Post by Lord Hastings on Dec 8, 2017 23:08:40 GMT -5
In a small, familiar nightclub, patrons enjoy their drinks as a band prepares to play. After a deep breath, Owen Peterson walks onto the stage and stands behind the microphone.
Peterson: Thank you all for coming out tonight, make sure to tip your waiters. This next song has been on my mind quite a bit lately. I hope you enjoy it.
Owen nods to the band. The music starts up, and after a few moments Owen starts singing.
Ten years ago, a young prospect made his debut as part of the relaunched Lock Wrestling Federation, a promotion looking to reestablish itself after a several year hiatus.
He would go on to become one of the most successful Entertainment Professionals in history.
We look back now on a monumental career, through conversations with the people who were a part of the journey and came along for the ride.
Travis Pierce: We actually debuted together, believe it or not. A battle royal on the premiere episode of Warzone. Didn’t go well for either of us. I think Fusion won it actually, of all people.
Dave Rydell: Donovan is a hell of a competitor, but he fell under the wings of a maniac sociopath that is, Fear. From there, he skyrocketed. He played the game and played it well.
The young Hastings became the pupil of the veteran Fear, the man known today as Phrixus Deimos.
Phrixus Deimos: Unquestionable potential. Had it from day one. All he needed was a gentle push, so I gave him one.
The “Lords of Pain” would win the LWF Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions, and following their break-up Hastings would go on to singles success that would see him capture the historic Cross-Hemisphere Championship.
Hastings would expand his career when he joined Global Impact Wrestling in 2008, competing in both promotions simultaneously, and building his name in both.
Travis Roberts: When ‘The Blessed One’ joined GIW, Donny’s biggest claim to fame was being a member of the Global Domination stable. The big ‘draw’ of this group was and individual named Lord Deathman, and that’s all you really need to know about the overall impact they had on the industry. I’d love to say Donovan stood out in this coalition of mediocrity, the breakout star of this creative car crash. Unfortunately, he just blended into the background, one fool in sea of morons. In all honesty, the most entertaining and noteworthy thing he did in those first few months was throw a tennis ball against a wall….
Owen Peterson: Donovan was still young then, not one to take responsibility. I was just trying to do my job, mind my own business, but when he had some struggles he made me the focus, cast the blame in my direction.
Travis Roberts: Everyone had just taken it for granted that ‘The Lord of Pain’ was nothing more than a delusional joke, his most memorable moments had included getting his cloak splattered by another man’s seed, it’s difficult to imagine being further away from the top of the card than Donovan was at that point. Frankly we were distracted by his antics, and to a man we underestimated ‘The Immortal’ Donovan Hastings…
The career of Hastings in GIW took a significant turn when he entered into the 2009 Global Challenge at Infinity, referred to by the promotion’s enforcer, Boss P, as The Search for the Chief Nigga. Despite losing in the semi-finals of the tournament, Hastings claimed the moniker as his own.
Owen Peterson: People often ask me why I’m not offended by the whole Lord-Chief Nigga thing. This is what you need to understand about Donovan. He takes what you give him, he grabs hold of anything he can, and he makes it his own. It was Boss P that put that out there. Donovan just took the hand he was dealt and he owned it.
Hastings made the most of his new spotlight, with victories in a brutal “I Quit” Match against Gabrielle Montgomery and earning a Global Title shot by defeating ‘The Monster’ Dredd in Valhalla Burial.
Travis Roberts: ‘The Headliner’ was in the middle of the hottest year of his career to date when Donny earned a shot at the Global Heavyweight Championship and yours truly. It wasn’t a surprise that he lost, what was a surprise was how he turned that defeat into the biggest victory of his career. ‘The Lord of Pain’ had recognized that Travis Roberts’ star was on the rise and was unlikely to start falling anytime soon, so much to my dismay, he attached himself and took a ride. Try as I might I could not shake the self-proclaimed Co-Global Heavyweight Champion, and that’s when our bond began to grow, and even ‘The Blessed One’ couldn’t ignore the impact our alliance could have. You can’t understate the influence our combined powers had, hell it only took one appearance on Dexter Vines’ ill-conceived talk show to make him a star, and that’s still the pinnacle of his career….
The joint appearance of Hastings and Roberts on This Evening With Dexter Vines was an overnight sensation, and the dynamic pairing would go on to defeat the Covenant at Distant Whispers, but that was merely the appetizer before the main course: a historic match between the two, a Last Man Standing Match for the Global Title at Horizons.
Travis Roberts: That year ended with Donovan Hastings defeating ‘The Headliner’ at Horizons, just a year earlier he had been considered a joke, a forgettable card filler with little upside, yet through pure force of will he defeated GIW’s greatest competitor at the biggest show in their history. Not only that he went on to raise the bar even further the following year…
The reign of Hastings as the Global Champion saw the Covenant seize power in GIW. Hastings barely turned aside the challenge of Raenius before facing the Global Challenge winner, Dirge, on what would prove to be the final GIW broadcast.
Dirge: Raenius and I came into GIW and turned it on its head. We had a propensity for destabilizing promotions when we were together. I am proud of what we did and I think we caused them to have to raise the bar, especially for some of their legends and top draws.
The actions of the Covenant led to the demise of GIW, which would be purchased by a conglomerate group that also purchased LWF and merged the two entities into the Unified Global Wrestling Coalition. As the final GIW Global Champion, Hastings faced the final LWF World Champion in a unification match at No Holds Barred.
Dave Rydell: This match was the stepping stone to greatness for me. And I blew it. I was in a bad place, and he more or less carried that match. I did what I could but I really just wasn’t ready for the culture shock of coming to UGWC. And I lost my greatest achievement. The match itself was brutal. He deserved everything from that.
