Post by Nick Watson on Oct 26, 2012 22:58:38 GMT -4
*After Overdrive, 2 Weeks Ago*
"So have you seen him or not?"
Sienna Harrison asked, getting more, and more annoyed at Corey, who was busily trying to pack Nick's bags so that he could make the trip to Tokyo. Corey, who had been answering most of Sienna's questions, had no idea where Nick was, and only knew that he had left right after his match.
"No. I'm sorry Sienna, but I don't know where Nick is at, but I'm sure that I can give him a message for yo.."
"I wanted to apologize for tonight."
Corey looked at her and then shook his head.
"Apologize for what?"
"For costing him the match tonight...I'm sure that if I hadn't gone out there tonight that Nick would have won the match."
"Trust me, Sienna, Nick doesn't think that, and neither should you."
"It is pretty hard not to think that when you know it is true!"
Corey stopped packing Nick's bag and turned away from it to look at Sienna. He could tell that she was quite a bit upset, but didn't know how to console her. After about a few seconds of silence, Corey decided to take a crack at making her feel better.
"I'm sure Nick doesn't think you cost him the match. If anything I'm sure Nick is blaming himself for the loss right now."
"But he shouldn't be blaming himself! He should be blaming me for costing him that match out there."
"Nick would never do tha..."
"I deserve his hate, Corey! I deserve to be hated by him for putting him in that situation. I want him to despise me, Corey, I want him to be mad at me for making him lose."
"And as I tried to say before...he would never do that."
She grunted, clearly she was not happy with Corey's answers, but Corey didn't know what else to do. Clearly he sucked at making people feel better.
"Nick has never blamed anyone, but himself for his shortcomings since the day I met him. And that is saying something because he has fallen on his face a lot since he got here."
Corey said, trying to soothe Sienna, and stop her from feeling so bad.
"It is just who he is...he doesn't blame the people who he cares about for his screw ups. It is one of his most admirable qualities."
"But he deserves to hate somebody else other than himself for what happened tonight!"
"But he won't."
Sienna let a sigh escape her lips as Corey began to see a bit of the tension lift from Sienna's face. Corey would then turn back around and go back to packing Nick's bag. Making sure not to forget anything as Nick wasn't there to pack his own things. Turning his head for just a quick second to see how Sienna was doing, he could see the concern beginning to creep up on her face, and with a quick sigh said.
"Listen, don't worry so much about Nick. I will help you find him after I'm done packing his bags here."
"You will?"
"Yeah. Besides, I have to give him his tickets for his flight to Tokyo, after all."
"Thanks a lot, Corey."
"Don't sweat it besides going out on the streets alone at night is not safe for a young lady."
She grinned and nodded her head in agreement as Corey went back to finishing packing. A few minutes later the two of them would head out into the streets, looking for Nick Watson, but more than likely...they would not like what they would find.
*A Few Hours Later, Local Bar*
"Hai."
It was the only word that I knew that would make the Japanese bar keep pouring me another glass of sake. It was true that I had drank too much and I could feel the effects of it impairing my thoughts and my movements, but I kept ordering more because the pain would not go away.
The humiliation would not go away and no matter how many times I demanded for the feeling to just go away, it would not, and every time it would not go away I took another shot of sake. Needless to say I had downed more than what I usually could tolerate, but yet somehow, I kept drinking. Slowly, but steadily losing control of my own actions and slipping further and further down the rabbit hole.
Sure, it wasn't right that I was drinking this much, but the fact was that at the time, I felt it was completely necessary. Downing another glass of sake left an after-taste in my mouth, but I shrugged it off, and said the only word that came to mind.
"Hai."
For a minute the barkeep gave me a look of concern. Even he was beginning to doubt that continuing to serve me was a good idea, but he wasn't going to say no to my money. Money that was quickly becoming a distant memory, just like my motor control I would say. He, after a few seconds of conflict, poured me another glass, and I downed it within seconds of it being poured.
I was feeling sick, but at this point I didn't give a shit about that. All I wanted was for the damn pain to go away. The pain of losing that match to him, being pinned by him, and having him use Sienna as a meat shield were almost too much to bear. And with that...
"Hai."
The barkeep stared at me and shook his head.
"Hai..."
My voice began to sound more desperate, the barkeep, however remained stoic, and stood unmoved by the desperation in my voice.
"Hai!"
I shouted, standing up from the bar stool I had been sitting on. Not a good idea as I quickly found out.
"Damnit!"
I cursed as I nearly fell down, but quickly regained my footing, and sat down before another incident of failing motor skills took me to the floor. I glared at the barkeep and he glared back at me. This continued on for a few more minutes before finally I begrudgingly admitted defeat and let my head hit the bar itself. I barely felt it, but knew that I had hit it just hard enough to feel that in the morning.
