PWP 13: Lucky 13 - PWP Heavyweight Championship

What Selena told me had resonated on my mind nonstop. How I was forgetting about HKW and how I kept telling people I didn’t want to be bothered by HKW stuff while I was back to focusing on my own career in Pro Wrestling Project. It was selfish, I knew that, but I didn’t have much time left actually wrestling myself. I knew that I was closer to the end than I was to the beginning, and I wasn’t going out the way I did. That, and quite frankly? The HKW roster was beginning to drive me insane with their constant need to come to me with every problem they faced. It’s like I was their guidance counselor, not their boss.

I had spent most of the day shopping around HKW with my business associate and friend Emory Composto. I didn’t know a damn thing when it came to running a business. Usually I would just go to Risky with a question, but I didn’t want him to know that I was actively shopping my shares of HKW. Not yet at least.

Emory made a living working with stocks, real estate, and businesses so I trusted him to get me the best deal possible. With HKW’s growing popularity, ratings, and the revenue on the rise, I was positive that I’d be making a lot more now than what Risky and I paid originally when we purchased HKW. Emory and I sat in my basement as he made calls to potential buyers, but me? I had something else on my mind.

The girlfriend and I had spent a lot of time talking about having kids lately, both of us agreeing that we both wanted them in the future. Neither one of us knew when, but we figured when the time came and it happened… it happened. Right now though? With my career, and her almost wrapping up with college and her own business starting up; it was a good idea to put it off for just a bit.

She had an appointment to the lady doctor to discuss some different birth control options because I wasn’t a fan of wearing a jimmy. Turned out that Day found them to be as much of a pain in the ass as I did, and thus came the idea of birth control. Truthfully? I didn’t like the idea. We even got into a mini-fight when Dayshia suggested that I took birth control. And even when she brought up the different options for herself, I still tried to talk her out of the idea.

There was no logical reason as to why I didn’t want her to take birth control, but I didn’t. Still, I somehow managed to come up with reason after reason as to why she shouldn’t take and questioned every little detail in hopes that it would change her mind on itl, but really… I think I was just ready and wanted to have another baby already. Still, I knew that right now may not have been the right time.

EMORY COMPOSTO: Alright, sir. We’ll be in touch. Thank you.

Emory hung up the phone and wrote something down on a piece of paper in front of him, but me? I was still focused on the baby talk.

EMORY COMPOSTO: You’re gonna make a nice chunk of change on this baby, B.

I jumped out of my seat and looked at Emory wide eyed.

BB: Baby?! What baby?!

Emory turned his head and looked over his shoulder.

EMORY COMPOSTO: HKW you fool. The lawyer I was on the phone with said his team is willing to make a HUGE offer.

Damn. Jumped out my seat. Thought Emory knew something that I didn’t.

BB: Word? How huge is huge though?

Emory continued kept writing things down. I assumed he was crunching numbers.

EMORY COMPOSTO: You remember what you paid for HKW?

I nodded and crossed my arms.

EMORY COMPOSTO: Well, times that by at least five.

My eyes widened even more, surprised to hear someone was willing to pay that much for HKW.

EMORY COMPOSTO: You and Blake really brought HKW to another level, B. Like, straight up. You went from developmental territory to world wide phenomenon. You should be proud of yourself.

And I was… I just couldn’t handle the stress that came with owning a company.

EMORY COMPOSTO: Can’t believe you even considering selling your shares. You sure this is something you really want to do? Like, I’m looking at these numbers and…

He taps some buttons on the calculator in front of him and looks back in my direction.

EMORY COMPOSTO: If things keep going how they’ve been, you’ll make what you’re selling for in just three years.

Three years he says? It’s barely been a full year and I already have high blood pressure because of them young’n’s.

BB: Three years a long ass time from now, Em. And it ain’t even about the money. It ain’t ever been about the money. I got the Outkasts, sponsors, my own career, movies… I got a lot of shit makin’ me money.

I stood up from the chair I was sitting on and began pacing around my basement.

BB: You just don’t get how annoying it is to be constantly sucked into some bullshit that has nothin’ to do with you. Like, it’s bad enough I got HBO constantly on my ass for the shit them kids do and say, but then they suck me into their business?

I scratch at the back of my head and sarcastically laugh.

BB: It just ain’t worth it. Ain’t worth dealin’ with entitled bastards who ain’t worth much of a fuck, but feel like they’re the second comin’. Ain’t worth the stress, bruh. You know me for how many years now, Em? Fifteen or so?

