Father Time and Orphius

Every reputable wrestling company had at least one wrestler like Jamal Payne. It didn’t matter if the promotion was bright, flashy, and mainstream or gritty, grimy, and underground. They had at least one wrestler like him. The ageless wonder who performed above and beyond what was expected of him given his age. The one who was fighting off father time as well as whatever opponent or opponents he had to deal with in a match and Jamal fit that perfectly.

Consider the matches and opponents he had to face as a Lunatic for a moment. He had to face men half his age, who were on paper faster and stronger than him, also on most occasions didn’t have decades of wrestling scars on their bodies before even signing that Asylum Wrestling Society contract so he was already at a surface-level disadvantage against most men in the company.

However Jamal still found a way to make it work in the end to the point where he earned championship gold. Jamal defied age by working like an absolute machine. Managing workouts, diet, family life, media work, methodically. Managing every second to make it all count and get the best of it. That’s how this 50 year old man was able to live the complete life of a professional wrestler and family man while not missing a single beat in the ring. That’s how he earned every championship he had his entire life and it all led to this moment where he was the AWS Lunatic Champion and even though his reign was new, there was something about holding this championship that energized him. Make him pumped up and proud to fight.

This meant that other Lunatics better beware and since he was booked for AWS’s Monday Night Ward show in Osaka, Japan his opponent for the Lunatic Championship better be ready for a freight train barreling his way. Time for a promo. 

Jamal Payne: I’m a grown ass man. I ain’t afraid to put myself out there and wear my emotions on my sleeve. Let people know the real me so you know why I’m still wrestling. So this photo on my screen is of my family. My beautiful wife, my son, my daughter. Big ain’t they? They’re the main reason why the freight train is going strong all these years because every match I have, every title I earn, is to provide for them and I fuckin’ love that shit.

Jamal’s voice over said as the family photo appeared front and center on the screen before fading away and being replaced with a championship title. Jamal’s Lunatic Championship title in fact.

Jamal Payne: And then there’s my title. The Lunatic Championship. You earn this, which means you are a hardworking sonuvabitch whose ring work is respected among the boys in the back, the people in the crowd, and everyone else around the world. You are a big damn deal in the Asylum, a real badass among badasses and good luck finding someone bigger or badder than me. Jamal Payne! And nobody’s stoppin’ me, damn sure not my Ward opponent Orphius Marius….

Jamal made this statement clear vocally with his Lunatic championship being seen at all angles. Especially the nameplate to show that it was HIS title before footage of Orphius Marius played. Jamal’s words followed up with that too.

Jamal Payne: Oh my eyes are all on you Orphius, been on you for a while because I’ve seen you’ve been on a roll. Winnin’ matches and even when you ain’t been winnin’ you been fighting hard. I respect that, I really do. But nobody in this company fights like I do. And I didn’t fly all the way from Virgina to Osaka…just to lose.

Jamal then appeared on screen, in the morning, in front of Osaka-Jo hall in his street clothes. Sunglasses on his face as he stood against his matte brown Ford F150 truck that was parked

Jamal Payne: Orpheus I’ll make it clear I respect how good you are. I don’t fight bums so I know you are worthy of facing me in this match for my Lunatic title. But you ain’t ready to beat me. Not now. See my goal ain’t just to win titles and make money. Nah I’ve been done that a long time ago. The Asylum has been good to me. My goal is to beat down my opponents AND father time! I’m old enough to be your daddy damn near and I look better than you I talk better than you and I damn sure fight better than you and in a few hours when this beautiful arena is packed with people I’m gonna prove that when I kick your ass in the land of the rising sun and leave this motherfucka’ the same way I entered…

Jamal patted his AWS Lunatic Championship for emphasis to his words

Jamal Payne: Your AWS Lunatic Champion. Because I’m “Freight Train” Jamal Payne and it doesn’t matter if you’re a human opponent or a father time Itself I’m going to run you the fuck over if you get in my way. See you tonight Orphius…

Jamal then entered the arena through the designated pro wrestler entrance of the arena as the camera faded to black on his back. Next time he’d be seen it’d be time for him to defend his title against the surging star Orphius Marius.