"I lose money on you."
A Japanese accent speaking English said as I turned my head softly to the right to see a tall Asian man with tattoos all over his body staring me down. I didn't like the look he was giving me, but because of the booze I wasn't feeling much like pondering what the hell he was staring at me like that for.
"I will go then..."
I said, not wanting to have a confrontation with this man. I tried standing up, but the loss of motor skills quickly took hold, stopping me from even getting an inch before stumbling to the floor.
"No, you stay, and pay off my bet."
Looking up at the man, who was drawing ever closer to me, I was beginning to feel that a conflict was pretty much inevitable at this point. So I staggered to my feet and looked him square in the eyes and said:
"Blegh!"
Well I would have said something along the lines of: "No. I'm not paying.", but what came out was a fountain of vomit. The barkeep shook his head, my eyes went wide in surprise, and the man in front of me with the tattoos quickly let out a disgruntled and angry hiss of rage. Yeah, this was about to become a confrontation.
The man began to speak in Japanese, none of which I understood, and then just as quickly as he started talking began to move forward. He got so close to me that I could smell his breath, which by the way was no where near pleasant.
"I am going to kick your ass!"
He said in perfect English, or maybe it was messed up English, I really couldn't tell because at that point the alcohol had taken me far away from rational thinking. The man swung a wild fist toward my face, but much to his dismay I would duck under, and then bring my fist square across his jaw with an uppercut. The man would fall through a table, causing the people at that table to get mad at me, and the man.
About ten minutes later the entire bar was engulfed with people beating the shit out of each other and to be quite honest, that wasn't good at all. Managing to stagger out into the street, I straightened my suit jacket, and buttoned it up in a futile attempt to stay warm, and then turned to make my way down the street. Where was I going? Well hell, I didn't even know that. All I knew was that anywhere was better than the bar.
*A Few Hours Later, Alleyway*
"Corey! He is over here!"
I awoke to the feeling of a piercing head-ache that made me feel like someone was taking my head and squeezing it. The noises around me caused me such pain that I had no clue what the hell to do about it, so in a futile attempt to stop the sound, I covered my ears, and began to hum to myself to drown it out.
"Holy shit, he looks fucking terrible."
I could hear Corey and Sienna, but I didn't want to say a word because I thought that any words I spoke would only add to the pain the sounds were causing me.
"He looks plastered. What should we do?"
"Don't ask me. I don't know what we should do in this situation."
"Being quieter would be a start."
I said in a state of irritation, realizing that speaking also caused me a great deal of pain, and caused me to grit my teeth.
"Sorry..."
Corey whispered and I nodded my head, I opened my eyes to look around, and saw Sienna and Corey standing around me and looking at me expectantly. It was as if they thought I had some sort of plan for what to do with my own stupid ass.
"We need to get him back to the hotel so he can sleep this off."
Sienna said confidently as Corey nodded his head in agreement, but there was of course a problem with that plan.
"I don't have a hotel room."
"What do you mean, you don't have a room?"
"Can't afford one, Sienna...some people aren't loaded, you know?"
She let my agitation go, which was good, because at that point I didn't want to talk anymore, and just wanted to focus on getting the fucking pain in my head to go away.
"That's no problem...he can sleep in my hotel room tonight."
"You have a room?"
"Yeah."
"And he doesn't?"
"Ever since a while ago when we had to sleep in an airport, he has taken care of me by getting me a room...even if it costs him his own room."
"I see...well I guess it is settled. I will hail a cab. You get Nick up and ready to go, okay?"
"Alright..."
The last thing I remember from that evening was Corey picking me up and Sienna walking out of the alley to hail a cab. After that my mind blacked out and drifted off into a drunken sleep.
**The Rental Car, Present Day**
"Over the course of the last few weeks I've been feeling bad about myself.
I had come so close to winning, so close to making a difference on multiple occasions only to come up just short of the finish line. I have no one to blame, but myself for that one, however that does not change the feeling of shame that I had felt.
Last Overdrive for example had me being pinned by that scum Evan. Not only shattering my wavering confidence, but of course making my peers: Smith and Mania, look upon me with such shame. Needless to say that made me feel bad and I will not lie when I say I turned to the bottle to ease my anger and my frustrations so that I could just make it through the days leading up to this show.
For a while it worked, but after a while the pain wouldn't go away."
I pause, moving from the car to the middle of the parking lot. A cold breeze hits me and sends a quick shiver down my spine. I zip up my hoodie in response and stick my hands in my pockets to gather warmth.
"It was then that I realized I deserved the scrutiny and the pain.
