Post by Charles Lee on Jan 3, 2012 22:16:59 GMT -6
I’m about to lose my mind
You’ve been gone for so long, I’m running out of time
I need a doctor, call me a doctor
I need a doctor, doctor to bring me back to life
You’ve been gone for so long, I’m running out of time
I need a doctor, call me a doctor
I need a doctor, doctor to bring me back to life
7 years, 7 months,and 26 days. For some that is an eternity, for others a blur. For Charles Thomas Lee of Houston, Texas, it is the time it has taken to be affiliated with a new wrestling promotion. NCW? Does an ‘old champion’ belong in a place called, ‘New Championship Wrestling’? A former six-time World Heavyweight Champion having won championships in Dallas’s Super Athletes Wrestling Federation, Charlotte’s Wolfpack Wrestling, and San Antonio’s Ultimate Talent Wrestling. Charles Lee found himself on top of the world. His last reign at the top of the mountain was in the SAWF. But a brutal match, and brutal loss to his fellow stablemate, Xavier Black, who was teaming with his ex-tag team partner, the Xtreme Princess and Lee’s ‘secret crush’, Julia Arcador put an end to his reign and what many believed his career.
I told the world one day, I would pay it back
Say it on tape and lay it, record it so that one day I could play it back
But I don’t even know if I believe it when I’m saying that
Ya’ll starting to creep in, everyday it’s just so gray and black
The pain that shoots both up and down the spine when you are slammed on the corner of the steel steps is excruciating. Luckily for the man known in the ring as ‘SPF’ short for ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’, the pain was brief. Very brief, indeed. In fact, for three months, Charles Lee felt nothing from the shoulders down. He was rumored to possibly not survive, and a couple wrestling publications and newspapers printed his obituary.
Hope, I just need a ray of that
‘Cause no one see’s my vision when I play it for ‘em
They just say it’s whack, they don’t know what dope is
And I don’t know if I was awake or asleep when I wrote this
All I know is you came to me when I was at my lowest
Retirement was peaceful, but depressing for Charles Lee. He already had three failed marriages from when he was in the ring, and a half dozen children from these marriages, which he had little contact. His first born, Spice Lee now nearly grown up did follow in his footsteps, but even she was out of reach having taken her wrestling career to Japan. A brief uniting with Julia Arcador was supposed to fix everything, but that only made things even more complex. Her affair in front of him with Xavier Black at the end of his SAWF run nearly destroyed the spiritual and emotional side to go along with his physical breakdown in the ring. Perhaps it was sympathy that Julia came to Chuck and moved him to her hometown of Manhattan, New York. But after duping him with a relationship she had behind his back, he was left broken still and although the miracle of medicine allowed him to be mobile again, with the aid of canes, his spirit once again broke down, and with it his body began to deteriorate. Charles Lee needed a miracle, or a blessing.
You picked me up, breathing life in me, I owe my life to you
but for the life of me, I don’t see why you don’t see like I do
But it just dawned on me, you lost a son
See this light in you, it’s dark
Let me turn on the lights and brighten me and enlighten you
I don’t think you realize what you mean to me, not the slightest clue
‘Cause me and you were like a crew
I was like your sidekick, you gon’ either wanna fight me
When I get off this ****ing mic or you gon’ hug me
But I’m not an option, there’s nothing else I can do ‘cause
Probably the blessing came in the form of Genevieve, whom outside his Dakotah department in Manhattan, he harassed because she was giving someone an autograph. The nice thing about Genevieve is she had no clue who he was, and wasn’t familiar with the business, other than her personal assistant, Jennifer Rivers. That first meeting was tense, but Rivers served as a great buffer. Rivers was a former wrestler and was associated with Charles Lee in UTW. Along with SPF, Rivers and another wrestler, Titykaka, the trio formed the group known as ‘Sugar Tits’. But after UTW’s closure, Lee lost track of his former running buddies as they all went their separate ways, with Rivers retiring from the wrestling business to become first the personal assistant for Genevieve’s best friend, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, known to the public as ‘Lady Gaga’. Genevieve had a history in dance and theatrics with her mother being a headliner in the sixties on Broadway. Genevieve and Gaga met at school before Gaga left and became her lead dancer in the early years before leaving for her big break on Broadway. Gaga looked out for her best friend and gave her assistance, Jennifer Rivers to Genevieve. If it weren’t for Rivers, Genevieve would have never saw Chuck’s soft side and the two began a fourteen month relationship.
