[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]“You have no i[/purple][/shadow]ea ho[shadow=lime][purple] close I’ve come to just tellin[/purple][/shadow] the X[shadow=lime][purple]F to [/purple][/shadow]o fuck itself.”[/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][shadow=lime][purple]e open up insi[/purple][/shadow]e a [shadow=lime][purple]ark, smoky casino some[/purple][/shadow]here in Eastern Europe. There, [shadow=lime][purple]e see Centurion sittin[/purple][/shadow] at a [shadow=lime][purple]reen felt table. The seats to his imme[/purple][/shadow]iate left an[shadow=lime][purple] ri[/purple][/shadow]ht are both empty, but there are t[shadow=lime][purple]o [/purple][/shadow]entlemen sittin[shadow=lime][purple] at the far t[/purple][/shadow]o en[shadow=lime][purple]s of the table. Behin[/purple][/shadow] the table is a croupier, [shadow=lime][purple]ho has her han[/purple][/shadow]s outstretche[shadow=lime][purple] on the table. <[/purple][/shadow]span>[/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]“Seriously, up until to[/purple][/shadow]ay, I [shadow=lime][purple]as [/purple][/shadow]oin[shadow=lime][purple] to take my boots, [/purple][/shadow]alk into Cock Sucker’s office, an[shadow=lime][purple] thro[/purple][/shadow] them at his hea[shadow=lime][purple]. I [/purple][/shadow]on’t nee[shadow=lime][purple] these hea[/purple][/shadow]aches in my life. I have far better thin[shadow=lime][purple]s I coul[/purple][/shadow] be [shadow=lime][purple]oin[/purple][/shadow].”[/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]Centurion reaches into his jacket pocket an[/purple][/shadow] pulls out a ci[shadow=lime][purple]ar an[/purple][/shadow] a [shadow=lime][purple]oo[/purple][/shadow] match. He strikes the match a[shadow=lime][purple]ainst the si[/purple][/shadow]e of the table an[shadow=lime][purple] li[/purple][/shadow]hts the ci[shadow=lime][purple]ar before shakin[/purple][/shadow] the fire out of the match.[/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]“The only reason someone books this match is to try an[/purple][/shadow] make me look like a fool. A triple threat match a[shadow=lime][purple]ainst the t[/purple][/shadow]o most recent Universal Champions [shadow=lime][purple]here they can only [/purple][/shadow]in by pinnin[shadow=lime][purple] me, but I can only [/purple][/shadow]in by pinnin[shadow=lime][purple] them both? That is the very [/purple][/shadow]efinition of the [shadow=lime][purple]or[/purple][/shadow] “bullshit.” I’m sure [shadow=lime][purple]ick [/purple][/shadow]as sittin[shadow=lime][purple] aroun[/purple][/shadow] [shadow=lime][purple]ith the rest of the Lichter family beatin[/purple][/shadow] each other off talkin[shadow=lime][purple] about it.”[[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]Centurion takes a puff of his ci[/purple][/shadow]ar an[shadow=lime][purple] exhales the smoke. He looks aroun[/purple][/shadow] the table - first at the stack of chips in front of him, [shadow=lime][purple]hich is relatively small - then at the lar[/purple][/shadow]e bets place[shadow=lime][purple] [/purple][/shadow]o[shadow=lime][purple]n in front of the other t[/purple][/shadow]o players. He places three stacks of chips [shadow=lime][purple]o[/purple][/shadow]n on the three spots next to him, an[shadow=lime][purple] [/purple][/shadow]estures to[shadow=lime][purple]ar[/purple][/shadow]s the [shadow=lime][purple]ealer, [/purple][/shadow]ho [shadow=lime][purple]eals out five Blackjack han[/purple][/shadow]s. Unlike in a normal [shadow=lime][purple]ame of Blackjack, ho[/purple][/shadow]ever, Centurion’s han[shadow=lime][purple]s are [/purple][/shadow]ealt face [shadow=lime][purple]o[/purple][/shadow]n. [/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]“It’s a shitty situation, to be perfectly honest. A lesser man [/purple][/shadow]oul[shadow=lime][purple] just take the loss an[/purple][/shadow] hope the [shadow=lime][purple]ama[/purple][/shadow]e isn’t so ba[shadow=lime][purple] that it ruins the rest of his career. [[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]I, ho[/purple][/shadow]ever, am no lesser man.”[/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]See, I kno[/purple][/shadow] [shadow=lime][purple]hat’s about to happen here. Kieran Kin[/purple][/shadow] an[shadow=lime][purple] [/purple][/shadow]ickie [shadow=lime][purple]atson, they’re [/purple][/shadow]oin[shadow=lime][purple] to be lickin[/purple][/shadow] their chops. They’re [shadow=lime][purple]oin[/purple][/shadow] to completely [shadow=lime][purple]rite me off, an[/purple][/shadow] instea[shadow=lime][purple] [/purple][/shadow]ill be so focuse[shadow=lime][purple] on each other that they’re [/purple][/shadow]oin[shadow=lime][purple] to implement a strate[/purple][/shadow]y that [shadow=lime][purple]ill i[/purple][/shadow]nore me entirely.”