Post by Shadow on Jun 3, 2012 19:25:57 GMT -4
May 25th 2012
Shadow: I’m going to Meltdown.
He stands there with Slade in the locker room. It’s the day of the announcement and Shadow is packing his gear.
Slade- At least they let you choose. So, why Meltdown?
Shadow: When we came back, we promised everyone that we were here to stay. Two months in, the AKA splits. Well I wasn’t going to leave and I had to change shows.
He looks at Slade. Craven is silent.
Shadow: It’s not about Dita, man.
Slade- I didn’t say anything.
Shadow: You don’t have to. No, it’s not about Dita. I want to work every week, that week on, week off Asylum Schedule is not for me.
Slade- People may not see it that way.
Shadow: We’ll see.
He pulls his bag over his shoulder and turns to Slade. They both sum one another up. It’s been a long time since they parted ways in a company. Shadow extends his hand and Slade shakes it. They both smile, and then Shadow puts his sunglasses over his eyes.
Shadow: See you on the other side Slade.
He crosses the room and heads out the door. Craven watches Shadow walk off. He seems nostalgic for a moment. Craven is a bit sad, it shows on his face. The camera fades to black as Slade's lip twitches.
May 31th 2012
Shadow steps out of his house, into the bright Texas sunlight on the hot afternoon. His shades mask his eyes, his hair pulled into a pony tail. He carries his bag behind his right shoulder. After locking the door, Shadow turns and walks down the steps to the sidewalk, heading towards the shuttle waiting to take him to DFW Airport. He puts his bag in the back of the minivan and pays the driver before taking a seat in the front passenger seat. He is the only stop on the route today.
Driver: When is your flight sir?
Shadow: Two hours. Plenty of time, right?
Driver: I didn’t see any traffic when I drove up. Should be all clear.
Shadow: Thanks.
He buckles his belt as the driver takes off. As they drive, Shadow stares out the window. He looks across the fields, the endless fields of the Texas landscape. The hardest thing about traveling, or the easiest, depending on who you are is the change in scenery. People take it for granted. Tonight, the city landscape would host a new backdrop. Soon, mountains and forest would replace the blue skies.
Driver: How long has it been?
He comes out of his contemplation, looking to his left.
Shadow: What?
Driver: Since you worked a singles match?
A brief pause, while Shadow thinks back.
Shadow: Two years and a few months.
Driver: Is it like a tag match at all?
Shadow: You’d be surprised.
The vague response makes the driver cock his head to the side. He looks at Shadow, expecting a more definitive answer. But Shadow remains silent. No breaking kayfabe for him. He looks out the window again and the driver gets the hint not to press further. Shadow has a lot on his mind. In the past few weeks, things have changed drastically. It’s a new show, a new direction, and a walk down memory lane all at the same time. There is so much to do, and so little time to do it in.
June 2nd 2012
Shadow: We need to tone down the smoke, guys.
He is standing on the entrance ramp to Meltdown, in final assembly on Sunday in Greensboro, North Carolina. The stage is covered in smoke as Shadow stands at the bottom by the ring. He has on a Rangers Baseball cap and blue shades. He wears a black wife-beater and blue jeans. Today, he is directing the crew on his revamped entrance. Meltdown General Manager, Johnny Diamond, has permitted Shadow to do this, out of Shadow’s own pocket. Something, Shadow agreed to. Today they are putting the final tweaks on his entrance and getting ready for the show tomorrow night.
Shadow: Okay: color scheme, white fog and lightning background with the new titantron. That’s the level, so let’s run the smoke machines one more time.
He walks back up the ramp and as the smoke continues to clear. The Stage manager radios the crew to reset the video board. Shadow strides up the ramp and behind the curtain. He looks to his left and sees two people discussing the show tomorrow night. He turns back at the black curtain and waits. The lights do not go out, cant, too many people working. Instead, Shadow’s earpiece begins playing his music. When the chorus begins the video screens and titanron do play his stuff, just the music is fed to his earpiece only. He bursts through the curtain as his titantron begins, the smoke now only at knee level. He makes his way down the ramp, as the smoke dwindles and the practices flares go off with the timed, lightning strikes on his titantron video. Passing the Stage manager, he grabs the top rope and gets into the ring. The music fades and he stops and walks back to the ropes. He calls down to the Stage manager.
Shadow: Okay Rob. That will work.
Rob (Stage manager): Sounds good sir, time is sixty four seconds. That allows you plenty of time to pose. You get two and a half minutes.
Shadow: How long we going?
