Note: You can find ALL (?) the stories by all authors in order in their original versions HERE - thanks for the link, Mangler!
Texas College Championship Wrestling 27
Jessie/Jack In Training
After their defeat to Keegan and Ross, Jessie and Jack showered and got dressed in silence. Both brothers kept thinking about the match, about what they could have done differently. They had Keegan beaten. But they still lost.
They left the locker room together. In the hall, they ran into Alan. Alan talked to them for a little bit before he entered the locker room. Just after they said "bye" to Alan, Jessie realized he had forgotten his sunglasses in his locker. He slid into the locker room behind Alan. Jack waited outside.
Alan walked around the last row of lockers and Jessie went into the aisle just before that. As Jessie approached his locker, he heard Alan say, "I hear you guys had a tough time with Jobbie and Joke."
Keegan replied, "Shhh, they're here somewhere. Don't be a total jerk about this. I feel badly for them."
Alan said, "I just saw them leaving. They're gone. Probably to cry to their mommy. Look, don't feel bad. This is a league. There are winners and losers. We're all adults. It's not high school any more. If they can't take it, too bad. Besides, Ross didn't seem to have a problem when I suggested this plan. And you didn't have a problem when your hand was raised. So don't get all mushy about this." Keegan nodded. Alan was right. He was not in a position to judge anyone. Still, Keegan could not help but feel a little guilt.
Alan said in a cocky tone, "You should feel bad that you almost lost to them. Can't believe you guys couldn't crush them, man."
Keegan, embarrassed by his performance, put on a tough guy act. He didn't want it going around that he and Ross were soft. That would be bad for them and bad for the Tommy Boys at school. He confidently said, "Hey, we just want a rematch, dude. Jobbie and Joke are good for the record, you know."
Alan said, "No way. We get a rematch before you. It was my idea for us to use them to all pad our records. You, Ross, Keith and Rich owe me, man."
Keegan said, "Whatever. You squashed them. They'll never want to fight you again. You should have toyed with them a while longer." Keegan lied when he added, "Like we did."
Alan said, "Shut up, loser. You never played with them. You and Ross were trying. Greg saw the match. He'd have told me." Keegan kept up his act. He simply shrugged and put on a cocky grin. Alan was fooled. Alan said, "NO WAY! You guys are amazing! I totally should have thought of that! Anyway, who cares? They're losers. I don't know why they don't just quit. Must be some kind of mas ... mas ... masochistics. Hey, are you going to the bonfire tonight? Angela'll be there."
Keegan said, "You bet, heading there now. See you, buddy."
Jessie heard Alan heading to the washroom and managed to slip out of the locker room. Despite the fact that Keegan lied about toying with him and his brother, Jessie didn't know that. He was devastated. Jack came strolling up to him. He could see Jessie was upset. He wanted to know what was wrong. Jessie just couldn't lie to his brother but he couldn't tell him the truth, either.
Even though they were only a year apart, Jessie felt protective. He said, "Just feel sick," which was the truth. Jessie felt like puking. Not only were guys laughing at them about their record and Jack's pathetic performance in the Battle Royal, now they were using them, knowing they couldn't win. Alan and Keegan calling them "Jobbie and Joke" was just the icing on the cake.
Jessie had thought they were a tough team, just unlucky. He thought they were respected and that was why they had been challenged. Instead, it turned out six guys had just decided to use them. There was no respect for them. They were jobbers. They were a joke.
When Jessie and Jack got home, Jessie went to his room and thought long and hard about canceling their next match.
The next day, Jessie was more depressed than ever. Jessie thought about being zero and five. It didn't hurt nearly as much as want Alan had said. Patrick sat beside him. Patrick said, "Jessie, you were really competitive. You guys did pretty well."
Jessie looked at Patrick like he was nuts. Jessie said, "Patrick, no, we weren't competitive. I heard Keegan and Alan laughing at us. They call us "Jobbie and Joke." Keegan said he toyed with us. So we'd ask for a rematch and they could get another win."
