I gave you all...

[Jet Somers]

November 13th Synergy

Just after The Court meets with The Consortium



Killian: Whom?



Eden: Donovan Hastings...



Killian: ...



Eden: You started a Make-Wish-Foundation for his twins, just because they were his biological children...



Killian: ...



Eden: You sent him the haunted whore sex throne from your garage... You called it the Devil's Diddle chair.



Killian: ...



Eden: He's the one who made catering stop carrying the scones you liked, because "this is America". Killian furrows his brow.



Killian: Ah, yes...

---

____



I uh… Let's see here. His greatest contribution… comedic relief? Besides having a few wins over me in matches that won't matter twenty years from now…. I don't think he has had an influence on my career. The UGWC will have one less person in it… I mean it's not like there's going to be this huge void left when he leaves… and it's not like the landscape around here is going to change much either. I feel like it's going to be the same minus one warm body. Me? I don't really care. –Lucy Wylde



What has been Donovan Hastings greatest contribution to this company? His feud with me of course, it was an instant classic, like a riveting highlight real from beginning until the end. Donovan takes a beating like no other. I mean the man is with out an equal to having his arse kicked in, and it has been an absolute pleasure, and I truly mean that... An absolute pleasure beating him as I have in the past. Dare say I'm a bit jealous of Jet for putting it to bed. Ah hell of a lot quieter that's for bloody sure. Without Alan, or Donovan, and Travis gone, we'll knock out a few walls and install that jump castle we've been promising Baal. –Killian King

____

**New Notification from one of your subscriptions! UGWC Network has posted a video: "The Immortal Legacy..." Click here to open in Youtube app.

"The Immortal Legacy: A Donovan Hastings Retrospective -- Part III" 

The video begins on Dexter Vines in a cream-colored, plush armchair on a raised circular dais. He reclines, left grey-slack leg crossed so that his ankle rests on his right knee.  

Dexter Vines: Welcome back! We continue with our UGWC Network special "The Immortal Legacy: A Donovan Hastings Retrospective." 

A logo flashes up with various images of Donovan Hastings over the years both in an out of the ring, each taking the place of the last in rapid succession before the title of the program appears over the iconic image of The Lord Chief in his bathrobe and towel. This logo fades back into Vines. 

Vines: If you're just joining us, we covered the beginnings of Donovan Hastings' career and time in Lock Wrestling Federation, as well as his partnership with Global Impact Wrestling's Travis Roberts and the formation and rise to prominence of Blessed Immortality in parts I and II. Click the links in the description to check out those videos. 

Vine's eyes flick to the right momentarily, as if reading something quickly. 

Vines: We begin part III appropriately with the coming of the Unified Global Wrestling Coalition, where the aforementioned companies joined forces to form an internet-based wrestling promotion. Since that time, Donovan Hastings has been one of the most prolific competitors on the roster, but we're joined in today by the one person who could possibly rival that claim to fame. Jet Somers, thank you for agreeing to come today! 

The camera pulls out to reveal Jet Somers, typical Devil's Most Wanted cut worn over a sleeveless gray hoodie. He leans back in the matching armchair, but his arms are crossed. On the left arm of the chair is draped the UGWC World Championship. On the right arm, a metallic, delicately assembled owl mask. 

Jet Somers: I'm honored to be here, Dex. 

Vines: Jet, when you look back on the career of Donovan Hastings in UGWC, what are the first words that come to mind. 

Jet thinks for a moment, mouth quirked as he considers. 

Somers: Missed opportunities. 

Vines: That's very surprising. Care to explain how 'missed opportunities' pertains to one of the most decorated members of the roster? 

Somers: Sure, because it pertains to me, Dex. When I think back, and I mean way back to the early days, before ninety percent of the current roster was even here, I can't help but think of some of the chances that were passed over because of my own stubborn pride. 

Vines: Are you implying that you missed opportunities with Donovan Hastings? 