Hastings was the face of UGWC for much of its initial year, but he would soon encounter a face from his past at In Your Hands.
Phrixus Deimos: For me, everything was coming full circle. The student believed that he had become the master, and he was indeed a formidable opponent, but he was still young. As good as he was, he was still a shadow compared to what he one day would be. He still was not ready.
Despite losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Deimos, Hastings would regroup and recapture the title later that year from Declan Prescott, himself a future Hall of Famer. He would go on to headline the first Horizons under the UGWC banner against Jet Somers, a rising star that would prove to be the Lord of Pain’s greatest nemesis.
Hastings: Okay, let’s have ladies on my left for hugs, and dudes on my right for high-fives.
Todd the Still an Intern: Uh, why would we do that?
Hastings: This is a meet and greet, isn’t it? I don’t do autographs. I could get a hand cramp or a papercut or something. Just meeting me, that’s the real experience.
Todd the Still an Intern: It certainly is, but this is a press conference.
Hastings: What?
Todd the Still an Intern: This is a media event for Horizons.
Donovan looks out at the gaggle of reporters.
Hastings: See, this is why I always want a handler for these events.
Todd the Still an Intern: You need a handler for a press conference?
Hastings: I was born to be handled.
Todd the Still an Intern: Wonderful, that’s a hot mic in front of you. Let’s get started, yes? Yes. Right there.
Todd points to one of many hands up in the crowd.
Jason Reeves: Can you tell us if there a deeper meaning to the long feud you’ve had with Jet Somers, any analogies or transcendent themes? Please cite examples.
Hastings: Come here.
Reeves: Why?
Hastings: Let’s go, we don’t have all day.
Donovan snaps his fingers and waves him up.
Reeves: Um, okay.
He hesitates a moment, but makes his way up onto the stage.
Hastings: Here ya go.
Donovan puts his hand up, clearly for a high-five. Reeves hesitates, but starts to put his hand up.
Hastings: Freeze. Creepy intern, you’re up.
Todd the Still an Intern: What?
Donovan motions for Todd to high-five Reeves, and pantomimes it when they don’t immediately react. After a few moments, Reeves shrugs and high-fives Todd and wanders back to the group.
Hastings: Okay, let’s have us a lady. You won’t need to tag in on that one.
Todd the Still an Intern: I think your session is over.
Hastings: Glad we’re on the same page.
In 2011, Donovan found himself in the unexpected position of mentor to Chris Peterson, the grandson of Owen Peterson, who stepped up for his grandfather’s honor, only to find himself under the thrall of the Lord as well.
Owen Peterson: The truth is that Christopher wasn’t ready, he had some basic lessons in the Dragon’s Cave with Kiseragi, but Donovan understands that there is more to this business than knowing moves in a ring. You have to be larger than life, that is what Donovan Hastings does better than anybody else. Chris Peterson was a young kid with potential. “The Black Knight” was a force to be reckoned with, one that made a name for himself and won championship gold. He had Donovan to thank for that.
Hastings would eventually open his own training gym, the Dungeon of Pain, with a deep roster of students and extensive classes such as Basic Character Construction, Symbolism, and Zen and the Aerodynamics of the Paint Balloon.
Old Lady Levene: He was always such a nice boy. He tried to help my grandson just like he helped the colored boy, but there was no helping the mess he had become and they had to banish him, very sad.
Following successful feuds with the likes of Alex Stein and Ezekiel Pax, it appeared Hastings was on a path back to the top, until his seemingly irresistible force ran into an unstoppable object.
Zane Scott: I don't think that there's a feud that did as much to turn me into the wrestler and even the person I am now as much as feuding with Donovan did. It's impossible to go through the kind of sheer violence against and with someone that Donnie and I put ourselves through and not come out different for it at the end. I remember thinking at the time that injuring him and possibly ending his career was the highlight of mine up to that point.
Donovan enters the green room of The Piercing Truth, moments after walking off the set.
Hastings: Idiot.
Looking up, Donovan stops in his tracks at the sight of the man that stands in his path.
Hastings: Somers.
Somers: Donovan.
They lock eyes for several seconds.
Hastings: You know, I have to admit, I can appreciate that I’m facing you.
Somers: Oh?
Hastings: You were the one that knew how much was too much, the one that stopped us from taking things too far. Do you remember? The “I Quit” Match at Sin City?
Somers: I remember.
Hastings: Limits are important, wouldn’t you agree? Knowing when enough is enough, where to draw the line? You are the one that knows when to quit.
Somers: I’m not the one whose career is on the line.
Hastings: True. I’m going to be perfectly honest, going into what very well could be my last match, I can’t imagine anyone, anybody at all, after the career that I’ve had, the battles I’ve fought, the wars that I’ve been through, I can’t imagine anybody that I would rather face in my last match than Travis Roberts.
Somers: Fair enough.
Hastings: Or Alex Kiseragi. Man, the war between the Dragon’s Cave and the Dungeon of Pain really was something. Phrixus Deimos, tremendous, tremendous personal history there.
Somers: Of course.
Hastings: Zane! I mean, turns out he is a great guy, culinary skills to rival Owen, but I do still owe him for all that time he cost me out of my career a few years ago. Or Killian, that got personal too. Dirge.
Somers: I get it.
Hastings: Ezekiel Pax, burnt his church down that one time, that was my bad. Dave Rydell, we did open UGWC together essentially.
Somers: Now you’re just being mean.
Hastings: Is Andy Savana dead?
Somers: You don’t want to face me, that’s fine. I wouldn’t want to face me either, considering I’ve beaten you at Horizons before.
