Post by The Hitman on Jun 2, 2012 16:13:36 GMT -4
Up and down the 85. That’s what it’s been the past two weeks. Driving up and down, seeing the same sights. Georgia and South Carolina are such boring states inland though. Steve Stryker was of course making the trek from Auburn, Alabama to Greensboro, North Carolina. It started as a necessity, grew to a ritual, then to a challenge. For as long as Stryker is meddling in Meltdown, he’ll continue to drive himself to each venue. To remind himself of the dedication it takes to compete and the time commitment that each match deserves. It’s worked well for him over the past month as he’s paved his way through all other Meltdown competitors.
Finally, after a month of beating all competitors, Stryker has hit his first achievement. The Main Event. It just sounds so perfect in his head. “The Hitman” Steve Stryker competing in the Main Event! It only took a month of beating every single person that got in his way. Warren Peace, Carmen Rivera, Stefan Raab, Niobe Martin, and Angelina Quinn. Hardly a “who’s who” of APW’s top talent. But that list does include the current number one contender to the North American Title, the lovely Carmen Rivera. Now, this week Stryker faces off against the North American Champion. Evan Envi is the supposed face of Meltdown. He’s been Main Eventing since day one. While Stryker was sitting at home on his couch, Evan Envi was in the Main Event. This week that tradition continues as Evan Envi is atop the Meltdown card. This week will be different, this week Evan Envi is feeling something a little different. Not jealousy, not distrust, no, not even envy. This week, Evan Envi is scared.
He admitted it and Stryker can’t seem to get it out of his head. Of course he’s The Hitman. He’s undefeated in the APW, he’s moved on in his qualification for Test for the Best, he beat the number one contender to the North American Title, but knowing that the champion himself was…nervous? Stryker liked the thought of that. He has sensed nervousness in his opponents before. Last week was grade school ridiculousness. Niobe Martin and Angelina Quinn didn’t stand a chance. Two of the brightest Meltdown has to offer against two nobodies. I think everyone saw that coming. The only way Stryker wasn’t going to come out victorious in that match was if that wench Carmen Rivera screwed it up. She came close and there is certainly no love loss in that relationship. In the end everything finished as it should. Stryker moves on in the Test for the Best and his perfect record is untarnished.
Stryker knows he should be concerned this week. Evan Envi is probably the only person more heralded on Meltdown than Steve himself. But he’s not, not now, he can’t be now. Evan Envi gave up the only leverage he may have had. Evan Envi had the upper hand in this match. He was the favorite, he’s the champion. Now, what can people think? Envi admits that he’s scared, admits that he’s nervous. Admits that he doesn’t know if he can handle The Hitman. He should be nervous, this first month was nothing. The things that Steve Stryker can accomplish go far beyond Carmen Rivera and Evan Envi, the things that Steve Stryker can accomplish go all the way to the top.[/i]
“Why didn’t we just go to Greensboro first? Why go 440 miles south and then come right back up? Who is planning these venues? Is anyone in charge here?” Stryker muses to himself as he’s driving back North up I-85 through South Carolina.
Last week he had to drive from Richmond, Virginia down to Alabama, right through North Carolina and right through Greensboro. This week he just gets to go right back up the same stretch of boring highway. Shorter drive this week of course, but for goodness sake, it would be nice to have a few weeks closer to each other.
“Oh look some corn. Yay corn.” That’s most of what Stryker has seen this whole drive. Corn, cows, and mini-malls. In the mini-malls the same things, Panera Bread, Burger King, Target, same things, over and over. How on earth to people live like this?
Stryker had been thinking about this a lot during this drive. It was Albert Einstein who said the true definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result each time. People eat Burger King six nights a week, Panera Bread once a week and expect to get thin. No wonder middle America is a bunch of fat cows. Made him think of Evan Envi too. Is it insane to constantly complain and whine about getting moved up to Overdrive and each week seeing that it’s not going to happen, but just do again the next week anyways?
Not that Stryker wasn’t a bit of a hypocrite. At first he was consistently wondering when he’d get his chance to move to Overdrive. It’s become apparent that making it to Overdrive was no quick matter. Save for Mark Mania that is. Who apparently is the exception that proves the rule. Stryker thought that after winning at the Meltdown Super Show that he’d be invited to Overdrive, he thought again after winning his Test for the Best qualifier that he’d be promoted to Overdrive. Clearly, that didn’t happen either. Here he is now though, in South Carolina, on the 85, realizing that his only opportunity is to win the Test for the Best.
