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 45
Corwin/Drew versus Seth/Gavin
It was a lazy Sunday in TCCW-land. The TCCW gym was jam-packed with wrestlers. Sunday was always the most relaxed day in the gym. The Saturday card had come and gone and it would be a week before anyone would have to face off in the ring. Despite the shocking turn of events at last night's card, everyone was minding their own business.
Wrestlers waited for their turn by the free weights. The machines were full and forget about getting any cardio in without a healthy delay. Of course there was plenty of action in the private rings, too.
To keep themselves amused, they took in the action in the center ring. Everyone watched as now-former tag champs Carter and Rick worked out with their pals Jeff and Sean, honing their already formidable tag skills.
Jeff and Sean had certainly improved since hooking up with the talented cousins, but still they were being soundly outclassed in the ring. Ironically, Jeff and Sean were one of the only teams that held a victory over the now ex-tag champs.
The four wrestlers wound up their practice and slipped out of the ring as the clock struck 2pm. Corwin and Drew, also long-reigning ex-tag champs and, arguably, the most formidable team in TCCW, had it reserved, although they didn't seem to be around. Still, the four tag specialists knew their time was up and decided to leave and avoid any conflict with the volatile former tag champs.
Into this bustle, completely unnoticed, Seth and Gavin walked into the TCCW gym. They surveyed the gym and nodded to each other with big smiles. It was a nice setup, that was for sure. They looked around for anyone they knew, but no one was there.
Not that they were surprised.
They and their friends lived in the sister-city, a good half-hour drive to here. With their old gym closing down on weekends, this was going to be home. They knew that with Seth's hard driving ways they always arrived first, plus their friends were meeting up and carpooling for their first time to the TCCW gym, so that would slow them down even more.
Everyone kept working out, completely oblivious to the two young men. Seth and Gavin noticed the ring was empty. They sauntered up to it and checked it out. They threw down their coats and gym bags and slid inside. Again their faces showed how impressed they were.
"Nice ring, huh?"
Seth and Gavin turned around and saw two other wrestlers sliding into the ring. It was Corwin and Drew, back wearing their signature loincloths for practice. Seth and Gavin smirked at the Tarzan-wannabes.
Seth said, "Yeah, awesome setup. We're gonna like it here."
Drew crossed his lean-muscled arms across his cut chest. He said, "You guys joining TCCW?"
Both Seth and Gavin nodded. Gavin said, "Yeah, we're a new tag team. Looks like you guys are tag, too."
Drew shrugged. He could care less who these two were. It would be a while before any new wrestlers faced them in the ring. "Well, first lesson. Get out of our ring. Feel free to gawk from the sidelines."
Seth and Gavin just looked at each other. "Cool it, Jungle Jerk. We're gonna be a big part of this league, so let's just get along."
The four wrestlers moved to the center of the ring. Silently a challenge issued and a challenge accepted.
As the four wrestlers in the ring continued their verbal sparring, across the gym, Carter was staring at the ring. Rick asked, "What?" Carter pointed to the ring.
Rick saw and just stared. Jeff and Sean saw their friends' distraction. They followed the glances to the ring. Jeff said, "Looks like a new team. Hope they're not stupid enough to be challenging Corwin and Drew!"
Rick and Carter exchanged glances, but said nothing.
*****
In the ring, the four wrestlers had agreed on a standard tag match. They had even pulled Cody into the ring as ref. He had experience in the job and was impartial, since he was not friends with the former Outlaws and did not know Seth and Gavin.
Seth stripped off his shirt and pants. He sat on the canvas and unlaced his running shoes, pulling them off and then the socks. In the adjacent corner, Gavin had been doing the same thing.
As they stood in the ring wearing just their white athletic jocks, the assembled crowd began to pay attention. It wasn't like this happened every day.
Corwin and Drew appreciated the chance to check out their competition and the newbies did have strong bodies, but so did a lot of guys. After all, Corwin and Drew had handled the biggest studs in TCCW, Trace and Kale, on more than one occasion.
Drew said sarcastically, "Is that what you're planning on wearing in the ring?" He got a chuckle out of a couple of lightweights who had moved right up to the corner to see what was going on.
Seth said, "Well, looking at you two dressed like that, we figured everyone here just wears their underwear. It's just we stopped wearing our Underoos a long time ago. Those ARE Tarzan Underoos, aren't they?"