Hastings: That’s the thing. I do want to face you, Jet. For one simple reason.
Donovan looks at the title slung over Jet’s shoulder. Jet glances at it as well.
Hastings: Because you’re the person holding that. I didn’t want to face you one more time. I couldn’t care less. I wanted one more shot at that, and it is worth my career for the chance. I don’t need to think about how I feel about Jet Somers being my final opponent. You’re not going to be my final opponent.
They stare each other down again, as Rob Cartwright leans into the room.
Cartwright: Jet, we’re ready for you.
Hastings: Go ahead, Jet. It seems following me is what you’re good at.
Donovan storms out of the room.
After being out of action for months due to injuries suffered at the hands of the Personification of Hate, Hastings returned to face the now World Champion Zane Scott a final time.
Zane Scott: I admit that I disliked Donovan when it began, hated him as it progressed and then grew to begrudgingly respect him before it ended. When he returned, I wanted nothing more than to finish him for good. That's the funny thing about battles like that, they can go in directions that you'd never expect them to.
Hastings would lose the match but had re-established himself as a force to be reckoned with, which he would underscore with a victory at Horizons over Cypress Morgan.
Less than two months later, Hastings would once again be the centerpiece as the foundation of UGWC was rocked by the formation of the Puppet Masters.
Travis Roberts: I’d been gone for a while and I had been approached by Dirge to return, and after a great deal of planning and discussions ‘The Puppet Masters’ revealed themselves to a shocked world. Travis Roberts, Dirge, Alan Wallace and Donovan Hastings together, and despite the fact ‘The Lord’ was crowned World Heavyweight Champion many felt he was the weak link. Once again people underestimated Donny, and while The Puppet Masters is a chapter ‘The Greater Evil’, ‘Mr Ego’ and ‘The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millenia’ would likely sooner forget, ‘The Lord of Pain’ made it work to his advantage….
Dirge: We had four of the greatest talents in the history of the business in myself, Donovan, Travis and Alan. Then we added who we saw as a future legend when we added Remi. That was a group that had 'greatest stable ever' written all over it.
Hastings would hold the World Title for over six months, during which time he unified it with the PPW Paramount Championship when he defeated Jet Somers at WrestleStock. He lost the title at Outlast but regained it a month later, only to see it snatched away moments later when High Roller winner Eden Morgan cashed in her opportunity, and in the meanwhile cracks had formed within the powerful group.
Alan Wallace: Simply put, one of the best stables to ever form in sports entertainment history. Unfortunately, it was also one of the most disappointing. There was simply too much animosity for it to be long-lasting. Donovan was one of the most respected veterans in UGWC, and I was still reestablishing myself as the most important entity in this business. My ego simply wouldn’t allow me to be a blind follower of Lord Hastings, no matter how much he has meant to this company. And in the end, I think things worked out exceedingly well. For me, at least.
Dirge: It was a license to print money and it failed because we got complacent. I think that we expected that our names would be enough to make it succeed and when it wasn't, we just sort of lost interest in it. That's the problem with a group like that. Four egos can drive each other to greatness, or they can drive the entire project into the ground
With his reign as the World Champion over, Hastings turned his attention to the returned threat of Travis Roberts, his former best friend whom he had turned his back on earlier in the year alongside the rest of the Puppet Masters. Five years after their original clash at Horizons, the two would face off again.
Travis Roberts: We met at Horizons once more, this time the only thing at stake was pride, and during our epic, show stealing Vigilante Match, the match that last year was voted as the fans favorite Horizons match of all time, I think we both realized that for better or worse we would always be there for each other. That night, as we were covered in each other’s blood, we became true brothers and haven’t looked back since.
Both Hastings and Roberts would take a brief hiatus following Horizons, and when they returned in early 2015, they once again stood united, having put aside their differences. They won championship gold together for the first official time in their careers when they defeated the Glorious Bastards at Kobayashi Maru, and took pride in their new position as the self-appointed Champions of Cooperation.
Travis Roberts: The Cooperative run was fun, ‘The Blessed One’ has never been interested in holding any title beyond the World Heavyweight Championship, but I look back fondly on our time as the Champions of Cooperation, although I still wince when I think of the Japanese game show….
In the meanwhile, Hastings had developed a bizarre rivalry with Dave Rydell, refusing to acknowledge that he was any different from Red Fusion, the past identity that Rydell had shed. After months of antagonization, Hastings defeated Rydell at Horizons.
Dave Rydell: So we’ve been embroiled in a ridiculously long rivalry. It started in the second coming of the LWF. I’ve got to say, he made me better. Even in the times that I was down and out, he just forced me to be better. I know it wasn’t his intention, but I think it was the overall hatred I had for him. But since our match at Horizons, he squeaked out the win, and I just respect him.
Hastings would go on to become an unintentional mainstay in the cooperative division through his lengthy feud with Killian King, made personal when Killian dressed the Lord’s daughter in T-shirts reading “Hugs and Fisticuffs” as a PG reference to the Sex and Violence team that Killian was a part of. Hastings would team repeatedly with past enemies such as Dredd and Rydell as he was willing to put all else aside in his rage against the Crucible.
Alan Wallace: One of the worst moments of my career. Not for getting to wrestle Donovan multiple times, usually with gold on the line. And not even witnessing the hatred fester between he and Killian. He was forced to team with Dave Rydell. I cannot imagine the anguish that caused him. The sleepless nights... the mental torture of having to listen to someone like Rydell... I’m honestly surprised he didn’t walk away from itball the first night he saw that he was teaming with Dave. I probably would have.
