Just two matches into the reinvention of his career, and Jason O'Neil sat in meetings, backstage after FUSE on ESPN. The world was re-interested in him once more, and his name was on the lips of everyone from Hollywood agents to Madison Avenue ad executives. There was Nike, who wanted him for their new line of amateur wrestling shoes, named after Cael Sanderson -- Air Cael I. There was talk of gear, promotional spots, six figures and other things that would have been awesome, five years ago. O'Neil nodded, told the Nike representative he'd think about it, sincerely.

Reebok also wanted him, this time for an athletic gear sponsorship. All he had to do was wear the Reebok logo to the ring, be photographed in some Reebok gear, do a few commercials, and there would be a matched salary donation to a charity of his choice. Again, handshakes went around the room, as the representatives left the room.

Gatorade wanted him, too, as part of a new product line featuring Chuck Liddell, Luis Gonzales, and Jeff Garcia. The new sports drink, designed for 'the unique needs of athletes over 35' would be accompanied with an ad campaign that could have made Jason O'Neil a very, very rich man. His face would be on billboards from London to Los Angeles, Maine to Florida, and everywhere between and outside.

And while it all sounded fantastic, it all sounded hollow.

The fourth and final meeting almost didn't happen. The man, Tim Wilks, fainted as he walked into the room because he was so nervous he'd thrown up his breakfast, lunch and dinner. For the last three days. His company's background, told through stutters and a series of near fainting, was a charity called Everyday Heroes, a 501(e) non-profit organization. The idea of the campaign was to unite a celebrity with an everyday hero from a small town for a day. The celebrity would walk through an average day with that person, and see what they do to be a hero. Then, a series of commercials would be made, based on the things the two did together.

The next morning, coffee in hand, Jason O'Neil was in middle Pennsylvania, waiting for Mr. Jared Kelly, a fifth grade teacher in the Danbury Area School District in Montour County. The day was long and arduous, and O'Neil was more of a distraction to the class than anything. They asked him questions for about a half-hour, about the world, about wrestlers, about people, and he was happy to answer them. At nine-fifteen, Mr. Kelly asked the class for their attention, and soon, Jason O'Neil was forgotten.

Over the next five and a half hours -- not counting the half-hour they had for baked chicken, corn, and fruit punch -- Jason watched as the students listened to every word that came out of Mr. Kelly's mouth. They stared at him, intently as he spoke of Washington crossing the Delaware, during history time. They watched as he sliced open a potato, and showed it's electrical properties. They each took out pencil and paper, and wrote down mathematical formulas that O'Neil barely remembered.

At three fifteen, the bell rang as Mr. Kelly was in mid-sentence. Instead of getting up, running out of the classroom, they children barely noticed the bell as Mr. Kelly finished his lesson, and dismissed the children. They lined up, one by one, and shook Jason O'Neil's hand, thanking him for coming to the classroom. They shook Mr. Kelly's hand and said thank you, each looking at him with absolute adoration.

The clock hit three twenty-five, they were outside, helping coach the fifth grade wrestling team. O'Neil, a bit of an accomplished wrestler as a high school student himself, gave pointers, and even wrestled Mr. Kelly, pinning him in fifty-six seconds. The rematch gave Mr. Kelly the win on points, 3-2, after a last second reversal. The kids cheered loudly.

The day over, the two shook hands, exchanged numbers, and went their separate ways, O'Neil driving home in a huge Escalade the camera crew had rented, Mr. Kelly in his 1997 Honda Accord. The crew drove O'Neil to his hotel room in Danville, PA, dropped him off, and left after many compliments about how awesome the commercials would be, and promises to meet the next day to do the voice overs, and watch some of the better footage before editing.

After a few moments, O'Neil fell to his knees, and looked at the skies, tears in his eyes, his arms stretched. 'Father, Glorious Father,' he began. 'I am truly thankful, that you've shown me your work continues here, and that I'm nothing more than a distraction for people who need it in their lives.

'Thank you, for showing me Jared Kelly, today. Thank you for Tim Wilks, granting me the opportunity to know that such human beings exist, still. And thank you, for giving me the strength to destroy that blasphemer, Malachi.

'Thank you, for giving me the clarity to see that neither Nike, nor Reebok and Gatorade would be good for me. I would have lead myself to a place I was before, a dark, disturbing place that I never want to see again.

'Lord Almighty, I beg you again, give me the strength against Tanaka this week. Though I'm strong, he's quick. Though I'm smart and wise, he's young and has little to risk. Help me show him, the path to you, through Absolution, so that he may join your side. Help me use him as another step on the ladder toward getting to you, and Absolute Destiny. Help give me the strength to stop his assured assault, and help give me the care and tools to harm him just long enough to put his shoulders to the mat, or my arms around his neck.

'I ask this in your name, Amen.'

The moon shone bright in the sky, and almost doubled it's intensity for a split second, as O'Neil entered his hotel room.