The Disciple: First Mission

Chapter Twenty Two

I woke up early the next day, eager to witness the magic that went on behind the scenes. The previous night had left me with more questions than answers—what did it really take to make a show like RAW come together? How did they coordinate everything, from the lights to the drama to the spectacle? My mind raced as I threw on a hoodie and grabbed a quick breakfast, ready to dive into the world of WWE, even if it was just for a few hours.

The WWE arena wasn't far from where I was staying, a massive building that looked both intimidating and awe-inspiring. It stood like a monolith against the morning sky, as if the building itself was holding a secret I desperately wanted to uncover.

As I walked up to the front entrance, I couldn't shake the excitement buzzing through me. I'd been a fan of RAW for years, and to get a behind-the-scenes look was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. There was something surreal about it. You see the polished product on TV, but I'd heard rumors—the real story, the real work, was happening backstage. And today, I was going to witness it firsthand.

I flashed my credentials to the security guard, and after a quick scan, I was in. The atmosphere immediately hit me like a freight train: it was loud, chaotic, and busy, yet strangely calm in a way I wasn't expecting. People moved with purpose, technicians adjusted equipment, and production assistants rushed around, all preparing for what would soon be a live broadcast event, complete with the kind of drama only the WWE could pull off.

My first stop was the main stage area, where the ring sat in the middle of the arena floor. It was stripped down, no lights or pyro yet, just the canvas and the steel posts. A few crew members were adjusting the ropes, tightening bolts, and checking every inch of the ring. I could tell that every piece of equipment was treated like fine art—nothing was left to chance. The ring itself was still, almost waiting, but I could feel the energy building underneath the surface.

"Hey, you!" A voice called out. I turned to see a middle-aged man in a headset approaching me. He looked like he'd been doing this for years—worn in, but sharp.

"Yeah?" I said, stepping toward him.

"You with the production crew?" he asked, glancing at my shirt. I had on a simple black tee, which probably looked too casual for the place, but I wasn't about to go back and change.

"Uh, no, just a visitor," I admitted. "James Wise. I'm here to watch the setup for the debate on RAW."

His eyes flicked to my credentials and then back to me. "Right. Well, you're in luck. We're preparing for something big next week. You want to see how the magic's made, or just watch from the sidelines?"

I smiled, eager. "I'd love to see the process."

He nodded and gestured for me to follow. We walked through the backstage area, passing more tech crews, some of the wrestlers hanging out near their dressing rooms, and a few of the show's writers, who were busy scribbling notes and hashing out ideas for the night's segments.

"Most people think it's just the ring and the athletes, but it's so much more," the man said, as we ducked into a side corridor lined with monitors. "The debate you're here to see is going to be something special, but the planning is intense. We've got camera setups, lighting cues, sound checks... everything has to be flawless, or it won't translate to TV."

I could hear the buzz of the crew preparing, all the small details being fine-tuned. From what I could see, it was almost like assembling a piece of high-stakes theater—every move had to be precise. The entire building seemed to hum with energy, like a well-oiled machine ready to launch into overdrive.

We stopped in front of a bank of monitors, where I could see the debate stage taking shape. There were three chairs set up under bright lights, each one for the main participants of the debate. A team of camera operators was adjusting the angles, getting everything lined up just right. On another monitor, I could see the graphics team testing out the onscreen visuals—timers, lower-thirds, and even a few animated logos that would pop up during key moments.