Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Jun 10, 2015 23:41:35 GMT -4
Jason Cashe, Tommy Knox, and 1 more like this
Post by Anthony Bailey on Jun 10, 2015 23:41:35 GMT -4
“Out of sight, out of mind.” What better phrase to capture this very moment? With my undergraduate background being in Marketing, I knew of the potential difficulty that lie ahead. Existing in a “what are you doing for me now?” generation, I had to virtually start from scratch. Not practically but theoretically. I hadn’t competed inside of a ring since Rasslemania X so ring rust would be a given, but Hopkins would help me shake that off. After PURE had closed abruptly and after Cashe handed me a defeat at Rasslemania X, I pulled a page out of the Book of Chappelle and went to Africa on a short term missions trip.
An acquaintance of mine works with an organization that was going there and I wanted to be apart in some capacity. It was on that sweltering day in Kenya when I realized just how much the business had changed me. I found refuge, not necessarily in the Motherland, but in the solitude that my life had greatly lacked. How I longed to be in that place again. Why couldn’t I go back to Flagler College pre APW when life was simple? 4CW had tried to woo me back to the business for months and I turned down their offer each time, and how lucrative those offers were. Hopkins and I regularly talked about reuniting for another run but for whatever reason, I just wasn’t feeling it and he could tell. Everyone could tell. My Twitter usage became irregular as I did everything in my power to escape the life I built.
Shortly after returning from Kenya early last summer, I enrolled into the Master of Business Administration program at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. Jacksonville is about 30 minutes or so from my townhouse in St. Augustine so I commute two times a week to campus for evening classes. A couple of people at the school were familiar with who I was but not a lot so it was still pretty low key, which I liked. I struggled with if I really needed to be there since I was already on my “career” path so to speak. Maybe it was because the people that actually knew me frequently asked “Why are you even here?” Never once did I give them an answer, I just repeatedly shrugged them off.
{{Fighting to stay awake as always and with no Keurig in sight, I felt my phone vibrate inside of my pocket. Making sure to be as concealed as possible because of my strict professor and his no electronics rule, I eased into my pocket and grabbed my phone. I squinted and saw that it was a text from Hopkins saying “What’s good bro?! Check your Twitter when you can. There’s some exciting news on there. Much love! #TDB”}}
I had no desire to go on Twitter and witness the same old antics from the same old people, but because it was Hopkins I decided to do it. I’ve never met a more loyal person in this entire business and if he wanted me to check my Twitter account for the first time in months, then I was willing. But I obviously had to wait since my professor always threatened to confiscate your cell phone if he saw it during class time. Are we in high school all over again?
During the usual ten minute class break, I logged onto Twitter in the hallway and scrolled through it on my phone. A tweet from my former enemy Johnny Rebel caught my eye. “APW REUNION SHOW IN THE WORKS - Come check in with us and let us know if you’re interested!” Wait…was he trolling? APW had closed its doors nearly two years ago and with it, my ambition to compete altogether had ceased. Sure I joined the ranks of PURE shortly after, but PURE was no APW.
{{Closing the Twitter app, I opened up Hopkins’ text again and responded with “Just saw it bro. Looks like the long awaited Dying Breed reunion is finally happening.”}}
Was I jumping the gun? Did nostalgia get the best of me? I’ll probably never know.
{{Returning to class after our short break, I sat in my chair and fumbled through some papers in my binder to see that I had an assignment due Sunday night June 14th. The same night as the reunion event. Talk about impeccable timing huh?}}
I was good at this whole graduate school thing, but I wasn’t passionate about it. I was just trying to occupy time since I was no longer actively competing.
Seizing the moment of silence in class, I raised my hand and said “Professor I had a quick question.”
“Yes. What is it Mr. Bailey?,” he responded with a scholarly grimace.
While gripping onto any ounce of hope I’d have to appease the assignment I would miss, I asked “Will there be any extra credit offered sometime this semester?”
He smirked and replied. “I hardly ever give an opportunity for extra credit but who knows? I may change my mind...”
Not quite the answer I was looking for but there was hope I suppose. Miss an assignment to once again chase my passion? I’d make an exception just this once…though I could do the assignment and turn it in early, but I was constrained by my internal procrastinator.
