Post by Lord Hastings on Jul 13, 2020 21:14:05 GMT -5
Name: Jet Somers
Nicknames: Crazy Opie, The Living Weapon, The TWiSTeD Ninja
Year Inducted: 2020
Major Promotions: GIW, UGWC
Accomplishments:
Championships Held
UGWC World Heavyweight Champion x4
UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Champion
UGWC Cooperative Champion x7 (w/ Donovan Hastings, w/ Travis Pierce x3, w/ Chaos, w/ Rogan MacLean, w/ Eden Morgan)
UGWC Chaos Champion x2
Achievements
UGWC Grand Slam Champion
UGWC Battleground Winner
UGWC Outlast Champion
UGWC Entertainment Professional of the Year 2010
UGWC Voted Best Match 2017 (vs Hastings @ Horizons)
Career Notables:
Feuds
Donovan Hastings (2010, 2014, 2017)
Tyvola (2011)
Jezebel Saint (2013)
Partnerships
Travis Pierce (2011-2020) - The Piercing Weapons
Chaos (2015) - The Devil's Most Wanted
Eden Morgan (2017) - The Court
Matches
GIW Horizons 2009 - Jet Somers vs Raenius, Falls Count Anywhere
UGWC No Holds Barred 2010 - Jet Somers vs Jason Grant vs Kyle Tacker, Three Floors of Hell for the Chaos Title
UGWC Revolution 2010 - Jet Somers vs Phrixus Deimos, "I Quit" Match for the Chaos Title
UGWC Horizons 2010 - Jet Somers vs Donovan Hastings, Four Corners of Doom for the World Heavyweight Title
UGWC No Holds Barred 2011 - Jet Somers vs Gabrielle Montgomery vs Phrixus Deimos, Hall of Mirrors
UGWC Horizons 2011 - Jet Somers vs Tyvola, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC No Holds Barred 2012 - The Piercing Weapons vs The Lord's Enforcers, Bushfire Match for the Cooperative Title
UGWC Horizons 2012 - Jet Somers vs Travis Pierce
UGWC Massive Melee 2013 - Jet Somers vs Zane Scott, Stretcher Match for the World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Horizons 2013 - Jet Somers vs Jezebel Saint, Hell in a Cell
UGWC Seven Deadly Sins 2014 - Jet Somers vs Eden Morgan vs Mickey Dragon, PPW Paramount Title
UGWC WrestleStock 2014 - Jet Somers vs Donovan Hastings, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Sin City 2014 - Jet Somers vs Donovan Hastings, "I Quit" Match for the World Heavyweight Title
UGWC No Holds Barred 2016 - Jet Somers vs Travis Pierce, Blood, Pride, Death Match
UGWC Massive Melee 2016 - Jet Somers vs Travis Roberts vs Zane Scott, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Massive Melee 2017 - Jet Somers vs Eden Morgan, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Battleground 2017 - Jet Somers vs Rogan MacLean, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Horizons 2017 - Jet Somers vs Donovan Hastings, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Horizons 2018 - Jet Somers vs Eden Morgan
UGWC Coalescence 2020 - The Piercing Weapons vs The Thames Valley Hit Squad
Induction:
The crowd has assembled in anticipation of the Hall of Fame ceremony, and a hush befalls them as a voice comes over the PA system.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your Master of Ceremonies of this year’s Hall of Fame Induction, the Icon of Entertainment, the King of Charisma, TRAVIS PIERCE!”
Travis walks out to the stage and takes a moment to bask in the adoration of the crowd before walking up to the podium.
“Thank you, and welcome to the 2020 UGWC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. It is an annual tradition here at the WrestleStock festival, every year we add three more deserving names, sometimes people whose contributions have been more to the industry than to UGWC itself, but nonetheless people whose mark on what we do and impact and significance to UGWC is without question. With this year being UGWC’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration, it was felt that to mark the occasion, the Hall of Fame Induction should be the biggest ever. And yet, we are not adding more than three names tonight. We’re not even adding three names tonight. We are only adding one, but that is because for ten years he has been THE face of UGWC.”
“This year, we welcome my friend, my partner, occasionally my rival, the Living Weapon, Jet Somers, to the Hall of Fame. And such an induction should be something special, and tonight it is. While I could certainly handle this on my own, the career of Jet Somers has touched so many, had such impact, that we felt the need to represent that scope here today. So please welcome, to get us started, a Hall of Famer that recently returned to action and beat me and dropped the ball yesterday, the Dragon, Alex Kiseragi.”
Alex Kiseragi walks out to the stage and Pierce steps back to let him take the podium.
“It is the nature of the professional wrestling business to turn one against their peers. We are forever encouraged to degrade those around us, to make light of their achievements while ever enhancing the stories of our own. Everyone is an enemy and so often those we believe to be our allies will turn on us at the slightest opportunity. It is an environment that rewards ruthlessness and treachery, not one that harbours trust.
It is rare then to find someone in the business that you can believe in. Someone that you can put your faith in, not only as a fleeting ally, nor even only as a training partner, but as a true friend. I can count on a single hand the number of people in this business I view as such and I am proud to be here on the day that we honour one of them.
Here, in the tenth year of UGWC we mark the induction of a man who has been here from the very beginning. A man who, for over a decade, has embodied the rare virtues of honour and honesty, all the while combined with the spirit of a true competitor and the skills to back it up every step of the way.
I have had few more proud moments than when he stood at this podium to induct me into these hallowed halls and I am grateful to be just one among the many who get to be here when he takes his rightful place in the UGWC Hall of Fame.”
The crowd applauds as Kiseragi leaves the stage and Pierce steps back to the podium.
“Next up, we are joined by another Hall of Famer, please welcome Opie’s own sister, Jezebel Saint!”
The crowd roars in approval as Drain STH's “Ace of Spades” plays and Jezebel Saint, a 2015 Hall of Fame inductee herself, steps out onto the stage wearing a well-tailored black pantsuit, the three-quarter sleeves and low cut of the jacket showing off her brightly-colored tattoos and generous cleavage to their best effect. She pauses for a moment, speaking to Travis Pierce briefly and smiling before stepping to the podium and pushing her scarlet hair over her shoulder. She grins out at the crowd who has finally settled down.
“How we doin' guys?” she asks into the mic, greeted again by whistles and cheers. “Yeah, I hear ya. I've been at every WrestleStock since 2013 and lemme tell you, they just get crazier, but I think this year beat all I've ever seen, and Chad was even blown up once, so there's that.”
Her words are greeted by a smattering of laughter, Pierce heard to request from off-stage that she not bring that up again.
