[In the mind of Michael Bold lies plains of vast nothingness. Plains of blackness. An adjective in every way philosophically defining of the soulless, ego-driven, essentially walking corpse that the once acclaimed “Braveheart” has become.]

“I was a hero, once.”

[Reflectively solemn in tone the fans former beloved Bold seems reminiscent. He sounds far, far away. Even in his own mind he’s locked himself away in solitary confinement. Forever alone, is obviously his personal preference. His voice is but a gentle whisper, he’s not maniacally yelling here, he’s not living in anyone’s shadow or on the verge of oblivion. Here, it’s everything Bold longs for in the Real World. And as pity-invoking as this symbolic darkness created by Bold’s very mind is; it’s what he WANTS it to be and nothing less. The blackness is indeed a barrier that the video feed has yet to overcome, but, without the technologically immaculate “eyes” of the camera perception comes into play. Let’s think some, people.]

”Once, they chanted MY name…”

[That last comment was a far cry from the soft, gentle whisper rolling solemnly off the lips of the former “Enforcer of Reality” initially. It wasn’t loud, or abrasive, yet it got the aggression, bitterness, and hatred released all the same in a low, animalistic tone laced with pent up bitterness spat disgustedly into the audio system.]

[Suddenly, a white light. Blinding in nature, simply serving as our transitory screen as fades into grainy, black and white footage from days gone by.]

[Clip one is hazy, maybe the marred footage is apart of Bold’s memory blocking out the painful memories of the former “Braveheart” in his heyday. Who knows. But, this, to the uneducated wrestling fan isn’t a painful memory. No, not at all. Bold, actually, stands within the confines Golden State Wrestling ring after it emerged from the ashes of the initial Golden State carnation run by Matt Guzzy.] 

[Bold’s trademark logo and cutting edge moniker haven’t stumbled into existence yet. Here lies footage of a sweaty Mike Bold, immature looking, outdated-ring wear, a simplistic Michael Bold with his then trademark short n’ black hair in stark contrast to the long, shoulder length hair Bold sports today. He’s drenched in sweat, from top to bottom. His legs are wobbly, his hands raised in the air, GSW Pacific West Coast title won innocently after interference from his former stablemate Ken Stone paving the way for Bold to defeat the then GSW Champion The Hunter oblivious of the previous tide-turning transaction.] 

[None the less, the fans have made their way to their feet. The California faithful offering a standing ovation for Bold’s meteoric rise to the top of GSW.]

“They were everything to me. And once, I was everything to them.”

[So full of bitter despair it’s obvious Bold’s angry judging from his voice and his tone of choice. Now, reflecting his anger, his aggression the clips come faster in rapid-fire succession:] 

[Bold at a personal appearance during his reign as the Franchise of Bluegrass State Wrestling. Decked out in his casual attire and having a easy-going, personable attitude and demeanor when around the fans of his occupation. Bold who’s moralistic, traditional, and hard-working approach was something the average American could level and relate with. The sky’s blue, the bird’s are chirping and the grass is very blue in Kentucky. A picture perfect scene as Bold signs autographs at the climax of the beautiful Spring day.]

[Next: Bold locking in Roadkill in his trademark Boston Crab submission. He wrenches back relentlessly, screaming as he releases all the energy in his hold. The next clip comes from that very night, Bold, injured shoulder, BSW Heavyweight Title, and all lay in a heap in the ring as the fans blow the top off the roof for the epic battle of a lifetime and the ending they wanted.]

“I was the man, once. I was their only hope at national success… and in all honesty, they where mine as well.”

[A close-up shot of the prestigious NWC World Title. As the shot draws back and widens we see it currently resides around the waist of one of its greatest Champion’s ever, Ben Van Iten.]

