The Champ Is Here

"Oh my gosh!" Suzanna gushed as she and the other rookies walked around the backstage area. They were at a house show in the town of Rum, "I'm really here. I can't believe it! This is sooo co-"

She stopped when she realised she was drawing attention. Embarrassed, she slumped her shoulders in an attempt to shrink. Danys Vités had no such shame,

"Hell yeah, it is!" He exclaimed, with his fists in the air, "We are walking in the footsteps of legends! Imagine the battles that have taken place in this... place,"

Mostafa shook his head, "You two are like children,"

"No, we're not!" They both retorted,

"Oi! Shut yooehr gobs!" Daniel snapped,

"Sorry, Coach," All three said,

"Dat sooehnds like talkin,"

The three of them went silent. The Viking rolled his eyes. Ramatla remained stoic. Today they were going to watch the house show to see what a live crowd is like and the way the pros perform. They were told to wear casual clothes and follow a strict SEEN AND NOT HEARD rule.

Suzanna looked around for Simon. They hadn't spoken since the... incident. She apologised profusely, but he just shooed her out of the building. Strangely though, he wasn't angry. He seemed almost...

"Alright, security will take you to the stands," Tonye said, as "Remember, you need to blend in with crowd, no one can who you are. What we need you to do is pay attention to everything. The wrestlers and the crowd. You need to get a good grasp of how the crowd reacts and what they react to,"

Suzanna reflexisively spoke, "Yes, C-"

Alexa shushed her with a stern, wild-eyed glare, "Guys!" She warned with a harsh whisper, "Under NO circumstances can ANY of the wrestlers find out who you are. Listen, if the crowd isn't screaming their heads off, you stay quiet. Got it?"

The rookies were naturally confused by all the secrecy.

"Why are  we hiding?" Vités asked,

"Fahr yooehr prahtection, Einstein," Daniel growled, "Now, scram,"

Suzanna stiffened.

(Protection? From what?)

The guards quickly ushered them away from the backstage.

"And no matter what, don't leave your seats until the show is over," Tonye instructed.

Alexa took several deep breaths to calm, while Daniel patted her on the back,

"They'll... They'll be okay, right?"

"Lahng as dey dahn't do nahthin stupid,"

She frantically looked between the two of them, "Wh-who's on the card?"

Tonye pulled out his phone, "Okay, Thompson's wrestling a local talent, the Wallaces are taking on The Haruns and Jessie Moore's up against... Mama Moolah,"

"Moolah?! Oh nononono, we need get them out of here,"

She attempted to run after them, but Daniel stopped her,

"Dey're prahbably already gettin seated," He said, "You go ooeht dere and everyahne'll know,"

"But we can't just-"

"We 'ave to,"

She looked to Tonye, who frowned, sighed and shook his head, before smiling half-heartedly,

"We'll just... have to trust them,"

She wanted to keep arguing, but froze upon catching something in the corner of her eye.

Coming down the corridor were three people.

On the left, a lean, Coloured man standing 1.68 m, with a pencil moustache and wearing an open, red and black plaid shirt, blue jeans, brown boots and a brown flat.

Cody K. Olwagen, tag team partner to Vito Montani on the right, a ripped Italian man standing 2 metres. He was shirtless, wearing dark blue jeans, red tennis shoes, a black beanie and single black fingerless glove on his right hand. On his shoulder was a championship belt, with black leather and golden square side plates on either side of the round center plate, each engraved with the initials VM. The centre plate was blue and gold, depicting the Pacific Ring of Fire, with the words PSW TECTONIC CHAMPIONSHIP written in the centre.

They were the S.W.K. , the Street Wise Crew. However, they were not cause for concern. It was the woman walking ahead of them. She was mix of Cree and Igbo, standing 1.93 m with big curly afro and an Olympic powerlifter build. She wore blue jeans, white sneakers, a black hoodie, a black bandana around her head with pale pink patterns on it and sunglasses. She held a larger title belt made from velvet leather. The centre plate resembled an open clam with a white pearl in the centre and the words PSW JEWELL'S CHAMPION written on the outer edges.

The three of them casually walked towards the coaches. Moolah's plump lips formed a smile. Even with her sunglasses on, Alexa could tell she was looking at her. Daniel and Tonye stepped in front of her,

"Look boys, the courier's are here," Moolah joked. Her voice was deep and honeyed. Montani and Olwagen laughShe handed her title over to Olwagen, before placing her hands on her hips and smiling with her teeth at the coaches, "So... where'd you keep the meat?"

Tonye shrugged, "I... don't know what you mean,"

Moolah kept her smile while shaking her head, "I wasn't talking to you,"

Alexa shrank, knowing with absolute certainty that the big woman was in fact looking directly at her. All she could muster was a slow headshake,

Moolah tilted her head back, "I see," She then shrugged and looked away sighing, allowing Alexa to relax somewhat, "Oh well. Come on boys,"

They began to make their way to the locker rooms. Daniel stayed between the two women as the champion walked past. Moolah stopped,

"Oh yeah, Lexi. How are the legs these days?"

Alexa suddenly winced and as her legs started to buckle. Daniel held onto her as she started to breathe heavily. He glared burning daggers in Moolah's direction,

"'Ow abooeht you use yooehrs and get mahvin?"

"Daniel, take it easy," Tonye warned

Montani threw his belt to Olwagen and got right in Daniel's face.

Tonye tried to come between the two huge men, "Alright, everyone. Calm down. Let's just -

"Wha'chu say, Old Man?" Montani demanded, attempting to tower over Daniel. There was a 5 centimetre difference between them.

Daniel moved in until he and Montani were nose to nose, "You gahne deaf, Lad? Dence stoehffin yooehr 'ead oehp 'er big-"

"Daniel!" Alexa gripped his arm firmly. Daniel looked down at her, "Stop... please,"

The big Irishman relented, allowing Tonye to squeeze between them. Montani smirked,

"That's what I thawt,"

Olwagen came in next to Montani,

"Ja, Boytjie! Better count yourself lucky, Oom. Two more seconds and we were gonna -"

Moolah loudly snapped her fingers, causing the two wannabe gangsters to straighten. Alexa saw Moolah's head turn a little. She wasn't smiling anymore. Montani and Olwagen backed up, turned around and walked briskly after her without another word.

Tonye shook his head in disappointed. He turned to Alexa,

"You okay, Mi'ja?"

She nodded and regained herself. Her legs didn't hurt anymore. He then frowned at Daniel,

"What were you thinking?"

Daniel inhaled and looked at wall, "I wasn't," He looked back at Tonye, "I'm sahrry,"

"The kids..." Alexa said, "They'll be okay... right?"

Tonye looked at her worried face and smiled. It was a bit more genuine this time, "Right,"

He put a hand on her shoulder, "Come on. Maybe, we'll learn something too,"

They then made their way to gorilla position.

Over in the arena the rookies were seated on the East side. Not too close, not too far. The Lodestar was in the ring,

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am The Lodestar!"

"Can you believe it?!" Vités quietly exclaimed, "We get to watch a PSW show for free. Man, I am so hy-"

Ramatla, who sat to his right, put a finger to his lips to silence him. Mostafa, who sat on Ramatla's right, leaned forward,

"Seriously, could you not act like a kid for-"

Ramatla put a finger to his lips with their other hand. Viking watched the ring with his arms folded. He caught Suzanna in of his eye. She was leaning forward in her chair next to Vités. She was looking at the ring with an intense, wide-eyed frown. He too frowned,

(She's different. It's like she's ready to go down there herself. I shouldn't underestimate her.)

(... I need to pee.)