Patrick was surprised. "Jess, I watched the match, man, no way were they toying with you. You had them on the ropes. Now c'mon, dude, let's practice."
Jessie almost had tears in his eyes. "You have to be kidding. I'm going to cancel our match with Keith and Rich. I can't handle it. I can't lose again. I can't put on a happy face and convince my brother to go out there and get his ass kicked again. Patrick, this was supposed to be fun. It's funny, you know? Alan said "it's not high school." Then why does it feel like it? I'm not having fun when guys are running around making fun of me and my brother like this. Like I don't have any dignity? I don't need to be the joke of TW. You know this is going to make it all over campus and all over the dorm."
"Jessie, you will win, but that might take time. I'm not going to lie and say different. You can't learn much in a week or two. These guys you are facing are all like 21, 22. If you stick it out, they'll be gone when you and Jack hit your stride. There's no rush to win now. Geez, I'm one and three but I'm still going out there. No matter what anyone says, you were competitive. That's what matters. You've worked so hard with us and come a long way in a short time. It's not like Elton and I are any good at tag. Not yet, anyway. Don't quit now."
Jessie looked at Patrick, "Promise you won't tell anyone this?" Patrick nodded, "Honestly Patrick, I wanted to quit after the last match. But this was the only chance I would get to hang out with you guys. When am I ever going to get to hang out with guys like Corwin, Drew and Elton?"
Patrick said, "You can hang out with them whenever you want."
Jessie said, "C'mon, Patrick. Corwin is one of the "chic cool" kids. You know what he and his friends say about me and my friends? They say we're ignorant hicks. And that's the nicest thing they say. He and his friends watch foreign movies; they read books that aren't assigned. They're always talking about New York and shit. They dress all cool. They know politics and junk. I'm afraid to even say 'hi' if I see them at a party or in the quad because 'hi' might be uncool and I'll look stupid."
Patrick didn't know what to say. He felt so badly for Jessie. He wished he could tell Corwin about this talk but knew it was private. Corwin always felt like a victim of teasing. Patrick thought he would be shocked that he intimidated Jessie and that was the reason for Jessie's 'snubs'.
Patrick talked to Jessie for another hour, just the two of them. Using his powers of persuasion, Patrick managed to convince Jessie to train one more week and see how it went.
At practice, Patrick told Elton everything. Elton agreed with Patrick that he could not share much of the conversation with Corwin or Drew but thought Patrick could tell them about Alan's comment. Elton knew Corwin and Drew had issues with the beach bums; they had been ambushed in the parking lot by them some time prior.
Anything that would upset Alan and Greg was bound to interest Corwin and Drew. Patrick shared that detail and Elton was right. Corwin and Drew worked extra hard with Jessie and Jack purely out of spite.
When the match with Keith and Rich came, Elton, Patrick, Jeff and Sean were all there, eager to see their friends wrestle. Corwin and Drew came to see how they did. They had told Elton and Patrick that their jobber training days were over; it was too unwieldy with so many teams. As well, Corwin still disliked Jessie.
It was actually the biggest show of support for the brothers since they had been classified as jobbers.
*****
Texas College Championship Wrestling 28
Jessie/Jack versus Keith/Rich
THE FIRST CONTEST OF THE EVENING IS A TAG TEAM MATCH, ONE FALL WITH A THIRTY-MINUTE TIME LIMIT. INTRODUCING FIRST, WEIGHING IN AT A COMBINED WEIGHT OF 356 POUNDS, PLEASE WELCOME KEITH AND RICH!
Keith and Rich came running down the aisle. They were smiling broadly and waving their fists, getting the crowd pumped. Rich was the bigger of the two, standing 6'3", making him one of the tallest wrestlers in TCCW. He weighed 191 pounds. Rich was strong, with a fit body, but not cut or defined like some of the wrestlers.
Keith was shorter, but not short, at 5'11" tall. Keith had dyed his hair blond. He had a trim and defined physique, with a prominent 6-pack abs and strong chest.
