Unexplainable

[Deleted]

Everything was a blur.

From the moment that Chris Stone turned on his former fellow Crusaders Jake Anderson and Tyler Evans, for Anderson everything from that moment forward seemed to blend with the moment before it and the one that came after it. Nothing significant seemed to happen. Something may have but Anderson just ignored it all like nothing else was happening. Anyone who tried to talk to him backstage after the match, whether it be an interviewer trying to find out what happened or Evans talking to him as well about The Crusaders, through it all Anderson remained in shocked silence. Through it all, from leaving the arena and heading back to his hotel room. To packing up purely out of instinct and leaving San Diego as soon as he could wanting to just get away as soon as he could. To now finally, on his way to Tijuana where in just five days he would have to defend his CPW Elimination Title that he treasured so much against five other men. But right now, that match seemed to be a distant afterthought. His title, while so important to Anderson was forgotten in his mind due to these recent events.

He couldn't believe what had just happened to him. Chris Stone, the first person in CPW who Anderson had put all his trust in and hadn't been let down. Someone who had fought beside Anderson for the same cause so many times. Someone Anderson believed in, worked with, teamed with, helped rise up the ranks and the one other person at the lead of this crusade who seemed to believe in this cause almost if not just as much as Anderson did. He had turned his back on all of it leaving Anderson stunned. He had turned his back on The Crusaders, on the team. He had turned his back on Jake Anderson. Chris Stevens' failures disappointed Anderson. The Wrecking Crew's failures surprised Anderson. But Stone's betrayal shocked Anderson beyond anything that had yet happened to him. And disappointment? Disappointment didn't begin to describe the way Anderson felt.

This betrayal left Anderson in a small depression. Nothing else entered his mind at this moment other than the aftermath of last night's main event on Pure Chaos. He was left feeling...feeling...well he wasn't even sure how he felt. He felt slightly insulted from this. He felt let down but then again let down is such a tame phrase. Chris Stevens, Panzer and The Mongolian Mauler let Anderson down. Chris Stone though. He did so much more than that. And here he left Anderson, feeling so depressed. He hadn't been this low since losing at King of Chaos. But even that couldn't compete with this. A loss at King of Chaos wasn't as bad as Stone now turning his back on all Anderson had done for him and on the cause that they once both fought for.

Anderson tried to forget about it. He had a match on Sunday after all. A huge match. This wasn't just a title defence against Kline Cambria. This was five freakin men all wanting nothing more than to take Anderson's title away from him. Some more established and deserving than others obviously. Some more than Cambria, some less. But still, five men to go through is a daunting task no matter what the circumstances. Any other week Anderson would be focused on this. Any other week, when he got off the plane he would stop for a short sleep at the hotel then head straight for a gym to train. Any other week he would get to running his mouth off and putting down each of these five challengers one by one as soon as he could. But that wasn't happening. His mind was somewhere else and try as he might, everytime he tried to twist his mind around and worry about what Cameron Behringer will do in the match or predict what Duke Jupiter might be planning for this match his mind always wandered back to what happened.

Once again this completely caught Anderson off guard. He tried to figure out why Stone had done this. He tried to wrap his mind around the reasoning behind all of it. What would make Stone turn on him like this. Was he tired of being just another Crusader and wanted to be on his own? Maybe he just didn't believe in the same things Anderson did anymore. Was he worried simply because for now The Crusaders were being overshadowed at that at this time The Crusaders were not as strong due to this recent debacle with The Wrecking Crew? Try as he might Anderson could not figure out what it was. Eventually he just gave up thinking that Stone will probably say so at some point this week in one of his usual rants. Anderson just hoped it wasn't the usual "You were holding me down" rubbish. That shit is usually pretty ridiculous.

Soon the plane landed and Anderson got off. The trip to the hotel was just like everything else that had happened that day. Just a blur. He heard alot of people yelling at him. He didn't listen to what they said though. He expected it was probably the usual trash talk, profanities and threats. He was very well known here. The people here in Mexico, they hated him probably even more than the Americans did.

