The Cruiserweight (27 page)

“Asshole.” Brett shut the phone and placed it
back in his pocket.

“Who was that?” Dillard asked.

“Pat. We’re scheduled as speakers for the
International Wrestling seminar taking place the day before their
show.” Brett made a face. “Remind me to change my password so
there’s a definite guarantee some nosy best friend isn’t reading my
email.”

“Should’ve done that before you moved,
man.”

“I know, too bad I forgot. There hasn’t been
anything earth-shattering. Just a few notes now and then from
friends, and booking requests.”

“Thank God your woman isn’t into the steamy
email thing.”

“Yeah, I’d never hear the end of it if Patrick
came across those things. Christ, even with him still in L.A., he’s
worse than a wife. By the way, he sends congrats on you being on
Future Stars.”

“Aww, that’s sweet. He ever think of coming
back?”

Brett shook his head. “We’re on the same page
in that respect.”

“How is Karen?”

“Last we talked, she was okay. One of her
co-workers was supposed to fly up to cover tonight’s show, but he
had to cancel because of the weather.”

“Too bad, maybe he’d brought her.”

“I thought the same thing. Makes no difference,
since I’m heading to Pittsburgh for my next booking.”

“How lucky can you get?”

“You can thank Kyra Dimes for pushing for a
spot for me after the original wrestler they’d booked had to back
out. Signed a major contract with another federation. It’s going to
be great working with her again.”

“Seeing Karen will be a bonus.”

“You know it. Working in a show with an old
friend and seeing my lady. Life can’t get any better.”

CHAPTER 46

Karen watched videos featuring several
wrestlers of Orlando Wrestling touting the promotion’s move to
Monday nights, taking notes for an article she‘d planned. Viewing
Brett’s, she expressed concern on how scruffy and tired he
appeared, and annoyed with various comments below his
video.

“I’m so tired of idiots posting comments about
him using marijuana! They don’t know Brett at all, or even paid
attention to his current touring schedule that would tire out the
average person. It’s rather funny how there’s wrestlers who have
done far worse drugs than he has, yet he gets shit about a little
pot!”

Eddie looked up from his computer. “What’s the
matter?”

“Mr. Sullivan wants me to do a feature on
Orlando Wrestling moving to Monday nights. They have a lot of
videos promoting the new night. The other ones have comments about
how those guys should be on TV more or their ‘awesomeness’, yet
every other one under Brett’s video is either a weed referral or
how ‘high’ he looks. Just appalling!”

“So don’t read them.”

“I can’t help it. I have to read everything to
have an idea of fans’ reactions to the new broadcast
night.”

“K, you and Brett have known each other a
little over a year. I think it’s safe to say you know him better
than almost anyone, so I don’t get why you’re ruffled by a few
comments from people who are nothing more than ‘marks.’ Didn’t you
say not long ago that he was giving up weed?”

“Yes, he mentioned cutting back. The only
reason he smoked both pot and cigarettes in the first place was
that his old boss
hated
smoking. Brett would smoke a half a
pack of cigarettes a day at work when he wasn‘t doing pot. He said
smoking was ‘an excuse to get the fuck out of the building for ten
minutes at a time.’ His words, not mine.”

“The whole anxiety thing?”

“That too,” Karen said. “He was always wound up
before shows back then, and not in a good way.”

“Explains why he’s getting fat.”

“He’s not fat!”

“Hey, speaking of which, how’s Mini
Brett?”

Eddie grinned. “Well, even if your belly isn’t
sticking out much further, the rest of you has gotten a little
rounder the last few weeks.”

“My stomach always stuck out before I started
doing ab exercises. It was starting to get flatter before I was
pregnant. All that work down the drain.”

“I don’t think Papa’s going to complain when he
sees you this weekend. You excited?”

“Yes, to say the least.”

“Any big plans after the show?”

“You’re so nosy. I guess we’ll go to dinner,
depending how tired he is after his match.”

“I heard Kyra Dimes is on the card. She’s
Brett’s old girlfriend, right?”

“No, Eddie, they never dated. Kyra’s married,
but she and Brett were close friends when they used to work
together. She and I hit it off when I did an interview with her,
and she and Brett keep in touch when they can. She got him a spot
in this weekend’s show when the person who was booked had to
cancel.”

“I have a feeling Brett’s going to have one
interesting weekend while he’s in town.”

“What does that mean?”

“He’s going to have two gorgeous ladies, one in
the same wrestling show, and the other waiting for him afterward. I
think I’m going to be jealous.”

“Even better, she’s his valet for the
show.”

“Since when does Brett Kerrigan need a
valet?”

“His idea as a ‘thank you’ to Kyra for getting
him on the card.”

“Couldn’t have a hotter chick in his corner.
She looks a little like Pheebs. Cute face, nice round ass, and a
great set of
—
”

“Eyes,” Karen said. “I get the idea. You’re
starting to sound like Brett when it comes to women.”

“Can’t blame the man for having good taste. By
the way, Pheebs is also a hot lay. A screamer and likes to be
tickled.”

“Eddie, I don’t need to hear about yours and
Phoebe’s sex life. Some things are better off not known to the
world.”

“Sorry.”

“Save it for the guys. I’m sure you’ll draw a
more captive audience.” She rose. “This is a good time to take my
lunch break and grab a milkshake. Want me to get you anything while
I‘m at The Burger Stand?”

“A Giant Angus, medium rare, with the
works.”

Karen grimaced. “How gross.”

“What happened? You always liked
burgers.”

“Just the thought of beef makes me
queasy.”

“Damn, and you’re in the early pregnancy stage.
Hate to see what happens later.”

“Oh, those stages are more fun. Soon, I’ll look
forward to backaches and peeing every ten minutes.”