“Oh, it's okay, Travis, I'm sure he's completely over that by now. C's such a forgiving person,” Jez assures him to even more laughter. “But we're not here today to talk about the redemptive spirit known as Chaos. He had his time a couple of years ago, in fact. No, today, someone very special is joining the ranks of others I am so proud to be a part of.” She pauses, looking down at a paper as if struggling to collect her thoughts.
“Jet Somers. It's a name that everyone who is a fan of this company knows and knows well. You know him from UGWC. You know him from GIW. Maybe some remember how he started out in MMA and wanted nothing to do with this business, was actually quite bitter toward it and being dragged into it in order to clean up mistakes made by those he loved,” her voice shakes a little and she clears her throat. “He did that a lot, cleaned up mistakes, made a lot of them too; but more often than not, he was kicked for going on clean-up duty rather than thanked. I was responsible for some of that myself. You all know the story, there's no need to go into that,” she says, shaking her head as the crowd murmurs around her.
“There's certainly much to say about the career of Jet Somers. How decorated he is, how devoted. There aren't many who can claim the level of accolades Jet has has amassed in his time here, nor can they vouch to hold the same love for the business that he does, and the fans right along with it. There aren't many who held their hand out to new and up-and-coming entertainment professionals like he did, showing them the ropes and making sure they found their footing. I think that's partly down to the fact that he could have used something like that when he was tossed into the deep end of this industry and left to navigate the waters himself. But he did it, and he's done things that some of us could never dream of doing, and in ways that would certainly never even occur to us,” she says with a laugh.
A chant of “Paint it black” goes up around the crowd.
“Yes, that! Among other things. I could go on and on about how important Jet is to UGWC and this industry, but I'm not, because each and every one of you knows already. That's how much of a legend he is even before this honor. Instead, I want to talk about the Jet Somers I know and love, my brother, and why Jet is so important to me,” Jezebel looks out at the crowd. “If you know Jet, you know his story. You know the heartbreak and tragedy that led to a Mississippi boy being raised in Louisiana alongside a redheaded hellion of a sister and doted on by a loving mother who worked her fingers to the bone for both of us. Hi, Mom. I love you,” Jez says, looking down at the front row where their mother sat, smiling at her and blowing her a kiss while the crowd cheers.
“What you may not know is how protective and how caring Jet was even then. Understand that here was a boy who had lost everything, who had every reason to let the world turn him bitter, to lash out, but instead he took all of that, took all the pain he was given and instead returned love and devotion to the world. Honor. Long before Jet Somers was your hero? He was mine and my best friend, and while he didn't approve of many of the decisions I made... okay, most of them... he respected me enough to let me make my own choices, even though most of the time he turned out to be right. Do NOT tell him that,” she warns the crowd, holding a finger up as if to admonish them, laughter breaking out.
“He's stubborn, my brother, probably moreso than even I am, something Sherry can definitely attest to, right Sherry?” Jezebel looks down at the front row again to see Jet's long-time girlfriend and her best friend seated there nodding emphatically and pulling a face. “You look gorgeous by the way, that is definitely your color,” Jez says as an aside before sighing and looking out at the crowd once more. “But if I've ever met anyone in this world who has a heart of gold and will do anything he can to help you, it's Jet. Oh I know, he's deviated from the path a few times and he's made mistakes as well as some choices that no sane person would ever make... but every time, he manages to find his way back whether he's up on two feet with his head held high or crawling. It's that determination that I admire in him so much, it's what everyone saw in him when we were growing up, a leader, and it's that that people in this industry see when they look at him. It's why his retirement, though well-earned, made it feel as though the very foundation of UGWC shook.”
Jezebel laughs.
“I said I was going to talk about him as my brother and not in terms of UGWC, but we keep coming back to that because how can we not? Jet Somers is UGWC, and I don't mean that as a slight against anyone. There are a few here, some still on the roster, who are the very bedrock of this place, a cornerstone, and I'm so proud to say that my brother is among them.”
“You talk too much!”
The shout comes from off-stage, Jezebel turning to see Chaos standing there, waiting his turn. She rolls her eyes as the crowd laughs, holding up two tattooed middle fingers in the direction of her former cooperative partner and a man she considers a friend.
“Shut up, C, you know UGWC doesn't let me around a mic much! Can't imagine why,” she says with a grin out at the crowd before sobering. “But he's right, I could go on and on for hours on why Jet is the best and how much I love and respect him, but then when he comes out he'll just tip right off the stage because of the size of his head and then his hair will get messed up, and no one wants that,” she jokes. “So I suppose I'll end what I have to say on this note-- I'd like everyone out there, absolutely everyone, who has felt the influence Jet Somers has had on this business and in this company to stand.”
She watches, her smile growing as as far as the eye can see, people get to their feet, roster members, fans, former Hall of Famers alike, a wave of people rising before her.
“That's what I thought. Thank you for honoring my brother and loving him as I do, and thank you, Jet, for being what you have been and will continue to be to this business,” she says, stepping back from the mic and clapping as those who are still standing join her, shouts and whistles going up as well as a chant of Jet-Jet-Jet-Jet-Jet!
Pierce returns to the stage to introduce the next participant.
“Now, I know this might be hard to picture, even for people who actually saw it, but Jet Somers spent part of his career actually in the Devil’s Most Wanted, had his own cut and everything. He won’t cut his hair, but he’s got a jacket. Please welcome the Drunken Buzzsaw, Chaos!”
Clad in a pair of newer-looking jeans, a button-up black dress shirt, and a suit jacket that has had the sleeves of the arms cut out, 'The Drunken Buzzsaw' Chaos steps up to the podium. He waits for the crowd to die down, and then leans forward and begins to speak.
"I know I said similar a few years ago when I stood up here for Cyp" he begins, taking a moment to pull a Chadweiser out of his pocket and cracking it open. "But Wrestlestock is the single greatest fuckin' thing that we do during the year. The spectacle, the pageantry… all the boys and girls giving one-hundred and fifty percent… all in an attempt to send the fans home happy. Representatives from other companies coming over and giving that same effort. What event is better than WrestleStock? None. Absolutely none."
The crowd collectively cheers. Chaos takes a drink as he waits for them to quiet down.
"When I got the call to do this, of course I accepted" he continues, a sheepish grin beginning to form on his face. "Unfortunately my memory ain't what it used to be. Thankfully Vix sent me a few reminders, else I might still be over at 'The Devil's District' doing what I do best."
A revving of motorcycles breaks the silence, and Chaos raises his beer towards them in appreciation.
"It's no secret that I haven't been close to many people during the course of my career" he continues with a shrug. "Hard to get close to people when you don't really trust anyone. Other than my brothers in The Devil's Most Wanted, there aren't too many people in this industry that I respect. Of those brothers though? There aren't many that I trust more than one man."
