Post by The Hitman on Jul 5, 2012 13:59:16 GMT -4
Last Night
“Well this is just fucking great.” Steve Stryker was talking to the bartender at Saus, a Chicago late night eatery and bar.
“What’s bothering you, son?” The bartender was an older gentlemen, didn’t look like he belonged in an airport bar. His eyes were kind, but his face looked weathered.
“The last few weeks have been real shit, man.” Life had been killing Stryker since his loss to Johnny Rebel on Sunday. He had gone from being on a winning streak in the APW to just being thrown around his past few weeks. First he loses at Meltdown against Carmen Rivera and Evan Envi, then he loses to Talon Wilkinson, the Owner of CRW, and then, he loses to APW’s own Johnny Rebel just a few days ago. What does this all mean for him going forward?
“You’re at a bar, bud, tell me your troubles.” The bartender started cleaning the bar area in front of Steve.
“It’s just amazing how quick I went from standing up for myself and being somebody to just being a loser.” It was difficult for Stryker to be down on himself. It’s been awhile since he’s been in an APW ring and he hasn’t felt comfortable anywhere else recently.
“If you can become a loser so quickly, can’t you become a winner just as quick?”
Stryker looked at the man for a minute and smiled.
Present Day
Stryker wasn’t going to travel like he had been lately. His ritual of driving from each location was ruined at this point. Luckily this time around the travel wasn’t necessary. He competed in the Extreme Tournament this past week at the VWF Arena in Chicago. All he had to do now was make his way to the United Center for his next set of matches. He says matches because he’s not going to be a one and done in the Test for the Best.
He was sitting in his hotel room, looking high across the Chicago skyline. Stryker still isn’t used to the lifestyle of traveling around, staying in hotel rooms, and having most things at your beck and call. Stryker has been getting a crash course in this over the past two weeks.
Stryker went from being a relatively unknown in Meltdown, to suddenly having a chance to become the True Expert Champion and APW Undisputed Champion by the end of the summer. Could there be any more pressure on a person? People have constantly been talking about Stryker is the Wildcard. He’s the unknown. The most to gain and the least to lose. Everyone wishes they were Steve Stryker, he has it so easy.
What’s easy about everyone thinking you should lose? What’s easy about everyone expecting nothing of you? Stryker had accepted the fact that he was no longer the favorite now that he’s moved beyond Meltdown. Not that he’s been called up to Overdrive just yet, but the fact that he could pave his own way to the top is what makes him feel pretty confident going forward. Stryker is hoping that being the underdog will provide just the motivation he needs to win this.
Stryker continues to pace back and forth in his hotel room. He’s impatient and just wants this week to get on with. He knows that the only way he can move beyond these losses is if he gets in the ring and wins again.
Last Night
“I think it’s a lot easier to be a loser than a winner.” Convoluted sure, but Stryker felt like he was right.
“When you’re thinking like that, what do you expect to happen?” This was the first time that Stryker had really connected with someone in a long time. He hadn’t really talked to anyone outside of pissed off fans and dim-witted backstage reporters.
“I mean, it’s easy to be winning on Meltdown. There I was a star, there I could do no wrong and could beat people left and right. Now that I’m getting a shot, a real shot, and things aren’t going so well.” Stryker couldn’t shake this feeling for the life of him.
“What made you the best on Meltdown?” Fair question.
“Week in and week out I fought my hardest and would walk away with a victory. I was a better wrestler, a more prepared fighter, and frankly, I was in a league of my own from most other competitors.”
“Is it because you fought harder or is it because you were more physically gifted?”
Stryker pondered this for a moment. What truly breeds a winner? Is it having the better skills or having the stronger fight?
“That’s the million dollar question isn’t it?” Stryker asked, hoping for an answer.
“No it’s not, boy. The answer is easy. You have to fight harder. That’s always the answer. Life has you down… fight harder. You’ve been beat up… fight harder. You’ve been tossed around… fight harder. You can never be counted out if you still have fight in you. You’ll have to work through your issues to find that undying fight, but once you do, there ain’t a damn thing that will be able to stop you. You have the physical gifts, you have the innate skill. What you need is that fight.”
“What do you mean I don’t have fight?” Stryker looked into the man’s eyes.
“Look at you, son. You’re sitting here in a rundown bar in the middle of Chicago, drinking a beer and complaining about how tough life has been. How much fight could you have in a situation like that?”
