Post by Nick Watson on Sept 12, 2012 16:13:53 GMT -4
*Athens, Greece*
*Present Day*
It had been a rather bad week for me as an individual and as a competitor. I had lost everything again and was now back to opening shows instead of headlineing them and it was all because of a critical mistake that I had made. In my moment of confidence by reading my opponent's tactics, I had forgotten the most important tactic of all! Surprise. The surprise had come in the form of an angry Michael Harris, who with a flurry, had stolen away any chance of me walking as champion, and the people's chance of paying back Evan for his treachery. All in all, it had been a horrible week for me, so when the weekend had came, and we had landed in Greece we decided among ourselves to hit the beach, and to relax for a change. At the time I was still currently feeling a bit of pain in my arm that Evan had assaulted, but I maintained a level head, and tried my best to overcome the pain. After all, it was not as bad as it had been Thursday, and every day that past the pain lessened. It was a good sign, the doctors had told me. It meant that it was just banged up and not injured to the point of where I couldn't compete, which was a sigh of relief for me. After all, who would want to take a break after such a horrendous turn of events anyway?
The beach was crowded of course. Their were people who were tourists and locals all gathered around enjoying themselves in the waters of the Mediterranean or enjoying frozen yogurt on this warm day.
Corey: Its pretty nice out today. Weatherman says everything is going to be clear all weekend.
Megan: That's good because we all need some time to relax after what happened Thursday.
Nick: Lets not talk about it, alright? I'm not in the mood to discuss what a screw up I am right now, okay?
Megan: I didn't mean it like that! What happened wasn't your fault, Nick. You did the best that you could and that was all that could be asked of you.
Nick: I know that, but it feels like it is my fault. I feel like I could of done more.
Corey: Hey now! Lets all just shut up about the damn show and just enjoy ourselves, alright? Personally, I want to eat some yogurt, get a sun burn, and splash around in the Mediterranean. So lets just forget about Overdrive for once and move on to actually enjoying ourselves!
I nodded my head in agreement as we all began to split up to do different things. Megan went off to get yogurt and Corey ran off to go enjoy the cool waves of the sea. I, on the other hand, found myself a nice place to lay down in the sun, and relax. Lying down on the towel that I placed on the floor as to not cover my back in sand, I made sure to keep my arm atop my stomach as to not irritate it. After all, to irritate my arm would make things worse for my match coming up this next Overdrive. My arm was definitely a target now and I had no doubt that A.C. Smith would target it if he could catch me. So the best option was to play defensively and use my agility to defeat him before he could catch me. Easier said than done, I know, but it would be the only way I could see myself avoiding further injury to my arm. After a few minutes of sun bathing, Megan returned with frozen yogurt, and the both of us sat down alone as Corey continued to play in the sea.
Megan: I didn't know what flavor you liked, so I just got you vanilla.
Nick: That's fine. By the way...I'm sorry for letting you down last Thursday. I should have just closed the match.
Megan: Don't be stupid, Nick. You are a great guy, a great athlete, and a true gentlemen. It wasn't your fault that you lost...Harris threw the match in Evan's favor by interrupting the match. I have no doubt in my mind that if the match had continued you would have walked out champion that night. And with the scars to prove it, I might add.
As she said that she ran a finger up my sore arm and I winced, she let out a small giggle, and then laid down next to me. Handing me my yogurt and looking out over the sea with a dreamy grin.
Megan: To think...only just a few weeks ago I was in a office building in California. Now, here I am sitting down on a beach in Athens with Nick Watson.
Nick: I'm nothing special, but this beach sure is something else.
As I said that, I sat up, and felt the sand with my hand. It was pure white and quite beautiful.
Megan: Yeah, its quite beautiful.
Nick: Just like you.
For a second she turned to look at me and then turned away in embarrassment, her face beat red to boot. I chuckled and then continued.
Nick: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you, I'm just stating something obvious.
