Wake Up. // Chapter VII

“Wakey Wakey, eggs and bakey…”

The thick Kiwi accent coming from the behemoth of a man echoed into the empty room as Carson Campbell opened the door. A moment later and the light was being flicked on, ripping Issak from whatever dream he was in the middle of.

“Wha-what is this all about, Carson?”

Otto’s eyes jolted open to see Carson standing there with a huge smile on his face. Ever since Issak had discussed selling this place, Carson had agreed to help. In doing so, it meant that he was now staying with Issak in the castle in Nowhere, Scotland. Being it was just the two of them, they were spending a lot of time together. In fact, they had only spent this amount of time together when they had first met in South Africa and competed with each other each week. Although Issak wasn’t a huge fan of giving up his personal space and privacy, it also gave Carson something to do. Since his injury, Campbell hadn’t been doing much of anything except hating life. This gave him something to focus on and bide his time.

“Well, for starters, it’s about 1 in the afternoon. I got you from the airport at about 7, and you were passed out by 8. You’re jetlagged as hell, mate.”

Issak looked over to his bedside table, where his alarm clock stood. Of course his alarm wasn’t set, but it did display the time, which told him Carson wasn’t lying. Issak had just come back from another trip to America, and once again found it difficult adjusting. This was just one reason as to why he had settled on selling this place. It’s just not practical with his wrestling career anymore.

“And the second thing is that I’m going to need some help, so you need to get up.”

Issak sat up in his bed, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes and trying to not be so groggy. Carson walked in, opening up his blinds and pulling back is curtains to let the air in. Campbell next went to Issak’s closet, pulling out a random t-shirt and pair of jeans. He was tossing them on the bed before Issak even knew what was happening. His eyes were still adjusting to the change in light.

“What is it you need help with, Carson? I thought the realtor was going to be by after the weekend.”

He stood up from bed, slipping on the jeans that Carson had picked out over his white Calvins. The shirt, he poked his head through and rung around his neck as he pulled his pants up further.

“Right, and I’m trying to make sure this place looks halfway decent by the time the realtor gets here. I’m going through random ass items in random ass rooms…how am I supposed to know what to keep?”

Otto pushed his arms through, quickly sliding into the t-shirt. He didn’t look at himself at the mirror, because quite frankly he didn’t care what he looked like considering Carson had just woken him up. He did, in fact, have terrible bedhead at the moment.

“Well, more than likely everything can go, Carson. I don’t plan on getting a place anywhere near this big, so any furniture or anything like that will probably be given away. I’m obviously not keeping any photos with Kaia or anything like that.”

“Okay well I found a briefcase that has some kind of career stuff in it?”

Issak searched his brain for the item that Carson could be speaking of, but he couldn’t find it within his memory. He arched his eyebrow, giving Campbell a confused look.

“What kind of career stuff?”

Carson simply pointed out of the room, and walked out a moment later, beckoning for Issak to follow him. The house always had too many rooms for Issak’s liking, it was always too vast and empty and they lived so far that nobody ever wanted to come use the rooms anyway. He really had no clue what sort of items had made their way into the various rooms over the years.

They walked into the room to find the open briefcase that Carson was speaking about. Inside the briefcase were several different DVDs, one of which had already been popped out of its case. Luckily, there happened to be a DVD player right here in the room so at the time, Carson had just pushed the disc into the player. However, it had pushed the PAUSE button in hopes that Issak would follow him back into the room. Now that he had, he pushed PLAY on the DVD player.

There on the screen, was a rather young looking Issak Otto. In fact, it was Issak Otto when he had first broke into the business. The company was the short-lived, Ready Set Wrestle, and Issak was having the time of his young life. Miles Larsen had discovered him at an amateur wrestling meet, and the second he turned 18, Miles whisked him away to another country. Being so young, having a talent agency and manager such as Miles Larsen, really helped him his career. At a time where he knew nothing of the business, there was someone there to take him under his wing.

On screen, Issak made his way out with his manager, Miles Larsen, and former tag partner and fellow Larsen international Co. teammate, ZERO. His first friend. He and Carson watched as Young Issak held a briefcase high into the air, and it suddenly came back to him.

The briefcase, the same one that was open in front of them now, was the first prize he ever won in wrestling. It worked the same way the MITB does, but he was never able to cash it in because the company went bankrupt before he could. So much had happened since that time, he hadn’t even remembered when Carson asked. Issak's face lit up as he crouched lower to the screen.

“Oh wow. This is ages ago. This is the first promotion I worked for.”

The trio on screen got into the ring, where a montage played of the ladder match Issak had gone through to win the briefcase. As they watched, Issak and Carson laughed and reminisced on early times in their careers. This video was prior to even meeting Carson, so not even he had seen it. In fact, now that he remembered it, was Aaron Asphyxia there for a hot second? Huh. We’ll have to explore that another time.

On screen, the camera had cut away from the three and a match had begun between two others. Issak reached down and pushed the PAUSE button again, stopping the video.

“You were destined for big things. Even back then, Issak.”

The words sort of hit Issak off guard, because he distinctively remembered Honey saying he same thing to him mere weeks ago. Throughout his life he had been plagued by his doubts. Maybe he was good enough, maybe he should’ve stayed in Sweden, maybe Kaia was the only person that would love him. Dark thoughts, anxieties that always found a way into his head wherever he was. On the video, he could see it written across his face. That uncertainty. He felt it even now, wondering if he’d ever get to the Excellence Championship.

