TMAAW (Triple Promo)

The opening is that of Robert Garland’s warehouse, Garland entering through the front door and looking exhausted. It had been a long day, but he’s finally arrived back in Kansas City. With a new resolve burned into him, and a mission on his mind, Garland picks up his phone and dials. He throws his bag on the rotted looking table, and waits for the line to begin to ring. Finally, the other line picks up as Michael Smart answers with a “What do you want, Badger?”

Robert Garland - I need you to meet me at my warehouse, and I’ll message you the address. It’s very important that you get over here as fast as possible, alright?

Michael Smart - Fine… Whatever.

Smart hangs up, Garland about to send him his address, but starts to dial again before doing so. This time, Chris Williams answers. Chris gives Badger a “Long time no see,” Garland responding similarly to as he did with Smart.

Chris Williams - Sure man, I'll be there soon.

Garland hangs up this time and sets up his table with three makeshift chairs. Garland checks his shattered wall clock and sits down. He stares at the door, thinking about how to handle the possible explosive situation he’s just created. About a half hour passes, Garland seemingly sweating a bit out of anticipation as he hears a knock on his door. He yells out that it’s open, Michael Smart making his way inside...

Robert Garland – You came!

Michael Smart – Astute observation, Badger. Next you’ll note that I remembered to wear clothes. What’s this all about? I assume it’s about our upcoming match against The Capital Crew, otherwise we could’ve had this talk over the phone.

Robert Garland – Well… yeah, that’s part of it. Sit down, get comfortable! We’re in no hurry, right?

With a puzzled look on his face, Smart cautiously takes a seat.

Michael Smart – If we don’t need to hurry, why did you have to rush me over here?

Garland is visibly uncomfortable, which Smart notices.

Michael Smart – Badger, what are you hiding from me?

Garland is frantically thinking of a way to stall. He is quickly saved, as the door opens once again, with another man stepping inside…

Chris Williams - Hey Badger, you ready to ge- WHAT THE HELL?

Williams cuts himself off mid-sentence as he realizes that Michael Smart has also been invited to Garland’s warehouse. Garland immediately jumps to his feet, sensing what was about to happen. He darts toward Williams, and holds his hands up to block any attempt from Williams to go after Smart. Williams responds by pointing at Smart and yelling as loudly as he could muster…

Chris Williams - THE HELL IS HE DOING HERE, BADGER?? WHAT KINDA SHIT IS THIS??

Robert Garland - Chris, calm down man. I know you're angry, but we need to get on the same page if we wanna get this victory at Unstoppable.  We need to ta-

Williams is fighting to free himself from Garland, who is doing a remarkably good job holding him back. Smart sits up from the couch and studies the scene, debating whether or not to intervene or say anything at all.

Chris Williams - We don’t need a damn thing. I’m gonna break his damn neck! You’ve got no clue what you did bringing him back!

Williams shoves Garland back, hard. He stands in the doorway, staring holes into Smart.

Robert Garland - Versus what? Getting our asses handed to us again? Look Chris, I know you two have your issu-

Chris Williams - ISSUES? You think we hav-

Robert Garland - Shut it! I don’t want to hear it right now, Chris. The fact is this: Capital Crew has had our number for weeks now. We finally have a chance to end this, on our terms. We have the numbers on our side, and we WILL take them down. But that won’t ever happen if you can’t just put it aside for now and work together!

Chris Williams - Work together? Do you remember what happened in PWA?

At this point, Smart decides to respond.

Michael Smart - This isn’t PWA, Chris.

Just hearing Smart’s voice again sends Chris wild. Garland again jumps in front of Williams, who is going berserk. Garland gets some leverage and pins Chris back against a wall. Considering the two men are very similarly built, Williams isn’t going anywhere, but it doesn’t stop the rage in his voice.

Chris Williams - GWF, PWA, IPW, it doesn’t FUCKING MATTER where we are! You nearly killed her! You ruined my life! Do you have any idea what my life has been? Did you even care?

Chris stops fighting, and stares back and Garland

Chris Williams - Badger, let me go. RIGHT NOW.

Robert Garland - You gonna calm down?

Chris Williams - Whatever. Just let me go….

Garland pushes back against Williams and holds his hands out, palms up. Williams looks back at the two in Garland’s warehouse….

Chris Williams - It’s bad enough that I have to worry about taking on Cocheese and Vega, but now I have to worry about getting stabbed in the back. You’re right Badger, the Capital Crew has beaten us at nearly every turn. And here we are now, finally putting it all on the line. But there’s one problem, we are still outnumbered. This is still a three on two in the Crew’s favor. We may be on the three man team, but I don’t trust him for a second not to lay me out once he gets the chance. Cocheese will have easy pickings, because he will have us surrounded from all sides.

Forget a handicap match, Cocheese wouldn’t even need Vega now that he’s got Michael Smart. He’s the damn champion for a reason, as much as I hate to admit it. I haven’t been able to get the job done yet, and now you just gave him everything he needed to take me out for good. You think you did us a favor? Bringing back HIM?

I was actually FINALLY at peace with never having to see him again, I had finally moved on. But then you go and make this call. I don’t want anything to do with him. Let me lay out for you like this, Badger: He’s my Frank Washington.

Williams turns his back on both of them and walks out, slamming the door behind him. Garland takes a moment and stares at the door, thinking on those words. He turns to Smart, who has mostly stayed silent and calm.

Robert Garland - What the hell?

Michael Smart - That’s the reaction that I expected the first time around, were you all that surprised?

Robert Garland - Why did you just stand there sayin' nothin'?

Michael Smart - What could I have said to change this outcome? This all came out of nowhere, and you know our history. One conversation can’t mend those wounds.

With Chris having made his exit, Garland once again takes a seat. Smart continues to stand in silence, Garland thinking about calling Chris back but deciding against it. With the match nearing, Garland and Smart find themselves thinking about if they can truly work together. However, with everything that Garland's said recently, he's still determined to see this through to the end.

Robert Garland - Well, let's just work with what we got for now. Cocheese and Vega aren't just gonna roll over for us, after all. Probably best we start benchin' for the rest of the night, right? Forget about Chris for now, he'll show up and have our backs when it counts.

Michael Smart - Sure, he’ll come around.... Maybe. For now, we’ve got a huge fight on our hands. The last time I was in a ring with Cocheese, I was lying on my back, me and Chris nearly broken in half. Cocheese is a hell of a champion, and he has dominated this scene since even back in season one.