Both wrestlers wore black speedos to the ring. They were not really crowd favorites; they had only wrestled twice in two losses. They were not particularly good looking or ripped so the female fans used this as an opportunity to visit the ladies' room. The crowd clapped politely for them, but not much else.AND THEIR OPPONENTS, WEIGHING IN AT 330 POUNDS, PLEASE WELCOME JESSIE AND JACK!
Jessie and Jack emerged from the back. They were pleasantly surprised to receive more applause than their opponents had. Most of it came from their friend Patrick, who was trying to pump them up, and the female fans who generally picked the better looking wrestlers.
Tonight Jessie and Jack wore matching gray speedos. Jessie was going to change his trunks every match if he had to. He wanted a win desperately. His trainers had finally convinced him that Keegan was lying about toying with them in the last match. Jessie was relieved to think they had been competitive with Keegan and Ross.
The ref pulled them together. The four wrestlers shook hands as the ref checked their gear and went over the rules.
It had been a while since Keith and Rich had wrestled. They looked forward to getting back into the TCCW tag ranks. All they had to do was beat "Jobbie and Joke." Five teams before them had proven that it could be done. Keith and Rich had no reason to believe they wouldn't win.
Rich and Jack started off. Jessie wanted to pair off against Rich, knowing they were the stronger members of their team. But he and Jack had flipped for who faced whom and Jack had won. Jack did not think Jessie was stronger than he was, so Jack had no hesitation in choosing Rich. Jack was believing in himself much more as Elton and Corwin were doing a great job of showing him moves and building his confidence.
The 6'3" Rich circled the 6' Jack. It was a strange feeling for Jack to be so much shorter than his opponent was. At 18-years old, Jack was taller than most young men his age were, taller even than most wrestlers in TCCW were. Jack bent down, putting his hands on his knees. Rich made the first move. He charged forward. Jack feinted as if to rise and meet him only to duck back down.
Jack wrapped his arms around Rich's waist and lifted him from the mat. Jack turned and planted Rich to the mat with a belly-to-belly suplex. Rich crashed down hard on his back with Jack's 160-pounds landing hard on top of him.
Rich felt the wind leave him but was in good enough shape to push Jack off. Rich scrambled to his feet. Jack dropped him back to the mat with a drop toehold. Rich crashed down face first. The tall stud felt Jack's hands on his back as Jack knelt beside him. Jack rested one hand on Rich's butt and the other between his shoulder blades. Jack drove his knee into Rich's back. He repeated the move four more times.
Rich pushed up, rising to hands and knees. Jack quickly straddled Rich's waist and leapt up into the air. He crashed his butt into the small of Rich's back, sending the big stud back to the mat. Jack leapt up again and landed in a seated position in the small of Rich's back. Rich moaned as Jack reached forward and locked his arm in a hammerlock. Jack sat astride Rich and forced his arm higher and higher up his back.
Rich struggled on the mat. The young fighter on his back was surprising Rich. Rich used his strength advantage to power up. Jack tried to hold the hammerlock but lost his balance. Rich turned and faced the young aggressor. Rich shook out his arm, an action that drew a smile to Jack's young face.
Rich saw the smile and decided to wipe it off Jack's face. This time when he moved to lock up, Rich took the initiative. He thrust his boot up into Jack's abs. Jack bent over and stumbled back. Rich pursued him, driving a knee into his gut. Rich slammed two fists into Jack and Jack felt the corner on his back.
From behind, Keith reached forward and the tag was made. The bleach blond stud entered the ring. Keith was a cocky stud. He and Rich had used several illegal moves in their loss to Chris and Andy. Keith was prepared to do it again if it meant getting the win.
Keith raised his hands for a contest of strength. Jack smiled. He looked forward to dominating Keith the way he had handled Rich. Rich was their powerhouse. In comparison, Keith should be a piece of cake.
Jack met Keith's hands and the two wrestlers struggled for supremacy. The fresh-faced 18-year old took the early advantage over the 20-year old Keith. Jack forced Keith down, driving him to the mat. Keith strained but knew he had lost thanks to Jack's early jump. But Keith had other plans.