Apparently, I couldn't play things cool. Man do I ever suck at talking to cute girls., I thought to myself as I looked down in disappointment at myself. After about a few moments of awkward silence, I was sprayed by water, and found myself looking beside me to see Corey looking at me with a grin.
Corey: Come on, the water is fine!
As he said fine, he flicked more water at me, and then dashed away. I looked over at Megan to see her giggling and I stood up, dashing after Corey to get some revenge. As I followed him into the water, my mind went off to a distant match that was coming up, a match that would be difficult, but a match that I would have to win. This Thursday, I would have to win, or die trying.
*End of Scene*
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**Hotel Room**
**Later That Night**
After a long day of shooting the shit with my friends we had all wandered back to our respective hotel rooms, looking to catch some z's, and rest up for a long Thursday. For me, however, sleep seemed to avoid me at all turns. I was tired, exhausted even, but my feelings toward the events of last Thursday were what seemed to keep me awake. My mind flashed back to the chance, the opening, that I had only to remember it being taken away in an instant, by an enraged Michael Harris. Was this my doing? Would I never be rid of him? Should I have just put an end to him at Shockwave? The mere thought of ending someone's career made me shiver, it was not me, and this feeling of anger that had taken roost was surely not me either. Where my feelings told me to end Harris for what he had taken from me, my mind and heart told me to remain calm, and stay on course.
Nick: Why can't he just leave me the hell alone? I thought that by beating him at Shockwave I would gain some sort of freedom, but now it only seems like he has doubled his efforts...does your insanity know no bounds, Harris?
I got out of bed, stretching a bit before gingerly taking steps toward the terrace on the other side of a pair of sliding glass doors. Out on the Terrace you could see most of Athens, beautiful Greek houses, buildings, and a nice view of a beach could be seen in the distance. Solemnly I took the sights in and then with a sigh began to talk to myself again.
Nick: I was this close to walking out as champion and now all I can think about is getting even with Harris for taking that opportunity away. However, I know that isn't the right thing to do, but what can I do? Its not like Jeff will do anything at all, security can't hold Harris back from assaulting me, and hiring a lawyer would only cause Harris to increase his efforts at making my life a living hell.
I slammed my fist on the stone terrace and growled in disgust. Pointless self-monologuing would get me no where fast. With a guy like Harris, you had to be direct, and I assumed the only way to make a true statement was to take the battle to him again. I couldn't neglect Envi, either. The man had shown his true colors to the world last Thursday when he had ran for the hills after Harris began his assault. Out of fear of me beating him or of Harris knocking his lights out, the world would never know, but he had put a rather large target on his back. There was no doubt in my mind that Envi had put himself in a sticky situation this time around and I couldn't just let the opportunity to take advantage of the situation to pass me by either. The Harris situation would have to wait, right now all that mattered to me was settling what should have been settled last week, and that was who was rightfully the Xtreme Champion.
I had a moral victory for sure last Thursday, but not a statistical one. I had proved without a shadow of a doubt I could stand in the same ring as Envi and if I had won that match I would have proved all the naysayers wrong, but I hadn't won. It didn't matter if I had got close to winning the match because close in this situation didn't matter. There was no silver medal to be handed out for coming in second. This was a win it all or win nothing situation and I had won absolutely nothing. But I could redeem myself. All I would have to do is start from the beginning and work my way back up to the chance that had been stolen from me. It would be just as hard as before, but this time I wouldn't just wait for the opportunity to be handed back to me. This time I would make myself the only logical choice to be the Xtreme Champion. To do that I would need to push my training regiment to a whole other level, hopefully it would yield results quickly as I didn't know how much longer the APW could hold out with so many corrupt individuals in power.
Turning around and leaning against the terrace's little wall which separated me from falling down a good twenty feet, I would reach over to the digital camera lying on a wooden table, and press the record button. I steady the camera in my left hand while leaning against the railing. I begin to speak calmly, retelling the events of last week as if they had happened yesterday.
