Post by Mark Mania on Aug 24, 2012 21:19:49 GMT -4
Mark couldn’t really grasp what he had to do to prepare for this match. There is only so much film, only so many push-ups, only so much talking. What else could he do? His assistant Rosa had been pushing him to try harder. It was a push he hadn’t received in a long time. His employees before were all “yes” men and they constantly told Mark he was the best. Rosa Ramirez isn’t knocking him down too many pegs, but she’s certainly not building him up.
Rosa Ramirez: Come on! Just keep it up!
Rosa’s voice is heard as Mark is pushing himself down to the ground and back up.
Mark Mania: One-ninety-seven!
Mark barks out as his arms are extended again.
Rosa Ramirez: Don’t quit now, almost there, keep it going!
Mark struggles down and pushes himself back up again.
Mark Mania: One-ninety-eight!
Mark lets himself down again and tries to push up, struggling.
Rosa Ramirez: CJ Gates says you’ll be too gassed by the end of the match to make a difference!
Mark turns his head and glares at Rosa. Pushing himself up again.
Mark Mania: One-ninety-nine!
Mark goes down again. Struggles to come up again.
Rosa Ramirez: CJ Gates also says he’s not even worried about you. He says the match is coming down to him or Keaton Saint. You’re not even a player!
Mark Mania: Son of a bitch!
Mark pushes up again.
Mark Mania: Two-hundred!
Mark is about to stop when Rosa yells.
Rosa Ramirez: Too gassed! CJ says you’re going to be too gassed!
For so long Mark has been resting on his laurels. He’s been able to use his reputation to get him far in the APW. It wasn’t going work anymore. The APW is a different animal these days. Mark knew that CJ Gates was right in many ways. He was old, he hasn’t had the same fire. It was time to change that. Mark knew it and so did Rosa.
Mark Mania: You’ve got to be kidding me!
Rosa Ramirez: Delikado says you won’t last past the third ring of the bell!
Mark was punching a heavy bag with his fists rapped up. Rosa was starting to put on full boxing gloves.
Mark Mania: And how is this going to help?
Rosa Ramirez: Because of this…
Rosa motioned for two men to come in and take down the heavy bag. After they did, they walked back in the room pushing a large piece of granite. It stood at six feet tall and was about two feet wide and long. The men lower to the ground and move the wheels away.
Mark Mania: What in the hell is this?
Rosa Ramirez: Hit it.
Mark Mania: What?
Rosa Ramirez: Hit it.
Mark Mania: Rosa, I know I’ve asked you to help push me harder, but it’s not like you’re a personal trainer, you’re an assistant.
Rosa Ramirez: Hit it.
Mark looks at her bewildered.
Mark Mania: I’m going to break my hands.
Rosa Ramirez: Delikado called you a ball-licker.
Mark Mania: What?
Rosa Ramirez: Word for word. He said you were a ball-licker.
Mark Mania: What a fucking moron.
Rosa Ramirez: Hit it.
Mark Mania: To appease that moron?
Rosa Ramirez: Ball-licker.
Mark cracks a right into the marble. He winces after the shot.
Rosa Ramirez: Again!
Mark looks at her and then down to his hand.
Rosa Ramirez: Do you want to be the Overdrive champion or not?
Mark hits the marble with his left.
Rosa Ramirez: Nope. Hit it again.
Mark hits it with his right and winces in pain again.
Rosa Ramirez: Again!
Throughout all of this training Mark pushed himself further than he expected. He continued beyond that and further still. Rosa was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He worried that this relationship would take a turn. He knew that she was a lesbian. He told himself that all the time. But, come on, maybe it’s just a phase? Mark fought with himself over and over trying to figure out what to do.
Rosa Ramirez: What’re you doing?
Mark was sitting down on the couch in his hotel room. There was ice wrapped around his right fist and he was drinking a bottle of water with his feet up.
Mark Mania: What? I’m just icing down my hand.
Rosa Ramirez: Do you think that you’re going to have any time to ice your hand during the match?
Mark Mania: Come on Rosa, you’ve been busting my ass the past two days. Give me a break here.
Rosa Ramirez: You said it yourself Mr. Mania, this company relies and you and the company will be even more successful if you can find a way to win that Overdrive title.
Mark Mania: Find a way? Do you think that I don’t have a way?
Rosa Ramirez: Which answer do you want?
Mark Mania: You know what answer I want.
Rosa Ramirez: CJ Gates is a former Undisputed Champion, Keaton Saint is a man on a mission with something to prove, and Delikado has beaten you before.
Mark Mania: You know he didn’t beat me fairly! That was all Terry Marvin!
Rosa Ramirez: Stop using that excuse! It was a triple threat match! Nothing happened that wasn’t legal in that match. It wasn’t normal, but it was all legal. You need to get over that.
Mark takes a sip from his water and pulls his feet down from the ottoman.
Rosa Ramirez: See, you know it’s as true as I do. You have a lot of hurdles in this match Mr. Mania.
Mark Mania: I know.
Mark says this coyly and he bends his head.
Rosa Ramirez: What?
Mark stares down and doesn’t respond.
Rosa Ramirez: What?
Mark Mania: I know!
Mark looks up at her.
Mark Mania: I know it’s not easy Rosa! Alright? Is that what you want to hear? I’m not the same guy, I’m older, CJ Gates is a world class talent, Keaton Saint wants this as bad as anyone, and Delikado beat me. Yes, he beat me.
Mark stands up and gets in Rosa’s face.
Rosa Ramirez: There.
Rosa puts her hand on his shoulder.
Rosa Ramirez: Better?
What was he supposed to do now? He’s been working out harder than ever before. Pushing himself as hard as he could. Accepting the fact that he wasn’t perfect. It seemed like all the pieces were in place. It seemed like he was completely ready for the match. But Mark was still two days away from getting into that ring. He was tense, he couldn’t stop thinking about the match, his own insecurities, and if CJ Gates was right about what would happen to him if he were to lose the match.
