a/n: Don't have a regular update schedule yet… for those who don't know what a jobber is, it's basically a term to describe someone in wrestling who intentionally loses – they're usually told to do so by creatives etc.

Other than that, I've got nothing! I hope you like it!

mid- April 2016

BAM!

It took precisely one uppercut to Tino Latifi's head for the arena lights to seem brighter than they appeared.

BAM! BAM!

It took two more for them to blur out of his vision.

He stumbled back into a corner of the wrestling ring, eyes closed shut as he clenches the side of his (sweaty) jaw in a desperate attempt to quickly nurse it before his opponent's next offensive. His mind is tattered with a million emotions, as he attempts to reclaim the past 15 minutes or so of his life.

He remembers coming out to the arena, walking down the ramp with butterflies in his stomach. He remembers fighting current NXT champion Johnny Gargano. It was a tough fight, he'll admit – Gargano may have been a cheat, but he was a damn good cheat at that. So it was such a pleasant surprise when he got the pin down, and won.

He remembers the immense happiness he felt when he saw the belt come out, because truth be told? He's had it rough for a couple of weeks. 2 wins in 15 matches - not the record you'd want to hold, especially when there is brass you want to impress. But that's okay! None of that mattered as he saw the referee reach for the gold-plated belt (was it gold?), and just as it's fingertips away from him... he hears entrance music.

It confuses him at first... because, like, it's not his entrance music - however, the moment he pins the theme song to the wrestler, the lightbulb in his head goes off and the pit in his stomach forms.

He sees Finn Balor walk down the ramp, a dirty grin etched onto his face. He knows why he's here - they had made a promise. They had made stupid, silly promise when they were just rookies, declaring that if the other ever got their hands on the NXT title, they'd give each other the first title match of their reign.

Tino's reign had begun, albeit a mere pin fall ago - however he supposes a match was a match.

And so, just like that, he sees the referee usher away the coveted belt and inform the announcer of the upcoming match and good god, the only thing on Tino's mind is how this just isn't fair!

And so here he was, getting pummeled to oblivion because Finn Balor had the memory of an elephant and he, himself, had the common sense of a fucking armadillo.

He opens his eyes ever-so slightly, and sees the hazy figure of Balor... a figure which was closing in him, and fast-

- the clothesline is painful, as he feels the arm and torso of Balor push up against him - his skull rattling against the ring post due to the sheer monument. He can't tell what's happening, not until Balor grabs his arm shoving him across the ring, as he lays nearly-lifelessly on the mat.

The shouts and exclaims of the referee are all mumble jumble in his ears, along with every clap from the fans and taunt from Balor.

He's not stupid, he knows what's going to happen next - he can barely make out Balor climbing to the top rope, the chanting of the crowd growing louder... his head aching harder.

And then... well, he knows it's over.

The impact is sudden and dulled. Balor may be a stupid sack of flesh... but he's a stupid toned sack of flesh... and when crashing down upon you, he's more like concrete. The pain doesn't register immediately, not until he hears the ref begin to pin... 1... 2... 3…

"HERE IS YOUR WINNER, AND THE NEW NXT CHAMPION... FINN BALOR!"

His body turns to jelly, and his insides growl - threatening to spill all over. He feels hands (probably the ref? or the medical team?) bring him the side of ring... he hears them say words, but they don't register in his mind. And how could they? There are already a million thoughts zapping through his mind... his short-lived reign (30 seconds... 30 SECONDS!), his probably concussed head, the upcoming WWE draft...

he mind wonders over, and his searches the crowd for the draft scouts - disappointed looks are all he finds in return.

And then hears a medical officer whisper in his ear - "Tino, Regal wants to see you.."