This is it…the moment most of us have been waiting for. Ever since that dreaded day back in 2013 when I got wind that APW would close its doors for good, there seemed to be some sort of void in my life. The company that I loved so dearly and sacrificed so much for was gone just like that…
{{I snapped my fingers.}}
No warning, no notice ahead of time, no anything. I was angry but then I realized that that’s the way the cards had been dealt. It was out of my control. But I do admit that my life post APW was very…different. From signing with APW right out of college to being thrust into a hectic traveling schedule, I lost myself. I was still myself at the core but I was having trouble adjusting to this new way of life. I quickly realized that I wasn’t the extrovert that the business had wanted me to be. So once the pendulum swung all the way in the opposite direction, I thought I was done. Hopkins, Sally, Cashe, 4CW, not anyone could convince me to give this another run. But Jonny Rebel, of all people, and that one tweet of his breathed new life into me.
Hopkins and I will once again show why we are the longest reigning Tag Team Champions in the history of this company. With each title reign and with each time we truly thrived as a team has been in three way tag team matches historically. Being careful as to not jump the gun, we’re at a slight advantage in this situation. We definitely have our work cut out for us though because we’re up against TJ, Keaton Saint, Tommy Knox, and Chris Madison. Not only are we up against four formidable opponents, I’m also dealing with reintroducing myself to the masses.
Hopkins has been cutting his teeth over in 4CW and is arguably better than he’s ever been while I have some catching up to do. I have always respected Keaton and TJ and what you all brought to the table as The Pillars back in the day. You were a few of the guys whose ideals lined up with The Dying Breed’s. Two different factions but similar ethics and I was grateful for that. APW was so rampant with individuals that were cold hearted and selfish, so it was refreshing to witness what you all and Sally were trying to do.
Those selfish individuals shall remain nameless. Bailey wanted to turn over a new leaf with a clean slate and not cause any commotion with former adversaries.
I’m very thankful for what I consider to be friendly competition this coming weekend. But in the midst of my own ring rust and uncertainty as to the game plan Keaton and TJ are cooking up, I do know one thing. I may be clueless on how we are to contain a guy of TJ’s stature, but what I do know…I know what it takes to defeat Keaton Saint, one of the most talented megastars to ever grace a ring. Let’s take it back to Shockwave 2013 for a quick second shall we? I went toe to toe with Keaton in singles competition and I was victorious. We both gave it our all that night. You were bowing out from competition gracefully at that pay-per-view Keaton and most guys wouldn’t have cared to give the showing you gave. Most would have just showed up to simply collect a paycheck and went about their merry little way. But not you because you’re cut from a different cloth. Your epic battles with Terry Marvin, another one of the best, prove this.
Knox and Madison, our other two great opponents that consider themselves brothers like Hopkins and I. Different parents but a bond like no other, so I can definitely relate. Madison, I remember you being the enforcer of The Black Hand. Though Jennings and Raab may have been the faces of it to the public, you were always a beast inside that squared circle. You could have very well led The Black Hand by yourself or ventured off to do your own thing. And the same goes for you too Knox. I have nothing bad to say about you either. We came close to competing against each other before but NewGen Rising got the shot instead. I was looking forward to it then and I’m looking forward to it now. From our minimal dealings in the past to Hopkins speaking highly of you because of 4CW, this should be a good one.
Growing up, I remember always hearing the story about Cain murdering his brother Abel and how Cain asked God a question that we could never imagine ourselves asking. I know for a fact you two would do anything in your power to look after your brother because you are your brother’s keeper unlike Cain. The same rings true with me. I would lay down my life for Hopkins and if I have to at the Reunion Show at your expense, believe me…I will.
Respect among us six is evident and likely shared all across the board. But respect for the opposing parties won’t cause The Dying Breed to passively enter into this match. We are meek but refuse to be weak. Aggression will be our aim for the entire duration. That’s what we’re about. We’re wrestlers and that’s what we do. Forget about the money, the fame, the women. You all know that, we know that, but more importantly the people know that. It feels like I have been waiting for ages to step back into an APW ring and this weekend I finally get my chance. I have been out of sight, out of mind, and low key for literally over the past year just growing and trying to find myself.
