watch?v=z_FZM7QrAA8

Hunter is sitting in the office at the performance center looking over the notes for the next few weeks of NXT when the door is opened suddenly. He looks up to see worried looks on both Shawn's and Stephanie's faces.

"What's wrong?" Hunter asks. He looks at his phone which had been on silent absolutely blowing up with texts and phone calls. "What the hell is going on?"

"Trent Baretta just released a statement about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Michael PS Hayes and how he believes that it is still happening." Shawn says. Stephanie comes over to the computer pulling up Twitter. She pulls up the post.

I have wanted to make this statement since I left the company back in 2013 but I was still recovering and healing from everything. As you know, WWE isn't perfect and has dealt with allegations of abuse and misconduct in the past. While I was in the company I dealt with horrible abuse at the hands of producer, Michael Hayes. He would beat me, ridicule me, force me into burning hot water or cold water until I got my promos right, and countless other things I've blocked from my mind. This went on for a good 3 months; it even got to a point where Michael actually was ringside during one of my matches. Never have I been so terrified to wrestle in my life. Because I knew that if I made one tiny mistake with him present that I'd get it even worse in the back. After a really bad incident I finally told someone what was going on, I pretty much owe everything to him, Punk, thanks for having my back. He told me to tell Hunter and Vince, which I did. Not much was done, Michael took a leave of absence, and I was moved to NXT.

Now I have a strong belief that this is still occurring due to some information that has come to light. I strongly believed I needed to release this statement. Something needs to be done about this, this cannot continue to happen. I am begging WWE, or anyone that has a similar story to me to speak up. It could help a lot of people. Thank you for reading.

Shawn looks at Hunter worriedly.

"I mean, what do we do?" Shawn asks.

"We have to talk to the guys. We'll start an investigation." Hunter says. "If we don't then we look like we did back then and we don't want a repeat of that."

"Who should we talk to first?" Shawn asks.

"Seth." Stephanie and Hunter say at the same time.

"I…I think I might ask some of the NXT guys." Shawn says. Hunter tenses his posture straightening.

"You think…you think the kids are being hurt too?" Hunter asks.

"I have my suspicions." Shawn says. "Just something Tommaso said about Gargano."

"What did he say? Why didn't you say anything to me?" Hunter asks.

"Just that Gargano changed after that main roster stint in February. He became…skittish, on-edge, and just not himself." Shawn says. "It was just that one gig but remember you asked if he wanted to go up multiple times and he continues to deny it? I don't think that's a coincidence."

"How did we not know?" Stephanie asks.

"I don't know." Hunter says. "We'll figure this out."

"Come on, we'll go into the conference room to call Seth." Stephanie says. Hunter nods standing up from the desk. The thought of someone hurting the kids he works with everyday angers him more than he realizes. Storylines it was all fine, somewhat fine, he still had a problem with seeing Gargano and Tommaso beat the shit out of each other but he supposes they have been doing this with each other long enough they know what they are doing. But when it was something like this, something that shouldn't happen, that he should have prevented. He feels as if he failed them and in a way he had. "Hunter, you couldn't have known. Don't beat yourself up."

"It is my job to protect them, Steph. If they are being hurt and I didn't know…" Hunter says.

"Then that means there are people helping them, keeping it a secret, making sure nobody knows. And you know how abuse works, how manipulative and scared a person can be when being abused. We just need to get to the bottom of it and stop it before it gets worse." Stephanie says.

"It shouldn't have even happened in the first place! If I had paid more attention, maybe…" Hunter says sighing.

"We don't even know if it is true yet. Let's just take this one step at a time." Stephanie says. "We are acting like we know all the facts, we don't. But we will and we will put a stop to it." Hunter just nods in response. He rests up against the steel table in the conference room as Stephanie calls Seth.

"Hey, it's Seth." Seth says out of breathe.

"Seth, it's Steph and Hunter, is there any way that we can skype or zoom?" Stephanie asks.

"Uh, sure…what is this about?" Seth asks.

"You haven't been online at all have you?" Hunter asks.

