Rumors

[The Bradley Clan]

November 20, 2017, 9:09 a.m., Boston Logan International Airport. The Delta ticket counter. Thanksgiving travel. Lines are insane. A frustrated couple checks their bags and heads for the TSA line. As they approach the serpentine line, they turn back and notice the group that were behind them. Four people wearing hoodies. A man with a deep black mohawk and long beard, a woman with flaming red hair, another woman with short brown hair and a blonde streak, and a tall, muscular black man with cornrows. They're checking two large bags each. The couple pauses.

"Brianna, I swear, a couple of those people look familiar..."

"You sure about that, Ryan?"

"I mean, I don't mean to stare or anything but..."

Then the man's eyes light up. He whispers to his wife.

"Holy shit, Brianna, I think that's Mike and Danielle Bradley!"

"The wrestlers?"

"Yeah! Isn't it cool? I don't want to trouble them for an autograph or anything..."

"Yeah, especially considering this damn line we're in."

"Wow, they must be heading out for Thanksgiving. I hope they're enjoying retirement... shame to see what happened to Mike."

"But how can you be sure that's Mike? And who are the other two with them?"

"Must be their spouses. And besides, I know for a fact that's Danielle, so that's got to be Mike."

"Huh. Well, promise me you won't be a fanboy or anything if they get in line behind us?"

"No promises I won't tell them I'm a fan, but I promise I won't wig out or anything."

"Sigh... all right..."

Sure enough, those same four people line up behind them. The man turns and tries to introduce himself. His wife cringes.

"Um, I don't mean to bother you or anything, but are you Mike and Danielle Bradley?"

"Last time we checked, yes we are."

"Look, I don't want to bother you or nerd out or anything, but I just wanted to say I'm a huge fan of your wrestling, and I'm sorry you had to end your career so abruptly, and I hope you're enjoying retirement."

"Oh, thanks, man, we really appreciate it. Yeah, retirement has been good to us. But now we've got big plans for Thanksgiving week."

"Oh, cool, well I hope you enjoy them!"

"Thanks, man! Happy Thanksgiving!"

"Um, before we go through security, could I trouble you for a photo?"

"No problem."

"Ugh... Ryan..."

"Sorry, hun..."

Brianna begrudgingly takes Ryan's phone and snaps a picture with him, Mike, Danielle and their spouses. He immediately posts it on Twitter.

"Guess who I just ran into at the airport! My favorite wrestlers of all time! Wish I could enjoy retirement at that age. @gzwabradleys"

After the couple and the Bradleys get through the security line, the Bradleys and the other couple go their separate ways. A few minutes later, Ryan gets a notification on his phone from Twitter.

"@gzwabradleys retweeted your Tweet and said 'Yes... retirement... #PrepareForChaos @gzwaofficial'"

Ryan and Brianna's eyes light up.

"Does this mean what I think it means?"

"I don't know, where could they be headed?"

At that moment, Ryan's phone blows up with retweet notifications and DMs from wrestling journalists, asking all sorts of questions - where are they going? What did they say about a comeback? Have they signed a contract? Are they wrestling? Or is it just an appearance? It's so much that Ryan is forced to shut off his phone.

"Jesus Christ, what have I done?"

--

November 20, 2017, 1:52 p.m., Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Knowing that GZWA Primetime is being taped in Cincinnati this week, a huge crowd of wrestling fans has amassed outside the security gate in response to rumors of the Bradleys' return to wrestling. Social media is blowing up. Police officers have been called in to make sure the crowd doesn't breach security. As a wave of arrivals come through the doors, everybody is reaching over everybody else, trying to get an angle for a photo or video of the Bradleys. But nobody can find them.

"I think I see them!" one fan shouts as he spots four hooded figures walking towards the baggage claim. But his voice is lost in the sea of noise and people. He tries to follow their path, but soon they are engulfed in the swarm of Thanksgiving foot traffic. He tries to get up close, but is rebuffed by the confused passengers who just want their nightmarish travels to end.

Police officers continue to hold people back and form a human barrier. The crowd tries to get outside to the cars, but in moments, the wave of people has passed, and those hooded figures are no more.

Are they here for Primetime? Are they here just for Thanksgiving? Are they here at all?

The Bradleys always say, "If you don't know... now you know!"

But now... will we ever know?