Damn, it’s been awhile.

BB: I’m the type of dude that gets stressed and stressed and stressed and then blows up on someone who didn’t do anything. Done it to my mom. Done it to you. Shit, done it to Day too.

I shook my head.

BB: Not doin’ that shit anymore, Em. Not livin’ my life as a miserable human being no more, Em. All that money HKW bringin’ in? It really ain’t worth my sanity. It ain’t worth my life fallin’ apart again.

I was convinced that HKW would end up sending me back on that downward spiral that I seemed to get on anytime life was going good. Right now? Life was too good for me to risk going back on that downward spiral. All my friendships were in order. Had the love of my life back. Had my career back… I wasn’t losing any of those things again.

BB: I gotta do what I gotta do, ya know? I just… need some time before I actually sell.

Emory nodded. I knew he didn’t understand how I felt, but he could sense that this was something that I felt I actually needed to do.

EMORY COMPOSTO: I feel you. Well, I’ll take care of it.

He stood up from his seat and slid his cell phone in his pocket before gathering up all the papers from the desk he was sitting at.

EMORY COMPOSTO: I’ll get a list together of all the serious buyers and get in touch with them. We’ll set up meetings when you’re ready.

I patted Emory on the back as we made our way up the basement steps and into the kitchen. We walked toward the front door where I saw a pair of Dayshia’s shoes laying directly next to the front door.

BB: Guess she’s back already? Damn. Didn’t even hear her come in.

Emory chuckled.

EMORY COMPOSTO: You got that basement soundproof, B. Let her know I said hi, but I gotta be out. Showing a house in an hour and I can’t be late.

Goddamn real estate agent lookin’ ass.

EMORY COMPOSTO: I’ll be in touch though.

Emory pulled open the front door and flashed me the peace sign before exiting my house. I glanced back at Day’s shoes laying on the floor and thought about yelling her name, but figured maybe she was already taking one of her usual naps. Instead, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and jumped on twitter. First tweet I saw that caught my eyes.


Not even seconds later…


And again...seconds later.


BB: Well, shit. I had different ideas for the jet. Was tryna be part of the mile high club, goddamnit!

I laughed, and heard some rumblings coming from the bedroom, assuming it was Day.

BB: The hell she doin’ up there?

Instead of going upstairs, I made my way into the living room and plopped down on the couch. Since I was lazy, I decided to tweet Day and ask her what she was wowing about. Eventually I brought up the lady doctors appointment she had and at that moment I heard her dart from bedroom, to the bathroom, back to the bedroom, slamming the door shut.

BB: What the hell is she doin’ yo?

I looked up at the ceiling and laughed before looking back down at my phone and reading?


BB: … The hell?

I glanced up at the roof one more time, questioning whether she was serious or not.

BB: She really gonna make me walk up a flight of stairs for a post-it note? Damn, bruh.

I stood up and made my way toward the staircase, gingerly walking up every step. It was a struggle even getting up a flight of steps these days, but I managed. Once I got upstairs, I made a left and walked into the bathroom, turning on the light to see the pink post-it note on the mirror. My contacts weren’t in so I couldn’t see what it said, but as I moved forward and grabbed, it read clear as day.


BB: … Wut?

I turned around with eyes glued to the note. I walked in the direction of my bedroom and pushed the door open to see Day laying there with her laptop on the bed, her cheeks a bright red and a smile on her face.

BB: Day….?

I looked up and she just continued to smile.

BB: What is this? Did you forget the less than sign for the heart or something?

She shook her head from side to side, still grinning.

BB: … So this says you plus me equals three? My maths right here?

She nodded.

BB: … Does this mean what I think it means? Or am I trippin’ right now?

DAYSHIA RAYE: No, you’re not trippin’, Brandon. It means what I think you think it means. We’re… We’re having a baby…!

I couldn’t describe the feeling that came over me. I felt like I was going to faint, but then I wanted to jump for joy, and then I wanted to fall to my knees. But instead, I smiled wide and jumped on the bed and gave Day the biggest hug I think I ever gave someone.

BB: We’re having a baby?!

She smiled and nodded, struggling to get out of the grip of my bearhug.

DAYSHIA RAYE: Too tight, too tight!

BB: We’re seriously having a baby?! How did this happen?!

DAYSHIA RAYE: Well you know that thing we do. Sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes at night.

…. This girl.

BB: Well I know HOW it happened, but… shit! You know what I’m tryna say!