Drew blushed at the insult; Seth and Gavin hopped out of the ring. The two wrestlers rummaged through their bags, which lay beside the ring. Gavin pulled out a pair of red trunks and unfolded them. Seth pulled a pair out of his bag, too.
Seth was pretty hard-bodied. In fact, he was not dissimilar from Drew. Both studs were 20. Seth also had a lean-muscled body, but more cut, more defined than his opponent. Seth stood 5'11" and weighed 163 pounds, while Drew was 6' and 165.
Seth slipped a pair of small lime green trunks up his tight legs and over his white jock. He laced it up and hopped onto the corner turnbuckle to slide his black amateur-style short boots on.
Once assembled, he hopped down and bounced in the ring, warming up. Gavin had slipped on his tight red trunks and a pair of royal blue amateur boots. He was clearly the powerhouse of the pair. He was two years older, 22. Like Corwin, he stood 5'10", but there, the similarities ended.
Corwin was the youngest, at 19, but he had a lot of experience. He was tightly muscled, with strong pecs and arms and a ripped midsection. So was Gavin, only about an inch bigger in every dimension. He weighed in at 174 that morning and the extra weight was all muscle.
Once dressed, Cody summoned the studs to the middle of the ring and went over a painfully detailed explanation of tag rules and how TCCW operated. Seth and Gavin tried to look interested. They knew that the talk was for their benefit because Cody, Drew and Corwin obviously thought they had never wrestled before.
That was an incorrect assumption which they had no interest in dispelling. At least not yet.
Seth and Drew started off for their respective camps. They looked so evenly matched, but everyone watching knew what a difference experience makes.
The two studs circled the ring, taking each other's measure. Drew immediately raised his hands for a contest of strength. Seth nodded and raised his. They moved together quickly, Drew locking his right hand with Seth's left and then the other hands moved together.
Before they could meet, though, Drew played the experience card. He pulled Seth's left arm down and pulled him forward. Seth's left arm was his weaker and was no match for Drew's mighty right arm. Seth was pulled right into Drew's size 11 wrestling boot!
Drew drove his boot deep into the newbie's stomach, just above his lime green trunks in the soft under belly. Seth let out a whelp and bent forward, just as Drew was lifting his left arm up in an upper cut. Drew's forearm collided with Seth's jaw and sent him backwards. He fell onto the mat hard, winded and dazed!
Drew smirked. He said to Corwin loudly, "Two moves and the guy's already down."
Corwin laughed. He said, "Nice. Course I'd have done it in one." Drew flipped off his partner jokingly and finally followed up on Seth.
Seth was back on his feet and bouncing back and forth, showing no ill effects. The bantering had irritated him and so had the lack of respect Drew had shown him by not following through while he was down.
Seth said, "I thought you were supposed to go after a guy when he was down. Or is that another lesson?"
Drew said, "Normally, you're right, but in this case..." Drew pointed at Seth's tight body, then pointed at his own as if there was a major difference. He said, "Well, you can see my point."
Seth smiled and said, "Just bring it."
Drew shrugged and said, "Okay, you asked for it."
Drew charged Seth, ready to take the man down just as fast, but Seth surprised everyone by countering brilliantly. Seth grabbed Drew by the wrist and flipped him over in an arm drag takedown. When Drew hit the canvas, Seth wrenched his arm fiercely, causing Drew to wince.
Seth cranked hard on the hold. Cody did not even bother asking if Drew wanted to submit - he knew better. Drew scrambled to escape, but it was no use. Seth was his match in every way it seemed and with the leverage advantage, Seth had him under control.
Seth moved to the side and dragged Drew to the corner where Gavin waited patiently. Seth repositioned the struggling Drew and drove his knee into Drew's arm then let Gavin tag in. Before Gavin could get into the ring, Drew managed to slip free and roll to safety.
Seth was disappointed that he had let Drew escape, but Gavin gave him a look that told him not to worry.
Drew slid to his corner, shaking out his arm the whole way. When he arrived, Corwin slapped his shoulder and started into the ring. He was eager to give his partner a break and also try out the newbies.
