The whole of Stoker was in a tizzy as people started prepping for Ray's big match that night. Ray strode through Stoker while Winnie and Theo flew close to his head on Winnie's hoverbike with civilians shouting their cheer to them as they came by.
"You got this Winnie!"
"Let Gorge feel the burn!"
"The Rayburn!"
"Rayburn, I just cleared some more room for your victory on my body!"
Ray and Winnie flinched and Theo looked a bit appalled.
"He actually does that?", he asked.
Winnie shrugged.
"Hey, some people are serious fans of the sport."
Ray looked a bit worried.
"Does he have room? We tried getting my whole story tattooed on."
Winnie chose to change the subject.
"Okay, we really need to keep our mind on the match in case Gorge uses something new."
Theo looked at a message he had written down looking a bit impressed.
"We should have the stadium full by tonight and with visitors coming from out of state, we'll sell out before the match even starts."
Sure enough tourists were seen on busses looking eagerly at the scenery and flashing photos while texting and posting.
"We better get back to the stadium before this gets overwhelming.", Theo suggested.
Unfortunately, a news crew had arrived with a whole crowd of photographers and reporters along with the visiting fans had shown up with a reporter in a plaid dress, brown high heels, blonde hair in a bun and glasses on a hoverbike with the camera man on another one right beside her as she came up to Winnie and Ray.
"Okay, in three, two…", the cameraman said before giving a notion as the camera beeped signaling they were rolling.
"Reporter Ashley Gibbs reporting live from Stoker.", the news reporter stated before turning to Winnie, "We have just arrived and just happen to come across the famous Winnie Coyle and Rayburn Junior. So Coach Coyle, how do you feel about tonight's big match?"
Winnie tried keeping her cool, but almost lost it for a moment.
"We're hoping to do our best and win the honor of keeping the Big Belt."
Ashley then noticed Theo and suddenly changed the topic as she turned to her cameraman.
"And it looks like Winnie has taken on a protégé like her father the late Jimbo Coyle had thus repeating history."
Theo frowned.
"Ashley, I'm only a friend who is-"
"Being tutored by the best monster wrestler coach to date?!", Ashley asked growing excited, "Looks like Coach Coyle is taking…um, do you have a name sir?"
Theo felt nervous as Ashley pushed her microphone into his face.
"Theo. Theo-."
Ashley took her mic back before Theo finished.
"As I was saying, it looks like this Theo character is Winnie Coyle's new protégé. More on the story and match later tonight."
/
Theo was feeling annoyed as Winnie headed back to the stadium with Ray walking alongside them.
"Can you believe that woman called me your protégé?", Theo asked Winnie, "I'm not trying to be a coach in training or anything."
"She must have said it for the ratings.", Ray stated, "You know how news people are."
Theo tried to calm down. He knew Ray was right and it wouldn't help as they soon came across a gathering crowd of tourists and fans all shouting out praise.
"There's the duo!"
"Go Ray! I'm rooting for ya!"
"Coyle, don't let the belt go!"
Theo had to cover his eyes as Winnie set the hoverbike down and crowds of reporters and fans kept trying to get selfies, autographs and what not. In fact by the time they got into the back where Ray would prepare to enter the ring, Ray could see that Theo was stressed again.
"Hey, you okay there Theo?"
Theo sighed.
"I just…forgot what a big celebrity you are Ray. You're the number one monster wrestler around."
Winnie looked comforting.
"You know Theo, maybe you should try training up a monster of your own."
Theo could see a twinkle in her eye and the thought of training his own monster was looking like a good idea. Ray looked a bit unsure.
"Winnie, how exactly can Theo train a monster if he's never coached before and has no idea where to start?"
Winnie didn't look too worried.
"Never train the monster you want, train the monster you have."
The trio turned to see Mrs. Coyle come in obviously taking a break from her place in the souvenir counter.
"What brings you here Mom?", Winnie asked.
"I just thought I'd come down and wish you luck."
Ray then brightened.