Mark Mania: This is stupid.
Mark was blindfolded and Rosa was leading him down a hallway in the W Hotel in LA.
Rosa Ramirez: Just keep following along with me.
Mark Mania: Why do I need to be blindfolded?
He reaches at the cloth around his eyes.
Rosa Ramirez: Touch that and I’ll bring back the slab of granite.
Mark pulls away his hand, the cuts and bruises still showing.
Mark Mania: You’re the strangest assistant I’ve ever had.
Rosa Ramirez: That’s why you hired me.
Mark couldn’t disagree there.
Mark Mania: What are we doing?
Rosa Ramirez: You’ll see.
Rosa leads Mark into a large conference room. At least it’s called a conference room on the door. When Rosa opens the door to a large auditorium. The room is filled with people and there’s a stage with five chairs and a podium. Rosa lifts the cloth from Mark’s eyes. He opens them wide and stares out into the crowd who erupts in cheers when Mark walks in. He turns to Rosa and whispers.
Mark Mania: What did you do?
Rosa rushes ahead of Mark and up to the podium.
Rosa Ramirez: Ladies and gentlemen, let me welcome you to an unofficial APW event in the W Hotel!
The crowd cheers.
Rosa Ramirez: We’re here tonight to introduce you to the five competitors in the upcoming scramble match at this weekend’s Shockwave!
Again the crowd erupts while Rosa tries to quiet them down.
Rosa Ramirez: Save your applause for the first man we’re going to introduce tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, he is your next Overdrive Champion, Mark Mania!
The other cheers are rendered pointless as the crowd is on their feet screaming for Mark Mania. He walks out and waves to the crowd, still confused as ever. He walks to Rosa and tries to take the mic. Rosa covers the mic and whispers to him.
Rosa Ramirez: Not yet, go take a seat.
Mark looks confused to does so anyways. He continues to wave to the crowd as he takes a seat. He wonders how she could’ve possibly put all of this together. Even more, did really get his four competitors to come to his hotel? She couldn’t have.
Rosa Ramirez: Now, unfortunately, the other competitors couldn’t be here tonight.
Mark sighed of relief and the crowd moaned.
Rosa Ramirez: But, we did get stand in’s for each of them and they’ve agreed to come out here tonight and speak to all of us!
There are a smattering of cheers but the crowd is noticeably confused.
Rosa Ramirez: So, let me introduce first, unofficially speaking for the current Overdrive champion Delikado…..Deli-Sandwich!
The crowd pauses, not sure what to do. A few seconds later a man dressed up as a giant sandwich walks onto the stage. Some people start to cheer and everyone else joins in when they realize the mockery they’re in store for. The man in the costume sits down in a chair next to Mark and nods at him. Mark laughs at the man.
Rosa Ramirez: Introducing next, a true gladiator in this sport, well, kind of, here we are, ZJ Gates!
A big load of a man comes out with a cowboy hat on, short jean shorts, and torn white tank tops. The crowd applauds as the ZJ takes his seat.
Rosa Ramirez: And next, a man who needs no introduction, Keaton….DEMON!
A young man comes out from behind the curtain. He’s dressed head to toe in black and is wearing very thick eye make-up. He looks down at the ground and doesn’t acknowledge the crowd at all. He saunters over to his seat and sits in it sideways, not facing the crowd or the other members of the panel.
Rosa Ramirez: Finally, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, someone, who is kind of like an APW Hall of Famer, he is Slade, “Quote The” Raven!
The crowd waits in anticipation to see what kind of person is going to come out.
Rosa Ramirez: Oop, I apologize, much like the match this weekend, Raven is not going to make it tonight, but it’s okay, because he’s going to be irrelevant either way.
The crowd offers a few groans but they’re mostly clapping.
Rosa Ramirez: There you have it folks, the members of this weekend’s Overdrive Title Scramble Match!
The crowd cheers again.
Rosa Ramirez: Now, since Raven couldn’t join us tonight, Mr. Mania why don’t you come up and say a few words about him?
Mark looks confused, but gets up to a round of applause from the crowd.
Mark Mania: Well, I’ll say I certainly wasn’t expecting this, but I’m glad to be here in the bottom floor of my hotel. I don’t want to discount Slade Craven here tonight. He’s a good guy and solid competitor. I know that a lot of people are down on him in this match and a lot of people are counting him out already. I won’t make that mistake though. I know better.
Rosa pipes up from where Mark was sitting.
Rosa Ramirez: Stop kissing his ass and start kicking it!
The crowd cheers along to Rosa’s sentiment.
Mark Mania: Alright, alright. You want the honest truth? I’m right there with everyone counting him out. I frankly don’t know how he got in this match. People claim that I talked my way into it, but does everyone forget that I was one second away from becoming the Overdrive title? I deserve to be in this match just as much as CJ Gates and Delikado. At least a case can be made for Keaton Saint, but who is making the case for Slade Craven? Is it part of entering the Hall of Fame? Once per year President Jeff gives you a shot at a title that you don’t deserve? How’s that coming for you? Has it ever panned out?
Mark Mania: Oh, I guess not. You haven’t accomplished a damn thing in singles competition. You’ve just muddled around on Overdrive giving Jeff and easy decision on who to put at the bottom of the card. He has to be wondering how long you’ll put up with this shit before you finally just quit. I guess he never really expected that you’d spend the better part of your career sucking.
Mark Mania: At least it looks like your tag team partner is going to get singles gold before you do. So is that good for you? Bad for you? I mean, it’s pretty obvious to everyone now that even though he was demoted to Meltdown, he’s still better than you. That’s going to be a mystery for the ages. How on earth did you pathetic ass stay on Overdrive when your better, more successful, tag partner had to go to Meltdown?
The crowd cheers and laughs as Mark continues.
