Kosloff: The Man, the Name, the New Job!!!

2017 - 2025

After leaving the XHF in America, Duke Kosloff returned to Moscow, thinking his wrestling career was over. He soon found himself drawn into a conflict more dangerous than any in the ring. Reunited with his brother Devon and joined by Dimitri Kosloff, Alexis Grace, and their allies, Duke joined Firestorm, an elite group formed to destroy Viktor Volkov's Old Architecturel a vast criminal empire extending beyond Russia. The campaign took Duke and Firestorm from Moscow to Istanbul, across the Bosporus, through Asylum Island and the Volcanic Islands. Betrayal, bloodshed, and family secrets shadowed him at every stage. In the end, despite the odds, Duke and Firestorm brought down the Old Architecture, leaving Duke Kosloff the victor.

However, Duke's victory came at an unexpected price. After the last battle, a Pentagon helicopter landed, and armed agents emerged, not to confront Volkov's troops but to arrest Duke. A crime from his time as an XHF wrestler in America had caught up with him. Instead of running or fighting, Duke, with Alexis, Devon, Dimitri, and the surviving Firestorm members watching, put his hands behind his back and let the agents handcuff him. Though he survived the Old Architecture and won the war, he now had to pay for his past. Moments later, he sat silently between two Pentagon agents, handcuffed, as their helicopter took off.

Present Day

The day is windy, with freezing rain as the gates of the scariest maximum-security federal Prison in Minnesota open wide, allowing the “Russian Godfather” Duke Kosloff to be set free. Duke carries nothing more than a small duffel bag of his belongings as he walks along the highway. After several miles, an older-looking gentleman in a silver Caprice Classic pulls up next to him, rolls down his window, and invites him inside. Duke looks around, then, with a serious face, opens the door and climbs inside.

Duke Kosloff looks at the older gentleman as he sits there, a bit of water running down his forehead. The silver-haired older gentleman looks at him with a grin as he begins to introduce himself…

“Older Gentleman” (Mr. Kosloff, I’m Axel Kane. No need to introduce yourself; I already know everything about you. More than you would think, the “Russian Godfather”.)

“Duke Kosloff” (Kane is it, so it seems you have done your work, but I don’t know what you need from me right now.)

Both men seem to be at a point of impasse as they stare at each other, wondering what to say next. Axel Kane starts speaking first as they are still sitting on the side of the road.

“Axel Kane” (So, Duke, the world knows about the fallout with you and the American Federal government and the XHF Wrestling company. All wrestling fans didn’t want to believe you when you testified that the company was crooked and using its resources for criminal business.)

The Older Gentleman pauses to take a breath…

“Axel Kane” (I also know about the war you fought with several other criminal organizations worldwide, causing the Kosloff Dynasty to become the top crime family in the world.)

“Duke Kosloff” (Kane, so you keep up with the news, then you know I have stepped away from that life for now. I’m a man with other things in life to take care of and do, like revenge on the XHF Wrestling company. They will pay for what they have done.)

Several speeding cars fly by them as they remain stopped on the side of the road. The wind from the cars rushes against the car.

“Axel Kane” (Well then, let me help you, Duke. You want revenge against the XHF; how better than to help close their doors.)

Do sits up, looking hard into Axel Kane's eyes.

“Axel Kane” (That company has been like a ghost town; they can’t keep any real talent, just has-beens and never-were’s. I have a friend who will be happy to take you into his company.)

“Duke Kosloff” (And who is this big shot with a company big enough to face off against the network?)

“Axel Kane” (Well, his name is Jeremiah Vastrix, and he owns Conquest Wrestling Federation.)

Duke looks at him with a stare that says, “Well, what are you waiting for?” The car takes off down the road, and Duke and Axel are on their way.

Several Hours Later

They arrive at the doorstep of Jeremiah Vastrix’s home in Las Vegas. Axel Kane knocks three hard times, and within seconds Jeremiah answers the door with a shocked expression on his face when he sees the 7’4” “Soviet Monster” standing before him. Axel quickly shakes his old friend's hand and begins chatting as Jeremiah still lingers at Duke. They all head inside the enormous home, where Jeremiah gets them a drink, and they sit in the den and start talking business.

“Jeremiah Vastrix” (Axel, what brings you and Duke Kosloff to my home? I thought you were in a maximum-security prison, Duke?)

“Axel Kane” (That's just it; he was released today, and well, I’m calling in a favor you owe me, old friend. You see, Duke wants some payback against the XHF for what they did, and well, you need a new golden boy, so who better than one of the most talked-about monsters in the world than the “Russian Godfather,” Duke Kosloff.)

Duke looks at them with frustration on his face as he buts into the conversation.

“Duke Kosloff” (Okay, okay, you two, I’m not someone's priceless bulldog or someone's hidden miracle. Yeah, I was released this morning after the courts reversed the decision on the XHF legal case; it only took nine years. To prove it was all a misunderstanding and more hearsay than truth.)

“Duke Kosloff” (So Vastrix, yeah, I’m here to help CWF become number one in the world.)

All three men sit and discuss business for a few more hours before Duke and Axel head out, leaving Jeremiah alone. Axel drops Duke off at a local motel where he will spend the night. Jeremiah gave him a new company cell phone for now so he will have a way to communicate. After taking a long hot shower, he lies down on the comfortable bed, which is a huge change after so many years in prison sleeping on a hard bunk. He takes out a small folded piece of paper with a few phone numbers on it; one specific number is labeled Alexis Grace - Kosloff, and a smile crosses his face as he begins to dial it. The phone begins to ring…

RING… RING… RING… RING…

“Alexis Grace - Kosloff” (Hello)

A short, quiet pause between words.

“Duke Kosloff” (Beautiful, it's me!)

“Alexis Grace - Kosloff” (Duke, how, how can this be? Where are you?)

“Duke Kosloff” (Alexis, I’m in Las Vegas at the moment. I was released early this morning, and Axel Kane picked me up, brought me here, got me a job, and well, I have my debut match in Conquest Wrestling Federation against Mysterion on Vanguard in Baltimore.)

She begins to cry over the phone as she is so happy after years of sorrow, anger, loneliness, and frustration. Duke calms her down and tells her he was paid his sign-on bonus in advance, so he'll head home to her in the morning to Phoenix, Arizona, where FireStorm Wrestling sits empty, and she awaits him at the Kosloff Estates in the Kosloff mansion.

The night goes by rather fast. Duke eats a healthy breakfast and heads down the road with his duffel bag and his bonus; he sees a Harley-Davidson shop, stops in, and quickly purchases a unique Harley Hog for himself. Duke sits on the side of the highway with his Harley between his legs and his phone in hand, sending a livestream video message to his Vanguard opponent Mysterion.

“Duke Kosloff” (Mysterion, the man of misfortune, you see, you may know about me or you may not, but either way you don’t know me. I’m the new guy in CWF, and well, you have been placed in my way. I don’t take kindly to those who step in my way; just ask any crime lord, drug dealer, government agent, or XHF employee.)

“Duke Kosloff” (So when I was at the top of the wrestling world, I made everyone “Feel The Burn,” and they knew it was coming just by the mention of my name. Now, Mysterion, the world needs a reminder of exactly who I am and why they fear me so much. So by the end of our match, you will not only “Feel The Burn,” but you will be lucky to say by the end of the night… “You don’t defeat a Kosloff… you survive one.”)

Duke shoves his phone in his pocket and drives off down the Highway.