Standing Up

[J-Hop]

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MY TURN…
♦ [ you've had your date with 'miss glory' ] ♦
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“Good match out there tonight, J-Hop!” One of the backstage ‘clean-up’ crew members yelled in my direction as I was on my way out of the building.

I stopped to properly thank the man for the kind words. It weren’t too many people that would appreciate one man’s hustle from the charred ashes to the top. I bowed towards him as I had my AVIREZ leather jacket in hand and my duffle bag in the other.

“Thanks homie, I appreciate the kind words.” I said with a crack of a smile. He made his exit afterwards as did I.

It was just a small taste, a brief example of what I hope to accomplish in a week, without the support of two big ass giant men. I really couldn’t stand Yarmouth but ever since his split, he’s gone back to his true-self and to have TJ on hand, it was a joyous moment.

Jason Kash got his ass “handed” to him.

After delivering that ‘home run’ of a finisher, I wanted to exert every bit of pain I’ve been holding for the past month but I knew I had to conserve for the long run. He got the message I’m sure, a sore face and a bad attitude to go with a loss heading into the big event.

Kash’s ego took a hit.

“JAIR!” The very familiar and loud voice of Karin’s had hit me as I exited the Beijing National Indoor Stadium. She was sitting comfortable inside of a buggy that was being hauled by a Chinese man in a suit, almost as a Chauffeur to be exact.

He shined a bright smile towards me as Karin waved for me to hop on. I was expecting four wheels to carry me home, not a bicycle and a buggy but I guess four wheels equal four wheels, however which way one puts it.

“Please tell me all went well tonight!” Karin asked as she had both of her hands formed into a prayer, hoping all went right.

As I got onto the buggy, the Chinese man had begun moving the old-fashioned “taxi” to the next destination. The look on my face gave her worry but after a few seconds I flashed a smirk and you could see the relief in her facial expression…

“Everything went INCREDIBLY well. I took the ‘V’!” I said as she looked slightly confused but quickly emerged with a smile.

“I’m proud of you!” She said as she gave me a smack of her lips onto my cheek.

The ride was rather quick-paced as the man was looking like a cycle competitor, his legs motoring the bicycle at decent speed, not too fast, not too slow as we crossed the brick walk way that led into the town of Beijing.

“I’m proud of myself … I admit I had help as it was a three on one, but to get a victory over THAT bastard, it was a great ending.” I said, reviewing the process in mind. “I actually felt like LeBron getting that ‘monkey’ off his back, ya’ know what I mean?” I told Karin as she nodded.

“I know how much it meant to you to beat that man. I don’t know the dude, but you obviously hate him. Therefore the pain of losing to him on occasion, it sucked and I know how you prepare. It isn’t easy!” She said, expanding her comfort as she rested her arm across my shoulder.

“Ehh, I wouldn’t say hate … that is strong. The man has done a lot in the company and I respect him for that. One day I wish I can accomplish all he has done. However, his arrogance is beyond belief. It’s okay to be confident but DAYUMMM … Dude is just over the mountain with it.”

She looked over at me.

“Well you were the one covering him tonight. Therefore his confidence level is down a few levels. Next week, maybe he’ll be back down to Earth.” She said, a tone in her voice that was ever-so serious.

I nodded my head to that.

“You ain’t lyin’ about that! He needs to be dropped on his head a few times. Maybe I can send him into space, a few thousand feet and watch him drop down, spinning out of control before landing awkwardly.” I said, referencing to the man who made history with that ‘Space Jump’.

“Can I rest my head on your bosoms?” A weird request but I just needed a place to rest my head momentarily.

“Anything.” She simply said, in one word.

She grabbed my head and rested right on her chest, keeping me in comfort as we sat back, enjoying the ride home to our little motel.

My phone began to ring but at this moment and time, I didn’t give it one ounce of attention. My head was leaned onto a place it could rest and it wasn’t coming off until we were back at the fort. If I didn’t get it, the voicemail would.

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(After Four Rings …)

“Hey, you know who it is, J-Hop. Leave a message and I’ll holla’ back!”

BEEEPPPP!

“Yo, yo Jair … It’s me, Juan. I don’t know if you got the memo or not but Jason Kash’s match approval just got accepted via my sources. Parking Lot Brawl it is. I’ll meet you in Tokyo at the ‘Tokyo Dome’. Be at your best. Peace!”

(End)

"G A M E S E T M A T C H !"
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♫ NOW PLAYING: "THE MESSAGE" - GRANDMASTER FLASH

That feeling one gets when they finally get their name called upon to step up and lead the pact to glory. That’s what I’m feeling like right this moment. I admit, I haven’t been the ‘closer’ many saw me as. I haven’t quite lived up to the predicted expectations many had for me. I have been in a shell, covering at certain points when it was needed of me to complete the mission. I’ve failed a few and found it hard to get back to the surface, but finally, here I am. On a stage, in front of thousands to which some will vying for Kash to retain and others who want to see him fall like a leaf off of a tree. The season has changed. That once pretty green color on that leaf has now become gold and red in certain spots to which indicates it’s time to fall down, letting the new ones spring out wildly.

I hate to throw out a shitload of analogies, Jason but the truth is visible. You fear this young man that stands before you. You fear that your days as champion are ‘numbered’ and the betting odds in Las Vegas sees you losing that baby of yours on the 28th. Now last week, I get it was a three on one. I even get it that you got through two of the three, but to try and make it seem like you were ‘tired’ and out of it when we finally faced off, it’s pathetic. I understand you have grown up in the numbers with your mileage but still, you fell on your back when people had you winning it all. You fell down to your biggest threat before the biggest show that is to be the most-watched.

