Henry Van Stanton (RP for EOTY Open Invitational)

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January 2005

Off Camera

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We cut backstage to the ready area.  Nineteen year old Henry Van Stanton, even at this young age, has already had quite a few wrestling matches in his young independent wrestling career.  His style is that of a wrestling machine, a mat technician and submissionist the likes few have seen before.  In his first thirty fights, he has tapped out every single one of his opponents.  But now comes his biggest test to date.   For tonight, in his hometown with the pressure on, in front of friends and family, he gets a championship match for a regional title against an undefeated opponent.  You might expect an athlete in this position to be at least a little nervous.  Henry, though, feels no concern or worry whatsoever.  Part of his confidence stems from his string of submission victories.  Another part of it comes from being surrounded backstage with his lovely wife Autumn Van Stanton.  Also with him is his younger brother, seventeen year old Mason Van Stanton.

“Almost that time, everyone!” Henry exclaims with a wide grin on his face, a grin that exudes confidence bordering on arrogance. “Almost time to bring some championship gold to the family!”

“Championship belts always did look good on our family.” Mason remarks in agreement with his brother. “Our father was…”

Henry holds a hand up in front of Mason’s mouth so as to silence him. “Hold on there, Mason.  Don’t bring him up.  Never EVER bring him up.”

Mason sighs, shrugging his shoulders. “You’re right, but still, he did win titles and that means  kicking  ass is in our blood!”

Henry nods his head. “This is true, but tonight I do things my way, the HENRY VAN STANTON way, and tonight I write a new chapter in our family’s history book.”

There is no denying it now.  That grin on the elder Van Stanton’s face is now one of pure arrogance and cockiness.  “There ARE laws of professional wrestling but tonight is the beginning, tonight is the beginning of the era when I rewrite those laws.  The laws of professional wrestling are MINE and they WILL obey me!”

“Damn right!” Mason exclaims, high fiving his brother Henry.

“You seem awfully confident.” Autumn says, sounding rather disconcerted about her husband rather nonchalant approach to this championship match he is about to participate in, the first of his career. “You really don’t know what’s going to happen out there when the bell rings, do you Henry?”

“Oh, Autumn.  My Autumn.” He rubs her cheeks gently with the back of his hand. “You’re right, you are absolutely right.  When that bell rings anything can happen…with anyone else…”

He smirks “…but with me, I have complete control out there in that ring.  I decide what happens.  Up until now, I have decided that every one of my opponents will tap out…and tonight will be no different.”

Loud music can be heard in the background.  Henry smiles knowingly. “That’s my cue…”

He embraces Mason first and then embraces Autumn as well before planting a kiss on her cheek. “When I come back, I’ll be about ten pounds heavier!”

Henry turns and walks out towards the curtains and steps through them.  He sees the crowd, which erupts into even louder cheers upon seeing their hometown hero arriving for this title match.   How he managed to secure a championship match in his hometown is anyone’s guess but he managed to pull it off.  He spins around at the top of the ramp and then pumps his fists, drawing further cheers from his fans.  Henry is eating this up.

“And his opponent, the challenger, from RIGHT HERE IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA…” those words bring the crowd to an epic fever pitch “…he is The Carolina Crippler, he is HENRY VAN STANTON!”

Henry struts the first few steps down the aisle before making a sudden bolt the rest of the way, sliding underneath the bottom rope and into the ring.  He hops up to his feet in a single jump and then hops up onto the turnbuckle, pumping his fists out at the crowd to draw further cheers.  Henry hops down off the turnbuckle and then turns to face the reigning champion, who looks on at Henry with a look of utter disdain.

The bell rings and the two men meet in the center of the ring for a collar and elbow tie up.  The champion goes for a side headlock immediately, hoping to keep Henry controlled, but Henry shoves him off into the ropes.  The champion bounces off and hits Henry with a hard shoulder block, knocking him down.  The champion runs back off the ropes.  Henry is up and leap frogs over the champion.  The champion hits the ropes again and comes back only to have Henry connect with a deep arm drag into an arm bar.