"Jet Somers."
A chant of "JET! JET! JET! JET! Rings loud and long, bringing a smile to Chaos' face.
"I've known Jet damn near as long as I've known Jez" he begins, glancing down the stage at Jez and giving her a nod. He then points at Cypress Morgan, who is standing beside his wife. "And considering this motherfucker right here has been my best friend for two decades, you can almost say I've become part of their family."
"Motherfucker was adopted" yells out Cypress, causing everyone to laugh.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah" Chaos says, taking another drink of his Chadweiser. "And because Cyp and Jez have been my family over the last two decades, I consider their family, my family. Meaning I considered Jet Somers a brother, long before he became my brother."
Another chant for Jet, which allows Chaos the opportunity to finish his beer.
"Jet has taken a lot of shit over the years" Chaos continues. "Granted some of it has been warranted. I mean who in the hell willingly teams with Travis Pierce?"
A chant goes up for The Piercing Media Network, the camera panning to a shot of Travis Pierce, and then panning to a shot of a clearly irritated Eden Morgan-Baal. As the chant gets louder, Eden rolls her eyes, and then rises from her seat and walks away, Gabriel Baal sliding in beside her and putting his arm around her waist as the two leave.
"Guess someone has had better days, huh" chuckles Chaos, as he watches Eden and Gabriel head through the crowd. "Back to why we are here this evening though…"
Another chant for Jet, this one bringing a large smile to Chaos' face.
"I won't be much longer, I promise" he says, before totally breaking character and actually laughing. "Because it's real simple when it comes to Jet…"
He grows serious, looking down at the podium for a moment, as he gathers his thoughts.
"If there is one man other than Cypress that I would trust with my life" he says softly, measuredly, "if there is one man who I would trust with my family's life… it's Jet Fuckin' Somers."
Chaos stops for a moment, clearing his throat.
"I've never met a more selfless person in my entire life, at least not in this industry" he says, looking back out at the crowd. "There is no one more trustworthy, no one more caring, than Jet Somers. And no, I'm not just sayin' that because he helped me become a three-time Cooperative Champion here in UGWC"
A round of laughter from the crowd, followed by a chant for the team of Chaos and Somers.
"Whether it was for his family, Sherry, the world of Mixed Martial Arts, world of UGWC, or his club… Jet Somers was always the best of us. He was always the embodiment of everything that the rest of us attempted to be."
Chaos reaches into his pocket and pulls out another Chadweiser, popping the top.
"So everyone raise your drinks" he says, as he holds his beer bottle in the air, "and toast the man we are all here to see. He is a friend, a role model, and a brother… Mr. JET FUCKIN' SOMERS!"
The crowd pops once more and there's movement in the backstage area, Eden Morgan-Baal stepping out onto the stage instead of the man of the hour. A gasp goes up through those in attendance along with the low hum of whispers. Aware of all the eyes on her, her back stiff, she makes her way toward the podium. Chaos turns, fixing her with a look that would freeze anyone else in their tracks and likely send them back from whence they'd come while behind him from the other side of the stage, Jezebel and Cypress glare.
“You're not supposed to be here, Edie. Don't fuck this up for him,” Chaos warns, blocking her path to the podium.
Eden, for her part, doesn't back down, finally realizing he isn't going to move and security will be coming soon.
“Have a little faith.” It was only four words, but something about them or the look on her face has Chaos stepping to the side, albeit reluctantly. Her heart pounding, Eden moves up to the mic, looking out at the sea of faces, some angry that she was there at all when she obviously wasn't wanted, some ravenous for whatever “tea” she was about to spill.
“Without Jet Somers... there would be no Eden Morgan.”
Her words ring out clearly as she looks over to the side of the stage where her brother and sister-in-law stood, spotting Jet there with him along with Pierce. She looks briefly at Jet before turning and leaving the podium, going back the way she'd come. She rejoins her husband at the other side of the stage, neither of them looking back at those behind them as they depart, leaving an ever-increasing buzz of conversation behind them.
Pierce walks back to the podium, glaring at the side of the stage that Eden left via.
“Every party needs a pooper, that why we invited Eden. Actually, nobody invited Eden. Moving on. Now, once upon a time, Jet and I had an epic match at Horizons, but his second most significant rival at our flagship event is someone he faced twiced, main evented with twice, so please welcome Donovan Hastings!”
Donovan Hastings walks out onto the stage and up to the podium.
“Well, it took ten years, but we finally found something that Jet Somers could accomplish before I could. That’s worth a golf clap.”
Donovan steps back and gently pats two fingers on his other palm.
“Jet and I trace our rivalry back to the first year of UGWC. Heck, I carried him to his first Cooperative Championship. We would go on to main event the first UGWC Horizons together. Over the years, he would go his way, I would go mine. Yet in the end, it always came back to the same thing. Jet Somers and Donovan Hastings. Summer of 2014. We went at it for months, Pay-Per-View event after Pay-Per-View event, all for the World Heavyweight Title.”
Hastings pauses for applause.
“People talk about the Mount Rushmore of UGWC. They don’t ask what four faces you put on there. They ask: who do you put up there with Hastings and Somers?”
Hastings pauses for another round of applause. Somebody in the back of the audience shouts something about Rhodium Vain.
“And then there was Horizons in 2017. It was the night that led to me thinking I could walk away, a moment, a match, a rivalry that I’d never top. Truth be told, I probably won’t. Maybe it should have been my end. Jet, you’ve chosen to make this moment yours. I hope you find the peace that I couldn’t.”
Donovan reaches behind the podium and pulls out a paint can without a lid, setting it on top of the podium.
“To Jet Somers.”
Donovan tips over the can and it falls, spilling black paint on the stage, as Donovan walks away. Travis cautiously walks to the podium, taking caution to avoid the paint.
“I mean, this is cute and all, but somebody’s going to slip. Anyway, we come now to the man of the hour, and-”
The big screen suddenly flares to life with the smiling visage of the only UGWC Triple Champion who ever mattered, “The Professional”, Zane Scott. Jet looks up, clearly surprised by his appearance.
“Hi, Jet and congratulations on your deserved induction into the UGWC Hall of Fame!”
He raises his hands and claps. The gesture is completely sincere, without a hint of sarcasm or mockery in it. He finally lowers them and smiles down at a man who was and will forever remain one of the measuring sticks that all UGWC talents will be compared to.
“I can tell by the look on your face that you’re surprised to see me.” He continues. “Especially considering that I’m still barred from all UGWC events by the bullshit suspension that I’ve been under since December.”
