The Tormentor versus The Asset
Xander Croft returning home to England was literally just what he needed to get his mind right. Sure he called his Centre Of Attention teammates; Mason Hurst, Olympia Waybright, and Desiree Forte to keep in touch with them but he needed to reconnect with his people before getting back to an AWS ring. Losing that trios match hurt his bravado so bad he needed to return to his people
Xander’s dad Andrew and one of his old friends had a wrestling gym called “The Fortress”. It was where Xander cut his teeth in the business and had his first wrestling training sessions as it was a free space for wrestlers to train in. Xander sweated in it, bled in it, but most importantly learned in it. And there was no nepotism here either. Xander earned every bit of ring time he had by working as a young boy. Doing maintenance and ring and stage crew work early on just to get the privilege to learn from the ground up. And damn it paid off as Xander became an impressive wrestler with respect for the business.
In other words Xander’s independent wrestling clout and Asylum Wrestling Society success can be credited here.
He would mingle and catch up with the wrestlers who trained there, get some drinks with them at the local pub later, and of course test his paces in the ring with some sparring sessions.
“Blimey, Xander still got it.”
“Andrew’s boy is as good as I remember.”
“Nice to know America hasn’t made you soft lad!”
Was among the praise Xander got for getting back into the Fortress ring. And after meeting with his dad, mom, and pure civilian younger sister Xander decided to stay in the UK for a while. Only contemplating returning for the AWS Sunday Night Assault show where he was getting ready to face Timothy “The Asset” Sterling in Las Vegas.
This was going to be one hell of a flight AND fight! But he had a chance to use his skills and show this hotshot newcomer what it was like to deal with the Tormentor in the ring and on the mic!
So the scene was set up uniquely. In The Fortress gym. Camera angles took sight of the posters of wrestlers that trained there, weight equipment, and of course the ring itself which Xander was standing in with his ring gear on just for symbolism sake. He had a plan for all of this in fact as he got ready to speak.
Xander Croft: Attention. It’s been a while since you’ve seen me, even longer since you’ve seen me outside of the Centre Of Attention clubhouse. But that’s because I needed to return to my true home. London, England. The city that made me and specifically the place that molded me as a wrestler. Aptly named The Fortress. Those weight machines, the rings, I had my first training sessions and matches here. Busting my arse to show that I belonged. Making my dad proud, earning my keep and it paid off. I became a wrestling icon before I even signed an AWS contract and once I did I elevated the Asylum Wrestling Society.and showed that you don’t need to be some hardcore freak to be violent, brutal and worth fearing. And my opponent for Sunday for Sunday Night Assault, Timothy “The Asset” Sterling better understand that but given his upbringing I doubt he will..
Xander was happy to let it be known that he was UK born and bred and had his skills developed here. Building the bedrock for his famed wrestling career and setting it apart from his opponent for Sunday Night Assault. Complete with the first of many insults to come with his words and footage supporting his background.
Xander Croft: Timothy wrestlers like you piss me off at my core because when I first started wrestling in America I heard about wrestlers like you. Men who have raw talent and potential to be absolutely GREAT but they’re so obsessed with how much money they can make that their skill in the ring stagnates. They chase endorsement deals, sponsorships, what wrestling company can offer them the fattest contract instead of the toughest competition to build their legacy through money and out of ring shite over in-ring skills and impact. I can’t help but brag but I am the reason why technical, submission, grappling has a place in the Asylum Wrestling Society. Where you don’t need to be the strongest, or have the best skill with a weapon to succeed but if you wrestle to the utmost you can survive or even thrive in the Asylum. But you mate? I can tell you’re here to make the Asylum soft as I know you believe you’re entitled to success here. As a professional wrestler who got into this business for the sport, rooted in my father’s success in the same field, not for the money, this pisses me off but as an AWS Lunatic this makes me want to break you at Assault
Xander’s words were cold and threatening with bass in his tone. Timothy was the polar opposite of Xander on seemingly every level. Xander earned his reputation through grit and championship success. Becoming a feared and respected wrestler. Being the biggest vocal presence of a stable and winning championships in the AWS and abroad. The fans knew of Xander through his reputation as a submission savant who could make any wrestler tap out and making the AWS more prominent through his skills. Not his money. Yeah his contract for AWS was sizable but the English-born wrestler earned that through in-ring ability here. As far as Xander was concerned he was a true asset for the company!
Xander Croft: So Timothy. You call yourself “The Asset?” Well I’ll test your value on Sunday Night Assault. I’m in the United Kingdom right now, it’ll be a hell of a flight to Las Vegas for the show. But I will be thinking of you the entire time bruv and I’m going to work your arms, legs, spine, neck. And stretch you like taffy in the ring when we compete and see if you’re worth every dollar while I remind everyone that I am the tormentor of not just the Centre Of Attention but all of the Asylum Wrestling Society!
And with that statement the red, black, and white eyeball logo appeared on screen to signal the proper end of Xander Croft’s promo.