The champion, “The Great” Leeland Ashe, fights to his feet and reverses into a hammerlock.  Henry reverses into a hammerlock of his own.  Ashe reverses again and then drops Henry with a hammerlock suplex.  Ashe goes right into the cover, hoping to get a quick win, but only gets a one count.

Ashe with an Irish whip into the corner.  He rushes in but Henry gets his boot up into Ashe’s face.  Henry then comes off with a second rope flip-over neck breaker followed up by a neck snapper.  Henry applies a neck vice.  The champion eventually fights back to his feet and Henry switches into a side headlock.  Ashe breaks the hold with three elbows to the gut.  Ashe then attempts another Irish whip but Henry reverses and nails a knee to the gut followed by a swinging neck breaker.    Henry reapplies the neck vice from earlier.

Again the champion manages to fight his way to his, though it takes longer this time.  Nevertheless Henry drives a knee to the gut and drops him with a hangman’s neck breaker before reapplying the neck vice.  Ash fights back to his feet and breaks the hold with three elbows to the gut and then begins to fire off right hands to the skull.  Ashe whips Henry into the ropes and then nails a running knee lift.  Ashe with a snap suplex and then a belly to belly overhead suplex.

The champion has the momentum now and signals for the end.  He places Henry’s head between his legs and underhooks both arms as he goes for a double underhook face buster but Henry back drops his way out of it.  As soon as Ashe is to his feet he is met by a boot to the gut from Henry followed by an even flow ddt.  Henry covers, thinking that’s it, but only gets a two.

Henry pulls Ashe to his feet, places his head between his legs, and drops him with a pile driver.  Henry covers again but Ashe shoots his right shoulder off the mat right before the three count.  Henry is shocked but is still focused and intent on finishing this.  He pulls Ashe back to his feet, gets him in position, and drops him with a second straight pile driver.  He covers and once again Ashe shoots his right shoulder up off the mat just in time.

The referee asks Henry to be merciful but Henry says the match isn’t over yet.  He pulls Ashe up, hoists the champion up onto his shoulder and into a different position, this time dropping him with a tombstone variation of the pile driver.  After this move is completed the referee calls for the bell…

DING! DING! DING!

Henry has Ashe covered but the referee isn’t making the count.  Instead the referee is speaking with the ring announcer.  The referee then is handed the championship belt and hands it to Henry.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the referee has stopped this contest…the winner of this match and your NEW champion, The Carolina Crippler Henry Van Stanton!”

Henry is somewhat disappointed that his streak of submission victories has come to an end but his undefeated streak is still intact and he is now a champion!  That in and of itself is enough to make this the greatest day in his professional career as he clutches the belt tightly to his chest and then holds it up high over his head, allowing the fans to shower him with cheers.

Van Stanton doesn’t even bother to look back into the ring at Ashe, who is still in the ring on his back.  Nor does he notice the referee calling for assistance from the back.  Henry is soaking up the adulation of the public and of his victory as he takes his newly won title back and begins to walk with it back up the ramp, slapping a few hands of the fans along the way.  At the top of the ramp Henry turns around to face the ring one last time.  He grins from ear to ear…only to have that grin disappear just as suddenly when he sees Leeland Ashe being loaded on a stretcher by medical personnel.

Henry steps through the curtain and heads back to where he finds Autumn and Mason, watching on, Mason happily and joyous over his brother’s title win, Autumn a bit more cautious and concerned over what just happened in the ring to the former champion Ashe…

“What just happened out there?”  Henry asks in a demanding tone of voice.  “Tell me what just happened?”

“Um, you won?” Mason asks curiously. “That’s what I saw.”

“I don’t think that’s what he means.” Autumn says somewhat fearfully.

“What else is there?” Mason taps Henry’s newly won championship. “THAT is all that matters.  He won.  That’s it.”

“No…” Henry’s voice trails off as he steps up to Autumn, placing both of his hands on her shoulders “…what just happened?”

