Post by T-Robosaurus Rex on Feb 6, 2016 21:00:15 GMT -5
‘The Blessed One’ stands in front of a mirror backstage, prior to the February 1st edition of Synergy, looking at himself in his brand new UGWC Referee Uniform when Donovan walks into the room.
Donovan: You’re taking this Referee spot a little too seriously if you ask me.
Travis: If I want people to take me seriously in the role, I have to look the part.
Donovan: You look like a damn fool.
Travis: I look like a Referee.
Donovan: That’s what I said.
Travis: You said I look like a fool.
Donovan: I’m glad we’re on the same page.
Travis: Was there any other reason for you stopping in, other than to give ‘The Redefinition of Refereeing’ a fashion critique?
Donovan: I’m here for moral support.
Travis: Of course, you are well known for your emotional empathy.
Donovan: Indeed, I often think I may have missed my calling as a therapist, I could have made the lives of countless people better.
Travis: I have no doubt, what support did you think I needed? I am only a referee tonight after all.
Donovan: Well it is a match between Dirge and Vain, you know the guys that brutally kicked you out of the Puppet Masters in 2014…
Travis: Pretty sure you had a hand in those events too.
Donovan waves away Travis’ comment.
Donovan: Yes, yes, but we moved past that. It’s not like Dirge or Vain have made amends for their atrocious betrayal, and now that all of a sudden, out of the blue, you will be standing between them, I’m sure some painful memories have surfaced and you’re likely questioning many things.
Travis turns from the mirror for the first time and looks at Donovan quizzically.
Travis: You do realise I’ve been stood between them since pretty much the start of the year? Or did you miss the part last week where I was doing everything in my power to stop ‘The Greater Evil’ attacking his partner.
It is now Donovan’s turn to look confused.
Donovan: What are you talking about? We faced Vain and the returning Tyvola last week.
Travis: No, that was Dirge.
Donovan: The hobo that smelled of cat piss, dog food and syphilis? I think you’ll find all those attributes apply to Tyvola.
Travis closes his eyes and shakes his head briefly.
Travis: OK, so what’s this about?
Donovan: Do you ever wonder what it would have been like if things had played out differently? If you had been Cooperative Champions with Dirge, if you hadn’t been the one dismissed so humiliatingly from ‘The Puppet Masters’? Do you ever wonder what the past couple of years would have been like?
Travis shakes his head.
Travis: No, I’ve given up on living in the past, what happened happened.
Donovan: Really? Even though since then all you have managed to achieve was a short lived Cooperative Championship reign and a Battleground win that ultimately lead to failure? I find it hard to believe you don’t contemplate what could have been, what life might have been like these past couple of years had you actually been a success.
Travis stares, slack jawed, at Donovan for a moment.
Donovan: See? I’m sure you’re feeling better now, I’ve got a match in a moment, but if you need another pep talk…
Travis: Yes, yes, ‘UGWC’s Biggest Underachiever’ knows exactly where to find you should that be the case.
Donovan gives Travis a thumbs up and then leaves the room as ‘The Blessed One’ stares at the closing door in disbelief.
The match hasn’t even officially started and as soon as Travis turns his back on ‘The Greater Evil’ he’s only gone and grabbed himself a steel chair to aid him in his grand pursuit of crippling Alan Wallace. This was exactly what Travis had feared would happen when Cypress gave in to Dirge’s petulant behaviour and scheduled this match so close to Infinity. This had potential to be a nightmare scenario, ‘The Blessed One’ had been so worried about Wallace using a vicious attack by Dirge to give him an excuse if he lost, he’d overlooked the fact that ‘The Mirror’s Best Friend’ was the sort of person who might even use it as an excuse to get out of defending the title entirely. There was no doubt in Travis’ mind that Vain probably had an army of lawyers on retention, and he knew he had to stamp his authority on the match to ensure they had no opening to work their slimy magic.
He storms over to Dirge and grabs the chair from him before tossing it aside. He then stands nose to nose with ‘The Greater Evil’.
Travis: Why did you have to go and do that? I told you what I’d do if you tried to injure Alan before Infinity, I explained in great detail the retribution I would bring down upon you if you got in my way. Clearly all those hours spent under bridges feuding with billy goats have done more lasting damage to your brain than anyone could have reasonably expected. I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt on this occasion due to the fact you’ve probably been huffing paint backstage or something, but if you try…
Travis stops because the only reaction he has got from Dirge is a smile.
Travis: Why are you smili..
‘The Blessed One’ notices Dirge’s eyes momentarily look over his shoulder, but before he can react a cold, blunt pain erupts in the back of his head and everything goes dark.
'The Headliner' awakens in a private hospital room with Donovan Hastings looking over him impatiently.
Donovan: It's about time you woke up, have you any idea how much I hate hospitals?
Travis blinks his eyes a few times and looks around.
Travis: What happened?
Donovan: Alan got a shot in with a chair...
Travis: I should have seen that coming, why did I turn my back on him? He'll take any opportunity to swing the advantage in his favour.