Somers: I'm not implying it, I'm admitting it. When GIW closed, I had just worked a plot with TWiSTeD against the Covenant who ultimately shut that company down.  

Vines: I remember that. You still weren't sold on the idea of being a professional wrestler, but I think you only came here to continue your crusade against Dirge, Chassie Fear, and Raenius. 

Somers: You're exactly right. Instead of building on that, I started my own one man crusade against a force that was way over my head. By the time I started to really get into the competitive side of things, I was too focused on taking on Freak Show Central by myself to catch onto my second opportunity. 

Vines: You're referring to the Cooperative Championships, won by yourself and Hastings in 2010? 

Somers: Exactly. I acted like a complete... well... douche canoe about carrying them with him. It's hard to think how much disdain I had for my first reign with a championship I've become synonymous with.  

Dexter strokes his chin, genuinely interested. 

Vines: So, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, but do I detect a note of regret that you passed up multiple opportunities to work with Donovan Hastings? 

Jet thinks it over. 

Somers: I can't call it regret, no. Donovan and I have had absolute classics over the years as rivals, and I think adding any kind of professional congeniality to those battles would have dampened the impacts we made. You know that when Hastings and Somers are competing, it's a 'leave it all in the ring' kind of match. I wouldn't redo any of that. 

Vines: But? 

Somers: But you just have to wonder what might have been. Just to entertain the thought. What if The Lord and his Peasant had gone on to seriously contend for those championships, would their reign have rivaled that of The Piercing Weapons? Would there have even been a PMN? Would I have still coached the Stars of Tomorrow, or would my protégés been a part of a joint effort in the Dungeon of Pain? Would The Puppet Masters have included Jet Somers instead of Remi Monroe? 

Vines: Would those unsanctioned posters he put up all over the arena have become a bestselling t-shirt? You've got a real Schrödinger’s dilemma there, Jet. 

Jet waves this off with a chuckle. 

Somers: Don't get me wrong, Donovan and I would never have been better allies than enemies. But one has to wonder. 

____ 

There is no more dynamic performer in this industry in the UGWC Era than Donovan Hastings. Whether you agreed with his methods or not, he brought a unique versatility to the company, no matter where he performed on a card, he made it a must watch event. After over fifteen years in this business, everything that I have done, he might very well be my greatest achievement. There is a sense of accomplishment that is felt when a student becomes a master, when your creation surpasses you. –Phrixus Deimos 

Ummm... well... he’s been around a while. We’ll have a Donovan Hastings appreciation day, like, once a month. Not to actually celebrate Donovan or anything, just to appreciate the fact that he’s gone. I’m pitching that idea to Ooley. He’ll love it. –Eden Morgan 

____ 

Dexter looks to the right of the camera again, an almost imperceptible nod appearing before he turns back to Jet. 

Vines: Jet, most people agree that, regardless of the outcome of this match, it will mark the end of an era. Part of the reason we wanted you to be our guest today is that you are strongly considered as Donovan Hastings' greatest rival, at least in UGWC. Can you elaborate on that? What makes Somers vs Hastings possibly the most legendary feud in UGWC's history? 

Jet cocks his head to the side, thinking back. 

Somers: Maybe it's because we're the only two left who were around at the very beginning. 

Vines: Now, that's not true. Travis Pierce and Phrixus Deimos were part of the first class of competitors. Dave Rydell is still here. You'll remember that Donovan defeated him to become the first ever UGWC World Heavyweight Champion.  

Somers: Well, that was actually Red Fusion, and I have no idea what happened to him. 

Vines: Red Fusion is-- 

Somers: But you bring up an interesting point. Donovan Hastings was the first. 

Dexter rolls his eyes quickly and allows the point to carry on.  

Somers: If there's one thing a lot of us are proud to be a part of in this company, it's how innovative and unique so many of the concepts and events are. It inspires us as entertainers and competitors to constantly be on the cutting edge. It's practically a requirement to maintaining relevance in UGWC.  

Vines: We do pride ourselves on being the most creative company in the industry. 