Rob: 15 minutes, tops.
Shadow: Sounds good.
He climbs out of the ring where Hannah Storm awaits him. It’s time for his biography update, that’s been long overdue.
Hannah Storm: Shadow! Glad you were able to work that a little early.
Shadow: Fourth run though, that was kind of long. I’m glad I scheduled this at two. Let’s knock this out, I need a shower.
Hannah: Yes, well you do smell like a cheap childrens costume shop.
Shadow: Thanks.
Hannah: Well, Shadow, this is it? The day before Meltdown, your new singles run. How does it feel? You get to finally get to try your hand at it again. What’s going through your mind?
Shadow shakes his head in disbelief. His eyebrows raise high above his sunglasses. He is so stunned, his jaw drops.
Shadow: Hannah, you can’t be serious. I mean; what?!
It is now Hannah’s turn to look confused. Shadow suddenly doubles over laughing. He sprays spit all over Hannah’s cameraman. He shakes his head and turns red, then ducks his head. He can’t stop laughing.
Hannah: Shadow! What’s so funny?
He rights himself and stifles his laughter. His face is bright red. He takes off his sunglasses and wipes tears from his red eyes. He fights back another laugh.
Shadow: Why am I in the Hall of Fame? What the Hell girl? Did everyone take the short bus to Greensboro this week?
Laughter breaks through his words.
Shadow: I’m Shadow, sweet heart. Two time Overdrive Champion, won the title in my second match in one of the fastest wins in APW history, fifteen seconds. This is not a new feeling for me. I have longed to go one on one for quite some time.
He rubs his hands together as the color returns to his face. He finishes frying his eyes and puts his sun glasses on.
Shadow: It seems people fail to remember who I am. My time in the Ass Kickers Anonymous is not why I was selected for the Hall of Fame. I have worked some of APW’s greatest talent. Only a select few of us still exist. Mayhem and the past few weeks on Overdrive have had some of those great matches because of one of our opponents. Hannah Storm, you and all of Meltdown are in for a treat. I apologize for your resources, it’s my fault. I will give you all and my opponent something great this week. But first we have to talk Hannah we have to update my biography. Come let’s talk. Here...
He hands the cameraman a towel.
Shadow: I apologize, man. I just did some thinking and realized some things need updating. It’s my fault.
Hannah: That’s why you called this though.
Shadow: But I didn’t know it was that bad. I mean. People seem to think I am new to the singles division. Honey, I was a singles competitor a long time before I reunited the AKA with Slade. Slade Craven was a singles competitor for a long time before he met me. We are no strangers to this division. I cannot wait for tomorrow night, Hannah, baby. I love this.
Hannah: What about Dita Morgan?
Shadow: What you mean, like before she and I? Yes. Dita joined the AKA a while back. Hannah. I started training in 2000. This is going to be so much fun. You know, people may wonder about myself and Dita, but it’s her life. Hannah, would you really want a guy like me, being jealous? I only ran with one other female wrestler before, Roxy Toretto. I wasn’t jealous when she took off. Life is funny sometimes. It brings us around again to somewhere we thought was lost long ago. But you have to approach it properly. I have a match this week, Hannah. That is more important. I have something to show everyone. So, I need to get ready Hannah. You have everything you need. Thanks.
He shakes her hand and he turns and jogs up the ramp. Hannah and her cameraman look at the each other puzzled before they look up after him. He disappears behind the curtains.
Meltdown:
Come my friends and gather all round. I have a magnificent story to tell. When I showed up on Overdrive back in the winter of 2009, Slade and I debuted as singles competitors who ran in the same faction. We made our name that way before APW had a tag team division. Then we began to tag. This was in the days of the Axis of Awesome. This is ancient history for us in APW. This excites me because I get to show you all something new, something unexpected. Mister “Jair” Hopkins, we are going to have some fun tonight on Meltdown. I am glad I get to be the first person of the Meltdown roster you get to “meet” this week. I mean you were so excited last week on Meltdown when you talked to Hannah.
Jair, this isn’t a threat. How many matches do you have in you? This is something you have to ask yourself. I’ve asked myself that question since I came back at Rasslemania. I missed it Jair. I missed the freedom of a singles match. I was so disappointed in myself, with the run the AKA had. We had to split. It bugged me because I know what I am capable of.
Slade and I were holding one another back. The rules of a tag match, they limit people. Having to wait your turn, stay out unless exempt. It gets boring. Singles matches, there is nowhere to run, no one to tag. J-Hop, I highly doubt you have any idea who I am. I mean, Johnny Diamond, was misinformed. But tonight, I’m going to make it right.