I hopped off the bed and clutched at my stomach, thousands of different emotions running through my body.

BB: Holy….shit…. man.

As happy as I was, a little part of me felt some sort of gift. Day had went to the doctors to get opinions on birth control, and instead… She finds out she was pregnant? It was then that I started to wonder… was she happy about this? I turned around, and had to ask.

BB: This is good news, right?

Her eyes widened, almost looking stunned that I asked the question.

DAYSHIA RAYE: This is very good news. This is great news.

She stood up from the bed and made her way in my direction, wrapping her arms around me with her own version of the bearhug. That’s all I needed to push away that thought of whether she was happy or not.

I knew she was, and so was I… I was going to be a father again.




Dexter Jacobs and I had just finished putting on nothing short of a classic for all of the fans in attendance in Portland. Unlike like last time, I didn’t leave immediately after my match like I did with Liz Smalls at PWP 11. I stayed backstage and watched the main event between Chris Night and the PWP Heavyweight champion Sister Liliana. Two talents who had a hell of a lot history in Inferno Wrestling, and their beef transitioned over to the PWP scene.

Cute, but nah. I wasn’t about to have that. The way I was thinking, Night and Liliana could settle their business over in Inferno. They didn’t need to clog up the PWP title picture with they bullshit when they worked together elsewhere. Shit, the PWP motto was “The showdown of stars from around the wrestling world”; not the showcase of stars from the same promotion.

BB: Damn, bruh. Should’ve closed the show with me and Jacobs, not this shit.

Damn, my ego was back. I felt like Jacobs and me put on a clinic, while these two? Average at best. And here they were… competing for the top prize in PWP… The Heavyweight championship.

BB: Shit ain’t right.

It was at that moment that I realized that what I came to PWP for was no longer enough. Beating champions from other companies wasn’t as satisfying anymore. Beating these self-proclaimed big deals in wrestling nowadays just didn’t cut it no more…

I needed one more shot at a run at the top. I needed to solidify myself on this legend status that people have me on. I needed to prove that not only was Brandon Banks the gatekeeper in this bitch, but he was still the very best around.

BB: Goin’ after that belt, bruh. Don’t care who win this match right now. I’m takin’ that jawn off of whoever it is.

And I truly didn’t care who it was. I didn’t even bother to finish watching the match as I turned around and made my way back to my locker room, hoping that my girlfriend Dayshia Raye were already back there and willing to give me a post match massage.

BB: Aches and pains all over bruh. Swear it wasn’t like this before. Can’t even walk without a limp right now.

I turned the hall and heard the echo of the ring bell ringing at ringside with Sister Liliana’s theme blaring over the speakers. I smirked, figuring that she had got one over on Chris Night and regained the PWP Heavyweight champion.

BB: Guess soul sista flow sista soul sista gonna be the ho that I gotta take that belt off of. No difference to me.

Just as I said those words, a PWP camera crew turned the corner and approached me, obviously hearing my comments on chasing after the PWP championship.

CAMERAMAN: Umm, Mister Banks? Did we just hear you correctly? You want to challenge for the PWP Heavyweight championship?

I smirked, leaning my back against the hallway wall. Figured I’d answer these clowns questions so I could get to my locker room and out of the arena as soon as possible..

BB: Yeeeeeaaaaahhhh, you heard that correctly, camera dude. I mean, shit. I never said that I wasn’t interested in it, ya know? I look back at these two matches in PWP, and I feel like I’ve already proved what I set out to do. Beat Liz Smalls and showed the World she was nothin’ but some hype. Beat Dexter Jacobs and proved that I was still one of the very best in the game and that I could step into any company out there and not only go toe to toe with; but beat their very best.

I shrug my shoulders, the smile on my face growing wider.

BB: There really ain’t much left for me to do in the game, bruh. I done damn near everything there is to do. What really is there left for me to do? See, I’m constantly thinkin’ about that, bruh. Why am I still doin’ this, ya know? Like I don’t need it. Financially I’m set. My kids are set. I’m already viewed as a legend of the bizz, so why? Why do I keep puttin’ my body through this when the fact is… I don’t need it. I own a successful wrestling company, I got sponsorship deals, I got a damn movie comin’ out! But still… here I am… where it all began… pro wrestling.

I leaned forward and gazed into the camera.

BB: I’m still here for one reason, and one reason only.. because there’s one thing left for me to do and that’s reach the top of the mountain. WZCW, FTW, PDW… I never held the top prize, and still… Still that drives me. So many coulda, should, woulda’s, but just as many didn’ts.

