Chapter 7

Chapter 7


A decade later, Gene prepared for a press conference where he was expected to make an announcement about the future of the wrestling business, and the state of the business. He now had a 50% share of Capulet Consumer Goods and Capulet Television which were located in big markets such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York to keep his two regional wrestling promotions afloat. He stepped up to the podium at the press conference as various reporters from print, radio, and television listened with open ears.

‘’I am here to answer the questions that many of you have had about our business for decades.’‘ he said as he took a deep breathe.

All of the media wanted to know what he was about to say, were the athletic show real or fake? It was indeed the ‘’big’‘ mystery about the business. If it was real, then fine, but if it was fake then what the big secrets of professional wrestling? What tricks did the magician have in his bag? A female reporter bit her nails as she wanted to hear more.

‘’It’s true that wrestling isn’t a legitimate sport, it’s more or less an entertainment spectacle that features performers rather than actual athletes.’‘ he continued as he awaited the media’s response.

For a second, the press was stunned and shocked at what they heard, but they soon jumped up and hounded Gene for questions. They wanted to know the hidden secrets behind the wrestling business, such as how a match was prepared or planned out. Gene’s revelation was bound to be a very big news story on a national scale.


***

Leslie was on the set of the lowest rated soap, which took place in a hospital. She had become the queen of contemporary daytime dramas, and this medical drama was slated to be canceled by the network. She had been brought in as executive producer to wrap up the last four weeks, but she had a better plan in mind.

‘’This week’s scripts are some of the shittiest scripts I’ve ever read, the lights are too dim, the sets are too small, and this show’s music just plain sucks!’‘ she said as the cast and crew’s jaws just dropped.

The cast and crew couldn’t believe that this daytime legend had insulted the work they had done for the past 15 years, and that they were about to end soon. They already thought this was gonna be the worst four weeks of their careers, since their show was gonna end, but now this loudmouthed hotshot was gonna make it even worse on them!

‘’This show needs a complete overhaul! New writers, a new look, and better production techniques!’‘ she exclaimed as the cast and crew groaned.


Leslie wasn’t about to let this show get cancelled, she saw so much potential for the greatest soap story of all time. A soap that rose from the ashes like a phoenix, one that went from the bottom of the barrel and near the brink of death to the top rated soap in history. She was a visionary that had a track record where each time she turned produced a soap opera, it turned to gold. This time would be no different.


***

Leslie visited Gene’s office at Montague-Capulet Television, on his desk were two piles of mail. One pile was made up of offers from various television networks from all over the United States that wanted to broadcast his wrestling events, and even received a proposal for a new concept in television that had emerged within the last decade called pay per view. The other pile consisted of death threats from many local and regional promoters as well as various state athletic commissioners who were angry that he had exposed the business.

‘’Remember in the days when Dad and all the other promoters said you needed to protect the business, and kayfabe it? But since I let the cat out of the bag, I’m getting all these offers from major networks, almost like it’s 30 years ago when we got national exposure on TV when I was bookin’ for Dad. It’s like the best we ever could’ve done!’‘ he told Leslie in an amazed voice.


‘’Yeah, but all these old buddies of Dad’s are wantin’ to cut your throat because of it’‘, she responded.


‘’Those old farts are just jealous because I exposed the business, and am about to get rich off of it. They’re bluffin’ and they’re all talk!’‘ he exclaimed in annoyance.

She had problems of her own to worry about, the medical soap she produced was supposed to end after four weeks, and she was just supposed to wrap up the show. However, she has ordered a complete overhaul of the show, and it has ran over budget. And in the eyes of the cast, the crew, and the network, she was a total nightmare to work with. Yet she managed to save the show from cancellation, and brought the show it’s biggest numbers in its entire 15 year history.

‘’I’m not havin’ it any easier, everyone on that medical soap hates my guts, and the network wants to fire me.’‘ she said in distress.

‘’Yeah, but wasn’t that a dyin’ show that you saved? It doesn’t matter what those shitheaded assoholes think, as long as you keep improvin’ the show, and keep deliverin’ the high numbers, you ain’t gettin’ fired.’‘ he responded.