I deserved it because out of all the competitors in this Xtreme title match I had been the one with the least actual results. Sure, I talked a big game, and made some pretty solid points most of the time, but that didn't change the fact that The Sensational One had not won a match in a very long time.
And on that note I had no one to blame, but myself for that. I had approached every match with a great deal of arrogance and a feeling of high self-worth only to be knocked flat on my ass at every turn. Which I deserved of course seeing as how I was being an ass myself. In all honesty I think I lost a part of myself on my road here. I think I lost the ability to actually humbly admit that I still have a lot to learn and that even though I am good now, I can still be better. At least I hope so, of course.
But, that...does not change the fact that I am here fighting for a championship right now. That though I have my flaws and my weaknesses that I am still competing at one of the biggest PPVs of the year for a championship that has been held by some of the all time greats."
I pause as we reach the middle of the parking lot. I look around at the surrounding area for a second, gathering my thoughts before continuing on with a smile on my face.
" It is as much of an honor as it is humbling to be competing for the Xtreme title to me. And though neither of my opponents this week give a damn about the title itself...I care.
I care because I know how important the Xtreme title is to the history of Overdrive. It is a title that embodies the spirit of what it means to be an action packed wrestler and without a doubt puts the word action in action packed wrestling. But to some it is just another stepping stone or a chip in a long line of successes. To me...it means so much more than that."
I pause again and let out a sigh.
"Rather than looking at the Xtreme championship as just a title, I look at it as what it really is...a way of life. I mean it is easy to look at it as just another title, but to me it just strikes me as being more than that.
The title embodies resiliency and a never say die attitude. It embodies the strengths of the body and the will of competition. That belt symbolizes that the person who has obtained it has gone through hell to obtain it, that no matter what that man should be known as being one of the most resilient men in the world, but yet...as of late that has been untrue."
I spit on the floor and shake my head in disgust.
"Evan Envi has degraded that belt with each passing second of his cowardice. His inability to fight me, man to man, has proven to me, and the world that Evan Envi is not deserving of that championship!
Sure, Evan has been on fire...winning matches left and right, but look at the cold hard facts here! This is a man who has cheated his way to the top of the proverbial APW ladder, a woman beater, and a scoundrel on the best of days. This man is not a champion and above all else he is not Xtreme.
Yet he has the audacity to claim that something is wrong with the division. That something needs to change. Here is a thought, Evan...the thing that needs to change is the man wearing the belt, not the division! Sadly, Evan...you can't change so instead I'm just going to remove you from command of a division that is in dire need of a champion who actually gives a flying fuck about something other than himself.
Don't worry though, I hear that APW is coming up with a whiny bitch title, I'm sure you could champion that cause without a single fuck in the world being given."
I smile and then keep going. Clearly my distaste for Evan is evident.
"You see I'm sick of it Evan? I'm sick of your bull shit, Evan. I'm sick and tired of hearing about how you have accomplished so much in such a small amount of time, yet have done absolutely nothing with that praise except ram it back up the guy who praised you's ass. But, most all the people are tired of it as well.
The fans in the audience have watched your villainy first hand and have, every step of the way, shown their hatred for you due to your actions. Yet, you keep going. You keep chugging along like the fucked up little engine that could, but I'm telling you right now that shit ends this Sunday. And it won't be at the hands of that historian, A.C. Smith...it will be my hands!
Of course he will tell you otherwise and ramble on and on about a history that you two share. About how you have what he want and how he will violently take it from you because he is the big apple ass kicker and that everyone should bow at his feet and blow him.
Ridiculous."
I snicker and then continue on.
"Sure, I've never bested the big apple ass kicker, but I'm not quaking in my boots or punching my ticket already. Oh no, that would be foolish. Instead, I'm going to remain confident, and continue to watch things unfurl because giving up now when you are so close would be a stupid idea. Especially before the bell has even rung.
But I'm sure Smith didn't expect me to give up just because he said he is going to "rule supreme" over me. Because if that were the case then he would be foolish. Then again, this is the man who is using the history of the atomic bombs and the Pacific theater battles as a way of furthering himself."
I shake my head in disappointment.
"For a man who preached about wanting to honor the customs and the dead of the Japanese, he sure as hell did a poor job of it. Especially when he compared the brilliant strategists of WWII to Evan in a pathetic attempt to make Evan look like an unintelligent and unsophisticated twit.
That is not to say that Evan isn't those things, but the comparison just isn't fair to the men and women who died fighting for their country."
I sigh and then keep going, collecting my thoughts as I go along.
"The fact is...you disgraced the Japanese, Smith. And I don't like that...and I'm sure that the fans who are here in Japan sure as hell don't like that.
