Post by Shadow on Oct 24, 2012 13:38:51 GMT -4
[glow=silver,9,200]THE ROAD SO FAR...[/glow]
The screen goes dark for a moment during the September 3rd edition of Meltdown as the crowd goes quiet. As lighting bursts across the titantron. Two explosions rip across the stage as Shadow emerges from behind the curtain on a monochromatic screen. Vancouver is on their feet, cheering as Shadow walks out. Then it cuts to Shadow being struck by Michael Lively from behind.
There are flashes of the bout between the two that night. Shadow hitting the snap spinebuster outside and ramming Lively into the post. Then its followed by The champ’s dirty tactics. Hooking the tights, setting up for the Prelude...The Shadow delivers a rib-shattering kick to his midsection and positions him a standing headscissors. He lifts Lively up into a Crucifix Powerbomb position. Shadow turns, ready to drive Lively to the center of the ring-- but in that moment, Mannie rolls in under the bottom rope and delivers a hard shot with the title to Lively’s exposed skull! In one swift motion, Mannie drops the belt and rolls out of the ring while the ref calls for the bell. Vancouver responds with a series of boos as Shadow drops Lively and turns to the referee in shock.
The following week, Shadow and Streets Wilson circle the ring and go to lock up. Wilson gets the upper hand and gets Shadow in a head lock but Shadow then leans back and pushes Wilson to the ropes Wilson bounces off and is met with a huge Spinebuster Slam! Next the scene fades to Streets Wilson waiting for Shadow to get to his feet. He grabs Shadow's head and hits a DDT Then Streets Wilson goes to hit a Super kick as Shadow is getting to his feet but Shadow ducks out of the way spins Streets Wilson round and hits a Full Nelson Slam! Shadow climbs the top rope and waits for Wilson to get to his feet and Shadow hits a Top rope clothesline... Shadow stalks Streets! Big Boot! He Shadow makes the cover as the referee counts...1...2...3!!!!
One week later inside the steel cage, Shadow takes Krunk down from behind with a Shoulder Block. Krunk falls to his knees but Shadow lifts him up for a Gorilla Press Slam! Then a Back suplex followed by a spinebuster! Feeding off of the energy of the crowd, Shadow roars into the audience, signaling around his waist that he would be the champion. Then Shadow is shown driving Krunk into the steel cage not once but twice! Cut to Shadow nailing Salieri with the Big Boot followed by The Dark Storm on Krunk! Shadow is shown climbing up the cage and over the top as Krunk crawls towards the door. Both men collapse on the ground at the same time!
West: I'm so confused!
Harris: Me too. Who the hell won?!
Again, another week passes by and Shadow is now locking up with Krunk to decide the stipulation at One Night in Hell. Shadow starts the match off nailing Krunk with a right hand. After a quick back-and-forth Krunk goes for a Frankensteiner but Shadow counters into a powerbomb! The scene fades to Shadow ramming Krunk into the turnbuckle, shades of the steel cage match. Then back in the ring Shadow hits Krunk with a chokeslam!
West: CHOKESLAM!
Harris: It’s done!
Later in the match Krunk is struggling as Shadow works his way back to his feet. Krunk comes in as Shadow grabs him and hits him with The Dark Storm. The referee makes the count...
West: HE HIT IT!
ONE!
(The scen blends with Shadow lifting Tek up the ladder. Shadow’s voice is heard over the scene.)
LAST
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.
TWO!
.
.
.
.
TWO!
(It continues to fade more to the Shadow vs. Tek match. Shadow seizes a dazed Tek by the throat at the top of the ladder)
MAN
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.
.
THREE!
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.
.
THREE!
The scene has fully faded to that warm up match as Shadow drives Tek down and through the announcers table. He lays there unconscious as Shadow’s voice finishes his threat.)
STANDING!
Everything fades to black then after a second or two it cuts to the final Meltdown before One Night in Hell. Shadow stands in the ring and holds the belt over the top rope. Michael Lively steps toward the championship as Shadow dangles the title like carrot.