Donovan: Honestly I was quite impressed with his reactions, he couldn't have known what was coming. Very impressive adapting to the situation.
Travis looks at Donovan with a confused expression.
Travis: Couldn't have known? I've been pretty damn clear telling anyone who would listen exactly what I would do if this happened.
Donovan looks astounded by this.
Donovan: You told people? About this? What if Alan found out?
Travis: What are you talking about? Of course he knew! That was part of the point, to make him know I was serious.
Donovan: Well no wonder the plan didn't come together smoothly then. Jesus, Travis! You did this to yourself.
Travis: What plan? The only plan I had was to walk out of Infinity with the World Heavyweight Championship.
Donovan looks at his friend with a worried expression.
Donovan: Why would you want to take my title away from me? And why target half a year away for the time to do it?
Travis once again looks confused as he strokes the back of his head.
Travis: What do you mean your title...
Before Travis can finish his sentence the door to his room swings open, and Travis instantly stiffens up at the sound of the voice comes through.
"How is he doing?"
Travis looks up and narrows his eyes, his arms go stiff and he clenches his teeth.
Travis: What the hell is he doing here? And when did he have a shave?
Stood in front of the bed of 'The Blessed One' is Dirge, but he is well groomed and wearing a well fitted suit.
Donovan: Well thanks to you giving Alan a heads up he split Dirge's skull before making his escape.
Travis: Why is he in my room? Why haven't you driven him out of here? This is all his fault.
Donovan and Dirge raise their eyebrows at one another.
Donovan: Y'know, I think you need some more rest, we'll be back later.
Travis doesn't take his eyes off of Dirge as the two men leave the room.
Once outside the room, as the door closes, Donovan turns to Dirge.
Donovan: I know he's suffering from concussion, but you may have been right initially, maybe I shouldn't have fought you on it. Maybe Alan wasn't the person that we needed to exile from 'The Puppet Masters'.
"What's done, is done" say's Dirge, as he lets out a shrug. "We can't alter our decision now, Alan is the enemy and we'll just have to keep an eye on 'The Blessed One' over the coming weeks to ensure he doesn't jeopardise our cause further."
'The Headliner' paces back and forth backstage at the SAP Center in San Jose in front of Dirge and Donovan. His face is covered in blood, and he is gesticulating wildly.
Travis: This has been a serious run of unprecedentedly unforeseeable events that have left us where we are right now. Can anyone say they saw the whole 'Syndicunts' formation coming, and how were you two expected to know that the Greenhorn from the UK could actually wrestle and wasn't just eye candy for the middle aged housewives? You certainly can't be blamed for losing the Cooperative Championships tonight.
Neither Dirge or Donovan say a word.
Travis: And how was 'The Headliner' meant to know that the self obsessed diva, Monroe, was capable of beating Somers and Morgan to win the World Heavyweight Championship, when I vetoed him joining our illustrious ranks?
Still no response from the other Puppet Masters
Travis: And as for my record setting early elimination from the Battleground Match that was clearly the biggest freak incident the industry has ever witnessed!
This statement causes Dirge and Donovan both to look at each other and roll their eyes. Then a huge cheer rings out and all three men make their way over to a TV monitor, where you can see the Battleground Cell being raised and celebrations are well under way.
Vinegar: He's done it! This must be one of the greatest underdog stories I've ever been lucky enough to witness! He dared to dream, he dared to go big and from the moment he took out former 3 time GIW Global Champion Travis Roberts in record time, nothing was going to stop him. Red Fusion has won the 2014 Battleground Match and will main event Horizons! Is this his time? Will he finally gain the respect he feels he deserves. Tonight anything seems possible!
All three look at the scenes that unfold, Red Fusion celebrating as the fans go wild, with slack jaws. After a few moment Travis speaks again.
Travis: We'll be back, we've suffered a few setbacks over the last few months, but 'The Puppet Masters' is the greatest collection of athletes on the planet today, they can't keep us down!'
Donovan puts his hand carefully on Travis shoulder and looks deep into his eyes.
Donovan: It's over, Travis.
Travis' forehead scrunches up as he processed Donovan's words, and he looks to Dirge, who just scowls.
"This endeavour was the worst decision of my life" he says, as he turns and starts to walk away, but before he completely turns his back he locks eyes with Travis, "Don't contact me. Ever."
Donovan gives Travis another pat on the shoulder before walking away, leaving 'The Blessed One' alone, staring at the images of the victorious Red Fusion.
The Staples Center erupts in cheers as pyrotechnics explode around the Horizons sign.
Vinegar: Welcome to Horizons, UGWC's annual end of year celebration, and what a year 2015 has been! The past 12 months have been dominated by one man and his actions, 'Solid Gold' Alan Wallace. At the start of the year he signalled his intentions with a dominant victory in the Global Challenge, he then went on to capture The World Heavyweight Championship at the Melee. Since then he has been unstoppable and walks into Horizons with a record breaking run with the Championship.
Lieberjosch: And if that wasn't impressive enough, he defended both The Cooperative and World Heavyweight Championships at WrestleStock, defeated the largest group of survivors to ever make the final at Outlast, and even split away from the Syndicate and has beaten all but one of those former teammates.