He shakes his head in disgust, then smiles
“But that’s not why I’m here.”
He takes a second to adjust his dark red tie, but his smile never wavers.
“I’m here because you, sir, have been an undeniable influence on my career. You and I have never been friends and for all I know, we might never be, but I’d be lying if I said that you’ve meant nothing to my career. Whether it was through how you mentored my greatest adversaries, such as Eden, or propped up the hangers on and has beens that I’ve frequently had unfortunate repeat encounters with, such as good ol “Beta Travis” Pierce over there.”
He sarcastically salutes the MC.
“Or whether it was through doing what you do best, Jet, which is to provide each and every person in that locker room an undeniable standard to follow in terms of ring-generalship, athletic talent, leadership, professionalism or the most important of all of them, character, you’ve always been someone who I’ve looked up to in this sport whether we liked each other or not.”
He raises his hands and once again applauds “The Living Weapon”.
“I just wanted to say,” He continues as he lowers his hands. “Thank you.”
“You’ve earned your immortality, Jet.”
He opens his mouth to say one more thing, which appears to be “Thank you”, when the screen suddenly cuts out in mid “thank”. Jet looks at the screen in clear befuddlement before he turns and looks up at Travis Pierce, who smiles a beaming and proud smile and gives Jet a “thumbs up”.
Jet facepalms. Travis steps back up to the podium.
“I admit I forgot about that one. Anyway, we come to the man of the hour. The person with whom I’ve gone to war with, gone on the airwaves with, entertained the masses with. We’ve held gold together, and supported each other along the way to our own. We’ve fought, because sometimes that’s what families do. We’ve laughed, he’s cried, and we’ve bled together. Please join me in welcoming to the Hall of Fame...Jet Somers.”
Jet pulls Travis into brotherly embrace before taking the podium.
"Thank you, Trav," he nods toward his longtime partner with his Opie grin. Jet turns toward the crowd.
"I've inducted enough of my Hall of Fame compatriots to know how this usually goes," Jet shrugs, "I'm expected to stand up here for the next little bit and hand out thanks to my closest friends from the last ten years, sharing a few quick anecdotes, and maybe signing off with a couple of wistful 'what-might-have-been' dream matches or words of wisdom for the next generation."
Jet gives a dry chuckle, "Well, if you think I'm married to tradition, you probably don't know me. Big welcome to all of our newest guests, by the way."
He grins again while tossing a thumbs out, eliciting a big chuckle from the crowd.
"Now, I have no intention of snubbing the people who have helped me over the years, from A-Kis to Trav, my adopted family the Morgans and extended family the Devil's Most Wanted, from the Aussie Rebels and Spirits United to Kenzi Grey and Angelica Vaughn, from Moss Edwards and Remi Monroe to the Stars of Tomorrow, from Randy Boolzian to Nate Korpi, Covert Jay, and Jenny. The truth is, though, that my career is defined by my adversaries."
Jet tilts his head slightly, "You all know by now that I didn't want to be a wrestler, right? I've said that enough?"
The crowd laughs. Jez and Cyp, who have appeared today for this event, share a look and an eyeroll. Dyson seems confused, but Havyn nods sagely at him.
"And look at me now," he spreads his arms, "My wrestling career has eclipsed my mixed martial arts career three times over. Going against the grain has been my m.o. since day one, so, with that being said..."
"For showing me how in over my head and unprepared I really was," Jet looks into the distance, "thank you R!"
That gets a look of surprise from the crowd, but Jet continues.
"For creating insurmountable odds, which inspired me to fight until I could overcome them, thank you Dirge."
"For teaching me that victory doesn't always come from being declared the winner of a match, thank you Fear."
"For, maybe inadvertantly, opening up a path before me that would change how my entire career shaped up, thank you Duncan Ryder."
"For never ceasing to force me to make people take me seriously, thank you Travis Roberts."
"For adding more edge to my persona than I would have expected before facing you, thank you Gabrielle Montgomery."
"For forcing me to always watch out for the next attack, thank you Ezekiel Pax."
"For teaching me how to fit in without compromising myself, thank you Klaus vonKnorre."
"For making me question my sanity, thank you Ichabod."
"For sparking my creativity, thank you Prince Rudo," he throws some side eye at Pierce.
"For teaching me how to get up even after I've been completely broken, thank you Tyvola."
"For reminding me how much my professional skill had done for me before I got too caught up in the entertainment, thank you Zane Scott."
Jet looks down at his cards for a moment, brow furrowed.
"Who the hell put ol' Bob in here?" and he tosses the card to the side as everyone roars with laughter.
"For never letting the crowd get too comfortable with my intentions, thank you Dr. Hans Lieberjosch."
"For showing me I can overcome any demons, thank you Mickey Dragon."
"For seeing past my darker angels, thank you Killian king."
"For teaching me how to fight when I'm outclassed in every way, thank you JC."
"For making me accept that I can be utterly wrong about someone, thank you Lucy Wylde."
"For illustrating that no matter how good I get, I can always improve myself, thank you Alan Wallace."
"For showing me that even the most broken and ugly people are capable of being human beings for the right reason, thank you Gabriel Baal."
"For making me realize that it doesn't matter how big your legacy gets, no matter how decorated your history might be, you'll still have to work your ass off to impress some people, thank you Sarah Lacklan."
This time, Jet turns fully to the side to look at Pierce.
"For showing me that your harshest critics can become your closest allies, and helping me reinvent myself for what would become my life, Thank you Alpha Travis."
There's a pause and Jet looks down, and you get the sense he's not looking at his cards so much as looking through them.
"For beating the lesson into me that no matter how much you wish for something, no matter how hard you fight for something, there are some things in this world that are not meant to be, that are completely out of your control, and you have to find the strength to somehow live with that and get on with your life--"
You could hear a pin drop in the Fear Observation District, the crowd is so quiet.
"Thank you Eden Morgan."
Three seconds of tension and the air returns to the crowd, and the moment passes. Jet gives a lopsided smile.
"Did I leave anyone out?" he gathers up his cards and taps them on the top of the podium to collect them. A smattering of applause begins, but Jet holds up a hand.
"I have to say, the last ten years have been no walk in the park. It has been one war after another, and rising above my setbacks has spilled over into my personal life more times than I care to talk about. I wouldn't have been the competitor I turned out to be, I wouldn't have the legacy I built, I wouldn't be standing up in front of you today, on our ten year anniversary, taking my place in history, if I hadn't been challenged without fail, endlessly, and made to never stop questioning myself."
Jet leans into the microphone.
"For that, I thank you, Donovan Hastings."
Jet backs away and pulls the hoodie under his kutt up, turning around to to show the DMW logo, and walks away in the midst of a standing ovation.