In fact, he can’t lose at all from here on out. Every loss is a step backwards. If he beats all of the best that Meltdown has to offer, how can he be overlooked? Stryker will not pull an Evan Envi though, can’t keep on focusing on the future. The present is the only thing that matters now, and the present is a big match against a brand name competitor. This week Stryker has a perceived challenge on his hands, perceived is the key word here.
Stryker already has his camera set up in the rental car. He knows that he’s going to record another promo. Makes the drive go by a lot faster. He’s able to relax, he’s able to flow, he’s able to control the monster within. He’s able to be the cool, calculated Hitman.
*[o]RECORD [o]*
”Ladies and gentlemen of the APW, welcome to South Carolina! Here I am, “The Hitman” Steve Stryker live from the road. Well, what a great week it was at Meltdown eh? I took control of the match and while Carmen Rivera got the pin, we both got the ‘w’ and in the end isn’t that what really matters? In the record books all that will be tallied is that Steve Stryker got another victory. No need to get too concerned with who pinned who and when.”
“Members of APW, I believe that at this time I have sent a message to the entire roster. I have sent a message to each and every one of you. The Hitman is for real and The Hitman cannot be beat. I haven’t been beat and I don’t plan on starting this week. Do you know how I know that I sent a message to everyone last week?”
“Evan Envi.”
“That poor miserable sap is shaking in his boots crying about why President Jeff doesn’t like him and why Diamond would put him up against a big mean man that might hurt him. Oh boo hoo Envi, you’re the damn North American Champion, start acting like you deserve to wear that gold. You’re pathetic. You could put me in the ring with Kurt Noble, CJ Gates, and Level-One right now and I wouldn’t back down or be scared. Damn it, I’d walk in to that ring like I belong and fight for my damn victory. You’re walking into a match with a man you don’t even know and you’re afraid. You say you’ve watched my matches and learned all about me, what can you learn in four week Evan?”
“That no one has beaten me? That no one has figured out how to beat me? That no one gets up after the Bounty Kill? What have you learned you son of a bitch?! I’m going to walk into the Greensboro Coliseum and I’m going to whoop your ass up and down that ring and all your studying and preparation isn’t going to mean a damn thing!”
“You’re worried that “Hitman” isn’t just a moniker? You’re worried that I really have a bounty out on you Envi? Well, I hadn’t before this week. To be honest you weren’t even on my radar. When you won the North American Title you basically cemented yourself in Meltdown. You can be the face of Meltdown all day every day. You claim you have bigger dreams, you claim that you want the Undisputed Title. But actions speak louder than words Envi. Your actions are saying that you’re content where you are. You like being the main man in Meltdown. You’re afraid to venture out, that’s why you haven’t gotten your chance. President Jeff and Johnny Diamond can both smell your fear. That’s why you’re still here and Mark Mania moved on.”
“I don’t know that man more than a hole in the wall, but he walked in and never planned on staying, one Super Show and he was out of here. Why wasn’t that you Envi? Haven’t you accomplished more in the past five weeks than he has? Than anyone has? Why were you overlooked again? You can’t handle it. That’s why. You can’t handle the pressure, you can’t handle what it takes to be the best.”
“You have to tell your fans that you want more or they’d lose interest. I see through it Evan, I see right damn through it. You don’t want what I want. You want to be the best, sure. But you know you can’t be the best at Overdrive, you know you can’t hack it with the big boys. Which is why you’re going to stay here, North American Champion for the foreseeable future, a Meltdown legend.”
“People will speak highly of you Evan. You have everything that you want right here. You’re going to bring Meltdown to the forefront and you’re going to be the best Meltdown star there is… But that’s all you’ll be. You can’t handle it anywhere else. Because in the Overdrive or Asylum world, you’re a nobody. You’re a bottom carder who maybe one day could challenge for a mid-level title. You could never dance with the big boys. You don’t have the stomach for it.”
“You know Evan, normally I leave for the arena a day or two after the match and get in front of the APW world before any Meltdown Superstar, but this week I met up with a few old friends and it delayed my leaving. Boy am I glad it did. I would never have been able to see how nervous you were before I made this drive. You see, this drive is very therapeutic for me. It lets me put the world into perspective, it lets me get a feel for my match and my career all over again every week. After my drive I feel ready for the match, I feel ready for whatever is coming my way, and I feel ready to win.”