Nick: Last week on Overdrive, I had my title opportunity stolen from me, and my future demolished right before my very eyes. I watched, with rage, and hate as Harris stole any sort of chance I had for becoming the APW Xtreme champion that the people deserved. I watched as Evan Envi ran away with his tail quenched between his legs, scurrying away like some scared little bitch. And as I watched all this, my glimmer of hope, and the people's hope slowly dimmed to a dull, flickering flame in the back of a long, dark hallway. To be that close to liberation and to have it stolen away was a tell tale sign of the direction of all the negative energies in play here at APW and the force that is seemingly taken hold of its' power structure. As I said last week, this show is slowly, but surely destroying itself, and so far not a damn thing has been done to stop it. Well, at least that was true until last week when I courageously took the first step into the dark hallway to only be blind sided by that beast, Harris, who had been lying in wait for the first man brave enough to take a stand.
It surprises me that very few people realize the situation at hand. The villains who have taken control of APW are seemingly using the power that they have obtained to bolster themselves while they spite those that pay the money for admission. Meanwhile, the guys who should be fighting this war, have taken a backseat, and instead of taking the initiative by bringing the fight to them, instead they are pretending that nothing is going on. I know not if it is simple ignorance or if it is just a simple case of them not caring, but our heroes...the idols I look up to, have ignored the pleas of the people that they have vowed to protect and entertain. So last week, with the weakened, but still resilient power that the people have, I marched out, and socked Evan Envi right on the nose. I did what no one else would do. I took the initiative and I knocked the first domino of this war against villainy on its' ass. Yet, as the dust of my battle with Evan began to settle, and the glimmer of hope from the people bolstered my resilient fighting spirit, a darkness swooped in, and took it all away.
Michael Harris blew out the candle of hope and attacked Evan Envi. I don't know why Harris did what he did, but I also could care less why he did it either. Harris is a beast of madness and trying to understand such a thing would only drive the man trying to understand him into a deep pit of madness himself. So, I will not linger on the fact as to why because there is no reason to do so. All that needs to be known is that Michael hindered the first attempt to bring righteousness back into this dark world and that Evan Envi escaped the people's wrath with a few injuries, but with his title still around his waist. Yet at the root of all these things, I am also to blame for this as well. I didn't seal the deal and I sure as hell didn't finish the match the way I should have finished it. Maybe if I had tried a bit harder and had predicted the assault by Harris, some balance would be restored, and we could all rest a bit easier.
I let out a sigh and then rub my eyes with my free hand. My left hand is beginning to get tired, so after a minute of hesitation, I begin to move inside, and lay the camera on the dresser. Turning on the light in my room and causing the camera to auto adjust quickly, causing a sort of loss of visuals for about three seconds. After the camera adjusts, I sit down on the bed, and look at the camera which is pointed at me.
Nick: I am as much to blame for last week as Harris is. I let the people down in their most dire time of need and lay unconscious in that ring for almost five minutes before I stirred, and left the ring in shame. So this week...I will redeem myself by taking a step in the right direction by defeating A.C. Smith in one on one combat. Hopefully there will be no disruptions as I feel that this match is my atonement for my failings last week. This week, I will leave nothing to chance, and defeat Smith with fervor and purpose. This will, however, not be an easy match up. Smith's accolades speak for themselves and his powerful fighting abilities leave no doubt in my mind as to what will happen if I make a critical mistake. The only way to win this match up is to use my natural gifts to their fullest while demonstrating that last week was not a one night occurrence, and that every night I can pull out all the stops.
Smith, much like myself, wants competition, and recognition for his deeds. So that is exactly what I will give him. I will give the man credit where credit is due! He has won several matches that no one thought he could win and has used his strengths to his fullest without question, but yet he has stumbled and had difficulties over the last few matches. His failing to take Envi down at Shockwave and his loss to Biggs last week have staggered him even though he won't admit it. In fact it was my understanding that last week he even said he didn't care about losing to Evan. Which of course got me quite a bit confused as to why someone would not care about losing a match in such a way? It just seems like he is lying to himself. I would like to say to Smith personally, that accepting a loss, and moving on from it in such a manner is a mistake. He was cheated out of a victory and that same night the man who cheated his way over him also grabbed a title. If it were me, I would be looking long, and hard in the mirror trying to find out what the best way to get some manner of retribution on that man instead of just casually throwing it aside as if nothing happened, but that is of course just me. Its not that I don't trust your methods Smith. After all you have been in this business far longer than I have and have put down quite a few people during your time in this business, but the least you could have done is shown some kind of emotion to the situation.