Nicknames: Crazy Opie, The Living Weapon, The TWiSTeD Ninja
Year Inducted: 2020
Major Promotions: GIW, UGWC
Accomplishments:
Championships Held
UGWC World Heavyweight Champion x4
UGWC Cross-Hemisphere Champion
UGWC Cooperative Champion x7 (w/ Donovan Hastings, w/ Travis Pierce x3, w/ Chaos, w/ Rogan MacLean, w/ Eden Morgan)
UGWC Chaos Champion x2
Achievements
UGWC Grand Slam Champion
UGWC Battleground Winner
UGWC Outlast Champion
UGWC Entertainment Professional of the Year 2010
UGWC Voted Best Match 2017 (vs Hastings @ Horizons)
Career Notables:
Feuds
Donovan Hastings (2010, 2014, 2017)
Tyvola (2011)
Jezebel Saint (2013)
Partnerships
Travis Pierce (2011-2020) - The Piercing Weapons
Chaos (2015) - The Devil's Most Wanted
Eden Morgan (2017) - The Court
Matches
GIW Horizons 2009 - Jet Somers vs Raenius, Falls Count Anywhere
UGWC No Holds Barred 2010 - Jet Somers vs Jason Grant vs Kyle Tacker, Three Floors of Hell for the Chaos Title
UGWC Revolution 2010 - Jet Somers vs Phrixus Deimos, "I Quit" Match for the Chaos Title
UGWC Horizons 2010 - Jet Somers vs Donovan Hastings, Four Corners of Doom for the World Heavyweight Title
UGWC No Holds Barred 2011 - Jet Somers vs Gabrielle Montgomery vs Phrixus Deimos, Hall of Mirrors
UGWC Horizons 2011 - Jet Somers vs Tyvola, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC No Holds Barred 2012 - The Piercing Weapons vs The Lord's Enforcers, Bushfire Match for the Cooperative Title
UGWC Horizons 2012 - Jet Somers vs Travis Pierce
UGWC Massive Melee 2013 - Jet Somers vs Zane Scott, Stretcher Match for the World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Horizons 2013 - Jet Somers vs Jezebel Saint, Hell in a Cell
UGWC Seven Deadly Sins 2014 - Jet Somers vs Eden Morgan vs Mickey Dragon, PPW Paramount Title
UGWC WrestleStock 2014 - Jet Somers vs Donovan Hastings, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Sin City 2014 - Jet Somers vs Donovan Hastings, "I Quit" Match for the World Heavyweight Title
UGWC No Holds Barred 2016 - Jet Somers vs Travis Pierce, Blood, Pride, Death Match
UGWC Massive Melee 2016 - Jet Somers vs Travis Roberts vs Zane Scott, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Massive Melee 2017 - Jet Somers vs Eden Morgan, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Battleground 2017 - Jet Somers vs Rogan MacLean, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Horizons 2017 - Jet Somers vs Donovan Hastings, World Heavyweight Title
UGWC Horizons 2018 - Jet Somers vs Eden Morgan
UGWC Coalescence 2020 - The Piercing Weapons vs The Thames Valley Hit Squad
Induction:
The crowd has assembled in anticipation of the Hall of Fame ceremony, and a hush befalls them as a voice comes over the PA system.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome your Master of Ceremonies of this year’s Hall of Fame Induction, the Icon of Entertainment, the King of Charisma, TRAVIS PIERCE!”
Travis walks out to the stage and takes a moment to bask in the adoration of the crowd before walking up to the podium.
“Thank you, and welcome to the 2020 UGWC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. It is an annual tradition here at the WrestleStock festival, every year we add three more deserving names, sometimes people whose contributions have been more to the industry than to UGWC itself, but nonetheless people whose mark on what we do and impact and significance to UGWC is without question. With this year being UGWC’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration, it was felt that to mark the occasion, the Hall of Fame Induction should be the biggest ever. And yet, we are not adding more than three names tonight. We’re not even adding three names tonight. We are only adding one, but that is because for ten years he has been THE face of UGWC.”
“This year, we welcome my friend, my partner, occasionally my rival, the Living Weapon, Jet Somers, to the Hall of Fame. And such an induction should be something special, and tonight it is. While I could certainly handle this on my own, the career of Jet Somers has touched so many, had such impact, that we felt the need to represent that scope here today. So please welcome, to get us started, a Hall of Famer that recently returned to action and beat me and dropped the ball yesterday, the Dragon, Alex Kiseragi.”
Alex Kiseragi walks out to the stage and Pierce steps back to let him take the podium.
“It is the nature of the professional wrestling business to turn one against their peers. We are forever encouraged to degrade those around us, to make light of their achievements while ever enhancing the stories of our own. Everyone is an enemy and so often those we believe to be our allies will turn on us at the slightest opportunity. It is an environment that rewards ruthlessness and treachery, not one that harbours trust.
It is rare then to find someone in the business that you can believe in. Someone that you can put your faith in, not only as a fleeting ally, nor even only as a training partner, but as a true friend. I can count on a single hand the number of people in this business I view as such and I am proud to be here on the day that we honour one of them.
Here, in the tenth year of UGWC we mark the induction of a man who has been here from the very beginning. A man who, for over a decade, has embodied the rare virtues of honour and honesty, all the while combined with the spirit of a true competitor and the skills to back it up every step of the way.
I have had few more proud moments than when he stood at this podium to induct me into these hallowed halls and I am grateful to be just one among the many who get to be here when he takes his rightful place in the UGWC Hall of Fame.”
The crowd applauds as Kiseragi leaves the stage and Pierce steps back to the podium.
“Next up, we are joined by another Hall of Famer, please welcome Opie’s own sister, Jezebel Saint!”
The crowd roars in approval as Drain STH's “Ace of Spades” plays and Jezebel Saint, a 2015 Hall of Fame inductee herself, steps out onto the stage wearing a well-tailored black pantsuit, the three-quarter sleeves and low cut of the jacket showing off her brightly-colored tattoos and generous cleavage to their best effect. She pauses for a moment, speaking to Travis Pierce briefly and smiling before stepping to the podium and pushing her scarlet hair over her shoulder. She grins out at the crowd who has finally settled down.
“How we doin' guys?” she asks into the mic, greeted again by whistles and cheers. “Yeah, I hear ya. I've been at every WrestleStock since 2013 and lemme tell you, they just get crazier, but I think this year beat all I've ever seen, and Chad was even blown up once, so there's that.”
Her words are greeted by a smattering of laughter, Pierce heard to request from off-stage that she not bring that up again.
