Post by Savage on Nov 5, 2019 19:00:12 GMT -6
I hate what he does for a second career. I really do. You always see the spouses of wrestlers playing the role of cheerleader; kissing their man's arses and putting on an elaborate front that they are copacetic with the insanity their mate is about to endure.
I can't even watch my husband's matches most of the time. I can't witness the father of my stepson, the man I adore more than anything on this world despite my incessant ball-busting and playful snark, take those beatings. Or deal with barley literate troglodytes who display their lack of culture and education on those social media outlets. But, when he does these photo shoots...
*looks at him with hunger in her eyes* I don't mind one bit watching him work.
This business is rough on the families of fighters. Like military spouses, those that give their hearts and lives to their loves deal with a set of problems unique to worlds of blood and bedlam. Always worrying that tonight would be the night their love gets a ride in an ambulance, perhaps to a coroner's office. Always depressed and angry when the life forces them to travel far and wide. Maybe that's why most of them fuck where they eat and get together. Then again, most wrestler on wrestler marriages last as long as a bad sitcom. Tony Savage often compounded that stress by working private security, taking gigs in strange lands dealing with awful people.
That's why Tony married a civilian, somebody that gave him shelter from that life, a refuge from the trenches, instead of a constant reminder of it. Plus, too many wrestlers get spouses that are "Yes" people. He put a ring on a woman that, no matter how well Tony did, her response was always the same...
No, mate. You can do better.
****
Every locker that Tony uses has this picture inside it. His good luck charm.
Dr. Cassandra Baker-Savage. Yeah...Doctor. He married a frigging PhD in economics. While Tony does his marauding thing on the squared circle, Professor Savage is teaching people at the Baylor University offshoot campus in Dallas how to make money. She's one of the major reasons Tony's done so well in the wealth department. She helped retool and rebuild Savage Solutions from a fairly successful security and bail enforcement company, into a near half a billion dollar enterprise that's now branching out into merchandise and fight promoting as a subsidiary. And in that time, she finished her Doctorate. Even after illness rendered her sterile, unable to bear children. Even after a psychopathic stalker tried to terrorize her.
It was largely in part, because she had a husband that proved, time and time again, he had her back. He would do anything for her; he even took a bullet for her on account of that lurker.
She was a posh, blue blooded girl from Chelsea who had dated businessmen and politicians. The supposed cream of the crop that proved repeatedly to not be worthy.
It was a foul mouthed, battle hardened in the ring and in war, who barely got his Bachelor's, that turned out to be her knight in shining armor.
He nearly gave up wrestling for her, when many told him he should push her aside for the good of his career. He told them to go fuck themselves.
As he said himself:All those fucking titles and accolades I won over the years; that woman's heart is the greatest prize of them all.
But it hasn't been easy, as she tells the GCWA cameraman filming Tony's cover shoot for IGNcom, arms folded and sporting a stony face.
I can't count the number of times that crazy prat's come home with fresh bruises and cuts. The arguments at clinics and emergency rooms about him being battered week in and out. I used to have to inject Cortisone in his punching hand sometimes because his knuckles and fingers would be so swollen, he couldn't even grip a fork. Every time he does what he does, I pray to God it's not the not it's the last time he comes home.
She sighs as the director and Tony wrap up the photo op. And he's also boxing pro for ELlteFC now, to boot. God damn...
You ever tell him he should quit? The cameraman asks.
No. He knows I'd love to. To be honest, all I have to say is four words, and he's finished. That was the deal with us. I made him promise that. I knew a lot of his ilk in the business wouldn't walk away willingly for their family. Why haven't I hit the nuclear launch button? Simple...
He did it a couple of times already on his own volition.
Really?
Endometriosis. I nearly died because of complications it brought on. It ravaged my reproductive system. It happened during his time in Extreme Wrestling Corporation, when he was the champion. He lost because instead of being a good little corporate soldier like so many on their payroll, he was at my surgical consultations and doctor's appointments. He slept in my hospital room for 3 weeks. As soon as he lost, instead of interviews or hitting Twitter, he was on a last minute flight to New York to be with me.
Never held it against me. Not even for a second.
He was starting to be a star again with OCW, they found tumors in me. He left. No question, no hesitation. Instead of fame and titles, it was immune therapy appointments and holding my hair back while my lunches exited the same way they entered. Again, most of these chimps in spandex would hold a grudge. Him, and I quote..
She smirks, doing a downright frighteningly impersonation of her husband.
I'll get another belt somewhere else. Can't exactly pick up another you in my contract.
She wants to tear up a bit, but her upbringing and demeanor kicks in. Chelsea girl from old money. That stereotypical British stiff upper lip. But the cameraman can see this life puts strain on her. He couldn't imagine how it must feel worrying constantly someone you built a life with could be taken away in a snap.
But Tony was changing. He knew not only did he have to put the guns down to secure his future in a ring, something more important than that business. He gave her so much. He gave her respect as a professional when others thought she was a joke or an office booty call waiting to happen. He protected her when others wanted to harm. He welcomed her as another mother to his son when she couldn't create one with him.
He never held anything against her. Never blamed her for any of his stumbles. Never broke a promise he made. He did everything for her. It was her time now to do something for him.
She reluctantly let him off the chain to do what he does.
Don't care what he says; I am NOT fucking this up for him anymore. He damned well better make it worthwhile.
The shoot wrapped up, but Tony stuck around. Some of the crew members asked him if he actually could use that sword. Like the peacock he is, that prop blade danced in his hands, and he was laughing and smiling the whole way through.
His life was difficult to digest. But she wouldn't give it up for anything.
She stopped believing in knights and honor when she was a teenager. In his own strange way...
He proved her dead wrong. And she was so thankful for it.