"Hey Winnie, you think Theo can watch alongside you so he might get some pointers?"
That was all Winnie and Mrs. Coyle had to hear. Theo then looked a bit confused.
"So, when does King Gorge arrive?"
"He'll be here shortly.", Mrs. Coyle reported, "Seems like a lot of the tourists are thrilled he's back in the game."
Theo then looked firm.
"Then let's get some training in before the big bout later on."
Winnie and Mrs. Coyle both looked impressed.
"Okay, and after the match if we win, we'll get fro-yo.", Winnie said with confidence.
Theo smiled, but underneath it all he felt a bit unsure. King Gorge may have gotten his confidence back, then again what could have brought him out to do so?
/
That evening, the whole of Stoker was even more excited as the stadium filled and the familiar duo of Lights Out McGinty and Marc Remy getting ready for the camera.
"Hard to believe that Rayburn Jr. will be fighting in Stoker again huh Remy?", Lights Out asked.
Marc adjusted his tie that complimented his sharp blue suit while looking a bit sure as he looked towards the large light green and orange spotted monster.
"Yep, it looks like a big night.", he commented, "I just hope that Winnie and Rayburn are up to this match."
While they were talking and the crew was getting ready, Theo wasn't feeling any less nervous. They were in the back where Ray would soon walk out with Winnie on the hoverbike right alongside him. Ray looked Theo's way and smiled.
"Feeling scared Theo?"
Theo sighed.
"Yeah, I just…worry about you."
Winnie looked his way calmly.
"Hey, you know that feeling you're feeling? That's how I felt when Ray and I took on Tentacular."
Ray chuckled lightly.
"More like nervous and hid behind eagerness."
Theo raised an eyebrow.
"What's your point?"
Ray got out a pair of giant sunglasses and put them on while smiling.
"We got this Theo. Now c'mon, it's showtime."
Theo felt a bit better as Winnie started up the hoverbike and he got on behind her. As they headed towards the ring, Ray cracked his shoulders like a true athlete before yet another match. They came to what looked like a hallway leading to the ring lined with bulbs as Theo heard the big announcement.
"And it's a beautiful night here in Stoker."
"It sure is Remy. Now we are making history as an old champ comes back to try and claim the big belt back against the champ we all know and love."
Ray and Winnie came out as a flash of spotlights lit them up.
"And in this corner, from Stoker, the current holder of the Big Belt, weighing in at twenty-two tons and standing forty-three feet, the one…the only…Rayburn Junior!"
Ray slid out giving a proud smile as the surrounding fans and visitors burst into applause.
"Oh, he's looking so thrilled for this match isn't he Remy?"
"Well, he's only got the best coach around known as Winnie Coyle."
Another round of applause rang out as Winnie and Theo showed up on the jumbotron up above the whole ring. Ray then tripped into the surrounding ropes, but then he untangled himself and slid onto the ring earning another applause as he flipped his sunglasses into the crowd of fans. The ones who caught it treated it like a foul ball in a baseball game while Theo and Winnie took their places and Ray took his corner.
/
That was when the other side burst out a fanfare the way England could as another monster made his way to the ring. His tan hide and bulldog like features made him stand out though the horns would look better on a giant steer.
"And in this corner…in his triumphant return…King Gorge!"
Gorge was also wearing a fancy robe that only came down to his waist with a large crown on his head and a scepter in his hand. While the crowd had cheered for Ray, they were booing for Gorge, but the monster stood defiantly and smug as he placed his scepter on a giant pillow his groupies had brought before standing tall.
"Man I miss that feeling.", he stated before looking Ray's way firmly, "Let's make this quick. I look forward to regaining my former throne."
His new coach rode on his own hoverbike and looked more than eager though Winnie just smiled as Gorge made his way into the ring. The announcer in the middle had now made the big announcement.
"Let's get ready to rumble!"
Theo felt a wave of excitement as he saw Ray and Gorge face each other in the center while giving the official fist bump before returning to their corners. As the wrestlers took their mark, Theo suddenly felt a pang of foreboding that made him look near the edge of the ring to notice some kind of dark mist that somehow everyone else didn't see.