"Nah, I've been working out. Just got back from a run. This whole fucking thing sucks." Seth says. Hunter chuckles.

"Yeah, I know but you are lucky your Dad's are letting you stay." Hunter says.

"Why wouldn't they? Are you saying I'm a pain?" Seth asks. "Alright, I'm getting on now."

"Let us call you before you do anything." Stephanie says. Hunter grins because he can tell that Seth is rolling his eyes.

"Fine. I'm logging in now. Get on Zoom." Seth says hanging up the phone. Hunter watches as Stephanie sets everything up, he was not good with technology. Stephanie sits on the chair in front of the camera.

"Sit down, Hunter." Stephanie says.

"I don't think I can." Hunter says.

"Then stand behind me. Don't pace." Stephanie orders. Seth answers the zoom call.

"Why am I getting so many calls?" Seth asks. "What's going on?"

"A former WWE guy, Trent Baretta released a statement talking about abuse that he suffered at the hands of Michael Hayes." Stephanie says. Hunter watches Seth's body language closely and almost instantly notices his body tense at the name.

"Oh." Seth says. "What's that…what's that got to do with me?"

"Seth, we need to know if you've had any bad experiences with Hayes or any of the other producers or trainers." Hunter says. Stephanie looks back at Hunter who looks at her when they see Seth shifting uncomfortably in his chair. "Seth, please, none of this is your fault. Just…just tell us what is going on. I promise that whatever happens you will be protected."

"Is Scotty there?" Seth asks.

"Scotty?" Stephanie asks.

"You mean Scott Taylor? Nobody is here but us." Hunter says.

"Yeah but you are in the performance center which means they could be listening." Seth says.

"How fucking far does this go?" Hunter asks. "Just…there is nobody here, Seth. Trust me."

"I'm pretty sure they've paid some people at the performance center to keep it quiet there, Scotty is the main guy that…abuses the talent. Not sure what that consists of because I've never experienced it." Seth explains. He takes a deep breathe. "Michael and…Luger just like to punch you and shit. But Montel…" Seth's voice gives out and it is clear to both Stephanie and Hunter that he is struggling.

"You mean MVP? It's alright, Seth. You are safe. I promise nothing is going to happen to you." Hunter says. "They will be punished to the fullest extent we can." Seth nods shakily catching his breath tears rolling down his cheeks.

"He…gropes you, fondles you, and…" Seth says unable to say the rest.

"Does he make you do it to him?" Stephanie asks. Seth just nods. "Has he ever…assaulted you?"

"Depends." Seth says. "This…this is hard to talk about."

"I understand that. I…I'm so sorry this has happened." Stephanie says.

"No!" Seth says catching the two off-guard. "I…they threatened me and my Dad's, threatened Roman and they even threatened you guys. I was so scared, so backed into a corner that I couldn't do anything."

"They threatened us?" Hunter asks. "This isn't just physical abuse anymore it is so much more than that. I'm gonna kill him. I'll kill him."

"Hunter, calm down." Stephanie says turning to her husband.

"He kept his composure for pretty long." Seth says. "I predicted this would be his response if he ever found out."

"It would have been only a matter of time, Seth." Stephanie says.

"Um…I got to go, Dads are home. Should I tell them?" Seth asks.

"That is up to you, tell them when you are ready." Stephanie says. She turns to Hunter again just looking at him.

"What do we do now?" Hunter asks.

"We gather more testimonies. As many as we can." Stephanie says. "The more we have, the more we can justify their firings."

"Trent said that there was inside information, you think he'd talk to us?" Hunter asks. Hunter blinks turning the laptop to Stephanie.

"What in the-" Stephanie asks.

"I don't know…I just got it, it's from an anonymous email but it looks like a list of victims. 'Talk to them, they'll give you everything you want. Let's get these creeps out of our company once and for all. Signed a couple of good friends.'" Hunter states.

"It's a long list. We need to get started on this now." Stephanie says.

Zack sits at his computer with Dolph's and Drew's hands on his shoulders. It made it all much more bare able knowing two of his lovers are by his side and both he and Curt can never be hurt again.