Stryker considered this for a moment before he realized he didn’t like what he was hearing.
“Now listen to me old man, I have plenty of fight, you better damn believe that. I don’t put up with this kind of shit from anyone that I get into the ring with so I’m sure as shit not going to put up with it from you.” Well, there goes that connection.
“Calm down, calm down. I’m telling you what you need to hear. I’m telling you what you’re going to pay a therapist $300 an hour to tell you in a few years. You know why you strived in Meltdown?” Stryker looked at him but didn’t answer. “You strived in Meltdown because your skills were just that damn good. You’re natural, God-given ability was enough to get you that far. I have to tell you, there ain’t a damn person in the world who has enough God-given ability to walk into the top tier of anything and be the best. It just doesn’t happen. You need that combination of natural ability and the type of fight that can only be seen in movies. You’ve got the skills boy, now you need to get that drive.”
Stryker slammed his fists on the bar.
“Don’t you tell me about drive you bastard. You’re an old man who is just working in a shit bar. What do you know about drive? If you had any real drive you’d be sitting in a corporate office right now or spending time with your family, or making a real difference in life. Instead you’re spewing this shit to me about how I need drive.” Stryker knew he was right though. He couldn’t compete in Overdrive or The Experts unless he fought harder.
“I think it’s time for you to show yourself the way out young man.”
Stryker stood up and glared into the bartenders eyes.
“If you think you’re going to intimidate me, you’re barking up the wrong tree.” The bartenders response confused Stryker. He turned around and walked out of the bar.
“Good luck, Steve.” The bartender said this as the door to the bar was shutting behind Stryker.
Present Day
Stryker had woken up early this morning to get in a gym session. It wasn’t pretty after the multitude of beers he had last night. The gym bathroom certainly got an unwelcome guest a few times. He had to do it though, the damn old man was right. His fight was lacking over the past few weeks. There was so much opportunity, so many chances just dropped on his plate that he couldn’t keep track of them all.
It’s not as though he didn’t fight for his chance to be in Test for the Best, but once it was there, it was so damn far away. He’s known that he was going to be in the tournament for almost three weeks now. Someone as young and inexperienced like Stryker can’t handle taking that much time off. He’s had matches in the meantime sure, but Test for the Best is the big prize. Test for the Best is where his name really gets made. His career has been short of course, but he’s spent all of it tring to gain approval from the APW brass and from his peers. No matter what he does in the Extreme Tournament people will make their opinions of him, but in the Test for the Best, that’s his real home. That’s where the checks come from, and that’s where he wants to shine.
After the morning gym session, Stryker went for a quick run around the city. Just a few miles, just to get a feel for the atmosphere, the people, the identity of the city. Chicago was an electric city really. A cleaner and less crime filled Detroit. God, it’s been awhile since Stryker was home in Detroit. All the things of his past, probably still there, waiting to catch up with him. His boss that he knocked out his son, his ex-girlfriend that fell out of love with him. So much history, seems like such a distant memory now. APW has become his life. Wrestling was the only thing he thought about now. It was the only thing that made sense. He could spend all the time in the world worrying about the past, but he’d still have a match that week, so what was the point? Stryker had to continue to focus on the tournament, it’s his only chance at survival.
Last Night
Stryker walked out of the bar and into the streets. He walked by a few homeless people without even giving them a glance. He thought about what a bastard he had become. Stryker wasn’t always a bad person or a mean person. He used to actually be incredibly caring, thoughtful, and kind of funny. It’s funny how the limelight will change some people. Some people embrace the comfort of the light and become a person that is ten time better than they ever could be. Yet others shy away from the light and try to cast themselves outside of it. Pushing it away and condemning those who live within it or shine it. It wasn’t difficult to place Stryker is one of those categories.
He’s never really liked attention. He had a relatively successful MMA career. Nothing spectacular but he won a few matches. Was never on a UFC or StrikeForce TV show, the most notoriety he ever got was someone would buy him a beer after a match. Stryker didn’t hate the free booze, but he didn’t need to be admired. He was never fighting for the fans. He was fighting because he enjoyed himself and loved doing it.
Now in the APW, that was different, he had to start fighting for something.
