| Solo | Tag | Trio | |
| Julia Hart | 0-1 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Brian Pillman Jr | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Griff Garrison | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Things didn't really go as planned.
'B.Pillman Jr. has been eliminated by Cody Rhodes.'
Not in the slightest.
'Griff Garrison has been eliminated by Peter Avalon.'
The duo had high hopes going into the battle royal. They had spent extra time going over different scenarios that might be presented and how they would attack each one. Unfortunately, a battle royal just has too many variables that make it impossible to truly prepare for. And thus, neither will be competing in the inaugural world title match @ Ascension.... and that's ok... really it is.. While they had aspired to do so, falling short should not stop them for completing the goals they have set for themselves in WLCW.
What's next for the Blondes?
Their first tag-team action in WLCW, coming up Wednesday on Vengeance against 2.0... Matt Lee and Jeff Parker. These men have ran in to each other before, most notably in AEW before the collapse. It will be interesting to see which one of these two teams can take advantage of this match and position themselves in good shape in WLCW's tag team division.
We
We open up inside a rental car. Griff is driving while Brian tags along in the passenger seat.
GRIFF GARRISON: I feel like we spend more time driving than anything else.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: You spend more time driving....
GRIFF GARRISON: Speaking of that, when did we decide I was going to be the 'designated' driver?
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: You like being the babysitter... you drive the car.
Brian reaches in his pocket and pulls out a half pint of whiskey.
GRIFF GARRISON: Dude!? You smashing the bottle already?
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: You want some?
He offers it to Griff.
GRIFF GARRISON: Sure, no big deal. I'm just, you know, D-R-I-V-I-N-G!!!
He smacks the half pint out of Brian's hand.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: Hey, man! Why did you do that!?
Brian reaches down and grabs the bottle from the passenger floorboard.
GRIFF GARRISON: Just put that crap away, man! It's seven o'clock in the morning!
This is our first warning sign.
Definitely something to monitor going forward.
GRIFF GARRISON: And you wonder why I insist on keeping an eye on you guys.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: You really don't have to worry about me. I'm just enjoying the ride! You're the one we should be worried about.
He takes a swig while Griff rolls his eyes.
GRIFF GARRISON: You got a problem, man.
Brian looks down at his phone and mumbles.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: Honestly...... I blame Mick Foley.
GRIFF GARRISON: What's this got to do with Foley?
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: That cheap bastard makes us pay for our own transportation. Future tag team champions should be shown a little bit more respect than this. Look at us, Griff! We have to drive ourselves all the way to New Orleans! Like.... I just don't get it.
GRIFF GARRISON: So you get back at him by..... drinking?
He doesn't even give Brian a chance to answer.
GRIFF GARRISON: Get yourself together.
They continue their drive from Salt Lake City to New Orleans.
Griff is concerned.
Rightfully so, it appears Brian is starting to turn to drinking again.
The last year has been a real struggle, there's no denying that.
But that's never the right answer.
We Fade out.
[SUNDAY - JANUARY 30TH, 2022]
-New Orleans, Louisianna
It's a few days later. They have made it to New Orleans, on the Sunday before the next show.
This gives the two of them a little too much time to enjoy the nightlife. In an attempt to limit that as much as possible, Griff has met up with Brian shortly after ten o'clock in the morning.
We're outside Cafe Du Monde, one of the most famous coffee shops in all of America. The line is outside the building, but every local swears by it so both the java enthusiasts made it a high priority to visit this location.
Fortunately for us, they have already made it through that nightmare of a wait and are sitting outside at one of the small round tables. The sun is starting to shine fairly bright as they both are sporting sunglasses.
GRIFF GARRISON: Let's get some work in today. Get ready for this match against Lee and Parker. If you really want to get off to a good start, we need this one. The battle royal was a mega disappointment for both of us... we know that, okay!? But, we just gotta create our own positive momentum! The best way we can do that is put our mind and body in the right place to compete at the highest level.
A short pause give him a chance to give Brian a pretty stern look.
GRIFF GARRISON: So try to stay away from booze.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: What's the big deal... You think I'm an alcoholic or something?
GRIFF GARRISON: Honest answer? Yeah.
He shakes his head.
GRIFF GARRISON: I don't think you can stay away from it.
Never mind the words, you can hear the doubt in the tone of his voice. Griff takes a drink from his coffee. His reaction seems to leans towards, 'we waited in line this long for this' look.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: Dude, I'm not worried about either of those guys. Half the time they don't even show up.
GRIFF GARRISON: Who told you that?
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: That's the rumor going around in the locker room...
GRIFF GARRISON: Since when is that credible information?
Brian tries to get him to ease up a bit on the 'extra' work Griff seems to have planned for the day. They both take a drink of coffee which for Brian seems to get him perked up a bit.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: Hey, I'm gonna need you to just relax! You know, like Aaron Rodgers.... R... E... L... A... X...
GRIFF GARRISON: Are we here to be serious? Or act like a couple of drunken frat boys who are only worried about the location of the next kegger? I thought we were past those days and ready to grow the bleep up.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: Seriously? What the hell has gotten into you, man? Ever since we signed these mediocre contracts, you've been acting like you got sand in your vagina. Now all of a sudden, we got a match against these two dudes and you're acting like we're getting ready for the Super Bowl or something. Don't you see why I'm telling you to relax, man!? You're all over the place!
GRIFF GARRISON: I could say the same about you.
You can feel some tension between the two of them. Griff is obviously concerned about Brian and his possible drinking problem that is starting to present itself. Many know this is a very difficult situation to approach, which leaves Griff a narrow path to the resolution he is looking for.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: I guess we will just have to agree to disagree, man. I think you're looking into all of this a little too much. Matt and Jeff know what they are doing in the ring, don't get me wrong.... I just don't think we should be too worried about them. They've hopped around the wrestling business like a couple of lot lizards you'd find back in Kentucky at every truck stop.
His response catches Griff off guard a bit.
GRIFF GARRISON: Real nice. The real question is are you coming to the arena with me after this? We've got unlimited access to their gym this weekend. We should really take advantage of it.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: We'll see.
GRIFF GARRISON: You've got to be kidding me.
That was not very convincing. Griff takes a few more drinks of his coffee before calling it good and leaving the rest at the table. He's not getting the cooperation out of Brian that he had hoped for, so he walks off without saying another word.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: While you're at it, make sure you eat your vitamins too! AND SAY YOUR PRAYERS!
Brian can't help but laugh before he grabs his coffee and continues to sip on it.
BRIAN PILLMAN JR: Why is he such a square all of a sudden?
We slowly fade to black.
[A few hours later]
We're outside the Marriott in downtown New Orleans.
The camera pans to the parking lot where we find Griff Garrison getting out of the rental car we saw them in earlier. Julia Hart is outside the car and greets him.
JULIA HART: Where's Brian?
GRIFF GARRISON: Who knows. We got coffee earlier and I tried to talk him into getting some training in. When it was clear he wasn't going to listen, I left him at the cafe. Haven't seen him since.
He doesn't even want to talk about it anymore, leaving Julia to wonder what the fuck is going on.
This is more than just a small deal..
We will see how things progress between now and Wednesday.