The two 16 year old studs eyed each other warily. The blond loinclothed Corwin stepped forward to take the fight to the red trunked powerhouse. Gavin did not back away; he was ready to get it on.
The two studs locked up and Gavin immediately drove Corwin back into the ropes. He drove forward during the five-count, delivering two huge knees to Corwin's abs! The chiseled six-pack of the blond jungle stud held, but Corwin was stunned.
After the two blows, Cody reached five and ordered Gavin to break, which he did. Corwin and Gavin circled again. This time, Corwin would be much more careful.
TCCW matches moved fast. Instant decisions had to be made and often decided the outcome of matches. Decisions that take pages to review are made by instinct in the fraction of a second.
So it was as Corwin seized control over Gavin. On their next lock up, Corwin drove his knee into Gavin's rock hard abs, winding the strongest wrestler in the match.
Corwin clutched Gavin's thick forearm and pushed him back into the ropes. He hurled Gavin off the ropes, across the ring, into the opposite ropes, ready to flatten the muscle wrestler.
As he struck the ropes, Gavin reached out and tagged his partner. Cody signaled the tag. In the middle of the ring, Corwin was set for a clothesline.
Corwin, though, was experienced enough to see the subtle tag and prepare for it. He and Drew often used the same move! Corwin set his feet a little wider and decided that after he flattened Gavin, he would charge the corner and do the same to Seth.
Corwin knew Cody would keep Gavin from getting up and interfering. Gavin came off and went right at Corwin's extended arm.
But instead of being flattened by the attempted clothesline, Gavin raised his hands to chest height and caught Corwin's arm. Gavin used his momentum to spin Corwin completely around and threw the wobbly wrestler into the ropes.
Corwin ran across the ring to the ropes, his mind racing and new plans developing. Unfortunately, the reversal had distracted him and he forgot about the tag.
As Corwin raced across the ring, Seth launched himself over the top rope. Corwin ran at full speed right into the soles of the black amateur boots!
Corwin stumbled back, nearly unconscious from the shocking blow! But instead of falling, Gavin grabbed him from behind and put him in a full nelson. As Cody counted four, Gavin moved his right foot in front of Corwin's feet and tripped him forward!
Corwin regained his senses just in time to see the mat getting closer and closer. He tried to brace his fall, but Gavin's full nelson held his arms secure!
SPLAT!
Corwin's face and chest slammed into the canvas hard!
Cody's hand went up for five. Gavin bounced up, turned and flipped Drew off and moved back to exit the ring.
Drew was incensed at the newbie's gall! One good move did not make a match! Sure, these newbies were tougher than he had thought, but they were still fighting the real TCCW champs, as Drew thought of himself and Corwin.
He yelled, "C'mon Corwin!" as Seth approached to take full advantage. Drew felt worried for the first time. He knew the entire gym was watching this match now.
He couldn't bear to lose to a couple of newbies, especially in front of everyone.
"C'mon Corwin!"
Corwin was still dazed when Seth reached him seconds later. Still, in his stupor, Corwin knew enough that he had to tag. He got to his hands and knees and looked up to crawl to Drew.
Seth looked down at the blond jungle hunk. He reached over Corwin's shoulders and between his legs. Seth hoisted Corwin up and held him tightly in the air.
WHOOSH!
Seth slammed Corwin over his knee in a gutbuster. The air left Corwin's lungs in a hurry, as his muscle wall became the target. Already having been hit by two knees, the abs were red.
WHOOSH! KOFF!
Showing remarkable strength, Seth repeated the move! Corwin was coughing as Seth pushed him off his knee onto the mat. Corwin clutched his stomach, only to have his round, hard pecs receive a series of stomps from Seth's black wrestling shoes.
Seth reached down and dragged Corwin to his feet. He pushed the TCCW superstar into the corner and drove two more boots to his abs. Corwin slipped to a knee as Drew became concerned.
"C'mon, get up!" came the cry, as the concerned tag partner cheered for his friend.
Seth reached over Corwin and tagged Gavin. While he did that, Corwin drove his forearm upwards, driving Seth back. Seth clutched his stomach as Corwin stood and marched forward.
Corwin had not seen the tag. Gavin had simply slid in behind him and was now in perfect position.
"What the?"
Gavin's throbbing arms slid under Corwin's armpits and cinched on a full nelson. Seth immediately drove forward, landing a cruel series of blows before Cody got to five and kicked him out.
