“When I first saw the lineup for episode thirty-nine of DEFIANCE TV, I had a feeling that I should get to work on a plan right away.”

[Flash on.]

[We’re in what appears to be a study; tall shelves decked out with books, many of them leather-bound... the place probably smells of rich mahogany.]

“I never did, but if I did, Donovan Torment and Omar Wise would already be playing into my hands.”

[Eddie Dante is kind of a big deal.  He’s sitting on a nice chair, his slipper-shod feet resting on an ottoman, his body draped in silk pajamas, including a robe.  Next to him is a small table on which a lamp, a thick book, and a clear glass of coffee-colored liquid and ice cubes.  The so-called “Smartest Man in Wrestling” has an easy smile, his hands resting on his lap, and his head resting on the back of the chair.]

“Because people like Donovan Torment and Omar Wise are predictable.  They will lay out their agenda and indicate that step one is making an example of their first opponents.  If they succeed, they will march on to greater challenges and leave their first victims in the dust.  There is nothing wrong with that; it is simply the way professional wrestling, as a business, works.  To begrudge the sport for that would be like begrudging water for being wet.”

[Dante shakes his head as he reaches for his cold, caffeinated concoction, then takes a small sip.]

“But as we all know now, that was not the case in Santa Barbara.  Troy Matthews introduced Honon’s skull to the business end of his foot, pinned him for the academic three-count, and the Shadowmen as we knew them are defunct.  Omar Wise then proceeded to lay waste to his ex-partners, who are now no longer in DEFIANCE Wrestling... as it should be.

“Which leads us to now.  Episode thirty-nine will take the Philosopher Kings to Baltimore, Maryland... Omar Wise’s hometown, and a city where Troy Matthews and myself have... a fair amount of history.”

[Eddie takes another sip of coffee and sets the glass back on the table.]

“In fair Baltimore, where we lay our scene, Omar Wise and a partner of his choosing will do battle with Troy Matthews and myself, in a traditional two-on-two tag team affair.  While we will be at a disadvantage as physicality and size are concerned without the official presence of Mushigihara, I remain confident, not only in our abilities to dispatch Omar and company yet again, but also in Omar’s inability to hold a partner’s loyalty.  After all; one loss against a team that just days before our bout you were calling a pack of flukes, and a team that was already on unstable ground collapsed in spectacular fashion, and we are left with but one of the original Shadowmen.

“Oh, and whomever the Faces of Death Training Temple can muster.”

[Dante stifles a chuckle.]

“Oh, I know quite a bit about the Faces of Death.  Their accolades as an actual force in this business, their efforts in raising a new generation of elite competitors, and the manpower responsible for passing on the skills, knowledge, and mentality necessary to make it as a wrestler.  But in the case of Omar Wise, there is one thing that sets the Faces of Death apart, that he lacks.

“Omar, you lack the sense of camaraderie, of kinship, that made the Faces of Death so successful, that made Tom Sawyer a force to be reckoned with as a tag team specialist before circumstances forced him permanently into the singles ranks, that made Boston Bancroft a sought-after mentor YEARS before he joined the Training Temple.  And I humbly submit your performance on episode thirty-eight as Exhibit A.”

[A pregnant pause.  Eddie Dante raises his eyebrow; not in a slick, intimidating fashion, but in a manner that expresses curiosity and concern.]

“Would Boston Bancroft applaud your wanton assault on your partners, even if they weren’t pulling their weight?  Would Lucas Harper?  Would Sergeiev Bogorovich or Kengoro Sugamoto, who were the most intense, violent tag team to touch toes to canvas in the past twenty years think highly of your lack of camaraderie?

“And what of your potential partners in the Training Temple?  I have a hard time believing that they will be able to take full advantage of an opportunity to be shown on televisions and monitors all over the country, knowing in the back of their mind that one misstep will result in them being contorted into Omar Wise’s personal hassock.  I’m sure that they’re well aware of your temper, Omar.
 

“I know I certainly am, and I will gladly use that to my advantage... no, OUR advantage.”
 

[Eddie’s concerned look is now replaced with another grin, followed by another sip of the cold stuff.]
 

“Because the Philosopher Kings were never about ‘Team Eddie,’ or ‘Team Troy,’ or even ‘Team Mushi,’ though I’ve come to notice his monosyllabic vocabulary becoming popular with the DEFIANCE crowd.”
 

[A shrug.]
 

“In a singles environment, Omar, I have no doubts you would be recognized as a threat.  But in the trios division?  You are out of your element.  You were conditioned to give a damn about only two people in that arena; Omar Wise and Donovan Torment.  It served you well in a place like Exodus PRO, clearly, even for all of its supposed politics.
 

“As an aside, Donovan, I listened to your comments of Exodus, and on Saori’s suggestion I did some research.”
 

[A beat.]
 

“I gave up on it after the third event poster I found on a Google Image Search that had a picture of former Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins.”
 

[Also, FUCK PICBASES.]
 

“And you are right about one thing, Torment; DEFIANCE Wrestling IS the big leagues.  But the Philosopher Kings floundering?”

[And Dante, for the first time today, lets out a chuckle willingly.]
 

“Well, we settled that one query in Santa Barbara, now didn’t we?”
 

[He then finishes the cup of cold coffee and places it down on the table.]
 

“And we will do it again in Baltimore, no matter who you have on your side, Omar.
 

“So... who’s floundering now?”
 

[Dante clasps his hands together and grins while giving a slight nod to the camera, which abruptly cuts.]

More Propaganda | View Eddie Dante's Biography