However, it was in 2017 that Hastings found himself an unlikely and remarkable partner.
Zane Scott: I was... unenthused... to say the least. Now I wouldn't trade it for anything, in spite of the derision that some have greeted it. I admit that I still find the whole thing to be a bit much to process at times considering how our past has been. I don't switch gears that easily and this has definitely been an adjustment for both of us. That said, I'm happy that it happened as it did. He and I have taken something that no one ever expected to work and most probably expected to result in more violence between us and we've turned it into 'Pain and Paradox', which in spite of how some see it has been a total success and has helped me enjoy wrestling and being a wrestler again.
While Pain and Paradox marked a bright spot in 2017 for the Lord, much of the year was wrought with frustration. Hastings took it upon himself to carry the mantle of Travis Roberts and Alan Wallace before him, raising the bar of the World Heavyweight Title, but Hastings failed time and again to earn the opportunity he sought. Despite a favorable entry in the Massive Melee, cashing in for a title shot at an opportune time, being a candidate to face the champion at In Your Hands, and drafting a powerful team at Outlast, Hastings came up short time and again, most recently at Battleground, leading to him to take a final opportunity, putting his career on the line for a shot in the main event of Horizons.
Donovan is seated on a park bench, watching as his daughters run around on the playground. He is relaxed, a beaming smile on his face, so caught up in what he is watching that he fails to notice his visitor as he arrives.
Dirge: I was surprised to hear from you.
Donovan glances up at him before returning his gaze to his children.
Hastings: Thank you for coming.
Dirge: Of course.
The man once known as the Momentum Killer takes a seat next to the Lord of Pain.
Hastings: How are your family?
Dirge: Doing well, thank you. Your daughters are beautiful.
Hastings: They are.
They sit for a minute in silence, watching the twins as they play.
Hastings: How did you do it?
Dirge: Do what?
Hastings: How did you walk away from it all?
Dirge thinks for a moment.
Dirge: My family is more important to me than championships.
Donovan smirks.
Hastings: How did you do it and not feel unfinished?
Dirge: What do you think I left unfinished?
Hastings: You were never the World Champion.
Dirge: Not in UGWC, no.
Hastings: Not in GIW, either.
Dirge: No, not in GIW, either. I’m proud of the career I had, in spite of those failures.
Hastings: I beat you a lot.
Dirge: You did. Remind me, which of the many times that you faced Zane Scott, the man that I trained, did you beat him? I suppose now if you can’t beat him, join him?
Hastings: Learned it from you.
Dirge: You were always a quick study.
They sit for another minute in silence.
Dirge: And what is it that you think you may leave unfinished?
Hastings: I can beat Jet Somers. I’ve done it before.
Dirge: I was there.
Hastings: I could do it again. After everything that has happened, I can still beat Jet Somers. I can be the World Heavyweight Champion, and I can be the person on top of the mountain, with the target on his back, and I can fend them all off. I can reign again.
Dirge: You could. I have no doubt that you could.
A beat of silence.
Dirge: But do you need to?
Donovan doesn’t respond, his gaze still unwavering. The girls have made their way to the swings, and they wave and call to their father to come push them.
Dirge: They really are quite beautiful.
Hastings: They are.
So what is the final legacy of Donovan Hastings?
Dave Rydell: Overall? At first I figured he would just be another drone for Fear to play with. After a while, I saw a legend. Eventually, he will be a sure fire first round hall of famer and if he doesn’t get a legend contract with this company after that, they’re messing up. And it’s a travesty.
Travis Pierce: 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.
Alan Wallace: There aren’t many people Vain will say this about, but I actually respect everything that Donovan has done for this business. Anything and everything that he has had to do for UGWC, he has done so, and then some. Strap the company to his back and lead through example? Check. Buck the norm and go his own route, when the company is being overrun with stables and arrogance? Check. Play the comedic foil when the situation arises? Check. Continually reinvent himself whenever he has needed, to stay fresh in a business that begins to grow stale? Check. He can literally do it all, and he doesn’t get nearly enough credit for what he brings to this industry. And it’s a damn shame.
Zane Scott: Donovan and Travis changed the business with TWiSTeD, yet people still think that he's a deluded doofus. Donovan is about to become the only five-time World Champion in UGWC history.
Phrixus Deimos: After over fifteen years in this business, everything that I have done, he might very well be my greatest achievement.
Travis Roberts: Donovan Hastings is a legend and he has made a career out of capitalising on the fact people underestimate him again and again and again. People often confuse a lack of interest and motivation on his part as the beginning of his decline, that he will be an easy victory on their own road to immortality, and more often than not they are wrong. UGWC has a long history, and the years are littered with warnings about being complacent around Donovan Hastings, but too few pay heed to the cautionary tales of the past. Having said that, if ‘The Blessed One’ were to put money on any member of the current roster being a UGWC history buff it’s Jet Somers, if there is anyone who should know not to underestimate Donovan Hastings, it’s Jet Somers. This Horizons main event has the potential to be one of the greatest matches in not only the event, but in the company’s history. It pains me to say it, but if UGWC had a Mount Rushmore, there are only two faces carved into the side of the mountain, and they will be closing the show on December 11th.
~
Peterson: Thank you all for coming out tonight, make sure to tip your waiters. This next song has been on my mind quite a bit lately. I hope you enjoy it.
Owen nods to the band. The music starts up, and after a few moments Owen starts singing.
