Post by The Hitman on Jul 7, 2012 11:59:16 GMT -4
“Good God, the inmates are running the Asylum.” Stryker laughs at his own joke. “Look at this bunch of psychopaths. They could care less what they do to themselves. Impressive as hell.” Stryker is sitting in a hotel conference room watching tapes of Asylum to see the type of opponents he’s going to be up against. He’s sitting there by himself, yet, still talking.
“Oh look at that guy! Shit that’s going to hurt. Bravo folks, bravo.” Stryker stands up from his seat and claps. The camera is following him as he stands up and turns off the projector. “Oh, well, I didn’t see you here. Someone from the APW finally interested in talking to Steve Stryker?”
The camera man nods his head. “Mr. Stryker with the Test for the Best tournament just a day away, the APW world wanted to get your thoughts on your opponents and potential opponents.”
“Isn’t that just wonderful? Apparently my audio and video recordings were enough to finally get me noticed heading into this match. Well, let me tell you something guy, and let me tell you something, APW, my thoughts on my opponents remain the same. Keaton Saint doesn’t have his head on straight for the start of this tournament, John Dionysus may have never had his head on straight, and Terry Marvin and AC Smith are going to beat themselves up so bad that by the time I’ll get to them I’ll be picking up the pieces.”
“Mr. Stryker, the APW world wants to know your thoughts on your potential Asylum competitors.” The camera man’s voice squeaks as he says this.
“Oh do they now? Someone from APW actually thinks it’s possible that I’ll make it that far in the tournament? I highly doubt that.” Stryker responds angrily.
“It’s Test for the Best, anyone has the chance to win, especially you. I think APW is fascinated with the storyline if you end up winning.” The camera man answers back quickly.
Stryker thinks about this for a second. “Someone in the APW brass is intrigued by my storyline? All I did was walk into APW one day, demand a contract, and I was on Meltdown beating people to a pulp. That’s hardly a Turner Classic Movie.”
“You’d be surprised Mr. Stryker. APW is heavily invested in the Meltdown brand and if you can manage to come from that brand and fight your way all the way to winning the Test for the Best, that would be a success story for all future Meltdown super stars.” As Stryker hears this, his face lights up.
“I could be the story that every Meltdown star will tell for ages. Just think about how they’d gush over me and what I accomplished. Meltdown would have a legitimate chance at continuing on the back of my success. It would be motivation for every star on that brand. Knowing that if they fought hard enough they could rise up from the depths and go on to challenge Kurt Noble for the Undisputed Championship.” Stryker thought for a moment. “Or, if it’s after Shockwave, maybe they could be challenging me for it.”
“Hey, no disrespect Mr. Stryker, I’m saying it could be a hell of a story, I wouldn’t start planning your victory parade just yet, have you seen the opponents that you could be facing from Asylum?” The camera man says this timidly.
“Funny you should ask... that’s actually exactly what I was just doing. I was watching matches and promos from Johnny Knuckles to Mike Morrison. Each very strange in their own way. Let’s start with Johnny Knuckles, eh?” Stryker tosses up the question.
The camera man responds back, “You’re running the show, I’m just here to capture it.”
“Absolutely perfect. Let’s start with Johnny Knuckles and his wonderful paintings that he’s apparently collected. What year are we in right now? Is this what you’ve been taught by your elders Johnny? To start picking on someone for their name? That’s how you’re going to try and trash talk me? Give me a break here. Yes, there was a character in the Mortal Kombat video game series named Stryker, no, I wasn’t named after him, and no, he wasn’t my favorite character. I’m so glad we could address that and get it out of the way.” Stryker wipes the sweat from his brow.
“It’s insane to me that you thought having a picture of my head on Stryker from Mortal Kombat’s body would really get me going. I mean, who really gives a damn? Clearly you spent too much time playing video games as a kid and not enough time getting in the wrestling ring or going to an English class. Can you please learn how to pronounce ‘you’ so I don’t have you hear you say ‘oh how ya’ doing? I’m real impressed with ya’. Good God, it’s like listening to a mental patient from Alabama. If you bring out a single ‘ya’ll’ I’m going to slap you dead in the face and maybe knock some sense into that head of yours.”
