"The Rising Star"

WWE Series: "The Rising Star" – Episode 2: "Learning the Hard Way"

Episode Summary: Title: "Learning the Hard Way"

The scene opens the morning after Jake's victorious match against Tornado Tom. Jake is sitting in the locker room, reviewing his performance from last night on his phone. There's a knock on the door. Tornado Tom walks in, visibly bandaged, his jaw clearly bruised and swollen.

Jake (with a sheepish smile):

"Hey, Tom. Good to see you're still standing."

Tornado Tom (grinning through pain):

"Yeah, standing's about all I can do right now. You know, you really did a number on me last night."

Jake (looking confused):

"Wait, you’re still hurt? I mean, it wasn’t that bad... was it?"

Tornado Tom sits down across from Jake, his expression growing serious.

Tornado Tom (sighing):

"Let me break it to you straight, kid. You botched that kick. It was a great move, don’t get me wrong, but instead of landing it clean, you hit my jaw. My cheek was supposed to take the blow, but you weren’t focused enough. As a result, you broke my jaw. I’m not here to put you down—I’m here to teach you."

Jake looks visibly shocked, his cocky demeanor faltering for a moment.

Jake (apologetic):

"I didn’t mean to hurt you, Tom. I swear. I just… I got carried away, I guess."

Tornado Tom (shaking his head):

"That’s the problem right there. You’re getting too carried away with the idea of being flashy. You need to understand this: when you’re in that ring, everything you do affects the people around you. You gotta stay in control, not just of your moves but of your emotions. When you start thinking it's all about impressing the crowd, that’s when mistakes happen."

Jake sits in silence, absorbing Tom's words. Tornado Tom gives him a knowing look.

Tornado Tom (softening):

"You’re a talented kid, Jake. Don’t let a mistake like this define you. Take it as a lesson. And trust me—there’s a lot more you’ll learn the hard way if you don’t shape up."

Jake nods, now fully aware of the responsibility that comes with being in the ring.

Jake (with sincerity):

"I’m sorry, Tom. I won’t let it happen again. I’ll focus more."

Tornado Tom (grinning):

"Good. Now, you’ve got a match against Alex later today. Use that match to show me you can control yourself. No flashy moves. I want to see if you’ve learned anything from this."

Jake (determined):

"Don’t worry. I’ll show you."

The Match:

Later that afternoon, the WWE Performance Center ringside is set up for Jake’s match against his best friend, Alex "The Bulldog" Harris. The two step into the ring, the tension thick in the air. The crowd of trainees watches, curious about how Jake will approach this match after his lessons with Tom.

The bell rings, and immediately Alex goes on the offense, using his strength to overpower Jake. He lifts Jake into the air for a suplex, but Jake lands on his feet, showing off his agility. The crowd cheers, but this time, Jake doesn’t try anything flashy. He stays grounded, locking Alex in a wristlock and pulling him into a quick DDT.

Jake (to Alex, trash-talking a little):

"Not bad, Bulldog, but you’re gonna have to do better than that."

Alex grins, wiping his brow. He then charges Jake, trying to knock him down with a shoulder block, but Jake dodges at the last second, causing Alex to crash into the corner post. Jake tries to capitalize but avoids an aerial move, remembering Tom's advice to stay focused and not overdo it.

Alex (laughing):

"Look at you—you're actually taking this seriously for once!"

Jake (grinning):

"I told you, I’m focusing. You’re in for a fight."

Alex, sensing Jake is holding back, suddenly picks up the pace, hitting Jake with a series of power moves: a spinebuster, followed by a clothesline. Jake hits the mat hard, the wind knocked out of him. Alex goes for the pin, but Jake kicks out at two.

Alex (seriously):

"You’ve got to do more than that if you want to take me down, Jake."

Jake gets back to his feet, clearly more focused than before. He goes for his signature Tornado DDT, landing it cleanly this time. The crowd reacts, impressed with Jake's more controlled performance. Jake takes a moment to collect himself, then prepares for his finisher, the Springboard Kick.

As he climbs to the ropes, Alex attempts to stop him by grabbing his leg. But Jake shakes him off, jumps off the ropes, and lands the Springboard Kick perfectly on Alex's cheek this time—not the jaw. Alex crashes to the mat, and Jake quickly goes for the pin.

Referee (counting):

"One, two, three!"

Jake (breathing heavily, getting up):

"Falcon’s Flight, baby."

The bell rings, signaling Jake’s victory. The crowd of trainees erupts in applause, seeing how far Jake has come in just a short time. Alex sits up, rubbing his cheek, and looks up at Jake with a mix of respect and admiration.

Alex (smiling):

"You did it, man. You stayed focused. I think Tom’s right—you’ve got potential."

Jake walks over to Alex and offers a hand to help him up.

Jake (grinning):

"Thanks, man. You were tough out there. I had to keep my head on straight."

As Alex gets up, the camera cuts to Tornado Tom, who’s watching from the sidelines, nodding approvingly.

Tornado Tom (to himself):

"Good job, kid. You’re on the right track."

Jake walks up to Tom after the match, sweat dripping from his forehead but a satisfied grin on his face.

Jake (seriously):

"I learned from my mistakes, Tom. You were right. It’s not about the moves, it’s about control."

Tornado Tom (grinning):

"Now you’re starting to get it. Keep this up, and you’ll go far in this business."

Jake nods, feeling more confident than ever. He knows the road ahead is still long, but he’s ready for whatever comes next.

End of Episode 2: "Learning the Hard Way"

This episode highlights Jake's growth as a wrestler, showing that he’s not just a high-flyer but a competitor who can learn from his mistakes and take control in the ring. He’s gaining respect from his trainer, peers, and even himself, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his journey at the WWE Performance Center.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***