Adam Hansen walks through the backstage area of the Genesis Dome in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday night, Night Three. He wears his trademark cowboy hat, but a tan button-down shirt with “The Long Road Ranch” stitched on one side. He holds a bottle of Pepsi Zero. Adam is still wearing a bandage on his head from the damage he took inside the cage Thursday night.
ADAM HANSEN
Some people ‘round here seem to think that because Lex is the big name, I am just his minion, his lackey, his sidekick.
He takes a swig of soda.
ADAM HANSEN
If they’d stop to look at the bigger picture, at the whole of the Regulators? Will and Jana are UPRISIN’ Unity Champs. Briar Byrne is the UPRISIN’ Total Anarchy Champ. Lex’n’me? We hold the CWF Tag Team titles.
He stops and looks at a poster on the wall for Night One promotion of Crown of Legends. Jace and Adam posed on the poster, advertised as the main event.
ADAM HANSEN
Sidekicks don’t get shots at singles titles. Sidekicks don’t main event nights of a pay-per-view.
Adam shrugs once, looking at the poster. He then continues walking.
ADAM HANSEN
When Lex’n’I came into this place, we came in separately. He was drafted to Evolution; I went to Saturday Night. But despite that, we decided to have each other’s backs. Wasn’t anything official. We just had an understandin’. Separate, but together.
Adam stops again at a door marked ‘Trainer’s Room’.
ADAM HANSEN
Then Lex started mentorin’ Briar. She was a given to join us… when she came here. She’s a firebrand, not just in name, but in how she’s carryin’ herself. Will and Jana ain’t here, but we all are in UPRISIN’, but we ain’t recognized there as The Regulators. Again, that whole ‘separate, but together’ thing.
Adam smiles, just a little. Not his usual big cowboy smile. It doesn’t reach his eyes. His eyes are still holding onto that intensity.
ADAM HANSEN
But ain’t none of us a sidekick. We all do our own stuff, but we also work together when we can. Me? I just went through hell, and I did it alone. None of the Regulators came to help me. None of ‘em needed to. Because they knew that win or lose, I would do it on my own. Not because we was in a cage, no. Because this was my business to handle. Didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but that’s how this thing goes. Now that that’s over, it’s time for the Carolina Cowboy to find a new road. And believe me, I’m gonna find it.
Adam opens the door to the Trainer’s room.
ADAM HANSEN
Jace, I’m sure you’re gloatin’ somewhere right now. And you should. You did what you said you was gonna do. You beat me. And maybe changed me just a little. But that’s this business. Time for this cowboy to saddle up and find the next one.
Adam walks into the trainer’s room and closes the door behind him.
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