“Johnny, I’m not afraid of you, I’ve seen these videos of you wrestling, I’ve seen your little promos that you do here, and it makes me smile to think about some of the statements you made about me. Saying that I’m the one who doesn’t belong. Even though it was a very contradictory statement after you had just said that I earned and deserved my spot, but due to your handicap, I can skip over that. It’s a funny statement to me because I don’t think you really know. I think you just have heard that I came from Meltdown, that I’m new to the wrestling racket and that I have some potential. While that’s all well and good, I don’t think you know a damn thing about me. I don’t think you actually know if I belong in this tournament or not. I’d love to tell you all the reasons that I do, but it just makes me remember that there is a damn good chance that I won’t be seeing you in the finals anyways.”
Stryker puts his head down, acting ashamed that he’d even mention himself going to the finals. Suddenly he looks up into the camera and has a big smirk along the right side of his face.
“Oh don’t get confused Johnny, the reason I’m not going to see you in the finals is because you’ll be absent from that match. There isn’t an angel’s chance in hell that you’ll be making it that far. You’ve got to go through Sally Talfourd and most likely Chaz Dillinger just to get a chance. How’s that for an uphill battle for you? Two of the best competitors that Asylum has to offer and one, who is quite possibly one of the best wrestlers in all of APW history! If that isn’t a tall order then I don’t know what is.”
“So it gets me thinking Johnny, who doesn’t really belong here? Is it the man who won a qualifying match, then won a battle royal with all of his peers, and now gets to come in a relative unknown? Or is it the man who won two singles match against a Manservant who can’t do a damn thing and against Phil Atkin who hadn’t wrestled in so long his damn bones were aching after qualifying? Now you come in as not an unknown, but you come in just like everyone else. Who doesn’t belong Johnny? We’re going to find out tomorrow night and if by some amazing, fantastical stretch, you make it to the finals, and I’m standing across from you, looking deep into your eyes as I prepare to beat the hell out of you, you better hope I’m not right.”
Stryker turns away from the camera and reaches for a bottle of water. He takes a sip and raises it to the camera.
“Trying to stay off the beer for a little bit here. Water does a body good.” Stryker puts the bottle of water down and collects himself.
“Who else do we have here, oh well, of course we have the biggest nut of all in Mike Morrison. Where Asylum is not just where he wrestles, but it’s also the name of the place where he goes to sleep each night. Morrison claims that he’s not even in this tournament to win, he’s in it to cause a riot. Is there anyone more messed up than this guy?” Stryker laughs. “I get it Mikey, you like to cause a ruckus and really get into the hardcore side of the business, but that’s no way to win this tournament. Beating people down with chairs isn’t going to get you that shot at the Undisputed Championship.”
Stryker thinks for a moment. “But you know, for my money, go ahead, beat away. Tear your competitors limb from limb and push them to this hardcore brink that you want to get them too. I’m perfectly fine with that because all it means is that by the time they reach me they’ll be so beaten and bruised that I’ll flick them in the forehead as my finishing move and will have an even greater chance at victory. I obviously don’t expect you to be going that far on your own Morrison, you don’t have the make-up for it. You’re great as an Asylum competitor, you can really create some havoc, but as I said, that’s not going to do it any good here. You’ll most likely be beaten by Chaz Dillinger, I think you know that as well as I do, but I’m hoping you give him a real run for his money. I hope you break a knee or bust up his face or just about anything. Chaz needs a swift kick in the ass and I hope you’re just the one to give it to him. Good luck Mikey, I think you’re going to need it.”
Someone knocks at the door and interrupts Stryker, who looks pissed.
“Who the hell is it?” Stryker barks at the door.
“Hotel security, please open the door.” The man on the other side knocks again.
“I’ve rented this room out for the morning, room 316, get the hell out of here.” Stryker answers back.
“We’ve heard complaints of yelling from inside here, we need to check it out, hotel policy.” The man knocks yet again.
“I said I’m fine, it’s just me in here. Go away.”
“Sir, I really need to che- ”
“I said get the fuck out of here you imbecile, good God, if you’re trying to get an autograph you’re knocking on the wrong damn door, get out of here or I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life.”
“I won’t be threatened in my own hotel, I’m going to be coming back to break down this door.”
“Good luck asshole.” Steve flips off the door, he looks at his own finger and shakes he head as he realizes that he’s flipping of nobody.
He turns around and faces back towards the camera. “Sorry about the interruption, apparently we’re being a bit loud in here. Unfortunately for them, I don’t think it’s the last complaint they’re going to be getting.”