I look down at the ground, shaking my head.

BB: And until I hold that top prize, I’ll never be able to view myself as one of the best this business has ever seen. I won’t be able to view myself in the same light that the rest of the wrestling seems to view me in. I won’t be able to walk away until I get to the top. I should’ve done it already, ya know? Shoulda been held the holy grail in all three of those companies, but my head? It was just never in the right place. I would have succumb to the pressures of being THE guy in any of those companies.

I point at my chest, slightly nodding my head,

BB: But now? Now it’s different. Now is my time. I’m in a good place mentally, and physically? I’m better inside that ring right now than I’ve ever been before. I’ve quicker, I’m stronger, hell…

I point at my stomach.

BB: There’s abs underneath that ink now, bruh! But lets be honest… my biggest enemies were never those who stood across the ring from me. My biggest enemy has always been myself, and finally… finally I’ve beaten that part of me that had always held me down.

I look up, a confident smirk beginning to form.

BB: Ain’t nobody stoppin’ me from addin’ that one last piece to the puzzle that I need to look back at these last nine year and not view it as a waste of time. Not Chris Night, not some rejected Sister Act cast member… nobodies stoppin’ me.

I went to walk away, but the cameraman wasn’t having it.

CAMERAMAN: Interesting news, Mister Banks. So are you saying that if you were to win the PWP Heavyweight championship, you would walk away? There have been some rumblings on the internet that say you’re not sure why you even returned to wrestling.

Damn, the internet knew that? Thought I kept that shit private. But these days nothing’s private.

BB: Cause it’s true. Sometimes I don’t know what I came back for. I don’t love this shit like I used to. I don’t even know what keeps me goin’ if you want the honest to Gods truth. Like, shit, bruh. I hurt all over the damn place, but somehow… I will my way through. You seen that shit out there against Dexter. Homeboy damn near took my head off, and what I do?

I hit a #TankShrug

BB: I found a way to win. That’s what I’ve been known to do my entire career, cameraman. You can whoop my ass for sixty minutes straight, but that don’t even matter…cause when the final bell rings… It’s my arm that’s raised in victory. As far as me walking away if I were to win the PWP Heavyweight title…

I paused momentarily, thinking over the question.

BB: After nine years of bustin’ my ass to reach that point? I’d be a moron if I just walked away after achieving somethin’ I been chasin’ forever, bruh. Trust me, if and when I do become PWP Champion… I ain’t walkin’ away. I’m takin’ that title and bringin’ it to new heights. You know how many ninjas out there want a match with me? How many ninjas out there who would love a chance to say they faced Brandon Banks with championship gold on the line. To be able to say that THEY were the ones who ended Brandon Banks’ first Heavyweight title reign?

I stopped, waiting for an answer.

BB: Countless names, camera dude. And I’ll take that challenge because those same names? I want to add them to the list of people that I’ve beat. This whole comeback? It started off as me tryna prove that I’m still one of the very best in this business. And now? Now I want to prove that I am still THE very best thing goin’.

I swipe my fingers through my hair and look away.

BB: I don’t know what it is that keeps goin’, camera bruh, but at the end of the day… The only thing that matters is that I’m still goin’.

I lean forward and point at a PWP poster on the wall.

BB: See that? Pro Wrestling Project… The showdown of stars from around the wrestling world!

I turn my head and gaze into the camera one last time.

BB: Time and time again I show why I am the IT star in the professional wrestling world. What better way to solidify that than by becoming the PWP Heavyweight champion?

I wink and walk past the cameraman.

BB: That title will be mine soon enough… bank on it.

I walked down the hall and made way to my locker room as the camera crew looked to catch up with the rest of the talent that competed at PWP 12.

My intentions were clear… Beating random talent...champions even, from across the wrestling world didn’t suffice any longer… I wanted gold one last time.


It was made official. I had my shot at the PWP Heavyweight title and I was facing Sister Liliana.

BB: Dumbass nun bitch.

With Dayshia being pregnant, I needed a new sparring partner now, and the only person that I knew that was tough enough was my sister, Felicity. She had been whipping me into shape, making me do four damn jogs a day tellin’ me it’ll help with my stamina. She actually had the audacity to tell me I get tired too quick? The fuck…

BB: Tired of your ass tellin’ me to do this and that, Fel. Damn yo. I been doin’ this shit a lot longer than you. The hell I even ask you for help for?