“I’m not sure,” Autumn begins slowly, quietly “but…”

“But what?!” Henry demands. “Tell me!”

“When the medical personnel were about to go to the ring, I heard one of them mention that it looked to them like you may have broken his neck.”

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January 2014

Off Camera

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We open in the Raleigh, North Carolina headquarters for Global Championship Wrestling.  The lobby is empty except for a brown haired secretary sitting at her desk, playing solitaire on her computer when she should be doing work.

“Helllloooooo Raleigh!”

The secretary almost jumps out of her seat when the door swings wildly open and a charismatic man in a tweed jacket, dark pants, suspenders, white button up shirt, and a red bow-tie enters the lobby.  This is Henry Van Stanton and next to him is his lovely wife Autumn, dressed in a maxi skirt, sandals, and a nice silky white blouse.

Henry approaches the secretary and takes her by the hand and shakes it.  “Hello, I am Henry Van Stanton, Dr. Henry Van Stanton.  You may call me The Doctor, or Henry, or Van Stanton, or just Hey You!  I will answer to just about anything really.”

He motions to Autumn. “This is my wife, Autumn.   She won’t answer to anything.  Just Autumn.”

He reaches into his pocket and produces a bag of candy. “Want a jelly baby?”

“Um…” the secretary reluctantly takes some of the candy “…sure, thanks.”

“Fantastic!  Now then, can you tell Glory Braddock that The Doctor and his lovely companion are here to see her?”

The secretary nods. “I will let Ms. Braddock know, Doctor.”

“Fantastic!” Henry and Autumn sit down as the secretary gets up and makes her exit, to tell Glory of his arrival.  Once she is gone Autumn breaks the silence.

“Henry, darling, are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“Totally.  Completely.  The complete of completeness.  I am absolutely totally completely sure.”

“I know you think you are but don’t you think this will be a little…oh I don’t know…”

“Awkward?” Henry offers, finishing her statement for her. “Yes, Autumn, this will be very awkward for me.  But this is something I must do.  I have done horrible things in my past, Autumn, and I have to make up for it in some way.  This is one way I can do that.”

Autumn sighs, shaking her head. “What happened in the past in the past…”

“That’s not how I think.  You know this.”

Autumn nods her head. “Yes, unfortunately I do.  Still, if you are insistent on taking this job, shouldn’t you at least tell Ms. Braddock the truth?  She has no idea who you are.”

“And it is better that way.” Henry remarks. “It’s awkward enough as it is for me, imagine how poor Gloria would be if she knew the truth, if she knew my father is the man responsible for ending her father’s wrestling career?”

He shakes his head. “It’s best she doesn’t know.  I can then make up for my father’s sins undercover.”

“But you don’t have to make up for his sins!”

Henry nods his head. “I do…someone has to …and you know Mason won’t.”

At that time the secretary returns.  Henry and Autumn turn to face her. “Doctor, Ms. Braddock is ready to see you.”

“Fantastic!” Henry stands up. “Now wait here, Autumn.  I’ll be right back.”

Henry follows the secretary down a hall and through an open door.  Immediately upon entering he spots Glory Braddock sitting at her desk.  Henry smiles politely at the brunette beauty, the legendary world champion wrestler.

“Ms. Braddock,” the secretary begins “Dr. Henry Van Stanton.”

“Thanks, you may leave.”

The secretary nods and makes her exit, shutting the door behind her.  Henry approaches Glory’s desk and the two shake hands.

“It is so marvelous and ever so cool to get called in for a second interview, Ms. Braddock!”

“Oh don’t be so formal.  Call me Glory.” She grins knowingly. “My friends call me Glory.”

“Ah, Glory it is then.”

He finds a seat. “And I must say, the facilities here are fantastic.”

“Thank you, Dr. Van Stanton.  I do what I can.”

“Don’t be so formal.” Henry winks. “Call me Doctor…or Henry…or John Smith…”

Glory can’t help but let out a slight laugh. “Ok, Doctor…but when you start this job, we may have to be at least a little formal with one another.”