"What the?"
Then the whole place went dark and cold as Theo suddenly backed off. Then another huge applause rang out which made him look to the ring to see two huge monsters wrestling though one was clearly Rayburn Sr. back when he was alive.
"Wow, you're pretty light on your toes there Ray."
Theo turned to see two much smaller monsters near the side of the ring. One was clearly Rayburn Jr. but the other one was new. It looked like a white wolf monster with shark fins on his forearms and a set of light gray stripes on his back while the tail wasn't a wolf's tail but one of a great white shark.
"Thanks White.", Ray said playfully as he did a dance routine, "How about you?"
The other monster Theo guessed was "White" rolled his eyes comically.
"I'm gonna have to head back home. Uncle Lars gets anxious if I'm gone for more than a few hours."
A huge thud rang out and Theo momentarily was off the ground. Rayburn Sr. had clearly done one of his finishing moves, but Ray Jr. and "White" were more focused on each other.
"White, why not come to Stoker with Dad and me?", Ray asked him, "Even just to visit?"
White looked Ray's way emotionally.
"Really?"
Theo felt a pang in his heart. What was going on? Who was that monster Ray was talking to? Unfortunately that was when the whole thing went back to reality. Theo however was still reeling from what he had just witnessed.
/
"And Gorge is clearly going in with a classic move with a hint of cha-cha.", Lights Out deduced as he and Remy continued watching.
"Yes, but Rayburn's got the ballet avoidance with the clothesline move to counter.", Remy put in.
Theo returned his attention to the match where it looked like Gorge had picked up on the dance/wrestle combination by the way he was holding on for so long. Winnie was looking pretty stressed, but then Theo had an idea.
"Hey Winnie, didn't Gorge have a tell?"
Winnie nodded.
"Yeah, but he's gotten better."
Ray however looked interested and when Gorge came close again, he licked his nose back causing Gorge to flinch for a moment. Ray saw his chance and swiftly came from below and managed to grab Gorge around the waist and lift him off the ground and flip him into the ropes while he got to the other side and used those ropes to launch himself at Gorge who was hurling towards him.
"Get ready for the Moon Boom.", he said smiling as he turned to have his behind face Gorge.
The sound of the two monsters colliding made a deafening boom and Gorge fell to the ground with Ray on top as the referee started counting.
"One…two…three…four."
Winnie and Theo grew anxious as Gorge's coach tried to get the former champ up, but to no avail as the referee continued only with the audience joining in.
"Seven…eight…nine…ten!"
The audience went wild as the referee declared Ray the winner.
"And it's all over!", Lights Out announced, "Rayburn Jr. keeps his title and the big belt!"
/
A while later, Gorge and Ray exchanged a friendly display of sportsmanship before Gorge had to go back to England.
"Thanks for the match Ray.", he said with a hint of his usual smugness, "Guess I need to work on that kind of dance incorporation huh?"
Ray looked a bit surprised.
"You kidding me? You almost beat me about a halfway through the round."
Winnie and Gorge coach gave a friendly handshake before Gorge and him left. To celebrate the occasion, Winnie took Ray and Theo out for fro-yo with Mrs. Coyle.
"Great work today.", she said passing out the fro-yo for Winnie, Theo and herself.
Ray didn't need one passed cause his was the size of a water tower top (if you know what I mean).
"So Theo, what fro-yo did you go for?", he asked.
Theo smiled lightly as he was still thinking of what he had experienced, but he didn't stay silent.
"I went with peanut butter. Call it a weakness of mine."
Winnie looked interested.
"Guess Gorge is humbler now then he used to be, though he probably did it for his image."
Mrs. Coyle put a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"You and Ray did the right thing by showing good sportsmanship.", she said, "Once we finish, it's off to bed."
And that is what happened as Ray went back to the stadium while Winnie helped Theo get his bed ready. Soon everyone in Stoker was asleep still remembering the match from that day.