successful in the Tag League. After all, she wasn’t even originally supposed to be in the tournament. She was a last minute substitution for Gavin’s friend, Aubrianna Powers. He had sensed at times that Katie wanted to resemble Aubrianna more than just take her place in a match, but couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
Gavin was happy to be getting out of the Tag League, although him winning the Tag Team Championships in Australia would have been one of the all-time greatest moments in SCW history, robbed by his own partner. He knew that, without the albatross around his neck, he could ascend to great things and become the superstar and, indeed, the CHAMPION he knew he was capable of. He knew there were people in and around SCW that didn’t quite believe he was capable of such greatness, but that didn’t bother Gavin. When has he ever let the “haters” get their way? He lets the haters be his motivators… or some other cliché.
As Gavin goes through his pre-match rhetoric, his agent, Ava St. Claire, stands behind the camera, nodding along with his scripted words. Ava had been intent on Gavin working to not let the Tag League consume him. She was his agent, after all, and didn’t have the desire to either add Katie Steward to her roster or have to rely on an unaffiliated talent to ensure her client’s success.
The entry to the room is flanked by Jack and Karl Barker, Gavin’s All-Star Security. They were proficient at their jobs, and contrary to the way others might use such a force, they had been generally un-obstructive when it came to Gavin’s in-ring pursuits. They didn’t accompany him to the ring. They didn’t interfere on his behalf. They didn’t even interject when someone attacked Gavin in the ring, clearly bitter about Gavin’s superior talent.
And now that the scene is set, Gavin is finishing off his thoughts…
“So I’m going to go out in this last match, and maybe I’ll let my partner figure out how to go through this match, because as soon as the final bell rings, all bets are off,” Gavin says with a smile. He was really glad to be out of this particular tag team. “It’s no more Hollywood All-Stars. It’s just me… Gavin Taylor… the best damn WRESTLER that you have EVER SEEN!”
Gavin’s mouth opens as he prepares to say more… clearly having some more on his mind. However, before sound can come out of his mouth, the room becomes immersed in the sound of a slight applause. Gavin looks to the door… Ava looks to the door… Jack and Karl immediately turn to the door, stepping between the new interloper and the rest of the room.
“Hey buddy,” Jack says, pressing his hand to one of the man’s shoulders. “This is a closed set.”
“Yeah,” Karl nods, pressing his hand to the other one of the man’s shoulders. “So make like Al Roker says and skedaddle!”
“Get your hands off of me,” the man protests sharply. “Have you no idea who I am?”
They didn’t. It was plainly evident by the fact that they didn’t immediately remove their hands from the man’s shoulders. Gavin, however, moves from the camera, which had since been turned off, and approaches his agent.
“We can just throw a “fin” or something after that last line, right?’ he asks. “Just cover up this whole interruption business?”
“Yeah, probably for the best,” she answers. “But…”
Gavin motions to Jack and Karl to let go of the man, who angrily adjusts his jacket, smoothing out the wrinkles of their hands from it, before entering the room.
“Sorry, fella,” Gavin begins, clearly not thinking much of this interloper. “Were we being too loud? Trying to run a vacuum salesman meeting in A? I got it… you want an autograph! Well, I typically don’t go out of my way to reward interruptions like this, but today will be no exception.”
“My name is Michel Corbeau,” the man introduces himself. Gavin stops thinking to speak and begins just thinking.
“Corbeau… Corbeau…” he thinks aloud. “Sorry, I don’t know any Corbeau.”
“My…” Michel begins, but Gavin doesn’t stop talking.
“I mean, I had heard of an Armand Corbeau,” Gavin keeps thinking aloud, completely oblivious to the growing impatience of the intruder. “But I thought he had retired from active competition to work with his girlfriend or wife or sister or whatever in Mexico.”
“My father,” he finally gets out. “…was Francois Corbeau. Your former employer.”
Gavin thinks about it, squinting his eyes tightly as he examines the man. He appeared to be in his early-to-mid 50’s, non-athletic, though that could be from a life of inactivity or a decade of actively avoiding exercise.
“He ran The Network when you were signed to DCW…” Michel continues, trying to get his point across. This seems to trigger Gavin’s memory, as he begins pointing his finger.
“Right! Franky,” Gavin exclaims excitedly. “How’s the old guy doing?”