“It might’ve been much different if I didn’t know how nervous you were. I started this week as the underdog. I started this week as a challenger with something to prove. But damn Evan, it seems I’ve already proven it. I already have you afraid of me. And if you, the face of Meltdown is afraid of me, what does that say for every other Meltdown superstar out there? I can hear it Evan. It says that “The Hitman” Steve Stryker is the best Meltdown has. It says that “The Hitman” Steve Stryker is the one who deserves to move up to Overdrive. It says that “The Hitman” Steve Stryker is the man to beat now.”
“I was excited for a challenge this week Evan. I really thought I was going to get one. The past two weeks have been, well, boring. I thought this week was going to be different. Damn it Evan, you blew it for me! Don’t you understand that I like challenges? I’m not like you Evan. I don’t want to meddle with these idiots in Meltdown any longer. I strive for more! I can feel the desire welling up inside of me. And what do you do? You boost my ego and tell me how nervous you are? Come on man, I wanted a damn challenge from the North American Champion. Looks like another week of laboring around and another week of ‘W’s for The Hitman.”
“You know, I’m thinking, scary thought, I know. But, Evan, are you trying to pull something? Are you trying to boost me up so you can pull me down? Are you trying to make me feel real good about myself this week so that you can swoop in with something up your sleeves that I don’t see coming? Ah, I’m probably give you too much credit. I don’t think you’re that smart and frankly, I’ve been watching you these past few weeks I’ve been in APW too. You don’t have it in you to be that clever. You’re just a scared little boy. Well Evan, your worst fears can now be confirmed. I do want to hurt you. If I have to break your leg, your neck, or your spine, I won’t hesitate for a second. Because this week it’s true. This week, I have a bounty on your head Evan. This Monday in Greensboro, the Hitman is coming to collect his bounty. Run, go ahead, I’ll give you a head start.”[/color]
*[ ]STOP[ ]*
Two Hours Later
Steve Stryker arrives in Greensboro, North Carolina, much like he has in the past his first stop is to the arena. Stryker is a man of habit. It’s not OCD as much as it’s superstition. When you don’t lose a match for your first month in the federation, you don’t start changing up your routine.
Something was different this time though. When Stryker pulled into the arena there were quite a few cars already in the parking lot. People standing outside of their cars, it looks as though, are they looking at Steve? That wouldn’t make any sense.
Steve pulls into the parking lot and tries to look at what all the commotion was about. As he looks out, the people outside are looking back into his car. He sees the skeptical looks go from confounded to elated very quickly. As Stryker pulls into his spot, away from the other cars with no car in front of him so he can pull away easily, a crowd of people swarm around his car.
“They must think I’m somebody else. There isn’t another dream match this week is there?” Last week Terry Marvin and Michael Callahan had a match at Meltdown and it ended in a lot of fanfare for both competitors, much busier than normal. There is no such match this week though.
As he gets out of his car the yelling begins. People screaming “Stryker, Stryker!”, “Hitman, you’re the best!”
“What the hell is this?” Stryker wasn’t used to any of this. As a relatively unknown he was mostly booed throughout his career so far. Why were people suddenly all over him? The questions and comments kept coming.
“Carmen Rivera sucks! You killed her! She’s a nothing!”
“Bounty Kill!
People started putting their notepads in Steve’s face, asking for autographs, screaming their names to him. Out of sheer human nature he grabbed the pen and pad. He looked down at it and tried to listen to people saying their name. He heard twenty different names in thirty seconds. He looked at all the people again, everybody wanted something from him. Who were they to ask anything of Steve Stryker? He was a wrestler, nothing more, his only responsibility was to himself.
Steve throws down the paper and pen. “Everyone can leave. There is nothing to see here. I’m not here for you people. I’m here for myself. Please stop bothering me.”
A few people laughed, some just moved closer. Stryker backed up to his door. “Didn’t you people hear me? Get out of here. I’m not signing autographs or anything, if you want to see me, buy tickets to Meltdown.”
The crowd begins to cheer at the mention of Meltdown which confuses Steve even more. They still press on him and Stryker opens the door to his car.
“Get the f-ck out of here you damn inbreeds! I don’t give a damn about your autographs!” Steve slams the door to his car shut and peels out away from the crowd. He looks in his rearview mirror as he’s pulling onto the street and the people are standing their stunned. What was he supposed to do? He’s no hero.
Back at the hotel
Stryker sat on his bed thinking about the events that just transpired. He never considered himself a mean guy. Sure he got into fights, had a quick temper, and didn’t suffer many fools. This was different. Steve could feel anger towards those people, for no reason apparently.
