Ashes.

[Spike Kane]

People see the man standing before them, and they see the legacy that I've carved out through match after match, show after show, live event and guest appearance after each and so on and so on. The people who have come in since then see the legend that I've built, they see the hall of fame plaque and they seem someone they should automatically pay a certain level of respect.

Of course, most people like to try and take advantage of that and make a name off of you. Something I've had to deal with for quite some time, being the God of Xtreme I've had to deal with every chump who thinks he is the bees knees, or the most violent man in the business. I took them on, and cast them aside...

But you all forgot.

Every last one of you forgot what it took for me to get here, what I've had to fight for, and fight against. I could sit here and remind you, tell the tale of Spike Kane, the ballad of the unfortunate Irishman....

But that gets old pretty quick.

Just remember....I'm not “just a hardcore wrestler” and I've evolved my game, I've learned and moved on. I have never had anything handed to me in my life, I've fought harder than most ever could.....and I've succeeded. I've made something of myself....

I carved a legacy.

You all need to remember how.

~~~

The rain beats down hard on the windows as I sit with my legs crossed just staring out the window. It slowly dawns on me that I've been here for several minutes and I'm not even looking at anything specific. The feeling of numbness in my mind is completely overtaking everything.

She left me.

How could she leave me?

I feel a swell of emotion rush through me and I know that I'm moments away from breaking down. I know that the very fabric of my life is unravelling and I don't know how to fix it. I don't know what to do to make the pain go away. I....I loved her so much....love.....love her so much. She shattered my world and brought me crashing to the ground harder than I ever could have though.

How could she leave me?

I'm a global superstar, I'm a living legend....if anything I should be the one leaving her! How could she be so heartless? What the f*ck did I do that was so bad? Did I beat her? No.....did I cheat on her? No....she even said that it wasn't me. I didn't do anything...

She doesn't know what she wants.

BULLSH*T!

I've spent months of my life in rehab centres, and in insane asylums and I've always know what I wanted. I've been manipulated by my father, sent into a berserk rage by my enemies....and I've always know that I wanted her. That she was everything to me, she's the mother of my son.....but she's gone.

What do I do now? I don't remember what I used to do without her. I don't remember what my life was, what it's supposed to be. The people I hang around with, are they going to turn on me? Is she going to steal them like she stole my heart? Like she stole my son!? …..I can't accept it.

She left me.

She stole my son.

I just want to die.....

Out of nowhere Spike bolts awake a cold sweat pouring down his forehead. The rain is beating hard down on the windows of his new home in Boston, and the flash from the TV screen is bright in the darkness, but the chuckles of his two year old son watching Barney the dinosaur and laughing wildly. It brings a smile to Spike's face as he takes a deep breath and spins around spotting Alysson who was watching them both in the comfort of the arm chair.

Alysson: Bad dream hun?

Spike takes a deep breath and shakes his head.

Spike: More like a bad memory.....about River....

Alysson climbs out of her chair and stumbles over to Spike and sits down on his lap throwing her arms around him.

Spike: ….just in case I haven't told you. I love you. More than anything...

At this Xander seems to jump up almost instantly and turn to the couple before charging towards them and diving into a hug from his parents. The scene fades on the happy family.

~~~

The tag team division has exploded here in nCw and it seems like it is for the good. I mean besides the fact that you have every racial stereotype known to man running around it's actually created interest, and it has attracted talent. Talent in the form of The Forgotten, I might add. Though with so many teams involved it really does come down to who wants it the most?

Who is willing to put their bodies on the line for the victory?

We've got a library full of evidence that proves that both Kyle and I are more than happy to do that. To show that we have done that several times in the past, and that we will go that extra mile just to make the match that much more interesting, that much more epic, that much more.....ours!

But this isn't just any normal match is it?

We've got eight men being in the match at the same time, when it's chaotic enough as it is with just four of them! You don't just have to watch your opponents back, you've got to watch your own....to have eyes in the back of your head just doesn't do it justice. You can never know where the next hit is going to come from. Whether an alliance will be formed or whether you'll be screwed over. We've got Criminal Intent already teaming up with the Internationals....so you have to wonder if we'll have to work with Team America just to save our own bacon, or if.....we will just leave them to crash and burn.

Not that I have a problem with either Big Gibby or Simon. I've come across them many times in my past, and I'm not pleased to say my record isn't exactly stellar, but I'm humble enough, and honest enough to accept that and try to better myself. Try to push myself through the limits that have been set. Like I did back when Trent and I managed to dethrone Adam Knite and Lance Ryan as the tag team champions! I teamed with a guy I didn't like, I guy I didn't trust to take on my fiercest rival at the time, and one of the greatest wrestlers I've ever shared the ring with. I went above and beyond because I had something to stand for, something to fight for. I always find something....it's why I excel, it's why I personally achieve outside my reach...

So when I team with someone I do like? Someone I do trust? Can you begin to imagine the level of dominance we can attain in the ring? It's like having two of yourself in the ring, two minds that act as one. We are two of the best wrestlers who have ever stepped foot in this company, and we have proven it time and time again. We've been to the mountain and had our time in the spotlight. We EARNED every single second of it, and we took the inevitable fall with grace. Though now we see a goal in our sights and we look towards it with pleasure. The Forgotten have as much as a chance as any of you six of being the next nCw World Tag Team Champions!

I like the ring of that, your new nCw World Tag Team Champions!!! Spike Kane, and Falcon!!! THE FORGOTTEN!!!! And what a day for it to happen? For the Forgotten to truly rise from the ashes like a phoenix.....to literally be reborn.....it's so fitting. Almost like destiny, but I know that we make our own fate, and I've made a *** damn career out of doing that. Proving the naysayers wrong and kicking ten shades of **** out of the people who oppose me.