“My father is retired now,” Michel informs Gavin, who appears to not be moved by the news. “I have taken over his role within the Network, and…”
“And you’re looking to re-sign The All-Star to a lucrative contract,” Gavin finishes Michel’s statement in a matter-of-fact tone. “Lucky for you, my Agent, Ava St. Claire, is right over there and would be happy to help negotiate a mutually beneficial agreement.”
“We can certainly discuss something,” Ava responds, a little off-guard by being volunteered to spearhead these negotiations, but ready nonetheless. Michel, however, shakes his head.
“I’m afraid what I am here for is not that simple, Mr. Taylor,” he says. Reaching into his suit jacket, he pulls out a folded up stack of papers. Gavin takes the pages from him beginning to read over them. “Do you recognize these papers?”
“Yeah,” Gavin nods his head as he thumbs through the stack. “It’s my old Network contract. Can you believe it? I was so highly sought after that I got two contracts – one to wrestle, and one to appear on the Network. It was too bad DCW shut down…”
“Too bad, indeed,” Michel nods his head in agreement. “However, this is what brings me here today. You see, Mr. Taylor, in my new role with The Network, I have been tasked with finding efficiencies. Television is not an inexpensive venture, and there has been a lot of fat out there in the past. Fat that I’m looking to trim down now. And that’s when I found your contract.”
Gavin laughs as he looks it over. “Heh heh, yeah… that was kind of a Network boner, wasn’t it? Five-year deal for someone to work for a company that had three months of life left? To pay me out of that deal, I basically became the Bobby Bonilla of the Network.”
“Not quite, Mr. Taylor,” Michel says. This perks up Gavin’s attention as the man continues speaking. “You see, you had said it yourself: your contract for the Network did involve requirements to appear on the Network throughout the duration. You didn’t fulfill that, yet continued receiving payment regardless.”
“Yeah, but what are we going to do about it, really?” Gavin says, handing Michel back the folded up contract. “It’s not like we can turn back the clocks, right?”
“No, not exactly,” Michel grins as he moves into the ring. “I have taken the matter up with our attorneys, however, and seem to have discovered there is room for a compromise. Because you were paid for services not rendered, you can either simply return the money, or perform the services.”
“What?” Ava steps in, questioning what she is hearing. “You want Gavin to repay four years and nine months of salary up front?”
“With interest, actually,” Michel states. “We can call it an even five years.”
“This is highly suspicious,” Ava states. “How do we know you’re not just trying to scam Gavin out of millions of dollars? How do we know you’re even who you say you are?”
“I did provide a copy of the contract, did I not?” Michel asks. Ava wasn’t convinced, but didn’t have an immediate retort. “Look, if we’re honest, I don’t want to take back millions from Mr. Taylor. I truly don’t. I understand, however, that Mr. Taylor is a valuable asset to any organization he is a part of, and feel like we could use someone with his unique skill set for the betterment of the Network.”
“So you just want me to work for free?” Gavin asks, getting a bit hostile himself. “Like some volunteer? What kind of rube do you take me for?”
“The kind of rube who doesn’t want to repay money already paid for services not rendered,” Michel responds. Gavin’s blood was boiling, though he didn’t want to show it. His hands began to fidget at his sides, but what he couldn’t understand was how this man in front of him was so… calm. It didn’t make sense to Gavin. Still, he loomed over the man, his eyes narrowed, attempting to suppress the scowl forming on his face.
“I’ll get you your money,” Gavin says. This takes Michel… and everyone else in the room… by surprise. “I don’t want your hammer hanging over my head.”
“Are you sure?” Michel asks, clearly not expecting this kind of resolve out of the All-Star.
“I’m sure,” Gavin responds. “Give me a week and you’ll have your money. Then that’s it. We’re done.”
“Alright,” Michel nods his head as he goes to leave the room. “But if you change your mind, you know how to reach me.”
“I literally don’t,” Gavin responds.
“Right,” Michel says. He moves back into the room, but Jack and Karl step between him and Gavin again. He reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling out a business card which he passes to Gavin. “That is how you reach me.”
Gavin snatches the card and slides it into his pocket. Michel nods his head and excuses himself from the room. As the door closes, the four within the room converge.
“So, how do you plan on repaying that money?” Ava asks Gavin.
“Bake sale?” Jack asks, pitching an idea. Ava and Gavin both look at Jack and Karl. Karl nods affirmatively.
“Bake sale.”
