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Centurion · **12-16-2025, 05:43 PM**

“You have no idea how close I’ve come to just telling the XWF to go fuck itself.”

We open up inside a dark, smoky casino somewhere in Eastern Europe. There, we see Centurion sitting at a green felt table. The seats to his immediate left and right are both empty, but there are two gentlemen sitting at the far two ends of the table. Behind the table is a croupier, who has her hands outstretched on the table.

“Seriously, up until today, I was going to take my boots, walk into Cock Sucker’s office, and throw them at his head. I don’t need these headaches in my life. I have far better things I could be doing.”

Centurion reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a cigar and a wood match. He strikes the match against the side of the table and lights the cigar before shaking the fire out of the match.

“The only reason someone books this match is to try and make me look like a fool. A triple threat match against the two most recent Universal Champions where they can only win by pinning me, but I can only win by pinning them both? That is the very definition of the word “bullshit.” I’m sure Dick was sitting around with the rest of the Lichter family beating each other off talking about it.”

Centurion takes a puff of his cigar and exhales the smoke. He looks around the table - first at the stack of chips in front of him, which is relatively small - then at the large bets placed down in front of the other two players. He places three stacks of chips down on the three spots next to him, and gestures towards the dealer, who deals out five Blackjack hands. Unlike in a normal game of Blackjack, however, Centurion’s hands are dealt face down.

“It’s a shitty situation, to be perfectly honest. A lesser man would just take the loss and hope the damage isn’t so bad that it ruins the rest of his career.

I, however, am no lesser man.”

See, I know what’s about to happen here. Kieran King and Dickie Watson, they’re going to be licking their chops. They’re going to completely write me off, and instead will be so focused on each other that they’re going to implement a strategy that will ignore me entirely.”

The player to his right, showing an 18, looks at the deal, who has an 8 showing. He stands.

“And honestly, it’s a strategy I highly encourage. After all, what threat am I? I am the one who is backed against a wall. I’m the one that hasn’t been main eventing pay per views in 2025. I’m the old man who is here simply to take a pin. Why would either Kieran or Dickie think I’m anything other than easy money?”

The player to his left looks at the other player’s chips, then down at his own hand, which is showing 14. He hits, and up comes the 9 of spades. The player busts, while the other player smiles.

“But see, here’s the thing. Being down isn’t being out. Being beaten isn’t being destroyed. Being hurt isn’t being dead. The world has a way of humbling us all, especially if you’re a ramen haired cry boy like Dickie, or a self centered, pretentious blowhard like Kieran. Sure, when the dust has settled on their lives, things will look pretty spectacular for them. As long as Dickie Watson doesn’t hang himself from a banister, he has several more Universal Title reigns in his future. The kid is talented, and the only thing that will get in his way is himself.

Kieran, meanwhile, already has a Hall of Fame career. He’s been able to climb the ladder during several iterations of this company. He’s cocky as hell because no one has given him a reason not to be. This business has given him everything, and will continue to do so.

But once and a while, when that hubris becomes too much, life will bring you back to earth.”

The dealer turns over an Ace, showing 19. She takes the money from in front of both of the players to Centurion’s left and right, all while Centurion exhales another drag of his cigar. The dealer turns her attention towards Centurion, who still has all six cards face down.

“Meanwhile, life also has a way of throwing you a bone once and a while, as long as you’re able to take advantage.”

Centurion flips over the two cards to his right. King and Ace. He flips the two in the middle. Queen and Ace. Finally he flips the two to his left. Jack and Ace. Three Blackjacks.

“All it takes is one opportunity to propel you to the top. Right now, my career is in a bit of a rut. Not much is going on. But Dick Lichter has given me a golden opportunity. If I win this match - the match I’m designed to lose - I’ll run this God damn company.

So congratulations Dickie and Kieran. All of management is rooting for one of you to win. Because you have to. Because if you don’t, the entire apple cart gets turned over.”

The dealer pays out Centurion’s money as he stands up from the table. He places all the clips in his pocket as he points his cigar at the other two players.

“Thanks for coming out, gentlemen.”

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