“Thank God Pheebs is on NuvaRing. I don’t think
I could go through her being knocked up.”

“Good thing men can’t get pregnant. I think
you’d never survive nine minutes, let alone nine months. I’ll be
back in about half an hour.”

*****

Brett granted a rare interview with
Wrestling Today’s
radio program Friday afternoon, promoting
the Pittsburgh show where he would face local star ’Wild Man’
Warren Garrett the following night in a non-championship ladder
match.

“I’ve been studying Wild Man’s matches this
week,” he said. “Why isn’t he with a major federation or at least a
national independent promotion? The guy has some of the best
in-ring talent I’ve seen. He’s extreme, takes a lot of risks, just
like me. Garrett can go places with the right company.”

“Garrett says he can’t wait to take you down a
notch,” the host said.

“He‘s welcome to bring it on. I’ve had more
than my share of ladder matches the last ten years. I can do them
with my eyes closed, even with guys as good as Wild
Man.”

The subject soon changed to Brett’s 331-day
reign as World Tag Team Champion with Patrick Sanchez-Garcia, the
fourth longest tag team title reign in history. Brett was also the
interim World Champion during a championship scramble match at a
major pay-per-view event in 2008. When he turned heel later that
year, he’d gained a following for his eclectic wrestling
style.

Things had gone downhill when he was moved to
another show and his accomplishments soon forgotten. Brett had no
qualms in making it known the experience of his last days on the
show
—
with the exception of his guest hosting
stint
—
left him disillusioned. “I was no longer
happy, though I felt that my work was beyond satisfactory. I was
there to wrestle. I’m not an actor, but a wrestler, and a good one.
I put myself out there without being asked. I also know that
certain behaviors were encouraged, others were frowned upon, and I
didn't give a shit.”

“The house shows were a blast, and I enjoyed
traveling and meeting fans, but TV tapings were a circus, full of
backstabbers, power hungry people and suck-ups. On the other hand,
there were lots of others who were funny and nice to work with.
Most of the time, I felt like a tool sitting in the bleachers
waiting in case they needed me. It wasn’t the direction I’d
envisioned my career. Being released from my contract last year was
the best thing that happened to me, but that release could’ve been
done in a more honest way.”

“Honest? Weren’t you cut for economic reasons?”
the host asked.

Brett‘s voice became terse. “Let me explain the
real
reason, Danny. Sure, I got the ‘released because of the
economy’ excuse, but it was over the phone. Then the company’s vice
president had the balls to say that I wasn't doing the job they
expected. What a crock of bullshit. I made a 60-year-old man look
like he was still a wrestling icon. Hell, I even jobbed to a midget
and made
him
look good. Reggie had always been very
supportive of my work to my face, but I knew he was full of it.
Then he said, 'Do you want help getting to Japan?' What an insult!
He’d been the last person I’d asked for anything. My name carried
clout in the independents long before I hit television. Why would I
need
his
help?”

“Instead, I pressed for the real reason I was
let go, and asked, 'Was it the pot fines?' I was prescribed the
stuff for anxiety, in case anyone wondered. I went back and forth
with the company doctor and refused a piss test on purpose to get
Reggie Redmond to call me. No one would admit to anything. I wanted
honesty, but dealt with a coward. After all, he fired me over the
phone.”

“You seem very happy back on the independent
circuit in addition to appearing with Orlando
Wrestling.”

Brett beamed. “It’s fantastic! I hope
everyone’s following this amazing journey of mine. Life couldn't be
better. It's great to be reunited with Patrick and other guys I’d
worked with in the past, as well as wrestling new talent on the
local scene. We’re all having a blast working together. I’m lucky
to be a position to wrestle according to my own vision. Not where I
am running a show that is according to what I think wrestling
should be, but able to wrestle my matches more like I pictured
wrestling, or how I think it can be done.”

“With that, Orlando Wrestling fans should keep
an eye out for my appearance on their next pay-per-view, and Wild
Man Garrett shouldn’t get too confident about his ladder skills,
because Brett Kerrigan is in town!”

CHAPTER 47

When the radio interview was over, Brett headed
over to practice at the small arena where the show would take place
Saturday night. He just finished his warm-up routine when he felt a
loud whack on his ass. “Looking good, sexy man!”

He turned around and saw Kyra. “You’re lucky I
like you, or I’d have to turn you in for sexual
harrasment.”

“Since when do you object to being ‘sexually
harassed’?”

Brett pecked her cheek. “Can‘t remember the
last time. Ready for the run-through?”

“Sure. Where is everyone?”

“Should show up in a few minutes; otherwise, I
guess you‘ll be my opponent instead of valet.”

“Mmmmm, I like the opponent idea.”

He laughed. “You would, kiddo.”

“Is this Garrett guy going to have a woman
escort him to the ring?”

“From the tapes I’ve seen, he’s never worked
with a valet either, but I guess there’s always a first time.
Chances are, if that’s the case, she won’t be as sexy as
you.”

Kyra quirked an eyebrow. “Still a shameless
flirt.”

“You complaining?”

“Can’t say I am. You always made me feel
gorgeous.”

“Because you are, and don’t let some so-called
‘fashion and beauty expert’ say any different. You’re a nice weight
for your height and look like a
real
woman, not some
pre-teen kid or some plastic bimbo.”

“Like Karen.”

Brett glowed at the mention of her name. “Now
you’re getting the idea.”

“Oh, I’ll get the ‘idea’ even more after the
show tonight.” She patted his ass. “I have a feeling the three of
us are going to have fun.”

“Easy, lady, it’s not a good idea to get me
worked up before a match. I’m doing the ladder thing,
remember?”