Somers: That's why so many people clamor to lay claim to 'firsts.' You often hear an entertainment professional brag about being the first to do some feat. I think you'll find that Donovan and I have practically kept an eight year race going to stack up how many firsts we can add to our resume. 

Vines: First World Champion, First Chaos Champion, First Grand Slam Champion. 

Somers: To start with, yeah. 

Vines: First to get shot at a pay per view, First to participate in a Rock, Paper, Scissors match. 

Jet raises an eyebrow as he smirks, but continues. 

Somers: And that's not even getting into the first multiple time champions in a couple different divisions. Donovan broke the ceiling on each for the two time, three time, and four time World Championships. 

Vines: And you were right behind him on just about all of that. 

Somers: Like I said, it means a lot to be out there on the cutting edge. We're both known for our performances at Outlast, Battleground, the Global Challenge, Sin City, even the In Your Hands House. If there's an exciting new idea that you guys come up with, you can pretty much count on one or both us not only participating, but putting our all into it, if not winning it outright, which we often do. 

Vines: Would you say, then, that your careers mirror one another’s? 

Jet hesitates, looking up at the lights above as he tries to formulate his answer. 

Somers: Mirror? No. You might say they parallel one another. We've both had banner years go buy when everything we touched turned to gold around our waists, and we've both faded from prominence for significant amounts of time, usually when someone we cared about was taking our place in the spotlight. I can't say they mirror one another, because we've taken largely different paths to arrive at similar destinations.  

Vines: How so? 

Somers: I took time off to fix up my personal life; my career was getting a little heavy, and I was finding it impossible to separate the two without having them both fall apart. Hastings went out on an injury and became a father. When Travis Pierce and I were expanding the Piercing Media Network, Donovan was training his grandson.  

Dexter puts a hand up. 

Vines: You both took time off to attend to family matters; you both worked to expand the company with new talent. You did those things around the same time, hey, you even had rival factions based on your developmental projects. Are you sure you're simply not seeing how similar your career paths have been? 

Jet shrugs. 

Somers: Like I said, parallels, not mirror images. A lot of people see Donovan as someone who's been around forever, a real veteran. People like Fear and JC see me as someone still new and raw in the business. But we've both been in UGWC since the first day, we've both headlined a similar number of big events, and we've both contributed our fair share to the company. I'm not denying that, in a lot of ways, we have quite a lot in common. Maybe that's why we make such great rivals? 

____ 

He stood idly by and allowed “The Vain One” to spread his wings and soar to new heights. The real question is, just how much has Vain influenced Donovan Hasting?. And the answer is, it’s immeasurable. Now, Vain will be forced to step up, yet again, and this time, be even better. Which, truly, will be Donovan’s single greatest accomplishment. And... it’s inevitable --Alan Wallace 

Hastings always made for a decent TPT guest, reasonable ratings. Not the level of a Jet Somers, mind you, but reasonable. I'll be honest, I'm still not happy about that time he had his burly men escort me off my own set. He entertained us. No matter what else he did, that’s the piercing truth, the bottom line. He was an Entertainment Professional, one of the best of all time. He leaves behind a void that few could fill. –Travis Pierce 

____ 

Dexter leans forward, obviously about to get to the meat of this interview. 

Vines: Jet, since we're talking about firsts, let's go ahead and get to the white elephant. Next week could mark Donovan Hastings continuing his legacy being the first to hold a specific number of World Championship reigns. If he defeats you, he will become the first ever 5-time UGWC World Champion.  

Somers: That's one thing that's always bugged me about his success, if I'm being honest. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who disagrees that I'm the superior competitor, but he has always been ahead of me in accomplishments by inches. It's frustrating to be counted as 'also a 4-time champion.' 

Vines: So, what you're saying is that, while you're counted amongst stars like Eden Morgan and Donovan Hastings, you'd prefer to stand out as the forerunner of even that exclusive group? 