You were slighted and everyone knows it...so why run away from it? Embracing it and using it to fuel yourself forward would have been a better way to approach it, but instead you are just numb on the matter. Then this last week you struggled against Biggs, who looked like a man possessed out there in the ring, and showed what having emotion toward losing something precious can do to a man looking to move forward. I hate to say it, but maybe you should take a page out of Biggs' book, and do as he did last week. Using that rage of being slighted as the foundation for your future endeavors and making it a goal to always be ready for someone to cheat and have a plan to lean on if that situation arises. But then again you were never a man for strategy, were you? You are more of an action first type of guy and in a way that is a good thing. APW needs more heroes like you who are willing to step up to the plate immediately without worrying about the repercussions of their actions, but yet as of late your actions have looked rather...sluggish.
I rub my goatee and shrug my shoulders a bit as I try to relax. I continue on after letting out a long yawn.
Nick: Your fighting with Envi has dug up ancient history and put it on display for the world to see and it has affected you hasn't it? To see the thing that you tried to mold in your image deform itself in such a manner that it no longer resembles what you once knew, must come as quite a shock, am I right? Maybe...and I mean maybe...you blame yourself on the inside for the thing in front of you. That maybe Evan Envi's fall into madness and corruption may have been avoided if you had actually been there for him and tried to be more supportive. Or maybe you are colder than I think you are? Maybe you aren't really a hero, but a villain in disguise. Acting the way that the people want to see if only to turn around and stab them in the back later. It wouldn't surprise me at all, but then again that is because I am prepared for the worse. If anything that match last week made me more aware than I have been to the struggle between good and evil on this show and with that awareness comes a state of preparedness.
Last week I used it by knowing to wear a cup and this week I will use it to some extent to use your own strengths against you in some way shape or form. This is of course not saying that I will win this match instantly. No, quite the opposite. I expect you to bring me a real fight and show me why you are a multiple time champion, I'm just saying...I will be analyzing the way you approach this match with great detail. Because I know that in the long run, finishing second will not win me a prize, and it will not push me any closer to liberating the fans from under the foot of evil. Its why I can not lose to you now, no matter how good you are, and no matter how stacked the odds are against me. Sure, I will give you an edge in experience, you have me beat hands down, but in the long run experience and wisdom are nothing without humility. So if I'm like you...where did your humility go? You say you are better than me because you have been around the block and that when you beat me you will share your knowledge with me? Alright, but that is if you beat me. Not when, but if. You talk as if the match is already won for you and we haven't even stepped in the ring together yet! But that's fine...in fact it was expected. I know you A.C. Smith...I've watched tape, I've analyzed your past matches, and I have seen your work here in APW, and because of that...I know that you are consistently over-confident heading into every match up. In my time as a rookie, I have realized that having confidence is fine, in moderation, but when you over-confidently begin to boast about your superiority. That is when you receive the most painful shocks of your career.
And though you see a lot of me in you, I will not fall prey to the same over-confident crap that threw the match for me at Overdrive last week. Instead I will learn and adapt...something you forgot to do a long time ago. So, I wish you luck Mr. Smith, and I hope that we will put on quite the show for the APW masses. For now, I need to take my leave. I wouldn't want to miss out on any more of my forty winks, now would I? So for now, APW fans, and anyone else watching this video right now...take heart, because I haven't given up hope, and neither should you.
I get up out of bed, give the camera a peace sign, and then press the record button again while turning off the camera. A sense of peace washes over me as I make my way over to my modest bed for the evening and lay down. Sleep would follow shortly after.