Vinegar: And tonight he comes face to face with the final member of that once dominant group, in what is without doubt the biggest main event in UGWC History! And who knows what mental state his opponent, Eden Morgan, will be in tonight? Only last week it was revealed that Wallace was the mastermind behind the entire 'Cemetery Man' ordeal that has driven her to the edge of sanity.
Lieberjosch: He's promised to end her career tonight, something he's proven time and time again in the past, from Jezebel Saint, to more recent retiring of long time rival 'The Mainstreamer'.
Vinegar: of course that's not all we have tonight, Donovan Hastings will defend his Cross-Hemisphere Championship against an impressive field of talent including Phrixus Deimos, Cypress Morgan and former 3 time Champion Killian King.
Covert Jay: I think it would be remiss to mention the other big development this year.
Vinegar: Of course, everyone in UGWC was excited and supportive of the man we knew as 'The Greater Evil', Dirge's recent announcement that he will be running as an Independent in the upcoming Presidential Election. And he will be here in person tonight to present the winner of the main event with the World Heavyweight Championship.
Covert Jay: But before we get to the real stuff, don't forget we have to show the highlights from the match that happened during the pre-show early tonight.
Vinegar: How could I forget, over the past few weeks disagreements about the shared fridge in the UGWC canteen boiled over, and earlier tonight PKA squared off against Travis Roberts in what is being dubbed in some quarters 'The Battle of the Stolen Turkey Sub'
Lieberjosch: Is Roberts' still doing that tired second rate 'Vain' impression?
Vinegar: Does he know anything else?
Donovan: You’re taking this Referee spot a little too seriously if you ask me.
Travis: If I want people to take me seriously in the role, I have to look the part.
Donovan: You look like a damn fool.
Travis: I look like a Referee.
Donovan: That’s what I said.
Travis: You said I look like a fool.
Donovan: I’m glad we’re on the same page.
Travis: Was there any other reason for you stopping in, other than to give ‘The Redefinition of Refereeing’ a fashion critique?
Donovan: I’m here for moral support.
Travis: Of course, you are well known for your emotional empathy.
Donovan: Indeed, I often think I may have missed my calling as a therapist, I could have made the lives of countless people better.
Travis: I have no doubt, what support did you think I needed? I am only a referee tonight after all.
Donovan: Well it is a match between Dirge and Vain, you know the guys that brutally kicked you out of the Puppet Masters in 2014…
Travis: Pretty sure you had a hand in those events too.
Donovan waves away Travis’ comment.
Donovan: Yes, yes, but we moved past that. It’s not like Dirge or Vain have made amends for their atrocious betrayal, and now that all of a sudden, out of the blue, you will be standing between them, I’m sure some painful memories have surfaced and you’re likely questioning many things.
Travis turns from the mirror for the first time and looks at Donovan quizzically.
Travis: You do realise I’ve been stood between them since pretty much the start of the year? Or did you miss the part last week where I was doing everything in my power to stop ‘The Greater Evil’ attacking his partner.
It is now Donovan’s turn to look confused.
Donovan: What are you talking about? We faced Vain and the returning Tyvola last week.
Travis: No, that was Dirge.
Donovan: The hobo that smelled of cat piss, dog food and syphilis? I think you’ll find all those attributes apply to Tyvola.
Travis closes his eyes and shakes his head briefly.
Travis: OK, so what’s this about?
Donovan: Do you ever wonder what it would have been like if things had played out differently? If you had been Cooperative Champions with Dirge, if you hadn’t been the one dismissed so humiliatingly from ‘The Puppet Masters’? Do you ever wonder what the past couple of years would have been like?
Travis shakes his head.
Travis: No, I’ve given up on living in the past, what happened happened.
Donovan: Really? Even though since then all you have managed to achieve was a short lived Cooperative Championship reign and a Battleground win that ultimately lead to failure? I find it hard to believe you don’t contemplate what could have been, what life might have been like these past couple of years had you actually been a success.
Travis stares, slack jawed, at Donovan for a moment.
Donovan: See? I’m sure you’re feeling better now, I’ve got a match in a moment, but if you need another pep talk…
Travis: Yes, yes, ‘UGWC’s Biggest Underachiever’ knows exactly where to find you should that be the case.
Donovan gives Travis a thumbs up and then leaves the room as ‘The Blessed One’ stares at the closing door in disbelief.
~~~
The match hasn’t even officially started and as soon as Travis turns his back on ‘The Greater Evil’ he’s only gone and grabbed himself a steel chair to aid him in his grand pursuit of crippling Alan Wallace. This was exactly what Travis had feared would happen when Cypress gave in to Dirge’s petulant behaviour and scheduled this match so close to Infinity. This had potential to be a nightmare scenario, ‘The Blessed One’ had been so worried about Wallace using a vicious attack by Dirge to give him an excuse if he lost, he’d overlooked the fact that ‘The Mirror’s Best Friend’ was the sort of person who might even use it as an excuse to get out of defending the title entirely. There was no doubt in Travis’ mind that Vain probably had an army of lawyers on retention, and he knew he had to stamp his authority on the match to ensure they had no opening to work their slimy magic.