Keith fell back, keeping Jack's hands locked tightly around his own. Jack instinctively bent at the waist, trying to stay standing. Keith landed on his back and drove his foot up, landing it hard into Jack's lower abdominals. The force of the blow staggered Jack but he remained standing.
Keith let loose another kick, this time connecting slightly lower. Jack's gray speedo provided no protection as Keith's boot drove up for a low blow. Jack yelped and fell to the mat. Keith had spread his legs, letting Jack fall between them. Keith immediately pulled his legs together, tightening them around Jack's narrow waist!
The bleach-blond stud squeezed hard, holding Jack's hands in his own while torturing Jack's sides. Keith smiled as he looked up at Jack's face, which was distorted with pain. The low blow had taken its toll. Jack could not get his second wind. He slowly felt his taut torso giving in to the vice-like crush of Keith's legs.
Jack finally managed to pull his hands free and drive two fists into Keith's abs. Keith had to let go of the leg scissors. Jack rolled to his corner and tagged in Jessie. Keith tagged in Rich across the ring.
Jessie was eager to get his first taste of action. Jessie and Jack had been surprised in their previous match that Keegan was the one they had dominated. Likewise, they had planned on dominating Keith in this one, but so far, Keith had proven to be the stronger foe.
Rich charged Jessie, hoping to catch him off guard. Jessie was ready. He flipped Rich over with a hip toss. Rich came up in the corner. Jessie was charging in. Jessie leapt up and splashed Rich hard on the turnbuckles. Rich gasped for air. Jessie grabbed his wrist and tried to whip him across the ring. Rich held onto the ropes and blocked the move.
Jessie lifted his boot and licked Rich hard in the abs. On the second try, Jessie sent Rich flying into the opposite corner. Rich crashed hard.
Jessie charged in behind him but Rich moved out of the way. Jessie staggered back holding his chest. Rather than move in on Jessie, Rich opted to make the tag. Keith hopped over the top rope and came at Jessie. Jessie had been feigning weakness and dropped Keith down with an arm drag. He locked on an armbar and twisted Keith's arm hard.
Keith lay helpless on the mat as Jessie bent his arm. Jessie had one knee on the side of his head to keep him down. Jessie's knee dug into his neck. Jessie dragged Keith to his feet, turning the armbar into a hammerlock.
Jessie reached down and lifted Keith right off the mat. Without releasing the hammerlock, he slammed Keith down hard on his arm. Jessie dragged him up and slammed him into the corner beside Jack. Jessie stomped Keith's abs hard. He landed several chops into Keith's chest, turning it bright red!
Keith fell to one knee as Jessie tagged in Jack. It was time for a little payback for Keith.
Jack laid the boots to Keith. He broke down the bleach blond wrestler's resistance methodically. Jack drove his boots into Keith's abs. He then lifted Keith back into the corner. Jack hopped onto the second rope and straddled Keith's waist. He drove forearms down on top of Keith's head. The crowd was getting into this. They counted the blows. When they reached ten, Jack hopped off the ropes.
Jack measured Keith and slammed his elbow into Keith's chest. He did it again and again. Jessie incited the crowd to count and at ten, Jack moved off. Keith started to fall forward, only to get caught around the neck by Jack. Jack fell back and delivered a DDT!
Jack went for the pin but Keith proved to be tough. He kicked out at two. Jack sat him up and positioned himself behind Keith. He slid his arms under Keith's and slapped on a full nelson. Keith's trim muscle dude body was stretched out. Every muscle in his torso quivered from the abuse he had taken and the submission move.
Jack had been caught by Keith's legs earlier in the match. Jack knew he had really strong legs of his own. He slid Keith up between his legs. Jack wrapped his long thin legs around Keith's waist. He locked on a scissors. Combined with the full nelson, Keith was screaming but not submitting. Jack's lean legs were capable of crushing a little guy like Keith. Jack poured on the pressure. He felt his legs getting deeper and deeper into Keith as the muscle wall was breaking down.
