The Big Bad (Good) Wolf

“Raaaaggghhh!!!” The roar of defiance echoed throughout the stadium like an organic thunderclap that was quickly matched by the crowd’s cheer that boomed just as loudly as hundreds of voices rang out as one.

The posterboard signs they flashed with vigorous enthusiasm showed their allegiance to one of the two sides. And they were overwhelmingly on the side of my enemy. The chants and howls of his name by the small army of spectators began to shake the studio.

“Toa! Toa! Toa!” They called to him as if he could make out each of their individual voices.

Toa The Chieftain. He was a Filipino man whose parents came to America before having him. Which is funny because the name Toa isn’t even Filipino. It’s Polynesian. But it was super Asian Pacific so it was bestowed upon him. Your average fan would be none the wiser. As a kid growing up he instantly fell in love with professional wrestling when he saw his first match online. He since then wanted to grow up to be a famous wrestler and he achieved his goal. I was a similar way. I too became a famous wrestler. But I had a different reputation. For those out of the know it’s all just a story. The fights were practiced extensively and they were all to tell a narrative. Toa was the good guy. A savior of the people as it were. That was the image that was made of him. I, however, Lupin the Big Bad Wolf, was the one on the opposite side of the aisle. I was the villain of the story.

Before the fight even started I was marked as the bad guy. I was given just as spectacular of an entrance with fireworks, smoke, and intense music to set the stage of the arrival of a champion, and I was a champion. Last season. That was part of the whole narrative set up for this fight. But I wasn’t greeted like a champion by the people. Boos and jeers thundered in the arena as I stepped out. There were a good number of cheers though as there will always be some folks who love a good villain. They’re sometimes more loved than even the hero. Read a good comic book series or watch some good movies and I can guarantee you the villains will be the characters that are most talked about and liked. But when caught in one of those comics or movies, the crowd wants the villain to lose.

I used underhanded tactics and fought dirty to win my way to the top last season, beating everybody including Toa himself. But this. This was to be a different outcome. The redemption arc for the Chieftain. His comeback to the top to take the title back away from the villain because the hero isn’t supposed to stay the loser for long. There were whole episodes about it. His training with other heroes and his take down of lesser bad guys. All in an effort to get stronger to fight me, the final boss as I myself carved a path through fallen foes.

So yeah. I was scheduled to lose. But I didn’t care. These weren’t actual tests of strength or endurance. It was a performance. We were telling a story. It didn’t matter to me whether I won or lost. What mattered is we both put on a good show and when either Toa or Lupin are in the ring the people come out in droves because they know they’re going to get that good show. Put the two together and it’s the highlight of the season. The fans will be talking about it for weeks, maybe even months, nonstop. The internet will be ablaze with social media posts both official and from the fans about The Chieftain getting his revenge on the Big Bad Wolf.

We were actors. In fact, I was even approached by the producer from one of the bigger film studios to star in a movie where I would play, you guessed it, the villain. I just made a good villain. I was built like a bus, mean looking with my bushy beard and long wild hair, and had a naturally deep and gravelly voice. All of it wrapped up with a maniacal laugh that would make any mad scientist proud.

So in he came. He swung. I ducked. His momentum carried him to the ropes, and he did the standard slingshot off of them to some back to me. But I counter with a grab and pick him up and try to go for a slam. But he lands his feet and instead I’m the one being slammed. The pin comes in. This was the end of the script. I’m quote unquote knocked dizzy from the slam. The leg is lifted, the ref comes in. One. Two. Three. The bell sounds. The stadium erupts with cries of joy that could drown out a jet engine. Lupin, The Big Bad Wolf, has been defeated, and Toa is back on top as the champion. He’s handed the belt and he holds it up like a golden idol, another burst of cheers flood the air as his name is chanted. The show was over. Till next season.

It’s in the dressing rooms after I’m changed into normal street clothes that I come across Toa, also dressed in his normal everyday attire. A three piece suit for the both of us. We might dress like savages in the ring, but on the streets we were classy men. My hair was now combed cleanly and kept neat in a ponytail, a far cry from the raggedy waves seen in the ring. My beard was frayed the whole match but now it was brushed out nicely and looked like it belonged to a distinguished gentlemen rather than a man-beast.

“Nice job, Craig.” The smile on my face a genuine one. That’s right. His name wasn’t actually Toa. It was Craig Lim. Funny to see a Filipino man named Craig but while he might have Asian Pacific heritage, he was born in Boston. Even had an accent to match.

“Good show, Cade. Seein ya at Trailblazah’s tomorrah?” He returned an equally proper smile as we gave each other an overhead handshake and pats on the shoulders.