Stryker picked up one of the conference room chairs and throws it clear across the other side of the room and the chair breaks in pieces and it leaves a hole in the wall. Stryker takes a deep breath and looks at the camera again.
“Alright now, where were we? We’ve covered Johnny Knuckles and Mike Morrison, two men who will most likely be making very early exits from this tournament. I guess that leaves us with the two that I have a better chance of facing in Sally Talfourd and Chaz Dillinger. Ladies first, don’t they say?” Stryker faux bows to the camera.
“Sally Talfourd, a living APW legend. A former World Champion, a former Rasslemania Main Eventer, a former Test for the Best winner herself! It makes me wonder though. For someone who is so revered and so respected, is it tough to continually be a ‘former’? No one is denying your wrestling ability or the amazing things you’ve accomplished in your storied history in the APW, but one must wonder if you’re starting to grow complacent. You’ve been doing your little internet talk show, ‘Happy Endings’ since before internet shows was even a thing. You’ve battled in epic matches with Level-One and Nathaniel Havok. Again, these are all things in the past. What is in the future for Sally Talfourd? Is it cruising through life on what she’s already accomplished? I can’t imagine someone with your talent, with your drive, with your self-respect that you’d be ok with that. Then why is it that I think you’ve grown complacent?” Stryker taps his own chin while thinking.
“I’ve been a fan of the APW far longer than I have been a competitor in the federation, so I know that you’re capable of amazing things. I just can’t shake this feeling that you’re cruising a little bit. How long ago was it that you won the Test for the Best? Two years ago was it? You’ve accomplished a lot since then of course. But this is a new world we live in Sally. This is a world that is based around ‘what have you done for me lately?’ That’s always the big question isn’t it? Week in and week out you get berated with compliments about how damn great Sally Talfourd is. You get people talking about all the amazing things you’ve done and how afraid everyone should be of you. I think it’s only a matter of time before that runs out for you Sally. I think you need to make a run at something here. Be it this tournament or Jason Kash’s World Title belt. I think just holding on to all the things you used to do is going to end. So is this your time to do it?” Stryker sits down in one of the other chairs and looks as though he’s very contemplative.
“If I were to make my Cinderella run in this tournament and somehow found my way into the finals, you’re the first face I’d expect to see there. You probably don’t know me from a hole in the wall Sally and that’s fine with me. I don’t need to be on the tip of your tongue.” Stryker smiles. “Let me rephrase that. You don’t need to be overly familiar with me Sally. I know that you’re prepared for this tournament because I know that you need to win it. I know you crave the attention and you crave the spot light and it’s been awhile since you’ve been a World Champion and I’m sure that’s eating away at you. I understand it and I respect it. I don’t think it’s going to be the case though. There’s a difference between you and me Sally and it’s more than just what is in our pants.
“With you Sally, if you don’t win this tournament, you could still very quickly fight your way up to becoming the World Champion yet again. You’re a proven talent, with years of experience, and more talent in your pinkie than Jason Kash has in his whole toothless body. But for me, that’s not the same case. Yes, if I lose there is a good chance I’ll still be getting promoted to Overdrive and getting the chance to compete for a lower-card title. Then maybe after a year I will have fought long and hard enough to be given an Undisputed Title shot after paying my dues. That’s a long time away and not something set in stone. So I have the unique opportunity to bypass all of that other junk. I have the opportunity to win three matches in one night and secure myself a spot in the Main Event of the biggest pay per view of the summer at Shockwave and compete against Kurt Noble for the Undisputed Championship after being in the APW for just four months.”
“There are not a lot of people who can say that and there are not a lot of people who will be given that opportunity again. I’ve already had to beat eight people to make it to this tournament, so beating another four isn’t going to be a problem for me. So if I meet you in the finals, don’t underestimate me, don’t be fooled by me, because I want you at your best. I want you to be clawing and scraping for every single inch. I want this tournament to be the most important thing in your life.”
“I’m not one of those people in sports that wants the easiest road to the top. If I’m going to make it to the top, I want to do it by beating the best of the best. I want to beat Keaton Saint, I want to beat Terry Marvin, and I want to beat Sally Talfourd. There isn’t a person alive who could say after accomplishing that, that I wouldn’t deserve a shot at the title. There isn’t a person alive who could say that if I beat those three people that I wasn’t the definitive next big thing in the APW. That’s why I have to do it.”
