Soon after his birth, Lint Douglas was orphaned for reasons never explained to him. At his early age, he went from orphanage to orphanage in California, always being removed and relocated to a new one. None ever lasted. He was shy, quiet, and was always the unlucky one when renovations to the growing lists of arrivals came through. He wound up growing up self-conscious about his past, and insecure in meeting people for the fear of them, too, orphaning and leaving him alone.
That, though, soon turned into an area used by older kids to viciously attack him with both words and actions. The full force of it began around the age of 11, as it was non-stop abuse from older kids and even his peers. Everyone would call him a zero, because he had zero for a past and that his future was going zero. They said he was a total zero. Lint was a social outcast at a very young age. It was simply for the fact of his insecurity. People around him knew that, knew he wouldn't say anything in his defense and would always run away from the problems.

It was around this time that his bonding for the Gilman alley took place. In the face of all of the criticism, Lint found a place along Gilman Street of Berkeley, California, which set against the left wall of the Gilman apartments. Whenever he was afraid, in danger, scared, or hurt from the criticism, he wound go to that alley. It had a long, narrow stretch at the front of it, but the ending opened up twice as wide as the opening tunnel was. Blame it on weird construction of the neighboring building. But whatever it was, Lint was sure that this was his home. Not in an orphanage, but the alley. It would be where he would almost always be found from there on, hoping that one day the problems associated with his life would be over. But he doubted it.

A few years passed by, but nothing had changed. The kids, especially a kid by the name of Theodore, continued their harassment on Lint. But, something happened to him at the age of 14. It was otherwise a normal day, except that it would be the day that Lint would no longer be the same person. He was walking down the street, on his way to the alley, when a group of kids, led by Theodore, walked into his path. The usual tirade that was associated with their meetings happened all the same, as it had for the past three years. But on that day, all of the anger and hatred that had been building inside of him finally released itself. All of the feelings of being alone, having no one to go to, having nothing concrete in what some would call his life, released itself into his closed fist. As Theodore laughed at him, his face baring down onto Lint’s, his mouth spewing forth saliva as he spoke, Lint reared back and punched Theodore in the nose as hard as he could. Taken aback more by shock than by the blood that was starting to flow from his nose, Theodore was even more surprised as Lint attacked him, fighting with all the strength and power that he had. Theodore tried to fight back, but the pure rage spewing forth from Lint was too much. With his hands bloodied, Lint walked away from Theodore as he lay on the concrete slab, spewing obscenities towards Lint. Soon, everyone had heard about how the kid in the corner, the zero, had beat up one of the popular kids. How he had beat up THE popular kid. This started a short series of onslaughts by other kids -friends of Theodore, or just those looking for a fight- only to be beaten up by this newfound rage inside of Lint.

He soon dropped his own name of Lint. "Lint" was dead. "Lint" was the boy who took all of the abuse without standing up for himself. "Lint" was someone who he would never allow to come out of him again. Instead, he assumed the name of "Zero." It served as a method of reminding for all the hardships of his past and how he wouldn't let it happen again. What the kids had all meant as an insult was no more. They would only call him that when addressing him by his new name. And Zero had a weird feeling from that thought. He felt it in the pit of his stomach. He wasn't familiar with that feeling. What was it? Could it be…happiness? He wasn't sure how that emotion felt.

Unintended, though, a new problem arose from Zero's new "confidence." After finally releasing the built up anger, Zero would fight anyone if they posed as a threat to him. Whether it was in random words they said to him or in other various ways, Zero trusted no one. He was to be sure to not EVER let himself fall back down, be buried in that trap of how he was…of how Lint was. By doing this, though, he had unintentionally reverted his life back to the point to where he was once again a social outcast. This time, it was because of how he would always fight back, opposed to absorbing anything that kids would do to him. And he had put so much into finally releasing himself, he knew he couldn't stand down, let go, give in. It would be a hopeless case after that for the rest of his life. He was still a nice guy. But at the same time, he was uncertain towards people. A great handicap. But still…the alley was his closest companion.