Blame it on your weariness … the pinfall still counts.

I defeated you and it was only a sample of what is and what was to come at ‘One Night In Hell’. You haven’t had that look in your face in a while. Ever since the days of hashing it out with Bailey. I was on Meltdown at the time and to see the biggest bad-ass on Asylum get put down by an up and coming star, it was a message. A message that would never fade away, no matter how many coats of make-up you look to put over that blemish, it was there, it’s in the record books.

You took Sykes to his limit and sent him away and out of APW for good … Good for you Kash, good for you! You defeated Shane Borderland, nice … nice. You ALMOST survived last week, you got past the two big men, bless your heart, Jason. You are right, no one YET has outdone you as far as having a massive rep for dropping bodies to the floor. You are Freddie Krueger of APW, you have people squandering for help, knowing damn well there isn’t anyone to save them. They peeping under their beds, making sure there isn’t anything to worry about.

You best believe I’m not one of them. I grew up in a fearless world. Monsters weren’t believable. They were only jokers. Nightmares were irrelevant and mind-driven scenarios. If having a weak mindset, you would suffer through those stages but being scared, having nightmares … Not my thing.

I’m actually happy to see you say that you’ve single-handedly turned your mad season around. That’s what I want from you, I want you at your best. That’s a keyphrase that comes courtesy of ‘Soul of Philly’. I’ll pay him for the usage at a later time. But back to the point, I got you at your supposed ‘weakest’, now I get to take you on at your strongest. See, you were at your strongest when you eventually lost a much bigger title to Bailey so I’m looking forward to Season 2 of ‘Season of J.A.S.O.N’ so I can knock it back off it’s damn rocker. You came up with some lame excuse then. After it’s all said and done here, I’m guessing you’re going to blame it on your abilities going on strike when you needed it most. I know it’s going to be something, its typical Jason Kash.

Again, Kash is right, this environment, while seen before, I’ve never been within it as a participant, nor have I faced him in such environment where the advantage meter is fully on his side. I may be weak with experience but with quickness and smartness, I have that advantage. While Kash may be good at swinging weapons and being dirty, I’m quick on my feet and quick with my mind. Smartness, I won’t place myself in a situation where I will be taken out. As much as Kash slobs on the opportunity of laying me out cold with another “W” and another statement proved, he won’t. He may get lucky and he might not.

He wants a fight, I’m going to give it to him. He wants to fight dirty, fine … I’ll trade my goodness in to be the illest motherfucker for one night, whatever it takes to dethrone this crooked lip ‘sonovabitch’. A man who can notice a misread acronym and an analogy to a Hall of Famer Running Back but can’t notice the green leafy substance stuck in between his gapped teeth or the fact that his chances of being champion are quickly dwindling as the long hand and the short hand circle make complete circles.

How’s them ‘choppers’ by the way, Kash. I understand they left you this time last year. Of course I wasn’t hear but that’s what happens when there’s such a thing called Wikipedia and the thankful contributors who decided to detail your journey. I’m still new, I haven’t garnered the public eye enough to get a wikipage but tell you what? Come Sunday night, there will be some lucky person throwing up a page in my honor with a detailed writing of how he single handedly owned the demon, the creature, the baddest motherfucker in Action Packed Wrestling on a night that was deemed his ‘new season’. A night where the critics had it being a slaughterfest thanks in part to Kash.

I might just be afraid of what will happen once my head dashes off the first hood of a car. It may bring something new, something ill. It may spark something in my head and in that moment of time, take control of it. It could be my downfall or it could be my rising. Taking Kash and driving him constantly into the grill of a car numerous times with much passion and motivation, I might just like the shit after all. You know the saying “once you dip your feet into the water, you’ll float on”, hearing the roar of the crowd or either the jeers to those who represent the “Kash” brand. Either way, it’ll be motivation to the challenge I’ll have at hand.

Don’t involve anyone into this duel. Not Anthony Bailey, and surely not my girl. They’re irrelevant in this case. I don’t need your offers, praises, or anything else because it means nothing coming from you.

To kill me, it’s going to take a lot more than some fucking cars and a duffle bag full of weapons. I want to see you try to end me. It’s not going to happen. You may have sent Sykes running home with his bunny tail between his legs but I’m not going any-fucking-where. I’m going to be that annoying mosquito, small in stature, but a master when it comes to sucking the life out of one. You can swat me away, I’ll keep coming back. By the time you realize I’m onto you, it will be too late. You’ll already be stricken with the disease known as losing. You’re going to sweat not only due to work but mental fear and frustration when the time grows tough. They say never let them see you sweat but you’ve already dropped a bead and it’s a telling sign by your wild swings to get me to fall.

It’s amazing how the passage ways in life can lead you to multiple directions. I still can’t believe how far I’ve come within such a short ample of time. It all comes down to training and how bad you want to be great. Life can be lovely and it can be a bastard. Right now, it’s balanced but leaning towards lovely. The choice is mines to make. It’s my world in my eyes, I want to be king of it and the opportunity is staring me down.

I thrive off of proving people wrong. I’m not sure If you’re aware of that fact, Kash but let it be known. Things will change. I’ll be ready for you, no matter what. I don’t need loopholes. I appreciate the help from Bailey of keeping an eye out for me and bringing me in on a good note. But for this session, I’m not in need of his assistance, this is just me and you. I got my Timbs’ on, waiting patiently to embed these treads into your fucked-up mug. That’s all!

Amen!