Mark Mania: I guess it doesn’t matter. Jeff has come out to say he’ll be promoting some folks up from Meltdown since Asylum has had to fire so many people lately. Maybe if you’re lucky they’ll move you to Meltdown and you can finally be a mid-carder somewhere.
The crowd laughs again and Rosa gets up from her seat.
Rosa Ramirez: Alright, alright, that’s all the time we need to spend on that poor man. Have a seat Mark. Thank you.
Mark nods and walks back to his seat.
Rosa Ramirez: Ok, next, let’s introduce our little friend here, Keaton Demon!
The kid gets up and walks up to the microphone. He stands there and stares at the crowd.
Rosa Ramirez: Anything to say young man?
He shakes his head and looks down at his feet.
Rosa Ramirez: Alright, take a seat.
He says something so quietly that no one can hear.
Rosa Ramirez: What’s that?
He shakes his head and gets back into his seat.
Rosa Ramirez: Alright then, Mr. Mania a few words about Keaton Saint?
The crowd claps as Mark stands up looking confused, but he shrugs and gets back to the stand.
Mark Mania: Ha, alright. Well, as I said, a case can be made for why Keaton Saint is in this match. I mean, he lost the chance to become number one contender, he lost the Test for the Best. Hey, wait a second. What has this guy ever won in the APW? Oh yes, I have to preface that with “APW” because at the drop of a hat Saint will start spouting off about being a champion in the CWC. Guess what Sainty? No one cares. Being a champion in the APW is a lot different than being one in some glorified inter-federation of second class citizens. I was a member of the CWC for a moment. I say moment because that’s as long as I could handle their condescending attitude with a complete lack of ability to back up anything they say.
Mark Mania: I know what you’re going to say Saint. If I know so much then why didn’t I beat you? I’m not saying I’m the best of all time, I’m not saying I’m the best now. What I will say is that when I faced you, I wasn’t anywhere close to my best. I wasn’t the Mark Mania of old. I had only had one match and it was against someone who has all but one toe out of the wrestling business. When we met in the ring you were doing great things in the ring. I was in the ring for only the second time in two years. What did you expect to happen? You don’t just get into the ring after a long absence and suddenly be in your best form. So, hold on to your victory over me as much as you’d like. It’s not going to get you very far on Sunday. You’re going to see a whole new Mark Mania, you’re going to see a motivated Mark Mania. You’re not going to be ready for what you see in that ring. I know that for sure.
Mark Mania: Since we first met in the Test for the Best Qualifier people said that it wouldn’t be the last time the two of us faced off. Understandably as we both had serious things to prove. You have to show that you’re not just Terry Marvin – lite, and I have to prove I’m not… uh, old, I guess. As Mark Twain said, the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. My age is not going to hinder me one bit. I’m here to win and there isn’t anything that’s going to keep me from that. Especially not an emo kid who never grew up.
Rosa stands up and begins to speak.
Rosa Ramirez: Ok Mr. Mania, thank you very much for your thoughts. Let’s move on to a man I found underneath a bridge, ZJ Gates!
The crowd roars in laughter as the cowboy gets up and starts dancing around. Mark starts to walk back towards his seat as ZJ gets to the mic.
ZJ Gates: Who wants to get a ZJ?! If you have to ask, you can’t afford it!
Rosa stops Mark from walks and interrupts ZJ.
Rosa Ramirez: Ok, ok, that’s enough of that. This isn’t a street corner, take a seat big man. Mr. Mania, care to take over for Mr. Gates here?
Mark smiles and walks back up to the podium. Rosa grabs his arm as she goes back towards her seat.
Mark Mania: Alright, well, as much as I’ve picked on Keaton Saint and Slade Craven so far, it’s going to be difficult for me to say too many negative things. CJ Gates is a former Undisputed Champion, former Test for the Best winner, former Tag-Team Champion, and former number one contender for the Overdrive title. That’s a whole lot of formers. There are only a few men still wrestling in the APW that have that many formers. Sally Talfourd, Level-One, Biggs, Michael Lively…not many. But, there is the nagging fact that the word “former” has such a negative connotation. I don’t mean for it to CJ, really I don’t. I know that you’re still in the prime of your career and even though you’ve stumbled a bit lately, you’re still a top notch wrestler.
Mark Mania: I also know that you’re there mentally. You’re still paying attention, as smart as ever. Do you know how I can tell? Because you realized your need to adapt. Do you remember the first time you addressed the APW faithful this week? How all you talked about was how big of a threat Keaton Saint was? Oh man, did I listen to that over and over again. You didn’t have to worry about Mark Mania because he’d be too gassed. He was too old. You were only worried about Keaton Saint, your only true competition. Remember that? How long did that last for? Two days? Sounds about right. Something changed in those two days CJ. In those two days, I also addressed the APW faithful. I explained to the world, and to you that the “old” Mark Mania was back. At first, I wasn’t sure that you were listening.
Mark Mania: How wrong I was though! A lot changed between the two times that we’ve seen you this week. I’m thinking you saw something. Something I didn’t expect you to see until we got into the ring on Sunday. Wrong again! Man, I’m on a cold streak. The second you saw me you realized that Keaton Saint was no longer your biggest threat. You were suddenly aware that the “old” Mark Mania was indeed back and suddenly you had to change your tune.
Mark Mania: So you come out here and start talking about how great I was and how if I’m motivated I can be dangerous. The conversations started to stray from Keaton Saint and became a bit more Mania centric. Now, as an egomaniac, I have to admit, I rather enjoyed that. I could tell you didn’t though. I could tell that when Keaton Saint was your main focus you were a confident and stable man. Things have clearly changed. Granted, your mental status wasn’t all that strong to begin with. You know, the whole seeing dead family members thing, but clearly it’s gotten worse. Now you don’t know who to believe, where your father and brother are. You’re all over the place emotionally and now you have something even more to deal with.