Somers: It's like I've been saying ever since I started being chosen as an ambassador for the company for guests from other promotions; Of course it's nice to be considered the standard for UGWC, a measuring stick against which outsiders are measured. But anyone who inks a contract figures out pretty quickly that I'm the miniboss before the final battle.  

He strokes the World Championship absently as he speaks.  

Somers: I aim to change that with this reign. 

Vines: Donovan has had multiple opportunities to capture that fifth World Championship reign this year, but only now has he considered weighing his success against the rest of his career. Is this desperation? 

Jet doesn't hesitate. 

Somers: I don't believe that for a second, Dex. On the surface, Donovan may look like someone on his last leg. It seems like he has to do this, because if he fails again, there's no getting back up. But I've come to know him over the years, and I think he's driven by more than desperation. This is Horizons, and I'm Jet Somers. There's no bigger event, and there's no bigger rival. My career was made seven years ago when I unseated Donovan at this same event. It's almost too perfect that I could also end his career at the same event in defending the same championship. If he can't win, we'll have finally discovered the one thing that I can do that Donovan Hastings can't: I can make or break careers competing for the World Championship at Horizons, and I'll have done it twice. 

Vines: So... are you saying he couldn't resist the spectacle? 

Somers: Like I said earlier, every Hastings/Somers match is a 'leave it all in the ring' kind of match. We've danced this dance many times, and it feels like the stakes escalate every time. There have to be high stakes for this battle to carry the weight the ones before it have, and there are no higher stakes than putting your career on the line. Donovan respects the history behind this match, whether he admits it or not, and he understands better than anyone that eventually, it will have to come to an end. If this has to be the end, he couldn't ask for better, or more meaningful circumstances, wouldn't you agree? 

Dexter has to nod at this. 

Vines: Let's say Donovan is able to do it, he defeats you and saves his career. What does the future hold for both of you? 

Somers: For me, that's easy. I've made it clear that as long as there's a UGWC, Jet Somers will always be a serious competitor for the World Championship. Donovan will reach number five, and sometime in the future, so will I. Edie will get there, too. He'll always be the first, but he'll eventually have to share that accolade with someone who has been a thorn in his side for their entire career. Then we'll be back where we were before he made this challenge.  

Jet leans forward. 

Somers: He'll also have to wonder if he could have beaten me if he hadn't risked everything on the victory. 

Vines: On the other hand, what is a UGWC without Donovan Hastings? 

Jet sighs. 

Somers: I'll be honest, it's going to be an adjustment. I have no real desire to see Donovan walk up that ramp for the last time. I'd be lying if I said he didn't define a large part of my career. I've learned the hard way that any success I have comes with looking over my shoulder, wondering what Donovan's next move is going to be, whether he was involved or not. You could say that's been a huge motivator for me. Not having that is going to be... different. 

He once again lays a hand on the World Championship. 

Somers: That being said, it's a great honor for someone to choose you to be the possible instrument to end their career. Moss Edwards, Dirge, and now Donovan Hastings? That's a resume of careers that's unrivaled. Rogan has Chaos, Eden has CJ Wylde, and Alan Wallace has Jezebel Saint, but they forced them out of the business by dealing them horrifying injuries. My opponents walk away after having the match of their lives against me. There eventually comes a finality when competing against me, and when you feel it, you know it's time to go. Moss and Dirge walked out with their heads up. I expect Donovan will be able to do the same. 

Vines: Jet, I'm going to bring the interview to a close here in a moment, and I thank you for joining me today. If you had to say one last thing to Donovan Hastings before your match on Monday, what would it be? 

Jet looks directly into the camera. There isn't a hint of sarcasm or malice in his expression, and what he says next seems truly heartfelt. 

Somers: Donovan, I'm really going to miss you. 

The camera pans over to Dexter only as he closes out. 

Vines: This has been "The Immortal Legacy: A Donovan Hastings Retrospective," and we at the UGWC Network thank you for watching. Remember to like, share, and subscribe for more exclusive content as we continue Horizons weekend! 