Johnny Diamond, I am excited to be a part of Meltdown. There is a lot of new and interesting talent on the roster. This is a great opportunity for new people, like J-Hop. But I have to say, I am a little disappointed. Not at my opponent; I expected a rookie. It’s because I should have notified you about my in ring history. I’m not trying my hand at a singles career; I am going back to my singles career.
A couple weeks ago, I rambled on about how I wasn’t going to hold back. And sadly, like a ponce, nothing came about from it. Hell I’m pretty damn embarrassed by my run in the tag division as of late. Slade and I were winless in the AKA, since coming back. What is more embarrassing than that? But there is a silver lining to all of this. Something most people would not notice. Hell, most people here couldn’t understand, not with the lack of information. You want to see what an AKA member can do in a singles match? Look at Slade versus Chris Hart a month back. You want to see what Shadow can do take a look back at Shadow and Carl Cage three years ago. J Hop that’s something you should look into. Maybe, Shadow versus Biggs at the Experts Invitational. A first ever for APW, to have the Overdrive Championship defended, but also change hands at an inter-promotional event.
What did you think you were facing this week? If you knew anything, you would know I’m not to be trifled with. You come here all fresh faced but I don’t know. I’m not going to give you an inch tonight J-Hop. That’s the lesson I am going to teach you tonight. Sometimes your opponents are relentless J-Hop. And that is exactly what I am. Before the AKA Jair, I held a decent undefeated streak, something I would like to reclaim in the singles division.
Power. That is something you need to understand, to obtain in order to make it as a wrestler, Jair. It’s a brutal thing to say. But that’s the truth, the fans know it. The way to win their hearts is to use that power properly. Some people out there. They run their mouths about how bad ass they are. They throw their weight around like it means something. The fans, they hate them for it. It sickens them when those men are on top. No, Jair, its people who want to succeed, people who deserve to succeed that the fans cheer for.
You come to this place, you have no idea what is in store for you. APW is not just any wrestling federation. It’s one of the best, if not the best. There is a certain caliber to our technique. You don’t show them what they want to see and you’ll be gone. I am warning you now. You step into that ring tonight you better be ready for what you have to face.
I found my power a long time ago. When I ran through people in this ring. It saddens me that I’m so old I have to bring it up, like the crazy old guy at the park who tells the same damn story over and over again. But after tonight, you will remember, they will all remember. There is no one to tag tonight Jair. No one to slap you hand and give you a time out. When that bell rings, you are going to be in that ring with me.
Don’t let my tag team streak mislead you. The losses we suffered, the losing streak, that just meant Slade and I should not have come back as the A.K.A. No when I watched him work Hart, and I saw how bad we looked as a tag team I knew we belonged on separate shows. You must think that, after our losing streak, I’m just a jobber, some over the hill codger to put you over. Hell no son.
You get to welcome me back to the singles division. Thank you, Jair. I will reward you for your troubles, because believe me, tonight with be troublesome. Shadow, that’s a name people have forgotten. But I think they are going to remember. Power, Jair. Through brute and unabashed power, I will remind everyone exactly why I wanted to work the singles line again. It’s not about gold, or winning. It’s about leaving a trail of destruction for the fans, a tribute to them. I like unleash my wrath by smashing people around the ring like a rag doll. How do you, Speedy? Speed will only get you so far, sooner or later I’ll get my hands on you. That’s all it will take. Then, well you better not stop fighting back. Otherwise you won’t be fighting period.
Tonight, I really just want to whip someone’s ass. J-Hop, looks like that’s you. For what it’s worth though, you will put a smile on my face. It’s nothing personal little guy. You got spirit, I believe that, just I don’t think you have enough. But hey, who knows, maybe you’ll learn something tonight. Maybe, just maybe you will find that moment. You can hope for that Jair. You can sit there and think about my weaknesses, try to find a way to slow me down, to halt my attack. But there is something you need to realize. Tonight I want to make a statement. I want to show everyone that Shadow is back. I’m not going to let you have your moment. It’s time to pay your dues, son.
Take a deep breath Jair. Smell that? It’s the adrenaline. It’s always there, right before a match. It drives you. That’s where your true strength will come from. Once you realize that, you can take on anyone. I will demonstrate that tonight. And believe me, I know what you think. That I’m full of it all bark and no bite. Sure. You think that, just remember I am going to tell you something right now. Tonight’s lesson, it won’t be quick, but you bet your ass it sure will be painful.
