Post by SalTal on Jun 27, 2012 8:55:03 GMT -4
Internet Explorer-*click*-Favorites-*click*-APW.com-*click*-Survive and Conquer-*click*-Sally Talfourd-*click*-Loading...
"Sally Talfourd presents ..."
is written across the screen, fades out, then
"In association with Action Packed Wrestling..."
is next to appear, holds, then fades out for
"Happy Endings T.V."
Which fades away to carnival music! A blank screen, but a cacophony of sounds. Children laughing, organs playing, the occasional bell ringing. It’s a picture for the ear of sound and enjoyment. Quite the contrast to the Asylum’s and the OverDrive’s and the Meltdown’s we’re used to hearing. After a moment, where the sound draws everyone in, it fades out, and then, with a deafening weight, we’re left in silence. The shot fades in and we’re treated to an amazing sight: The skyline of Chicago, the harbour rolling to the bottom of your screen, the picture-perfect blue sky rolling to the top. Anyone who’s done it knows exactly where this view is: From the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel.
[Sally] You know, if I had to leave Seattle...I’d probably move here.
And there’s that voice we’ve all been waiting for. The shot swings round to find the dazzling, amazing, “soon-to-be” Sally Talfourd sitting pretty as a picture. A bright pink day-coat on top of a very white Summer dress with yellow polka-dots spread all around. But, what we see is only half as important as what we hear, right? So let’s get back to that whole ‘listening’ part.
[Sally] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another episode of Happy Endings. As has been for the past two years, I’m Sally Talfourd and I want to take you on a little bit of a journey. Not some half-baked, drug-induced, dooby journey as seems to be, like, the trend. No, a journey of the mind. And what better setting that this here...
Sally holds out her arms. The setting of Chicago? No! The ferris wheel she’s on. Slowly going round, smoothly, fluidly making its move.
[Sally] You see, you, me, and my opponent - Mr. Johnathan Knuckles...
[Shane] So formal.
[Sally] I know, right? *Sally’s glance flicks from the camera to Shane with a smile*[/b] Someone’s got to bring a bit of class to our match. I’m usually considered the trashy one! So you can only imagine what we’re dealing with with Knuckles...*Sally’s back to the camera, keeping her cheeky smile*[/b]...anyway, us three are on a journey much like this ride here. You see, we’re going to be ending up right back at the start. The start of a journey. The start of my journey. *Sally holds up her hands in a defense of the confusion that must be shooting out of Knuckle’s ears right now*[/b] Now, before I lose you Knuckles, I’ll break it down for you. Give it, Shane. [/color]
There’s a shaky moment as Shane hands over the camera. A lovely shot of Sally’s feet, the roof, and finally a dainty hand that covers the lens for but a moment, before revealing itself. If you’re afraid of heights, look away now: Sally’s dangling the camera over the edge of her capsule-thingy.
[Sally] Down there, Knuckles, is where Shane and I got on. We went to the very top of this - as far away from the start as we could. And yet, try as we might, we’re going back down. We’re going back to the start. And the same way Shane and I are going back to the start right now...*Sally fumbles the camera back in and onto herself, holding it at an arm’s length all ‘Facebook-photo-esque’[/b]...the exact same way that you and I are headed back to the start of it all. [/color]
The handover happens all over again, but much more smoothly this time. Sally goes back to sitting all womanly-like for the camera.
[Sally] You see, Test for the Best is where it all started for me, Knuckles. 2010. The first time I made a real impression on APW. It was before your time. At the best of times I imagine your memory is a bit...hazy...so I’ll give you a run-down. Before it, I’d beat my arch-nemesis after coming into APW, beat Level-One, beat a few other main eventers, but no one knew if I was the real deal. *A beaming smile comes across Sally’s face as she remembers that fateful night that shot her to the main event*[/b] But Test for the Best? I got hold of a shot, an opportunity, at greatness. That’s the moment that people would start to talk about me. That’s the moment that my APW career started. That’s the moment when I started to introduce APW to Sally Talfourd. From that moment on, all my successes and...yes...failures can be traced back to. Winning and losing the APW title, main eventing Rasslemania’s, beating the best and losing to the best. It all started there.