When Gavin released the hold, Corwin dropped to his knees. His abs were really red now, the individual muscles softening noticeably. Gavin reached down and slid his hand into Corwin's blond hair. He pulled Corwin to his feet. In one fluid motion, he lifted Corwin, spun him and drove a knee into Corwin's abs.
As Corwin sank again, Gavin held him up. He drove another knee in. This one lifted Corwin's feet off the mat! Corwin was definitely suffering. His head ached from the kick and his abs had been abused something fierce.
Gavin positioned Corwin's head under his arm. Gavin's arm was clamped tightly on the back of Corwin's neck. Gavin reached forward and grabbed the loincloth. He wrapped his hand tightly around the fabric and hoisted Corwin up for a suplex!
But instead of falling back, he went forward, planting Corwin on the top rope, driving his abs down hard!
Corwin nearly lost his lunch as the heavy rope ripped into his abs! But Gavin wasn't done with him. The momentum of the ropes helped him show off his strength. As the ropes sprang back, Gavin used them to launch Corwin back in a suplex, slamming his back down hard! Even Drew had to wince from the impact.
Gavin rolled to the side and smiled at Seth. He had Corwin exactly where he wanted him.
Gavin positioned Corwin's head between his legs. He reached out and wrapped his arms around Corwin's lean 28" waist. Corwin's sore abs bristled at the clutch as he was dragged to his feet, bent at the waist as he bowed before Gavin.
Gavin's legs held his head tightly and the pain in his abs woke him enough to understand what was about to happen. He knew it was either a piledriver or a powerslam - the two both began this way.
Gavin heaved, but Corwin moved his foot out, blocking the lift! Gavin stumbled slightly and Corwin used the last remaining strength he had to lift with his legs.
Gavin felt his own feet leaving the mat!
BWUMP!
Gavin tumbled over Corwin and landed hard on his back. Corwin's back body drop had bought him a little time. He fell to his knees and focussed on his partner's voice.
Gavin stumbled to his feet. Behind him, Corwin barely managed the tag. Gavin turned, shocked to see Drew charging at him! Drew slammed his fist into Gavin's impressive, but unflexed abs.
"OOF!" Gavin got out as he bent forward into Drew's waiting grip. Drew fell back and planted Gavin with a big DDT!
Drew covered and got a two-count before Gavin kicked out. The assembled crowd finally felt comfortable that Corwin and Drew were taking this match seriously.
The tide of the match had finally turned. Drew had a slight edge and he wasn't about to let it go.
Drew dragged Gavin to his feet and locked Gavin's head under his arm. Gavin looked down at the canvas, his wits coming back to him. With deliberate speed, Drew grabbed the heavier wrestler's red trunks, locked his grip and lifted while falling back!
Gavin felt himself going up and was unable to do anything.
BAM!
Gavin's back slammed down hard from Drew's suplex. Drew did not let go. He rolled over and repeated the move twice more.
BAM!
BAM!
Drew immediately stomped Gavin's prone body, slamming his boots down hard into the supine stud.
Gavin writhed on the mat in pain. Drew had really taken it to him. The powerhouse in the tight red trunks tried to get up, but just ended up rolling onto his back. Drew admired Gavin's ripped abs for a moment only, before driving a knee into the wide-open gut!
"WHOOF!" Gavin cried out. He let out another gush of air as Drew drove a second knee into his mighty midsection.
Gavin stood only because Drew's firm grip forced him. It was either stand or lose his hair. Drew had Gavin figuratively on the ropes. It was all Gavin could do to remain standing! Drew left Gavin standing and ran back to ropes.
As Gavin wobbled in the center of the ring, Drew came off the ropes and launched himself in a cross body block! Gavin reached out as Drew's chiseled abs slammed into his bulging pecs.
Gavin could not resist the momentum, but he managed to turn Drew around and execute a clumsy, but effective powerslam!
THUD!
Drew moaned from the sudden power move, which took him by surprise. Gavin staggered to his feet as Drew rolled onto his hands and knees. When Drew got to his feet, Gavin moved behind him and slapped on a sleeper!
Drew's arms flailed; Gavin's thick arms choked the life out of him. Despite the abuse Gavin had taken, his muscles remained strong and unmovable.