Almost that they didn’t deserve to inconvenience him in such a way. Who were they to ruin Steve’s ritual? Who were they to get in the way of what the Hitman was doing? He was Steve goddamn Stryker. He can’t be bothered by a bunch of no-good fans who are just looking for an autograph so they can sell it on eBay.
Apparently being in the Main Event has its price.
Finally, after a month of beating all competitors, Stryker has hit his first achievement. The Main Event. It just sounds so perfect in his head. “The Hitman” Steve Stryker competing in the Main Event! It only took a month of beating every single person that got in his way. Warren Peace, Carmen Rivera, Stefan Raab, Niobe Martin, and Angelina Quinn. Hardly a “who’s who” of APW’s top talent. But that list does include the current number one contender to the North American Title, the lovely Carmen Rivera. Now, this week Stryker faces off against the North American Champion. Evan Envi is the supposed face of Meltdown. He’s been Main Eventing since day one. While Stryker was sitting at home on his couch, Evan Envi was in the Main Event. This week that tradition continues as Evan Envi is atop the Meltdown card. This week will be different, this week Evan Envi is feeling something a little different. Not jealousy, not distrust, no, not even envy. This week, Evan Envi is scared.
He admitted it and Stryker can’t seem to get it out of his head. Of course he’s The Hitman. He’s undefeated in the APW, he’s moved on in his qualification for Test for the Best, he beat the number one contender to the North American Title, but knowing that the champion himself was…nervous? Stryker liked the thought of that. He has sensed nervousness in his opponents before. Last week was grade school ridiculousness. Niobe Martin and Angelina Quinn didn’t stand a chance. Two of the brightest Meltdown has to offer against two nobodies. I think everyone saw that coming. The only way Stryker wasn’t going to come out victorious in that match was if that wench Carmen Rivera screwed it up. She came close and there is certainly no love loss in that relationship. In the end everything finished as it should. Stryker moves on in the Test for the Best and his perfect record is untarnished.
Stryker knows he should be concerned this week. Evan Envi is probably the only person more heralded on Meltdown than Steve himself. But he’s not, not now, he can’t be now. Evan Envi gave up the only leverage he may have had. Evan Envi had the upper hand in this match. He was the favorite, he’s the champion. Now, what can people think? Envi admits that he’s scared, admits that he’s nervous. Admits that he doesn’t know if he can handle The Hitman. He should be nervous, this first month was nothing. The things that Steve Stryker can accomplish go far beyond Carmen Rivera and Evan Envi, the things that Steve Stryker can accomplish go all the way to the top.[/i]
“Why didn’t we just go to Greensboro first? Why go 440 miles south and then come right back up? Who is planning these venues? Is anyone in charge here?” Stryker muses to himself as he’s driving back North up I-85 through South Carolina.
Last week he had to drive from Richmond, Virginia down to Alabama, right through North Carolina and right through Greensboro. This week he just gets to go right back up the same stretch of boring highway. Shorter drive this week of course, but for goodness sake, it would be nice to have a few weeks closer to each other.
“Oh look some corn. Yay corn.” That’s most of what Stryker has seen this whole drive. Corn, cows, and mini-malls. In the mini-malls the same things, Panera Bread, Burger King, Target, same things, over and over. How on earth to people live like this?
Stryker had been thinking about this a lot during this drive. It was Albert Einstein who said the true definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different result each time. People eat Burger King six nights a week, Panera Bread once a week and expect to get thin. No wonder middle America is a bunch of fat cows. Made him think of Evan Envi too. Is it insane to constantly complain and whine about getting moved up to Overdrive and each week seeing that it’s not going to happen, but just do again the next week anyways?
Not that Stryker wasn’t a bit of a hypocrite. At first he was consistently wondering when he’d get his chance to move to Overdrive. It’s become apparent that making it to Overdrive was no quick matter. Save for Mark Mania that is. Who apparently is the exception that proves the rule. Stryker thought that after winning at the Meltdown Super Show that he’d be invited to Overdrive, he thought again after winning his Test for the Best qualifier that he’d be promoted to Overdrive. Clearly, that didn’t happen either. Here he is now though, in South Carolina, on the 85, realizing that his only opportunity is to win the Test for the Best.
In fact, he can’t lose at all from here on out. Every loss is a step backwards. If he beats all of the best that Meltdown has to offer, how can he be overlooked? Stryker will not pull an Evan Envi though, can’t keep on focusing on the future. The present is the only thing that matters now, and the present is a big match against a brand name competitor. This week Stryker has a perceived challenge on his hands, perceived is the key word here.