Shadow: You should get used to not carrying it around anymore!!!
Shadow hurls the belt high into the air and into the screaming crowd just as Michael Lively extends his head to take it. The cheering fans grab the title passing it off. The North American Champ turns toward the sold out mass of fans trying to keep an eye on his belt. He dives toward the barricade to go after.
Shadow: One Night In Hell you are relieved of your duties Michael Lively...ONE WAY OR ANOTHER!!!
Shadow stands in a church alone. The church is very large, gaudy even a testament to the corruption of Man. Shadow closes his eyes as he stands before the Alter of the Lord and then kneels. He lowers his head and takes a deep breath. Shadow is praying. But he is not praying for victory or a safe match. Instead is prayer is silent...private. He doesn’t move when an echo rings out throughout the chapel. A priest has entered the chamber. Shadow had an appointment. He got there early.
“Mr. Ryback?” The priest calls to the pulpit.
The big man doesn’t respond. Shadow is deep into his spiritual invocation. His lips move as he prays silently. The door shuts behind the priest sending a slight gust through the chapel. That little breeze kicks up the ends of Shadow’s long blonde hair. He still doesn’t move. At the opposite end of the aisle, the priest stands. He patiently waits then lets out a gasp as he sees Shadow stand.
“Amen,” Shadow whispers after standing, but before he raises his head.
The priest stares at the hulk that turns toward him. Shadow starts walking toward the minister. His black boots crush the soft green fabric beneath his heels. Shadow’s jeans make the slightest sound as the fabric rubs against itself while he walks. His black dress shirt contrasts with his standard apparel. As he reaches the priest, Shadow extends his hand.
“Father Gregory I presume?” Shadow asks politely with kind eyes. He is not wearing sunglasses.
“Yes and you are Mr. Ryback?” His voice still trembles slightly. The pastor is only five foot tall, Shadow looks like Goliath.
“I am, thank you for meeting with me today.” Shadow motions to a pew.
Father Gregory takes a seat at the pew then scoots in a few spots to make room for the giant. Shadow sits down and turns to the priest.
“When we spoke on the phone, you said you had some questions.”
“Yes sir,” Shadow nods humbly. “Mostly about Hell.”
“Hell?”
“Yes. What can you tell me about it?”
The priest seems a bit confused. Most people have a general knowledge of Hell. Father Gregory couldn’t understand why Shadow would want to ask about that. Nevertheless, the preacher responds.
“Hell is aptly described in the Bible, my son. When God cast Satan and his followers into perdition they fell into a lake of fire, fire that would not consume. Instead the flames are eternal. The closest thing anyone can imagine is being burned alive, but there flesh is never burned off. This is the punishment for all sinners who walk with the Prince of Air.”
Shadow is not satisfied with that answer.
“That’s it?”
“Well, no.” Father Gregory replied. He is still nervous, but mostly now he seems confused. He doesn’t know what answer Shadow is looking for. “Hell is referenced extensively in the book of Revelations.”
“That is not enough Father,” Shadow simply states. “I can’t believe that with all our modern technology we have not delved more into the mysteries of Hell.”
“I’m afraid I don’t follow.”
“Let me spin something for you Father. Imagine if you will that you were primitive man. One day while you are enjoying your incredibly simple life, living in your tiny shack made of mud and hay and sleeping on animal skins for a mattress, God visits. This being is all powerful, all knowing and beyond human understanding and he comes before you: primitive man. I don’t mean cave man, and I don’t mean Adam, I mean primitive. No technology, no education, no reasoning beyond that of the basics. Now when God tells you there is a place where you, as a sinner could go if you do not repent; how do you suppose he would explain something like that?”
Father Gregory is intrigued he motions for Shadow to continue.
“He would relate it in a way man would understand, Father. Now if God were to come to us he may tell us that Hell and Heaven were other dimensions on the other side of the space time continuum.”
“I don’t exactly agree with you on that last statement, but the concept of relation, I can understand that.”