I’m about to lose my mind
You’ve been gone for so long, I’m running out of time
I need a doctor, call me a doctor
I need a doctor, doctor to bring me back to life
With their relationship blossoming, Charles Lee went on tour with Genevieve. A trip that took them to Dallas. Back to the SAWF, which had now a Hall of Fame museum. Genevieve saw the passion in Chuck as they toured the facility, but also saw the pain of his past. And almost insulting, not a single mention or whisper of Chuck and his contributions were to be seen in the facility. It was at this time that Genevieve took a great risk. Charles Lee had a romantic history with one of the most heralded and greatest superstars from the SAWF in ‘The Lethal Beauty’ Liz Ryan and being her tour’s next stop was in Ryan’s hometown of San Antonio, she managed to not only persuade Chuck to introduce her, but also left Chuck to train for a return to the ring and continuing her tour. It is pretty easy to see where this went with Chuck and Genevieve’s relationship, not too mention the waiting Liz Ryan who thought she had buried all feelings for him.
It’s hurt when I see you struggle, you come to me with ideas
You say they’re just pieces so I’m puzzled
‘Cause the **** I hear is crazy but you’re either getting lazy
Or you don’t believe in you no more
Seems like your own opinion’s not one you can form
Training with Liz Ryan at first was challenging. Charles Lee had not been in any sort of ring since 2004. The year was now 2011, but each day, Lee grew stronger. Forgetting all the broken relationships and history, he worked solely with Ryan for six months. The two also began their second romance together, but it was pretty clear early on that once Charles Lee was ready, they weren’t going to survive. Liz Ryan had all the glory and esteem. The SAWF Hall of Fame had more mention and references of Liz Ryan than almost every other wrestler in SAWF’s rich history. The other thing was, the training woke up the ‘stuff in the basement’ that Chuck had deep down. Hopefully soon, Charles Lee would be back on the road, despite the anxiety, Sugar Plum Fairy had been resurrected and was ready for a return.
You saved my life, now maybe it’s my turn to save yours
But I can never repay you, what you did for me is way more
But I ain’t giving up faith, and you ain’t giving up on me
Get up Dre, I’m dying, I need you, come back for ****’s sake
November 2011, Charles Lee applied for a license to wrestle and it was unnerving that he nearly failed the physical.. Pro Wrestling Illustrated caught wind of the story and published the story of the broken down ex-wrestler making a return. It was merely a setback. Charles Lee applied at four different promotions, and received very little response. One federation even offered a contract that basically stated that they would sign him, if he’d be willing to put ‘over’ the younger talent. All of this, was a challenge to Charles Lee’s demeanor. But there is a big difference between the post-SAWF/New York depressed Charles Lee, and the competitor, Charles Lee. Where most may have given up, Charles Lee sent one more resume and tape out to New Championship Wrestling.
I’m about to lose my mind
You’ve been gone for so long, I’m running out of time
I need a doctor, call me a doctor
I need a doctor, doctor to bring me back to life
Bring me back to life, bring me back to life, bring me back to life
I need a doctor, doctor to bring me back to life
New Championship Wrestling had a wide array of talent, and it was the first time Charles Lee reached out to a federation, where he knew none of the talent in either the Starlet’s division or what would become his division. An interesting concept, splitting the men and women. Every other federation he has competed, the women could more than stand up to the men. But this would be fine, as long as he had a valid contract an opponent. Being in the ring, and not a training ring, feeling the rush from the crowd and having his hand raised in victory, even if it’s one last time is all that he wants. But can Charles Lee do this? Only time will tell. The only thing that is telling is him on this day. The 3rd day of January of the new year, 2012. Charles Lee stands behind a NCW podium as there are about 25 members of the media standing with loads of questions. He is wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans. The contract was signed, and now it was time to get answers, from Charles Lee, or is it Sugar Plum Fairy?
It literally feels like a lifetime ago
But I still remember the **** like it was just yesterday though
You walked in, yellow jumpsuit, whole room, cracked jokes
But once you got inside the booth, told you like smoke
Reporter #1: “Mr. Lee, why did you decide to come back after all these years to the ring?”
Lee looks at the reporter for a second, his lips curves slightly into a smirk and then he responds. His voice is low, but it holds confidence.