“My first day?” Henry’s light up. “Are you telling me I got the job?”

Glory nods her head. “Yes, that is exactly what I’m telling you.”

Henry is now grinning so broadly that it may have to be surgically removed.  “I must admit I am a little surprised.  This will be my first attempt at an executive position in a wrestling company.  Surely others applied with more experience than me?”

Glory nods her head. “Yes, there were others.  But I know the background of each and every one of them real well and I don’t trust them.  Not one iota.”

“But how can you trust me?” Henry asks. “You never really met me.”

“True, but you seem trustworthy.  And then there’s the fact that you used to be a wrestler yourself.  I may not know you well enough to trust you right now but I can learn to trust you and besides, I think as a wrestler yourself, you would be more likely to put the needs of the wrestler first, which is what we in GCW are looking for.”

“And I will do everything I can in my power to make sure GCW’s interests are defended.”

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Present Day

Off Camera

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Now that you know how Henry Van Stanton  came to be who he is…now that you know how he came to be in the position he is in…we can now cut to the present day, where we find the good doctor in his office at GCW Headquarters.  He sits at his desk, his face buried in paperwork, but the look on his face tells a story of a man who is not focused on that paperwork.  This is a man who is hurting, a man who is troubled and is in pain.  He had secretly swore to protect the interests of GCW and the Braddock family, as a debt he felt his family owed to the Braddock family since it was Henry’s father who ended Glenn’s wrestling career.

So, when Aphrodite Noel brainwashed Julia Braddock, turning her into Aphrodite’s “daughter” Julia Noel, and is now attempting to do the same to Glory Braddock, Henry knew that he had to take action.  He had to declare war on Aphrodite.  He had to do it as part of the debt he owed to the Braddock Family.  Only in the process it cost him his wife Autumn.  Mason Van Stanton, Henry’s brother, turned on Henry out of jealousy, aligning with Aphrodite.  Mason apparently told Aphrodite of a dirty secret about Autumn, which she used to blackmail her into joining Aphrodite as well.

Now Henry is faced with the fight of his life and he doesn’t quite know what to do now…except bury himself in his work…but his concentration is broken by knocking at his office door.

“Come in!”  The door opens and Henry is somewhat surprised to see Glory Braddock…only now it ‘s Gloria Marie Noel…entering the room. “Gloria…what are you doing here?”

“I came to speak to you.” Gloria walks over and sits down across from Henry.

“I know you are the owner of this grand company and can go anywhere you want in this facility, but still, I find it rather odd that her not so royal majesty Aphrodite Noel would allow you to come.”

Gloria shakes her head. “You still don’t understand our relationship.”

“I understand that the terms of the relationship were dictated by Aphrodite and not you.” Henry snarls. “That’s enough for me to judge.”

“I have freedom to do as I please, so long as I remain loyal to her.  Besides…” she sighs “…she doesn’t know I’m here.”

“Ah, now we’re getting to the heart of it then, aren’t we?”

Gloria sighs, shaking her head. “Look, let me just say what I wanted to say and then leave, ok?”

Henry leans back in his chair. “I’m listening.”

“I wanted to put your mind at ease regarding Glenn Braddock.”

“You mean your father?”

Tears form in her eyes, tears which she quickly wipes away. “Glenn is no longer my father.  I am a Noel and Aphrodite is my mother.”

“Please!” Henry exclaims. “You are not brainwashed like Julia.  You know better.  You’re just being FORCED to say these things.  So just drop the act and…”

“It’s not an act!”Gloria is now on the verge of crying. “It’s my reality and I have accepted it now!  The sooner you accept it and quit trying to save me…the better off you’ll be…”

“I won’t stop trying, Gloria.” Henry snaps back. “I owe it to you and your family…THE BRADDOCK FAMILY…to  continue trying to save you until my last breath!  And when Jason Redfield defeats Aphrodite this coming Saturday at For Glory & Gold…you will be free, I will have won.”