Nine years went by. Zero had continued in the same pattern of life. He was twenty-three years old. But soon, his life pattern and self reliance attitude was about to change his immediate life. Little did he know that when he entered a bar one night in Berkeley. A person had seen him across the bar. This person had seen Zero’s facial piercings and tattoos, as well as his green spiked hair, and it had struck a nerve in the already drunk out of towner. The man had walked over to Zero, the alcohol making him a more brave man, and started in on all of the things that Zero represented that was wrong in the country. Zero sat their, glazing at him through a cornered look while keeping his head low, feeling the aggravation boil inside of him. As the man started talking about raising a child right, Zero had had enough. He got up to confront the man face to face, but the drunk was already starting into his plan. He threw a punch at Zero, but Zero took the blow and started his own. It was a quick fight, which led to the man lying unconscious on a bar floor, glass broken, the table smashed, and numerous other items destroyed. The worst part was, the bar owner blamed Zero for the damage, simply because the drunk had been a nicely dressed man, more respectable looking, while Zero was another so-called "Generation X’er." And so, Zero suddenly had a large bill he owed for the damages, but no substantial job to supply that money.

Walking out of the bar, Zero was approached by a man. Zero blew him off, but the man persisted. Eventually calming Zero from the anger that was on his skin, the man explained to him that he was a wrestler for a professional wrestling organization and had just witnessed Zero's fight in the bar. The wrestler's opinion was, Zero looked to have the skills, albeit rough at the moment, to make it in professional wrestling. Zero blew that off even quicker, slagging it as fake and a disgrace. But the wrestler pointed out the damages to the bar, and the bill that Zero would soon have to pay. Zero knew he couldn't keep a job. And the way the wrestler described the setup…chairs, tables, violence with no repercussions, the idea of joining long enough to pay back the bill sounded sufficient enough. The name of the federation that he would be joining was called HEW. It would work until he paid back what was needed.

He was fronted his money upon signing a short time deal. If he quit before the deal ran out, though, he would have to forfeit the money back to the HEW. The bill to the bar was paid, and Zero knew he didn't have that money back home. So, he entered a wrestling school affiliated with the company in January of the year. By March, he would be getting his first wrestling match. It wasn't a spectacular match. There were a few blown spots. Such was common in green wrestler's matches. But a key point in the match was a move Zero pulled off. He had worked with it during the months at the training school. What he had done was, he climbed a twelve-foot balcony and moonsaulted onto his opponent below, who was laying on a table. From there, he got the three counts and the fans had popped for the move. Zero was dumbfounded. People were cheering for him? It couldn't be. Soon he had talked himself out of the fact that people would actually cheer for him, but one thing was for sure. When his deal ran out…he signed an extension. There was something about this. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. He was getting paid to fight people. Sure, the matches were scripted, but the blows he and his opponents were delivering to each other were becoming harder as the match went on. Zero tried to make it as real as possible. And he liked that. It was a funnel…an aggression release. It was something that he had needed a long time ago.

Zero's career in the HEW took off. He, along with Kid Violence, the wrestler who had introduced him into wrestling in the first place, captured the tag-team titles from Pimp Slap and X-Slash. They defended them regularly, until disaster struck in the short lived team. Kid Violence would soon come up missing. Unable to defend the titles solo, and quite frankly, with the sparkle of the tag-team titles fading quite quickly, Zero vacated the belts. More gold would come his way soon after, though, as he won the now defunct HEW European title in a battle royal. It was nice luggage, but not exactly what Zero had in mind for his newfound wrestling career.
After a brief stint as European champ, Zero would soon drop it for bigger things. The HEW had a hardcore title. It was regularly defended under violent conditions, often leaving participants in a bloody mess at the conclusion of the match. It was the ultimate outlet, as well as representation of what Zero was, and what he had came from. He would soon sign to a match for that title. The stipulation was, it was to be held inside of a steel cage, with the ropes replaced by barbwire. It would be the last barbwire match in HEW to date, but at that time, it was something that had truly captured Zero's interest in the HEW.

The match itself was grueling. A broken piece of barbwire was used, roping in the metal, as well as suicidal moves through tables. It was in this match, though, that Zero introduced a move he had been pondering on for the past few weeks. Climbing the side of the cage with a chair in hand, Zero looked back down at his opponent, who lay immobile on the canvas. At ten feet in the air, Zero let go of the cage, and plunged back down to the mat, sliding the chair under his leg on the way down. He landed in a guitene leg drop, chair under the leg, right on top of his opponent's chest. It would be the first time of many that he would use that move, as well as a final stretch to his opponent in the match. Zero won the HEW Hardcore title.