He continued his way down the street, stumbling a bit, he had more to drink than he originally thought while sitting listening to the old man talk. It wasn’t long before Stryker pulled out his cell phone and started scrolling through his contact list looking for a drunk dial or a booty call. It was then that he realized just how polarizing he had become over the past few months. There were no names. There wasn’t any booty calls or one night stands. Home, Office, Parents. That’s it. He could call himself, he could call the APW offices, or he could call his parents. What a lonely sack of shit he’s become.
From this didn’t come reflection however, from this came anger. Stryker opened the app on his phone to record his voice.
“I am sick and tired of worrying about what each and every single person in the APW universe thinks about it. I’ve been muddling around in Meltdown for over two months now and I’ve been dominating my opponents left and right. Sure I’ve had two losses to that jealous bastard Evan Envi, but other than that, no one has been able to get in my way. I don’t have anything to prove to these people on Meltdown anymore. I’m above it. You know how I know that? Do you? Because here I am right now. On one of the grandest stages in all of sports. Getting ready to compete in the biggest tournament that APW has to offer. Here I am, getting ready to face two of the best wrestlers in the game today in Keaton Saint and John Dionysus. Two men that have both been pegged to win this whole damn tournament. Do I sound scared? Because believe you me, I’m not.”
“I’ve seen these two men in the ring, I’ve watched them, I’ve seen what they’re capable of. I know they’re a lot more familiar with each other than they are with me and I’m damn glad for that. It’s going to work directly to my favor that they don’t know who I am. They can both say they’ve done their research, but let’s be serious with ourselves for a second. What is more likely, that I watched their matches, as an up and comer and as someone who is trying to make a name for himself or that you two watched a Meltdown match to see how The Hitman was doing? I’m not saying I look up to either of you two, but I for damn sure want to be in your place. I can’t wait to be competing in Overdrive week in and week out and you two are already doing that. So I have been watching Overdrive, learning the caliber of wrestlers that are there and have been planning my way of getting there.”
“I have a built in way to get there right now and the first stage is with you two. Let me start with Keaton Saint, as his name has been talked about all over Chicago for the past week. The man who had the chance to become the True Expert Champion last week and completely blew it. Just like everyone before him, and seemingly everyone after him, he blew it and now walks away with a loss as bad as mine. So I’m sure you’re feeling a little down on yourself these days Keaton. I’m sure that you’re not as prepared for me as you may think. You called me a wild card time and time again and all that means to me is that you’re not ready for me. You don’t know what to think because you haven’t been keeping close enough eyes on me. Ever since I burst onto the scene of APW and beat the hell out of Warren Peace, everyone should’ve started taking notes.”
“Saint I’m sure that you really wanted to win this tournament and cement yourself as a main-eventer in the APW, but I think we can all agree that it isn’t happening for you this time. This tournament is too stacked, there are too many great competitors and as you proved this past Sunday, you can’t beat the true greats. I’m not naïve enough to say that I’m one of those true greats, don’t get me wrong. What I will say is that I don’t even think you’re going to make it out of this first round. I think you’re beat up, I think you’re defeated, I think that you plan on getting through me so easily that you’re not even going to have to try. You can call me a wild card Keaton, but all that means is that you underestimate me. I’m going to make it perfectly clear on Sunday what a poor choice that really is. I’m not one to be counted out and I’m not one to be underestimated.”
“Which brings me to opponent number two on the docket, John Dionysus. Johnny, let me tell you something. I like you. You know why that is? You had nothing but nice things to say about me. It’s such a pleasant foray away from the normal, ‘you suck, he sucks, I rule’ that we normally hear from everyone. You also called me a wild card, which, while you said had no condescending undertones, it’s difficult to avoid them. One thing that surprised me though was how you thought that I was both the lucky one and the impressive one at the same time. Yes, I hold the Meltdown golden ticket, that is certainly true, and yes I beat half the Meltdown roster to get there. You know what, I only feel lucky. I don’t feel like I had to do that much to get into this tournament. My tag team victory was quite simple. Rivera and I, while at odds, are too good to lose in a situation like that. The battle royal was a test, that’s for certain. But when the goal was just a chance to enter this tournament, the battle royal wasn’t as gratifying. I didn’t feel a big sense of accomplishment when I won it, it was just something that I had to do.”