He storms over to Dirge and grabs the chair from him before tossing it aside. He then stands nose to nose with ‘The Greater Evil’.
Travis: Why did you have to go and do that? I told you what I’d do if you tried to injure Alan before Infinity, I explained in great detail the retribution I would bring down upon you if you got in my way. Clearly all those hours spent under bridges feuding with billy goats have done more lasting damage to your brain than anyone could have reasonably expected. I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt on this occasion due to the fact you’ve probably been huffing paint backstage or something, but if you try…
Travis stops because the only reaction he has got from Dirge is a smile.
Travis: Why are you smili..
‘The Blessed One’ notices Dirge’s eyes momentarily look over his shoulder, but before he can react a cold, blunt pain erupts in the back of his head and everything goes dark.
~~~
'The Headliner' awakens in a private hospital room with Donovan Hastings looking over him impatiently.
Donovan: It's about time you woke up, have you any idea how much I hate hospitals?
Travis blinks his eyes a few times and looks around.
Travis: What happened?
Donovan: Alan got a shot in with a chair...
Travis: I should have seen that coming, why did I turn my back on him? He'll take any opportunity to swing the advantage in his favour.
Donovan: Honestly I was quite impressed with his reactions, he couldn't have known what was coming. Very impressive adapting to the situation.
Travis looks at Donovan with a confused expression.
Travis: Couldn't have known? I've been pretty damn clear telling anyone who would listen exactly what I would do if this happened.
Donovan looks astounded by this.
Donovan: You told people? About this? What if Alan found out?
Travis: What are you talking about? Of course he knew! That was part of the point, to make him know I was serious.
Donovan: Well no wonder the plan didn't come together smoothly then. Jesus, Travis! You did this to yourself.
Travis: What plan? The only plan I had was to walk out of Infinity with the World Heavyweight Championship.
Donovan looks at his friend with a worried expression.
Donovan: Why would you want to take my title away from me? And why target half a year away for the time to do it?
Travis once again looks confused as he strokes the back of his head.
Travis: What do you mean your title...
Before Travis can finish his sentence the door to his room swings open, and Travis instantly stiffens up at the sound of the voice comes through.
"How is he doing?"
Travis looks up and narrows his eyes, his arms go stiff and he clenches his teeth.
Travis: What the hell is he doing here? And when did he have a shave?
Stood in front of the bed of 'The Blessed One' is Dirge, but he is well groomed and wearing a well fitted suit.
Donovan: Well thanks to you giving Alan a heads up he split Dirge's skull before making his escape.
Travis: Why is he in my room? Why haven't you driven him out of here? This is all his fault.
Donovan and Dirge raise their eyebrows at one another.
Donovan: Y'know, I think you need some more rest, we'll be back later.
Travis doesn't take his eyes off of Dirge as the two men leave the room.
Once outside the room, as the door closes, Donovan turns to Dirge.
Donovan: I know he's suffering from concussion, but you may have been right initially, maybe I shouldn't have fought you on it. Maybe Alan wasn't the person that we needed to exile from 'The Puppet Masters'.
"What's done, is done" say's Dirge, as he lets out a shrug. "We can't alter our decision now, Alan is the enemy and we'll just have to keep an eye on 'The Blessed One' over the coming weeks to ensure he doesn't jeopardise our cause further."
~~~
'The Headliner' paces back and forth backstage at the SAP Center in San Jose in front of Dirge and Donovan. His face is covered in blood, and he is gesticulating wildly.
Travis: This has been a serious run of unprecedentedly unforeseeable events that have left us where we are right now. Can anyone say they saw the whole 'Syndicunts' formation coming, and how were you two expected to know that the Greenhorn from the UK could actually wrestle and wasn't just eye candy for the middle aged housewives? You certainly can't be blamed for losing the Cooperative Championships tonight.
Neither Dirge or Donovan say a word.
Travis: And how was 'The Headliner' meant to know that the self obsessed diva, Monroe, was capable of beating Somers and Morgan to win the World Heavyweight Championship, when I vetoed him joining our illustrious ranks?
Still no response from the other Puppet Masters
Travis: And as for my record setting early elimination from the Battleground Match that was clearly the biggest freak incident the industry has ever witnessed!
This statement causes Dirge and Donovan both to look at each other and roll their eyes. Then a huge cheer rings out and all three men make their way over to a TV monitor, where you can see the Battleground Cell being raised and celebrations are well under way.
Vinegar: He's done it! This must be one of the greatest underdog stories I've ever been lucky enough to witness! He dared to dream, he dared to go big and from the moment he took out former 3 time GIW Global Champion Travis Roberts in record time, nothing was going to stop him. Red Fusion has won the 2014 Battleground Match and will main event Horizons! Is this his time? Will he finally gain the respect he feels he deserves. Tonight anything seems possible!
All three look at the scenes that unfold, Red Fusion celebrating as the fans go wild, with slack jaws. After a few moment Travis speaks again.