That title victory was not the conclusion of anything for Zero. It was merely the beginning of what would soon become a legendary run through the HEW. What was once looked upon as a second rate title was suddenly given new life, and new activity, as many came from all over the HEW for a shot at that Hardcore title. It was not to be, though, as Zero successfully defended the title against all comers. Even successfully against one man named Havoc. More things were to come between those two, but at that moment in time, no one in the HEW stood in Zero's way towards a perfect title run.

It was during the time during his Hardcore title run, while in Berkeley one day, Zero stopped into a club called the Gilman. A low feeling was coming over him. He couldn't quite place it, but the feelings he had once felt when he had finally found his nique, and when he had won the Hardcore title, were starting to fade away. He had stopped by the club to think over some things. It was not to be the day of thinking, though. Across the club, three men were harassing the waitress. As name-calling went into obscenities directed towards her, Zero couldn't sit idly at his table and view the actions taking place. He attacked the three men, catching the first one strictly by surprise. The other two attempted to double-team him, with one pulling a knife on him. Zero was able to work the knife free, while throwing the other one into the pool table. A few bloodstains later, Zero had beat the three guys. It was just like the old days in Zero's past. The innocent waitress, meanwhile, waited in the corner, her hands over her mouth, not knowing what to do.

Something would still become of her, as she gave Zero her number before he left, along with as many thank you's as she could utter. Her name was Karen. Soon, after randomly finding the number, which he had misplaced before, Zero gave her a call. That was the first moment that sparked what would become Zero and Karen. She moved into his apartment a month later.

During the time that he was with her, he kept finding himself become open to her. He couldn't block out "Lint Douglas." He told her, piece by piece, of his past, his real name, and where he was in life. But the thing that stuck out the most to him, though, was the fact that she never laughed at him. She never looked down upon him for his past. She had sympathy for him, and loved him for his transparency, and not wanting to hide anything from her. The two would become inseparable. She would even soon start to accompany him to the wrestling shows, standing in his corner as he defended the Hardcore title. She signed a short-term deal with the HEW, and together with both salaries, they were able to lead a comfortable life, moving into the nicer part of Berkeley, away from the Gilman apartments. And also, away from the alley. For once, Zero no longer had to depend on the alley. He had Karen. And nothing could separate them. Nothing.

The moment was in May. Zero's world, a world that was finally all coming together, becoming for once, a peaceful and bliss moment of living, crashed before him before he even knew what had happened. While away on a HEW show, Zero sat watching the news in his hotel as he got dressed. A news flash came on the television. Zero paid it no mind until the reporter uttered these words. "Police are now on the hunt for one Lint Douglas, resident of Berkeley, California. There is a warrant out for his arrest for main slaughter of three individuals from three years ago in an alley beside Berkeley's Gilman apartments. New evidence has came up, and the police ask that if anyone has seen this man, report your sighting to the police immediately. He is known in the wrestling world as 'Zero.' Again, the police urge you to report any sightings you might have of him." Zero was in a trance. He did not know what evidence they had of him committing the crime, although he knew the crime they were talking about. Three years ago in the alley that he always rests in when the need to sort his life out arises, three bodies were found dead in there. And now, he was getting the blame for it. He didn't know what to do. He knew the people of Berkeley wouldn't believe him. A good majority of the people involved in the law was the same people he had grown up with, and the same people who had disjointed him from their world. There was only one thing Zero could do. Evade. He had to evade the police.

He looked down to the bed. His Hardcore title rested there. He knew he had to vacate it. But then, his mind flashed to Karen. She had decided to stay home on this one trip out. He had to get in contact with her. He grabbed a phone, calling up the number to their apartment. He let it ring twenty times. No one ever answered. She was gone, out for a while. Zero didn't know when she would be back, but he knew he had to act fast.

A small camera was set up in the corner of his hotel room. He had the Hardcore title in his lap, looking down at it occasionally, while talking into the camera. He was explaining his situation, while also telling the president of the HEW, "J-Smooth," that he was now vacating the title. It was hard for him to do. He felt he had maybe finally found something he could fit into, something that he could respect himself for, have a feeling of accomplishment. But what was worse, he had to tell Karen goodbye, even if it would only be for a short time. He asked that they look out for her until he returned, because he would be returning. He didn't know when, but as soon as all of this was worked out, he would be back. Signing off, he drove to the arena in his Blazer, dropped the title and tape off in J-Smooth's office, and quickly pulled out onto the Interstate, not knowing where to go or what he was going to do.