And right now, Knuckles, at this very moment, we’re headed back to that place where it all started. That same night when I showed the world that I truly am one of the best APW has. The night to start it again is fast approaching us Knuckles. You’re lucky enough to be there to see the start of my renewal, in a sense. The type of renewal that anyone gets from simply ‘starting again’. I’m going into Test for the Best to remind APW that I’m still one of the best in this business. That I’ve still got everything and more to make myself a champion. That I’m ready to start another era of Sally Talfourd here in APW again. And, looking around APW, talking to the fans, taking measure of Asylum...you and I both know that this company needs me to be back at my best again. [/color]
It’s at this point Shane can’t help but interject. Man, just as Sally was getting on a roll too...
[Shane] So you’d agree that you’ve not been on your best recently?
[Sally] I would agree.
[Shane] Since Rasslemania? Because beating Level-One, that was a pretty big thing.
[Sally] Yeah, I’d say since then. You know, I never really brought myself back down from that. I mean, personally, after winning the APW title, that one win means more to me than any other. And because I achieved it...I don’t know...maybe I needed to be bought back to reality. But that Mayhem loss...that really did it for me. I came out of that match thinking “Wow, that was a wasted opportunity. I’d have to be really stupid to let the next one pass me by too...”
[Shane] Really stupid?
[Sally] Really stupid, yeah. Like, Captain Clapton stupid.
[Shane] That’s really stupid.
[Sally] You’re telling me! Anyway, let’s not get into some sort of ‘who’s stupider?’ debate. Because I think there’s a lot more people outside of this tournament than in it who will win. And I need to make sure I’m focusing on the important people. And no one is more important to me than Knuckles. You’re the apple of my heart, dear Knuckles. You’re all I’m thinking about, day and night. Not a moment goes by that my mind isn’t swept away by your gummy, toothless smile...by that particular smell that lingers around you...by your completely non-sensical way of thinking. I mean, what girl isn’t swept off her feet by a self-absorbed ego-maniac?
Sally throws a “Are you kidding?” look to the camera before anyone can even suggest that what she’s just said is a resemblance of any truth. She shifts in her seat, uncomfortable at the notion of having even said such silliness. But, throughout it all, she keeps that smile that lures you in.
[Sally] Knuckles, I want to be honest with you for a moment: We’re from two completely different worlds. And, any other day, any other setting, we’d probably not even say more than ‘Hello’ to each other. And that doesn’t bother either of us. It doesn’t bother me what you do out of the ring, what you say or think, or even how you live your life. And the same goes of you: You couldn’t care less about how I dress, where I hang out, what I do when I’m not in the ring. You might like to imagine...certain...things...but at the end of the day, none of it really matters, right? But you and me, the fans and haters, even Shane knows what does matter.
A slight look to the left to Shane tells him that his time to shine is right now! Go Shane!
[Shane] What matters is what you can both do in the ring?
[Sally] Very good Shane! You’re learning! But we’ve known this all along, haven’t we Knuckles? We’ve been in this business long enough to know that it’s not outside the ring that matters, but inside. And, on that basis...and that basis alone...I have a degree of respect for you. I respect the talent and skill you have. I respect that drive that keeps pushing you back into the ring time and time again. I mean, you must have the biggest drive out of all of Asylum. The amount of times you have failed - completely and utterly failed - and have come back to try again...that’s worth respecting alone. You’ve, what? Never beat Jason Kash? Never won a world title in APW? Never won a title on Asylum? Never won a title on APW at all? And yet you keep on trying...keeping on getting into the ring...keep on throwing your name into the mix hoping that something’s going to change? Yeah, I respect that Knuckles. I respect that.
But it’s not going to change. Oh sure, there’s no title on the line here. But there’s the opportunity at greatness. There’s an opportunity to win a world title at the end of all this. There’s an opportunity to get into that spotlight - a spotlight we were both in once and we both want to be back in oh-so much, right? There’s an opportunity up for grabs here, and I said, at the end of Mayhem, that I wasn’t going to let another one. Each qualifying match...I grabbed hold and didn’t let go. This tournament, I’m not letting go. And then, come Shockwave, I’m going to get my hands on another title and not...let...go. We’ve seen what happens when I want something...when I really, truly want something. I end up getting it. I’m tried and tested when it comes to ‘big stakes’ matches. You? You’re tried and busted. I respect you for getting back up after all of them, but you have to realise that some things never change. The sun rises, the sun sets, and Knuckles chokes. Those three things are the constants until the end of time. How else can we say it? Your title matches? You dropped the ball each time. Your chances at redemption? You never got it. Your shots at greatness? They missed the target each time. Each time, Knuckles. So I have to ask you, plain and simple: What’s different this time?