“The famed Ben Van Iten was my first crack at the NWC World Title, I vied for it a match dangerously stipulated for solely suspense. A ladder match. In a cage, no less. I was supposed to ascend to new heights… to the Championship of the World. The ladder was supposedly symbolic of my career – from TV Champion to Secondary, to Regional, to World…”

[Shots of Bold executing an atomic drop followed up by a clothesline sending BVI to the canvass. Another shot showcases BVI nailing Bold with a knee drop with impressive elevation as the Champ leaps off the top of the ladder jamming his knee into the cheek of Bold. Following that a clip of UME leader JW Oswald nailing Bold with his patented “Rifle Kick” is the post match “festivities”. Bold’s neck snaps back violently and rebounds equally as violent as the whiplash from such a devastatingly high impact move takes effect.]

“But, I was out manned, gunned, and wrestled that night. I lost fair and square, as simple as that. The foundation of a region, a man with the hopes and dreams of a whole state was defeated as cleanly as you could get. And as insult to injury I was proverbially “kicked when I was down” after the match had concluded. ”

[Michael stands in the ring long after the match has concluded and the UME and the still World Champion have exited the building. The fans haven’t begun leaving, showing their undying loyalty to their champion. But, it just wasn’t enough.]

[The shot switches to a still-shot of Ben Van Iten smiling that dreaded Ben Van Iten smirk that’s haunted the dreams of many NWC Superstars from all walks of live for months now.]

“Ben Van Iten was the ultimate evil. The ultimate villain. And if ANYONE needed vanquishing it was him. But when push came to shove I folded under the pressure and I Ben rose the occasion proving he was more worthy to be NWC World Champion.”

“The fans gave me their respect still, their love. I fought the good fight, I fought valiantly. And no matter the outcome my fans knew I wasn’t only fighting to quench my ambitious hunger. But, I was first and foremost fighting for THEM. But, inside, I felt like a failure. I let them down. After all the talk, the hype, all the hard work and energy expelled it was devastating to reach the pinnacle of the sport of the verge of its absolute prize and fall a but a hair short wasn’t easy to swallow. Good, even great wrestlers have left upon such a travesty to their own legacies. But, the LEGENDARY ones always bounce back… always… ”

[Bold, stands atop the ramp, back in his glory a few short weeks later. He lost his BSW Title, but came back with a vengeance to re-attain the title he initially brought national exposure to. “The Drifter” Abbott McCain was his opponent. The BSW Champion and Bold were childhood rivals, they trained together with the likes of The Hunter, Devin Fox, Lance Marshall, Dargan, and Ryan Stephens. ]

“I defeated Abbott after losing my title to Wildebeest. Again. I let my fans down, and they were losing hope.”

[A clip of the gigantic Wildebeest gaining the pinfall on Bold.]

[The clip that follows shows Bold standing, hands raised victorious over Abbott McCain who betrayed the Outcasts and Bold for Hunter Sabuani and the Corterie.]

“I nail the coffin closed on the notion that I wasn’t able, that I wasn’t resilient enough to take back my career with a hard fought victory against the battle-tested McCain, a star in his own right.”

“But, after BSW bite the dust and transformed ironically enough into the California based HCW, I was happy. I was rejuvenated. If I couldn’t wrestle in the South then in California would be the next best thing. After all, it’s where the star of Michael Bold began to bloom.”

“I had a right to be happy. After months of back-breaking work, fighting through injuries and really adversity from all walks of wrestling HCW management came through for me and granted me my wish in response to all that I’ve given them. A NWC World Title shot. After my experience eating JW Oswald’s boot, and after being unable to stop Ben Van Iten ascend to the apex of the ladder and retain his belt I took that experience, I took the heartache, the PAIN I felt from that loss and I unleashed it all in that inaugural HCW Showtime against The Ripper. I redeemed myself, I gave my fans back what they wanted.”

[Bold is shown with the NWC World Heavyweight Title limply laying in the air as his hands are raised to the sky after he defeated SCCW’s Derrick Daliente. The fans cheer their little hearts out. One fan in particular, a young boy no older than ten is actually crying as he, in a nutshell, shows the fans feelings for “Braveheart’s” storybook ending for his multi-year quest for the NWC World Title.]

