Midnight Flight of the Mantis

[Jacob Trance]

We join the evening, it’s cold, a wrapped up figure walks along, his breath coming up in front of his face as a fine mist. The screen very quickly re-caps Mantis’ segment from the 16th Anniversary show before returning to the man walking, it’s the son of anOCW legend, Jordan Trance.

 

Jordan: You know, when you’re having something of a spat with another wrestler, usually you want to get it over and done with before casting out your rod in the hope someone else comes biting… Or at least, that’s what I was taught, deal with the problem at hand before looking for others. Evelyn, misunderstanding leading to, let’s be honest, an abusive woman desperate to get into the limelight. This time, an accident that somehow leads to… Well, whatever is going on with the Northern Irish caped crusader.

 

Jordan sighs, putting his hands into his pockets.

 

Jordan: I’ve not been privileged enough to get many matches yet, heck, I didn’t even get the nod to be in a battle royale. That’s how it goes I guess when you haven’t picked up a win or done anything dynamic to get noticed, but one thing I’m not going to do is go on live pay per view and gush about how I can beat a long reigning and dominant champion just in the hope that someone higher up decides to let it happen. What I will do, however, is say that I would love to get the chance to fight Mantis one on one, if thewinner of that lucks their way into a championship opportunity… well that would be great. Unexpected, and unnecessary, but it would be great.

 

Jordan continues to walk the night time street as he talks.

 

Jordan: See Mantis, I get it, I’m the new guy and you seem to have some strange God complex which means you wouldn’t offer any respect to the new guy just in the door, but from what I’ve gathered you’re the kind of guy that doesn’t understand etiquette, you don’t understand how to conduct yourself properly in this business, you’d walk into a locker room and settle down and wait for everyone to come say hello to you, and that’s not how it works. What you’re meant to do, is say hello to every damn person you come across, even the janitor and I bet you don’t even know why… So I’ll tell you.

 

Jordan stops walking.

 

Jordan: Because the faces you see on the way up are the exact same faces you’ll see on your way down so you better treat people right and you better treat them how you want to be treated. Mantis. I am not an afterthought and I truly hope I get the chance to show you just exactly what I can do in a ring, to show you what fighting spirit is, to show you what it means to try and carve yourself a career without resorting to…

 

Jordan laughs and shakes his head.

 

Jordan: Screaming into the wind in the hope someone’s ears prick up and they come and find you. Well, the good news is someone heard you Mantis, the bad news is that I don’t have a championship belt, so it’s up to you… Will you hear me? Or will you need to be across the ring from me before you give it as much as a thought.

 

Jordan begins to walk again, heading back towards his accommodation.

 

Jordan: Have a nice night buddy, hopefully I’ll see you soon.