SPF: “I really have no idea. I just woke up one day and asked myself if I could do this again and be back on top?”
Lee points at another reporter.
Reporter #2: “Do you really think you can compete? You were 28 when you competed last, and your last match was brutal. Some thought you’d never walk again.”
Charles Lee shrugged his shoulders, his blue eyes scanning all the media as if reading all their thoughts before he answers.
SPF: “You know, I think there is enough deep down for me to compete yes. Most of the wrestlers will be younger, probably quicker, stronger. But in my history it’s always what’s on the inside that counts. And some people also thought I was dead.”
Chuck added before pointing to the next reporter, a female.
Reporter #3: “Is it going to be tougher now that you’ll be wrestling strictly men and not the women? Are you going to not be involved with the females? Because in your day, you never went a day without having either a wife or girlfriend and they were always in the business.”
Chuck’s brow wrinkled as he looked at the reporter.
SPF: “I don’t think it’s going to be an issue. Actually, I kind of like the structure here at NCW. As far as involvement, I try to keep my private life, private. I really don’t see myself getting involved with any of the starlets, but you never know. Do any of you have their numbers?”
Chuck laughed and shook his head. The last question slipped out and he pointed to the next reporter.
Went through friends, some of them I put on
But they just left, they said they was riding to the death
But where the **** are they now, now that I need them
I don’t see none of them, all I see is Slim
**** all you fair-weather friends, all I need is him
****ing backstabbers
When the chips were down, you just laughed at us
Now you ‘bout to feel the ****ing wrath of aftermath, faggots
You gon’s ee us in our lab jackets and ask us where the **** we been?
You can kiss my indecisive ass crack, maggots, and the cracker’s ass
Reporter #4: “Have any of the competitors caught your eye yet?”
Chuck was caught off guard with the question, and was itching his nose to buy a couple seconds. He knew that an answer would have to be carefully constructed. He pursed his lips, nodded and responded.
SPF: “Sure. Xander Famularo is the World Champion. So, of course he’s caught my eye, as all the champions. That’s the whole reason to be in the business right. To be the absolute best. I realize that having a pedigree as I do is one thing, but despite the roads I’ve travelled, I know I’m starting over. I’m not going to walk in and get a title shot with Xander. Nathan Webb looks to be a good talent, and Jason Evans reminds me of, well my rookie year.”
The reporters laughed at the last comment.
SPF: “Actually, I recall my first match, I brought a mirror to the ring because well, I was the ‘Sexy One’, but that ended up being broken over my head by Antonio Montana. I came back, beat him and he quit the next day. Ironically my second match was against another guy named, “Little Sexy”, who retired after I beat him, and well…”
Chuck shrugged his shoulders.
Little crackerjack beat, making wack mass
Backwards producers, I’m back bastards
One more CD and them I’m packing up my bags and as I’m leaving
I’ll guarantee they scream, Dre don’t leave us like that man ‘cause
The female reporter again chimed in, obviously wanting to stir a side of Chuck.
Reporter #3: “Have any of the starlets caught your eye?”
The reporter’s laughed at the tone the reporter framed the question, and Chuck stared at her a moment. He was unreadable, and again then pursed his lips, smirked and then responded.
SPF: “Amy Marshall is an interesting one. She jumped ship from another profession to the ring and seems very accomplished. Mercedes Lewis, Zelda Knite has the roots to be something really special. The Firebird Stephanie Sanderson, oh and the other Knite chick? She reminds me of my daughter."
Reporter #3: “Kelly? You like her. And she’s like your daughter. That’s kind of creepy, isn’t it?”
Chuck shook his head in disbelief at the lady.
SPF: “That’s not really what I said. What are we talking about here? I thought I was here to wrestle.”
Reporter #3: “If that’s what you call it.“
The reporter winked at Chuck, who seemed flustered and he shook his head.
SPF: “No further questions, I look forward to a successful comeback, or perhaps a flop. But unlike LL Cool Jay, I will call it a comeback!”
And with that, he leaves the conference room, while reporters yell out further questions that are left unanswered.
I’m about to lose my mind
You’ve been gone for so long, I’m running out of time
I need a doctor, call me a doctor
I need a doctor, doctor to bring me back to life
Lyrical Credit – “I Need A Doctor” by Eminem, Skylar Grey and Dr. Dre