Travis: We'll be back, we've suffered a few setbacks over the last few months, but 'The Puppet Masters' is the greatest collection of athletes on the planet today, they can't keep us down!'
Donovan puts his hand carefully on Travis shoulder and looks deep into his eyes.
Donovan: It's over, Travis.
Travis' forehead scrunches up as he processed Donovan's words, and he looks to Dirge, who just scowls.
"This endeavour was the worst decision of my life" he says, as he turns and starts to walk away, but before he completely turns his back he locks eyes with Travis, "Don't contact me. Ever."
Donovan gives Travis another pat on the shoulder before walking away, leaving 'The Blessed One' alone, staring at the images of the victorious Red Fusion.
~~~
The Staples Center erupts in cheers as pyrotechnics explode around the Horizons sign.
Vinegar: Welcome to Horizons, UGWC's annual end of year celebration, and what a year 2015 has been! The past 12 months have been dominated by one man and his actions, 'Solid Gold' Alan Wallace. At the start of the year he signalled his intentions with a dominant victory in the Global Challenge, he then went on to capture The World Heavyweight Championship at the Melee. Since then he has been unstoppable and walks into Horizons with a record breaking run with the Championship.
Lieberjosch: And if that wasn't impressive enough, he defended both The Cooperative and World Heavyweight Championships at WrestleStock, defeated the largest group of survivors to ever make the final at Outlast, and even split away from the Syndicate and has beaten all but one of those former teammates.
Vinegar: And tonight he comes face to face with the final member of that once dominant group, in what is without doubt the biggest main event in UGWC History! And who knows what mental state his opponent, Eden Morgan, will be in tonight? Only last week it was revealed that Wallace was the mastermind behind the entire 'Cemetery Man' ordeal that has driven her to the edge of sanity.
Lieberjosch: He's promised to end her career tonight, something he's proven time and time again in the past, from Jezebel Saint, to more recent retiring of long time rival 'The Mainstreamer'.
Vinegar: of course that's not all we have tonight, Donovan Hastings will defend his Cross-Hemisphere Championship against an impressive field of talent including Phrixus Deimos, Cypress Morgan and former 3 time Champion Killian King.
Covert Jay: I think it would be remiss to mention the other big development this year.
Vinegar: Of course, everyone in UGWC was excited and supportive of the man we knew as 'The Greater Evil', Dirge's recent announcement that he will be running as an Independent in the upcoming Presidential Election. And he will be here in person tonight to present the winner of the main event with the World Heavyweight Championship.
Covert Jay: But before we get to the real stuff, don't forget we have to show the highlights from the match that happened during the pre-show early tonight.
Vinegar: How could I forget, over the past few weeks disagreements about the shared fridge in the UGWC canteen boiled over, and earlier tonight PKA squared off against Travis Roberts in what is being dubbed in some quarters 'The Battle of the Stolen Turkey Sub'
Lieberjosch: Is Roberts' still doing that tired second rate 'Vain' impression?
Vinegar: Does he know anything else?
~~~
June 2nd 2022
Breaking News: UGWC Release Former Horizons Headliner
Breaking News: UGWC Release Former Horizons Headliner
The Unified Global Wrestling Coalition quietly announced the release of former Global Impact Wrestling Global Heavyweight Champion Travis Roberts.
Travis Roberts' continued employment had been something of a mystery to fans for a number of years now. Following serious injuries, a fall from relevancy and weight gain issues, the man who comically referred to himself as 'The Cornerstone of the Sports Entertainment Business', hasn't been asset to the company for a long time. His last appearance at a UGWC PPV came in the 2019 Massive Melee, and he is rarely scene on any broadcasts anymore, unless as a part of a comic sketch supporting UGWC Hall of Famer Donovan Hastings.
Many had speculated UGWC was simply being sentimental in not terminating his contract sooner, feeling they owed something to a man who saw his best years over a decade ago, others joked that he had become so bland and uninteresting that even UGWC's current Human Resources Director, Gian Jones had completely forgotten he existed. Both assumptions have today been dismissed, as not only have UGWC released him, they have done so on his 45th birthday.
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When I was a young boy my first ever hero, the man who first captivated my attention, was a Professional Wrestler by the name of Travis Roberts. Even though this is a Professional Wrestling website, I will forgive any of my readers who do not know the name, as his brief time in the spotlight was over half a century ago. I was only eight or nine myself, but anyone who was familiar with wrestling at the start of the 21st Century will probably vaguely remember his astounding run on top of the short lived Global Impact Wrestling federation.
Travis Roberts was a brash, flamboyant talking, and above all, egotistical mega star in his own mind. He was vastly successful for a brief period, so successful it even lead to a briefer stint in Hollywood. The man known over the course of his career as 'The Headliner' and 'The Blessed One', accomplished a great deal of accolades, but when his career ended he was better known as 'Mr Underwhelming Comeback' and 'The Forgotten Legend of UGWC'. In his final years in the ring stories of his past accomplishments were looked at like the stuff of pure mythology.
