Dangerous Maximus

Gladiators were the men of envy in Ancient Rome. They beat and slashed their way from arena to arena. They did it in front of thousands of spectators. The nastiest of the gladiatorswere rewarded for their brutality by the affections of the fans. People came out and cheered fortheir favorite fighters to disembowel and decapitate any poor bastard. This dated as far back as310 BC. In 2008, it continues. Only we don't use the name "gladiator" anymore. Instead, we call them "wrestlers."

If you're a ten year old wrestling fan, stop reading now. Wrestling isn't real. Not real in the sense that no one is trying to hurt each other. The last word to use to describe wrestling is fake.You have to have balls of steel to step into the squared circle. There's nothing fake about thebroken bones and missing teeth that come out of this business. A better word to use is staged.

The winners are planned out in advance and guys are working together rather than competing but it still takes an amazing amount of athleticism and physical stamina. One thing that doesn't change is that the champion is the top dog. In the Championship Wrestling Coalition (CWC), Dangerous Maximus was that top dog.

Sullivan 'Sully' Morris a.k.a. Dangerous Maximus was formerly The Jester at the Prestige Wrestling League and Baron Von Badd at Elite Action. He had finally found his niche here in theCWC and after enough clawing, was rewarded for his efforts by being named the HeavyweightChampion. He had been touring with the company for an entire year now. He was always the

first guy there to set up the ring and the last one to leave.

For him and his fellow gladiators, a different city filled in for Rome and a different building filled in for the Coliseum every night. Tonight, it was the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida. The fans poured into the confines with merchandise dedicated to Dangerous Maximus.

They had on his shirts and others made signs declaring that "Maximus Is King." The fans would be rewarded for their loyalty as the main event was booked as Dangerous Maximus vs. Goliath Gruesome for the Heavyweight championship. Guys were jealous of Sully in the back because they all wanted to taste the gold. Kasper Jackson was no different. Kasper Jackson a.k.a. Goliath Gruesome was CWC's top heel and had been feuding with Sully for three months. He was repeatedly given titles opportunities and was repeatedly booked to lose. He was bigger than any other guy in the locker room and would be the

true champ if these fights were for real. As big as he was, he was overlooked. Tonight would be another attempt at the title that would end in a losing effort.

Sully was being taped up by a trainer when he was approached by Paul Williams a.k.a Deadly D. Paul and Sully had held the CWC tag team titles before Sully was pushed to the top of the card and made champ. Paul was left behind on the mid-card.

"Pat wants to see you in his office before you hit the ring," Paul informed.

"Yeah? Any idea what for?" Jacob 'Pat' Patrick was the head promoter of CWC. He booked the matches and the winners. He was the man who decided your fate.

"No idea." Paul went from business to a more casual demeanor. "So you're going to beat Kasper for what...like the second time this month?"

"I guess so. As long as Pat keeps booking it."

"He should wise up and elevate some of the other talent around here. You know, keep things fresh."

The trainer finished up the tape job on Sully's right ankle. Sully slipped his boots on. There was hardly any talking to him before a match. That's how focused and dedicated he was. He picked up the gold and headed out the door to see Pat without a goodbye to Paul.

Sully opened the door to Pat's office without knocking. He peered inside to see Pat's feet up on the desk. Pat was having a conversation with Kasper that came to a halt with Sully's arrival. Pat gave Kasper a wink and motioned him out the door so he could have a private word with Sully. Pat was short, bald and wore a set of horn rimmed glasses. Kasper complied to Pat's

orders but not before taking a long lingering stare at Sully. Pat took a Cuban cigar out of the breast pocket of his jacket and lit it up. Business and pleasure always went hand and hand with Pat.

"How is it going champ? Ready to main event?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Patrick."

Pat gave a smile like the cat that ate the canary. "You've been my champ for about six months and it's been good for business. Your merchandise outsells all these over guys and there's no need to be modest. The fans are out here tonight to see you defend that belt." Pat took a long drag from the cigar and exhaled through his nostrils. "Your success has been good but it's also

made things predictable. There's no intrigue because the great Dangerous Maximus always wins."

"What's this about?"

"I think you already know. I'm tired and the other guys here are tired. We're tired of seeing Dangerous Maximus as the champ. So there's a change of plans. Tonight, Danger is dropping the belt to Goliath."