I’m only twenty-four years of age but I feel like I have already lived two lifetimes. Which can be a bad thing but could be a good thing as well. It can be a good thing if I have obtained wisdom in the process and I feel like I have. I know Hopkins has, especially with him being in 4CW and me not being there to watch his back like I used to. We can guarantee that The Dying Breed reunion will be one for the books. Say or think what you choose about us, but when we show up, we show up. There will be no half stepping or lackadaisical behavior on our part. Since it’s been over year and just in case you have forgotten. I am Anthony Bailey…APW’s only Promise…the only Promise that can't be broken. Until Sunday…
{{The scene slowly fades to black.}}
An acquaintance of mine works with an organization that was going there and I wanted to be apart in some capacity. It was on that sweltering day in Kenya when I realized just how much the business had changed me. I found refuge, not necessarily in the Motherland, but in the solitude that my life had greatly lacked. How I longed to be in that place again. Why couldn’t I go back to Flagler College pre APW when life was simple? 4CW had tried to woo me back to the business for months and I turned down their offer each time, and how lucrative those offers were. Hopkins and I regularly talked about reuniting for another run but for whatever reason, I just wasn’t feeling it and he could tell. Everyone could tell. My Twitter usage became irregular as I did everything in my power to escape the life I built.
Shortly after returning from Kenya early last summer, I enrolled into the Master of Business Administration program at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, FL. Jacksonville is about 30 minutes or so from my townhouse in St. Augustine so I commute two times a week to campus for evening classes. A couple of people at the school were familiar with who I was but not a lot so it was still pretty low key, which I liked. I struggled with if I really needed to be there since I was already on my “career” path so to speak. Maybe it was because the people that actually knew me frequently asked “Why are you even here?” Never once did I give them an answer, I just repeatedly shrugged them off.
---------------
{{Fighting to stay awake as always and with no Keurig in sight, I felt my phone vibrate inside of my pocket. Making sure to be as concealed as possible because of my strict professor and his no electronics rule, I eased into my pocket and grabbed my phone. I squinted and saw that it was a text from Hopkins saying “What’s good bro?! Check your Twitter when you can. There’s some exciting news on there. Much love! #TDB”}}
I had no desire to go on Twitter and witness the same old antics from the same old people, but because it was Hopkins I decided to do it. I’ve never met a more loyal person in this entire business and if he wanted me to check my Twitter account for the first time in months, then I was willing. But I obviously had to wait since my professor always threatened to confiscate your cell phone if he saw it during class time. Are we in high school all over again?
During the usual ten minute class break, I logged onto Twitter in the hallway and scrolled through it on my phone. A tweet from my former enemy Johnny Rebel caught my eye. “APW REUNION SHOW IN THE WORKS - Come check in with us and let us know if you’re interested!” Wait…was he trolling? APW had closed its doors nearly two years ago and with it, my ambition to compete altogether had ceased. Sure I joined the ranks of PURE shortly after, but PURE was no APW.
{{Closing the Twitter app, I opened up Hopkins’ text again and responded with “Just saw it bro. Looks like the long awaited Dying Breed reunion is finally happening.”}}
Was I jumping the gun? Did nostalgia get the best of me? I’ll probably never know.
{{Returning to class after our short break, I sat in my chair and fumbled through some papers in my binder to see that I had an assignment due Sunday night June 14th. The same night as the reunion event. Talk about impeccable timing huh?}}
I was good at this whole graduate school thing, but I wasn’t passionate about it. I was just trying to occupy time since I was no longer actively competing.
Seizing the moment of silence in class, I raised my hand and said “Professor I had a quick question.”
“Yes. What is it Mr. Bailey?,” he responded with a scholarly grimace.
While gripping onto any ounce of hope I’d have to appease the assignment I would miss, I asked “Will there be any extra credit offered sometime this semester?”
He smirked and replied. “I hardly ever give an opportunity for extra credit but who knows? I may change my mind...”
Not quite the answer I was looking for but there was hope I suppose. Miss an assignment to once again chase my passion? I’d make an exception just this once…though I could do the assignment and turn it in early, but I was constrained by my internal procrastinator.
---------------
This is it…the moment most of us have been waiting for. Ever since that dreaded day back in 2013 when I got wind that APW would close its doors for good, there seemed to be some sort of void in my life. The company that I loved so dearly and sacrificed so much for was gone just like that…
{{I snapped my fingers.}}
No warning, no notice ahead of time, no anything. I was angry but then I realized that that’s the way the cards had been dealt. It was out of my control. But I do admit that my life post APW was very…different. From signing with APW right out of college to being thrust into a hectic traveling schedule, I lost myself. I was still myself at the core but I was having trouble adjusting to this new way of life. I quickly realized that I wasn’t the extrovert that the business had wanted me to be. So once the pendulum swung all the way in the opposite direction, I thought I was done. Hopkins, Sally, Cashe, 4CW, not anyone could convince me to give this another run. But Jonny Rebel, of all people, and that one tweet of his breathed new life into me.