After he was released from UGWC, on his 45th birthday, he continued to appear on the independent circuit for another 5 years before dropping off the radar. The few people that cared speculated that his drug habits had got the better of him, or that he had lost his mind and was living as a hermit in a hut next door to Eden Morgan, the former UGWC World Heavyweight Champion who had a breakdown and famously now lives in a house filled with cats, all named Ian, in Wisconsin.
The truth is far more depressing.
I tracked down the man fans mockingly referred to as 'The Breadliner', due to his position and purse winnings on the UGWC roster, to a hospital bed in Chicago, the home of the now defunct Unified Global Wrestling Coalition. The man laying in the bed before me was barely recognisable, he was no longer the obese figure that ended his career in UGWC, his bones now clearly visibly due to severe deterioration. He was a shadow of the man who, when I was nine, I watched do a Shooting Star Press off the top of a cell at his first ever Horizons.
He was keen and eager to speak to me, remarking that very few people remembered who he was anymore. Here was a man who once couldn't walk down the street without hordes of fans and press chasing him, now happy to share a very private, and sensitive part of his life, with a complete stranger, just because he was getting attention.
A glint came across his eye when discussing his successes in GIW, he revelled in telling me backstage stories about Calypso Desmona and Donovan Hastings' initial amusing dating mishaps, practical jokes they used to play on UGWC Hall of Famer, Jet Somers, and a road trip he once took with Boss Penguin, Jezebel Saint and 'The Monster' Dredd that almost got Sports Entertainers permanently banned from Disney World in Florida. Without going into too much detail there are a group of children who never saw Donald Duck and Pluto the Dog the same way again.
However when we spoke about his time in UGWC a mixture of bitterness, rage and regret sweep over him. He admits he probably should never have returned in 2013 as he tarnished his legacy with the decisions he made, but he was also forthcoming and honest when asked about some of the key players during his time there, his colleagues who went on to have Hall of Fame careers. He revealed he hasn't been in contact with Donovan Hastings since sending him a congratulatory card on his Hall of Fame entry in 2024 which he never received a reply from, that he did not vote for Dirge in his successful 2020 Presidential Bid and that he felt infinitely stupid for being so disparaging to Jet Somers, who proved his longevity by wrestling his last 5 star match in the industry at the age of 59 in Japan.
But he speaks at most length about Alan Wallace, and how he felt his own decisions failed to save UGWC from it's most dominant Superstar ever. Many people regard Alan Wallace as the only reason UGWC survived into the late 20's, his 12 World Championship reigns over the course of 15 years, one of which stretched for almost two years, are proof of his value to the company.
Travis Roberts views things differently. He believed Alan Wallace killed the company, he drove the other stars out, which eventually left the company unable to go on after his eventual retirement. He was directly responsible for the aforementioned Eden Morgan breakdown, his pull in the office lead to the hottest prospect the industry had seen in years, Killian King, becoming disillusioned and abandoning the business in favour of a hugely successful career in Hollywood, he ended Donovan Hastings career by shattering his spine, and he ruthlessly ensured no-one else could ever take the spotlight from him. Gifted performers such as Gabriel Baal, Dante Picante and Lorenzo Lawrence were denied the opportunity to showcase themselves at the highest level due to the overwhelming force of his reputation and his desire to protect it. Travis Roberts remains adamant to this day, that Alan Wallace's success, was UGWC's downfall.
And he blames himself, with the benefit of hindsight he sees that he was only fooling himself as he continued to portray himself as in the same league as Alan Wallace. The truth was he was never considered a worthy enough opponent to face him one on one. Had he only looked to change, had he only valued the friendship of the many people that offered him that rare gift, had he only opened himself up to trust others, he might have made a difference on the fate of UGWC.
He chuckles as he says this, aware of the cruel irony of this revelation coming to him in what are obviously the last days of his life. He'd always thought he was special, always thought he was destined for greatness, but now the stark truth that hits many of us at the end is apparent to him. Had he taken more risks, lived a better life, things may be different. Yet, there were still signs of the Travis of old lingering, and he can display that better than I, some of the last words he said to me were some of the most poignant.
I always thought the legacy of 'The Headliner' would live on in the history of our sport, that others would be a mere footnote. I was wrong, but that doesn't mean I'm not lucky, at least some people will remain aware of 'The Breadliner', 'The Forgotten Legend of UGWC', 'Mr Underwhelming Comeback', 'The Bloated One' and 'The Most Astonishing Underachiever in Sports Entertainment History'. At least I won't be forgotten.
After I left him lying, alone in his bed, and exited the Alan Wallace Ward of Chicago General Hospital, those words stuck with me, because despite all his bravado and declarations of regret, it seemed Travis Roberts would still fool himself until his dying breath.
'The Headliner' awakens in a private hospital room with Donovan Hastings looking over him impatiently. His eyes widen and he's clearly confused.
Donovan: It's about time you woke up, have you any idea how much I hate hospitals?
Travis blinks his eyes a few times and looks around.
Travis: What happened?
Donovan: Alan clocked you, and I think when the morphine wears off you'll be able piece together the rest of the story.