“After I won the tag match to qualify, I knew all along that I was getting into this tournament. I wasn’t going to have it be any other way. So while you may view it as impressive that I beat the best of the best in Meltdown, that doesn’t mean squat to me. The only thing that matters to me is here and now. My goal was never to be the best in Meltdown. It was a reality, but never a goal. I want to be the best in all of the APW. I have a chance right here, right now to prove that. It starts with you and Saint. It starts with Round 1, Match 1. I have to beat two solid competitors. I have to beat two people who have each been predicted to win this whole damn thing. So what does that mean if I win? Does that mean I’m the new favorite? You look at some of these other names after the three of us and it only gets more difficult. The new shiny star of APW, Terry Marvin. The old star of APW, Sally Talfourd. I have the chance to go up against either of them in just a few short days. I have the chance to prove to everyone that Steve Stryker is as good as advertised from Meltdown. I can’t blow it in the first round, it wouldn’t be right, it wouldn’t be fair. I didn’t come this far to lose in the first round boys.”
“I didn’t come this far to be the wild card that was never played. If I’m going to be crowned the wild card of this tournament, you better believe I’ve come ready to be run wild.”
Present Day
The recording finishes playing back to Stryker who listens to it with a smile on his face. It’s amazing how what that old man had said has truly turned his whole focus around. It was no longer feeling sorry for himself for his mini-losing streak here, he wasn’t worrying about what everyone was saying behind his back. All he was concerned about was victory. After listening to his recording from last night, he realized he had a chance to win this thing. A true Cinderella story could be happening before everyone’s eyes. There was a chance that The Hitman could go from Meltdown to Main Event of Shockwave. He was proud and he was excited. Which means that he had to prepare for more than just Keaton Saint and John Dionysus. He had to prepare to face anyone and everyone in this tournament.
Stryker reached into his bag and pulled out his camera and pressed record.
RECORD
“Oh APW world, I know you’ve been hearing a lot from me lately, but believe me, you’re going to be hearing even more as the days go on. I have come to the realization that I am not just a wild card in this tournament, no, I am a true threat. I have just as good a chance as anybody to walk out of the United Center on Sunday with a ticket in my hand that says I’m going to be facing the APW Undisputed Champion at Shockwave in August. So while my drunken recording from last night addressed my competitors that I would definitely be facing in Keaton Saint and John Dionysus, I wanted to address the others that I could be seeing on my way to the top.”
“First let’s start with that hot shot Terry Marvin. A man who I hear nothing but praise for. A man who over the next week or so I am going to become very comfortable with. Not only do I have the chance of facing him at the Test for the Best, but I am also most definitely facing him at the Extreme Tournament. So in two different arenas just hours apart we’re most likely going to be facing each other. Terry, a lot of people say great things about you and you’ve earned that. You are as good as they say. So the only way I can beat you is if I’m better. People seem to think that Test for the Best is going to be your coming out party, a way to go from the middle of the card champion that you are to the Main Event status where you belong. There’s a possibility that this might be your chance to finally do that, but if you have to go through me, it’s going to be a lot more difficult than you expect. It’s going to take everything you have, because if I make it through that first round and can smell the Test for the Best victory right around the corner, I don’t think there is a wrestler in APW that could stop me.”
“My prediction is that Terry Marvin is going to win his first round match against AC Smith for one reason and one reason only. AC Smith isn’t prepared. He may have had a tough road to this competition, having to compete in the ladder match against some great wrestlers but now that he’s here he doesn’t know what to do with it. Did anyone else see him talking? He didn’t mention me once! I understand if he doesn’t think I’m a threat, but based off of what I saw, I think he doesn’t even know that I’m in the tournament. What kind of incompetent fool doesn’t do at least the bare minimum research before heading into the night? I mean, at the very least, the very least he has to look at who else is on the card right? The man blabs on for what seemed like an eternity and he didn’t mention me once. Maybe I’m a little sensitive to it, but AC, if you don’t even know the name of the man that’s going to whoop your ass, maybe you’re not ready for the big leagues.”
“So I’ll continue to prepare for this tournament assuming that I’ll be facing Terry Marvin. Hopefully it won’t be the only time that the Hitman comes to collect his bounty on Terry Marvin.” [/font]
STOP
Stryker steps back from the camera and continues to pace around his room. “I can win this thing, I have to win this thing. Fuck it, back to the gym.” The Hitman walks out of his room and slams the door behind him.