Sally sits back in the capsule, slightly tipping it back in her favour. Sort of like the momentum in this match. She’s won two tough, tough matches to get here - Chaz and Sykes, both world title contenders on their good days. And yet Sally beat them both to get into Test for the Best for the third year in a row. Sally goes to admire the view - perhaps even better on the way back down - but it’s not long before Shane has to break the silence.
[Shane] What comes after Knuckles? Who do you think you’re facing in the next round, if you make it through?
[Sally] Well, you have to think it will be Chaz Dillinger, won’t you? He’s had more shots at the title than anyone else around, so that tells us that he’s not that bad. And unless poor little Mike Morison manages to get great overnight, I just don’t see him coming out on top. But Chaz? Yeah. Yeah, I can see him winning. Not that it particularly bothers me, mind you. Mike or Chaz - I’m happy to face either. Because whoever makes it to the second round has shown their worth, shown their talent. They deserve that spot as much as me if I get there. But let’s say it’s Chaz...how is he any different from Knuckles? There will stand Chaz, across the ring from me. A man who has had title shot after title shot and only ever come up with failure after failure. There’s more to respect in Chaz - the talent he has, the technical ability - but, at the end of the day, he’s nothing but a modified version of Knuckles.
[Shane] You’ve beat him twice now - third time’s a charm, right?
[Sally] Yes, but is it going to be a charm for him or for me? I mean, he must have learned something by now - learned something about me. How to maybe, nearly, almost beat me? Surely he’s learned something about that, right?
[Shane] You’d think he’s have learned something after the first match though.
[Sally] Hmmm, yes, and he didn’t seem to. He just came out and did the same thing. But you know...I can’t be that lucky again. I mean, even the not-so-bright bring out their best at Test for the Best. It’s, like, right up there after Rasslemania. Obviously Mania comes first. But, to my mind Test for the Best comes in second. Why? Because it’s an all-APW affair to determine who is the best of the rest. Who - out of all the contenders to the world titles - is the best that APW has. And, well, if you look at this tournament you’re going to know without any doubt that this tournament really is a test to find out who is the best.
[Shane] Yeah, I know. When I saw that draw, I started to worry. You had...
In a flash, Sally holds up a hand to stop Shane from saying another word. Worried? Was Shane really worried? He must be the only person! Sally ‘tisk-tisks’ him before slowly lowering her hand.
[Sally] Shane. Shane, Shane, Shane. I’m extremely disappointed in you, my friend. Worried? Worried about what? Winning might be something I want but it’s not something that’s, you know, needed. Yes, winning would be great. But the best thing...the best thing that we’re really testing for is APW. How can APW be better? How can APW become the best? That means the fans need to leave happy, the company needs a respectable title contender, and wrestling needs to be on display at its purest and its finest. Those are the only things that anyone needs to worry about. Are the fans going to get the best show their money can buy? Is APW going to be better off from all this? And are we going to see a magical display of wrestling - the likes that no other company in this business can reproduce? I’m not worried at all that that’s going to happen. And do you know why?
[Shane] No...
[Sally] There’s no worry purely because there are so many talented people in this tournament. By the time we get to the second and third round...the weak have been weeded out. The Johnny Knuckles’, the Chaz Dillinger’s, the Mike Morrison’s have all been eliminated, leaving only the best that there can be to put on the best show. Only people that the fans need to see, the people needed to make APW better, the people who can wrestle like no others...they’ll be the people left by the end. And that’s what makes this tournament worth it. Worth the effort to qualify...to eliminate anyone...to win the whole thing. Now I challenge you, Shane, to go and listen to anything Mr. Knuckles and Mr. Dillinger and Mr. Morrison have to say about Test for the Best. I challenge you to find then saying anything like that. About the need for the for the fans to see the best of the best...for the winner to be someone who will take APW further...for the need for the real art of wrestling to be on display just to revitalise what we see each and every week.