“Oh, it's okay, Travis, I'm sure he's completely over that by now. C's such a forgiving person,” Jez assures him to even more laughter. “But we're not here today to talk about the redemptive spirit known as Chaos. He had his time a couple of years ago, in fact. No, today, someone very special is joining the ranks of others I am so proud to be a part of.” She pauses, looking down at a paper as if struggling to collect her thoughts.
“Jet Somers. It's a name that everyone who is a fan of this company knows and knows well. You know him from UGWC. You know him from GIW. Maybe some remember how he started out in MMA and wanted nothing to do with this business, was actually quite bitter toward it and being dragged into it in order to clean up mistakes made by those he loved,” her voice shakes a little and she clears her throat. “He did that a lot, cleaned up mistakes, made a lot of them too; but more often than not, he was kicked for going on clean-up duty rather than thanked. I was responsible for some of that myself. You all know the story, there's no need to go into that,” she says, shaking her head as the crowd murmurs around her.
“There's certainly much to say about the career of Jet Somers. How decorated he is, how devoted. There aren't many who can claim the level of accolades Jet has has amassed in his time here, nor can they vouch to hold the same love for the business that he does, and the fans right along with it. There aren't many who held their hand out to new and up-and-coming entertainment professionals like he did, showing them the ropes and making sure they found their footing. I think that's partly down to the fact that he could have used something like that when he was tossed into the deep end of this industry and left to navigate the waters himself. But he did it, and he's done things that some of us could never dream of doing, and in ways that would certainly never even occur to us,” she says with a laugh.
A chant of “Paint it black” goes up around the crowd.
“Yes, that! Among other things. I could go on and on about how important Jet is to UGWC and this industry, but I'm not, because each and every one of you knows already. That's how much of a legend he is even before this honor. Instead, I want to talk about the Jet Somers I know and love, my brother, and why Jet is so important to me,” Jezebel looks out at the crowd. “If you know Jet, you know his story. You know the heartbreak and tragedy that led to a Mississippi boy being raised in Louisiana alongside a redheaded hellion of a sister and doted on by a loving mother who worked her fingers to the bone for both of us. Hi, Mom. I love you,” Jez says, looking down at the front row where their mother sat, smiling at her and blowing her a kiss while the crowd cheers.
“What you may not know is how protective and how caring Jet was even then. Understand that here was a boy who had lost everything, who had every reason to let the world turn him bitter, to lash out, but instead he took all of that, took all the pain he was given and instead returned love and devotion to the world. Honor. Long before Jet Somers was your hero? He was mine and my best friend, and while he didn't approve of many of the decisions I made... okay, most of them... he respected me enough to let me make my own choices, even though most of the time he turned out to be right. Do NOT tell him that,” she warns the crowd, holding a finger up as if to admonish them, laughter breaking out.
“He's stubborn, my brother, probably moreso than even I am, something Sherry can definitely attest to, right Sherry?” Jezebel looks down at the front row again to see Jet's long-time girlfriend and her best friend seated there nodding emphatically and pulling a face. “You look gorgeous by the way, that is definitely your color,” Jez says as an aside before sighing and looking out at the crowd once more. “But if I've ever met anyone in this world who has a heart of gold and will do anything he can to help you, it's Jet. Oh I know, he's deviated from the path a few times and he's made mistakes as well as some choices that no sane person would ever make... but every time, he manages to find his way back whether he's up on two feet with his head held high or crawling. It's that determination that I admire in him so much, it's what everyone saw in him when we were growing up, a leader, and it's that that people in this industry see when they look at him. It's why his retirement, though well-earned, made it feel as though the very foundation of UGWC shook.”
Jezebel laughs.
“I said I was going to talk about him as my brother and not in terms of UGWC, but we keep coming back to that because how can we not? Jet Somers is UGWC, and I don't mean that as a slight against anyone. There are a few here, some still on the roster, who are the very bedrock of this place, a cornerstone, and I'm so proud to say that my brother is among them.”
“You talk too much!”
The shout comes from off-stage, Jezebel turning to see Chaos standing there, waiting his turn. She rolls her eyes as the crowd laughs, holding up two tattooed middle fingers in the direction of her former cooperative partner and a man she considers a friend.
“Shut up, C, you know UGWC doesn't let me around a mic much! Can't imagine why,” she says with a grin out at the crowd before sobering. “But he's right, I could go on and on for hours on why Jet is the best and how much I love and respect him, but then when he comes out he'll just tip right off the stage because of the size of his head and then his hair will get messed up, and no one wants that,” she jokes. “So I suppose I'll end what I have to say on this note-- I'd like everyone out there, absolutely everyone, who has felt the influence Jet Somers has had on this business and in this company to stand.”
She watches, her smile growing as as far as the eye can see, people get to their feet, roster members, fans, former Hall of Famers alike, a wave of people rising before her.
“That's what I thought. Thank you for honoring my brother and loving him as I do, and thank you, Jet, for being what you have been and will continue to be to this business,” she says, stepping back from the mic and clapping as those who are still standing join her, shouts and whistles going up as well as a chant of Jet-Jet-Jet-Jet-Jet!
Pierce returns to the stage to introduce the next participant.
“Now, I know this might be hard to picture, even for people who actually saw it, but Jet Somers spent part of his career actually in the Devil’s Most Wanted, had his own cut and everything. He won’t cut his hair, but he’s got a jacket. Please welcome the Drunken Buzzsaw, Chaos!”
Clad in a pair of newer-looking jeans, a button-up black dress shirt, and a suit jacket that has had the sleeves of the arms cut out, 'The Drunken Buzzsaw' Chaos steps up to the podium. He waits for the crowd to die down, and then leans forward and begins to speak.
"I know I said similar a few years ago when I stood up here for Cyp" he begins, taking a moment to pull a Chadweiser out of his pocket and cracking it open. "But Wrestlestock is the single greatest fuckin' thing that we do during the year. The spectacle, the pageantry… all the boys and girls giving one-hundred and fifty percent… all in an attempt to send the fans home happy. Representatives from other companies coming over and giving that same effort. What event is better than WrestleStock? None. Absolutely none."
The crowd collectively cheers. Chaos takes a drink as he waits for them to quiet down.
"When I got the call to do this, of course I accepted" he continues, a sheepish grin beginning to form on his face. "Unfortunately my memory ain't what it used to be. Thankfully Vix sent me a few reminders, else I might still be over at 'The Devil's District' doing what I do best."
A revving of motorcycles breaks the silence, and Chaos raises his beer towards them in appreciation.
"It's no secret that I haven't been close to many people during the course of my career" he continues with a shrug. "Hard to get close to people when you don't really trust anyone. Other than my brothers in The Devil's Most Wanted, there aren't too many people in this industry that I respect. Of those brothers though? There aren't many that I trust more than one man."