I stand before a line in the sand
The fight lies ahead; fate in my hands
Today, the end begins
One step and the battle is born
The road that I walk is a gathering storm
Today, the end begins…
The fight lies ahead; fate in my hands
Today, the end begins
One step and the battle is born
The road that I walk is a gathering storm
Today, the end begins…
~
An Oral History of the Immortal Lord of Pain
Ten years ago, a young prospect made his debut as part of the relaunched Lock Wrestling Federation, a promotion looking to reestablish itself after a several year hiatus.
He would go on to become one of the most successful Entertainment Professionals in history.
We look back now on a monumental career, through conversations with the people who were a part of the journey and came along for the ride.
Travis Pierce: We actually debuted together, believe it or not. A battle royal on the premiere episode of Warzone. Didn’t go well for either of us. I think Fusion won it actually, of all people.
Dave Rydell: Donovan is a hell of a competitor, but he fell under the wings of a maniac sociopath that is, Fear. From there, he skyrocketed. He played the game and played it well.
The young Hastings became the pupil of the veteran Fear, the man known today as Phrixus Deimos.
Phrixus Deimos: Unquestionable potential. Had it from day one. All he needed was a gentle push, so I gave him one.
The “Lords of Pain” would win the LWF Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions, and following their break-up Hastings would go on to singles success that would see him capture the historic Cross-Hemisphere Championship.
Hastings would expand his career when he joined Global Impact Wrestling in 2008, competing in both promotions simultaneously, and building his name in both.
Travis Roberts: When ‘The Blessed One’ joined GIW, Donny’s biggest claim to fame was being a member of the Global Domination stable. The big ‘draw’ of this group was and individual named Lord Deathman, and that’s all you really need to know about the overall impact they had on the industry. I’d love to say Donovan stood out in this coalition of mediocrity, the breakout star of this creative car crash. Unfortunately, he just blended into the background, one fool in sea of morons. In all honesty, the most entertaining and noteworthy thing he did in those first few months was throw a tennis ball against a wall….
Owen Peterson: Donovan was still young then, not one to take responsibility. I was just trying to do my job, mind my own business, but when he had some struggles he made me the focus, cast the blame in my direction.
Travis Roberts: Everyone had just taken it for granted that ‘The Lord of Pain’ was nothing more than a delusional joke, his most memorable moments had included getting his cloak splattered by another man’s seed, it’s difficult to imagine being further away from the top of the card than Donovan was at that point. Frankly we were distracted by his antics, and to a man we underestimated ‘The Immortal’ Donovan Hastings…
The career of Hastings in GIW took a significant turn when he entered into the 2009 Global Challenge at Infinity, referred to by the promotion’s enforcer, Boss P, as The Search for the Chief Nigga. Despite losing in the semi-finals of the tournament, Hastings claimed the moniker as his own.
Owen Peterson: People often ask me why I’m not offended by the whole Lord-Chief Nigga thing. This is what you need to understand about Donovan. He takes what you give him, he grabs hold of anything he can, and he makes it his own. It was Boss P that put that out there. Donovan just took the hand he was dealt and he owned it.
Hastings made the most of his new spotlight, with victories in a brutal “I Quit” Match against Gabrielle Montgomery and earning a Global Title shot by defeating ‘The Monster’ Dredd in Valhalla Burial.
Travis Roberts: ‘The Headliner’ was in the middle of the hottest year of his career to date when Donny earned a shot at the Global Heavyweight Championship and yours truly. It wasn’t a surprise that he lost, what was a surprise was how he turned that defeat into the biggest victory of his career. ‘The Lord of Pain’ had recognized that Travis Roberts’ star was on the rise and was unlikely to start falling anytime soon, so much to my dismay, he attached himself and took a ride. Try as I might I could not shake the self-proclaimed Co-Global Heavyweight Champion, and that’s when our bond began to grow, and even ‘The Blessed One’ couldn’t ignore the impact our alliance could have. You can’t understate the influence our combined powers had, hell it only took one appearance on Dexter Vines’ ill-conceived talk show to make him a star, and that’s still the pinnacle of his career….
The joint appearance of Hastings and Roberts on This Evening With Dexter Vines was an overnight sensation, and the dynamic pairing would go on to defeat the Covenant at Distant Whispers, but that was merely the appetizer before the main course: a historic match between the two, a Last Man Standing Match for the Global Title at Horizons.
Travis Roberts: That year ended with Donovan Hastings defeating ‘The Headliner’ at Horizons, just a year earlier he had been considered a joke, a forgettable card filler with little upside, yet through pure force of will he defeated GIW’s greatest competitor at the biggest show in their history. Not only that he went on to raise the bar even further the following year…
The reign of Hastings as the Global Champion saw the Covenant seize power in GIW. Hastings barely turned aside the challenge of Raenius before facing the Global Challenge winner, Dirge, on what would prove to be the final GIW broadcast.
Dirge: Raenius and I came into GIW and turned it on its head. We had a propensity for destabilizing promotions when we were together. I am proud of what we did and I think we caused them to have to raise the bar, especially for some of their legends and top draws.
The actions of the Covenant led to the demise of GIW, which would be purchased by a conglomerate group that also purchased LWF and merged the two entities into the Unified Global Wrestling Coalition. As the final GIW Global Champion, Hastings faced the final LWF World Champion in a unification match at No Holds Barred.
Dave Rydell: This match was the stepping stone to greatness for me. And I blew it. I was in a bad place, and he more or less carried that match. I did what I could but I really just wasn’t ready for the culture shock of coming to UGWC. And I lost my greatest achievement. The match itself was brutal. He deserved everything from that.
Hastings was the face of UGWC for much of its initial year, but he would soon encounter a face from his past at In Your Hands.
Phrixus Deimos: For me, everything was coming full circle. The student believed that he had become the master, and he was indeed a formidable opponent, but he was still young. As good as he was, he was still a shadow compared to what he one day would be. He still was not ready.
