“Hi, this is Jack Griffiths calling for Rachel Beckett.”
I’d arrived in Saskatoon two days ahead of Underground and set up a base camp of sorts at my hotel room, I had a lot to do in town before the big show. The WWA had organised some autograph signings and radio shows for me to attend, but mostly I knew I had to make sure my insurance coverage had been re-instated.
So first on my agenda was checking in with Beckett, my insurance company had seemingly been keeping her in the loop more than me and I figured that if anyone was going to know if things were sorted it would be her.
“Rachel, just want to check if you knew about the status of my insurance?”
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“So I’m still not covered? Do you have any idea what the hold up with it is?”
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“Ah I see, but you say they are confident I will be covered before Meltdown?”
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“And they are coming to Underground in Saskatoon to try and work through some off those issues with me face to face?”
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“Thanks Rachel that’s great, and I’ll call them right now to start things rolling.”
As I hung up I was filled with a sense of relief for the first time in a fortnight. It seemed that progress was finally being made on getting me cleared to wrestle again, the insurance company were just seeking a few guarantees from me regarding not putting my self in any unnecessary risks and wanted to meet with me personally to “hear it from the horse’s mouth” as it were.
So with some trepidation but a renewed sense of hope I dialed.
“Hi, this is Jack Griffiths calling for… Mr. Henderson?”
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“Yes, I’ll hold.”
What were probably minutes instead seemed like hours but eventually a husky, wise sounding voiced answered.
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“A pleasure to speak to you, Mr. Henderson. As I understand it, you want to make an arrangement to meet face to face this weekend? At the Undeground recording?”
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“Yes, I just got off the phone with Ms. Beckett, she is making plans for a room to be available for us backstage. She only asks that you allow for there to be a camera in the room, as apparently what is rather mundane for you and I is causing quite some intrigue to the WWAFanatics.”
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“WWAFanatics? Its what one of the show producers dubbed our fans, and we are trying to roll with it. So is all this acceptable to you?”
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“Good, in which case I look forward to see you on Friday; and thank you for your time.”
So with two phone calls, each lasting no more than two minutes, I had started to get my career back on track. I could start focusing on getting ready for teaming with Bagwell.
The thing that weighted heaviest on mind though wasn’t the thought of my nemesis, along with his “bodyguard” being opposite me in the ring. Instead, the thing that concerned me most was Bagwell himself.
After what he done to Jaymz and Trendkiler, I wasn’t sure if I could trust him though and I sure as hell wished that it was Watkins that was stood beside me. He is seemingly motivated by the same desire that drives me, the want nay need to be WWA Champion where as Bagwell appeared to have his own agenda.
It could be argued that there is some merit in living by your own rules, in marching to the beat of your own drum but when I first got into this business, as I first laced my boots up a wiser man than I told me to:
“Be nice to those on my way up, as its those same people that I’d pass on my way back down.
Which is exactly the problem that Chris Bagwell could be facing if he doesn’t make the most of this opportunity and exactly the same scenario that RJ Stone will find himself in after Meltdown.
Because he’s never been in this situation before, he’s never had to deal with three other men all gunning for the biggest prize the WWA has to offer.
He’s never had to deal with the pressure, the weight of the world pushing down on his shoulders as he desperately tries not to relinquish the thing he holds dearest.
But come Meltdown… he’ll find himself stuck between a rock and a hard place.
And come the end of Meltdown… he’ll find himself as a contender… not as Champion.