Hands of Fate

[Quinn Castillo]

Hands of Fate

No, I didn’t win the Battle Royal at Eternal #1. I didn’t make it to the Final Four either.

What I did make was a statement.

I tossed two opponents quick, and was just getting started when it took the remaining field to eliminate me. Classic strategy when dealing with a big man in these kinds of scraps. Going to have to figure out a way to overcome it in the future. But that’s what this journey is about.

I’m here to win, yeah. Here to show I got the power and the guts and the raw talent to survive in Wrestleverse. I’m not cocky enough to think it’s going to be easy. I’m a big man who’s moved onto a bigger stage than I’ve ever been on in my life, so size and drive isn’t enough to earn me a share of the winner’s purse.

I need experience. Seasoning. Reps in that ring against the level of opponent Barnstable County Wrestling didn’t have. It’s how I move beyond a spot on the Wrestleverse highlight reel to earning actual victories.

At Eternal #2 I’m in a “Surprise Prize” Match. It’s a Triple Threat which makes it a little less of a scrum than a Battle Royal, but not by much. These three ways can get crazy. No count outs. No dqs. You win by pinfall or submission and you can get those by any way possible.

So you’re not facing a dozen plus opponents trying to throw you over the top rope. You’re facing two very determined opponents who can go wherever their own moral compass leads them to get that Double You and earn the mystery reward.

And given the bank account Danny Powers has, that could be almost anything.

That’s a pretty big motivation. The “Surprise Prize” might be valuable enough to set me up for life. It might be a shot at the Wrestleverse Championship, or the Eternal Championship. It might be tied to Project Moonstone. Shit: it could be a literal Golden Ticket- a chance to be part of that World Series of Wrestling that keeps showing up in my Twitter mentions.

Of course, it could be a $25 gift card to Taco Bell and an autographed picture of Hannibal Burress too, just to rib us. So maybe I need to temper my expectations some.

Keeping an open mind seems to be the smart way to handle being part of Wrestleverse, honestly. Especially after what I saw at Eternal #1, and I’m just not talking about the level of talent,

Wrestleverse is a long way from BCW.

We got spaceships and cyborgs and witches (more on her later) and a guy whose arms got ripped the fuck in his last match but is cleared two weeks later.

That makes me realize you got to be willing to operate out of your comfort zone when it comes to how you perceive the world.

You got to prepare for more than tough matches in that ring. You got to come up with counters against the weirdness that permeates this place too.

I watched Samantha Voxx’s intro to Wrestleverse. She claims to be a witch, with real witch powers.

I’ll take her at her word.

Especially since I know she’s got to be smarting from me eliminating her so quick in that Battle Royal. This is a chance for her to earn more than just the ‘surprise prize’ but some payback as well.

And who’s to say what we’ve seen so far in Wrestleverse she’s not willing to cast a little spell to improve her chances.

That’s why I’m heading to Virginia with some protection-

*Quinn holds up a necklace to the camera. It’s a simple leather cord, but the pendant is distinctive- a small metal charm shaped like a closed fist, with the thumb going through the index and middle fingers.*

The figas is a sign of good luck. Protection against the Evil Eye. I got connections on both sides of my family who deeply believed in magic. Whether it was hearing about my great-great-great grandmother Goody Hallet the Witch of Wellfleet or Avo Carla and her stories of Macumba I grew up hearing stories that up until now I’d shrug off as superstition.

But like I said before, I’m a long way from home. And with that change of environment has to come a change in perspective.

Which is why I’m bringing the figas to this fight.

Not saying Sam Voxx is going to use her supposed witch powers to secure a win Friday. But I am just playing it safe.

Forewarned is forearmed right?

As for my other opponent, Axis, I’m preparing a different way. The only fist I need for him is my good strong left.

That’s not me dunking on him. I recognize Axis is a threat. He’s a big guy, like me. A hoss here spoiling for a fight and eager to prove himself. I respect that. I relate to him.

He’ll be a problem, but a straightforward one. One that can be solved in the way I’m best suited to.

Throwing hands of the regular kind.

While my eyes remain focused on that prize.