No, let me tell you what you’re going to hear. Firstly, you’ll hear Knuckles ramble incoherently about how it’s his time, how he wants to redeem himself, and he wants to go on to face Kash again and win for the first time ever...as if that was going to happen. *Sally rolls her eyes at the mere suggestion of it, but snaps back quickly*[/b] And then you’ll hear little Mike pipe up and say something about how it’s his time to break through, how he’s now a serious contender, and how he’s Asylum’s future...so long as Asylum’s future is about the same as Enron’s and Fannie May and Freddie Mac’s all rolled into one. *Sally lets out a slight chuckle at her oh-so-witty joke there that would appeal to the more discerning sense of humour*[/b] And then you’ll hear the likes of Chaz Dillinger. And Chaz will wound exactly like this: Waaaaa! *That’s the sound of Sally imitating a baby’s cry, by the way*[/b] Chaz will have the biggest dummy-spit, saying things like it’s his time to finally be given some recognition, that every time someone like me has beat him, it’s been rigged against him, that APW is corrupt! [/color]
There’s a grinding sound accompanied by the whooshing sound of something machine-like. Finally taking notice of the background, we quickly realise that the skyline is pretty much gone and Sally’s cabin is coming back towards the end of the line. She looks around herself, and then starts to ready herself - sitting up prim and proper. Shane does a quick look-around with the camera, and catches the line (stretching for quite some length) for the wheel.
[Shane] Woah, thats a fair few people.
[Sally] Mmhm. But, you saw the view: Totally worth the wait! Though, I imagine the line to get into Test for the Best will be longer. APW always does it bigger. Bigger and better. And that’s exactly what this tournament needs to be: Bigger and better. Bigger than your average tournament or your average pay per view. That way, the people who aren’t ready for the “big time” yet are weeded out, leaving the people who know exactly what they need to do to make something of this opportunity to do just that. And better...well...that goes without saying. This tournament needs to be better than anything else that runs in APW this year. Why? Because APW needs the best. It needs someone who can handle themselves at Shockwave - not embarrass the company. Look at the last two winners: Me and CJ. We’ve both gone on to carry the weight of APW on our shoulders, and we both did a good job of it. This tournament needs to find someone who can do that. And, well, the tournament...if it was a person...wouldn’t need to look much further than pretty, young me, would it? *Cue the oh-so cute smile*[/b] I mean, I did it before. I’ve beat two out of the three people I may have to face from Asylum. I think I might end up having beat all three of them by the end of the night.
I’ve carried APW before, and I know what to do to make it an even better run now. I know what I need to do to make APW bigger and better. I know what I need to do to make sure those fans - those oh-so important fans - know that APW is the best company in the world. I know how to make my matches the must-sees all over again. Higher-flying, harder wrestling, exceptional excitement. But, you know the great thing? *Sally leans into the camera, a beckoning hand drawing Shane the rest of the way so she can drop her voice to a whisper*[/b] No one has to wait that long to see all that. [/color]
Sally leans back with a smile, looks around, and realises it’s time to get off. One of those ride attendants gets the cabin door for her, and with a courteous smile, she heads out She waits for Shane to catch her, and then the two stroll off into the park. Sally, though, still has one last bit of thing on her mind, and makes sure that Shane gets it all.
[Sally] You see, at Test for the Best, I’m showing the whole world just what I will do when I’m champion again. I’ve been a champion more than Knuckles...than Chaz...than Mike. I’ve been an APW champion more than everyone in this tournament. I don’t need to wrestle this tournament as a non-champion. I’m wrestling it with the same form that won me and kept me that title. Those harder-hitting, edge-of-seat matches that I put on as APW champion, I’m doing that again. Those matches I beat the likes of Level-One, Terry Marvin, BDC and any other Hall for Fame contender...those are the kinds of matches everyone can expect from me this time around. And, so, I come back to you Knuckles. Back to you and what you can expect. Yes, I respect you. Yes, I respect the fact that you continually drag yourself up from nothing...only to fall back down into nothingness. Do I want to be a person that pushes you back down there? Of course not. But if it means that i get to go on and make APW better for it, then I guess I have to.
I expect little from you in return. I don’t expect some glorification of me. I don’t expect an overdose of respect for who I am and what I’ve done and what I will do. And I don’t expect any sort of ‘love-in’ from you either. I know you’ll have some crude things to say, some derogatory remarks about women, and then some innuendoes to cap it all off. I might not like what you have to say, but I don’t have to worry about that. All I have to worry about...and all you have to worry about...is what we do in the ring. And that...that’s something you should be worrying about.
[Fan] Oh my gosh! Is that Sally Talfourd?
[Sally] Here we go...
Sally turns from Shane with a beaming smile to, firstly, one young girl ambling up to her, followed by wave after wave of APW die-hards and Sally Talfourd fans. The screaming and cheering and the cheering is what fades us out of the scene. Then, this all fades into those same sounds that brought us into the episode: a cacophony of sounds, children laughing, organs playing, and the occasional bell ringing out. A picture for the ear of sound and enjoyment. After a moment, there’s a fade into...