Drew tried to move to the corner and tag Corwin, but his every thrust was matched with equal force by Gavin. Drew was sagging, Corwin could tell, everyone could tell.
Cody actually lifted his right arm, ready to check for consciousness! The move woke Drew up and he realized he needed to act fast. Drew summoned his strength and used the built up sweat to slide in the tight grip.
Gavin felt him moving, but could do nothing. He would not release the hold. Unknown to anyone, Gavin felt that he would fall to the mat if not for Drew supporting him. He had not regained his wind yet!
Drew dug deep and when he was ready, he struck!
"HUH!" he cried.
PLOP! Drew fell down onto his butt, dragging Gavin down with him.
CRACK!
Gavin's jaw collided with Drew's ripped shoulder, knocking him out for a moment! The slam and sleeper had put Drew out, too. The two fierce competitors whom only moments before had been locked in battle were now asleep on the mat!
Cody had no choice but to count ... and if he got to ten, this match would be a draw.
ONE ... TWO ... THREE ... FOUR...
Cody started the count, raising his hands and signaling, just as though this was a real match. He knew that every wrestler was now watching, so in a way, this was a real match
Drew's long body was stretched out as he crawled to his partner. He could here Corwin's voice calling to him. Drew clawed at the canvas, his powerful fingers and lean arms literally dragging him forward as he shook out his head to clear the cobwebs.
Corwin was leaning as far forward as he could. The blond stud's shoulders were aching from the stretch. He knew Drew had to make the tag before Gavin did. Corwin's tight muscles strained as he forced himself to become as long as possible. He used his aching abs to push against the ropes, ignoring the pain.
Corwin looked up worriedly. Gavin was matching Drew inch for inch. Corwin yelled, "C'mon Drew! Just another foot! You can do it!"
Gavin was being pulled along by the same encouragement. Although Seth and Gavin were not nearly as close as Corwin and Drew, they were best friends and long time tag partners.
Cody had retreated to a neutral corner to make sure he could see both teams and acknowledge either or both tags. He was silently pulling for Corwin and Drew, a feeling that shocked him. But something inside him felt like Seth and Gavin were interlopers.
"The devil you know, I guess," Cody thought to rationalize his bias. Still, he would not interfere and he would not let his gut feeling sway his judgement.
SLAP!
Drew slapped Corwin's hand. Corwin was over the top rope in a flash, ignoring his partner, who was sprawled out on the canvas, his body and loincloth soaked with sweat from the effort.
Corwin grabbed Gavin's foot and pulled him backwards!
SLAP!
But he was a millisecond too late. Gavin just touched Seth's hand in time. Corwin looked up to see Seth charging at him, arm extended, a big clothesline ready!
Corwin ducked just in time and Seth sailed past him. As Seth turned, Corwin was ready. He slammed his forearm into Seth's pecs, the taut muscles quivering from the blow. Seth stepped back from the force.
WHAM! Another forearm shot. SLAM! And another. Seth was reeling and fell back into the corner. Corwin slammed two fists into Seth's gut as Cody started his count to five.
Corwin felt great satisfaction at leveling the cocky wrestler in the lime green trunks. He knew that he and Drew should have handled the newbies easily. They were the best tag team in TCCW, after all, tag belts or not.
As Corwin drew back for a third fist, Seth drove out, lifting his knee into Corwin's midsection. The earlier abuse had softened Corwin's abs a lot and the blow winded him. Seth charged out of the corner and came at Corwin with another clothesline.
Again Corwin ducked successfully, but Seth was prepared. He moved right behind Corwin and wrapped him up - Corwin let out a "NO!" as he recognized the move! It was the same forward Russian Leg Sweep that Gavin had used on him. Corwin thrashed, but it was no use. The move was quick and devastating.
SPLAT!
Corwin went down, Seth using all his power to drive the blond Tarzan into the mat, face and chest first. Seth rolled off Corwin and flipped him over, going for a pin.
Cody began to count, "One, two..."
One of the main rules of tag team is to be there for your partner. Drew knew this rule well - he was always there for Corwin, in the ring and out of it, too.
As Cody slapped the mat for two, Drew was charging in. He successfully distracted Cody and broke the count. As Drew moved to strike Seth, he heard heavy stomps and looked up just in time to see Gavin flying at him with a big elbow!