Stryker already has his camera set up in the rental car. He knows that he’s going to record another promo. Makes the drive go by a lot faster. He’s able to relax, he’s able to flow, he’s able to control the monster within. He’s able to be the cool, calculated Hitman.
*[o]RECORD [o]*
”Ladies and gentlemen of the APW, welcome to South Carolina! Here I am, “The Hitman” Steve Stryker live from the road. Well, what a great week it was at Meltdown eh? I took control of the match and while Carmen Rivera got the pin, we both got the ‘w’ and in the end isn’t that what really matters? In the record books all that will be tallied is that Steve Stryker got another victory. No need to get too concerned with who pinned who and when.”
“Members of APW, I believe that at this time I have sent a message to the entire roster. I have sent a message to each and every one of you. The Hitman is for real and The Hitman cannot be beat. I haven’t been beat and I don’t plan on starting this week. Do you know how I know that I sent a message to everyone last week?”
“Evan Envi.”
“That poor miserable sap is shaking in his boots crying about why President Jeff doesn’t like him and why Diamond would put him up against a big mean man that might hurt him. Oh boo hoo Envi, you’re the damn North American Champion, start acting like you deserve to wear that gold. You’re pathetic. You could put me in the ring with Kurt Noble, CJ Gates, and Level-One right now and I wouldn’t back down or be scared. Damn it, I’d walk in to that ring like I belong and fight for my damn victory. You’re walking into a match with a man you don’t even know and you’re afraid. You say you’ve watched my matches and learned all about me, what can you learn in four week Evan?”
“That no one has beaten me? That no one has figured out how to beat me? That no one gets up after the Bounty Kill? What have you learned you son of a bitch?! I’m going to walk into the Greensboro Coliseum and I’m going to whoop your ass up and down that ring and all your studying and preparation isn’t going to mean a damn thing!”
“You’re worried that “Hitman” isn’t just a moniker? You’re worried that I really have a bounty out on you Envi? Well, I hadn’t before this week. To be honest you weren’t even on my radar. When you won the North American Title you basically cemented yourself in Meltdown. You can be the face of Meltdown all day every day. You claim you have bigger dreams, you claim that you want the Undisputed Title. But actions speak louder than words Envi. Your actions are saying that you’re content where you are. You like being the main man in Meltdown. You’re afraid to venture out, that’s why you haven’t gotten your chance. President Jeff and Johnny Diamond can both smell your fear. That’s why you’re still here and Mark Mania moved on.”
“I don’t know that man more than a hole in the wall, but he walked in and never planned on staying, one Super Show and he was out of here. Why wasn’t that you Envi? Haven’t you accomplished more in the past five weeks than he has? Than anyone has? Why were you overlooked again? You can’t handle it. That’s why. You can’t handle the pressure, you can’t handle what it takes to be the best.”
“You have to tell your fans that you want more or they’d lose interest. I see through it Evan, I see right damn through it. You don’t want what I want. You want to be the best, sure. But you know you can’t be the best at Overdrive, you know you can’t hack it with the big boys. Which is why you’re going to stay here, North American Champion for the foreseeable future, a Meltdown legend.”
“People will speak highly of you Evan. You have everything that you want right here. You’re going to bring Meltdown to the forefront and you’re going to be the best Meltdown star there is… But that’s all you’ll be. You can’t handle it anywhere else. Because in the Overdrive or Asylum world, you’re a nobody. You’re a bottom carder who maybe one day could challenge for a mid-level title. You could never dance with the big boys. You don’t have the stomach for it.”
“You know Evan, normally I leave for the arena a day or two after the match and get in front of the APW world before any Meltdown Superstar, but this week I met up with a few old friends and it delayed my leaving. Boy am I glad it did. I would never have been able to see how nervous you were before I made this drive. You see, this drive is very therapeutic for me. It lets me put the world into perspective, it lets me get a feel for my match and my career all over again every week. After my drive I feel ready for the match, I feel ready for whatever is coming my way, and I feel ready to win.”
“It might’ve been much different if I didn’t know how nervous you were. I started this week as the underdog. I started this week as a challenger with something to prove. But damn Evan, it seems I’ve already proven it. I already have you afraid of me. And if you, the face of Meltdown is afraid of me, what does that say for every other Meltdown superstar out there? I can hear it Evan. It says that “The Hitman” Steve Stryker is the best Meltdown has. It says that “The Hitman” Steve Stryker is the one who deserves to move up to Overdrive. It says that “The Hitman” Steve Stryker is the man to beat now.”