Hopkins and I will once again show why we are the longest reigning Tag Team Champions in the history of this company. With each title reign and with each time we truly thrived as a team has been in three way tag team matches historically. Being careful as to not jump the gun, we’re at a slight advantage in this situation. We definitely have our work cut out for us though because we’re up against TJ, Keaton Saint, Tommy Knox, and Chris Madison. Not only are we up against four formidable opponents, I’m also dealing with reintroducing myself to the masses.
Hopkins has been cutting his teeth over in 4CW and is arguably better than he’s ever been while I have some catching up to do. I have always respected Keaton and TJ and what you all brought to the table as The Pillars back in the day. You were a few of the guys whose ideals lined up with The Dying Breed’s. Two different factions but similar ethics and I was grateful for that. APW was so rampant with individuals that were cold hearted and selfish, so it was refreshing to witness what you all and Sally were trying to do.
Those selfish individuals shall remain nameless. Bailey wanted to turn over a new leaf with a clean slate and not cause any commotion with former adversaries.
I’m very thankful for what I consider to be friendly competition this coming weekend. But in the midst of my own ring rust and uncertainty as to the game plan Keaton and TJ are cooking up, I do know one thing. I may be clueless on how we are to contain a guy of TJ’s stature, but what I do know…I know what it takes to defeat Keaton Saint, one of the most talented megastars to ever grace a ring. Let’s take it back to Shockwave 2013 for a quick second shall we? I went toe to toe with Keaton in singles competition and I was victorious. We both gave it our all that night. You were bowing out from competition gracefully at that pay-per-view Keaton and most guys wouldn’t have cared to give the showing you gave. Most would have just showed up to simply collect a paycheck and went about their merry little way. But not you because you’re cut from a different cloth. Your epic battles with Terry Marvin, another one of the best, prove this.
Knox and Madison, our other two great opponents that consider themselves brothers like Hopkins and I. Different parents but a bond like no other, so I can definitely relate. Madison, I remember you being the enforcer of The Black Hand. Though Jennings and Raab may have been the faces of it to the public, you were always a beast inside that squared circle. You could have very well led The Black Hand by yourself or ventured off to do your own thing. And the same goes for you too Knox. I have nothing bad to say about you either. We came close to competing against each other before but NewGen Rising got the shot instead. I was looking forward to it then and I’m looking forward to it now. From our minimal dealings in the past to Hopkins speaking highly of you because of 4CW, this should be a good one.
Growing up, I remember always hearing the story about Cain murdering his brother Abel and how Cain asked God a question that we could never imagine ourselves asking. I know for a fact you two would do anything in your power to look after your brother because you are your brother’s keeper unlike Cain. The same rings true with me. I would lay down my life for Hopkins and if I have to at the Reunion Show at your expense, believe me…I will.
Respect among us six is evident and likely shared all across the board. But respect for the opposing parties won’t cause The Dying Breed to passively enter into this match. We are meek but refuse to be weak. Aggression will be our aim for the entire duration. That’s what we’re about. We’re wrestlers and that’s what we do. Forget about the money, the fame, the women. You all know that, we know that, but more importantly the people know that. It feels like I have been waiting for ages to step back into an APW ring and this weekend I finally get my chance. I have been out of sight, out of mind, and low key for literally over the past year just growing and trying to find myself.
I’m only twenty-four years of age but I feel like I have already lived two lifetimes. Which can be a bad thing but could be a good thing as well. It can be a good thing if I have obtained wisdom in the process and I feel like I have. I know Hopkins has, especially with him being in 4CW and me not being there to watch his back like I used to. We can guarantee that The Dying Breed reunion will be one for the books. Say or think what you choose about us, but when we show up, we show up. There will be no half stepping or lackadaisical behavior on our part. Since it’s been over year and just in case you have forgotten. I am Anthony Bailey…APW’s only Promise…the only Promise that can't be broken. Until Sunday…
{{The scene slowly fades to black.}}