Mark Mania: Now, instead of focusing purely on Keaton Saint and keeping a “watchful” eye on myself and Delikado, you have to split your focus. Are you mentally stable enough for that CJ? Can you handle not having control of the situation? That’s your big thing right? Controlling the situation, controlling your loss potential? How’s it working for you? Do you feel like you’re in control?
Mark Mania: The answer is simple CJ. No. You’re not in control anymore. You may have the accolades in APW that I want and you may be a top notch wrestler, but you don’t have the control. That’s my ring. I am Mark fucking Mania. When I’m motivated and when I’m at my best no one can beat me. You know that as well as anyone. You’ve already seen what you thought was the fire in my eyes CJ. Just you wait until Shockwave and then you’ll know what the fire looks like.
Rosa steps up again.
Rosa Ramirez: Thank you again Mr. Mania, this has been a great help so far. Let’s now talk to the Cuban Deli-Sandwich!
The man in the sandwich costume stands up and screams aloud.
Deli-Sandwich: Ball-licker!
Mark makes a dive for the man and pushes him over his chair and into the wall.
Rosa Ramirez: Mark!
Mark looks over at Rosa perplexed. He had only ever heard her call him “Mr. Mania” or “Sir”.
Rosa Ramirez: Please, Mr. Mania, a few words about Deli.
Mark looks at himself on top of a hired man dressed in a sandwich. He stands up and brushes his suit off.
Mark Mania: As you can tell, there is some anger between myself and Delikado. The man just rubs me the wrong way. I’m sure he’ll make some sort of homoerotic joke about that and that’s fine, I can deal with that. I’m comfortable enough in my manhood to take his sophomoric insults. What I can’t take is the insult he is to the APW and the Overdrive title. It’s funny, before we first met for the Overdrive title against Terry Marvin I really didn’t pay any attention to him. I always figured he was just some moron who Jeff let go and entertain himself since every now and then he’d put on a good match. He was probably let down time and time again as Delikado made a fool of himself and of the APW.
Mark Mania: Then, as Terry Marvin wins the Test for the Best, President Jeff makes it known that he wants to get the Overdrive title away from Marvin. He decides to have us face off for the title. Then, throw in Delikado for good measure. Give the guy something to do. What happens after that? Well, Terry Marvin cheats his way…
Rosa cuts off Mark.
Rosa Ramirez: Mr. Mania.
Mark realizes that he was about to use the same old excuse and takes a deep breath.
Mark Mania: Right, so after I lost the match fair and square, suddenly Delikado is the champion. Certainly not in Jeff’s grand plan. He wanted a real champion, a man who could be the face of the Overdrive title and bring some legitimacy to it. Kurt Noble, Johnny Rebel, Terry Marvin, and Mark Mania! Doesn’t that progression just sound right? Throwing Delikado in there is like putting Welch’s grape juice in a fine bottle of wine. It looks the same, but it’s just not right. You don’t deserve that title and you don’t deserve all this press and time you’re getting in front of the camera. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Deli, you may not be the biggest threat to me in this match but you’re the man I want to see lose more than anyone else. You’ve been a thorn in my side since we were in that match together and it’s finally time to finish it. You can talk as much as you want about the fact that I talked my way into this match but you know more than anyone that I deserve to be in this match. Keaton Saint and Slade Craven both lost to CJ Gates who then in turn lost to you. There is no number one contender, there is no clear heir to the throne. But there is me. There is a savior. There is someone who can bring back some name brand quality to the Overdrive title. There’s me.
Mark Mania: So hold your childish ball-licker insults and you’re strange carrot metaphors for another time. You know, they could probably use more of that over on Asylum, why don’t you go talk to Johnny Knuckles, see how he’s doing. Your bullshit childish comedy routine isn’t meant for Overdrive and especially isn’t meant for Shockwave. This whole charade we’re doing up here is just like the bullshit you spew out every single week but at least I’m intelligent enough to bring some class to this joke premise that we’ve begun.
Mark Mania: I don’t know why I’m up here and I don’t know how this all started tonight, but I know this. On Sunday, there will be no jokes, there will be no dildo microphones, there will just be five men and a title. Maybe in the joke world you’d get the best of me Deli. But not in the ring. Not when it comes down to technical wrestling without any bullshit. You may be the champion, but I’m the one with all the cards in my hand. This match plays into my specialties and my abilities. Which is why come Sunday, the man who wins this match will be the same man who last was entered first into a Scramble Match as a challenger and came out victorious. This Sunday, that Overdrive title is mine.
With that the crowd erupts into cheer and they stand to their feet. Even the fake opponents behind Mark begin to applaud. Rosa stands up with the crowd and walks to the stand.
Rosa Ramirez: Ladies and gentlemen, your next Overdrive champion, Mark Mania!
The crowd continues to cheer so much you can barely hear Rosa. She grabs Mark’s arm and walks them off of stage. Once they’re off stage and the down the hallway a bit Mark looks at Rosa.
Mark Mania: What on earth was that all about?
Rosa Ramirez: Did you have fun?
Mark Mania: Well, besides the whole tackling a man dressed in a sandwich, yeah, it was pretty fun.
Rosa Ramirez: That’s what it was all about. You’re a wrestler Mark. You’ve been doing it your whole life, it’s your favorite thing to do, it’s the only reason you keep coming back. It’s the only thing you’re good at and the one thing that drives you. You’ve been working incredibly hard lately and have been pushing yourself. But in the end, you need to enjoy yourself and do what you do best. You need to be yourself.
Mark smiles and keeps walking down the hall.
Mark Mania: How on earth did you find something that wanted to dress like a giant Cuban sandwich?
Rosa Ramirez: You said our financials are fine. Everyone has a price.
Mark realized now that despite his best effort, he was attracted to Rosa. She told him she was a lesbian, she told him it would never happen. Yet, Mark didn’t let such a thing deter him. He’s made this mistake in the past and couldn’t be more aware of how wrong he is, she just did something to him. It wasn’t just sexual. She could be honest with him, she could motivate him. He hasn’t had that in a long time. She pushed him to try harder, pushed him to do things he’d never do, and finally, controlled his emotions. Mark may have been preaching to everyone recently that he was the “old” Mark Mania, but now, he really felt like a new man.