[/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]The player to his ri[/purple][/shadow]ht, sho[shadow=lime][purple]in[/purple][/shadow] an 18, looks at the [shadow=lime][purple]eal, [/purple][/shadow]ho has an 8 sho[shadow=lime][purple]in[/purple][/shadow]. He stan[shadow=lime][purple]s.[[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]“An[/purple][/shadow] honestly, it’s a strate[shadow=lime][purple]y I hi[/purple][/shadow]hly encoura[shadow=lime][purple]e. After all, [/purple][/shadow]hat threat am I? I am the one [shadow=lime][purple]ho is backe[/purple][/shadow] a[shadow=lime][purple]ainst a [/purple][/shadow]all. I’m the one that hasn’t been main eventin[shadow=lime][purple] pay per vie[/purple][/shadow]s in 2025. I’m the ol[shadow=lime][purple] man [/purple][/shadow]ho is here simply to take a pin. [shadow=lime][purple]hy [/purple][/shadow]oul[shadow=lime][purple] either Kieran or [/purple][/shadow]ickie think I’m anythin[shadow=lime][purple] other than easy money?”[[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]The player to his left looks at the other player’s chips, then [/purple][/shadow]o[shadow=lime][purple]n at his o[/purple][/shadow]n han[shadow=lime][purple], [/purple][/shadow]hich is sho[shadow=lime][purple]in[/purple][/shadow] 14. He hits, an[shadow=lime][purple] up comes the 9 of spa[/purple][/shadow]es. The player busts, [shadow=lime][purple]hile the other player smiles.[[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]“But see, here’s the thin[/purple][/shadow]. Bein[shadow=lime][purple] [/purple][/shadow]o[shadow=lime][purple]n isn’t bein[/purple][/shadow] out. Bein[shadow=lime][purple] beaten isn’t bein[/purple][/shadow] [shadow=lime][purple]estroye[/purple][/shadow]. Bein[shadow=lime][purple] hurt isn’t bein[/purple][/shadow] [shadow=lime][purple]ea[/purple][/shadow]. The [shadow=lime][purple]orl[/purple][/shadow] has a [shadow=lime][purple]ay of humblin[/purple][/shadow] us all, especially if you’re a ramen haire[shadow=lime][purple] cry boy like [/purple][/shadow]ickie, or a self centere[shadow=lime][purple], pretentious blo[/purple][/shadow]har[shadow=lime][purple] like Kieran. Sure, [/purple][/shadow]hen the [shadow=lime][purple]ust has settle[/purple][/shadow] on their lives, thin[shadow=lime][purple]s [/purple][/shadow]ill look pretty spectacular for them. As lon[shadow=lime][purple] as [/purple][/shadow]ickie [shadow=lime][purple]atson [/purple][/shadow]oesn’t han[shadow=lime][purple] himself from a banister, he has several more Universal Title rei[/purple][/shadow]ns in his future. The ki[shadow=lime][purple] is talente[/purple][/shadow], an[shadow=lime][purple] the only thin[/purple][/shadow] that [shadow=lime][purple]ill [/purple][/shadow]et in his [shadow=lime][purple]ay is himself.[[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]Kieran, mean[/purple][/shadow]hile, alrea[shadow=lime][purple]y has a Hall of Fame career. He’s been able to climb the la[/purple][/shadow][shadow=lime][purple]er [/purple][/shadow]urin[shadow=lime][purple] several iterations of this company. He’s cocky as hell because no one has [/purple][/shadow]iven him a reason not to be. This business has [shadow=lime][purple]iven him everythin[/purple][/shadow], an[shadow=lime][purple] [/purple][/shadow]ill continue to [shadow=lime][purple]o so.[[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]But once an[/purple][/shadow] a [shadow=lime][purple]hile, [/purple][/shadow]hen that hubris becomes too much, life [shadow=lime][purple]ill brin[/purple][/shadow] you back to earth.”