CRACK!
Drew was leveled by the big blow and sent sprawling backwards! Gavin charged him again and dragged him to his feet by his hair. Cody was counting, warning him to leave the ring, but Gavin ignored him.
Gavin lifted Drew up for a body slam. The "rookie" stud held Drew aloft for only a second, but to Drew it felt like an hour.
BOOM!
Gavin leaned back, then forward, and delivered a huge slam that shook the ring! The slam from the newbie powerhouse was so impressive it actually distracted Cody for a second! Gavin dragged the now stunned Drew up again by his long brown hair.
The loincloth-clad stud looked so much smaller, even though he was not. Gavin's hard muscles glistened with sweat and pulsed with power. Gavin flexed his muscles and slammed him a second time!
BOOM!
Drew arched his back up to relieve the stress, only to get two hard stomps to his abs. Cody was back on top of the situation, physically pulling Gavin back. Gavin, although strong, was not anywhere powerful enough to resist an annoyed Cody, one of the most powerful heavyweights in TCCW.
As Cody attempted to restore order, dragging Gavin back, Gavin got in one more shot, a kick to Drew's side that sent him rolling out of the ring and onto the floor below.
Once Drew was out of the ring, Gavin moved back quietly. Cody turned and saw Seth with Corwin in a camel clutch! Corwin was moaning and groaning, helpless in the hold.
Cody scrambled back to check for a submission, but Seth released the blond stud immediately. Cody looked puzzled, but Seth said, "I was just keeping him quiet while you took care of the interference."
Cody was no longer surprised at Seth's confidence. This man was a ring veteran, Cody knew, no matter what Corwin and Drew had thought when the match began.
Seth dragged Corwin into the middle of the ring. He tagged in Gavin, who leapt to the top rope in one move and flew off, splashing Corwin flat!
WHOOMP!
Corwin's eyes bugged out as 174 pounds landed on top of him from the top rope. Cody was beginning to count the pin when he heard the cry.
"BANZAI!"
Cody turned to see Seth flying in behind his partner! Seth landed on top of Gavin's back, crushing his partner, but really crushing Corwin! The blond Tarzan felt like his ribs had been pulverized as he was held down by 330 pounds of hard muscle. Seth rolled off his partner, flexed and smiled for the shocked TCCW wrestlers and exited the ring.
Cody dropped down and counted to three, knowing that he could count to one hundred. When the count was over, Gavin placed one boot on Corwin's chest and waited. Seth came in and put a boot on Corwin's abs. The conquering studs flexed for the assembled onlookers before rolling Corwin out of the ring, onto the floor beside Drew.
The smirks on their faces said it all as Cody hopped out of the ring to check on Corwin and Drew.
Cody checked on the defeated team. They seemed okay, only their pride was badly damaged. When Corwin and Drew looked up from the floor to the ring, they saw the newbies flaunting their win.
"Looks like this is our ring, now, losers," the cocky tag team said. They spread their arms and looked around the gym arrogantly, as if challenging anyone else to face them.
Corwin and Drew picked themselves up off the floor and looked around. Everyone was staring, mouths open. They were embarrassed that they had been taken down by two newbies.
From the crowd, Carter and Rick emerged, pushing their way through. Seth and Gavin smiled as they saw the cousins.
Carter and Rick stood beside Corwin and Drew, but they ignored the former Outlaws and focussed on the newbies.
Seth and Gavin sauntered up to the ring and leaned over. Gavin said, "Well, well, well, if it isn't our old pals. So this is where you guys ran off to."
Carter replied, "We didn't run off. TCCW is bigger and offers more exposure."
Gavin shrugged, "Whatever. You two want to get your asses kicked, too?"
From behind Carter and Rick, Jeff and Sean finally caught up to them after fighting their way through the crowd. Jeff heard only the challenge and laughed, "These guys were tag champs. I'd watch my mouth if I were you!"
Seth just laughed back. Jeff said, "What's so funny? What did I miss?"
Seth said in a cocky tone, "You want to tell him, or should I?"
Carter said, "This is Seth and Gavin. They wrestle in the federation we used to wrestle in - Texas Professional Wrestling, TPW. They won the titles from us."
