Off of a bye week

Ethan Murphy had a bye in the last round of the Shortcut to the top tournament. No match since his opponent Mike Dimter couldn’t compete. But Ethan had been in the Asylum Wrestling Society long enough to know that just sitting on your ass even though you didn’t have a match was a TERRIBLE idea. You’d be wise to still train and hone your mind and body for when you got booked again and that’s just what Ethan did. 

Sure he took some time to relax a little bit. His wife wasn't complaining as she wanted him to take things a little easy and he did just that. Date nights, smaller workouts, focusing on her. But he couldn’t help but wonder when his next match was going to begin. After a few days the “Red Rocket” was starting to get antsy. When was his next match and who would his opponent or opponents be?

And the match would be an absolute banger in the making. Orphius Marius vs. Rylie Stone vs. Ethan Murphy vs. Gunslinger Kaigo. Semifinal match number two, fatal four way. The winner goes to the finals. That made Ethan’s face light up in the calm of his home.

Alessia Murphy: I know that look, you have a match coming up don’t you?

Ethan Murphy: Ohhhhhh yeah.

Alessia Murphy: Okay tell me more.

Alessia sat down next to Ethan on the living room couch. Giving her redhaired hubby her total attention

Ethan Murphy: AWS Black Out in Vegas. Shortcut To The Top Tournament semifinal round.

Alessia Murphy: You actually got a match this time wow.

Ethan Murphy: Yeah and it’s a fatal four way. Battlin’ Orphius Marius, Rylie Stone, and Gunslinger Kaigo

Alessia Zampano: You don’t look nervous and I know better than to ask if you’re scared. And yes there’s a difference.

Ethan Murphy: I know there’s a difference and I am a little nervous. This can be my ticket back on top after I lost my American Championship and I don’t even have to get pinned to lose the match.

Alessia Murphy: Yeah but you can say the same about your other opponents. Plus you’re the Red Rocket. You don’t get tired. You have what it takes in there, there, and in there to beat them and get the win.

Alessia purposefully poked Ethan’s arm and his heart and then his head to verify her words to show that her boyfriend had what it took to win the fatal four way. The mind, muscle, and heart. She believed that was all Ethan needed to win the fatal four way match. And Alessia’s words stayed on Ethan’s mind from match study, to his workouts, to the actual promo.

So the scene took place in Ethan’s AWS Cell the day of AWS Black Out in Las Vegas but Ethan was standing with his leather jacket on, blue jeans, red shirt, and a contemplative look on his face

Ethan Murphy:  When I got that first round bye I wasn’t as excited as you might think. I got all pumped up to face Mike Dimter. One of the best to ever do it. One of the men I looked up to as I came into pro wrestling…and he got injured in training…

Ethan sighed at the end of his sentence for emphasis on his disappointment on one side of the screen while footage of an injured Mike Dimter entering the hospital was shown on the other side with medical aid. Split-screen style.

Ethan Murphy: But that’s fine. I stay ready so I don’t have to get ready. And yeah my hot wife would’ve liked for me to relax a little more I couldn’t. Because I know AWS like the back of my hand. I would have to bounce back against at least one opponent to make up for my time off…

Ethan smirked and shook his head, showing his teeth.

Ethan Murphy: And yeah I’m doing just that at Black Out. Fatal four way. Orphius Marius, Rylie Stone, Gunslinger Kaigo. Orphius I know very well. Rylie and Kaigo not so much. Old enemies, new enemies. I'm just looking forward to fighting in my first match back at Black Out. I'm ready to kick some ass. Let's do it. 

Ethan as always never backed down from a fight. He stood ready to wrestle against an opponent or against opponents as the case may be.

Ethan Murphy: Y’know…back when my head was a mess and fought with the worst kind of chip on my shoulder Orphius you took advantage of that. My mind wasn’t in the right place and the fans at home can look this up but you took advantage of my mental mistakes and quite frankly kicked my ass but now? Now my head is straight and focused on championship gold. I just lost my American Championship and I miss that championship status so I need to win this tournament more than anyone. And yeah this being a “Shortcut to the top” tournament is wild because we have to fight like hell to win it but considering how you are one of my opponents I wouldn't have it any other way. You don't stand a chance against me now even in a fatal four way match.

Ethan believed he had the right frame of mind against Orphius. Locked in, ready for revenge and progress all at once. Yeah Orphius kicked his ass in the past but that didn’t bother him. Ethan always believed in the present and future first and he saw victory in his!

Ethan Murphy: And Rylie, Kaigo, welcome to the big time! Your first tournament match here in AWS. Kaigo your contract isn’t even dry and you have a match here and Rylie you might be a woman but you have real heart and talent that even I have to watch out for and in the main event too? I know you two are excited and I know you’ll bring your best! But your best won’t be good enough. Not against me right now. But you two are young, damn good, and I know you’ll bounce back too.

Ethan’s words were respectful and just slightly condescending against Gunslinger Kaigo and Rylie Stone. Seeing them as rising stars who had the talent to make them fit the tournament and match at hand…just not enough to win.

Ethan Murphy: And above all else I didn’t come this far just to come THIS FAR. I’ll give everything I got to advance in that tournament and get one step closer to where I truly belong. At the TOP of the Asylum Wrestling Society. Because yeah you earn your keep around here and damn it nobody. Not Orphius, not Rylie, not Kaigo. Nobody in this tournament will earn more than me. Bet on that shit. See you three out there.

END SCENE.