“For the past few months people have been against me. They’ve talked about Evan Envi and Carmen Rivera and how damn good they are. I’m sick of hearing it. Because while they’re getting all the glory, I’m doing all the work. I’m the true face of Meltdown right now. What are Envi and Rivera doing for the brand? Competing against each other, just like they’ve been doing every week on Meltdown? I’m not impressed if one beats the other, who gives a damn. I’m the only other Meltdown superstar on the Test for the Best card and you better believe I’m going to make the most out of it. I’m actually doing something for the brand, showing the world that the best Meltdown has to offer can compete with the best Overdrive or Asylum has to offer. The same can’t be said about Envi and Rivera who are just showcasing their talent. A showcase is all well and good but until you step into the ring with the people you want to call your peers and you beat them, you haven’t proved shit. So all of you Rivera and Envi fans, pay close attention tomorrow. While they’re frolicking around in the ring, showing off how good they are, Steve Stryker will be grinding it out.” Stryker stands up, grabs and throws another chair. Leaving more pieces on the ground and holes in the wall.
“Just like I’ve been doing week in and week out, Steve Stryker will be grinding it out, one match at a time. I won’t just be doing it to showcase my talent so that maybe someone will give me a chance to wrestle on Overdrive, I’m going to prove that I deserve that chance by beating the best they have to offer. First Keaton Saint and John Dionysus, then Terry Marvin or AC Smith, and then after I’ve run a clinic through the Overdrive competitors, I’ll be standing one on one with someone from Asylum. It won’t be Mike Morrison, it probably won’t be Johnny Knuckles, it very well could be Sally Talfourd, or maybe, just maybe, it’s the last person on my list here. Chaz Dillinger. A man who truly has the gift for gab.” Stryker motions with his hand of someone who just keeps on talking.
“I know it’s a bit hypocritical of me to make fun of someone for talking so much, when I’ve been talking for so long now. But it’s not too often that APW actually gives me a camera to talk into. Normally I’m recording myself while I’m driving. What good does that do me!? While I have an audience, I’m going to use it!”
“Chaz Dillinger on the other hand, I just think likes to hear himself talk. Because he’s certainly not doing it to make a point since half the sentences he says don’t make a lick of sense. Trust me, I love the sound of my own voice, but if I’m going to drone on and on about something, I like to usually have it mean something. I can tell how butt hurt you are about Sally Talfourd being the face of Asylum like you want to be, but it’s time to move on Chaz. You don’t have it. You’re not the type of guy that can rise up above everyone else and really take the reins. You’re a good wrestler, you have that going for you, don’t get yourself down that you’re not going to beat Sally Talfourd. It’s a tall order for anyone to do it. Just be glad if you get out of the first round.”
“From the way Mike Morrison is talking, I think you’re going to have a pretty difficult time with it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Morrison brings in brass knuckles and tries to knock you out the second you walk in the ring. So, focus on your opponent Chaz, try and get out of the first round. Stop worrying so much about Sally goddamn Talfourd. I’ll worry about her.”
“Sally’s the one I want to beat in this. The only one in the tournament who has won the Test for the Best before. She’d be the first two time winner of the tournament and further cement her legacy in this company. I want to be the one who stops her. I want to be the one who really throws a wrench in her plans. I think I have the ability to get there and do it.”
“I know it’s going to be a long road to the finals and that I’ve been focusing pretty heavily on the idea that I’m going to make it there, but with how I’m feeling right now, how revitalized I am knowing that Test for the Best is only a day away, I feel unstoppable. Keaton Saint and Jon Dionysus aren’t going to know what hit them. I’m going to be so amped up and so ready for every little thing that comes at me, they’ll be running around like chickens with their heads cut off.” Stryker is talking even louder now and with an energetic excitement.
“I have a once in a lifetime chance here to truly make a name for myself. I’m not going to let Meltdown or myself down. This is my chance and I’m here to take it. I won’t bore you all with the fact that The Hitman is coming to collect his bounty, because you know it all too well. The APW better be on watch, the Hitman era might be just around the corner.”
At this moment someone starts smashing on the door again. Steve throws one more chair across the room and at the door. The knocking stops for a second. Stryker motions for the camera to follow him. “One minute please!” Stryker yells out in a falsetto tone.
“Open this damn door!” The security guard barks back.
Stryker hears the pounding on the door and times his opening of it so that when he does the security guard basically falls through the door and stumbles to his knees. “What in the hell happened in here!?” The security guard yells, half angry, half embarrassed for falling over.