“Well this is just fucking great.” Steve Stryker was talking to the bartender at Saus, a Chicago late night eatery and bar.
“What’s bothering you, son?” The bartender was an older gentlemen, didn’t look like he belonged in an airport bar. His eyes were kind, but his face looked weathered.
“The last few weeks have been real shit, man.” Life had been killing Stryker since his loss to Johnny Rebel on Sunday. He had gone from being on a winning streak in the APW to just being thrown around his past few weeks. First he loses at Meltdown against Carmen Rivera and Evan Envi, then he loses to Talon Wilkinson, the Owner of CRW, and then, he loses to APW’s own Johnny Rebel just a few days ago. What does this all mean for him going forward?
“You’re at a bar, bud, tell me your troubles.” The bartender started cleaning the bar area in front of Steve.
“It’s just amazing how quick I went from standing up for myself and being somebody to just being a loser.” It was difficult for Stryker to be down on himself. It’s been awhile since he’s been in an APW ring and he hasn’t felt comfortable anywhere else recently.
“If you can become a loser so quickly, can’t you become a winner just as quick?”
Stryker looked at the man for a minute and smiled.
Present Day
Stryker wasn’t going to travel like he had been lately. His ritual of driving from each location was ruined at this point. Luckily this time around the travel wasn’t necessary. He competed in the Extreme Tournament this past week at the VWF Arena in Chicago. All he had to do now was make his way to the United Center for his next set of matches. He says matches because he’s not going to be a one and done in the Test for the Best.
He was sitting in his hotel room, looking high across the Chicago skyline. Stryker still isn’t used to the lifestyle of traveling around, staying in hotel rooms, and having most things at your beck and call. Stryker has been getting a crash course in this over the past two weeks.
Stryker went from being a relatively unknown in Meltdown, to suddenly having a chance to become the True Expert Champion and APW Undisputed Champion by the end of the summer. Could there be any more pressure on a person? People have constantly been talking about Stryker is the Wildcard. He’s the unknown. The most to gain and the least to lose. Everyone wishes they were Steve Stryker, he has it so easy.
What’s easy about everyone thinking you should lose? What’s easy about everyone expecting nothing of you? Stryker had accepted the fact that he was no longer the favorite now that he’s moved beyond Meltdown. Not that he’s been called up to Overdrive just yet, but the fact that he could pave his own way to the top is what makes him feel pretty confident going forward. Stryker is hoping that being the underdog will provide just the motivation he needs to win this.
Stryker continues to pace back and forth in his hotel room. He’s impatient and just wants this week to get on with. He knows that the only way he can move beyond these losses is if he gets in the ring and wins again.
Last Night
“I think it’s a lot easier to be a loser than a winner.” Convoluted sure, but Stryker felt like he was right.
“When you’re thinking like that, what do you expect to happen?” This was the first time that Stryker had really connected with someone in a long time. He hadn’t really talked to anyone outside of pissed off fans and dim-witted backstage reporters.
“I mean, it’s easy to be winning on Meltdown. There I was a star, there I could do no wrong and could beat people left and right. Now that I’m getting a shot, a real shot, and things aren’t going so well.” Stryker couldn’t shake this feeling for the life of him.
“What made you the best on Meltdown?” Fair question.
“Week in and week out I fought my hardest and would walk away with a victory. I was a better wrestler, a more prepared fighter, and frankly, I was in a league of my own from most other competitors.”
“Is it because you fought harder or is it because you were more physically gifted?”
Stryker pondered this for a moment. What truly breeds a winner? Is it having the better skills or having the stronger fight?
“That’s the million dollar question isn’t it?” Stryker asked, hoping for an answer.
“No it’s not, boy. The answer is easy. You have to fight harder. That’s always the answer. Life has you down… fight harder. You’ve been beat up… fight harder. You’ve been tossed around… fight harder. You can never be counted out if you still have fight in you. You’ll have to work through your issues to find that undying fight, but once you do, there ain’t a damn thing that will be able to stop you. You have the physical gifts, you have the innate skill. What you need is that fight.”
“What do you mean I don’t have fight?” Stryker looked into the man’s eyes.
“Look at you, son. You’re sitting here in a rundown bar in the middle of Chicago, drinking a beer and complaining about how tough life has been. How much fight could you have in a situation like that?”