*Screen Bursts to static*
*Present Day*
It had been a rather bad week for me as an individual and as a competitor. I had lost everything again and was now back to opening shows instead of headlineing them and it was all because of a critical mistake that I had made. In my moment of confidence by reading my opponent's tactics, I had forgotten the most important tactic of all! Surprise. The surprise had come in the form of an angry Michael Harris, who with a flurry, had stolen away any chance of me walking as champion, and the people's chance of paying back Evan for his treachery. All in all, it had been a horrible week for me, so when the weekend had came, and we had landed in Greece we decided among ourselves to hit the beach, and to relax for a change. At the time I was still currently feeling a bit of pain in my arm that Evan had assaulted, but I maintained a level head, and tried my best to overcome the pain. After all, it was not as bad as it had been Thursday, and every day that past the pain lessened. It was a good sign, the doctors had told me. It meant that it was just banged up and not injured to the point of where I couldn't compete, which was a sigh of relief for me. After all, who would want to take a break after such a horrendous turn of events anyway?
The beach was crowded of course. Their were people who were tourists and locals all gathered around enjoying themselves in the waters of the Mediterranean or enjoying frozen yogurt on this warm day.
Corey: Its pretty nice out today. Weatherman says everything is going to be clear all weekend.
Megan: That's good because we all need some time to relax after what happened Thursday.
Nick: Lets not talk about it, alright? I'm not in the mood to discuss what a screw up I am right now, okay?
Megan: I didn't mean it like that! What happened wasn't your fault, Nick. You did the best that you could and that was all that could be asked of you.
Nick: I know that, but it feels like it is my fault. I feel like I could of done more.
Corey: Hey now! Lets all just shut up about the damn show and just enjoy ourselves, alright? Personally, I want to eat some yogurt, get a sun burn, and splash around in the Mediterranean. So lets just forget about Overdrive for once and move on to actually enjoying ourselves!
I nodded my head in agreement as we all began to split up to do different things. Megan went off to get yogurt and Corey ran off to go enjoy the cool waves of the sea. I, on the other hand, found myself a nice place to lay down in the sun, and relax. Lying down on the towel that I placed on the floor as to not cover my back in sand, I made sure to keep my arm atop my stomach as to not irritate it. After all, to irritate my arm would make things worse for my match coming up this next Overdrive. My arm was definitely a target now and I had no doubt that A.C. Smith would target it if he could catch me. So the best option was to play defensively and use my agility to defeat him before he could catch me. Easier said than done, I know, but it would be the only way I could see myself avoiding further injury to my arm. After a few minutes of sun bathing, Megan returned with frozen yogurt, and the both of us sat down alone as Corey continued to play in the sea.
Megan: I didn't know what flavor you liked, so I just got you vanilla.
Nick: That's fine. By the way...I'm sorry for letting you down last Thursday. I should have just closed the match.
Megan: Don't be stupid, Nick. You are a great guy, a great athlete, and a true gentlemen. It wasn't your fault that you lost...Harris threw the match in Evan's favor by interrupting the match. I have no doubt in my mind that if the match had continued you would have walked out champion that night. And with the scars to prove it, I might add.
As she said that she ran a finger up my sore arm and I winced, she let out a small giggle, and then laid down next to me. Handing me my yogurt and looking out over the sea with a dreamy grin.
Megan: To think...only just a few weeks ago I was in a office building in California. Now, here I am sitting down on a beach in Athens with Nick Watson.
Nick: I'm nothing special, but this beach sure is something else.
As I said that, I sat up, and felt the sand with my hand. It was pure white and quite beautiful.
Megan: Yeah, its quite beautiful.
Nick: Just like you.
For a second she turned to look at me and then turned away in embarrassment, her face beat red to boot. I chuckled and then continued.
Nick: I'm sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you, I'm just stating something obvious.
Apparently, I couldn't play things cool. Man do I ever suck at talking to cute girls., I thought to myself as I looked down in disappointment at myself. After about a few moments of awkward silence, I was sprayed by water, and found myself looking beside me to see Corey looking at me with a grin.