Gavin shakes his head, knowing that the answer to this situation wouldn’t be a bake sale…
“Sometimes, we find ourselves in desperate situations. Like this one guy I knew… had the whole world in front of him. Could have been a number one draft pick, but then he knocked this chick up in school. Her parents were Mormon-types, so they were none too pleased with the situation. Long story short, he had to drop out of school, get a plebian job, and now sells Golden Plate replicas to tourists up in upstate New York. Can you imagine? He made ONE dumb move… using a defective rubber… and suddenly his whole bright future vanished in an instant. Like a snap of Thanos’ fingers.
What’s the point I’m trying to make? That in the end, sometimes we have to do what’s best for us in the current moment, even knowing that it’s a sacrifice. We all make sacrifices. I made sacrifices. And when faced with circumstances you might find difficult or problematic, you try to make the most of them. That’s why I didn’t abandon Katie Steward in our final Tag League match. But now it’s all over. Now, the world will get to see Gavin Taylor at Gavin Taylor’s best.
Because Gavin Taylor is just too damn good to keep down.”
January 16, 2021
Los Angeles, California
Society HQ
The Society – a gentlemen’s association where some of the most elite families carry membership. There are names that are well known represented: Street, Chase, Van Warrington. Others are a little more secretive… names like Snow, Montgomery.
Some, like Steve Devious or Richard Lyman, would find their membership revoked Death can do that. As can terrible, manipulative circumstances involving deplorable individuals. Admission into The Society is typically a matter not of what you know, but who you know. Gavin Taylor, for instance, found his admission through his father-in-law, Broderick Chase. “The Brod”, as he has been known to go by, introduced Gavin to the fraternity shortly after his marriage to Madison Chase had become known. For a time, The Society even sponsored a professional wrestling stable, spearheaded by Gavin, in the now-defunct Canadian Wrestling Federation. So Gavin felt like he had some pull and, right now, he would need that pull.
He walked into the gardens of HQ… the individual he wanted to speak to would typically be in here.
Vigo Montgomery was a late-comer to The Society, but his quiet demeanor served to permit him a groundswell of respect almost instantaneously. The others were glad to be joined by someone who didn’t appear to have the same ambitions driving betrayals of his brethren. For Vigo was satisfied simply going about his daily business, not obstructing the others, and that laissez-faire attitude would serve to bring him very unexpected influence. As Gavin approached, he saw Vigo doing what he loved most – watering the plants. He’d gently caress a leaf in her palm, careful not to damage the stem, and dust it with water before letting it slide back off and moving onto the next. But as Gavin approached, Vigo remained unconcerned with him. All of his attention was monopolized…
“Whatever you’re after,” Vigo begins, not turning his head an inch. Gavin stops in his tracks, wondering if there’s a Bluetooth in play here (there isn’t). “The answer is no.”
Gavin is taken aback. His hands immediately raise to assuage the situation and he shakes his head. “Whoa, Vigo… I think you’ve got me all wrong here.”
“You’re after money, aren’t you?” the elder Montgomery questions. Gavin’s face goes flush, which would be tremendously embarrassing for him if the stoic man had bothered to turn and face him at all. He shakes his head, hoping the blood flows back into his face as attempts to grasp his words.
“Look,” Gavin begins, using the classic mono-syllabic word used by people attempting to disarm conflict while still remaining something of a dick. “There’s just a big misunderstanding with a previous employer of mine and I just want them to go away.”
“At what cost, Mr. Taylor?” Vigo asks again.
“Nothing I’m not good for,” Gavin responds in earnest. “I make more than enough in SCW to cover any outstanding debts. It’s just…”
“It’s just that you and Madison are used to a certain level of living and if you were to suddenly lose a good chunk of your money, or be left having to repay over a period of time, that lifestyle becomes jeopardized, leaving you having to go to Target instead if Saks Fifth Avenue,” Vigo rattles off. Gavin was impressed, though still a little bit insulted. Even at his lowest, Gavin would never be caught dead in an establishment like Target. Vigo lets another leaf slide from his hand before turning to face The All-Star “Am I in the ballpark?”
Gavin struggles to answer, which appears to be all the answer Vigo was waiting for. He turns back to his plants while Gavin attempts to think of something… anything. “So what? I’m just supposed to go back and become an indentured slave? After everything we’ve been through.”
“If I’m not mistaken,” Vigo ponders. “This is the first time you and I have had anything resembling a conversation.”
He was right.