“Oh the chairs? No idea, they were like that when I came in.” Stryker smiles and steps over the security guard and out the door. “Have a nice day.”
“Oh look at that guy! Shit that’s going to hurt. Bravo folks, bravo.” Stryker stands up from his seat and claps. The camera is following him as he stands up and turns off the projector. “Oh, well, I didn’t see you here. Someone from the APW finally interested in talking to Steve Stryker?”
The camera man nods his head. “Mr. Stryker with the Test for the Best tournament just a day away, the APW world wanted to get your thoughts on your opponents and potential opponents.”
“Isn’t that just wonderful? Apparently my audio and video recordings were enough to finally get me noticed heading into this match. Well, let me tell you something guy, and let me tell you something, APW, my thoughts on my opponents remain the same. Keaton Saint doesn’t have his head on straight for the start of this tournament, John Dionysus may have never had his head on straight, and Terry Marvin and AC Smith are going to beat themselves up so bad that by the time I’ll get to them I’ll be picking up the pieces.”
“Mr. Stryker, the APW world wants to know your thoughts on your potential Asylum competitors.” The camera man’s voice squeaks as he says this.
“Oh do they now? Someone from APW actually thinks it’s possible that I’ll make it that far in the tournament? I highly doubt that.” Stryker responds angrily.
“It’s Test for the Best, anyone has the chance to win, especially you. I think APW is fascinated with the storyline if you end up winning.” The camera man answers back quickly.
Stryker thinks about this for a second. “Someone in the APW brass is intrigued by my storyline? All I did was walk into APW one day, demand a contract, and I was on Meltdown beating people to a pulp. That’s hardly a Turner Classic Movie.”
“You’d be surprised Mr. Stryker. APW is heavily invested in the Meltdown brand and if you can manage to come from that brand and fight your way all the way to winning the Test for the Best, that would be a success story for all future Meltdown super stars.” As Stryker hears this, his face lights up.
“I could be the story that every Meltdown star will tell for ages. Just think about how they’d gush over me and what I accomplished. Meltdown would have a legitimate chance at continuing on the back of my success. It would be motivation for every star on that brand. Knowing that if they fought hard enough they could rise up from the depths and go on to challenge Kurt Noble for the Undisputed Championship.” Stryker thought for a moment. “Or, if it’s after Shockwave, maybe they could be challenging me for it.”
“Hey, no disrespect Mr. Stryker, I’m saying it could be a hell of a story, I wouldn’t start planning your victory parade just yet, have you seen the opponents that you could be facing from Asylum?” The camera man says this timidly.
“Funny you should ask... that’s actually exactly what I was just doing. I was watching matches and promos from Johnny Knuckles to Mike Morrison. Each very strange in their own way. Let’s start with Johnny Knuckles, eh?” Stryker tosses up the question.
The camera man responds back, “You’re running the show, I’m just here to capture it.”
“Absolutely perfect. Let’s start with Johnny Knuckles and his wonderful paintings that he’s apparently collected. What year are we in right now? Is this what you’ve been taught by your elders Johnny? To start picking on someone for their name? That’s how you’re going to try and trash talk me? Give me a break here. Yes, there was a character in the Mortal Kombat video game series named Stryker, no, I wasn’t named after him, and no, he wasn’t my favorite character. I’m so glad we could address that and get it out of the way.” Stryker wipes the sweat from his brow.
“It’s insane to me that you thought having a picture of my head on Stryker from Mortal Kombat’s body would really get me going. I mean, who really gives a damn? Clearly you spent too much time playing video games as a kid and not enough time getting in the wrestling ring or going to an English class. Can you please learn how to pronounce ‘you’ so I don’t have you hear you say ‘oh how ya’ doing? I’m real impressed with ya’. Good God, it’s like listening to a mental patient from Alabama. If you bring out a single ‘ya’ll’ I’m going to slap you dead in the face and maybe knock some sense into that head of yours.”
“Johnny, I’m not afraid of you, I’ve seen these videos of you wrestling, I’ve seen your little promos that you do here, and it makes me smile to think about some of the statements you made about me. Saying that I’m the one who doesn’t belong. Even though it was a very contradictory statement after you had just said that I earned and deserved my spot, but due to your handicap, I can skip over that. It’s a funny statement to me because I don’t think you really know. I think you just have heard that I came from Meltdown, that I’m new to the wrestling racket and that I have some potential. While that’s all well and good, I don’t think you know a damn thing about me. I don’t think you actually know if I belong in this tournament or not. I’d love to tell you all the reasons that I do, but it just makes me remember that there is a damn good chance that I won’t be seeing you in the finals anyways.”