Stryker considered this for a moment before he realized he didn’t like what he was hearing.
“Now listen to me old man, I have plenty of fight, you better damn believe that. I don’t put up with this kind of shit from anyone that I get into the ring with so I’m sure as shit not going to put up with it from you.” Well, there goes that connection.
“Calm down, calm down. I’m telling you what you need to hear. I’m telling you what you’re going to pay a therapist $300 an hour to tell you in a few years. You know why you strived in Meltdown?” Stryker looked at him but didn’t answer. “You strived in Meltdown because your skills were just that damn good. You’re natural, God-given ability was enough to get you that far. I have to tell you, there ain’t a damn person in the world who has enough God-given ability to walk into the top tier of anything and be the best. It just doesn’t happen. You need that combination of natural ability and the type of fight that can only be seen in movies. You’ve got the skills boy, now you need to get that drive.”
Stryker slammed his fists on the bar.
“Don’t you tell me about drive you bastard. You’re an old man who is just working in a shit bar. What do you know about drive? If you had any real drive you’d be sitting in a corporate office right now or spending time with your family, or making a real difference in life. Instead you’re spewing this shit to me about how I need drive.” Stryker knew he was right though. He couldn’t compete in Overdrive or The Experts unless he fought harder.
“I think it’s time for you to show yourself the way out young man.”
Stryker stood up and glared into the bartenders eyes.
“If you think you’re going to intimidate me, you’re barking up the wrong tree.” The bartenders response confused Stryker. He turned around and walked out of the bar.
“Good luck, Steve.” The bartender said this as the door to the bar was shutting behind Stryker.
Present Day
Stryker had woken up early this morning to get in a gym session. It wasn’t pretty after the multitude of beers he had last night. The gym bathroom certainly got an unwelcome guest a few times. He had to do it though, the damn old man was right. His fight was lacking over the past few weeks. There was so much opportunity, so many chances just dropped on his plate that he couldn’t keep track of them all.
It’s not as though he didn’t fight for his chance to be in Test for the Best, but once it was there, it was so damn far away. He’s known that he was going to be in the tournament for almost three weeks now. Someone as young and inexperienced like Stryker can’t handle taking that much time off. He’s had matches in the meantime sure, but Test for the Best is the big prize. Test for the Best is where his name really gets made. His career has been short of course, but he’s spent all of it tring to gain approval from the APW brass and from his peers. No matter what he does in the Extreme Tournament people will make their opinions of him, but in the Test for the Best, that’s his real home. That’s where the checks come from, and that’s where he wants to shine.
After the morning gym session, Stryker went for a quick run around the city. Just a few miles, just to get a feel for the atmosphere, the people, the identity of the city. Chicago was an electric city really. A cleaner and less crime filled Detroit. God, it’s been awhile since Stryker was home in Detroit. All the things of his past, probably still there, waiting to catch up with him. His boss that he knocked out his son, his ex-girlfriend that fell out of love with him. So much history, seems like such a distant memory now. APW has become his life. Wrestling was the only thing he thought about now. It was the only thing that made sense. He could spend all the time in the world worrying about the past, but he’d still have a match that week, so what was the point? Stryker had to continue to focus on the tournament, it’s his only chance at survival.
Last Night
Stryker walked out of the bar and into the streets. He walked by a few homeless people without even giving them a glance. He thought about what a bastard he had become. Stryker wasn’t always a bad person or a mean person. He used to actually be incredibly caring, thoughtful, and kind of funny. It’s funny how the limelight will change some people. Some people embrace the comfort of the light and become a person that is ten time better than they ever could be. Yet others shy away from the light and try to cast themselves outside of it. Pushing it away and condemning those who live within it or shine it. It wasn’t difficult to place Stryker is one of those categories.
He’s never really liked attention. He had a relatively successful MMA career. Nothing spectacular but he won a few matches. Was never on a UFC or StrikeForce TV show, the most notoriety he ever got was someone would buy him a beer after a match. Stryker didn’t hate the free booze, but he didn’t need to be admired. He was never fighting for the fans. He was fighting because he enjoyed himself and loved doing it.
Now in the APW, that was different, he had to start fighting for something.