The door to the room swings open, and Travis almost jumps from his bed, his eyes wide, before calming down when he sees it's just the nurse. Donovan looks down at him with suspicion.
Donovan: Is everything OK?
Travis looks at him dead in the eyes.
Travis: What year is it?
Donovan: I think thats cheating, I'm sure the doctor will ask you that as part of the test to see how severe your concussion is.
Travis: Seriously, what year is it?
Donovan: Fine, but remember cheaters never prosper, it's 2015.
Travis breathes a sigh of relief and then looks back up at Donovan, once again locking eyes with him.
Travis: OK, now this is really important, so don't mess around answering this next question.
Travis pauses and looks expectantly at Donovan.
Donovan: Fine, if it gets me out of here quicker.
Travis: Is Dirge running for President?
Donovan looks at him likes he's suddenly transformed into Dave Rydell.
Donovan: No, that's Trump, they're equally obnoxious and terrifying but in different ways.
Travis relaxes and a huge smile crosses his face as he sinks deep into his bed as all his muscles release their pent up tension. Donovan find this strange.
Donovan: Are you good? Are you going to be ready for Infinity?
Travis looks at Donovan and gives him a determined smile.
Travis: You have no idea just how good I am, Don. Alan Wallace doesn't know it, but I've already won, and despite his best efforts to handicap me, things could be far, far worse.
Donovan looks up and down Travis' bruised and swollen body.
Donovan: I'm not sure how.
Travis chuckles.
Travis: Never forget, it's a blessed life we lead. After Infinity, Alan certainly won't.
The door to the room opens once more, and this time eD cASe, Victoria Jensen, Forewell Boding, Larry and NBK enter the room with an assortment of flowers, candy and Alan Wallace voodoo dolls. And the scene then fades to black
UGWC has come to terms on the release of UGWC Entertainment Professional Travis Roberts as of Thursday, Jun. 2, 2022. UGWC wishes Roberts the best in all of his future endeavors.
Many had speculated UGWC was simply being sentimental in not terminating his contract sooner, feeling they owed something to a man who saw his best years over a decade ago, others joked that he had become so bland and uninteresting that even UGWC's current Human Resources Director, Gian Jones had completely forgotten he existed. Both assumptions have today been dismissed, as not only have UGWC released him, they have done so on his 45th birthday.
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~~~
Chasing a Memory
by Xavier Weathertop
Chasing a Memory
by Xavier Weathertop
When I was a young boy my first ever hero, the man who first captivated my attention, was a Professional Wrestler by the name of Travis Roberts. Even though this is a Professional Wrestling website, I will forgive any of my readers who do not know the name, as his brief time in the spotlight was over half a century ago. I was only eight or nine myself, but anyone who was familiar with wrestling at the start of the 21st Century will probably vaguely remember his astounding run on top of the short lived Global Impact Wrestling federation.
Travis Roberts was a brash, flamboyant talking, and above all, egotistical mega star in his own mind. He was vastly successful for a brief period, so successful it even lead to a briefer stint in Hollywood. The man known over the course of his career as 'The Headliner' and 'The Blessed One', accomplished a great deal of accolades, but when his career ended he was better known as 'Mr Underwhelming Comeback' and 'The Forgotten Legend of UGWC'. In his final years in the ring stories of his past accomplishments were looked at like the stuff of pure mythology.
After he was released from UGWC, on his 45th birthday, he continued to appear on the independent circuit for another 5 years before dropping off the radar. The few people that cared speculated that his drug habits had got the better of him, or that he had lost his mind and was living as a hermit in a hut next door to Eden Morgan, the former UGWC World Heavyweight Champion who had a breakdown and famously now lives in a house filled with cats, all named Ian, in Wisconsin.
The truth is far more depressing.
I tracked down the man fans mockingly referred to as 'The Breadliner', due to his position and purse winnings on the UGWC roster, to a hospital bed in Chicago, the home of the now defunct Unified Global Wrestling Coalition. The man laying in the bed before me was barely recognisable, he was no longer the obese figure that ended his career in UGWC, his bones now clearly visibly due to severe deterioration. He was a shadow of the man who, when I was nine, I watched do a Shooting Star Press off the top of a cell at his first ever Horizons.
He was keen and eager to speak to me, remarking that very few people remembered who he was anymore. Here was a man who once couldn't walk down the street without hordes of fans and press chasing him, now happy to share a very private, and sensitive part of his life, with a complete stranger, just because he was getting attention.
A glint came across his eye when discussing his successes in GIW, he revelled in telling me backstage stories about Calypso Desmona and Donovan Hastings' initial amusing dating mishaps, practical jokes they used to play on UGWC Hall of Famer, Jet Somers, and a road trip he once took with Boss Penguin, Jezebel Saint and 'The Monster' Dredd that almost got Sports Entertainers permanently banned from Disney World in Florida. Without going into too much detail there are a group of children who never saw Donald Duck and Pluto the Dog the same way again.