Keith continued to scream. He called Rich's name. Rich took the hint and entered illegally. He managed to place one boot to Jack's head and break the hold before Jessie met him and the two wrestlers exchanged forearms.
Jessie surprised everyone by pummeling Rich back into his corner. Jessie felt they were on the right track and he wasn't about to let Rich turn the tide without a fight! As the ref tried to restore order, Jessie let loose an incredibly hard forearm right into Rich's chest! Rich was staggered by the impact - the impact driven by anger and the frustration of five losses, the complete humiliation of his brother and himself - and Rich fell between the middle and top rope onto the floor below. Jessie, with a satisfied grin on his face, raced back to his corner and order was restored.
During the melee, Jack had stayed focused on the match and had Keith still under control. He had restored the full nelson and now had Keith on his feet. Jack drove forward, sending Keith's defenseless abs into the top turnbuckle! Keith coughed and sputtered but Jack did not release the full nelson.
Jack said, "Jess, tag in." Jack was pleased his brother was treating him like an equal in the match, letting him take on Rich, waiting for the tag, not hesitating when tagging Jack in. Jack felt like they were a team, as opposed to big and little brother. Jessie felt that way, too. He still knew he was the stronger and tougher brother, but the training had made him realize they were a team and no matter what, he had to trust in Jack.
Jessie slapped his brother and came in. He laid hard forearms to Keith's chest and abs. Jack was shocked at the might behind them as he had trouble holding Keith in place. The ref forced Jack out of the ring and Jessie went to work on his opponent, whipping him hard into a neutral corner!
The crowd was chanting their name, definitely taking sides in this exciting contest. Jessie came flying into the corner and drove a hard clothesline into Keith's head, snapping it back hard. When Jessie moved back, Keith fell forward, his chest and face slamming down into the mat. He made feeble crawling movements to make the tag but ended up looking more like a fish out of water. Jessie rolled him over and pinned his shoulders down.
The ref began counting. Rich ran along the apron and shoved his boot threw the ropes, kicking Jessie's head and breaking the count. Jessie clutched the side of his head, but kept his wits about him. Jessie grabbed hold of Keith and dragged him to the corner.
Jessie tagged Jack back in. Jack immediately went to work as his brother shook out the cobwebs. Jack was focused on ending this match. He didn't want to let this opportunity slide. Jack stomped Keith's abs hard. The six-pack was definitely soft. Jack lifted Keith up, forcing Keith over his shoulder. Keith hung limply in the over-the-shoulder carry.
Jack moved to a neutral corner. He ran forward and leapt into the air, turning Keith and planting him hard in a powerslam! When Keith felt his midsection crushed between Jack's 160-pound body and the hard canvas, he went completely limp from pain.
Jack covered him and the ref counted. Again, Rich saved his partner. Jack had landed right in a neutral corner. Rich grabbed Keith's leg and draped it over the bottom rope. Jack slapped the mat, angry with Rich and angry with himself. He grabbed a handful of Keith's hair and dragged him to his feet.
Keith instinctively followed. Jack slammed him hard into the corner in front of Jessie. The frustrated Jack put everything into the push and the ring actually shook from the impact as Keith fell to his knees in the corner. Jack marched forward and laid his boots to Keith's midsection until Keith was left sprawled in his opponent's corner.
Jack tagged Jessie in. Keith was lying in the corner, resting on the bottom turnbuckle, chest and abs red from abuse, back aching and crying out for mercy. Jessie moved behind Jack. He lifted his brother as though for an atomic drop. Jack hoisted Jessie up and then dropped him down on top of Keith!
The entire crowd and gathered wrestlers groaned as the powerful move was landed! Keith was done now! Jack rode Keith in a Bronco Buster until the ref forced him out.
Jessie immediately tagged Jack back in. Jack pulled Keith to his feet. Jack stooped down and picked up Keith in his arms. Jack held Keith low around the waist, his arms wrapping tightly around the waistband of Keith's small black trunks. Jack applied a bearhug, squeezing Keith's back and abs tightly.