Rosa Ramirez: Come on! Just keep it up!
Rosa’s voice is heard as Mark is pushing himself down to the ground and back up.
Mark Mania: One-ninety-seven!
Mark barks out as his arms are extended again.
Rosa Ramirez: Don’t quit now, almost there, keep it going!
Mark struggles down and pushes himself back up again.
Mark Mania: One-ninety-eight!
Mark lets himself down again and tries to push up, struggling.
Rosa Ramirez: CJ Gates says you’ll be too gassed by the end of the match to make a difference!
Mark turns his head and glares at Rosa. Pushing himself up again.
Mark Mania: One-ninety-nine!
Mark goes down again. Struggles to come up again.
Rosa Ramirez: CJ Gates also says he’s not even worried about you. He says the match is coming down to him or Keaton Saint. You’re not even a player!
Mark Mania: Son of a bitch!
Mark pushes up again.
Mark Mania: Two-hundred!
Mark is about to stop when Rosa yells.
Rosa Ramirez: Too gassed! CJ says you’re going to be too gassed!
For so long Mark has been resting on his laurels. He’s been able to use his reputation to get him far in the APW. It wasn’t going work anymore. The APW is a different animal these days. Mark knew that CJ Gates was right in many ways. He was old, he hasn’t had the same fire. It was time to change that. Mark knew it and so did Rosa.
Mark Mania: You’ve got to be kidding me!
Rosa Ramirez: Delikado says you won’t last past the third ring of the bell!
Mark was punching a heavy bag with his fists rapped up. Rosa was starting to put on full boxing gloves.
Mark Mania: And how is this going to help?
Rosa Ramirez: Because of this…
Rosa motioned for two men to come in and take down the heavy bag. After they did, they walked back in the room pushing a large piece of granite. It stood at six feet tall and was about two feet wide and long. The men lower to the ground and move the wheels away.
Mark Mania: What in the hell is this?
Rosa Ramirez: Hit it.
Mark Mania: What?
Rosa Ramirez: Hit it.
Mark Mania: Rosa, I know I’ve asked you to help push me harder, but it’s not like you’re a personal trainer, you’re an assistant.
Rosa Ramirez: Hit it.
Mark looks at her bewildered.
Mark Mania: I’m going to break my hands.
Rosa Ramirez: Delikado called you a ball-licker.
Mark Mania: What?
Rosa Ramirez: Word for word. He said you were a ball-licker.
Mark Mania: What a fucking moron.
Rosa Ramirez: Hit it.
Mark Mania: To appease that moron?
Rosa Ramirez: Ball-licker.
Mark cracks a right into the marble. He winces after the shot.
Rosa Ramirez: Again!
Mark looks at her and then down to his hand.
Rosa Ramirez: Do you want to be the Overdrive champion or not?
Mark hits the marble with his left.
Rosa Ramirez: Nope. Hit it again.
Mark hits it with his right and winces in pain again.
Rosa Ramirez: Again!
Throughout all of this training Mark pushed himself further than he expected. He continued beyond that and further still. Rosa was the best thing that had ever happened to him. He worried that this relationship would take a turn. He knew that she was a lesbian. He told himself that all the time. But, come on, maybe it’s just a phase? Mark fought with himself over and over trying to figure out what to do.
Rosa Ramirez: What’re you doing?
Mark was sitting down on the couch in his hotel room. There was ice wrapped around his right fist and he was drinking a bottle of water with his feet up.
Mark Mania: What? I’m just icing down my hand.
Rosa Ramirez: Do you think that you’re going to have any time to ice your hand during the match?
Mark Mania: Come on Rosa, you’ve been busting my ass the past two days. Give me a break here.
Rosa Ramirez: You said it yourself Mr. Mania, this company relies and you and the company will be even more successful if you can find a way to win that Overdrive title.
Mark Mania: Find a way? Do you think that I don’t have a way?
Rosa Ramirez: Which answer do you want?
Mark Mania: You know what answer I want.
Rosa Ramirez: CJ Gates is a former Undisputed Champion, Keaton Saint is a man on a mission with something to prove, and Delikado has beaten you before.
Mark Mania: You know he didn’t beat me fairly! That was all Terry Marvin!
Rosa Ramirez: Stop using that excuse! It was a triple threat match! Nothing happened that wasn’t legal in that match. It wasn’t normal, but it was all legal. You need to get over that.
Mark takes a sip from his water and pulls his feet down from the ottoman.
Rosa Ramirez: See, you know it’s as true as I do. You have a lot of hurdles in this match Mr. Mania.
Mark Mania: I know.
Mark says this coyly and he bends his head.
Rosa Ramirez: What?
Mark stares down and doesn’t respond.
Rosa Ramirez: What?
Mark Mania: I know!
Mark looks up at her.
Mark Mania: I know it’s not easy Rosa! Alright? Is that what you want to hear? I’m not the same guy, I’m older, CJ Gates is a world class talent, Keaton Saint wants this as bad as anyone, and Delikado beat me. Yes, he beat me.
Mark stands up and gets in Rosa’s face.
Rosa Ramirez: There.
Rosa puts her hand on his shoulder.
Rosa Ramirez: Better?
What was he supposed to do now? He’s been working out harder than ever before. Pushing himself as hard as he could. Accepting the fact that he wasn’t perfect. It seemed like all the pieces were in place. It seemed like he was completely ready for the match. But Mark was still two days away from getting into that ring. He was tense, he couldn’t stop thinking about the match, his own insecurities, and if CJ Gates was right about what would happen to him if he were to lose the match.
Mark Mania: This is stupid.
Mark was blindfolded and Rosa was leading him down a hallway in the W Hotel in LA.
Rosa Ramirez: Just keep following along with me.
