Chapter 6
I want to thank everyone who has been reading this. Only one of two more chapters left. I know Madison retired back at the real Hard to Kill but I am keeping her in this story. Its been fun going back to Jake again.
Don Callis was in his office having a meeting with Scott D'Amore. "I mean Moose came close to to beating Rich? Think it was close enough to justify a rematch at Rebellion?" D'Amore asked. Callis laughed. "Something about a world title is funny?" Scott asked. "Look Moose is great and another title shot would make sense. But we both know who should get a title shot. His resume speaks for itself. He's a huge just need to look at our ratings and bump in the buy rate for our last pay per view. It got to be Kenny Omega," Don says. "I think your boy needs to worry about Jake. Hell you need to worry about Jake he might take a shot at you," Scott says. "Scott we have known each other a long time. But you got to tell me what makes you think Jake Reed is a boogey man?" Don asks. Scott took off his glasses and his face got really stern. "HE BEAT ME WITH A TIRE IRON!" Scott yells. "Yeah well that is because you counted on that moron Jarrett to protect you. I've got family," Don claims.
Riley and Mandy's home
"So they want me to do it on Dynamite?" I ask. Madison had told me about Tony Khan calling yesterday. "Think you should to try and push for it to be on Impact?" Madison asks as we sit in the living room. The kids were off at school so the house was quite. "Madison if I'm going to have an actual match I might as well do it front of fans," I say. "Yeah but you would be going into enemy territory," Madison tells me. "Might be fun," I joke. She gives me her not funny look. "Hey its not like Omega has a whole lot of friends in AEW right now," I remind her. "He's got more than you." "True. I guess maybe Sting but we have really talked in years but he maybe he sent that Darby kid to help me," I think out loud. "So maybe its worth trying to get that match on Impact Wrestling or maybe some kind of neutral site," Madison says. "Or I bring backup. Either way Madison I think its best I take the match on his terms," I point out.
I pick up the phone and dial. It talks away but I do eventually get through to Tony Khan himself. "Jake I'm glade you finally got back to me," Khan says. "Look Tony I know you have done lot of high profile contracts talks. But I'm not the kind of guy who wants to drag things out," I say. "I figured as much," Tony Khan says. "You want to do it at your Beach Break show works for me," I say. He mumbles something I think that caught him off guard. "That gives you very little time to prepare and train," Tony says. He's right about that. There is actually a good reason. I don't training is going to make that much difference. If anything doing bump training is going to mess up my back again. "Hey Kenny has waited long enough," I say.
A Kenny's Home
"We got him," Don says on the phone. "Yes we do. I am so ready for this I bet I can get him pinned in under a minute," Kenny says. "Hell he barley gave him time to get ready…. What does he know?" Don asks changing tones from cocky to worried. "Huh?" Kenny says. "Think about Kenny he could have tried to hold off a few more weeks. Are you hurt or something your not telling me?" Don asks. "Come on Don I'm fine. I feel great. Reed isn't that smart he is likely to ticked off and can't wait to just jump into the ring. All Jakey boy has its aggression but hey I've beat Suzuki and he's not Suzuki," Kenny claims. That seems to assure Don a bit. They wrap up the car and Kenny goes to relax and play some video games. He is in the midst of a good round of Street Fighter as he mind drifts back to year's earlier.
Kenny Omega walked into the American Legion Hall home of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla. "Frankie you look like hell," Omega says seeing Frankie Kazarian icing himself. "Not now Kenny I'm in agony," Frankie says. "What happened? They haven't even set up the ring yet someone jump you?" Kenny asks. "Jake Reed happened to me. We had him down and out numbered. We had him beat and some how he got back up. Its like he takes in pain and than gets stronger," Frankie rants like a mad man. "You did sleep with the guy's wife," Kenny reminds Frankie. "Listen to me Kenny there is something about that guy," Frankie says.
Years later Kenny was on a bus heading to the next New Japan show. "Tell you man there was one tougher than my old man," Tama Tonga claimed. "Hell dad was so tough there is no number two on the list," Tonga Loa added. AJ Styles laughed. "Oh please name someone who even comes close to my dad," Tama demanded. "Look everyone has heard the Haku stories. But I can name one guy who at least belongs in the running for number two. My old buddy Jake Reed," AJ explains. "You realaize you are saying you friend compares to the toughest man in wrestling history," Tama says. "Bro ah I've seen Reed first hand. And look I think Dad would in a fight but it be a hell of a fight," Loa says. "He can't be that tough?" Kenny adds. "Kenny he's that though," AJ says firmly.
Back in the present Kenny distracted thoughts led to him losing a game. "Ah damn it," Kenny says upset with himself. Getting up for a second to clear his head. "Shame on you! He's tough but that is all he's got. Don't start letting him rock you," Kenny thinks. He goes back to his game. "Just beat Reed than Swann. Plus I have to get ready for the Moxley rematch," Kenny thinks.
Days Later
Jake sat in a chair in a studio. AEW was filming him for there Road To series. "If you could take off your mask we can start," the director says. Jake the mask off and puts it aside. "When ever you are ready just start talking. We might prompt you with a few questions but we like to play this stuff by ear for the most part," The director says. Jake takes a very deep breath. "I'd be lying if I said I never thought about coming back. But it was never like this. Middle of a pandemic taking on the world champion of a different company on his show. But wrestling is all about the unexcepted," I say. "Kenny Omega has been called the best wrestler in the world what are your thoughts?" The producer asks.
"Kenny Omega is as good as Don Callis says he is. You look at what he's done in Japan, the American and Canadian Indy scene, and now AEW. The awareness to the industry as a whole. The matches he's had with Okada, Naitio, Ibushi, Jericho, Moxley, and so many others. Being the IWGP heavyweight and junior champion winning the G1. And before Kenny Omega almost no one talked about star ratings. Some would take that to mean the industry has gone off track I take it to mean the guy is so damn good he made more people look into those kind of things. And you know when I was an active wrestler I would always have that section of fans and even people who worked in the industry always tell me that to be a true star I had to go up... North for lack of a better term. This guy became a star working matches that were mostly airing via a streaming service at three in the morning," I say.
"Sounds like you almost admire him," the producer says. "For that I do admire him. What I don't admire is the crap he's pulling showing on Impact like he does. Kenny you want to come into Impact do it like a man," I say. "Some would say you had no business getting involved at Hard to Kill." I laugh at that. "That didn't have to attack Rich. Hell Kenny beat me already. Yet he wanted to try and prove some point," I respond. I can tell the guy is about to say something but I don't want to be taken off the point so I start again after a beat.
"Yet Kenny you kept coming after me. I think it's because you figured the old man with the bad back would be an easy win. And I think everyone was with you. Its because people forget," I say before pausing again. "Forget what?" The guy asks. "Just how good I really was. I'm a lot of things Kenny but I'm no easy win," I say. There is a real conviction in my voice and I can tell it throws off the AEW crew. "And Kenny you are going to learn what a huge mistake you have made. You claim you want a match with me to prove what a mistake it was not to sign you. Well when I am done you are going to be glade TNA never hired you. Because that is how hurt you are going to be," I yell.
"Are you worried about getting hurt?" The guy asks getting nervous. I start to laugh. "Want to know a secret? I'm an addict. And more than drinking, more than drugs, more than sex I have realized that I am addicted to the pain. So come on Kenny let do this see at Daily's Place," I say before getting up and walking off even pulling off my microphone.