By the time the ref reached two, Jack thought he had a firm grip. He stood slightly, raising Keith's feet from the ground. The tired and dazed Keith felt his back being punished. Jack held Keith's 165-pound body in the air, Keith's head, neck and shoulders above Jack's head.
Jessie got ready to deliver their finisher. He would deliver a massive clothesline to the helpless Keith and send him flying back into the mat. Jack would fall with him, driving himself onto Keith hard. Jack could easily slide forward and get the one, two, three.
Rich sagged heavily on the ropes as he watched Jessie and Jack set up his partner. Rich hung on the ropes partly out of fatigue and partly to get ready to help his partner. As Jessie and Jack positioned Keith, Rich saw opportunity staring him in the face.
People who had left during the contest were rushing back in, eager to get caught up. They had heard the groans and sounds and wanted to know what they had missed.
In the ring, Jessie came roaring back to the ropes. Jack held the weakened Keith in the air. Keith was set up perfectly as Jessie made his move. Rich also made his move ...
When Jessie got close, Rich grabbed the top rope and pulled it down. Jessie hit the ropes fast, but with no top rope on his back, he went straight back. Instead of bouncing back towards Keith, Jessie toppled back, flying heels over head to the apron below.
In the ring, Jack could not see what was happening. He was starting to lose his grip and knew something was wrong. Rich came in illegally. He measured Jack up and planted a perfect and devastating boot to the small of Jack's back. The ref forced Rich out, but the damage was done. Jack dropped Keith and clutched his back. Keith had regained his senses. As the ref dealt with Rich, Keith drove his forearm between Jack's legs. Jack fell to his knees, tears welling up from the low blow.Keith crossed the ring and tagged in Rich. Rich entered and charged. He picked up Jack and slammed him down hard, further hurting his back. Rich forced him to his feet and whipped Jack across the ring into the opposite corner. Jack crashed hard and drooped on the top turnbuckle. Rich approached him, ready to put the jobber away.
On the outside of the ring, Keith jumped down from the apron and picked up the dazed Jessie. He locked his thighs around the kneeling Jessie's head. Keith grabbed his arms and got ready to drop Jessie for good!
Jessie felt his arms being raised. He knew this was the set-up for a Pedigree-style move. Jessie knew that if Keith locked his hands across his back, there was no counter, no escape possible. With every bit of reserve energy, Jessie forced himself to stand, sending Keith over him in a back body drop!
Jessie saw Jack slumped in the corner. Jessie was mad at the top-rope-pulldown and resulting momentum shift. He grabbed the middle rope, intending on doing a little rule-bending of his own. As Jessie pulled himself up, he felt Keith grab him around the waist. Keith pulled Jessie away from the ropes then slammed him stomach first into the ring apron.
The air left Jessie quickly. Keith spun Jessie around and pushed Jessie's back into the ring apron. Jessie fell to one knee in pain. Keith grabbed a handful of hair, ready to finish the older brother off, making it two-on-one for as long as Jack could last.
The crowd was electrified by the action. It was as though two matches were going on now. One inside, and one outside, the ring. Jessie and Jack were losing both.
Keith slammed Jessie front first into the ring apron. The air left Jessie quickly. Keith spun Jessie around and pushed Jessie's back into the ring apron. Jessie fell to one knee in pain. Keith grabbed a handful of hair, ready to finish the older brother off, making it two-on-one for as long as Jack could last.
Jack was slumping in the corner. He and Jessie had dominated much of the match but you would never know it by what was going on in the ring or outside of it.