Corey: Come on, the water is fine!
As he said fine, he flicked more water at me, and then dashed away. I looked over at Megan to see her giggling and I stood up, dashing after Corey to get some revenge. As I followed him into the water, my mind went off to a distant match that was coming up, a match that would be difficult, but a match that I would have to win. This Thursday, I would have to win, or die trying.
*End of Scene*
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**Hotel Room**
**Later That Night**
After a long day of shooting the shit with my friends we had all wandered back to our respective hotel rooms, looking to catch some z's, and rest up for a long Thursday. For me, however, sleep seemed to avoid me at all turns. I was tired, exhausted even, but my feelings toward the events of last Thursday were what seemed to keep me awake. My mind flashed back to the chance, the opening, that I had only to remember it being taken away in an instant, by an enraged Michael Harris. Was this my doing? Would I never be rid of him? Should I have just put an end to him at Shockwave? The mere thought of ending someone's career made me shiver, it was not me, and this feeling of anger that had taken roost was surely not me either. Where my feelings told me to end Harris for what he had taken from me, my mind and heart told me to remain calm, and stay on course.
Nick: Why can't he just leave me the hell alone? I thought that by beating him at Shockwave I would gain some sort of freedom, but now it only seems like he has doubled his efforts...does your insanity know no bounds, Harris?
I got out of bed, stretching a bit before gingerly taking steps toward the terrace on the other side of a pair of sliding glass doors. Out on the Terrace you could see most of Athens, beautiful Greek houses, buildings, and a nice view of a beach could be seen in the distance. Solemnly I took the sights in and then with a sigh began to talk to myself again.
Nick: I was this close to walking out as champion and now all I can think about is getting even with Harris for taking that opportunity away. However, I know that isn't the right thing to do, but what can I do? Its not like Jeff will do anything at all, security can't hold Harris back from assaulting me, and hiring a lawyer would only cause Harris to increase his efforts at making my life a living hell.
I slammed my fist on the stone terrace and growled in disgust. Pointless self-monologuing would get me no where fast. With a guy like Harris, you had to be direct, and I assumed the only way to make a true statement was to take the battle to him again. I couldn't neglect Envi, either. The man had shown his true colors to the world last Thursday when he had ran for the hills after Harris began his assault. Out of fear of me beating him or of Harris knocking his lights out, the world would never know, but he had put a rather large target on his back. There was no doubt in my mind that Envi had put himself in a sticky situation this time around and I couldn't just let the opportunity to take advantage of the situation to pass me by either. The Harris situation would have to wait, right now all that mattered to me was settling what should have been settled last week, and that was who was rightfully the Xtreme Champion.
I had a moral victory for sure last Thursday, but not a statistical one. I had proved without a shadow of a doubt I could stand in the same ring as Envi and if I had won that match I would have proved all the naysayers wrong, but I hadn't won. It didn't matter if I had got close to winning the match because close in this situation didn't matter. There was no silver medal to be handed out for coming in second. This was a win it all or win nothing situation and I had won absolutely nothing. But I could redeem myself. All I would have to do is start from the beginning and work my way back up to the chance that had been stolen from me. It would be just as hard as before, but this time I wouldn't just wait for the opportunity to be handed back to me. This time I would make myself the only logical choice to be the Xtreme Champion. To do that I would need to push my training regiment to a whole other level, hopefully it would yield results quickly as I didn't know how much longer the APW could hold out with so many corrupt individuals in power.
Turning around and leaning against the terrace's little wall which separated me from falling down a good twenty feet, I would reach over to the digital camera lying on a wooden table, and press the record button. I steady the camera in my left hand while leaning against the railing. I begin to speak calmly, retelling the events of last week as if they had happened yesterday.