It was a long two months. No one really knows what Zero done during the time that he evaded the police. He has never said what had happened. It was only when a newsflash that had been tracking the pursuit, flashed across the screen, announcing that the chase was over, did anyone hear from Zero again. He was sent to jail in California, awaiting immediate trial. Three days later, he stood before the judge. The people who followed the trial knew for sure that Zero would be found guilty. But when the judge made the ruling, he said that due to newfound evidence, Zero was found innocent. All of the evasion, all of the opinions of the people, all to come to a close at the judge's unexpected ruling. He would not disclose what this evidence was, but Zero knew that hopefully, the real killer had finally been found out. There were only two other things on his mind. Getting back to Karen, and getting reinstated in the HEW.

Things didn't turn out so well.

Zero went back to the apartment, only to find that the rent had ran out, and it was closed up. Looking through the windows, it was completely empty inside. He tried to call Karen's parents, doubtful that she would talk to them after such a long absence to not speaking to them, but they did not know where she was. No one did. All Zero knew, was that Karen was now gone, and it was completely out of his control about where she could be, and why.

Trying to block the feelings out of his mind, he reinstated his contract with the HEW. He had nothing…no apartment…no furniture…nothing. It would take a few solid paychecks before he could even get back on his feet. But more important than that, Zero was determined to regain the title that he never lost. He wanted a title shot against the then current HEW Hardcore champion, Kevin Powers. A week later, he had the match. And he lost. The HEW didn't feel his draw was quite what it used to be, and were still unsure if they wanted to embrace the controversy surrounding what all had just happened in Zero's life. That was the last straw, a turning point. Zero had at one time almost had his life normal, but it was suddenly swept out from underneath his feet. Now, he no longer had a current home, he no longer had Karen, and he no longer had the Hardcore title.

It was during this time that he was invited into a group that would soon be forming in the HEW. The name of it would be Terror Inc. Their main opponents would be the jWo, in which Kevin Powers had himself aligned. Zero half-heartedly joined up, only to turn on the group in the next three weeks, causing them to loose a big 8-man match. The man who he turned his back on in the match was his then stablemate, Havoc.

Things were left at that, without the angle fully playing up. Zero wandered in limbo for a period there in the HEW, having meaningless matches, all the while trying to reprove his abilities in the ring. Abilities that had grown and matured since long before when he had first entered the HEW.

Terror Inc. went on to gain control of the HEW through a special stipulation in a gigantic PPV match they the group had against J-Smooth and his chosen few. It would soon jumpstart Zero's career back up, as one of the members of Terror Inc was now the Commissioner of the HEW. The man in charge of the matches. He was a man who had turned an evil streak in his life, and had gone power crazy with control. His name was Havoc. And he hadn't forgotten about anything. His next mission was to be just that little voice that always pointed out what wrongs Zero was doing in the company, and it was Havoc's mission to bring Zero down for good in the HEW.

Along this time, though, strange occurrences were happening between Zero and fellow HEW wrestler, Blade. After seemingly unimportant matches, one or the other would show up at the conclusion, uttering mestoic references to something larger. No one was certain what was going on between the two, though. Always the observer to cause strife, though, Havoc used his commissioner's powers to book a match with Zero against Blade, where there must be a winner. Finally, some facts would come out. Or so Havoc had thought.

The match itself turned out to, yes, be Zero vs. Havoc. But it actually jWo midgets dressed as the two wrestlers, who went to combat upon each other, ultimately ending the match in a double countout. The end result had been that Zero and Blade had outsmarted Havoc the commissioner, and the ultimate goal would soon serve zero tolerance to other acts done by the man.

At the HEW Innovators of Hardcore PPV, Zero and Blade came together against Stealth Bombers to defeat them and capture the HEW Tag-Team titles. It was Zero's first title since the vacating of the Hardcore title. Larger things in life would soon come to Zero, though, that would shadow the glory of holding a title. Zero and Blade defended the titles upon demand, but always came out victorious. It was only when Havoc had had enough, did the tag-titles become second place.

