Red Hook, New York. If there was a draft for the most dangerous cities in America, Red Hook would be a sleeper number one overall pick. It's turned boys to men, and it's turned men into cold-hearted fiends. Most of those "cold-hearted fiends" live and die in Red Hook, but one man lived to tell the tale and showcase to the world just how those boys in Red Hook get down. 1993, a one-man crime spree is unleashed in a company that revolutionized how we view professional wrestling; ECW. That man's name was Taz, a man who beat and battered everyone that stepped to him in-between ECW ropes, a man that quickly cemented his legacy as the toughest man to ever step foot in a wrestling ring. Over the past 28 years, the wrestling business has evolved and changed for what many would say is for the better, but something about it just doesn't hit the same. That is until one company steps into the scene: All.. Elite.. Wrestling. Much like ECW did in the 90s, AEW brings wrestling fans names they've never seen before and has one of the most die-hard fanbases in wrestling, and just like ECW did, AEW has their own Red Hook heathen on the loose. The appropriately named; Hook. Hook, who's the son of Taz, quickly became an internet sensation once he first appeared on AEW broadcasts, accompanying one of the most underrated athletes in the wrestling business; Powerhouse Hobbs. While Hook is yet to compete in an AEW ring, Powerhouse Hobbs has competed on numerous occasions and has left a pile of broken bones every time he's stepped into the squared circle. The two quickly took a liking to each other and have spent tons of time together over the past few months, which leads us to the current moment.
Powerhouse Hobbs
"Uhg!... Uhg!... Uhg!"
Hobbs can be seen bench-pressing in a shady, dodgy underground gym. Hook was standing over him, playing the role of spotter. He lets out an indistinguishable call-out to Hook, letting him know that he's pausing the workout. Hobbs lets out a huge exhale of breath, rising up to sitting position on the bench. Hook walks around the bench, patting Hobbs on the back in the process.
Powerhouse Hobbs
"''Preciate it."
Hook gives Hobbs a reaffirming nod.
Powerhouse Hobbs
"Been a while since I've put some work in in here, does your dad even know we're in here?"
Hobbs has a look of confusion on his face, but Hook's devilish grin quickly solves Hobbs' question.
Powerhouse Hobbs
"Ah... I figured."
The camera zooms out, showcasing a huge 'TEAM TAZ DOJO' sign spray-painted onto a rusted brick wall. A silence so loud it was uncomfortable is present in the room.
Hook
"No time to worry about that, Hobbs, you gotta' start thinkin' 'bout how you and Ricky are gonna coincide together agai-"
Hobbs leaps off the bench
Powerhouse Hobbs
"Shut up about Ricky, man, we've teamed together before, I'm sure this time it'll be no different even if we've strolled down different paths. We can put aside our differences when we got a common enemy."
Hook lets out a chuckle.
Hook
"Yeah, I'd put aside differences too if I had the opportunity to beat up two shmucks like Kingston and Moxley."
Hobbs nods and pats Hook on the back.
Powerhouse Hobbs
"You get it now, dawg, you get it."
A loud knocking at the door disturbs the tranquility in the room. Hobbs, wondering who could even be knocking at someone's door this late, opens it up and is met with two men in suits. With a microphone in one hand and a flip phone in the other, a man lunges at Hobbs with a camera in his face, taking Hobbs by surprise.
"HOBBS! POWERHOUSE HOBBS, NICE TO MEET YOU, MAN! I WAS- I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD MAYBE GET A FEW COMMENTS FOR YOUR UHH... MATCH AGAINST EDDIE KINGSTON AND JON MOXLEY AT THIS WEEKS DYNAMITE!?"
Powerhouse Hobbs
"Shit, man, you can't be out here doing all this when it's this late. How'd you even get the address? Shoulda' listened to my boys in the fed when they said weirdo fans will do anything to try and interact with you."
"S-Sorry sir, I'm just an interviewer from a wrestling blog that would love some exclusive scoops."
Powerhouse Hobbs
"Oh, I can give your 2007 flip-phone havin' ass some scoops for sure. When Ricky and I step into the ring with Mox and Kingston, I can guarantee you a war, a war that ends with Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks claiming victory. See, Mox, Kingston, they have more experience, they've built tougher skin from taking lighttubes in rinky-dink barns on the indies, but they CANNOT match 100% WILLPOWER. Eddie, my boy Hook says he knows a thing or two about your borough, he's tellin' me that you ain't as hard as you claim! You're a fraud, a phony, someone who acts hard to make up for the fact that they ain't, and on Dynamite, I can't wait to expose you and Mox for what you two truly are; a fake-ass punk and a man who was the third wheel in his group. See, TK and the rest of the suits had a revelation! When you see two corny ass white boys running their mouths and talkin' tough, you send someone out there to shut 'em up, someone that can talk way sweeter than those two can and someone that can whoop their asses harder than their mamas should've. Beat us if you can!..."
Hook jumps into frame, right in front of Hobbs.
Hook
"SURVIVE... if we let you!"
Hook does the throat slit taunt as the video fades to black.
Powerhouse Hobbs
"Now get y'alls weird asses outta' here."