Despite losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Deimos, Hastings would regroup and recapture the title later that year from Declan Prescott, himself a future Hall of Famer. He would go on to headline the first Horizons under the UGWC banner against Jet Somers, a rising star that would prove to be the Lord of Pain’s greatest nemesis.
~
Hastings: Okay, let’s have ladies on my left for hugs, and dudes on my right for high-fives.
Todd the Still an Intern: Uh, why would we do that?
Hastings: This is a meet and greet, isn’t it? I don’t do autographs. I could get a hand cramp or a papercut or something. Just meeting me, that’s the real experience.
Todd the Still an Intern: It certainly is, but this is a press conference.
Hastings: What?
Todd the Still an Intern: This is a media event for Horizons.
Donovan looks out at the gaggle of reporters.
Hastings: See, this is why I always want a handler for these events.
Todd the Still an Intern: You need a handler for a press conference?
Hastings: I was born to be handled.
Todd the Still an Intern: Wonderful, that’s a hot mic in front of you. Let’s get started, yes? Yes. Right there.
Todd points to one of many hands up in the crowd.
Jason Reeves: Can you tell us if there a deeper meaning to the long feud you’ve had with Jet Somers, any analogies or transcendent themes? Please cite examples.
Hastings: Come here.
Reeves: Why?
Hastings: Let’s go, we don’t have all day.
Donovan snaps his fingers and waves him up.
Reeves: Um, okay.
He hesitates a moment, but makes his way up onto the stage.
Hastings: Here ya go.
Donovan puts his hand up, clearly for a high-five. Reeves hesitates, but starts to put his hand up.
Hastings: Freeze. Creepy intern, you’re up.
Todd the Still an Intern: What?
Donovan motions for Todd to high-five Reeves, and pantomimes it when they don’t immediately react. After a few moments, Reeves shrugs and high-fives Todd and wanders back to the group.
Hastings: Okay, let’s have us a lady. You won’t need to tag in on that one.
Todd the Still an Intern: I think your session is over.
Hastings: Glad we’re on the same page.
~
And if it was up to me
I'd rewrite history
And change my destiny
One last time
I'd rewrite history
And change my destiny
One last time
~
In 2011, Donovan found himself in the unexpected position of mentor to Chris Peterson, the grandson of Owen Peterson, who stepped up for his grandfather’s honor, only to find himself under the thrall of the Lord as well.
Owen Peterson: The truth is that Christopher wasn’t ready, he had some basic lessons in the Dragon’s Cave with Kiseragi, but Donovan understands that there is more to this business than knowing moves in a ring. You have to be larger than life, that is what Donovan Hastings does better than anybody else. Chris Peterson was a young kid with potential. “The Black Knight” was a force to be reckoned with, one that made a name for himself and won championship gold. He had Donovan to thank for that.
Hastings would eventually open his own training gym, the Dungeon of Pain, with a deep roster of students and extensive classes such as Basic Character Construction, Symbolism, and Zen and the Aerodynamics of the Paint Balloon.
Old Lady Levene: He was always such a nice boy. He tried to help my grandson just like he helped the colored boy, but there was no helping the mess he had become and they had to banish him, very sad.
Following successful feuds with the likes of Alex Stein and Ezekiel Pax, it appeared Hastings was on a path back to the top, until his seemingly irresistible force ran into an unstoppable object.
Zane Scott: I don't think that there's a feud that did as much to turn me into the wrestler and even the person I am now as much as feuding with Donovan did. It's impossible to go through the kind of sheer violence against and with someone that Donnie and I put ourselves through and not come out different for it at the end. I remember thinking at the time that injuring him and possibly ending his career was the highlight of mine up to that point.
~
Donovan enters the green room of The Piercing Truth, moments after walking off the set.
Hastings: Idiot.
Looking up, Donovan stops in his tracks at the sight of the man that stands in his path.
Hastings: Somers.
Somers: Donovan.
They lock eyes for several seconds.
Hastings: You know, I have to admit, I can appreciate that I’m facing you.
Somers: Oh?
Hastings: You were the one that knew how much was too much, the one that stopped us from taking things too far. Do you remember? The “I Quit” Match at Sin City?
Somers: I remember.
Hastings: Limits are important, wouldn’t you agree? Knowing when enough is enough, where to draw the line? You are the one that knows when to quit.
Somers: I’m not the one whose career is on the line.
Hastings: True. I’m going to be perfectly honest, going into what very well could be my last match, I can’t imagine anyone, anybody at all, after the career that I’ve had, the battles I’ve fought, the wars that I’ve been through, I can’t imagine anybody that I would rather face in my last match than Travis Roberts.
Somers: Fair enough.
Hastings: Or Alex Kiseragi. Man, the war between the Dragon’s Cave and the Dungeon of Pain really was something. Phrixus Deimos, tremendous, tremendous personal history there.
Somers: Of course.
Hastings: Zane! I mean, turns out he is a great guy, culinary skills to rival Owen, but I do still owe him for all that time he cost me out of my career a few years ago. Or Killian, that got personal too. Dirge.
Somers: I get it.
Hastings: Ezekiel Pax, burnt his church down that one time, that was my bad. Dave Rydell, we did open UGWC together essentially.
Somers: Now you’re just being mean.
Hastings: Is Andy Savana dead?
Somers: You don’t want to face me, that’s fine. I wouldn’t want to face me either, considering I’ve beaten you at Horizons before.
Hastings: That’s the thing. I do want to face you, Jet. For one simple reason.
Donovan looks at the title slung over Jet’s shoulder. Jet glances at it as well.