On a weekly HEW show, Havoc came to the ring during the end of the show. Taking a mic, he announced that finally, he had had enough. He had tried to take Zero down politically and every other way that he could, but there was only one thing left to do. Right then, he called Zero out to the ring, so they could settle what was very apparently boiling between the two of them. With that, Zero accepted the offer, and came to the ring. It turned into a fight, as the two brawled in the ring, and down to the outside. With the match almost won for Zero, suddenly, someone came out from behind the curtain. Zero looked over, and then took a second look, as, to his amazement, it was Karen! She had finally returned to him. Embracing her on the apron, she told him "everything is ok." With Havoc to put away, Zero turned to finish him off, when suddenly, Karen entered the ring, and grabbed a chair. Zero turned, seeing her with it, and set Havoc up for the hit, but she suddenly done the unexpected, and hit Zero with the chair. It wasn't a devastating blow physically, but mentally, it tore straight through him. Looking up at her from his knees, he was in shock, amazement, disbelief, awe . . . and every other emotional feeling. Suddenly, from behind, Havoc nailed him with a chair. The both of them continued their assaults with chairs, and then walked out of the ring, leaving Zero prone on the mat.

It was at that point in the angle that it was apparent that fantasy had became a shoot.

The promos to come would have Karen verbally abusing Zero. Cutting him down for walking out on her, leaving her to be in Berkeley. He had never called her, told her what was going on. It was only when she turned on the television did she see what was happening to her boyfriend. And by her side during the whole stretch of promos was her new one, the one who had came to her aid when Zero had walked out on it (according to Karen), the one who had filled that void that the absence of Zero had caused. Alongside her was Havoc. And it tore Zero apart. Worse than any childhood fight. Worse than any childhood rejection. Worse than being accused of the man slaughter itself. Hearing Karen's words, words that at one point had been for affection and love towards him were now driving into his heart like a dull chainsaw blade. She had been the only one since to meet Lint Douglas fully, the man who showed compassion and care. And now, even that was betrayed for Zero. His life hit a new rock bottom. And the void suddenly became filled with rage.

And he still had the tag team titles to defend. The team of Zero Tolerance, Blade and Zero, was experiencing a mild strife go through the team. It was minor at first, but would soon expand to more.
Across the HEW, Hardcore champion Daredevil left the federation. With leaving, he left behind the HEW Hardcore title. It was not the same exact title that Zero had once held. During Zero's initial absence, the title that he had carried -broken apart and pieced together through many trials and tears, put back together by Zero himself- had been replaced by a new more respectable title. And it was now a vacated title.

Even still defending the tag titles with Blade, Zero felt his heart slowly fading from the division. It wasn't him. And worse yet, Havoc was still parading around with Karen, both showing their disgust for Zero at every moment possible. Zero tried to tell Karen every chance he had of how he had tried to get in contact with her, and for her to please not blame him. He still loved her. Tremendously. But with Havoc whispering into her ear the whole time, Zero would never be able to talk to her straightly. It was real life for all to see, and that just made it worse for Zero.

The upcoming PPV was called Terrorized '99. There was a vacated Hardcore title, but no match for it on the card. As well as that, the team of Zero Tolerance had a tag team title defense coming up at the card. Disregarding the double duty that he would have to do, and probably even enjoying the thought of it, the HEW front office…Terror Inc…signed a HEW Hardcore title match between Havoc and Zero. It would be a night to start the rolling of many things to come.

In the tag team title match, Blade and Zero's tension began to mount more. It became increasingly apparent when they had to coexist in the title match. Neither man would work together, and eventually turned into a walk out of the match, leaving the contenders dumb founded, and coming up short on a chance to become victorious.

In the hardcore title match, Zero and Havoc went full blast. Karen was at ringside. One thing happened in the match, though. Blade, Zero's tag team partner, the one who he was experiencing strife with just earlier in the card, came down to the ringside area when Zero and Havoc were away from it. With Karen in his eyes, and with no place for her to go, Blade showed Zero how sick he was of their tag team, that he power bombed Karen in the ring, and quietly walked out before either man saw him enter the ring.
During the match, though, near the conclusion, Zero almost had Havoc beat. He had applied the Level Zero, and was about to make the three count, when, a masked man attacked Zero, leaving him out cold, and enabling Havoc to get the 1,2,3, and become the HEW Hardcore champion. The masked man turned out to SCW wrestler Stalker. His motives were never made clear, as he was never heard from again after that show.