"Come on, Pat. Your going to let these other guys pull your strings? The fans want me as champ because I bust my ass harder than everyone. I stick around and sign autographs while the other guys go to some titty bar and buy blow."

"The fans want you so as long as I want you! They'll eat up whatever I serve them. You've had your spotlight long enough. It's about time to spread the wealth. You're dropping the belt and then taking a back seat in the mid card. Fans will still buy your shit and shout your name. Now get the fuck out there and give them a show."

Sully damn near tore the door off the hinges as he left. Some guys chose to wait and earn their shots while other guys chose to play politics and bitch to earn theirs. Sully's pride come from accomplishing all he does without sucking a single dick or kissing an ass. The belt doesn't make the guy wearing it a champion, the guy wearing the belt makes it a championship. That doesn't happen with guys like Goliath but Sully had no choice but to play ball. He'd be fired if he didn't. He already won the belt once, he could surely win it again no matter how long he would have to toil on the mid card.

Sully made his way to the entrance tunnel. He could hear Goliath's music playing over the arena PA. The ring announcer spoke up over it.

"Introducing first, the challenger. Weighing in tonight at 275 lbs, he hails from Detroit, Michigan, he is Goliath Gruesome!"

The jeers rung out from the eager fans. Sully stood, trying to get a hold of himself. He couldn't go out there upset. For his character, he had to go out there cool and confident. 'Brand New God' by Danzig came on over the loud speakers and that was his cue. It was show time.

"Making his way to the ring, weighing in tonight at 245 lbs, he hails from Elkhart, Indiana. He is the Championship Wrestling Coalition Heavyweight Champion, he is Dangerous Maximus!"

The roar of the crowd shook the Pensacola Civic Center as soon as the announcer uttered his name. Sully stomped down the entrance way. Fans were falling over the security railings to try and touch him. Sully could only keep his gaze on Goliath. Goliath grinned as his ebony flesh glistened under the lights. Sully gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. Tonight, Goliath would

own a victory over him.

Sully had his eyes locked on Goliath and didn't notice Deadly D racing down the entrance way behind him. Deadly D rushed in like Emmet Smith and planted a fist into the back of Sully's head. Before Sully could face his assailant, Deadly D drove a knee deep into his gut. Sully felt all of the air leave him and then had his face smashed into the side of the ring. Jacob Patrick wasn't

too far behind as he strolled down to the ring. The fans barked loudly as Pat ordered D to put Sully in the ring.

The beating continued as Deadly D and Goliath stomped a mud hole into Sully. Goliath torethe title belt off of Sully and began whipping him with it. Pat grabbed the microphone from the ring announcer and ordered Deadly D to hold up the battered Sully. Pat pulled a dog chain out of his pocket and carefully wrapped it around his fist. Pat held the mic up to his lips,"You're

wondering what all this is for, aren't you? Well, I have to make sure that you play ball."

Pat pulled his loaded fist back and struck it across Sully's cranium. He hit the floor and was soon wearing a crimson mask. Pat waved the pain off of his fist. The three of them stood over Sully laughing. Every fan was out of their seat and screaming but they all thought this was part of the show. They didn't know that it was all very real. Sully laid on the floor a man betrayed

and disgraced.

Pat and Deadly D slid out of the ring. Pat had Deadly fetch him a chair so he could have a front row seat for the downfall of Dangerous Maximus. Pat ordered the bell to be rung and for the referee to conduct the match. Sully could only see bright lights and blood when he opened his eyes. He felt the weight of Goliath come down on him with a big splash. Goliath had his leg

hooked for the pin. The ref got down to make the count.

1...2...

All Sully had to do was stay down for a second longer and his night would be over. Jacob Patrick would have no further need to torture him but that would be doing him a favor. Sully got his shoulder up before the ref could count 3 and make Goliath Gruesome the new champ. He was going to be the pimple on Pat's ass. So they wanted a real fight, Sully thought, that's all they had to ask for. Pat, Goliath and Deadly D were stunned by this resiliency.

"Well, don't just look all surprised. Pulverize him!" Pat shouted.