“Of course, buddy. Have a good night.” Cade Stonebrook was my real name. Yeah. Lupin and Toa were just stage names for the characters we portrayed in the ring. Again, we were just actors. I don’t even like actually fighting. In reality I’m a man of peace. I might not be devout to it, but I’ve studied the practices of Buddhism and I meditate every day to keep myself mentally and spiritually healthy. I just can’t give up meat, sorry Buddha. But I would rather diffuse a situation and prevent a fight in real life than start swinging, even though I could probably take on just about anybody short of a martial arts master. But the season was done and I was back on a little vacation.

Outside the studio I make my way to a gelato shop nearby because a hot summer day calls for something cold and sweet. The bell of the door dings as I enter and a big grin spread across the faces of the crew behind the counter.

“Ayy. The Big Bad Wolf.” The young man greets me as an old friend. I frequent this shop too much, but the food is so good. He’s not the only one. The other two smile and wave and give me a proper greeting too. They knew my real name, but it was too fun not to call me by my little title. It’s because they knew. They knew the real me. It was a treat for them whenever I’d show up because I was fun to talk to. I always kept pleasant conversations and would tell them about the match I was just in. Today in particular I let them in on how The Chieftain is back on top and they gave fun laughs as I told the story like a grandpa reminiscing about a past life next to a lit fireplace with his grandkids with the old ‘did I ever tell you about the time’. I also always tipped very well so that was always a nice little bonus for them.

As I was informing them of the fight that just went on there was a little girl with her parents enjoying their own cold treat. The two adults recognized me but were perhaps too nervous to approach. Or maybe just wanted to let a celebrity enjoy his time off. But their daughter made an oop with her scoop of gelato and it fell off her cone and onto the floor. She didn’t let out a cry right away but you could see the clear depression suddenly draw across her face as it scrunched and a whimper began to escape her lips.

“Ohh sweetie. It’s ok. We’ll get another one.” The mom leaned down to pick up the gelato but obviously it was lost. The girl started to let out little whines as tears began to well up in her eyes. I can’t stand seeing kids cry, so without hesitation I immediately went over.

“I’ll get you another one. What did you have, little one?” I bent over to her height as she sat at the table with a bright smile on my face. She looked on with amazement like she was looking at a fantasy creature. The parents too were in a small state of shock, seemingly in disbelief the Big Bad Wolf was being so good. But the girl was a true light of innocence and gave a big smile.

“Strawberry.” She said excitedly.

“It was strawberry, yes.” The mother had a smile to match as she cleaned up the spilt scoop.

“Just the regular strawberry? You want any mix ins? Can she have any mix ins?” I was asking the parents just as much as her. They nodded and the girl gave a bounce of excitement.

“I want the wafer candies.” She was already over the sadness that struck her and was now filled with joy.

“Alright. Strawberry with wafer candies please.” I looked back at the crew who gave a salute and went to work. In no time her new order of gelato was done, even getting a new cone to eat it out of. I paid for it and left my normal sized tip all over again and presented it to her like a wrestling championship belt. “Dun dun dunnn. Here you go little missy. Be careful with this one now though.”

She let out a squeak of excitement and immediately dug in.

“Thank you, mistah.” She was overjoyed at the new and improved scoop.

“Yes. Thank you. Aren’t you Lupin? The Big Bad Wolf?” The parents were in there own disbelief.

“Yeah. But really I’m just a big ol teddy bear.” The line drew chuckles from the two.

“Can we get a photo with you real quick?” The father took out his phone.

“Of course. Tyler. Care to take the pic?” I looked back at the head kid on duty and he happily agreed.

Taking hold of the man’s phone, he, his wife, daughter, and I, all grouped up together and I gave a smile usually unseen to the public. One might expect me to snarl or sneer. But nope. A big joyous grin as the pic was taken. The parents were filled with glee.

“Thank you Mr. Lupin.”

“No problem. You folks take it easy.”

“Byeeeee.” The little girl waved enthusiastically as I left and I had to give a little wave back to her.

It was later while I was enjoying my gelato that I checked my phone. Sure enough I was tagged in countless posts about the fight. My own account blowing up with people either cheering on Toa’s defeat over me or claiming how they wished I had won. Again, there will always be fans for the villains too. All talking about the fierceness of Lupin, and the cruel villain’s demise. But as I shifted through the posts I came across a special one. Posted only minutes ago. The pic of me and that family in the gelato store with the message “Big Bad Wolf a Big Ol Sweetheart. Bought my daughter a new scoop of gelato after spilling hers. Thank you Lupin. I’ll be rooting for you next season.”

I couldn’t help but have a good laugh at it. This wasn’t the first post of someone seeing me for who I truly was after a random act of kindness on my part. It was always nice to see and always got a chuckle and smile out of me. Sweetheart. Teddy Bear. Softie. The true identity of the great and fierce Lupin. The Big Bad Wolf with a Big Good Heart.