Hastings: Because you’re the person holding that. I didn’t want to face you one more time. I couldn’t care less. I wanted one more shot at that, and it is worth my career for the chance. I don’t need to think about how I feel about Jet Somers being my final opponent. You’re not going to be my final opponent.
They stare each other down again, as Rob Cartwright leans into the room.
Cartwright: Jet, we’re ready for you.
Hastings: Go ahead, Jet. It seems following me is what you’re good at.
Donovan storms out of the room.
~
And you says, why do you fight? (There's a sound before the fight)
How can you say you know what's right?
What if we win? What if we fall? (A song before the fall)
Will any choice that we make
Matter at all?
I know I can win, I've done it before
Get out of my way, I gotta settle the score
One last time
How can you say you know what's right?
What if we win? What if we fall? (A song before the fall)
Will any choice that we make
Matter at all?
I know I can win, I've done it before
Get out of my way, I gotta settle the score
One last time
~
After being out of action for months due to injuries suffered at the hands of the Personification of Hate, Hastings returned to face the now World Champion Zane Scott a final time.
Zane Scott: I admit that I disliked Donovan when it began, hated him as it progressed and then grew to begrudgingly respect him before it ended. When he returned, I wanted nothing more than to finish him for good. That's the funny thing about battles like that, they can go in directions that you'd never expect them to.
Hastings would lose the match but had re-established himself as a force to be reckoned with, which he would underscore with a victory at Horizons over Cypress Morgan.
Less than two months later, Hastings would once again be the centerpiece as the foundation of UGWC was rocked by the formation of the Puppet Masters.
Travis Roberts: I’d been gone for a while and I had been approached by Dirge to return, and after a great deal of planning and discussions ‘The Puppet Masters’ revealed themselves to a shocked world. Travis Roberts, Dirge, Alan Wallace and Donovan Hastings together, and despite the fact ‘The Lord’ was crowned World Heavyweight Champion many felt he was the weak link. Once again people underestimated Donny, and while The Puppet Masters is a chapter ‘The Greater Evil’, ‘Mr Ego’ and ‘The Most Influential Icon in Sports Entertainment this Millenia’ would likely sooner forget, ‘The Lord of Pain’ made it work to his advantage….
Dirge: We had four of the greatest talents in the history of the business in myself, Donovan, Travis and Alan. Then we added who we saw as a future legend when we added Remi. That was a group that had 'greatest stable ever' written all over it.
Hastings would hold the World Title for over six months, during which time he unified it with the PPW Paramount Championship when he defeated Jet Somers at WrestleStock. He lost the title at Outlast but regained it a month later, only to see it snatched away moments later when High Roller winner Eden Morgan cashed in her opportunity, and in the meanwhile cracks had formed within the powerful group.
Alan Wallace: Simply put, one of the best stables to ever form in sports entertainment history. Unfortunately, it was also one of the most disappointing. There was simply too much animosity for it to be long-lasting. Donovan was one of the most respected veterans in UGWC, and I was still reestablishing myself as the most important entity in this business. My ego simply wouldn’t allow me to be a blind follower of Lord Hastings, no matter how much he has meant to this company. And in the end, I think things worked out exceedingly well. For me, at least.
Dirge: It was a license to print money and it failed because we got complacent. I think that we expected that our names would be enough to make it succeed and when it wasn't, we just sort of lost interest in it. That's the problem with a group like that. Four egos can drive each other to greatness, or they can drive the entire project into the ground
With his reign as the World Champion over, Hastings turned his attention to the returned threat of Travis Roberts, his former best friend whom he had turned his back on earlier in the year alongside the rest of the Puppet Masters. Five years after their original clash at Horizons, the two would face off again.
Travis Roberts: We met at Horizons once more, this time the only thing at stake was pride, and during our epic, show stealing Vigilante Match, the match that last year was voted as the fans favorite Horizons match of all time, I think we both realized that for better or worse we would always be there for each other. That night, as we were covered in each other’s blood, we became true brothers and haven’t looked back since.
Both Hastings and Roberts would take a brief hiatus following Horizons, and when they returned in early 2015, they once again stood united, having put aside their differences. They won championship gold together for the first official time in their careers when they defeated the Glorious Bastards at Kobayashi Maru, and took pride in their new position as the self-appointed Champions of Cooperation.
Travis Roberts: The Cooperative run was fun, ‘The Blessed One’ has never been interested in holding any title beyond the World Heavyweight Championship, but I look back fondly on our time as the Champions of Cooperation, although I still wince when I think of the Japanese game show….
In the meanwhile, Hastings had developed a bizarre rivalry with Dave Rydell, refusing to acknowledge that he was any different from Red Fusion, the past identity that Rydell had shed. After months of antagonization, Hastings defeated Rydell at Horizons.
Dave Rydell: So we’ve been embroiled in a ridiculously long rivalry. It started in the second coming of the LWF. I’ve got to say, he made me better. Even in the times that I was down and out, he just forced me to be better. I know it wasn’t his intention, but I think it was the overall hatred I had for him. But since our match at Horizons, he squeaked out the win, and I just respect him.
Hastings would go on to become an unintentional mainstay in the cooperative division through his lengthy feud with Killian King, made personal when Killian dressed the Lord’s daughter in T-shirts reading “Hugs and Fisticuffs” as a PG reference to the Sex and Violence team that Killian was a part of. Hastings would team repeatedly with past enemies such as Dredd and Rydell as he was willing to put all else aside in his rage against the Crucible.