After reviewing the match, Zero blew up on Blade for attacking Karen. Even if they were no longer together, Zero still had the ultimate love for her. And seeing her being put down on the canvas through Blade's hideous power bomb boiled the already simmering rage inside of Zero. Zero Tolerance would be no more after that. They each still held a title, though. But they would never defend them as a team again.

The following week, Havoc offered Zero a shot at the Hardcore title, due to circumstances of the previous week at the PPV. Zero accepted the match, but made it clear that it was not that Hardcore title he wanted, but more so, the one that rested in the HEW offices. The title that had long since been moved aside for the title that Havoc held. Zero wanted the original HEW Hardcore title, not the imposter title. But more so, Zero still wanted a chance to ultimately do away with Havoc once and for all for all of the things that he had done to his life in just a short time.

As the match took place, it went back and forth. Near the end, though, as Havoc had Zero thrown across a guard rail, always in the jaws of defeat, down to ring side came Zero's former tag team partner, Blade, along with fellow HEW wrestler, Michael Gettis. And much to the surprise, Blade joined in with Havoc as the two began to stomp on Zero. Gettis joined in, but suddenly from the walkway, Bobby Jackson came to ringside, much to the thought of helping out Zero. But in another swerve, Jackson instead attacked Gettis, while Blade joined in, as they both turned their attention from Zero, and onto Gettis as they beat him down. Looking on, Havoc didn't realize Zero had got back to his feet. As Havoc turned around, he was met with a kick, and then the Level Zero on pieces of a table. 1,2,3. Realizing what had happened behind them, Blade and Jackson turn back quickly, and begin a 2 on 1 assault of Zero, while helping Havoc slowly to his feet. As they continued on, Havoc walked away, grabbing now Zero's title, and carried it up the ramp with him, with Karen in check. Blade and Jackson soon followed, and so was the start of the Natural Born Killers. Terror Inc would be no more.

Something was still lingering, though. Zero and Blade still held the tag team titles. They would never defend them together again, though. In a contrived way to get the titles off of them, and onto a team that would defend them on a regular basis, an eight-man tag match was setup for the titles. Zero and Blade would have to choose their partner. Blade chose his, but Zero never chose a partner. There was no one to choose. And so, he relinquished his half of the tag title in that match by walking out on it halfway from the conclusion. He had other things to take care of.

In rage and anger of having everything against him, and for how the NBK had finished the previous match, Zero demanded yet another match with Havoc. It would be for the following week, but Zero made it clear that it was not the title that he then owned, the title that Havoc had stolen, that he truly wanted. It was the original title. That was very clear from the on-set of the match.

During their match, though, Jackson, stable mate of Havoc's, came to ringside with the original Hardcore title over his shoulder. It was never known how he had in fact came to obtain the title, but there it was. The title that Zero wanted. For the match itself, though, it was soon setting a pace that would be greater than all of their previous matches. The only problem was it stemmed from the ending. As they were both fatigued from the match, they both armed themselves with chairs, and delivered simultaneous blows to each other, falling to the mat. Falling, right beside each other…and by luck, and hand draped over each other's chest. The ref had no choice but to count the 1,2,3, and for the first time in HEW history, there were two HEW Hardcore champions. More controversy came at the end of the match, though, as the Natural Born Killers made sure to take the original hardcore title back to the back with them. A title that no doubt still had Zero's bloodstains on it. The new title that Zero had no care for was tossed into the ring, landing on top of his chest.

In the final confrontation between Zero and Havoc, it was deemed to be a ladder match for the titles. Both titles hung in the air, with the winner unifying the titles, and making there be only one HEW Hardcore title. It would also be a dark day for Zero. Both men were hungry for the match. They were both shooting from their heart leading up to it. Emotions were high in it. Aggression was even higher. The titles hung the highest. A ten-foot ladder separated the men from the titles. A ladder that would wind up almost incapable of use during the course of the match, as it was used as a deadlier weapon that the fist itself. But near the end of the match, Zero, with Havoc prone on the canvas, was able to smash some shape into the ladder enough for him to make the climb. Climbing, climbing, he was almost to the titles…when, a hand grabbed him. Pulling him. Zero lost his balance. He fell, and fell terribly wrong. His chin landed against the mat, with his body soon following afterwards. He was in severe pain, too much pain to even stop Havoc from making the climb to the titles.