Stryker puts his head down, acting ashamed that he’d even mention himself going to the finals. Suddenly he looks up into the camera and has a big smirk along the right side of his face.
“Oh don’t get confused Johnny, the reason I’m not going to see you in the finals is because you’ll be absent from that match. There isn’t an angel’s chance in hell that you’ll be making it that far. You’ve got to go through Sally Talfourd and most likely Chaz Dillinger just to get a chance. How’s that for an uphill battle for you? Two of the best competitors that Asylum has to offer and one, who is quite possibly one of the best wrestlers in all of APW history! If that isn’t a tall order then I don’t know what is.”
“So it gets me thinking Johnny, who doesn’t really belong here? Is it the man who won a qualifying match, then won a battle royal with all of his peers, and now gets to come in a relative unknown? Or is it the man who won two singles match against a Manservant who can’t do a damn thing and against Phil Atkin who hadn’t wrestled in so long his damn bones were aching after qualifying? Now you come in as not an unknown, but you come in just like everyone else. Who doesn’t belong Johnny? We’re going to find out tomorrow night and if by some amazing, fantastical stretch, you make it to the finals, and I’m standing across from you, looking deep into your eyes as I prepare to beat the hell out of you, you better hope I’m not right.”
Stryker turns away from the camera and reaches for a bottle of water. He takes a sip and raises it to the camera.
“Trying to stay off the beer for a little bit here. Water does a body good.” Stryker puts the bottle of water down and collects himself.
“Who else do we have here, oh well, of course we have the biggest nut of all in Mike Morrison. Where Asylum is not just where he wrestles, but it’s also the name of the place where he goes to sleep each night. Morrison claims that he’s not even in this tournament to win, he’s in it to cause a riot. Is there anyone more messed up than this guy?” Stryker laughs. “I get it Mikey, you like to cause a ruckus and really get into the hardcore side of the business, but that’s no way to win this tournament. Beating people down with chairs isn’t going to get you that shot at the Undisputed Championship.”
Stryker thinks for a moment. “But you know, for my money, go ahead, beat away. Tear your competitors limb from limb and push them to this hardcore brink that you want to get them too. I’m perfectly fine with that because all it means is that by the time they reach me they’ll be so beaten and bruised that I’ll flick them in the forehead as my finishing move and will have an even greater chance at victory. I obviously don’t expect you to be going that far on your own Morrison, you don’t have the make-up for it. You’re great as an Asylum competitor, you can really create some havoc, but as I said, that’s not going to do it any good here. You’ll most likely be beaten by Chaz Dillinger, I think you know that as well as I do, but I’m hoping you give him a real run for his money. I hope you break a knee or bust up his face or just about anything. Chaz needs a swift kick in the ass and I hope you’re just the one to give it to him. Good luck Mikey, I think you’re going to need it.”
Someone knocks at the door and interrupts Stryker, who looks pissed.
“Who the hell is it?” Stryker barks at the door.
“Hotel security, please open the door.” The man on the other side knocks again.
“I’ve rented this room out for the morning, room 316, get the hell out of here.” Stryker answers back.
“We’ve heard complaints of yelling from inside here, we need to check it out, hotel policy.” The man knocks yet again.
“I said I’m fine, it’s just me in here. Go away.”
“Sir, I really need to che- ”
“I said get the fuck out of here you imbecile, good God, if you’re trying to get an autograph you’re knocking on the wrong damn door, get out of here or I’ll beat you to within an inch of your life.”
“I won’t be threatened in my own hotel, I’m going to be coming back to break down this door.”
“Good luck asshole.” Steve flips off the door, he looks at his own finger and shakes he head as he realizes that he’s flipping of nobody.
He turns around and faces back towards the camera. “Sorry about the interruption, apparently we’re being a bit loud in here. Unfortunately for them, I don’t think it’s the last complaint they’re going to be getting.”
Stryker picked up one of the conference room chairs and throws it clear across the other side of the room and the chair breaks in pieces and it leaves a hole in the wall. Stryker takes a deep breath and looks at the camera again.
