The One to beat

This upcoming Asylum Wrestling Society ward show was of the utmost importance for Mason Hurst. It wasn’t just because it was for the AWS 5150 Championship which meant more gold for him and his Centre Of Attention team as well as more money in his pocket. He had a wife and kids to feed after all. But the most crucial part was that it was in his home country of Australia! The Sydney Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia. About a four hour drive from Mason’s home in Canberra. His family could actually see him wrestle LIVE for a change!

Damn right it put excitement in Mason’s heart. The same heart that was pumping blood and fueling his body for exercise because of who the current AWS 5150 champion was. He was simply called “One.” And with a body like his, that name spoke for itself. If there was any man that could outmuscle and overpower the Australian colossus it was One. He was bigger than Mason, taller than him too, and brought the kind of danger to the ring that one would expect the 5150 title to have. The kind of aggression that tested the limit of the law. Most wrestlers, even in the case of a company that is full of wild men and semi-stable wrestlers, would be scared of One…but Mason wasn’t like most wrestlers.

Being in the Centre Of Attention sharpened Mason’s entire being. Physically? Mason was in the best shape of his life. Yeah he was a hulking 316 lbs but within that weight lied great physical conditioning. He had stamina, endurance, and surprising flexibility. One might hit harder but if Mason could take the match into the deep waters it would favor him.

Mentally? Damn right Mason was ready. Being in the Centre Of Attention turned him from an ex-convict who got into wrestling for the money after bodybuilding, weightlifting, and barroom bouncing got stale into an absolute warrior of the ring. The goliath heavyweight of the Centre Of Attention and one of the AWS’s most fearsome, and most intelligent monsters with the state of mind to keep cool against the bloodthirsty lunatics here.

And last but certainly not least Mason was fighting in front of his countrymen in the first ever Asylum Wrestling Society show in Australia. And yeah in a company full of mostly coherent psychos wrestling in front of their people wasn’t supposed to be a big deal (doubly so if you came from a “parts unknown” type of place like One did) but Mason wasn’t one of those wrestlers. He EMBRACED having his first AWS show in front of his people and it made him want to step the fuck up as a wrestler. This meant that his words and actions were expected to be on point. Especially since it was going to take place in the Fight Pit! No weapons, no outside combat or interference. Just two men, fists, feet, with the winner by knockout or submission. Which fit into Mason’s favor perfectly. His background as a brawler in Australia, his training in the Centre Of Attention, every bit of his skill as a lunatic, led to this 5150 title match.

And his promo had to have energy that matched it too.

The AWS cameras took sight of the city of Sydney. The nicest buildings, the business streets, places where the people go. The core of downtown near the Sydney Entertainment Centre that had posters of “ONE © Vs Mason Hurst: AWS 5150 Championship” on walls and flyers. Street style promotion that the Asylum Wrestling Society was known for over flashy billboards. Direct to the people with a connection to the city to show that even in this massive arena they didn’t lose their connection with the people. Mason’s people with Mason’s voice in the background to begin. Voiceover-style.

Mason Hurst: Sydney, Australia. I’m paying special attention to this city. Not because it’s the biggest entertainment hub of Australia. Normally I wouldn’t even travel here except for maybe a Canberra versus Sydney rugby match. But AWS is taking over Sydney. Monday Night Ward is setting up shop. All my Aussies better pack it up to the damn rafters. Sitting where I’m sitting. Sold out to see me in the biggest match of my life. And I mean it in every way. 5150 Championship. Mason Hurst versus ONE. Fight pit. It’s gonna be bloody, it’s gonna be brutal, a flat-out fight…and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Because honestly…I’m fucking excited!

And after the clips of the Sydney city, including the Sydney Entertainment Centre were shown the “ONE © Vs Mason Hurst” match graphic appeared next before focusing on Mason in the crowd. He was sitting in the stands for a change. Not in the Centre Of Attention clubhouse. Just scoping the scene with an AWS camera focused on him as he began. Setting the stage and the build

Mason Hurst: And speaking to you One…Good on ya mate. You’re the 5150 champion, you’re one of the few people in this entire damned company who are bigger than me. I’m man enough to give you credit like that I can’t train for you like I’ve trained for any opponent before and that’s a fact that I’m dealing with before we get in that Fight Pit. Enclosed space, you and me, the ref has the simplest job ever. Watch for the knockout or submission. Just thought I'd tell you that and more as I'm in the stands. Where the crowd will be. No reason to hide because I don't fear you One and there's nothing for me to hide.

Mason said this with focused intent and genuine fire in his eyes even adding a nod for good measure. Adding honesty with his words and actions.

Mason Hurst: However…you’re still going to lose to me you big cunt and it’s not even going to be close once that bell rings. Not based on who I am and who you are.

Mason shook his head while he spoke like he was about to confirm a fact.

Mason Hurst: Who am I? I’m Mason Hurst and I am different from any of the superheavyweight tossers the Asylum has here including you One. I’m not some giant who’s unafraid to leave my feet in a match and I damn sure ain’t some plodding big man performing the typical big man moves. I’m too good to just use powerslams like your ass. I’m an actual wrestler. Just huge. I can break your back, your legs One. Not just because I'm a former strongman and powerlifter but because I have honed my skills with some of the best wrestlers in the world. The Centre Of Attention. Iron sharpening iron. I'm big, strong, just like you but faster, and more skilled than you. Better in every meaningful way. How the fuck are you going to stand a chance against me in the Fight Pit?

Mason asked a poignant question through the video footage of him wrestling and training along with the construction of the Fight Pit in question that would contain both men. And every word of it was true. The Australian colossus wasn’t just another powerhouse he could genuinely wrestle. All of that time training with the technical savant Xander Croft and the controlled chaos of Matt Goddard gave him some ideas on how to raise his submission game and manage his stamina between pounding opponents into paste. 

Mason Hurst: But now let's talk about who you are because you’re easy to figure out. Yeah you got a cool name, some cool moves, some cool sayings you can put on T-Shirts and that “One count” thing you do is bloody cute too. But you got that one count while all I need is one punch to bring you to your knees and just one of your limbs in my grip to make you submit. When we get in that fight pit, in front of my countrymen here in Australia, you’re in for the worst night of your life! So shine that title up real nice One. Because at Monday Night Ward you’ll be dealing with a man on a mission to take it…

Then Mason stood upright, the camera looking upward on his hulking visage.

Mason Hurst: And when you lose you can limp back to wherever you fucking came from!

Then the Centre Of Attention eyeball faded in to formally end the promo.