“That’s not important, Vigo,” Gavin waves off any negative feelings. “What’s important is the integrity of The Society. I mean, shit… do you know what it would do to us if the press found out I was working for someone for free? It would be…”
Gavin shuddered to think, regardless of the idea that he would be working charitable events which would likely improve his standing in society-at-large. Still, he shakes his head. Vigo again lets a leaf fall and turns to Gavin again.
“Listen,” Vigo says, about to drop some wisdom. “Don’t consider your plight to be indentured servitude. You had been paid, after all. Consider it charitable… you are going to be able to grow your profile without having to actually pay to do so. Do you understand how many people want to be in your position right now?”
“Then let them,” Gavin responds, almost in a whine. “I’m better than that… and how do you know all this anyway?”
“Two weeks ago,” Vigo responds. “I was visited by a Monsieur Corbeau. He asked for your whereabouts.”
“And you told him!?” Gavin was livid. He hadn’t felt this betrayed since the time Rage Blackwolf decided to drive him through a wall over a small disagreement about Maddie’s well-being. “How could you do that!?”
“I believe this work will be good for you, Mr. Taylor,” Vigo responds honestly and with a tinge of care in his voice. “When I discussed this with other members of The Society, they agreed that you could benefit from scenarios where you had to answer to others… where you gave up some control over what happens.”
Gavin’s face went flush again. “You told…”
“Don’t fret,” Vigo responds. “I did not compromise your potential deal with anyone by allowing this to reflect negatively. For all anyone is concerned, this is an opportunity at growth permitting you to ascend to levels you believe you are capable of. This will be good for you.”
“And if it isn’t?” Gavin lashes back angrily. “Then what? What if the Network ends up burying me and I’m left without a pot to piss in?”
“I suppose,” Vigo considers. “That it’s a good thing you also have Supreme Championship Wrestling behind you, is it not?”
Gavin was speechless. He thought he had the perfect out for his current predicament, but it had turned out that his out was pushing him further in. Gavin wasn’t getting the money to repay The Network’s contract. He was going to have to fulfill the initial terms of the deal…
And there was nothing his fraternal brothers would to to help him. Betrayed and upset, Gavin slinks away. Vigo might have been concerned about Gavin’s well-being had he cared enough to watch him skulk off, rather than turning back to his plants…
January 23, 2021
Denver, Colorado
Pepsi Center – Backstage
“And we’re back again.
Last Grasp of Reality feels kind of ominous, doesn’t it? Who has their last grasps on reality? Some random Q-bots parroting some mindless drivel because they’re too stupid to know better? Those doomsday preachers who picket outside of arenas that SCW runs in telling everyone that the end is nigh? Or some fading stars of yesteryear trying desperately to hold onto their positions at the expense of new, better talent? I think we know what the answer is, at least as far as SCW goes.
Look, I’m not going to come out here and regurgitate much of the same things I’ve already said before. You know that I’m great. You know that I am the best *REAL* athlete in SCW. You know that my athletic background contains many athletic ventures, from collegiate wrestling to football, from hockey to golf. You know this because I’ve told you and I am, if nothing else, an honest man.
Hey… stop laughing!
The truth is I am an honest man. You may not like what I have to say. I may bring truths that are inconvenient. I may exaggerate the truth… embellish upon my accomplishments to build them up as bigger deals than maybe they deserve. But I don’t lie about them. When I tell you that I have victories over the likes of Jay Gold… Jake Starr… Katie Steward… and say I defeated three SCW Hall of Fame Supreme Champions, it’s all true. A victory over them may not be worth the same in 2021 as it was worth in 2010, but the victories are still mine, and I still get to say I have them and benefit from them.
And again, if we’re being honest, I probably shouldn’t even be in this match. I shouldn’t… I should already be a Champion in SCW today. The fact that we’re now pushing a year between Gavin Taylor Championship reigns is something of a modern-day tragedy. You shouldn’t be celebrating it, because at the end of the day I know my worth, I know I am worth far more than the dregs I had been saddled with the last four months. I went into Last Laugh over a month ago and had exactly that when I defeated Katie Steward DESPITE TJ Johnson’s obvious attempt to cost me the match by striking the All-Star testicles. Don’t worry… this time, if TJ tries to get involved, my A.S.S. has my full blessing to treat him with extreme prejudice and make sure he doesn’t come close to groping the All-Star a second time.