He continued his way down the street, stumbling a bit, he had more to drink than he originally thought while sitting listening to the old man talk. It wasn’t long before Stryker pulled out his cell phone and started scrolling through his contact list looking for a drunk dial or a booty call. It was then that he realized just how polarizing he had become over the past few months. There were no names. There wasn’t any booty calls or one night stands. Home, Office, Parents. That’s it. He could call himself, he could call the APW offices, or he could call his parents. What a lonely sack of shit he’s become.
From this didn’t come reflection however, from this came anger. Stryker opened the app on his phone to record his voice.
“I am sick and tired of worrying about what each and every single person in the APW universe thinks about it. I’ve been muddling around in Meltdown for over two months now and I’ve been dominating my opponents left and right. Sure I’ve had two losses to that jealous bastard Evan Envi, but other than that, no one has been able to get in my way. I don’t have anything to prove to these people on Meltdown anymore. I’m above it. You know how I know that? Do you? Because here I am right now. On one of the grandest stages in all of sports. Getting ready to compete in the biggest tournament that APW has to offer. Here I am, getting ready to face two of the best wrestlers in the game today in Keaton Saint and John Dionysus. Two men that have both been pegged to win this whole damn tournament. Do I sound scared? Because believe you me, I’m not.”
“I’ve seen these two men in the ring, I’ve watched them, I’ve seen what they’re capable of. I know they’re a lot more familiar with each other than they are with me and I’m damn glad for that. It’s going to work directly to my favor that they don’t know who I am. They can both say they’ve done their research, but let’s be serious with ourselves for a second. What is more likely, that I watched their matches, as an up and comer and as someone who is trying to make a name for himself or that you two watched a Meltdown match to see how The Hitman was doing? I’m not saying I look up to either of you two, but I for damn sure want to be in your place. I can’t wait to be competing in Overdrive week in and week out and you two are already doing that. So I have been watching Overdrive, learning the caliber of wrestlers that are there and have been planning my way of getting there.”
“I have a built in way to get there right now and the first stage is with you two. Let me start with Keaton Saint, as his name has been talked about all over Chicago for the past week. The man who had the chance to become the True Expert Champion last week and completely blew it. Just like everyone before him, and seemingly everyone after him, he blew it and now walks away with a loss as bad as mine. So I’m sure you’re feeling a little down on yourself these days Keaton. I’m sure that you’re not as prepared for me as you may think. You called me a wild card time and time again and all that means to me is that you’re not ready for me. You don’t know what to think because you haven’t been keeping close enough eyes on me. Ever since I burst onto the scene of APW and beat the hell out of Warren Peace, everyone should’ve started taking notes.”
“Saint I’m sure that you really wanted to win this tournament and cement yourself as a main-eventer in the APW, but I think we can all agree that it isn’t happening for you this time. This tournament is too stacked, there are too many great competitors and as you proved this past Sunday, you can’t beat the true greats. I’m not naïve enough to say that I’m one of those true greats, don’t get me wrong. What I will say is that I don’t even think you’re going to make it out of this first round. I think you’re beat up, I think you’re defeated, I think that you plan on getting through me so easily that you’re not even going to have to try. You can call me a wild card Keaton, but all that means is that you underestimate me. I’m going to make it perfectly clear on Sunday what a poor choice that really is. I’m not one to be counted out and I’m not one to be underestimated.”
“Which brings me to opponent number two on the docket, John Dionysus. Johnny, let me tell you something. I like you. You know why that is? You had nothing but nice things to say about me. It’s such a pleasant foray away from the normal, ‘you suck, he sucks, I rule’ that we normally hear from everyone. You also called me a wild card, which, while you said had no condescending undertones, it’s difficult to avoid them. One thing that surprised me though was how you thought that I was both the lucky one and the impressive one at the same time. Yes, I hold the Meltdown golden ticket, that is certainly true, and yes I beat half the Meltdown roster to get there. You know what, I only feel lucky. I don’t feel like I had to do that much to get into this tournament. My tag team victory was quite simple. Rivera and I, while at odds, are too good to lose in a situation like that. The battle royal was a test, that’s for certain. But when the goal was just a chance to enter this tournament, the battle royal wasn’t as gratifying. I didn’t feel a big sense of accomplishment when I won it, it was just something that I had to do.”
