Win

Three seconds. It takes three seconds to take away from a man that he has worked half his life trying to uphold. Most people look at this as a joke. Most people look at it as just a name. Jack Hendrix looked at it as part of his life. Now that part is gone and he must move on. Its part of the game and he has to live with his own failures. Right now he has more pressing things to look at. Like where his live is going. What can he do to get focused back on his career. His first priority is to beat Chris Reinhardt. But there is one thing that he has decided to to that could change his life even more.

When Hendrix started his chain of night clubs called "The eXperience", to him it was just a business venture. He started one club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...his home town..and from there he opened them up throughout the world. But lately his interest in his business has been dwindling. He has not really been taking care of them and the have been losing him money. His major focus has been trying to get his wrestling career back in order. To bring himself to the greatness he once knew.

That brings us to the present.....

We find the former "Headliner" standing in his office in Philadelphia. He is just staring at a trophy case that holds all of the various titles he has won over the past three years. His manager, Bryan Giles, is sitting in a chair reading through some paperwork. Hendrix speaks....

"The wWw European Championship....out of all the titles I ever held this is most dear to me." Hendrix says with a slight smile on his face.

"You mean to tell me out of all the world titles you have held that a insignificant title like a European Title has more value to you than any other? I find that hard to believe." Giles says as he looks up from his paperwork.

Hendrix takes it out of the case and then walks over to his desk. He takes a seat and sets the belt in front of him. He stares at it for a second with a look of a child that just got a new toy.

"Bryan...you weren't around back then. You see...I won this belt in only my third match. I can even remember who I beat. His name was Warlock. He challenged me to a match and I told him the only way I would fight him is if he put up his belt. He agreed and the rest was history. I held this belt for almost six months until finally losing it to Ravage in an Alcatraz match. I gave so much blood for this. This was a time when I had the attitude that I couldnt be beat."

"Whats changed? You still have that attitude." Giles says as he lights up a cigar.

"I've changed Bryan. Back then I was hungry. I didn't care who I fought...I just wanted to fight. Now...it seems I have been getting soft. That my mind is going in fifty different directions. That I lost the hunger that once propelled me to great success. I need a change."

Hendrix lights up a cigarette. He pours himself a straight shot of Bacardi and drinks it down.

"What do you mean change Jack? It seems your life is great. Your career is doing well. You own all these nightclubs. You will never have to worry about money. You have a different woman every night. What is there to change? I would die to have your life."

"All these things. But there is only one thing that stands out among all those things you said. You claim my career is doing good? Where do you see that? I have nothing to show for anything. I came into the IoA to see if I still have it. And now I am being shown that I have lost something. That I have maybe gotten to big for what I truly am. That maybe I deserved what I got last week. I am no Headliner. I am hardly a midcarder."

"Then what do you propose to do? You are the only person that can help you. I cant be coming to your matches and helping your ass out. Maybe if you took some time off....."

"No. I have already made my decision. I am selling the "eXperience"." He interupts Giles.

Giles jaw drops to the floor. He wipes his eyes from disbelief.

"You mean you are changing the name of your finisher? Someone wants to buy the rights to the name?"

"No...you know perfectly well what I mean. I am selling this chain of disasters that you call a nightclub. I am fed up with it. It is nothing but a hassle...a distraction. A distraction that I can do without. I want to concentrate on my career. I cant concentrate when I have to worry about this place going under every month. So I am selling to Adam Ravage and letting him deal with it."

"Thats fine for you...but what about your employees? What are they to do now? Have you thought about that? What about me?" Bryan says as he picks up the bottle of Jack Daniels in front of him and takes a long drink.

"The employees will still have their jobs. I just wont be their boss anymore. And as for you....you will still be my business manager. I just wont have as much paper work for you."

"Well do whatever you want. I just hope you know what you are doing." Giles says as he storms out of the office.

Hendrix just walks back to his window and looks out at the skyline of Philadelphia. He begins to speak out loud....

"I have heard of Chris Reinhardt as a dominant force in the IoA. A dangerous man that is almost impossible to defeat. I consider this my greatest test to date in the IoA. If I beat him it should get me back to where I belong. And with the weight of the world lifted off of me...it seems all that is ahead of me is success. But from what I hear from Reinhardt....I am just another step on his way to the top. Just an obstacle on his way to the world title. Well...I am pleased that he feels that I am not worthy of him. I hope he comes into this match with that attitude. Because it will be fun seeing the look on his face when he is counting the lights. It will be fun to see his expression when they are holding my hand up in victory as he is lying on the ground wondering how this no name beat the great "River Rat". I revel at these moments. I live for the challenge. And for his sake...I hope he lives for it too. Because if he thinks that I am an easy notch on his belt...it could prove to be a very fatal mistake."

Hendrix walks back to his desk. He takes a seat and puts his feet up on the desk and leans back.

"I looked in the mirror the other day and saw something that I never thought I would see again. I looked into the eyes of the man in front of me and saw the look of defeat. I told myself that it was the last time I ever wanted to see it. And Reinhardt....I have no plans on seeing it when I wake up on Sunday. All I plan on seeing is a man that has gotten back his hunger. I want to see my swelled up knuckles from beating your body and soul. I will see that man. Even if it takes every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears I have.

And as far as the Unholy Alliance goes. I dont know if you still have them behind you or not. But if they plan on making an appearance during this match.....well...all I have to say is that I hope they like living their lives with a permanent limp."

Just then there is a knock at the door. A man comes in and shakes Hendrix's hand.

"Its about time you made it Ravage...I have a plane to catch." Hendrix says as the two men take a seat.

"I see you finally gave up trying to compete with me, mate."

They just exchange laughs as the scene fades out.