Sally Talfourd
written across the screen, which in turn fades away as the episode comes to a close.
"Sally Talfourd presents ..."
is written across the screen, fades out, then
"In association with Action Packed Wrestling..."
is next to appear, holds, then fades out for
"Happy Endings T.V."
Which fades away to carnival music! A blank screen, but a cacophony of sounds. Children laughing, organs playing, the occasional bell ringing. It’s a picture for the ear of sound and enjoyment. Quite the contrast to the Asylum’s and the OverDrive’s and the Meltdown’s we’re used to hearing. After a moment, where the sound draws everyone in, it fades out, and then, with a deafening weight, we’re left in silence. The shot fades in and we’re treated to an amazing sight: The skyline of Chicago, the harbour rolling to the bottom of your screen, the picture-perfect blue sky rolling to the top. Anyone who’s done it knows exactly where this view is: From the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel.
[Sally] You know, if I had to leave Seattle...I’d probably move here.
And there’s that voice we’ve all been waiting for. The shot swings round to find the dazzling, amazing, “soon-to-be” Sally Talfourd sitting pretty as a picture. A bright pink day-coat on top of a very white Summer dress with yellow polka-dots spread all around. But, what we see is only half as important as what we hear, right? So let’s get back to that whole ‘listening’ part.
[Sally] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to another episode of Happy Endings. As has been for the past two years, I’m Sally Talfourd and I want to take you on a little bit of a journey. Not some half-baked, drug-induced, dooby journey as seems to be, like, the trend. No, a journey of the mind. And what better setting that this here...
Sally holds out her arms. The setting of Chicago? No! The ferris wheel she’s on. Slowly going round, smoothly, fluidly making its move.
[Sally] You see, you, me, and my opponent - Mr. Johnathan Knuckles...
[Shane] So formal.
[Sally] I know, right? *Sally’s glance flicks from the camera to Shane with a smile*[/b] Someone’s got to bring a bit of class to our match. I’m usually considered the trashy one! So you can only imagine what we’re dealing with with Knuckles...*Sally’s back to the camera, keeping her cheeky smile*[/b]...anyway, us three are on a journey much like this ride here. You see, we’re going to be ending up right back at the start. The start of a journey. The start of my journey. *Sally holds up her hands in a defense of the confusion that must be shooting out of Knuckle’s ears right now*[/b] Now, before I lose you Knuckles, I’ll break it down for you. Give it, Shane. [/color]
There’s a shaky moment as Shane hands over the camera. A lovely shot of Sally’s feet, the roof, and finally a dainty hand that covers the lens for but a moment, before revealing itself. If you’re afraid of heights, look away now: Sally’s dangling the camera over the edge of her capsule-thingy.
[Sally] Down there, Knuckles, is where Shane and I got on. We went to the very top of this - as far away from the start as we could. And yet, try as we might, we’re going back down. We’re going back to the start. And the same way Shane and I are going back to the start right now...*Sally fumbles the camera back in and onto herself, holding it at an arm’s length all ‘Facebook-photo-esque’[/b]...the exact same way that you and I are headed back to the start of it all. [/color]
The handover happens all over again, but much more smoothly this time. Sally goes back to sitting all womanly-like for the camera.
[Sally] You see, Test for the Best is where it all started for me, Knuckles. 2010. The first time I made a real impression on APW. It was before your time. At the best of times I imagine your memory is a bit...hazy...so I’ll give you a run-down. Before it, I’d beat my arch-nemesis after coming into APW, beat Level-One, beat a few other main eventers, but no one knew if I was the real deal. *A beaming smile comes across Sally’s face as she remembers that fateful night that shot her to the main event*[/b] But Test for the Best? I got hold of a shot, an opportunity, at greatness. That’s the moment that people would start to talk about me. That’s the moment that my APW career started. That’s the moment when I started to introduce APW to Sally Talfourd. From that moment on, all my successes and...yes...failures can be traced back to. Winning and losing the APW title, main eventing Rasslemania’s, beating the best and losing to the best. It all started there.
And right now, Knuckles, at this very moment, we’re headed back to that place where it all started. That same night when I showed the world that I truly am one of the best APW has. The night to start it again is fast approaching us Knuckles. You’re lucky enough to be there to see the start of my renewal, in a sense. The type of renewal that anyone gets from simply ‘starting again’. I’m going into Test for the Best to remind APW that I’m still one of the best in this business. That I’ve still got everything and more to make myself a champion. That I’m ready to start another era of Sally Talfourd here in APW again. And, looking around APW, talking to the fans, taking measure of Asylum...you and I both know that this company needs me to be back at my best again. [/color]
It’s at this point Shane can’t help but interject. Man, just as Sally was getting on a roll too...