Alan Wallace: One of the worst moments of my career. Not for getting to wrestle Donovan multiple times, usually with gold on the line. And not even witnessing the hatred fester between he and Killian. He was forced to team with Dave Rydell. I cannot imagine the anguish that caused him. The sleepless nights... the mental torture of having to listen to someone like Rydell... I’m honestly surprised he didn’t walk away from itball the first night he saw that he was teaming with Dave. I probably would have.
However, it was in 2017 that Hastings found himself an unlikely and remarkable partner.
Zane Scott: I was... unenthused... to say the least. Now I wouldn't trade it for anything, in spite of the derision that some have greeted it. I admit that I still find the whole thing to be a bit much to process at times considering how our past has been. I don't switch gears that easily and this has definitely been an adjustment for both of us. That said, I'm happy that it happened as it did. He and I have taken something that no one ever expected to work and most probably expected to result in more violence between us and we've turned it into 'Pain and Paradox', which in spite of how some see it has been a total success and has helped me enjoy wrestling and being a wrestler again.
While Pain and Paradox marked a bright spot in 2017 for the Lord, much of the year was wrought with frustration. Hastings took it upon himself to carry the mantle of Travis Roberts and Alan Wallace before him, raising the bar of the World Heavyweight Title, but Hastings failed time and again to earn the opportunity he sought. Despite a favorable entry in the Massive Melee, cashing in for a title shot at an opportune time, being a candidate to face the champion at In Your Hands, and drafting a powerful team at Outlast, Hastings came up short time and again, most recently at Battleground, leading to him to take a final opportunity, putting his career on the line for a shot in the main event of Horizons.
~
Donovan is seated on a park bench, watching as his daughters run around on the playground. He is relaxed, a beaming smile on his face, so caught up in what he is watching that he fails to notice his visitor as he arrives.
Dirge: I was surprised to hear from you.
Donovan glances up at him before returning his gaze to his children.
Hastings: Thank you for coming.
Dirge: Of course.
The man once known as the Momentum Killer takes a seat next to the Lord of Pain.
Hastings: How are your family?
Dirge: Doing well, thank you. Your daughters are beautiful.
Hastings: They are.
They sit for a minute in silence, watching the twins as they play.
Hastings: How did you do it?
Dirge: Do what?
Hastings: How did you walk away from it all?
Dirge thinks for a moment.
Dirge: My family is more important to me than championships.
Donovan smirks.
Hastings: How did you do it and not feel unfinished?
Dirge: What do you think I left unfinished?
Hastings: You were never the World Champion.
Dirge: Not in UGWC, no.
Hastings: Not in GIW, either.
Dirge: No, not in GIW, either. I’m proud of the career I had, in spite of those failures.
Hastings: I beat you a lot.
Dirge: You did. Remind me, which of the many times that you faced Zane Scott, the man that I trained, did you beat him? I suppose now if you can’t beat him, join him?
Hastings: Learned it from you.
Dirge: You were always a quick study.
They sit for another minute in silence.
Dirge: And what is it that you think you may leave unfinished?
Hastings: I can beat Jet Somers. I’ve done it before.
Dirge: I was there.
Hastings: I could do it again. After everything that has happened, I can still beat Jet Somers. I can be the World Heavyweight Champion, and I can be the person on top of the mountain, with the target on his back, and I can fend them all off. I can reign again.
Dirge: You could. I have no doubt that you could.
A beat of silence.
Dirge: But do you need to?
Donovan doesn’t respond, his gaze still unwavering. The girls have made their way to the swings, and they wave and call to their father to come push them.
Dirge: They really are quite beautiful.
Hastings: They are.
~
And now it's up to me
To go make history
And meet my destiny
One last time
To go make history
And meet my destiny
One last time
~
So what is the final legacy of Donovan Hastings?
Dave Rydell: Overall? At first I figured he would just be another drone for Fear to play with. After a while, I saw a legend. Eventually, he will be a sure fire first round hall of famer and if he doesn’t get a legend contract with this company after that, they’re messing up. And it’s a travesty.
Travis Pierce: 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.
Alan Wallace: There aren’t many people Vain will say this about, but I actually respect everything that Donovan has done for this business. Anything and everything that he has had to do for UGWC, he has done so, and then some. Strap the company to his back and lead through example? Check. Buck the norm and go his own route, when the company is being overrun with stables and arrogance? Check. Play the comedic foil when the situation arises? Check. Continually reinvent himself whenever he has needed, to stay fresh in a business that begins to grow stale? Check. He can literally do it all, and he doesn’t get nearly enough credit for what he brings to this industry. And it’s a damn shame.
Zane Scott: Donovan and Travis changed the business with TWiSTeD, yet people still think that he's a deluded doofus. Donovan is about to become the only five-time World Champion in UGWC history.
Phrixus Deimos: After over fifteen years in this business, everything that I have done, he might very well be my greatest achievement.
Travis Roberts: Donovan Hastings is a legend and he has made a career out of capitalising on the fact people underestimate him again and again and again. People often confuse a lack of interest and motivation on his part as the beginning of his decline, that he will be an easy victory on their own road to immortality, and more often than not they are wrong. UGWC has a long history, and the years are littered with warnings about being complacent around Donovan Hastings, but too few pay heed to the cautionary tales of the past. Having said that, if ‘The Blessed One’ were to put money on any member of the current roster being a UGWC history buff it’s Jet Somers, if there is anyone who should know not to underestimate Donovan Hastings, it’s Jet Somers. This Horizons main event has the potential to be one of the greatest matches in not only the event, but in the company’s history. It pains me to say it, but if UGWC had a Mount Rushmore, there are only two faces carved into the side of the mountain, and they will be closing the show on December 11th.
~
ONE
LAST
TIME
LAST
TIME