Mark Mania: Why do I need to be blindfolded?
He reaches at the cloth around his eyes.
Rosa Ramirez: Touch that and I’ll bring back the slab of granite.
Mark pulls away his hand, the cuts and bruises still showing.
Mark Mania: You’re the strangest assistant I’ve ever had.
Rosa Ramirez: That’s why you hired me.
Mark couldn’t disagree there.
Mark Mania: What are we doing?
Rosa Ramirez: You’ll see.
Rosa leads Mark into a large conference room. At least it’s called a conference room on the door. When Rosa opens the door to a large auditorium. The room is filled with people and there’s a stage with five chairs and a podium. Rosa lifts the cloth from Mark’s eyes. He opens them wide and stares out into the crowd who erupts in cheers when Mark walks in. He turns to Rosa and whispers.
Mark Mania: What did you do?
Rosa rushes ahead of Mark and up to the podium.
Rosa Ramirez: Ladies and gentlemen, let me welcome you to an unofficial APW event in the W Hotel!
The crowd cheers.
Rosa Ramirez: We’re here tonight to introduce you to the five competitors in the upcoming scramble match at this weekend’s Shockwave!
Again the crowd erupts while Rosa tries to quiet them down.
Rosa Ramirez: Save your applause for the first man we’re going to introduce tonight. Ladies and gentlemen, he is your next Overdrive Champion, Mark Mania!
The other cheers are rendered pointless as the crowd is on their feet screaming for Mark Mania. He walks out and waves to the crowd, still confused as ever. He walks to Rosa and tries to take the mic. Rosa covers the mic and whispers to him.
Rosa Ramirez: Not yet, go take a seat.
Mark looks confused to does so anyways. He continues to wave to the crowd as he takes a seat. He wonders how she could’ve possibly put all of this together. Even more, did really get his four competitors to come to his hotel? She couldn’t have.
Rosa Ramirez: Now, unfortunately, the other competitors couldn’t be here tonight.
Mark sighed of relief and the crowd moaned.
Rosa Ramirez: But, we did get stand in’s for each of them and they’ve agreed to come out here tonight and speak to all of us!
There are a smattering of cheers but the crowd is noticeably confused.
Rosa Ramirez: So, let me introduce first, unofficially speaking for the current Overdrive champion Delikado…..Deli-Sandwich!
The crowd pauses, not sure what to do. A few seconds later a man dressed up as a giant sandwich walks onto the stage. Some people start to cheer and everyone else joins in when they realize the mockery they’re in store for. The man in the costume sits down in a chair next to Mark and nods at him. Mark laughs at the man.
Rosa Ramirez: Introducing next, a true gladiator in this sport, well, kind of, here we are, ZJ Gates!
A big load of a man comes out with a cowboy hat on, short jean shorts, and torn white tank tops. The crowd applauds as the ZJ takes his seat.
Rosa Ramirez: And next, a man who needs no introduction, Keaton….DEMON!
A young man comes out from behind the curtain. He’s dressed head to toe in black and is wearing very thick eye make-up. He looks down at the ground and doesn’t acknowledge the crowd at all. He saunters over to his seat and sits in it sideways, not facing the crowd or the other members of the panel.
Rosa Ramirez: Finally, ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you, someone, who is kind of like an APW Hall of Famer, he is Slade, “Quote The” Raven!
The crowd waits in anticipation to see what kind of person is going to come out.
Rosa Ramirez: Oop, I apologize, much like the match this weekend, Raven is not going to make it tonight, but it’s okay, because he’s going to be irrelevant either way.
The crowd offers a few groans but they’re mostly clapping.
Rosa Ramirez: There you have it folks, the members of this weekend’s Overdrive Title Scramble Match!
The crowd cheers again.
Rosa Ramirez: Now, since Raven couldn’t join us tonight, Mr. Mania why don’t you come up and say a few words about him?
Mark looks confused, but gets up to a round of applause from the crowd.
Mark Mania: Well, I’ll say I certainly wasn’t expecting this, but I’m glad to be here in the bottom floor of my hotel. I don’t want to discount Slade Craven here tonight. He’s a good guy and solid competitor. I know that a lot of people are down on him in this match and a lot of people are counting him out already. I won’t make that mistake though. I know better.
Rosa pipes up from where Mark was sitting.
Rosa Ramirez: Stop kissing his ass and start kicking it!
The crowd cheers along to Rosa’s sentiment.
Mark Mania: Alright, alright. You want the honest truth? I’m right there with everyone counting him out. I frankly don’t know how he got in this match. People claim that I talked my way into it, but does everyone forget that I was one second away from becoming the Overdrive title? I deserve to be in this match just as much as CJ Gates and Delikado. At least a case can be made for Keaton Saint, but who is making the case for Slade Craven? Is it part of entering the Hall of Fame? Once per year President Jeff gives you a shot at a title that you don’t deserve? How’s that coming for you? Has it ever panned out?
Mark Mania: Oh, I guess not. You haven’t accomplished a damn thing in singles competition. You’ve just muddled around on Overdrive giving Jeff and easy decision on who to put at the bottom of the card. He has to be wondering how long you’ll put up with this shit before you finally just quit. I guess he never really expected that you’d spend the better part of your career sucking.
Mark Mania: At least it looks like your tag team partner is going to get singles gold before you do. So is that good for you? Bad for you? I mean, it’s pretty obvious to everyone now that even though he was demoted to Meltdown, he’s still better than you. That’s going to be a mystery for the ages. How on earth did you pathetic ass stay on Overdrive when your better, more successful, tag partner had to go to Meltdown?
The crowd cheers and laughs as Mark continues.
Mark Mania: I guess it doesn’t matter. Jeff has come out to say he’ll be promoting some folks up from Meltdown since Asylum has had to fire so many people lately. Maybe if you’re lucky they’ll move you to Meltdown and you can finally be a mid-carder somewhere.
The crowd laughs again and Rosa gets up from her seat.