Rich hammered fists into Jack's abs, softening the jobber up. The 18-year old collapsed from the force of the 21-year old's power-packed punches. Rich grabbed Jack around the throat and lifted! Jack struggled in the choke as Rich turned them around. The 6'3", near-200-pound Rich was holding Jack aloft as the ref counted to five. When the ref reached five, Rich dropped down. He used his grip to drive Jack into the canvas! Jack's body quivered as he lost consciousness momentarily.Rich slid on top of Jack and covered him. Rich smirked as the ref counted, "one." Jack moaned under the bigger and older dominator that had turned the tables so quickly. The ref counted to "two." As the ref's hand came down for "three," Jack somehow found the strength to raise his shoulder!The crowd screamed as Jack proved to one tough guy! Rich was stunned, unable to react at first. He just stared at Jack who was lying flat on the canvas, with one shoulder raised off the mat. Rich dragged Jack to his feet. Holding Jack up by his hair, Rich slapped Jack hard across the face. Rich was furious at Jack!
Rich whipped Jack back into the corner. He would do the same move again. No one could kick out twice! He confidently went to the corner. When he got close, Jack reacted on instinct. He thrust his boot out and planted it hard into Rich's gut. Rich was winded and Jack tried to take advantage.
Jack grabbed Rich around the neck. He spun Rich around, placing him in the corner. Jack drove a knee into Rich's abs. He repeated the move three more times. The young jobber then delivered five knife-edge chops to the bigger wrestler. It was Rich's turn to slump in the corner.
On the outside, Keith saw Jack dominating his partner. He released his grip on Jessie's hair and moved to help. He made it one step before he heard from behind him, "Not so fast," and felt a hand on his shoulder. Jessie spun Keith around and drove a forearm into his head. Keith wobbled and staggered back. Jessie followed up, driving blows into Keith!
In the ring, Jack felt he had softened Rich up. He grabbed Rich's wrist and flung him into the opposite corner. As Rich ran, he reversed the move, sending Jack towards the hard turnbuckles. The light and lanky Jack leapt up, using his momentum to climb the turnbuckle rather than smash into it.
Jack moved up the turnbuckle, ready to turn and cross body block Rich onto the mat!
There were two battles going on - one inside and one outside the ring. Inside the ring, Jack went up top. On the way, the effects of Rich's devastating choke slam were felt. Jack felt woozy as he went up, his foot slipped and he tumbled off the top rope!
Underneath him, Rich was preparing to catch the wrestler and reverse the move into a slam. When Jack stumbled, Rich was frozen. His arms were not in the right place to catch Jack as he fell. In that split second, Jack came down and their heads collided! SMACK! With an audible crack, both wrestlers toppled to the mat, dazed from the accidental collision.
After the fluke head butt, Rich fell to the mat, his back hitting hard. Jack landed a top him. The ref saw Rich's shoulders down and counted "One, two, three."
Rich woke up and tossed Jack off him. He sat up as Jack writhed on the mat behind him. Jack was still completely out of it. From outside the ring, Jessie and Keith heard the bell ring. They saw Jack flat on his back, looking almost unconscious and Rich sitting beside him.
Jessie said, "Not again." Jessie sank to one knee, letting Keith enter the ring to take his bows. Jessie wanted to throw up. He couldn't believe they had lost yet again. Six matches, six losses. This wasn't like losing to HB and Kane. These last three teams all were winless until they faced Jessie and Jack. Alan and his friends were right. They were pathetic.
Jessie rolled in. He put on a brave face for his brother. Jessie had not shared what he had overheard from Keegan and Alan. Jessie vowed to be the strong older brother, knowing that Jack would blame himself. In a way, Jessie felt like Jack was to blame too. He tried to suppress that feeling but it was there, inside him.
Jack had been pinned by Alex and Troy. Jessie knew that losing to Alan and Greg was Jack's fault because he had not been paying attention. Because of that, he, Jessie, had gotten pounded. Keegan and Ross had beaten Jack, too, even though Jessie had given them the advantage several times.
And now this. They had dominated a match for the first time in their TCCW careers. And Jack had gotten himself pinned. Just great.
This time, when Jack talked about quitting, Jessie would not work hard to change his mind. They had trained hard. They had been coached by the tag champs. No improvement. At least nothing that resulted in a win.
