“I wasn’t living, Ev,” I said, staring at the floor. “I was in North Carolina. I spent seven years sitting on my porch, watching the grass grow, just rotting.”
I looked up at him.
“I didn’t wrestle for seven years because I couldn’t imagine doing it without him. I came back because… because being hated by him is better than being nothing to him.”
“That’s pathetic,” Evan said, but he smiled. “Romantic, but pathetic.”
“I know.”
“Well, you’re in luck,” Evan said, reaching for his phone as it pinged loudly on the nightstand. “Because according to Creative, you’re going to be spending a hell of a lot of time with us.”
Evan unlocked his phone, tapping into his email. His eyebrows shot up. Then they went higher.
“Holy shit,” Evan breathed.
“What? Did I get fired?”
“No,” Evan looked up at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and glee. “Get your phone out. Look at theWrestle Empire Storylineoutline they just sent.”
I fumbled for my phone, pulling up the encrypted company email.
SUBJECT: CREATIVE PLANS – Q1 2025
I scrolled past the undercard notes. Past the tag team division.
EVENT: EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF (JANUARY)
WINNER: EVAN WILDER
NOTES: Wilder enters at #2. Reed enters at #1. Both last until final two. Wilder eliminates Reed to win.
Myjaw dropped. I looked at Evan. He was grinning so hard I thought his face would split.
“You win,” I said, a genuine smile breaking through my misery. “Ev, you win theEvery Manmatch. You’re main eventing.”
“Keep reading,” Evan urged, bouncing on the bed. “Look at March.”
I scrolled down.
EVENT: HELL’S GATES (MARCH)
MATCH: The Devil’s Playground
WINNER: SILAS REED
NOTES: Reed wins #1 Contender spot for Heavyweight Championship.
I frowned. “Wait. Usually, the second contender goes for the secondary title.”
“Read the stipulation,” Evan pointed.
STIPULATION: For the first time in UWF history, both winners will exercise their right to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship.
I froze.
“That means…”
“A Threeway,” Evan finished, his voice hushed with awe. “AtWrestle Empire. For the Heavyweight Title.”