She had me watching Inferno Wrestling tapes of Sister Liliana, but my stubborn ass wasn’t havin’ it. Didn’t think I needed to watch some clips on some lunatic who dress like the Mother Theresa.

FELICITY BANKS: Because I know what I’m talking about! I study these things. I could tell you just by looking at her that she’s slick. Resilient too. You’re gonna have a tough time, Brandon.

Tough time. The hell does she know.

BB: It’s always a tough time, Fel. Tape or no tape. That shit a goddamn tough time even if I’m facin’ a scrub like Prince MacRear.

FELICITY BANKS: Well, you need to focus!

She slapped her hand on the desk like some teacher, bruh.

FELICITY BANKS: Do you know how much of a big deal this is? How many brother-sister heavyweight champions do you know, hmmm? This can further my career even more! We’ll be a legacy!

There she goes, thinking about herself again.

FELICITY BANKS: The Banks Legacy! Don’t you like the sound of that?

BB: Fel.. you got a title match before my match. Who knows if you--

She held her hand up and stopped me from saying another word.

FELICITY BANKS: If I what…? You think there’s a chance that I’m going to lose?! Hah! That’s funny. I have a full proof plan, Brandon. A full proof plan as always!

She looks up at the television and fast forwards the Sister Liliana tapes.

BB: A plan that you somehow got me involved in… again.

FELICITY BANKS: Aweeee, it’s okay. It’s only for a little while longer. You did a good job, though. Pretending to want to sell HKW and stuff.

Pretend?

BB: Uhh… I was serious about that, Fel.

She dropped the remote and looked at me wide eyed.

FELICITY BANKS: … Wut? You can’t sell HKW?! You were serious?!

Damn. I thought I told her? Or I thought she at least knew.

BB: I’m thinkin’ bout it, Fel.

FELICITY BANKS: Noooo… No no no no no! Why?!

She jumped from her seat.

FELICITY BANKS: Those peasants! They drove you insane, didn’t they?!

Really didn’t get why she felt so strongly about this. Wonder how she’d feel if she found out she was part of the reason I was considering selling?

BB: Nah, Fel. It’s a bunch of shit. Got my own career, baby on the way, Outkasts… That High Risk Football team I’m lookin’ into… Just don’t care about owning HKW right now.

Felicity looked stunned, rubbing her eyes to make sure she was awake.

FELICITY BANKS: Okay… Sell it to me then!

BB: Fel, you makin’ bank, but you can’t afford it.

FELICITY BANKS: Well… Well.. Let me pay monthly rates or something! I’ll get a loan… As a matter of fact, I’ll get Cash to give me the money!

Man, she was dead serious about this.

BB: … Seriously, Fel?

FELICITY BANKS: Yes, seriously! I was a damn good VP of Talent Relations in PDW! I could be a good co-owner. Especially with Mac as an investor? It’d be like PDW again!

I scratched my chin, actually thinking it over.

BB: But you wouldn’t be able to be HKW World champ no more.

FELICITY BANKS: Who says?

BB: .. I say.

She laughs and slaps me on the shoulder.

FELICITY BANKS: Silly, Brandon! You’d have no say in it, remember?! I’d OWN HKW then!

Girl was psycho. She pulled out her phone and began dialing numbers, probably calling Cash.

FELICITY BANKS: Think about it, Brandon! I’m gonna see if I can get this money!

She ran up the basement steps and out the door while I stayed downstairs and watched tapes of Sister Liliana’s matches.





I was still in my basement, staring at the wall that was decorated with my trophies and championship belts won in the past.
PDW Prodigy title…
PDW Bloodshed title…
FTW Inferno title…
FTW World Tag Team titles…
Superstar of the year award…
Hall of Fame...So many more, but there was one space… One space that had a note on it that read “pinnacle” obviously meaning the top title of a company. Nine years, that empty space remained… and I was tired of it. Subconsciously, I think I returned to wrestling just for this reason. To finally win the top prize, and here I was… a three count away.

A one on one title match. Something I didn’t have for PDW’s Platinum title or FTW’s World title… but I knew that my opponent was no slouch. Vicious… Damn near ruthless in the ring. But I could match that. Anything she threw at me, I could throw back harder.

Quick in the ring, and on her feet… I could match that too. Ninjas forget the Killah B was like a cat, bruh, swear… but they’re gonna know real soon that this ninja ain’t lost a step.

PWP was giving me the chance… The chance that I’ve been waiting for since my days in Full Throttle Wrestling… I wasn’t going to blow it this time. I needed to close the deal…