Rosa Ramirez: Alright, alright, that’s all the time we need to spend on that poor man. Have a seat Mark. Thank you.
Mark nods and walks back to his seat.
Rosa Ramirez: Ok, next, let’s introduce our little friend here, Keaton Demon!
The kid gets up and walks up to the microphone. He stands there and stares at the crowd.
Rosa Ramirez: Anything to say young man?
He shakes his head and looks down at his feet.
Rosa Ramirez: Alright, take a seat.
He says something so quietly that no one can hear.
Rosa Ramirez: What’s that?
He shakes his head and gets back into his seat.
Rosa Ramirez: Alright then, Mr. Mania a few words about Keaton Saint?
The crowd claps as Mark stands up looking confused, but he shrugs and gets back to the stand.
Mark Mania: Ha, alright. Well, as I said, a case can be made for why Keaton Saint is in this match. I mean, he lost the chance to become number one contender, he lost the Test for the Best. Hey, wait a second. What has this guy ever won in the APW? Oh yes, I have to preface that with “APW” because at the drop of a hat Saint will start spouting off about being a champion in the CWC. Guess what Sainty? No one cares. Being a champion in the APW is a lot different than being one in some glorified inter-federation of second class citizens. I was a member of the CWC for a moment. I say moment because that’s as long as I could handle their condescending attitude with a complete lack of ability to back up anything they say.
Mark Mania: I know what you’re going to say Saint. If I know so much then why didn’t I beat you? I’m not saying I’m the best of all time, I’m not saying I’m the best now. What I will say is that when I faced you, I wasn’t anywhere close to my best. I wasn’t the Mark Mania of old. I had only had one match and it was against someone who has all but one toe out of the wrestling business. When we met in the ring you were doing great things in the ring. I was in the ring for only the second time in two years. What did you expect to happen? You don’t just get into the ring after a long absence and suddenly be in your best form. So, hold on to your victory over me as much as you’d like. It’s not going to get you very far on Sunday. You’re going to see a whole new Mark Mania, you’re going to see a motivated Mark Mania. You’re not going to be ready for what you see in that ring. I know that for sure.
Mark Mania: Since we first met in the Test for the Best Qualifier people said that it wouldn’t be the last time the two of us faced off. Understandably as we both had serious things to prove. You have to show that you’re not just Terry Marvin – lite, and I have to prove I’m not… uh, old, I guess. As Mark Twain said, the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. My age is not going to hinder me one bit. I’m here to win and there isn’t anything that’s going to keep me from that. Especially not an emo kid who never grew up.
Rosa stands up and begins to speak.
Rosa Ramirez: Ok Mr. Mania, thank you very much for your thoughts. Let’s move on to a man I found underneath a bridge, ZJ Gates!
The crowd roars in laughter as the cowboy gets up and starts dancing around. Mark starts to walk back towards his seat as ZJ gets to the mic.
ZJ Gates: Who wants to get a ZJ?! If you have to ask, you can’t afford it!
Rosa stops Mark from walks and interrupts ZJ.
Rosa Ramirez: Ok, ok, that’s enough of that. This isn’t a street corner, take a seat big man. Mr. Mania, care to take over for Mr. Gates here?
Mark smiles and walks back up to the podium. Rosa grabs his arm as she goes back towards her seat.
Mark Mania: Alright, well, as much as I’ve picked on Keaton Saint and Slade Craven so far, it’s going to be difficult for me to say too many negative things. CJ Gates is a former Undisputed Champion, former Test for the Best winner, former Tag-Team Champion, and former number one contender for the Overdrive title. That’s a whole lot of formers. There are only a few men still wrestling in the APW that have that many formers. Sally Talfourd, Level-One, Biggs, Michael Lively…not many. But, there is the nagging fact that the word “former” has such a negative connotation. I don’t mean for it to CJ, really I don’t. I know that you’re still in the prime of your career and even though you’ve stumbled a bit lately, you’re still a top notch wrestler.
Mark Mania: I also know that you’re there mentally. You’re still paying attention, as smart as ever. Do you know how I can tell? Because you realized your need to adapt. Do you remember the first time you addressed the APW faithful this week? How all you talked about was how big of a threat Keaton Saint was? Oh man, did I listen to that over and over again. You didn’t have to worry about Mark Mania because he’d be too gassed. He was too old. You were only worried about Keaton Saint, your only true competition. Remember that? How long did that last for? Two days? Sounds about right. Something changed in those two days CJ. In those two days, I also addressed the APW faithful. I explained to the world, and to you that the “old” Mark Mania was back. At first, I wasn’t sure that you were listening.
Mark Mania: How wrong I was though! A lot changed between the two times that we’ve seen you this week. I’m thinking you saw something. Something I didn’t expect you to see until we got into the ring on Sunday. Wrong again! Man, I’m on a cold streak. The second you saw me you realized that Keaton Saint was no longer your biggest threat. You were suddenly aware that the “old” Mark Mania was indeed back and suddenly you had to change your tune.
Mark Mania: So you come out here and start talking about how great I was and how if I’m motivated I can be dangerous. The conversations started to stray from Keaton Saint and became a bit more Mania centric. Now, as an egomaniac, I have to admit, I rather enjoyed that. I could tell you didn’t though. I could tell that when Keaton Saint was your main focus you were a confident and stable man. Things have clearly changed. Granted, your mental status wasn’t all that strong to begin with. You know, the whole seeing dead family members thing, but clearly it’s gotten worse. Now you don’t know who to believe, where your father and brother are. You’re all over the place emotionally and now you have something even more to deal with.
Mark Mania: Now, instead of focusing purely on Keaton Saint and keeping a “watchful” eye on myself and Delikado, you have to split your focus. Are you mentally stable enough for that CJ? Can you handle not having control of the situation? That’s your big thing right? Controlling the situation, controlling your loss potential? How’s it working for you? Do you feel like you’re in control?