But surely, Honey and Carson couldn’t be wrong. Surely there wouldn’t be multiple individuals in his life that would simply lie to him out of nowhere. So if they weren’t wrong, then it’s possible that HE is. It’s possible, that there was never anything to doubt to begin with. The only person that needs convincing, always seems to be Issak himself. Had it always been there? Had he always missed it?

“Come on, let's go into town. You deserve a break. How about breakfast?”

Otto caught himself, placing a hand to his chin and rethinking on the time of day.

“Err…lunch? Whichever. I’m starved, and since you didn’t bring any eggs or bakey like you said…”

“Issak, we’ve been over this. It’s just an expression, there will never be any eggs or bakey…”

The duo walked out of the room, closing the door behind them as their voices trail down the hallway.

“Can you believe it, PWE? We’re already on Victory XVI…Sweet Sixteen. Oh how far we’ve come!

When I first signed with Professional Wrestling Today, people were skeptical, and rightfully so. I hadn’t been seen in years, and nobody knew what to expect from me. Would I be able to compete at the same level at which I left at? I knew it was a skepticism that I would be able to escape, but I knew it would take some time. Some of you just needed a little bit of a WAKE UP call. As I sit here now, my name in the main event of Victory Sixteen, I can say that the time has come. Currently, I’m carrying PWE atop my shoulders. A position I do not take lightly, but I do it with a smile on my face!

Of course, I’m certainly not doing it alone. While many have seemed to disappear into the abyss recently, there are many that fight for control, and fight to see PWE succeed.

Someone like Lachlan Kane, whom I had the pleasure of going up against on our last Victory. Lachlan gave me a run for my money, and I’m pretty sure he showed Angel that he’s coming for that championship belt of hers. Kane fought his heart out, and I’m more than glad we were able to get a one-on-one match together. Honestly, I will always consider myself to be a constant learner, I’m always being taught new things, and Lachlan is someone I could learn a lot more.

There’s also Chelsea Skye, who has really stepped into her own since Rebirth, if I do say so myself. Actually, you can see her entire PWE career if you look in the archives and it’s amazing what she’s been through. She’s been chasing that Impulse Championship ever since its inception, and I admire her for that. At Rebirth she got so very close, and I’ve got to applaud her for that. She may not have won the match, but she wasn’t pinned in the end, which means she’s one step closer to being champion. I believe you can accomplish that, Chelsea. I believe she’s a star in the making, even if her mouth does get her into trouble every now and then.

But you see, I can forgive her for those momentary lapses in judgement, because she has this Never Say Die attitude that not even I can match. Chelsea is, without a doubt, another competitor that I admire. This is Chelsea’s second main event in a row, actually! That’s an amazing feat in of itself. You earned your slow on the last Victory, Chelsea, and you earned that impressive win against the champion.

But I earned this spot too.

Ever since Victory Eleven, when I lost my chance to become PWE Excellence Champion, I’ve been pushing back inch by inch. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luxury of starting this season in the minds of the PWE fans like Lachlan or Chelsea did. Instead, I had to start from the bottom. During that return show, I lost the most important match of the night, and since then, I haven’t lost again. I’ve stepped into that ring and put my heart and soul on the line every time. Michelle Riggs, Jason Long, Kanna Verger, Joe Montouri, Lachlan Kane. You’ve been fighting towards the Impulse Championship, and I’ve been fighting towards a championship of my own – the Excellence Championship. I may have won the contendership, but I’ve yet to get my shot. That means I can’t stop until I get Chaney across the ring from me, with the title on the line!

This will be the second after Rebirth, which means it’ll be our second show in a row that our champion isn’t booked. Who knows if he’s going to show up? Now, I don’t run his life and I don’t pretend to know it. What I do know is that means someone has got to step up. Somebody has to be the locker room leader, and vie for the success of the company. Allen and Damian have left a bit of a hole here, and I believe it’s my duty to step up. Not just as a person that can do the job, but as the Excellence Number One Contender. Being a Champion is more than just being a Winner, it’s also about being a leader and I’m here to prove that to you. I may not have the belt just yet, but I sure as hell act like more of a champion than some do!

Until the time comes when I’m looking across at Allen, I’ve got to continue doing what I’ve been doing. I’ve got to continue putting on the best matches in PWE, with whoever management put in front of me. I’ve got to continue proving WHY I’m the number one contender, and WHY I deserve to be champion. As someone who has done everything in her power to get to that Impulse Championship, I know you understand where I’m coming from, Chelsea. I know you get me. So, I know there’s not going to be any hard feelings when I give you the Class Axe and hook your leg for the three count!

You're a damn good aerialist, I'll always give you that, but this isn't a ladder match. This isn't anything that needs me to be versed in heights, and if we go straight up technical, I believe I can beat you there. You may be fast, but all it takes is one time for me to catch you, and you're going to have to do everything in your power to get away. I know that my goal is a tall order, and I'm sorry it's got to stop your momentum, but if one of us has to continue on the it's going to be me. I WILL be Excellence Champion!

December may feel far off, but Magnificence II is just around the corner!"