SK Wrasslers for Spy

Sir Thomas Rathbone Esq. - Thomas Rathbone was once a big-time wrestler in the UK and a fan favourite. A disastrous botch, however, cost him the sight of one of his eyes, meaning that he was no longer elegible under British law. However, he emigrated to the US, where legislation was somewhat looser, and was able to step back into the ring after a period of rehabilitation. Although his boxing-based style has not changed, his persona has become significantly darker, going from a fun-loving gentleman of leisure to an anti-corporate, steampunk-themed renegade who rants about the evils of corporate control and modern technology.

The shift in his gimmick is caused by bitterness and resentment. The former federation he worked for was known for cutting corners and rules-lawyering, more focused on the bottom line than the well-being of their superstars. They bluntly refused to provide medical coverage for Thomas' injury, not wanting to have an injured wrestler haemorrhage money from their coffers. This callous act of indifference was what caused Thomas to leave the UK and take up his new gimmick in the US. Outside of his persona, he is subdued, quiet and antisocial, possibly due to the anaesthetic he must apply to his eye when not wearing the steampunk-themed patch as part of his costume.

Rathbone has been causing some minor rumblings backstage for some time. He feels that he is being shafted on the chance to regain his former glory, and desires a genuine shot at the title. Creative, however, fears that his resentment and bitterness is causing the line between actor and character to blur dangerously. His rants have become more vitriolic and hateful, and he's been bearing animosity towards other wrestlers who are more content to toe the line. It may only be a matter of time before he begins to garner the wrong kind of heel heat...

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Jack & Jill Starr: For some reason, this minor tag team is hugely popular. Maybe it's their unabashed All-American gimmick that lead to their team name of "Starr & Stripes". Maybe it's their energetic enthusiasm. Or maybe it's the time they retired Iron Ivan, twenty years their senior, with their patented Hammer of Justice tag-team finisher. But the crowd goes wild when these two climb into the ring, extoll the virtues of their country and then powerbomb some uppity jobber to the ground. Their face decorates all kinds of merch, and anybody can recognize them at a glance.

Behind the scenes, though, things aren't so rosy. Jack is an egotist with an inflated head and an entitlement complex the length of the Mississipi. He tends to make exorbitant demands of his manager, the lowly Texas Pete, and throws tantrums if things go his own way. Jill is by no means less egotistical, but is rapidly growing fed up with her brother's self-inflated sense of worth and longs to break away from him. But Jack insists on having creative control, so she's stuck with him... for the forseeable future.

The two are making a determined bid for the tag team title, but the backstage drama may have a greater influence on their career than they realize. Management is wondering about the possibility of a heel turn for Jack, but they worry that this may outrage the rabid fans who enjoy their current babyface angle. Jill, meanwhile, can only tolerate her brother's infantile entitlement for so long, and his insistence on dragging her along for everything may spell more trouble than he realizes.

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Abdul the Great: Being struck by lightning once is unfortunate. Getting struck seven times and walking away unscathed every time is nothing short of a miracle. Maybe that's why lowly street magician Abdul incorporated it into his persona, claiming it to be a sign from Athtar, the storm god, to rise to glory. Thus inspired, he took the identity of the Storm God's Messenger and climbed through the minor leagues in Saudi Arabia until a lucky break got him his current spot. Although his gimmick is a little unnerving to the politically correct, the audience finds his bright costume and occasional illusionary tricks entertaining.

Abdul is, in fact, the very opposite of his eccentric persona. He's a quiet, humble man who counts himself lucky to be in his current spot. All of the money he wins for his efforts goes to charities, and he enjoys performing magic tricks for children. Nobody is quite sure if his tricks are just street magic or something else, but he never lets in on his secrets. Unfortunately, his kindly demeanour means he gets kicked about a lot by some of the more heelish wrestlers, and thus he feels he is being afflicted by prejudice.

As of late, upper management is facing outside criticism from the press concerning Abdul's gimmick. Accusations of racism and bigotry are circulating, and there have been whispers of him changing his Arabian gimmick into something more toned down. But Abdul refuses to change, claiming that this would be an insult to his own experiences and the audience he has gathered. It may be that creative, embarrased by the tabloid slander, is planning to quietly shove him down to the little leagues to try and cover him up.

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Butterfly Mask: Himiko Kojima has been through many gimmicks in her career. She began as a peppy idol, complete with mic stand which also served as a handy weapon. After the frilly outfit caused a disastrous loss to Kaytlin the Barbarian, she chose a darker "onryo" heel persona who pined for her lost love. The fans, however, hated it for being too depressing. So now she's become a Zorro-style masked figure dressed in bright colours, but shrouded in mystery and intruige.

Of course, nobody would suspect Himiko herself of being Butterfly Mask. Butterfly Mask is a loud, hot-blooded woman who flips and dances around the ring, pulling off acrobatic moves that would make a Matrix stunt choreographer quit in shame. Himiko is a bubbly, ditzy jobber who can't even reach the middle rope without falling on her ample butt. Some suspect that this might be a deliberate move to avoid anyone suspecting her of being Butterfly Mask. But only a suspicious person would say that!

Creative isn't quite sure what to do with Butterfly Mask. At the moment, she's a wild card used to step in when a heel gets too big for their own boots and needs to be brought down a peg. There's been whispers of possible interaction with Los Ninos Magníficos, hinting at a romance subplot that could be the catalyst for the long-planned heel turn and split. El Grande Padre has hotly denied the rumours, however, and neither Azul nor Rojo will give a straight answer when confronted. And Butterfly Mask herself is always conveniently unavailable for comment...