[Shane] So you’d agree that you’ve not been on your best recently?
[Sally] I would agree.
[Shane] Since Rasslemania? Because beating Level-One, that was a pretty big thing.
[Sally] Yeah, I’d say since then. You know, I never really brought myself back down from that. I mean, personally, after winning the APW title, that one win means more to me than any other. And because I achieved it...I don’t know...maybe I needed to be bought back to reality. But that Mayhem loss...that really did it for me. I came out of that match thinking “Wow, that was a wasted opportunity. I’d have to be really stupid to let the next one pass me by too...”
[Shane] Really stupid?
[Sally] Really stupid, yeah. Like, Captain Clapton stupid.
[Shane] That’s really stupid.
[Sally] You’re telling me! Anyway, let’s not get into some sort of ‘who’s stupider?’ debate. Because I think there’s a lot more people outside of this tournament than in it who will win. And I need to make sure I’m focusing on the important people. And no one is more important to me than Knuckles. You’re the apple of my heart, dear Knuckles. You’re all I’m thinking about, day and night. Not a moment goes by that my mind isn’t swept away by your gummy, toothless smile...by that particular smell that lingers around you...by your completely non-sensical way of thinking. I mean, what girl isn’t swept off her feet by a self-absorbed ego-maniac?
Sally throws a “Are you kidding?” look to the camera before anyone can even suggest that what she’s just said is a resemblance of any truth. She shifts in her seat, uncomfortable at the notion of having even said such silliness. But, throughout it all, she keeps that smile that lures you in.
[Sally] Knuckles, I want to be honest with you for a moment: We’re from two completely different worlds. And, any other day, any other setting, we’d probably not even say more than ‘Hello’ to each other. And that doesn’t bother either of us. It doesn’t bother me what you do out of the ring, what you say or think, or even how you live your life. And the same goes of you: You couldn’t care less about how I dress, where I hang out, what I do when I’m not in the ring. You might like to imagine...certain...things...but at the end of the day, none of it really matters, right? But you and me, the fans and haters, even Shane knows what does matter.
A slight look to the left to Shane tells him that his time to shine is right now! Go Shane!
[Shane] What matters is what you can both do in the ring?
[Sally] Very good Shane! You’re learning! But we’ve known this all along, haven’t we Knuckles? We’ve been in this business long enough to know that it’s not outside the ring that matters, but inside. And, on that basis...and that basis alone...I have a degree of respect for you. I respect the talent and skill you have. I respect that drive that keeps pushing you back into the ring time and time again. I mean, you must have the biggest drive out of all of Asylum. The amount of times you have failed - completely and utterly failed - and have come back to try again...that’s worth respecting alone. You’ve, what? Never beat Jason Kash? Never won a world title in APW? Never won a title on Asylum? Never won a title on APW at all? And yet you keep on trying...keeping on getting into the ring...keep on throwing your name into the mix hoping that something’s going to change? Yeah, I respect that Knuckles. I respect that.
But it’s not going to change. Oh sure, there’s no title on the line here. But there’s the opportunity at greatness. There’s an opportunity to win a world title at the end of all this. There’s an opportunity to get into that spotlight - a spotlight we were both in once and we both want to be back in oh-so much, right? There’s an opportunity up for grabs here, and I said, at the end of Mayhem, that I wasn’t going to let another one. Each qualifying match...I grabbed hold and didn’t let go. This tournament, I’m not letting go. And then, come Shockwave, I’m going to get my hands on another title and not...let...go. We’ve seen what happens when I want something...when I really, truly want something. I end up getting it. I’m tried and tested when it comes to ‘big stakes’ matches. You? You’re tried and busted. I respect you for getting back up after all of them, but you have to realise that some things never change. The sun rises, the sun sets, and Knuckles chokes. Those three things are the constants until the end of time. How else can we say it? Your title matches? You dropped the ball each time. Your chances at redemption? You never got it. Your shots at greatness? They missed the target each time. Each time, Knuckles. So I have to ask you, plain and simple: What’s different this time?