“I was excited for a challenge this week Evan. I really thought I was going to get one. The past two weeks have been, well, boring. I thought this week was going to be different. Damn it Evan, you blew it for me! Don’t you understand that I like challenges? I’m not like you Evan. I don’t want to meddle with these idiots in Meltdown any longer. I strive for more! I can feel the desire welling up inside of me. And what do you do? You boost my ego and tell me how nervous you are? Come on man, I wanted a damn challenge from the North American Champion. Looks like another week of laboring around and another week of ‘W’s for The Hitman.”
“You know, I’m thinking, scary thought, I know. But, Evan, are you trying to pull something? Are you trying to boost me up so you can pull me down? Are you trying to make me feel real good about myself this week so that you can swoop in with something up your sleeves that I don’t see coming? Ah, I’m probably give you too much credit. I don’t think you’re that smart and frankly, I’ve been watching you these past few weeks I’ve been in APW too. You don’t have it in you to be that clever. You’re just a scared little boy. Well Evan, your worst fears can now be confirmed. I do want to hurt you. If I have to break your leg, your neck, or your spine, I won’t hesitate for a second. Because this week it’s true. This week, I have a bounty on your head Evan. This Monday in Greensboro, the Hitman is coming to collect his bounty. Run, go ahead, I’ll give you a head start.”[/color]
*[ ]STOP[ ]*
Two Hours Later
Steve Stryker arrives in Greensboro, North Carolina, much like he has in the past his first stop is to the arena. Stryker is a man of habit. It’s not OCD as much as it’s superstition. When you don’t lose a match for your first month in the federation, you don’t start changing up your routine.
Something was different this time though. When Stryker pulled into the arena there were quite a few cars already in the parking lot. People standing outside of their cars, it looks as though, are they looking at Steve? That wouldn’t make any sense.
Steve pulls into the parking lot and tries to look at what all the commotion was about. As he looks out, the people outside are looking back into his car. He sees the skeptical looks go from confounded to elated very quickly. As Stryker pulls into his spot, away from the other cars with no car in front of him so he can pull away easily, a crowd of people swarm around his car.
“They must think I’m somebody else. There isn’t another dream match this week is there?” Last week Terry Marvin and Michael Callahan had a match at Meltdown and it ended in a lot of fanfare for both competitors, much busier than normal. There is no such match this week though.
As he gets out of his car the yelling begins. People screaming “Stryker, Stryker!”, “Hitman, you’re the best!”
“What the hell is this?” Stryker wasn’t used to any of this. As a relatively unknown he was mostly booed throughout his career so far. Why were people suddenly all over him? The questions and comments kept coming.
“Carmen Rivera sucks! You killed her! She’s a nothing!”
“Bounty Kill!
People started putting their notepads in Steve’s face, asking for autographs, screaming their names to him. Out of sheer human nature he grabbed the pen and pad. He looked down at it and tried to listen to people saying their name. He heard twenty different names in thirty seconds. He looked at all the people again, everybody wanted something from him. Who were they to ask anything of Steve Stryker? He was a wrestler, nothing more, his only responsibility was to himself.
Steve throws down the paper and pen. “Everyone can leave. There is nothing to see here. I’m not here for you people. I’m here for myself. Please stop bothering me.”
A few people laughed, some just moved closer. Stryker backed up to his door. “Didn’t you people hear me? Get out of here. I’m not signing autographs or anything, if you want to see me, buy tickets to Meltdown.”
The crowd begins to cheer at the mention of Meltdown which confuses Steve even more. They still press on him and Stryker opens the door to his car.
“Get the f-ck out of here you damn inbreeds! I don’t give a damn about your autographs!” Steve slams the door to his car shut and peels out away from the crowd. He looks in his rearview mirror as he’s pulling onto the street and the people are standing their stunned. What was he supposed to do? He’s no hero.
Back at the hotel
Stryker sat on his bed thinking about the events that just transpired. He never considered himself a mean guy. Sure he got into fights, had a quick temper, and didn’t suffer many fools. This was different. Steve could feel anger towards those people, for no reason apparently.
Almost that they didn’t deserve to inconvenience him in such a way. Who were they to ruin Steve’s ritual? Who were they to get in the way of what the Hitman was doing? He was Steve goddamn Stryker. He can’t be bothered by a bunch of no-good fans who are just looking for an autograph so they can sell it on eBay.
Apparently being in the Main Event has its price.