He took a taxi cab to his hotel and after checking in went straight to his room. Anderson walked in and then collapsed onto the bed, dropping his bag on the floor as he does so. His mind is still racing with what has happened, disappointment still stays with him. Jake once again tries to think of something else but it isn't working. So he turns on the TV and turns it to the CPW network. Maybe watching someone else verbally tear into their opponent will somehow get his mind off of things. Maybe watching a few matches will put away all of his thoughts on what has happened for now. And then a familiar face showed up on the screen. One that had completely slipped his mind.

Anderson groaned as the face of Reggie Starr showed up on his television.

Reggie Starr. Reggie fucking Starr!? Why is he talking about Anderson? Oh right that challenge. The offer that was given to him. With all that has gon-wait. Is he playing the race card here? Why the hell is he talking so much about slavery? He's not implying that of all people, The Canadian Savior is racist is he?

*sigh*

"Idiot"

Eventually Anderson realized the one thing that could get his mind off of this. As strange as it sounds that one thing, was the ranting he did week in and week out on TV. He could just vent and let loose about Reggie Starr or about his Elimination Title match and just dull the thoughts of Stone for now.

So with that Anderson took out a video camera, no way was he dealing with any CPW cameramen today. He set it up and began to tape. A few times he couldn't quite find the right words to say and had to start over, but eventually he found his usual groove and began to rant.

For now, Stone was off his mind.

[Deleted]

(The scene opens with Anderson sitting on the bed in his hotel room. Something was different than usual though. For some reason Anderson's usual smirk was not there. He look tired and he looked slightly disheveled. His face was unreadable. One would expect he would be disappointed and possibly saddened after Monday night but one couldn't tell. Anderson has one hell of a poker face).

Anderson: Well I'm not going to take too much time talking about what happened last night. You all know, you all saw. The only questions left to be answered is where do we go from here.

(Anderson pauses for a moment. A thought suddenly coming to mind. Something that somehow hadn't been there before. He shakes it off though and continues).

Anderson: As I said, the only questions left is where the road I'm on takes me next. I obviously have a huge match this Sunday night to focus on and to prepare for. However a small annoyance has come up. And that's Reggie Starr.

Now after seeing your little speech Reggie I'm not sure if you're pulling the race card now here in CPW. If you are then you sir are even more of an ignorant moron then I had thought before. I'd go on about this but I see Tony Murdock said it much more eloquently and better then I could of.

So instead I'll talk about what you said about me. No Reggie, I'm not scared of you. No, you're not in my head. Trust me Reggie I have had a long, long, LONG DAY. I have been scouring my brain and wandering through my mind from one side of my head to the other and one thing that was not to be found was any sign of Reggie Starr. Let me tell you that by calling you a douchebag I wasn't trying to make you cry, I was trying to help wipe the stain of ignorance off of you and maybe make you see things for how they truly are. But it seems I have failed.

If you had been listening, really listening then you would have heard me extend an offer to you, give you a chance. You can take it or leave and the bookers can as well. It's out there now and while I have much bigger matters to deal with, the offer has been made so the ball is in your court now.

But onto more important matters. Specifically, my match at Dia De Los Muertos. Five other men all fighting for my championship title. I'm sure I'll hear the same thing over and over this week. How I'm ignoring this match and that will be my downfall. How I'm screwed because I'm not paying enough attention to this guy or that guy. How my arrogance will get the best of me. These are all...valid points. However, there is...there is...

(Anderson pauses for a moment. He is trying to convince himself that what he is about to say is true. It's not working so well but maybe the people watching will buy into it. Better keep it up).

There is...nothing else on my mind...nothing else I am thinking about right now other than my Elimination Title match. Last night's aftermath will have to wait. But believe me when I say that Duke Jupiter, I am thinking about what's going to happen when we step in the ring together. Cameron Behringer, Coma, I am not looking past either of you two. Khanrai whatever, I accept that you do exist. And Brian Klesko, I do realize that you are a joke.

(Anderson thinks to himself again. Optimistically telling himself that that went well. It was convincing, hell even had some of his usual humour to make it seem more genuine).

But seriously, Klesko of all the people in this match your placement here baffles me the most. I have no idea what you have done to deserve this spot. But no matter, I will take you out just the same as I will to everyone else. You are a joke, but a joke that I will attempt to take seriously and treat just like all the other challengers. I am not overlooking you.