Sally sits back in the capsule, slightly tipping it back in her favour. Sort of like the momentum in this match. She’s won two tough, tough matches to get here - Chaz and Sykes, both world title contenders on their good days. And yet Sally beat them both to get into Test for the Best for the third year in a row. Sally goes to admire the view - perhaps even better on the way back down - but it’s not long before Shane has to break the silence.
[Shane] What comes after Knuckles? Who do you think you’re facing in the next round, if you make it through?
[Sally] Well, you have to think it will be Chaz Dillinger, won’t you? He’s had more shots at the title than anyone else around, so that tells us that he’s not that bad. And unless poor little Mike Morison manages to get great overnight, I just don’t see him coming out on top. But Chaz? Yeah. Yeah, I can see him winning. Not that it particularly bothers me, mind you. Mike or Chaz - I’m happy to face either. Because whoever makes it to the second round has shown their worth, shown their talent. They deserve that spot as much as me if I get there. But let’s say it’s Chaz...how is he any different from Knuckles? There will stand Chaz, across the ring from me. A man who has had title shot after title shot and only ever come up with failure after failure. There’s more to respect in Chaz - the talent he has, the technical ability - but, at the end of the day, he’s nothing but a modified version of Knuckles.
[Shane] You’ve beat him twice now - third time’s a charm, right?
[Sally] Yes, but is it going to be a charm for him or for me? I mean, he must have learned something by now - learned something about me. How to maybe, nearly, almost beat me? Surely he’s learned something about that, right?
[Shane] You’d think he’s have learned something after the first match though.
[Sally] Hmmm, yes, and he didn’t seem to. He just came out and did the same thing. But you know...I can’t be that lucky again. I mean, even the not-so-bright bring out their best at Test for the Best. It’s, like, right up there after Rasslemania. Obviously Mania comes first. But, to my mind Test for the Best comes in second. Why? Because it’s an all-APW affair to determine who is the best of the rest. Who - out of all the contenders to the world titles - is the best that APW has. And, well, if you look at this tournament you’re going to know without any doubt that this tournament really is a test to find out who is the best.
[Shane] Yeah, I know. When I saw that draw, I started to worry. You had...
In a flash, Sally holds up a hand to stop Shane from saying another word. Worried? Was Shane really worried? He must be the only person! Sally ‘tisk-tisks’ him before slowly lowering her hand.
[Sally] Shane. Shane, Shane, Shane. I’m extremely disappointed in you, my friend. Worried? Worried about what? Winning might be something I want but it’s not something that’s, you know, needed. Yes, winning would be great. But the best thing...the best thing that we’re really testing for is APW. How can APW be better? How can APW become the best? That means the fans need to leave happy, the company needs a respectable title contender, and wrestling needs to be on display at its purest and its finest. Those are the only things that anyone needs to worry about. Are the fans going to get the best show their money can buy? Is APW going to be better off from all this? And are we going to see a magical display of wrestling - the likes that no other company in this business can reproduce? I’m not worried at all that that’s going to happen. And do you know why?
[Shane] No...
[Sally] There’s no worry purely because there are so many talented people in this tournament. By the time we get to the second and third round...the weak have been weeded out. The Johnny Knuckles’, the Chaz Dillinger’s, the Mike Morrison’s have all been eliminated, leaving only the best that there can be to put on the best show. Only people that the fans need to see, the people needed to make APW better, the people who can wrestle like no others...they’ll be the people left by the end. And that’s what makes this tournament worth it. Worth the effort to qualify...to eliminate anyone...to win the whole thing. Now I challenge you, Shane, to go and listen to anything Mr. Knuckles and Mr. Dillinger and Mr. Morrison have to say about Test for the Best. I challenge you to find then saying anything like that. About the need for the for the fans to see the best of the best...for the winner to be someone who will take APW further...for the need for the real art of wrestling to be on display just to revitalise what we see each and every week.
No, let me tell you what you’re going to hear. Firstly, you’ll hear Knuckles ramble incoherently about how it’s his time, how he wants to redeem himself, and he wants to go on to face Kash again and win for the first time ever...as if that was going to happen. *Sally rolls her eyes at the mere suggestion of it, but snaps back quickly*[/b] And then you’ll hear little Mike pipe up and say something about how it’s his time to break through, how he’s now a serious contender, and how he’s Asylum’s future...so long as Asylum’s future is about the same as Enron’s and Fannie May and Freddie Mac’s all rolled into one. *Sally lets out a slight chuckle at her oh-so-witty joke there that would appeal to the more discerning sense of humour*[/b] And then you’ll hear the likes of Chaz Dillinger. And Chaz will wound exactly like this: Waaaaa! *That’s the sound of Sally imitating a baby’s cry, by the way*[/b] Chaz will have the biggest dummy-spit, saying things like it’s his time to finally be given some recognition, that every time someone like me has beat him, it’s been rigged against him, that APW is corrupt! [/color]
There’s a grinding sound accompanied by the whooshing sound of something machine-like. Finally taking notice of the background, we quickly realise that the skyline is pretty much gone and Sally’s cabin is coming back towards the end of the line. She looks around herself, and then starts to ready herself - sitting up prim and proper. Shane does a quick look-around with the camera, and catches the line (stretching for quite some length) for the wheel.