This time, we will rise.

And we WILL be victorious.

~~~

We open again on the gym inside Spike Kane's house. He's topless wearing just shorts with both his fists and ankles taped up. He's throwing punches and kicks into the punching bag in a set rhythm. Left, right, mid kick, back fist, knee, left, high right kick.....repeat...

Spike: Counting down the days......gotta get through this.....

He repeats his routine three more times. Focusing hard on the bag and making sure each hit connects with increasing force.

Spike: ….can't.....let......Kyle......down....

Spike finishes his routine and bends over placing his hands on his knees taking in some deep breaths. Falcon: You shouldn't be worrying about letting me down...

Spike jumps a little startled by the voice coming from the entrance way, he turns to see his friend walking in with a slight smile on his face.

Falcon: Ayla wanted to come over, something about her and Aly looking at dresses, or....table clothes....or some crazy wedding stuff.

Spike: We're there already then....

Taking a towel Spike quickly mops his face up before slapping a high five/handshake with Falcon.

Falcon: It could be worse......but like I said....don't be worrying about letting me down.

Spike: I knew you'd say something like that, but I will. No matter what you say. We lost to Team America, and it was my fault...

Falcon: You can't win everything Mike.....losses happen.

Spike: Easy for you to say mr-wins-a-lot.

Falcon grimaces at Spike's terrible joke slash insult and Spike just looks a little confused about what he just said.

Falcon: That was bad....

Spike: Yeah....

Falcon: So, you think you'll be up for it at Reborn?

Spike: I've not been this pumped up for a match since I beat Angel on Trauma.....or Alex in the Dragon's Den....

Falcon: Good to hear. I knew if we did this you'd find that love again.

Spike stops and cocks his head at Falcon, who simply smirks back at him.

Spike: You mean to tell me you intended for us to team up for my benefit?

Falcon: Mutually beneficial really, but yeah.....I saw you drifting around with no real focus. After destroy Davey Ortega again, I knew you had no real direction, so as your friend....I took the initiative and....here we are.

Spike: You see....I knew there was a reason I hung out with you...

Falcon chuckles as Spike moves towards his duffel bag and starts rummaging around, Falcon moves towards him and sits down near the bench.

Falcon: So...Ayla also said you had something important to talk about. Something you needed to get off of your chest?

Spike stutters for a minute before turning to face Falcon. He takes a deep breath and lets out a long sigh before he lowers his head and drops to one knee looking up at Falcon, who is starting to look both freaked out and a little confused, just as we hear the sounds of Ayla and Alysson coming down the stairs he takes Falcon's hand.

Spike: Kyle.....will you.......will you be my best man?

And on this awesome-o-rific image we cut.

~~~

Criminal Intent you got a taste of what The Forgotten have to offer last week, and that was a match that didn't really have much importance. So imagine what is coming your way when the gold is on the line. Think about it deep, I know it hurts your small little brains, but it makes perfect sense. We kicked your asses all over the ring, and we came out dominant, forceful.....we were the better team by far, because we are the better team. We've been there, and done that. Experience is on our side.....and so is ability...

If you pay attention to other people instead of being so self absorbed with your pathetic criminal lives, you'll see it clear as day......bring it on at Reborn guys, because I'm more than happy to dish you another dose of the medicine you received last week.

The Internationals though? Oh for crying out loud....yet ANOTHER match with you ass clowns. I guess it's just another one I get to add to the win column, because if memory serves correctly, you guys have never defeated me...

And, didn't I defeat you both on my own?

Regardless, it's yet another chance for me to kick both of your racist asses and show you that your stereotypical schtick is both lame and insanely boring. I've done it with my brother, I've done it on my own, and now I get to do it with the person I've wanted to team with for years now. We are The Forgotten, the Hall of Fame team that has been on a roll ever since that loss to the world heavyweight champions.....the ONLY thing we have in common...

Which of course brings me to Team America. Guys, what can I say that would even dent your patriotic optimism? You two sum up everything that is at the same time good and bad about America. So....can I pick flaws in that? Of course, but you know what the weird thing is? I don't want to. I respect you too much Gib, and I have to respect the fact that Simon took a huge leap of both faith and ability to go into this team and low and behold you came out victorious and now have several teams after your gold instead of the one or two bunch of people who are bored or have nothing else going for them. You have legit competition, and that in itself will do more damage than anything I could ever say. You have the toughest job of us all, you have to retain the titles.....and it's just not exactly in your favour, so I kind of feel sorry for you.

Then I remember the bravado, the USA chants, and other useless “patriotic” garbage that seems to get people behind you, and I know you neither want it, need it, or deserve it. You two are the tag team champions, deservedly so....but not for much longer. Falcon and I are here to take those titles from you and raise this division even further up. We're here to help nCw and have fun while doing it, we want this......we don't need it. We want to be tag team champions, we want to enjoy ourselves and help the next generation of talent blossom.

We started off with a casual match that neither of us took too seriously against Team America, and we've been on a run since. We've defeated Team Africa and Team Australia......I've defeated The Internationals in some way shape or form too many times to care about, so all that is left is to avenge the loss we suffered at your hands, and the funny thing is? Losing to you guys was better for us than beating you.....you forced us to look at ourselves and decide on doing this, on pushing us to go that step further.....

And as corny as this sounds...

As much as Brad doesn't want me to say it...

Get ready guys...

You've been......THUNDERSTRUCK!