Nick: Last week on Overdrive, I had my title opportunity stolen from me, and my future demolished right before my very eyes. I watched, with rage, and hate as Harris stole any sort of chance I had for becoming the APW Xtreme champion that the people deserved. I watched as Evan Envi ran away with his tail quenched between his legs, scurrying away like some scared little bitch. And as I watched all this, my glimmer of hope, and the people's hope slowly dimmed to a dull, flickering flame in the back of a long, dark hallway. To be that close to liberation and to have it stolen away was a tell tale sign of the direction of all the negative energies in play here at APW and the force that is seemingly taken hold of its' power structure. As I said last week, this show is slowly, but surely destroying itself, and so far not a damn thing has been done to stop it. Well, at least that was true until last week when I courageously took the first step into the dark hallway to only be blind sided by that beast, Harris, who had been lying in wait for the first man brave enough to take a stand.
It surprises me that very few people realize the situation at hand. The villains who have taken control of APW are seemingly using the power that they have obtained to bolster themselves while they spite those that pay the money for admission. Meanwhile, the guys who should be fighting this war, have taken a backseat, and instead of taking the initiative by bringing the fight to them, instead they are pretending that nothing is going on. I know not if it is simple ignorance or if it is just a simple case of them not caring, but our heroes...the idols I look up to, have ignored the pleas of the people that they have vowed to protect and entertain. So last week, with the weakened, but still resilient power that the people have, I marched out, and socked Evan Envi right on the nose. I did what no one else would do. I took the initiative and I knocked the first domino of this war against villainy on its' ass. Yet, as the dust of my battle with Evan began to settle, and the glimmer of hope from the people bolstered my resilient fighting spirit, a darkness swooped in, and took it all away.
Michael Harris blew out the candle of hope and attacked Evan Envi. I don't know why Harris did what he did, but I also could care less why he did it either. Harris is a beast of madness and trying to understand such a thing would only drive the man trying to understand him into a deep pit of madness himself. So, I will not linger on the fact as to why because there is no reason to do so. All that needs to be known is that Michael hindered the first attempt to bring righteousness back into this dark world and that Evan Envi escaped the people's wrath with a few injuries, but with his title still around his waist. Yet at the root of all these things, I am also to blame for this as well. I didn't seal the deal and I sure as hell didn't finish the match the way I should have finished it. Maybe if I had tried a bit harder and had predicted the assault by Harris, some balance would be restored, and we could all rest a bit easier.
I let out a sigh and then rub my eyes with my free hand. My left hand is beginning to get tired, so after a minute of hesitation, I begin to move inside, and lay the camera on the dresser. Turning on the light in my room and causing the camera to auto adjust quickly, causing a sort of loss of visuals for about three seconds. After the camera adjusts, I sit down on the bed, and look at the camera which is pointed at me.
Nick: I am as much to blame for last week as Harris is. I let the people down in their most dire time of need and lay unconscious in that ring for almost five minutes before I stirred, and left the ring in shame. So this week...I will redeem myself by taking a step in the right direction by defeating A.C. Smith in one on one combat. Hopefully there will be no disruptions as I feel that this match is my atonement for my failings last week. This week, I will leave nothing to chance, and defeat Smith with fervor and purpose. This will, however, not be an easy match up. Smith's accolades speak for themselves and his powerful fighting abilities leave no doubt in my mind as to what will happen if I make a critical mistake. The only way to win this match up is to use my natural gifts to their fullest while demonstrating that last week was not a one night occurrence, and that every night I can pull out all the stops.
Smith, much like myself, wants competition, and recognition for his deeds. So that is exactly what I will give him. I will give the man credit where credit is due! He has won several matches that no one thought he could win and has used his strengths to his fullest without question, but yet he has stumbled and had difficulties over the last few matches. His failing to take Envi down at Shockwave and his loss to Biggs last week have staggered him even though he won't admit it. In fact it was my understanding that last week he even said he didn't care about losing to Evan. Which of course got me quite a bit confused as to why someone would not care about losing a match in such a way? It just seems like he is lying to himself. I would like to say to Smith personally, that accepting a loss, and moving on from it in such a manner is a mistake. He was cheated out of a victory and that same night the man who cheated his way over him also grabbed a title. If it were me, I would be looking long, and hard in the mirror trying to find out what the best way to get some manner of retribution on that man instead of just casually throwing it aside as if nothing happened, but that is of course just me. Its not that I don't trust your methods Smith. After all you have been in this business far longer than I have and have put down quite a few people during your time in this business, but the least you could have done is shown some kind of emotion to the situation.