“I had it all… I had it all…”

“But then I realized what hypocrites they all are…

“I finally did it. I had all I ever wanted. I paid my tribute to my fans… then, I realized, that it had all been done for naught. And after I lost my NWC World Title shortly thereafter, I returned to HCW, and I returned to a hostile environment. After giving them the BEST gift they could possibly have -- a World title in their FIRST show they betrayed me. What more can a region ask for? A gift-wrapped World Title a DAY after it’s inception.”

“Then, they began to cheer for someone else. Was I a little jealous? Probably. But, I was more pissed off than anything. The fans, those manipulative bastards rode my back for YEARS. They rode me to the top, they got every bit of mileage they could out of me. I did their desired task so they left me out in the rain like a dog and went on to support someone else. Why? I don’t know. Maybe to see if they could “do it again”. Maybe they wanted to “will” another wrestler to the top.”

[Genuine perplexity is sensed from Bold’s prior comments. He doesn’t understand why, but really doesn’t care. Rather, he’s enraged by the fact that they left him, regardless.]

“Whatever reason, I obviously didn’t fit into the equation anymore.”

[The footage of the crying fan disappears. Slowly, painfully slow. Sinking into obscurity it sure is, and it’s taking it’s sweet timing doing it to hammering the melodramatic point home. Here’s the replacement: crisply colored, the audio flowing freely, the grainy footage and black and white still shot’s have been throw to the wayside as Michael is show walking down the aisle at a recent MSW event, debris, tossed from over the guardrail bounces off him as the fans vehemently hiss curse words and insulting one-liners to throw Bold off his game. But, outwardly it doesn’t seem to annoy Bold has he engages in a confrontation cockily replying with some smart-ass retort.]

“Now, they hate my guts with all their puny might. And I realized what a fool I was to wrestle for THEM and not for myself. I want that whole nine yards and fought the good fight and in the end the butt f[bleep]ed me and raped me of my pride.” 

[Bold’s shown, empty ring created by his mind to represent the fans betrayal. He wears torn and tattered blue jeans and completely demolished and shredded “HCW” tee shirt. He’s on his knees. His hands clutching his head.]

“Michael, you fool. You’ll never be ME. They took “Braveheart” anyway from you Michael. They took me away… you can’t be me anymore…” 

[Off screen shot.]

[There stands “Braveheart” Michael Bold towering above ANOTHER Michael Bold? Weird huh? Well, it is the mind of the troubled Michael Bold, so, don’t act totally shocked. Expect the unexpected, as they say.]

Michael Bold: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! The VOICES! GET THEM OUT OF MY HEAD! 

[The other Bold is symbolic of Bold’s success. Bold in all his glory. Black leather jacket, “NWC: Purgatory” tee shirt underneath his customized, trademark, leather jacket. His long back hair immaculately styled, straightened, his brow creases aggressively giving him a devious countenance. Slung over his shoulder is the NWC World Heavyweight Title. Bold looks up at “Braveheart”, stringy hair frayed, fragments of it resting on the canvass beside him as he tore at it in rage. He looks up angrily, desperately, at his former self. He takes a futile claw at “Braveheart” but interestingly enough it with an audible swipe at hair goes through the seemingly un-materialized Bold.]

Michael Bold: I’M BETTER THAN YOU! TENFOLD! YOU HERE ME! 

[“Braveheart” laughs arrogantly dismissing Bold’s notions. He begins to fade out of existence. Bold gets to him scrambling, almost losing in footing in his rage. He looks around angrily for his imaginary adversary.]

Michael Bold: COME BACK HERE! COWARD! 

[Flash of blinding white light, just like before.]

[Back to Reality.]

[In the a bedroom. Where? Not sure. The wooden stripped and lined window is left halfway open and the gentle night breeze is soothingly cool flowing through the impressively large room. But, nonetheless, Bold lies drenched in his own perspiration. The covers are wet with moisture, his black, intertwined hair matted to his forehead stuck to the beaded sweat that has formed on his forehead.]

[He’s sleeping restlessly, tossing and turning in his slumber. He moans…]

Michael Bold: I will prove you wrong… I will…

...at Massacre...

[Cut.]