“But you won’t win.” Gloria shakes her head. “And neither will Redfield.  But Henry, I do appreciate the sentiment, and I appreciate what you are trying to do for me.  That’s why I came.  I wanted to let you know that you do not have to do this for me.  What your father did to my fa…to Glenn Braddock, that was not your mistake.  That was his.  But what you are trying to do for me…”

Gloria begins to choke up “…it’s sweet.  Thank you.”

“Don’t give up hope.  My experience is that there is, surprisingly, always hope.”

“Not for me.” Gloria shakes her head.  “However…”

“However?”

“In the unlikely event you and Redfield are successful and I am freed, then you will have a bigger war on your hands.  My mother Aphrodite will not take defeat so easily.  I would prepare if I were you.”

“Oh?” Henry leans forward. “And how do you propose that?”

“Get back into wrestling again.  You are a wrestler, Henry.  You need to remind the world, and my mother, of what you can do.   And I know just the place you can do that…”

“Where?”

Gloria grins “…it’s called Supreme Championship Wrestling.”

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Present Day

On Camera

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“Hello?  Hello?  Is this thing on?”

“It’d help if you turned on the lights, sir.”

“Oh, right!  Yes!  That would be helpful…the helpfullest of helpful!  Right-o!  Do it!”

“…you’re standing RIGHT THERE at the light switch.  I’m on the other side of the room, sir.”

“Oh…well, there you go.”

The lights switch on and we see Dr. Henry Van Stanton standing there grinning from ear to ear.

“End of the Year Special is a time when we can look back on the previous  year and celebrate the good times while remembering also the bad times, for we must always learn from the past or we shall be doomed to repeat it.  Isn’t that right Mr. Cameraman?”

“Yes, sir.”

Henry nods. “I recently watched the Independent Wrestling Cartel’s End of the Year Special and it was quite a blockbuster, one that will prove to be a tough act to follow, but Mr. D, the owner with a last name so cool that people just call him Mr. D for short…”

“Actually, sir, I think…”

“You know, anyone who answers to just one name like that, is cool.  Like me, I am Henry Van Stanton and I come from a line of professional wrestlers.  I also have a PhD in history so some people call me Doctor.  And I’m cool with that.  But you REALLY have to be extraordinarily awesome to be able to go by just one letter of the alphabet…”

“Uh, sir…”

“D!  Yes, that’s what I will call him.  D!”

“SIR!”

Henry frowns, rather agitated. “What?  What is it?”

“That’s NOT why they call him Mr. D…they call him that because his full name is too complicated to try and say!”

Henry pauses. “…ok, now I’m a touch embarrassed.  Dangerous, isn’t it?”

“What’s dangerous?”

“Embarrassment.”

“To my knowledge, embarrassment is NOT dangerous, sir.”

“Good!  Because I am QUITE embarrassed right now!” Henry says, chuckling. “Nevertheless, Mr. D with the cool last name knew he had a tough act to follow so he books something that very well could top the IWC event.  He booked…get this now…an OPEN INVITATIONAL BATTLE ROYAL!”

He rubs his hands together. “Open Invitationals are so cool because you quite literally can see anything from time and space in this event…roman soldiers, German built funnybots, Texans in motorized wheelchairs calling people babies, Daleks, cybermen, and…even…”

He gasps “…EVEN WILLIAM MASON!”

He laughs “…ok so that one MAY be a little out there, but Daleks?  A real possibility!  You could see wrestlers from other companies come in and try their hand.  SCW superstars will really have to bring their  A-Game if they want to defend their turf.  ANYONE could come in, even someone who hasn’t wrestled a match in ten years.”

He frowns. “Namely someone like me.”

Henry folds his arms over his chest. “So who am I, you ask?  Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Dr. Henry Van Stanton, President of Global Championship Wrestling, former professional wrestler and soon to be reactive professional wrestler.   Back then I was known as The Carolina Crippler.  I answer to that…Henry Van Stanton…or just The Doctor.  Either way, I am who I am, and if you are smart you will do your homework.  Find out who I really am.  And then you will know that you have just one option…run…”