[/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]The [/purple][/shadow]ealer turns over an Ace, sho[shadow=lime][purple]in[/purple][/shadow] 19. She takes the money from in front of both of the players to Centurion’s left an[shadow=lime][purple] ri[/purple][/shadow]ht, all [shadow=lime][purple]hile Centurion exhales another [/purple][/shadow]ra[shadow=lime][purple] of his ci[/purple][/shadow]ar. The [shadow=lime][purple]ealer turns her attention to[/purple][/shadow]ar[shadow=lime][purple]s Centurion, [/purple][/shadow]ho still has all six car[shadow=lime][purple]s face [/purple][/shadow]o[shadow=lime][purple]n. [[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]“Mean[/purple][/shadow]hile, life also has a [shadow=lime][purple]ay of thro[/purple][/shadow]in[shadow=lime][purple] you a bone once an[/purple][/shadow] a [shadow=lime][purple]hile, as lon[/purple][/shadow] as you’re able to take a[shadow=lime][purple]vanta[/purple][/shadow]e.” [/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]Centurion flips over the t[/purple][/shadow]o car[shadow=lime][purple]s to his ri[/purple][/shadow]ht. Kin[shadow=lime][purple] an[/purple][/shadow] Ace. He flips the t[shadow=lime][purple]o in the mi[/purple][/shadow][shadow=lime][purple]le. Queen an[/purple][/shadow] Ace. Finally he flips the t[shadow=lime][purple]o to his left. Jack an[/purple][/shadow] Ace. Three Blackjacks. [/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]“All it takes is one opportunity to propel you to the top. Ri[/purple][/shadow]ht no[shadow=lime][purple], my career is in a bit of a rut. Not much is [/purple][/shadow]oin[shadow=lime][purple] on. But [/purple][/shadow]ick Lichter has [shadow=lime][purple]iven me a [/purple][/shadow]ol[shadow=lime][purple]en opportunity. If I [/purple][/shadow]in this match - the match I’m [shadow=lime][purple]esi[/purple][/shadow]ne[shadow=lime][purple] to lose - I’ll run this [/purple][/shadow]o[shadow=lime][purple] [/purple][/shadow]amn company. [/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium]So con[/purple][/shadow]ratulations [shadow=lime][purple]ickie an[/purple][/shadow] Kieran. All of mana[shadow=lime][purple]ement is rootin[/purple][/shadow] for one of you to [shadow=lime][purple]in. Because you have to. Because if you [/purple][/shadow]on’t, the entire apple cart [shadow=lime][purple]ets turne[/purple][/shadow] over.”[/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]The [/purple][/shadow]ealer pays out Centurion’s money as he stan[shadow=lime][purple]s up from the table. He places all the clips in his pocket as he points his ci[/purple][/shadow]ar at the other t[shadow=lime][purple]o players.[[/purple][/shadow]font][/size]
[size=me[shadow=lime][purple]ium][font=Arial]“Thanks for comin[/purple][/shadow] out, [shadow=lime][purple]entlemen.”[[/purple][/shadow]font]
[/size]
[ali[shadow=lime][purple]n=center][/ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]X[shadow=lime][purple]F Recor[/purple][/shadow] - 224-109-10[/ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]X[shadow=lime][purple]F All Time [/purple][/shadow]ins Recor[shadow=lime][purple] Hol[/purple][/shadow]er
Official X[shadow=lime][purple]F Le[/purple][/shadow]en[shadow=lime][purple][[/purple][/shadow]ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]1x X[shadow=lime][purple]F Television Champion[[/purple][/shadow]ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]7x X[shadow=lime][purple]F X-Treme Champion (1x in Mo[/purple][/shadow]ern Era)[/ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center][shadow=lime][purple]inner - 2025 Kin[/purple][/shadow]s Tournament Joustin[shadow=lime][purple] Competition[[/purple][/shadow]ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]3x X[shadow=lime][purple]F Anarchy Champion[[/purple][/shadow]ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]3x X[shadow=lime][purple]F [/purple][/shadow]orl[shadow=lime][purple] Champion[[/purple][/shadow]ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]8x X[shadow=lime][purple]F Cana[/purple][/shadow]ian Champion (Recor[shadow=lime][purple] for most Cana[/purple][/shadow]ian Title rei[shadow=lime][purple]ns)[[/purple][/shadow]ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]1x X[shadow=lime][purple]F Hart Champion
5x X[/purple][/shadow]F Ta[shadow=lime][purple] Team Champion
2x X[/purple][/shadow]F Unite[shadow=lime][purple] States Champion[[/purple][/shadow]ali[shadow=lime][purple]n]
[ali[/purple][/shadow]n=center]Inau[shadow=lime][purple]ural X[/purple][/shadow]F I[shadow=lime][purple]L Champion
1x X[/purple][/shadow]F Kin[shadow=lime][purple] of Anarchy
1x X[/purple][/shadow]F Kin[shadow=lime][purple] of Massacre
1x X[/purple][/shadow]F Stable Champion
X[shadow=lime][purple]F Star Of The Month - May 2007
X[/purple][/shadow]F Star Of The Month - July 2009
X[shadow=lime][purple]F Star Of The Month - [/purple][/shadow]ecember 2019
X[shadow=lime][purple]F Star Of The Month - [/purple][/shadow]ecember 2021
X[shadow=lime][purple]F Holi[/purple][/shadow]ay Battle Royal [shadow=lime][purple]inner - 2007