One Fall

CHAPTER 38

  Joey and Jade pulled into the parking lot of the Montreal Arena at six o’ clock. They had both wrestled here before. But they had wrestled here for the GWA. Somehow, the new promotion changed everything. The yellow lines of the parking lot, the red bricks of the arena’s outer walls, even the cool evening air of French Canada, were all the same, but were somehow different too, as if they had been lifted from the old, familiar world and put in a new place, where the changes couldn’t be seen, only felt.

  A man with a TV camera and a woman in a polyester suit rushed into Joey’s face as soon as he stepped out of the car. Not remembering any mention of a parking lot taping, he stopped and waited for them to arrive, only to find out they were not with Revolution, but with a local television station.

  “Excuse me, sir?” the woman said. “Are you with the wrestling show tonight?” Her voice lilted with the distinct bounce of a Quebecker.

  Joey didn’t know if he was relieved or insulted that she didn’t recognize him. He looked to Jade for guidance. She said nothing, and began walking toward the arena. Joey followed. The cameraman mumbled a few words to the woman, one of which Joey could tell was “Mayhem.”

  “Sir? I understand you’re Johnny Mayhem, the wrestler?” the woman said. She was fumbling with a nest of cords and papers that had been stored in each armpit. Joey and Jade continued walking.

  “Sir? Mr. Mayhem?”

  “No comment,” Joey said, and continued walking.

  “What about you, ma’am?” the woman said to Jade.

  “No comment either,” said Jade.

  As they raced to get in the arena and away from the reporter, Joey realized just how foreign everything was tonight. In the past, he never would have turned down an opportunity to speak with a TV reporter. You just don’t do that in the wrestling business. You’re a wrestler – you’re trying to get your character over. Television time, any television time, is golden.

  But not tonight. Tonight was not about building for the future. Tonight was about avenging the past, and until the proverbial cat was out of the bag, Joey ached for privacy.

  The performer’s entrance was a white metal door. Upon its opening, a gust of cool wind poured out. Joey felt a finality as he stepped inside, like he was entering a battle zone, and would be profoundly changed before he left.

  “Joey, Jade, hello, my name is Phillip Gaines, I’ll be your stage manager for the evening.” Phillip shook hands with both of them. He was wearing a maroon dress shirt and a tie. A headset was over his ears, but somehow not over his perfectly managed hair. “Joey, your locker room is down the east hallway and to the right. Jade, you’re welcome to make yourself comfortable backstage. We have a TV viewing room with refreshments, or, if you’d prefer, I can arrange for box seating for you in the arena.”

  “I’ll make do. Thanks,” said Jade.

  “Alright Honey, do you need anything?” said Jade.

  “No. Thank you,” said Joey. He didn’t need anything. At least not anything she could provide.

  “Okay. I’ll be in the viewing room.”

  She kissed him quickly on the lips, then patted his hip once before turning to leave. Joey watched her follow the signs toward the viewing room, stopping to talk to no one on the way. As she walked out of the area, he thought about what he was doing to her. If it wasn’t too late, if he hadn’t already committed that statement to the web, he might have considered backing out, just so she wouldn’t have to deal with tonight. Tonight was going to be hell for her.

  Joey walked up to the whiteboard to read the entire match listing. The card was a wrestling fan’s dream.

  The show opened with Flash Martin vs. Miguel Cervantes, then a tag team match between The Howlers and The Hanson Boys. Bruiser Franks vs. Deep Six would be the first match on the show between a Revolution Star and an old GWA star. The first hour would conclude with the Lucifer/Rollins vs. Jackson/Senika tag match. The second interpromotional match was a tag team event: Tyson Turner and Lord Mayberry vs. Butterfly Johnny Grace and Tony Campbell. Then Crystal Waters vs. Marian Mailor for the Women’s Title. Finally, unassumingly, on the bottom of the board was written, “Main Event: Goliath vs. Joey Mayhem.”

  “Joey, how are you doing?” The voice was familiar. It brought about a quiver in Joey’s neck.

  “Hello Max,” said Joey.

  “You want to come back with me to the office?” said Max, as if there were a choice. “Goliath is there, so is Duke, and some other people I’d like you to meet.”

  “Sure thing,” said Joey.