Coma, you have surprised me as of late. Despite being on Pure Chaos I still check in to see what's going on with my old show and I have to admit, you have reached a level I never thought you would. You have done better than I expected and for that I compliment you. That being said, I believe that the wrestling ring is the wrong place for you. I remember seeing you around backstage before, talking to yourself, arguing with yourself, possibly hurting yourself. You should not be in the ring when you are as unstable as you seem to be. I advise going to a psychiatrist and getting everything checked out before returning to CPW. I know this won't happen though. I know you won't take my advice and you'll compete in the match anyways. So let it be known, I am not overlooking you.

Khanrai. I know I have mocked you for walking to the ring with a guitar. And as unbelievably stupid and sad as that is I also know that you are a veteran here. I know you have history here in CPW and probably accomplished alot in your time here. However, you have done nothing to earn a title shot so far. You just haven't. All you did was join The Saints and barely win a match or two. That being said I must accept that no matter how much you don't deserve to be in this match, you are. I must be ready for any veteran trick you have up your sleeve. And I will be. You may not deserve to be here but I'll treat you like all the rest and beat you just the same. The defeat of someone like yourself could raise the prestige of my reign even more so. So know this Khanrai, I am not looking over you.

Cameron Behringer. You have impressed alot of people since coming to CPW. I don't know a whole lot about you other than you're part of the FCW phase. Yes, a phase that's all that it is. A bunch of hypocritical nobodies from a dead federation who can't even seem to work together well, can't even seem to succeed and compete in "Completely Pathetic Wrestling", can't even seem to agree on what they're fighting for. Do you even know what you're fighting for? Do you want to take all of CPW's belts to put on the desk of your glorious leader? Are do the title mean nothing and you just want to make CPW wrestler's lives hell? Or are you simply here to prove that FCW will never die? I don't know. Do you even know? I'm not sure you do. This invasion is a bunch of ignorant morons fighting without a cause and it will be defeated and passed. Behringer I am sure as hell not looking over you. I despise all things FCW and will make sure to eliminate you personally in that match.

And finally, Duke Jupiter. In my honest opinion, The Suicide Club is the bottom of the barrel scum of society. All of you. I see the way you all act and I despise you. Jupiter. There's really not much to about you other than that. You're a drug addict and while I don't agree with that and think you're fucked up for doing that, I do realize it's personal choice. You're probably looking to regain past glories and take this title away from me. But I simply won't let that happen. I am determined to make sure that this title doesn't get away from me obviously. But I am even more determined to make sure it doesn't fall into the hands of The Suicide Club. It's just not going to happen. I won't let it. Which means I will be paying extra attention to you as well. I am not overlooking you.

I'm sure you all noticed a trend there. It's simple really, I am focused on this match. I am ready for all my challengers for this title. I am not looking past them, not overlooking them and I am...I'm focused on this match. Nothing else will be on my mind come Sunday night other than defending this title. Everyone's been talking about how any one of us has a chance to win this match. And I can't argue with any of that. You all have a good chance. I see that, I know the challenges here and I know my challengers. My "arrogance" is not a factor in this match. My focus...my focus is a non-issue. I'll be there and I'll be ready. You all have a chance of winning. But then again isn't just about any match like that?

Any one of us has a chance of winning this match.

However, I am bound and determined to make sure that my chance and my chance alone is the one that becomes a reality. And none of you will stop me from reaching that goal.

(With those final words Anderson falls back on the bed. He picks up the remote to the camera and stops the recording).


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Well there you go. He had done it. He had put his thoughts out there and said what he needed to say. Good break from all this worrying.

It had taken his mind off last night which was good. He knew he needed to focus on his title match on Sunday. He WILL turn his mind around and focus on those five other men. He has to after all to keep his title. Reggie Starr on the other hand...Reggie Starr was a mistake. Before giving him a chance seemed like a good idea. It would be a little side project to knock some sense into him. Now though, had Anderson gone in too far without even realizing it? Now he had this to deal with along with everything else.

To top everything off, just a little into this rant a new thought had entered his mind that somehow had not found its way in yet. How could Anderson have not thought of this before. This was huge and so important. In some ways bigger than Stone. After everything that happened there was one issue Anderson had not yet contemplated.

What now will happen to The Crusaders?

Hard to believe that just a week ago, there was seemingly no challenger to his title, no matches to prepare for, and nothing to deal with other than the usual.

Odd how things can change so much in just a few days.