You were slighted and everyone knows it...so why run away from it? Embracing it and using it to fuel yourself forward would have been a better way to approach it, but instead you are just numb on the matter. Then this last week you struggled against Biggs, who looked like a man possessed out there in the ring, and showed what having emotion toward losing something precious can do to a man looking to move forward. I hate to say it, but maybe you should take a page out of Biggs' book, and do as he did last week. Using that rage of being slighted as the foundation for your future endeavors and making it a goal to always be ready for someone to cheat and have a plan to lean on if that situation arises. But then again you were never a man for strategy, were you? You are more of an action first type of guy and in a way that is a good thing. APW needs more heroes like you who are willing to step up to the plate immediately without worrying about the repercussions of their actions, but yet as of late your actions have looked rather...sluggish.
I rub my goatee and shrug my shoulders a bit as I try to relax. I continue on after letting out a long yawn.
Nick: Your fighting with Envi has dug up ancient history and put it on display for the world to see and it has affected you hasn't it? To see the thing that you tried to mold in your image deform itself in such a manner that it no longer resembles what you once knew, must come as quite a shock, am I right? Maybe...and I mean maybe...you blame yourself on the inside for the thing in front of you. That maybe Evan Envi's fall into madness and corruption may have been avoided if you had actually been there for him and tried to be more supportive. Or maybe you are colder than I think you are? Maybe you aren't really a hero, but a villain in disguise. Acting the way that the people want to see if only to turn around and stab them in the back later. It wouldn't surprise me at all, but then again that is because I am prepared for the worse. If anything that match last week made me more aware than I have been to the struggle between good and evil on this show and with that awareness comes a state of preparedness.
Last week I used it by knowing to wear a cup and this week I will use it to some extent to use your own strengths against you in some way shape or form. This is of course not saying that I will win this match instantly. No, quite the opposite. I expect you to bring me a real fight and show me why you are a multiple time champion, I'm just saying...I will be analyzing the way you approach this match with great detail. Because I know that in the long run, finishing second will not win me a prize, and it will not push me any closer to liberating the fans from under the foot of evil. Its why I can not lose to you now, no matter how good you are, and no matter how stacked the odds are against me. Sure, I will give you an edge in experience, you have me beat hands down, but in the long run experience and wisdom are nothing without humility. So if I'm like you...where did your humility go? You say you are better than me because you have been around the block and that when you beat me you will share your knowledge with me? Alright, but that is if you beat me. Not when, but if. You talk as if the match is already won for you and we haven't even stepped in the ring together yet! But that's fine...in fact it was expected. I know you A.C. Smith...I've watched tape, I've analyzed your past matches, and I have seen your work here in APW, and because of that...I know that you are consistently over-confident heading into every match up. In my time as a rookie, I have realized that having confidence is fine, in moderation, but when you over-confidently begin to boast about your superiority. That is when you receive the most painful shocks of your career.
And though you see a lot of me in you, I will not fall prey to the same over-confident crap that threw the match for me at Overdrive last week. Instead I will learn and adapt...something you forgot to do a long time ago. So, I wish you luck Mr. Smith, and I hope that we will put on quite the show for the APW masses. For now, I need to take my leave. I wouldn't want to miss out on any more of my forty winks, now would I? So for now, APW fans, and anyone else watching this video right now...take heart, because I haven't given up hope, and neither should you.
I get up out of bed, give the camera a peace sign, and then press the record button again while turning off the camera. A sense of peace washes over me as I make my way over to my modest bed for the evening and lay down. Sleep would follow shortly after.
*Screen Bursts to static*