There was a rustling in the crowd of TCCW wrestlers as they news spread. A new respect emerged for the obviously "not-so" newbies.
Rick continued where his cousin left off, ostensibly talking to Jeff, but eyeing Seth and Gavin, "But we beat them in a non-title match, because they wouldn't put the belts on the line. We left the federation before we got a re-match for the title, so a certain pair shouldn't be so damn cocky."
Seth and Gavin laughed and shrugged, acknowledging the truth of that statement. "We saw last night's card. Hard luck for you two." Carter and Rick said nothing. Their unlucky defeat was still gnawing at them. They knew it was unlikely for Evan and Cole to ever agree to a re-match, especially with Kevin running the show.
Moving on, Carter said, "So what are you guys doing here? I'm surprised you guys are leaving TPW to join TCCW."
Gavin said, "Actually, sport, TPW is no more. Couldn't work it. Between you guys selling out every weekend and TWWA coming to town every month, too many wrestling feds in too small an area. We've still got the campus gym during the week, but the rest of it shut down. Most of us are moving in here. Into TCCW."
From the crowd, a wrestler said, "What?" This was echoed around the gym as everyone wondered what this guy was talking about!
The TCCW wrestlers were all left wondering what the heck was going on! TCCW usually had limits on the number of wrestlers accepted but now was merging with a whole other league?
What did it all mean?
As if on cue, a flood of sixteen guys entered the gym. They had just arrived in their car pool from their town to here. They were laughing and talking. Seth and Gavin said loudly, "Wrestlers of TCCW, meet some of the wrestlers of TPW. We're all going to be one big happy family."
The TCCW wrestlers looked over the newcomers, who were a little stunned at the reception. The TPW wrestlers wondered what the hell the cocky tag team had done before they entered. The new wrestlers waved sheepishly at the sea of confused and hostile men of TCCW.
The TPW wrestlers looked around, worried that Seth or Gavin had issued a challenge or something. Aidan looked at the ring and gave an evil eye to Gavin, as if to say, whatever you did I'm going to get you for it.
Gavin just shrugged. He loved being in the middle of shit, just loved it. Aidan stepped forward. In the crowd, whispered conversations were taking place. He could overhear some of them.
"They look mostly like middleweights! Definitely middleweights." "How many more wrestlers do we need?" "And what about the gym? We're tight already?" "Are they all as good as that tag team?"
And so on.
Aidan said, "Uh, hey guys, I guess you've met a couple of other TPW guys and know the new arrangement. I'm Aidan. I'm 23 and a middleweight by your guy's weight classes. My guys and I'd just like to say that we've heard a lot of good things about TCCW and thought last night's show was awesome. We can't believe the number of title changes and the fast-paced action. We can't wait to be a part of the team."
The new TPW wrestlers entered a little further, still nervous about the impression left by Seth and Gavin. A few of the TCCW wrestlers recognized a few of them from regional wrestling tournaments, on campus and football games. They mingled and introduced the new blood around.
Things settled down in the gym as everyone realized this wasn't a war, just new competitors. The TPW studs had heard that there would now be Saturday afternoon shows added to the usual Saturday night ones, so there might actually be more spots for wrestlers, not less.
That calmed a lot of guys down.
Back at the ring, Carter, Rick, Jeff, Sean, Corwin and Drew were the only ones still paying attention to Seth and Gavin. Carter said, "Welcome to TCCW, guys." He extended his hand.
Seth and Gavin shook it. Rick followed suit and eventually, so did the other four guys. Carter and Rick moved away to meet up with a few other guys they recognized from their TPW days.
At the ring, Corwin and Drew apologized for their attitude and the guys settled things by agreeing to meet for real in the TCCW ring for real very soon.
As the sea of wrestlers adjusted to the news, Cody and Dane stood apart and surveyed the gym. Cody just shook his head. Dane said to his buddy, "Well, you can't accuse TCCW of being dull."
Cody laughed, "No, guess not. Doesn't look like any heavyweights made the trip. Think there will be any?"
Dane said, "If there are, we'll deal. Be fun to test ourselves against new guys. And more guys makes us pretty big time, right?"
Cody nodded, "Right. Looking at Seth and Gavin, might be fun to try tag again."
Dane smiled back, "I was thinking the same thing, my man, the same thing."
THE END
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