Zero wasn't seen or heard from in the HEW for a while after that.

In September, a month after the match, a medical report was finally given to him. He had suffered a bruised spine, lacerated neck, as well as traces of amnesia. It was highly advised to cease all conduct in the area from which this originally happened. Zero would have none of it. Sitting in Berkeley with a neck brace on, something he severely hated, all he could think of doing was serving retribution back to Havoc. And he did.

Soon afterwards, during a title defense, Zero appeared at the end of Havoc's match. Havoc didn't see him until it was too late. Going off of a ladder, Zero grabbed hold of Havoc's head, and jumped and twisted over a table, coming crashing down and through the table with a Level Zero on Havoc, injuring Havoc's own neck. Retribution was served. Havoc was put out of action. People speculate whether it was just a work or not, but many rightfully assumed that Zero had intentionally done the move to Havoc that way, hoping to end all of what Havoc had done to Zero.

From there, Zero entered feuds with both the Iceman and Johnny Treacherous. They were both short lived, one month feuds coming to head for each of them at their respective PPV's. Zero's heart wasn't in it. He needed a change. Havoc was out, gone from the HEW. People speculated whether or not he would return, for it was known that his neck had finally healed, but that he was actively participating in the CSWA. And so, when the HEW experienced an unheard of closing, Zero signed with the CSWA.

His debut in the CSWA came right before the main event, as he gave a promo from the back about the chain of success and those who only look so high. He went from there to a booked match against veteran CSWA wrestler, K-9. He won the match. But from there, a whole evolved state of what was the Zero/Havoc feud stepped itself up a notch.

On the following show, Havoc came out from the backstage area, and conducted an interview regarding what had recently went down with himself and Zero in their previous federation, the HEW. Coming to the conclusion, he called Zero out from the back. Words were spoken back and forth, before suddenly, without a title on the line or anything, but just pure hatred between the two of them, an unscheduled match broke out between the two of them. It was one of the most insane matches that the CSWA fans had seen in a while, as Zero finally shown what he was capable of in the ring in his new federation.

There was his DDT through a half setup table. He took a powerbomb into a propped table in the corner. The action spilled to the outside, where "havoc" was truly manifested. But as it came back into the ring, someone appeared from behind the curtain. She looked down at the ring, as the two men who had fought with her as the center of controversy battled on. Havoc had kept her off of CSWA TV. It was not known why, but now she was on in the center of the spotlight.

She moved briskly to the ring, as the two men had came to their utmost all in the fight, and she jumped between them. There was confusion as to what her goal was. She pulled them apart, pleading for them to stop. And then, talking quietly so as the cameras couldn't pick up her voice, she told Havoc something. Then going to Zero, with him hesitant at first to accept whatever she was saying, for the hurt he felt with her still ran strong, she whispered something into his ear. With that, Zero looked up at her, he himself lying against the ropes in exhaustion. Then, he rolled down, and stepped out of the ring, disappearing behind the curtain. Many wondered what was going on.

But in fact, the CSWA planned to bottle the real personal feud between the two men, and work it into an enormous angle that would take the CSWA by storm. That was the plan. There were doubts as to whether or not the two men could work together, but Karen was a big part of that union of the two men for the angle, as she was finally realizing what had happened between her and Zero.

The plan went down at the CSWA PPV "Thanksgiving Weekend Spectacular." Zero was booked into a battle royal for a title shot the next day against Greensboro champion Wicked Sight. Wicked Sight, along with Blade, who was also a current CSWA wrestler, were all in the angle that would be taking place at day two of the PPV.

Zero won the battle royal, but injured his shoulder in the process. He put it beside him for the moment, though, as he had a title shot coming up.

The next day, not fully rested, but able to go as good as he could, Zero took on Wicked Sight for the CSWA Greensboro title, a title that would normally take people months, even a year, before they would get a title shot. If they even got a title shot. Zero didn't win the title, but he didn't loose the match, either, as the referee threw the match out after neither man would stay in the ring long enough, as they fought their way to the entrance way, totally demolishing each other.