“After I won the tag match to qualify, I knew all along that I was getting into this tournament. I wasn’t going to have it be any other way. So while you may view it as impressive that I beat the best of the best in Meltdown, that doesn’t mean squat to me. The only thing that matters to me is here and now. My goal was never to be the best in Meltdown. It was a reality, but never a goal. I want to be the best in all of the APW. I have a chance right here, right now to prove that. It starts with you and Saint. It starts with Round 1, Match 1. I have to beat two solid competitors. I have to beat two people who have each been predicted to win this whole damn thing. So what does that mean if I win? Does that mean I’m the new favorite? You look at some of these other names after the three of us and it only gets more difficult. The new shiny star of APW, Terry Marvin. The old star of APW, Sally Talfourd. I have the chance to go up against either of them in just a few short days. I have the chance to prove to everyone that Steve Stryker is as good as advertised from Meltdown. I can’t blow it in the first round, it wouldn’t be right, it wouldn’t be fair. I didn’t come this far to lose in the first round boys.”
“I didn’t come this far to be the wild card that was never played. If I’m going to be crowned the wild card of this tournament, you better believe I’ve come ready to be run wild.”
Present Day
The recording finishes playing back to Stryker who listens to it with a smile on his face. It’s amazing how what that old man had said has truly turned his whole focus around. It was no longer feeling sorry for himself for his mini-losing streak here, he wasn’t worrying about what everyone was saying behind his back. All he was concerned about was victory. After listening to his recording from last night, he realized he had a chance to win this thing. A true Cinderella story could be happening before everyone’s eyes. There was a chance that The Hitman could go from Meltdown to Main Event of Shockwave. He was proud and he was excited. Which means that he had to prepare for more than just Keaton Saint and John Dionysus. He had to prepare to face anyone and everyone in this tournament.
Stryker reached into his bag and pulled out his camera and pressed record.
RECORD
“Oh APW world, I know you’ve been hearing a lot from me lately, but believe me, you’re going to be hearing even more as the days go on. I have come to the realization that I am not just a wild card in this tournament, no, I am a true threat. I have just as good a chance as anybody to walk out of the United Center on Sunday with a ticket in my hand that says I’m going to be facing the APW Undisputed Champion at Shockwave in August. So while my drunken recording from last night addressed my competitors that I would definitely be facing in Keaton Saint and John Dionysus, I wanted to address the others that I could be seeing on my way to the top.”
“First let’s start with that hot shot Terry Marvin. A man who I hear nothing but praise for. A man who over the next week or so I am going to become very comfortable with. Not only do I have the chance of facing him at the Test for the Best, but I am also most definitely facing him at the Extreme Tournament. So in two different arenas just hours apart we’re most likely going to be facing each other. Terry, a lot of people say great things about you and you’ve earned that. You are as good as they say. So the only way I can beat you is if I’m better. People seem to think that Test for the Best is going to be your coming out party, a way to go from the middle of the card champion that you are to the Main Event status where you belong. There’s a possibility that this might be your chance to finally do that, but if you have to go through me, it’s going to be a lot more difficult than you expect. It’s going to take everything you have, because if I make it through that first round and can smell the Test for the Best victory right around the corner, I don’t think there is a wrestler in APW that could stop me.”
“My prediction is that Terry Marvin is going to win his first round match against AC Smith for one reason and one reason only. AC Smith isn’t prepared. He may have had a tough road to this competition, having to compete in the ladder match against some great wrestlers but now that he’s here he doesn’t know what to do with it. Did anyone else see him talking? He didn’t mention me once! I understand if he doesn’t think I’m a threat, but based off of what I saw, I think he doesn’t even know that I’m in the tournament. What kind of incompetent fool doesn’t do at least the bare minimum research before heading into the night? I mean, at the very least, the very least he has to look at who else is on the card right? The man blabs on for what seemed like an eternity and he didn’t mention me once. Maybe I’m a little sensitive to it, but AC, if you don’t even know the name of the man that’s going to whoop your ass, maybe you’re not ready for the big leagues.”
“So I’ll continue to prepare for this tournament assuming that I’ll be facing Terry Marvin. Hopefully it won’t be the only time that the Hitman comes to collect his bounty on Terry Marvin.” [/font]
STOP
Stryker steps back from the camera and continues to pace around his room. “I can win this thing, I have to win this thing. Fuck it, back to the gym.” The Hitman walks out of his room and slams the door behind him.