____ 

Somehow figuring out a way to be the complete fuckin’ shits, and still be relevant? Pathetically impressive. Forced me to drink more, and then I had to fuckin’ call it quits. He’s likely just as much to blame for that as MacLean, honestly. Fuck if I know. I thought he had retired already. –Chaos 

Donovan's greatest contribution to UGWC was creating a legacy for any talent to aspire towards and that'll be solidified when he wins the World Championship for a fifth time at Horizons. Hastings has showed me that a person can go from hated rival and enemy to respected ally and perhaps even a friend. I've learned from Donovan more than perhaps anyone else in my career. I'm a better wrestler because of him. A man doesn't promise to give up something that he's not terrified to lose. Are you that dedicated? If Jet pulls off the impossible and retires Donovan, this place is destined to become boring. A personality and gravitas like Hastings can't be replaced. Neither can his experience and influence in the locker room. –Zane Scott 

____ 

OOC: Thank you to everyone who contributed to this effort!

[Gabriel Baal]

Alright, I'm not entirely sure where to begin here...

I feel like you and Steve have been sat here for the past week just trying to psych each other out.

"Ohhhh man... I've got a great idea."

"Yeah? Me too. It's going to be way better than yours."

Then the moment you both open each others RP and you've basically done outstanding versions of the same thing. You couldn't write that. Except... You did.

Anyway, I've spoken to you about this in person, but I wanted to get this out for everyone to see. You did an outstanding job. The videos were brilliant, and worked so well. The actual RP was an epic. I struggle, to this day, to write entire pieces that are about my opponents because I feel like I start to repeat myself. You managed to write an entire tribute to Donovan without touching the same point twice.

Sometimes, we get so caught up in trash talk and pulling our opponents down that we forget that the better our opponent looks? The bigger the significance of victory.

If Jet is still the Champion after Horizons, your RP will mean that you've beaten a legend.

Awesome.

[Zane]

There's such an intense mixture of emotions being displayed in this. It ranges from confidence and arrogance to jealousy and anger. Jet seems to define a certain amount of himself against Donovan and it's fair to say that Donovan does the same. I can't say any more that would do anything more than echo what Mike said. You wrote an epic RP for an epic match. If Jet wins, he's an unqualified legend (which I think he was anyway) and if he loses, it just delays his legacy a little bit.

The question is, what is Jet afterward either way and how does it effect him going forward?

Excellent work, B. You should be extremely proud of this regardless of what happens.

[DrunkenBuzzsaw]

Anyone else think B sounds a little like AJ Styles, or is it just me?

Hastings and Somers is the only match that is capable of headlining Horizons this year, and is the only match that should warrant a stipulation like the one attached to it (though if Im being honest, throwing in Eden might have made it even better, just because it would have been all three of the people that have won the title 4 times, but it wasnt meant to be). I digress...

You went a different route for a match this big (when dont you though), and I think the videos were a nice touch. Time will tell who comes out victorious, but the thought and work that you put into this piece shows us all how much this match means to you, both in character and out.

Great job, B.

[Lord Hastings]

Thank you, B. I honestly don't know what more to say than that, a very deep and heartful thank you, but I will try.

I'm very proud of what I did this week, and I am equally proud, if not more proud, of what you did. If my run with Donovan ends today, I cannot imagine an RP I'd would rather go down to than this one.

You did this match, this feud, our history, you did all of it justice and then some. I'm humbled by it and appreciative both of your effort and the opportunity. You gave me everything I could have wanted and more.

Somers: He'll also have to wonder if he could have beaten me if he hadn't risked everything on the victory.

Love this line. Not sure if you meant it this way or not, but I feel like you're speaking to me directly. It would certainly be fair, and in that event something I would legitimately have to wonder about.

I'm genuinely left feeling that after this build, after this match, after these two RPs, no matter what the result, how does it get topped? Where is there left to go?

And seriously? Videos? I hate you.