However when we spoke about his time in UGWC a mixture of bitterness, rage and regret sweep over him. He admits he probably should never have returned in 2013 as he tarnished his legacy with the decisions he made, but he was also forthcoming and honest when asked about some of the key players during his time there, his colleagues who went on to have Hall of Fame careers. He revealed he hasn't been in contact with Donovan Hastings since sending him a congratulatory card on his Hall of Fame entry in 2024 which he never received a reply from, that he did not vote for Dirge in his successful 2020 Presidential Bid and that he felt infinitely stupid for being so disparaging to Jet Somers, who proved his longevity by wrestling his last 5 star match in the industry at the age of 59 in Japan.
But he speaks at most length about Alan Wallace, and how he felt his own decisions failed to save UGWC from it's most dominant Superstar ever. Many people regard Alan Wallace as the only reason UGWC survived into the late 20's, his 12 World Championship reigns over the course of 15 years, one of which stretched for almost two years, are proof of his value to the company.
Travis Roberts views things differently. He believed Alan Wallace killed the company, he drove the other stars out, which eventually left the company unable to go on after his eventual retirement. He was directly responsible for the aforementioned Eden Morgan breakdown, his pull in the office lead to the hottest prospect the industry had seen in years, Killian King, becoming disillusioned and abandoning the business in favour of a hugely successful career in Hollywood, he ended Donovan Hastings career by shattering his spine, and he ruthlessly ensured no-one else could ever take the spotlight from him. Gifted performers such as Gabriel Baal, Dante Picante and Lorenzo Lawrence were denied the opportunity to showcase themselves at the highest level due to the overwhelming force of his reputation and his desire to protect it. Travis Roberts remains adamant to this day, that Alan Wallace's success, was UGWC's downfall.
And he blames himself, with the benefit of hindsight he sees that he was only fooling himself as he continued to portray himself as in the same league as Alan Wallace. The truth was he was never considered a worthy enough opponent to face him one on one. Had he only looked to change, had he only valued the friendship of the many people that offered him that rare gift, had he only opened himself up to trust others, he might have made a difference on the fate of UGWC.
He chuckles as he says this, aware of the cruel irony of this revelation coming to him in what are obviously the last days of his life. He'd always thought he was special, always thought he was destined for greatness, but now the stark truth that hits many of us at the end is apparent to him. Had he taken more risks, lived a better life, things may be different. Yet, there were still signs of the Travis of old lingering, and he can display that better than I, some of the last words he said to me were some of the most poignant.
I always thought the legacy of 'The Headliner' would live on in the history of our sport, that others would be a mere footnote. I was wrong, but that doesn't mean I'm not lucky, at least some people will remain aware of 'The Breadliner', 'The Forgotten Legend of UGWC', 'Mr Underwhelming Comeback', 'The Bloated One' and 'The Most Astonishing Underachiever in Sports Entertainment History'. At least I won't be forgotten.
After I left him lying, alone in his bed, and exited the Alan Wallace Ward of Chicago General Hospital, those words stuck with me, because despite all his bravado and declarations of regret, it seemed Travis Roberts would still fool himself until his dying breath.
~~~
'The Headliner' awakens in a private hospital room with Donovan Hastings looking over him impatiently. His eyes widen and he's clearly confused.
Donovan: It's about time you woke up, have you any idea how much I hate hospitals?
Travis blinks his eyes a few times and looks around.
Travis: What happened?
Donovan: Alan clocked you, and I think when the morphine wears off you'll be able piece together the rest of the story.
The door to the room swings open, and Travis almost jumps from his bed, his eyes wide, before calming down when he sees it's just the nurse. Donovan looks down at him with suspicion.
Donovan: Is everything OK?
Travis looks at him dead in the eyes.
Travis: What year is it?
Donovan: I think thats cheating, I'm sure the doctor will ask you that as part of the test to see how severe your concussion is.
Travis: Seriously, what year is it?
Donovan: Fine, but remember cheaters never prosper, it's 2015.
Travis breathes a sigh of relief and then looks back up at Donovan, once again locking eyes with him.
Travis: OK, now this is really important, so don't mess around answering this next question.
Travis pauses and looks expectantly at Donovan.
Donovan: Fine, if it gets me out of here quicker.
Travis: Is Dirge running for President?
Donovan looks at him likes he's suddenly transformed into Dave Rydell.
Donovan: No, that's Trump, they're equally obnoxious and terrifying but in different ways.
Travis relaxes and a huge smile crosses his face as he sinks deep into his bed as all his muscles release their pent up tension. Donovan find this strange.
Donovan: Are you good? Are you going to be ready for Infinity?
Travis looks at Donovan and gives him a determined smile.
Travis: You have no idea just how good I am, Don. Alan Wallace doesn't know it, but I've already won, and despite his best efforts to handicap me, things could be far, far worse.
Donovan looks up and down Travis' bruised and swollen body.
Donovan: I'm not sure how.
Travis chuckles.
Travis: Never forget, it's a blessed life we lead. After Infinity, Alan certainly won't.
The door to the room opens once more, and this time eD cASe, Victoria Jensen, Forewell Boding, Larry and NBK enter the room with an assortment of flowers, candy and Alan Wallace voodoo dolls. And the scene then fades to black