"Jet Somers."
A chant of "JET! JET! JET! JET! Rings loud and long, bringing a smile to Chaos' face.
"I've known Jet damn near as long as I've known Jez" he begins, glancing down the stage at Jez and giving her a nod. He then points at Cypress Morgan, who is standing beside his wife. "And considering this motherfucker right here has been my best friend for two decades, you can almost say I've become part of their family."
"Motherfucker was adopted" yells out Cypress, causing everyone to laugh.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah" Chaos says, taking another drink of his Chadweiser. "And because Cyp and Jez have been my family over the last two decades, I consider their family, my family. Meaning I considered Jet Somers a brother, long before he became my brother."
Another chant for Jet, which allows Chaos the opportunity to finish his beer.
"Jet has taken a lot of shit over the years" Chaos continues. "Granted some of it has been warranted. I mean who in the hell willingly teams with Travis Pierce?"
A chant goes up for The Piercing Media Network, the camera panning to a shot of Travis Pierce, and then panning to a shot of a clearly irritated Eden Morgan-Baal. As the chant gets louder, Eden rolls her eyes, and then rises from her seat and walks away, Gabriel Baal sliding in beside her and putting his arm around her waist as the two leave.
"Guess someone has had better days, huh" chuckles Chaos, as he watches Eden and Gabriel head through the crowd. "Back to why we are here this evening though…"
Another chant for Jet, this one bringing a large smile to Chaos' face.
"I won't be much longer, I promise" he says, before totally breaking character and actually laughing. "Because it's real simple when it comes to Jet…"
He grows serious, looking down at the podium for a moment, as he gathers his thoughts.
"If there is one man other than Cypress that I would trust with my life" he says softly, measuredly, "if there is one man who I would trust with my family's life… it's Jet Fuckin' Somers."
Chaos stops for a moment, clearing his throat.
"I've never met a more selfless person in my entire life, at least not in this industry" he says, looking back out at the crowd. "There is no one more trustworthy, no one more caring, than Jet Somers. And no, I'm not just sayin' that because he helped me become a three-time Cooperative Champion here in UGWC"
A round of laughter from the crowd, followed by a chant for the team of Chaos and Somers.
"Whether it was for his family, Sherry, the world of Mixed Martial Arts, world of UGWC, or his club… Jet Somers was always the best of us. He was always the embodiment of everything that the rest of us attempted to be."
Chaos reaches into his pocket and pulls out another Chadweiser, popping the top.
"So everyone raise your drinks" he says, as he holds his beer bottle in the air, "and toast the man we are all here to see. He is a friend, a role model, and a brother… Mr. JET FUCKIN' SOMERS!"
The crowd pops once more and there's movement in the backstage area, Eden Morgan-Baal stepping out onto the stage instead of the man of the hour. A gasp goes up through those in attendance along with the low hum of whispers. Aware of all the eyes on her, her back stiff, she makes her way toward the podium. Chaos turns, fixing her with a look that would freeze anyone else in their tracks and likely send them back from whence they'd come while behind him from the other side of the stage, Jezebel and Cypress glare.
“You're not supposed to be here, Edie. Don't fuck this up for him,” Chaos warns, blocking her path to the podium.
Eden, for her part, doesn't back down, finally realizing he isn't going to move and security will be coming soon.
“Have a little faith.” It was only four words, but something about them or the look on her face has Chaos stepping to the side, albeit reluctantly. Her heart pounding, Eden moves up to the mic, looking out at the sea of faces, some angry that she was there at all when she obviously wasn't wanted, some ravenous for whatever “tea” she was about to spill.
“Without Jet Somers... there would be no Eden Morgan.”
Her words ring out clearly as she looks over to the side of the stage where her brother and sister-in-law stood, spotting Jet there with him along with Pierce. She looks briefly at Jet before turning and leaving the podium, going back the way she'd come. She rejoins her husband at the other side of the stage, neither of them looking back at those behind them as they depart, leaving an ever-increasing buzz of conversation behind them.
Pierce walks back to the podium, glaring at the side of the stage that Eden left via.
“Every party needs a pooper, that why we invited Eden. Actually, nobody invited Eden. Moving on. Now, once upon a time, Jet and I had an epic match at Horizons, but his second most significant rival at our flagship event is someone he faced twiced, main evented with twice, so please welcome Donovan Hastings!”
Donovan Hastings walks out onto the stage and up to the podium.
“Well, it took ten years, but we finally found something that Jet Somers could accomplish before I could. That’s worth a golf clap.”
Donovan steps back and gently pats two fingers on his other palm.
“Jet and I trace our rivalry back to the first year of UGWC. Heck, I carried him to his first Cooperative Championship. We would go on to main event the first UGWC Horizons together. Over the years, he would go his way, I would go mine. Yet in the end, it always came back to the same thing. Jet Somers and Donovan Hastings. Summer of 2014. We went at it for months, Pay-Per-View event after Pay-Per-View event, all for the World Heavyweight Title.”
Hastings pauses for applause.
“People talk about the Mount Rushmore of UGWC. They don’t ask what four faces you put on there. They ask: who do you put up there with Hastings and Somers?”
Hastings pauses for another round of applause. Somebody in the back of the audience shouts something about Rhodium Vain.
“And then there was Horizons in 2017. It was the night that led to me thinking I could walk away, a moment, a match, a rivalry that I’d never top. Truth be told, I probably won’t. Maybe it should have been my end. Jet, you’ve chosen to make this moment yours. I hope you find the peace that I couldn’t.”
Donovan reaches behind the podium and pulls out a paint can without a lid, setting it on top of the podium.
“To Jet Somers.”
Donovan tips over the can and it falls, spilling black paint on the stage, as Donovan walks away. Travis cautiously walks to the podium, taking caution to avoid the paint.
“I mean, this is cute and all, but somebody’s going to slip. Anyway, we come now to the man of the hour, and-”
The big screen suddenly flares to life with the smiling visage of the only UGWC Triple Champion who ever mattered, “The Professional”, Zane Scott. Jet looks up, clearly surprised by his appearance.
“Hi, Jet and congratulations on your deserved induction into the UGWC Hall of Fame!”
He raises his hands and claps. The gesture is completely sincere, without a hint of sarcasm or mockery in it. He finally lowers them and smiles down at a man who was and will forever remain one of the measuring sticks that all UGWC talents will be compared to.
“I can tell by the look on your face that you’re surprised to see me.” He continues. “Especially considering that I’m still barred from all UGWC events by the bullshit suspension that I’ve been under since December.”
He shakes his head in disgust, then smiles
“But that’s not why I’m here.”