Goliath picked Sully up by the back of the neck and clubbed him with his fists. Goliath had Sully set up for his finisher, a gut wrench power bomb but Sully gave him a head butt right in the baby makers. Goliath yelped and fell to his knees. Sully took off into the ropes for momentum and drove his boot into Goliath's jaw.

"Goddammit! Paul, take care of this asshole," Pat was steaming from the ears.

Deadly D wasn't about to go in the ring without an advantage. He pulled up the ring apron and pulled out a steel chair from underneath. Deadly D stormed the ring with chair in hand and took a swing at Sully. Sully ducked out of the way and gave him a kick to the gut. Deadly D became prone from the blow and allowed himself to be disarmed. Sully took the chair andplastered it over his head. Deadly D would be watching the birdie fly around his head for the rest of the night.

Sully doesn't catch a break after subduing one of his adversaries. Goliath is back on him and lifts him up into a bear hug. Goliath had the strength of Atlas holding up the world as he ground Sully's spine into beef stew with the hold. Sully made a move of desperation and thumbed Goliath in the eye. The hold was broken and Goliath fled around the ring blinded as Sully leaned

up in the corner to catch some rest. Goliath began to gain his vision back and saw Sully standing nicely in the corner. Goliath looked like a bull after a matador as he charged toward Sully in a spearing motion.

Sully could see the bull coming and he flung himself out of the way in time. Goliath couldn't ease up on his momentum. He went in between the turnbuckles and his shoulder collided into the ring post. Goliath retreated back, nursing a tender shoulder and Sully hit him with a neck breaker.

Sully saw the opportunity to go to the top rope. He looked out into the crowd and they were screaming for Dangerous Maximus to finish him. More importantly, Sully saw Pat steaming like a tea kettle. Sully ascended to the top rope and took his leap of fate. The move was framed perfectly and Sully executed the guillotine leg drop. He went for the pin fall but didn't hear the sound of the ref slapping the canvas. Sully looked up to see the ref paralyzed with fear. The ref didn't want to anger the champ but he didn't want to anger his boss.

"You can always find a new job but if you don't count, you'll need a good doctor to rearrange your face," Sully gave the ultimatum.

The threat worked as the ref got down to his knees.

1...2....

The three didn't come. Sully couldn't believe he was going to have to mutilate this guy.

When he got up for an explanation the ref was not present in the ring. Pat had dragged him out of the ring and struck him in the head with the dog chain. Sully stood in the ring and looked down at his newly acquainted nemesis.

"You're not going to be my champ," Pat exclaimed.

Sully searched around and found the title belt. He held it high above his head in defiance.

"If you want to strip me of the gold, you'll have to do it yourself."

Pat couldn't believe how far Sully was willing to go to hold onto the strap. Sully waited for Pat to meet his challenge but every advancement that Pat made to climb in was followed by a moment of hesitation. Sully waited in the ring like a dog waiting for a biscuit. He didn't notice Goliath getting back to his feet. Goliath came from behind and plowed an elbow into Sully's

neck.

Suddenly, Pat had all the courage in the world to get in the ring. Sully went down after the blow and Pat took the opportunity to get a few cheap shots in. Pat then had Goliath bring Sully to his feet and hold him in place. Pat picked up the belt and shoved it into Sully's face.

"This is what you've thrown a big fuss over. Something that isn't even yours. You wanted to live by it so badly so you will die by it." Pat went to concuss Sully with the title but he didn't hit his mark. Sully twisted his way out of Goliath's grasp and left him to take the hit. The hit left the CWC logo on the belt embedded into Goliath's forehead. Goliath fell to the floor for along nap and Pat stood in shock. Pat's mummified state left him vulnerable to get something that was a long time coming. He could feel Sully's hot breath on the back of his neck. Pat made an attempt to flee but Sully had him by the collar of his shirt. Pat was spun around and met nothing but fist. His horn rimmed glasses were snapped in two and his nose could very well have been punched back into his brain.

Sully looked over all the carnage. He very well knew that his career at the CWC was over but the future doesn't matter when you're lost in the present. The fans were chanting his name. He had proven that he was the top dog whether or not he had a golden strap to wear. Just like in Ancient Rome, he had beaten and slashed his way through adversaries to earn his glory. Deadly

D, Goliath Gruesome, Jacob Patrick and the fans knew that Dangerous Maximus could not be beaten.