[Shane] Woah, thats a fair few people.
[Sally] Mmhm. But, you saw the view: Totally worth the wait! Though, I imagine the line to get into Test for the Best will be longer. APW always does it bigger. Bigger and better. And that’s exactly what this tournament needs to be: Bigger and better. Bigger than your average tournament or your average pay per view. That way, the people who aren’t ready for the “big time” yet are weeded out, leaving the people who know exactly what they need to do to make something of this opportunity to do just that. And better...well...that goes without saying. This tournament needs to be better than anything else that runs in APW this year. Why? Because APW needs the best. It needs someone who can handle themselves at Shockwave - not embarrass the company. Look at the last two winners: Me and CJ. We’ve both gone on to carry the weight of APW on our shoulders, and we both did a good job of it. This tournament needs to find someone who can do that. And, well, the tournament...if it was a person...wouldn’t need to look much further than pretty, young me, would it? *Cue the oh-so cute smile*[/b] I mean, I did it before. I’ve beat two out of the three people I may have to face from Asylum. I think I might end up having beat all three of them by the end of the night.
I’ve carried APW before, and I know what to do to make it an even better run now. I know what I need to do to make APW bigger and better. I know what I need to do to make sure those fans - those oh-so important fans - know that APW is the best company in the world. I know how to make my matches the must-sees all over again. Higher-flying, harder wrestling, exceptional excitement. But, you know the great thing? *Sally leans into the camera, a beckoning hand drawing Shane the rest of the way so she can drop her voice to a whisper*[/b] No one has to wait that long to see all that. [/color]
Sally leans back with a smile, looks around, and realises it’s time to get off. One of those ride attendants gets the cabin door for her, and with a courteous smile, she heads out She waits for Shane to catch her, and then the two stroll off into the park. Sally, though, still has one last bit of thing on her mind, and makes sure that Shane gets it all.
[Sally] You see, at Test for the Best, I’m showing the whole world just what I will do when I’m champion again. I’ve been a champion more than Knuckles...than Chaz...than Mike. I’ve been an APW champion more than everyone in this tournament. I don’t need to wrestle this tournament as a non-champion. I’m wrestling it with the same form that won me and kept me that title. Those harder-hitting, edge-of-seat matches that I put on as APW champion, I’m doing that again. Those matches I beat the likes of Level-One, Terry Marvin, BDC and any other Hall for Fame contender...those are the kinds of matches everyone can expect from me this time around. And, so, I come back to you Knuckles. Back to you and what you can expect. Yes, I respect you. Yes, I respect the fact that you continually drag yourself up from nothing...only to fall back down into nothingness. Do I want to be a person that pushes you back down there? Of course not. But if it means that i get to go on and make APW better for it, then I guess I have to.
I expect little from you in return. I don’t expect some glorification of me. I don’t expect an overdose of respect for who I am and what I’ve done and what I will do. And I don’t expect any sort of ‘love-in’ from you either. I know you’ll have some crude things to say, some derogatory remarks about women, and then some innuendoes to cap it all off. I might not like what you have to say, but I don’t have to worry about that. All I have to worry about...and all you have to worry about...is what we do in the ring. And that...that’s something you should be worrying about.
[Fan] Oh my gosh! Is that Sally Talfourd?
[Sally] Here we go...
Sally turns from Shane with a beaming smile to, firstly, one young girl ambling up to her, followed by wave after wave of APW die-hards and Sally Talfourd fans. The screaming and cheering and the cheering is what fades us out of the scene. Then, this all fades into those same sounds that brought us into the episode: a cacophony of sounds, children laughing, organs playing, and the occasional bell ringing out. A picture for the ear of sound and enjoyment. After a moment, there’s a fade into...
Sally Talfourd
written across the screen, which in turn fades away as the episode comes to a close.
