One Last Thrill
"Well Mike what the Doctor told me is if I don't retire I'm going to wind up in a wheelchair. So I have no other option than to retire." I say trying not to cry. For Jake Reed the end of his career has come
"You have to stay still Jake," Madison reminds me. "You try staying still in this damn thing!" I say. "The MRI is almost over Mr. Reed!" The Doctor says. "Thank god I'm sick of being in the thing. I feel like I'm in a casket," I say. I hate missing more time in my career. I already missed a few months thanks to breaking my shoulder in my match with Magnus. And than what happened this past week happened. If if it were up to me I wouldn't be here but well it's not really up to me. Madison demanded I get checked out and well happy wife well finance in my case happy life. I think back to where this all started
Impact Wrestling Two Days Ago
"This is a big chance not only for Sting but remember Jake Reed a former world champion as well," Mike says as Jake works an arm ringer on Daniels. "That be something how Dixie feel about AJ Styles' best friend being her new champion?" Taz asks. Kazarian comes over and saves his partner. Eric Young cuts him off. Jake whips Daniels into the ropes Daniels hits them and comes back allowing Jake to hit a big spear. Jake picks Daniels up and toes him out. "There goes Daniels," Mike says. Knuxs gets behind Jake and tosses Jake out. Jake flips over the top and his back hits the lip of the ring apron. Jake drops the ground and does not move. Referee Earl Hebnar make his way over and checks on Jake and than throws up the X sign. The trainers make there to the back to check on Jake. They quickly and carefully load Jake onto a back board and than a strechter. "That's not good," Mike says. "Jake hasn't moved I wonder he rolled an ankle or something," Taz speculates.
#Break#
"Can you feel that Jake?" The Trainer asks me as he runs a pen up and down my foot. "Yeah I kind of," I say. "So what happened?" He asks. "My legs just went out when I hit the ground guess the landing was rougher than I thought," I say trying to stand up. "Stay down Jake," He tells me. He keeps checking out my legs. "How do the legs feel?" He asks. "For my legs there as good as they are going to get. Look Doc I'm fine," I say lying. Ok my legs feel strange but it's part of the business your going to get banged up. "Jake your sure your not in pain?" The Doctor asks. "No pain I'm fine," I say. "Really that's not good," He says. I sit up and see his moving my bad knee. "Ever other time I've moved this you look like you want to take a swing at me because your in so much pain," He says. "So what you saying Doc?" I ask.
"Jake I want you to get MRI," He says. "Hell get it," Madison says stepping into the room. "Come on is that really needed. I'm feeling fine I just got a shock to the system," I say. "And I want to make sure it doesn't' happen again Jake," The Doctor says firmly. "Can I stand up please," I ask. "Yeah go ahead." I get up slowly. My legs feel a little numb but otherwise I'm fine. "How you feeling?" Madison asks. "Queen Bee I'm fine. Hell my biggest issues is I missed my chance to get in the title tournament," I say. "Your getting the MRI as soon as we get home," Madison says. "Yes dear," I reply.
A few days later Madison and I are in the Doctor's office She's nervous and so am I. After the match with Magnus and my injury we got a major surprise she's pregnant again. And she got cut from TNA. I understand why her contract was up and the budget was tight in TNA. Doctor Abbott comes in. "Hello Jake, Madison," He says. "So Doctor what the result?" I ask. He takes a breath. "Jake I just want to confirm your thirity two right?" He asks. "Yes I am.. Why?" "This isn't easy to say Jake. But you have suffered massive damage to the disks in your back," He says. "So are you recommending surgery?" Madison asks. "There is nothing surgery can do… Jake I would recommend your retire from pro wrestling," Dr. Abbott says.
"Not going to happen!" I say jumping up. "Calm down," Madison says. "No I'm not going to calm down. Doctor if you think I'm retiring I'll be fine," I say. The Doctor stays calm. "Jake if you don't stop wrestling there is a good chance you could be in a wheel chair within five years," He says. "If he stop wrestling will… can his body heal…" Madison gets out barely she's about to cry out of fear. "I can't guarantee anything. But is he stops and takes care of himself his body should be fine," He says. "Would I heal could I wrestle again?" I ask. "Jake I can't tell you that as a doctor I would say never wrestle again your back and is badly damaged," he says. "I'm not retiring," I say getting up and leaving. "Jake," Madison calls after me. "Were going," I say.
#Break#
Later that night I sat in the living room watching old WWF Royal Rumble. Madison comes in. ""I don't want to talk about it," I say. "You didn't want to talk about in the doctor's office or in the drive home but you know what Jake I want to talk about it," Madison says. "The guy was a quack he clearly doesn't like wrestling so he decided I should retire. I should get a second opinion," I say. "He got one Jake you stormed out of there so fast you never heard him. He sent it to a friend of his and he said the same thing. But if you want we can go to another doctor," She says. "Madison I can't retire right now," I say. "I know you don't want to…" "Your right I don't want to. But i can't not with the wedding putting food on the table for our family. Hell you know how much it costs to have a baby," I say.
She sits next to me. "Jake you don't think the company would offer a job as a announcer or an agent or a trainer for the young talent and even if they don't there are other options out there. Open your own school acting or even opening another business. I mean didn't Luke offer a chance to buy into that gym he's trying to open?" She says. "Doesn't matter I'm not retiring," I say. "So you want to wind up in a wheel chair?" Madison says getting upset. "He never said I would wind up in a wheel chair he said I could. Hell Madison I call fall down the damn stairs and wind up in one," I yell. "Except you not going to jump off the stairs. What else do you have to prove in the ring?"
"That's really easy for you to say. You can go back. But you and this guy are telling me to be never wrestle again!" I yell standing up. "If I were risking my health you would be the first to tell me to walk away," Madison screams. "Why are you yelling," A new voice. Madison and I look over and see Hope on the steps.
"Oh sweat pea did we wake you up?" Madison asks as we walk over to her. "Yes," Hope replies. "Were sorry Hope," I say picking her up. "We are Honey," Madison says. "Are you going to stop yelling?" Hope asks. I look at Madison. "Yes honey we will," Madison says. I carry Hope up stairs and place her back in bed. "Why were you and Mommy fighting?" Hope asks. "You know I went the doctor well he wants Daddy to do something and I think he's wrong. Mommy because she loves me wants me to listen to the doctor," I say. "I didn't want to that medicine when I had the flu and you made me take it," Hope says. "Yeah I did," I say.
I eventually get Hope back to sleep. And than head downstairs. I see Madison looking at a family photo. "It hurt to carry her upstairs. It hurt because my back is to beat up. I want to be able to able to carry my daughter upstairs," I say feeling a tear falling out of my eye. Madison doesn't say anything she knows how tough this is for me. "It time to retire," I say.