Mark Mania: The answer is simple CJ. No. You’re not in control anymore. You may have the accolades in APW that I want and you may be a top notch wrestler, but you don’t have the control. That’s my ring. I am Mark fucking Mania. When I’m motivated and when I’m at my best no one can beat me. You know that as well as anyone. You’ve already seen what you thought was the fire in my eyes CJ. Just you wait until Shockwave and then you’ll know what the fire looks like.
Rosa steps up again.
Rosa Ramirez: Thank you again Mr. Mania, this has been a great help so far. Let’s now talk to the Cuban Deli-Sandwich!
The man in the sandwich costume stands up and screams aloud.
Deli-Sandwich: Ball-licker!
Mark makes a dive for the man and pushes him over his chair and into the wall.
Rosa Ramirez: Mark!
Mark looks over at Rosa perplexed. He had only ever heard her call him “Mr. Mania” or “Sir”.
Rosa Ramirez: Please, Mr. Mania, a few words about Deli.
Mark looks at himself on top of a hired man dressed in a sandwich. He stands up and brushes his suit off.
Mark Mania: As you can tell, there is some anger between myself and Delikado. The man just rubs me the wrong way. I’m sure he’ll make some sort of homoerotic joke about that and that’s fine, I can deal with that. I’m comfortable enough in my manhood to take his sophomoric insults. What I can’t take is the insult he is to the APW and the Overdrive title. It’s funny, before we first met for the Overdrive title against Terry Marvin I really didn’t pay any attention to him. I always figured he was just some moron who Jeff let go and entertain himself since every now and then he’d put on a good match. He was probably let down time and time again as Delikado made a fool of himself and of the APW.
Mark Mania: Then, as Terry Marvin wins the Test for the Best, President Jeff makes it known that he wants to get the Overdrive title away from Marvin. He decides to have us face off for the title. Then, throw in Delikado for good measure. Give the guy something to do. What happens after that? Well, Terry Marvin cheats his way…
Rosa cuts off Mark.
Rosa Ramirez: Mr. Mania.
Mark realizes that he was about to use the same old excuse and takes a deep breath.
Mark Mania: Right, so after I lost the match fair and square, suddenly Delikado is the champion. Certainly not in Jeff’s grand plan. He wanted a real champion, a man who could be the face of the Overdrive title and bring some legitimacy to it. Kurt Noble, Johnny Rebel, Terry Marvin, and Mark Mania! Doesn’t that progression just sound right? Throwing Delikado in there is like putting Welch’s grape juice in a fine bottle of wine. It looks the same, but it’s just not right. You don’t deserve that title and you don’t deserve all this press and time you’re getting in front of the camera. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Deli, you may not be the biggest threat to me in this match but you’re the man I want to see lose more than anyone else. You’ve been a thorn in my side since we were in that match together and it’s finally time to finish it. You can talk as much as you want about the fact that I talked my way into this match but you know more than anyone that I deserve to be in this match. Keaton Saint and Slade Craven both lost to CJ Gates who then in turn lost to you. There is no number one contender, there is no clear heir to the throne. But there is me. There is a savior. There is someone who can bring back some name brand quality to the Overdrive title. There’s me.
Mark Mania: So hold your childish ball-licker insults and you’re strange carrot metaphors for another time. You know, they could probably use more of that over on Asylum, why don’t you go talk to Johnny Knuckles, see how he’s doing. Your bullshit childish comedy routine isn’t meant for Overdrive and especially isn’t meant for Shockwave. This whole charade we’re doing up here is just like the bullshit you spew out every single week but at least I’m intelligent enough to bring some class to this joke premise that we’ve begun.
Mark Mania: I don’t know why I’m up here and I don’t know how this all started tonight, but I know this. On Sunday, there will be no jokes, there will be no dildo microphones, there will just be five men and a title. Maybe in the joke world you’d get the best of me Deli. But not in the ring. Not when it comes down to technical wrestling without any bullshit. You may be the champion, but I’m the one with all the cards in my hand. This match plays into my specialties and my abilities. Which is why come Sunday, the man who wins this match will be the same man who last was entered first into a Scramble Match as a challenger and came out victorious. This Sunday, that Overdrive title is mine.
With that the crowd erupts into cheer and they stand to their feet. Even the fake opponents behind Mark begin to applaud. Rosa stands up with the crowd and walks to the stand.
Rosa Ramirez: Ladies and gentlemen, your next Overdrive champion, Mark Mania!
The crowd continues to cheer so much you can barely hear Rosa. She grabs Mark’s arm and walks them off of stage. Once they’re off stage and the down the hallway a bit Mark looks at Rosa.
Mark Mania: What on earth was that all about?
Rosa Ramirez: Did you have fun?
Mark Mania: Well, besides the whole tackling a man dressed in a sandwich, yeah, it was pretty fun.
Rosa Ramirez: That’s what it was all about. You’re a wrestler Mark. You’ve been doing it your whole life, it’s your favorite thing to do, it’s the only reason you keep coming back. It’s the only thing you’re good at and the one thing that drives you. You’ve been working incredibly hard lately and have been pushing yourself. But in the end, you need to enjoy yourself and do what you do best. You need to be yourself.
Mark smiles and keeps walking down the hall.
Mark Mania: How on earth did you find something that wanted to dress like a giant Cuban sandwich?
Rosa Ramirez: You said our financials are fine. Everyone has a price.
Mark realized now that despite his best effort, he was attracted to Rosa. She told him she was a lesbian, she told him it would never happen. Yet, Mark didn’t let such a thing deter him. He’s made this mistake in the past and couldn’t be more aware of how wrong he is, she just did something to him. It wasn’t just sexual. She could be honest with him, she could motivate him. He hasn’t had that in a long time. She pushed him to try harder, pushed him to do things he’d never do, and finally, controlled his emotions. Mark may have been preaching to everyone recently that he was the “old” Mark Mania, but now, he really felt like a new man.