As Jessie lifted Jack up and woke him up, he felt someone grab his arm. Jessie pulled it away hard. He saw it was the ref. Jessie snarled, "What do you want? I'm just trying to help my brother. We'll clear the ring and let the winners strut in a minute!"
The ref said, "I am simply trying to raise your hand. You won." Jessie looked shocked. The ref said, "Jack here pinned Rich. I counted to three. That's how matches end around here."
Jack was just as shocked but did not let on. He remembered going up but couldn't quite remember anything else. When Jessie turned, Jack pretended to know all along. "Yup, we won. I pinned Rich. But I banged my head on the way down so I was a little dazed."
Jessie hugged his brother hard. The wrestlers did a victory lap in the ring. The crowd clapped politely but not much else. They had seen Jack stumble and seen the lucky pin. Still, the brother's enthusiasm was contagious so some of the crowd actually stood.
THE END
*****
Texas College Championship Wrestling 29
Jessie/Jack: After the Win
This match reinforced for the crowd what they already knew. The teams in TCCW would have to do a lot of work to reach the level of Corwin and Drew or HB and Kane in terms of teamwork and skill. Those two teams were the class of the division. Trace and Kale, because of their size advantage and power moves had to be considered a top tier team as well. Those three teams were head and shoulders above the rest.
Teams like Alan and Greg or Jed and Luke had potential but weren't there yet. Could anyone emerge and challenge the supremacy of the top three teams?
In the back of the arena, Patrick didn't care about that. He was jumping up and down cheering. He pumped his fists and called out to his friends. Patrick's voice carried all the way to the ring. Jessie and Jack looked back and waved. They owed Patrick most of all for this feeling.
Patrick turned around to see Elton standing stone-faced with his bulging arms folded across his heaving pecs. Corwin and Drew stood beside him shaking their heads. Patrick said, "Guys, start cheering! They WON!"
Elton said, "Patrick, it was a fluke. They lucked into a win. Big deal." Corwin and Drew agreed saying the same thing.
Patrick said, "No. They fought hard and controlled the match. They might have won anyway. BUT, they DID just win their FIRST match and you three ARE going to celebrate. If ANY of you tell them your opinions, I'll never speak to you again. Got it?"
Elton smiled, "C'mon Patrick, you can't hold a grudge. You just can't do it. You'd be buying us burgers in ten minutes and apologizing for being a jerk."
Patrick frowned, "Okay, you're right. But PLEASE don't do it. Let them have their victory."
As Jessie and Jack came up to the group, Patrick hugged them. Corwin, Drew and Elton congratulated them. Feeling like a winner was a big part of being a winner and maybe this would help the brothers get over the hurdle.
*****
The next day at the gym, Jessie walked up to Alan. "Did you hear? Jobbie and Joke won last night. And we're training with Corwin and Drew, you know, the tag champs. So watch out."
Alan was shocked that Jessie knew about the name but he really didn't care. He said, "A fluke win." Jessie laughed but Alan continued. "Joke fell off the top turnbuckle and crashed into Rich. They banged heads. Nothing to be proud of, Jobbie."
Jessie didn't know what to say. It had been an accident? At Jessie's silence, it was Alan's turn to howl with laughter. "You didn't know? Of course not, Keith was working you over outside the ring. Well Joke must have told you? Or how about your friends, the tag champs?"
Jessie stared at Alan with hard eyes. Alan said, "Sorry, guy, but you're still Jobbie and Joke until you win legitimately. See you around. And any time you want a rematch, me and Greg want an easy win. See ya, Jobbie."
Jessie was really upset. But why should he be mad? They had won. Still, Jack had acted like a big shot for getting them their first win. Jessie decided to keep quiet. No good would come from him telling anyone that he knew. He suppressed his feelings even deeper.
To make matters worse, Drew told him that he felt too busy to keep helping them. Jessie was disappointed. Jack reminded him that Jeff and Sean were back in town so they had partners for training. Jessie nodded, not wanting to explain the source of his disappointment. Still, no matter how they did it, they had won. Jessie put everything else out of his mind and went about his training.
THE END
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