“You don’t have to agree, Father.” Shadow counters. “I said may.”
“I still don’t understand what you’re asking me.” Father Gregory’s voice is calm, patient. He knows Shadow has a real question; he just has to wait to hear it.
“I was hoping for a description of Hell honestly.”
“Why would you want that?”
“I should be honest with you Father,” the priest looks at Shadow with a sideways glance as the big man continues to speak. “I am a professional wrestler and I am appearing at a Pay Per View called “One Night in Hell. My gimmick is that of a dark, powerful force, not Satan, that plans to take my opponents though Hell before the night is over.”
“Oh you want figurative examples of Hell.” The priest exclaimed.
“Sure.” Shadow says slyly.
“Well there are hundreds books on the subject. Classical literature from the middle ages contains some of the most vivid and horrifying imagery of Hell. You could try reading Paradise Lost...”
“Epic poem, written by John Milton over three stages throughout his life. You know Father toward the end of his lifetime he became disillusioned with the church yet he still finished his piece then wrote another, this one a little shorter, called Paradise Regained?”
“I was not aware.”
“Benefits of a classical education.” Shadow stands as he realizes this kind hearted preacher cannot offer him anything. “Walk with me Father.” Shadow motions.
Father Gregory is no longer nervous. He rises as well. “Are you going?”
“Not yet,” Shadow responds cryptically. Another question has popped into his head.
They begin walking, side by side down the aisle toward the entry doors. As they exit the chapel Shadow glances back over his shoulder toward the altar. He closes his eyes for a brief moment then turns back to his companion.
“Actually, I do have one more question Father.”
“What is it, my son?”
“Repentance, how does one truly achieve it?”
“Through Ch-“
“I don’t mean that Father,” Shadow interrupts. “Forgive me for this but what’s to stop hypocrites from merely converting on their deathbeds?”
“God sees into the hearts of all men, Mr. Ryback.” Father Gregory replies. “The heart of a truly penitent man calls to the Lord and He listens. “
They reach the front doors to the church and Shadow opens the door for Father Gregory who exits first. Shadow follows.
“I find it interesting, you claim to have a classical education, but haven’t read the Bible?”
“Oh I have,” Shadow says. “It’s a wonderful piece of literature however, I was hoping you might have an insight as to what Hell truly is.”
“You think I don’t?” Father Gregory asks. His voice is slightly appalled.
“No, not that at all,” Shadow recovers. “No, I believe you do, but I don’t believe you can relate the information to me in a way that would help, sir.”
Shadow’s response is humble and quick. Father Gregory nods, satisfied.
“But thank you for meeting with me today,” Shadow extends his hand once more. “Are you a wrestling fan at all, Father?”
“You’re very welcome, Mr. Ryback,” Father Gregory again shakes Shadow’s hand, this time a little more warmly. “No, I can’t say that I am. The violence and language send a bad message to children. I can’t say I readily approve of someone who seems to have such knowledge of Good and Evil, yet walks a path of Darkness.”
“Darkness is not inherently evil, Father,” is Shadow’s retort. “Just as the Light is not inherently good. It depends on the man, Father. The man who walks that path if his heart is evil then he spreads his evil. I’m not.”
“No,” Father Gregory nods. “I will say that while you could appear as such, you are not an evil man, Mr. Ryback.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Shadow again shakes the minister’s hand.
“And thank you for meeting with me on such short notice today.”
“Not a problem. Godspeed Mr. Ryback.”
Shadow begins walking away as Father Gregory stands behind him in the afternoon sunlight. He watches the giant lumber towards his Firebird. As his eyes remain on Shadow, Father Gregory thinks about what Shadow said. Likewise, Shadow ponders on the words of the minister. Hell is much more than we can imagine. That is true. But Shadow could only think that he would have to do his best to imagine it so the others could experience it. Buried in Shadow’s pocket is a plane ticket. Next stop, DFW Airport; Shadow is Tokyo bound.
To be continued at...
apwprez.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=onenightinhell2012&thread=12567