He takes a second to adjust his dark red tie, but his smile never wavers.
“I’m here because you, sir, have been an undeniable influence on my career. You and I have never been friends and for all I know, we might never be, but I’d be lying if I said that you’ve meant nothing to my career. Whether it was through how you mentored my greatest adversaries, such as Eden, or propped up the hangers on and has beens that I’ve frequently had unfortunate repeat encounters with, such as good ol “Beta Travis” Pierce over there.”
He sarcastically salutes the MC.
“Or whether it was through doing what you do best, Jet, which is to provide each and every person in that locker room an undeniable standard to follow in terms of ring-generalship, athletic talent, leadership, professionalism or the most important of all of them, character, you’ve always been someone who I’ve looked up to in this sport whether we liked each other or not.”
He raises his hands and once again applauds “The Living Weapon”.
“I just wanted to say,” He continues as he lowers his hands. “Thank you.”
“You’ve earned your immortality, Jet.”
He opens his mouth to say one more thing, which appears to be “Thank you”, when the screen suddenly cuts out in mid “thank”. Jet looks at the screen in clear befuddlement before he turns and looks up at Travis Pierce, who smiles a beaming and proud smile and gives Jet a “thumbs up”.
Jet facepalms. Travis steps back up to the podium.
“I admit I forgot about that one. Anyway, we come to the man of the hour. The person with whom I’ve gone to war with, gone on the airwaves with, entertained the masses with. We’ve held gold together, and supported each other along the way to our own. We’ve fought, because sometimes that’s what families do. We’ve laughed, he’s cried, and we’ve bled together. Please join me in welcoming to the Hall of Fame...Jet Somers.”
Jet pulls Travis into brotherly embrace before taking the podium.
"Thank you, Trav," he nods toward his longtime partner with his Opie grin. Jet turns toward the crowd.
"I've inducted enough of my Hall of Fame compatriots to know how this usually goes," Jet shrugs, "I'm expected to stand up here for the next little bit and hand out thanks to my closest friends from the last ten years, sharing a few quick anecdotes, and maybe signing off with a couple of wistful 'what-might-have-been' dream matches or words of wisdom for the next generation."
Jet gives a dry chuckle, "Well, if you think I'm married to tradition, you probably don't know me. Big welcome to all of our newest guests, by the way."
He grins again while tossing a thumbs out, eliciting a big chuckle from the crowd.
"Now, I have no intention of snubbing the people who have helped me over the years, from A-Kis to Trav, my adopted family the Morgans and extended family the Devil's Most Wanted, from the Aussie Rebels and Spirits United to Kenzi Grey and Angelica Vaughn, from Moss Edwards and Remi Monroe to the Stars of Tomorrow, from Randy Boolzian to Nate Korpi, Covert Jay, and Jenny. The truth is, though, that my career is defined by my adversaries."
Jet tilts his head slightly, "You all know by now that I didn't want to be a wrestler, right? I've said that enough?"
The crowd laughs. Jez and Cyp, who have appeared today for this event, share a look and an eyeroll. Dyson seems confused, but Havyn nods sagely at him.
"And look at me now," he spreads his arms, "My wrestling career has eclipsed my mixed martial arts career three times over. Going against the grain has been my m.o. since day one, so, with that being said..."
"For showing me how in over my head and unprepared I really was," Jet looks into the distance, "thank you R!"
That gets a look of surprise from the crowd, but Jet continues.
"For creating insurmountable odds, which inspired me to fight until I could overcome them, thank you Dirge."
"For teaching me that victory doesn't always come from being declared the winner of a match, thank you Fear."
"For, maybe inadvertantly, opening up a path before me that would change how my entire career shaped up, thank you Duncan Ryder."
"For never ceasing to force me to make people take me seriously, thank you Travis Roberts."
"For adding more edge to my persona than I would have expected before facing you, thank you Gabrielle Montgomery."
"For forcing me to always watch out for the next attack, thank you Ezekiel Pax."
"For teaching me how to fit in without compromising myself, thank you Klaus vonKnorre."
"For making me question my sanity, thank you Ichabod."
"For sparking my creativity, thank you Prince Rudo," he throws some side eye at Pierce.
"For teaching me how to get up even after I've been completely broken, thank you Tyvola."
"For reminding me how much my professional skill had done for me before I got too caught up in the entertainment, thank you Zane Scott."
Jet looks down at his cards for a moment, brow furrowed.
"Who the hell put ol' Bob in here?" and he tosses the card to the side as everyone roars with laughter.
"For never letting the crowd get too comfortable with my intentions, thank you Dr. Hans Lieberjosch."
"For showing me I can overcome any demons, thank you Mickey Dragon."
"For seeing past my darker angels, thank you Killian king."
"For teaching me how to fight when I'm outclassed in every way, thank you JC."
"For making me accept that I can be utterly wrong about someone, thank you Lucy Wylde."
"For illustrating that no matter how good I get, I can always improve myself, thank you Alan Wallace."
"For showing me that even the most broken and ugly people are capable of being human beings for the right reason, thank you Gabriel Baal."
"For making me realize that it doesn't matter how big your legacy gets, no matter how decorated your history might be, you'll still have to work your ass off to impress some people, thank you Sarah Lacklan."
This time, Jet turns fully to the side to look at Pierce.
"For showing me that your harshest critics can become your closest allies, and helping me reinvent myself for what would become my life, Thank you Alpha Travis."
There's a pause and Jet looks down, and you get the sense he's not looking at his cards so much as looking through them.
"For beating the lesson into me that no matter how much you wish for something, no matter how hard you fight for something, there are some things in this world that are not meant to be, that are completely out of your control, and you have to find the strength to somehow live with that and get on with your life--"
You could hear a pin drop in the Fear Observation District, the crowd is so quiet.
"Thank you Eden Morgan."
Three seconds of tension and the air returns to the crowd, and the moment passes. Jet gives a lopsided smile.
"Did I leave anyone out?" he gathers up his cards and taps them on the top of the podium to collect them. A smattering of applause begins, but Jet holds up a hand.
"I have to say, the last ten years have been no walk in the park. It has been one war after another, and rising above my setbacks has spilled over into my personal life more times than I care to talk about. I wouldn't have been the competitor I turned out to be, I wouldn't have the legacy I built, I wouldn't be standing up in front of you today, on our ten year anniversary, taking my place in history, if I hadn't been challenged without fail, endlessly, and made to never stop questioning myself."
Jet leans into the microphone.
"For that, I thank you, Donovan Hastings."
Jet backs away and pulls the hoodie under his kutt up, turning around to to show the DMW logo, and walks away in the midst of a standing ovation.