“Alright now, where were we? We’ve covered Johnny Knuckles and Mike Morrison, two men who will most likely be making very early exits from this tournament. I guess that leaves us with the two that I have a better chance of facing in Sally Talfourd and Chaz Dillinger. Ladies first, don’t they say?” Stryker faux bows to the camera.
“Sally Talfourd, a living APW legend. A former World Champion, a former Rasslemania Main Eventer, a former Test for the Best winner herself! It makes me wonder though. For someone who is so revered and so respected, is it tough to continually be a ‘former’? No one is denying your wrestling ability or the amazing things you’ve accomplished in your storied history in the APW, but one must wonder if you’re starting to grow complacent. You’ve been doing your little internet talk show, ‘Happy Endings’ since before internet shows was even a thing. You’ve battled in epic matches with Level-One and Nathaniel Havok. Again, these are all things in the past. What is in the future for Sally Talfourd? Is it cruising through life on what she’s already accomplished? I can’t imagine someone with your talent, with your drive, with your self-respect that you’d be ok with that. Then why is it that I think you’ve grown complacent?” Stryker taps his own chin while thinking.
“I’ve been a fan of the APW far longer than I have been a competitor in the federation, so I know that you’re capable of amazing things. I just can’t shake this feeling that you’re cruising a little bit. How long ago was it that you won the Test for the Best? Two years ago was it? You’ve accomplished a lot since then of course. But this is a new world we live in Sally. This is a world that is based around ‘what have you done for me lately?’ That’s always the big question isn’t it? Week in and week out you get berated with compliments about how damn great Sally Talfourd is. You get people talking about all the amazing things you’ve done and how afraid everyone should be of you. I think it’s only a matter of time before that runs out for you Sally. I think you need to make a run at something here. Be it this tournament or Jason Kash’s World Title belt. I think just holding on to all the things you used to do is going to end. So is this your time to do it?” Stryker sits down in one of the other chairs and looks as though he’s very contemplative.
“If I were to make my Cinderella run in this tournament and somehow found my way into the finals, you’re the first face I’d expect to see there. You probably don’t know me from a hole in the wall Sally and that’s fine with me. I don’t need to be on the tip of your tongue.” Stryker smiles. “Let me rephrase that. You don’t need to be overly familiar with me Sally. I know that you’re prepared for this tournament because I know that you need to win it. I know you crave the attention and you crave the spot light and it’s been awhile since you’ve been a World Champion and I’m sure that’s eating away at you. I understand it and I respect it. I don’t think it’s going to be the case though. There’s a difference between you and me Sally and it’s more than just what is in our pants.
“With you Sally, if you don’t win this tournament, you could still very quickly fight your way up to becoming the World Champion yet again. You’re a proven talent, with years of experience, and more talent in your pinkie than Jason Kash has in his whole toothless body. But for me, that’s not the same case. Yes, if I lose there is a good chance I’ll still be getting promoted to Overdrive and getting the chance to compete for a lower-card title. Then maybe after a year I will have fought long and hard enough to be given an Undisputed Title shot after paying my dues. That’s a long time away and not something set in stone. So I have the unique opportunity to bypass all of that other junk. I have the opportunity to win three matches in one night and secure myself a spot in the Main Event of the biggest pay per view of the summer at Shockwave and compete against Kurt Noble for the Undisputed Championship after being in the APW for just four months.”
“There are not a lot of people who can say that and there are not a lot of people who will be given that opportunity again. I’ve already had to beat eight people to make it to this tournament, so beating another four isn’t going to be a problem for me. So if I meet you in the finals, don’t underestimate me, don’t be fooled by me, because I want you at your best. I want you to be clawing and scraping for every single inch. I want this tournament to be the most important thing in your life.”
“I’m not one of those people in sports that wants the easiest road to the top. If I’m going to make it to the top, I want to do it by beating the best of the best. I want to beat Keaton Saint, I want to beat Terry Marvin, and I want to beat Sally Talfourd. There isn’t a person alive who could say after accomplishing that, that I wouldn’t deserve a shot at the title. There isn’t a person alive who could say that if I beat those three people that I wasn’t the definitive next big thing in the APW. That’s why I have to do it.”