When it comes down to it, Last Grasp of Reality isn’t about trying to hold onto something fake and pretend it’s real. It’s about people trying to drag you away from what’s real and doing what you can to hold onto it. For me, it’s about finally… FINALLY… taking that next step into the future, becoming the marquee player that I know I can be, and earning a shot at the United States Heavyweight Championship. I know that three people… Katie Steward, who I’ve beaten before… Holly Adams, who I know is already a card-carrying Gavin Taylor fan… and Polly Playtime, who also exists… are going to try and keep me from reaching that golden ring. I don’t blame them either. If I was them, and I had a chance to face me, I would do what I could to beat me too. It’s what everyone in the business wants: They want to face the best. They want to beat the best! I get it… I really do. For a long time too, that was my mindset. I wanted to face the best. I wanted to beat the best. But not anymore.
I want to be the best. And if that means that I go out there at Last Grasp of Reality and beat three women in one night…
Hold up. That doesn’t… that doesn’t sound quite right. Let’s try this again.
If that means I go out there at Last Grasp of Reality and defeat three women in one night, then that is exactly what I am going to do. Holly and Polly… I have nothing against them except that their names rhyme and that kind of bothers me a bit. My issues with Katie the Albatross are well-documented. I’m not going to go into them again. What I am going to tell you is this.
Bet on The All-Star. Bet on the best wrestler in the match. Bet that I am going to finally break out and take this match. Bet that I am going to earn a shot at the SCW United States Championship. You can bet that I am going to do whatever it takes to get ahead. 2020 wasn’t the greatest year for The All-Star… but I’m not a man to dwell on the past. I’m a man to look to the future… and I will carry that future on my shoulders. It starts at Last Grasp of Reality… and reality is, I got this one in the bag!”
January 19, 2021
Gavin Taylor’s Limousine
Gavin Taylor sits alone in the back of his limousine. In the front of the car are Jack and Karl Barker, driving through a non-descript countryside. It had been one week since his “meeting” with Michel Corbeau, and Gavin was not relishing the next conversation he was going to have with the man. Gavin had promised to find the money and was going to have to go back on his word. What was worse was that doing so would ultimately result in him having to work for The Network for free. It was a bitter pill that Gavin was going to have to swallow, no matter how much he didn’t want to. So he put it off for as long as he could. Of course, Jack and Karl still tried to help, but the money raised in their bake sale was barely enough to cover the ingredients used in the baking in the first place. Finally, Gavin’s phone rang through the limo.
“Boss?” Jack asked from the front as the phone rang. “You want us to answer?”
“Might as well,” Gavin sighed. He wanted to put this off for as long as he can, but he could only delay the inevitable for so long. An audible *click* is heard within the limo as Gavin “answers” the phone through the Bluetooth. “Who’s this?”
“Gavin, it’s Michel Corbeau,” the voice on the other end responds. “I’m sorry for contacting you in such a manner, but I got your number from your associates at…”
“It…” Gavin immediately interjects, forcefully cutting into the introduction. “It’s not important where you got my number from. I suspect you’re calling about our conversation last week.”
“Yes, well, you did indicate that you’d have repayment of the contract payouts in a week,” he indicates. Gavin closes his eyes, visibly annoyed as he nods his head slightly, despite knowing that Michel wouldn’t be able to see it. “I was just wondering how you would like to transmit payment.”
Gavin pressed his eyes closed even more. A million thoughts race through his head, as his finger hovers over the disconnect button. Instead, he clasps his hand into a fist, setting his hand on his lap as he’s forced to swallow his pride.
“You know what, Mike?” he begins, attempting to keep his same swagger, but failing as his voice cracks. “I think… I think I’m going to fulfill the deal.”
“Mr. Taylor,” Michel begins, with genuine curiosity and the sound of a smirk in his voice. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?“
“Yeah,” Gavin nods, confirming what he has to do. He opens his eyes again. “I look forward to working with you.”
“Well, this is excellent,” Michel says, the grin practically dripping through his voice. “We’ll send your agent some paperwork. I look forward to a fruitful relationship.”
“Yeah,” Gavin responds, clearly unhappy about this. “Yeah… see you soon.”
The phone hangs up. Gavin sits back with his head resting on the seat behind him, sighing heavily.
“That wasn’t so bad,” Karl leans toward the window, clearly misreading the state of his boss’ mind. Gavin leans forward, sliding the privacy window closed before falling back to his seat. The scene goes black…
"The All-Star" Gavin Taylor 