Later in the night, though, it was revealed that those two combatants, as well as the duo of Blade and Havoc, had formed a union to oppose the super group known as the Family in the CSWA. They were known as Forsaken. A group full of men united by a single goal of obtaining the top spot. The idea was good, but the members were all wrong. Zero and Havoc feuded each other more than they would of opponents. But something far worse came before that.

The CSWA went into hiatus due to internal problems. It would take months for the federation to redeem itself, and come back with a show, but during their off time, all wrestlers were allowed the freedom to explore other options. Zero just left, leaving the wrestling world behind. It was causing internal and real life controversy that would of all been avoided had he not ever met up with the Kid Violence in the bar back in Berkeley. And so, Zero tried to continue on with a normal life outside of wrestling. (--for the story pertaining to this segment of his life, please refer to the Revelations series--)

But there was also that nag. Zero was actually looking to get back into the wrestling world. He was sure that he could leave it without a second thought, but when that second thought came, he was drawn to it. It had become apart of his life.

When the CSWA returned, Zero did not resign the contract that he was offered. Instead, he signed back to the returning HEW. Something that was a sure bet, but unfortunately, did not come back like expected. The HEW went into a hiatus of it's own due to internal problems of it's own.

It was during this time, though, that the background of Zero turns up a void. He originally went back to his hometown of Berkeley, unsure of what his next step should be in the wrestling world. And then…he vanished. He vanished for almost three months. His apartment neighbor, Matt, someone who had formed a sort of friendship with Zero over the past year, did not even know where he had went to. No one did until three months later, at the announced return of HEW and indeed return of HEW, did Zero finally show back up.

At first, Zero had decided that despite his desire to return to the wrestling world, maybe he should second-guess that voice inside of him. But when a returning Havoc, someone who was announced to of not signed a contract with HEW, nor had plans to, came out on the first returning HEW show and literally blasted Zero about their history over their careers and then proceeded to call Zero out, Zero triple guess that voice. He watched as Havoc came out again on the following show, and done the same routine, knowing full well that Zero was not apart of the HEW any longer. Zero realized that some actions should take place.

And so…on the third show, August 3rd of 2000, as Havoc confidently talked of how he was always the victor in the "Havoc and Zero chronicles," the theme music of "Infected" by Bad Religion blasted through the arena. The fans let out an enormous pop as Zero walked back through the curtain that he had walked through so many times before. Zero walked down to the ring, and a return confrontation ensued between the two.

Suddenly, they were right back where they had left off. The mind games were not only coming from Havoc, though, as they were also being played by Zero as well. The feud was hitting a high point. The rubber match of their 2-2 record against each other would be coming soon. Everyone associated with the HEW knew that. Except, one problem struck. For the last time, the HEW drew its last breath and closed its doors for the final time.

It was as if everything that the wrestlers had worked for had been in vain. It was, until, the HEW was given one last shot. A one time only, special PPV was to be held. It was entitled "HEW Tribute." And on that card’s main event, a match was billed as their final match. It was Zero vs. Havoc.

The moments leading up to the event and match were some deep, soul searching moments for both men. And, in part of that, when the day of the event finally happened, the two men gave a match that some say will never be able to be reproduced in professional wrestling again. Whether it was concerning the high impact and intensity of the match, or the powerbomb off the stage, through the triple table stack that Havoc delivered to Zero, or even Havoc's suicide dive off the stage itself, crashing down onto the stretcher'ed Zero, it was as if time stood still during the duration of it.

Near the conclusion, Zero gave Havoc a Level Zero. Miraculously, Havoc kicked out. He responded, in fact, with his own finisher, the H-Bomb, onto Zero. Just as miraculous, though, Zero kicked out. As the two bloodied men battled on, it was only when Zero spun out of another H-Bomb attempt and planted Havoc with the Level Zero through a table, did he finally get the 1, 2, 3 and victory in the match.

After the match, though, the fallen Havoc arose and extended his hand to Zero. It was a moment of silence, as the thought of the year and a half’s worth of blood and hostility between the two could in fact come to an end through the power of a handshake. Spectators looked on as Zero slowly twitched his arm up. But to their surprise, he lowered it back down, looked at Havoc in the eyes, and slid out of the ring.

The last exchange between the two happened as Zero stood at the entrance and nodded at Havoc. Havoc slowly returned the nod. With that, Zero disappeared behind the curtain. At that conclusion, the Tribute came to an end.

Zero has never been seen in a wrestling organization since.