“For the past few months people have been against me. They’ve talked about Evan Envi and Carmen Rivera and how damn good they are. I’m sick of hearing it. Because while they’re getting all the glory, I’m doing all the work. I’m the true face of Meltdown right now. What are Envi and Rivera doing for the brand? Competing against each other, just like they’ve been doing every week on Meltdown? I’m not impressed if one beats the other, who gives a damn. I’m the only other Meltdown superstar on the Test for the Best card and you better believe I’m going to make the most out of it. I’m actually doing something for the brand, showing the world that the best Meltdown has to offer can compete with the best Overdrive or Asylum has to offer. The same can’t be said about Envi and Rivera who are just showcasing their talent. A showcase is all well and good but until you step into the ring with the people you want to call your peers and you beat them, you haven’t proved shit. So all of you Rivera and Envi fans, pay close attention tomorrow. While they’re frolicking around in the ring, showing off how good they are, Steve Stryker will be grinding it out.” Stryker stands up, grabs and throws another chair. Leaving more pieces on the ground and holes in the wall.
“Just like I’ve been doing week in and week out, Steve Stryker will be grinding it out, one match at a time. I won’t just be doing it to showcase my talent so that maybe someone will give me a chance to wrestle on Overdrive, I’m going to prove that I deserve that chance by beating the best they have to offer. First Keaton Saint and John Dionysus, then Terry Marvin or AC Smith, and then after I’ve run a clinic through the Overdrive competitors, I’ll be standing one on one with someone from Asylum. It won’t be Mike Morrison, it probably won’t be Johnny Knuckles, it very well could be Sally Talfourd, or maybe, just maybe, it’s the last person on my list here. Chaz Dillinger. A man who truly has the gift for gab.” Stryker motions with his hand of someone who just keeps on talking.
“I know it’s a bit hypocritical of me to make fun of someone for talking so much, when I’ve been talking for so long now. But it’s not too often that APW actually gives me a camera to talk into. Normally I’m recording myself while I’m driving. What good does that do me!? While I have an audience, I’m going to use it!”
“Chaz Dillinger on the other hand, I just think likes to hear himself talk. Because he’s certainly not doing it to make a point since half the sentences he says don’t make a lick of sense. Trust me, I love the sound of my own voice, but if I’m going to drone on and on about something, I like to usually have it mean something. I can tell how butt hurt you are about Sally Talfourd being the face of Asylum like you want to be, but it’s time to move on Chaz. You don’t have it. You’re not the type of guy that can rise up above everyone else and really take the reins. You’re a good wrestler, you have that going for you, don’t get yourself down that you’re not going to beat Sally Talfourd. It’s a tall order for anyone to do it. Just be glad if you get out of the first round.”
“From the way Mike Morrison is talking, I think you’re going to have a pretty difficult time with it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Morrison brings in brass knuckles and tries to knock you out the second you walk in the ring. So, focus on your opponent Chaz, try and get out of the first round. Stop worrying so much about Sally goddamn Talfourd. I’ll worry about her.”
“Sally’s the one I want to beat in this. The only one in the tournament who has won the Test for the Best before. She’d be the first two time winner of the tournament and further cement her legacy in this company. I want to be the one who stops her. I want to be the one who really throws a wrench in her plans. I think I have the ability to get there and do it.”
“I know it’s going to be a long road to the finals and that I’ve been focusing pretty heavily on the idea that I’m going to make it there, but with how I’m feeling right now, how revitalized I am knowing that Test for the Best is only a day away, I feel unstoppable. Keaton Saint and Jon Dionysus aren’t going to know what hit them. I’m going to be so amped up and so ready for every little thing that comes at me, they’ll be running around like chickens with their heads cut off.” Stryker is talking even louder now and with an energetic excitement.
“I have a once in a lifetime chance here to truly make a name for myself. I’m not going to let Meltdown or myself down. This is my chance and I’m here to take it. I won’t bore you all with the fact that The Hitman is coming to collect his bounty, because you know it all too well. The APW better be on watch, the Hitman era might be just around the corner.”
At this moment someone starts smashing on the door again. Steve throws one more chair across the room and at the door. The knocking stops for a second. Stryker motions for the camera to follow him. “One minute please!” Stryker yells out in a falsetto tone.
“Open this damn door!” The security guard barks back.
Stryker hears the pounding on the door and times his opening of it so that when he does the security guard basically falls through the door and stumbles to his knees. “What in the hell happened in here!?” The security guard yells, half angry, half embarrassed for falling over.
“Oh the chairs? No idea, they were like that when I came in.” Stryker smiles and steps over the security guard and out the door. “Have a nice day.”