Those "shamed" strategists were honor bound warriors who fought for the love of country, empire, and family. Yet you slandered them...you compared them to this honorless monster that we are fighting this week without even double checking your fucking facts.
That is what I can't stand about you, Smith."
I spit on the asphalt, my eyes narrow, and begin to pierce through the camera lens.
"It disgusts me that a man like you, a man who is apparently a strong advocate, and a well loved figure in society, can be so heartless and opportunistic.
Do you think that those jet fighters, the kamikaze who payed the ultimate price for their country, want to be used as a simplistic comparison just to further your own bull shit?
Let me answer for you: Fuck No! But yet you do it, with no consideration for the people that have died for this country, and then use it to sell your own agenda. But your the hero! You get to stick it to Evan with little jabs that not only destroy any integrity that the men and women who served during that time had, but also shame the families who were left behind remembering the heroism and the selflessness of their forefathers.
In short you get to play the hero, but everyone else gets to pay the price. Which of course fits in with your game plan because you could give a rat's ass about any one else, but your own fucking self.
That's why this little fight you are having with Evan is all about what you want and nothing about what the people need. It's always been about your own personal grudge with him and that is why you can care less about who's grave you trample over just as long as you get yours!"
I sigh and dig my hands deeper into my jacket, the wind is beginning to pick up a bit more, and as such it is getting quickly colder.
"For me, I don't give a shit about my grudge with Evan. The only thing I care about it making him pay for the wrong's he has committed to the people and his own sister. The title is a bonus and it has always been a bonus to me...it was never the focus of my assaults and it was never my ultimate goal.
I can't say the same about you...which is sad, but I guess it is as expected. After all, it has always been about what you. It's why you have always tried to force your image on to other's. Trying to make us out to be like some inexperienced and less skilled version of yourself so that you could pretend to be the best man in the business.
And that's why I dread to think that I am beginning to sympathize with that cruel monster, Evan Envi. That maybe because of you that this monster has been born and has slowly, but surely destroyed the integrity of this show and the title that he now holds.
But much like Evan, you will shove blame on to others like Parker to be your fall...gal? Gal is the right term I'm guessing. The fact is Smith...you have taken no responsibility for your actions and it shows that you have no intention to. In fact to me it seems like you could give less than a shit about the little monster that you have created.
Too much work, I'm guessing? After all, it is too much to think about anyone else, but yourself."
Another sigh escapes my lips and deciding that it is getting a bit cold, I begin to make my way back to the car.
"It is not that I hate you, Smith. It's just that you have all of this talent and yet don't do anything unless if something is being handed to you. You don't care about these people...the only thing you care about is them adoring you and bowing at your feet like you are some wrestling God.
I promise you this though, Smith. At One Night in Hell, I will prove that though I have not defeated you yet, that I am capable of beating you, and that I am capable...much to the analysts dismay...of being champion and doing what is needed for the fans."
I pause just outside the door to the rental car and then nod my head.
"Speaking of what the fans need and back to my earlier mentioning of Evan Envi, the fans need me to shut him down, and quite frankly I am more than happy to oblige.
You see, I tire of Evan's remarks, and I tire of Evan's games. The man is a walking, talking pussy, but yet he makes outrageous claims of being a big, bad mother fucker. This is a man who deserves to be put down...well he isn't as much a man as he is a bitch, but the fact is that Evan Envi's ego is cashing checks it can't cash."
I unlock the door to the car and then open the door, but keep speaking as I get inside.
"Evan Envi has made it abundantly clear that I should stop labeling him a villain or a woman beater or a coward. Yet, everything he has ever done has been contrary to what he wants us to believe. You see, Evan is under the illusion that these past two months have meant something to me...that my losing ways have effected me deeply and that I am undeserving of the opportunity, but yet every time we have danced in that ring he has had to cheat, run, or have someone else do his dirty work.
It is funny how things work out, right? How becoming champion makes your shit not stink. Oh wait...that isn't true is it? You see Evan, the fact of the matter is you are a spoiled rotten little prick who thinks that he can get away with whatever the fuck he wants and not get smacked on the hand for it. It is because of this that you assaulted your sister, hired a bodyguard to take me out before we even got here, and filed a law suit to keep me from getting physical with you.
Then you scream that I am nothing, that I don't deserve the shot I have been given, and you begin to list off the last two months as some kind of proving point. Yet I can do the same for you...I could list off hundreds of reasons why you need to be fired, but I choose not to because of who I am. I don't grasp at straws looking for one final way out, I go for it, and much like the people of Japan succeed or die. And the fact of the matter is that I don't have any want to die at One Night in Hell."
I close the door and the camera switches to one that has been placed in my car conveniently.
"At One Night in Hell there will be no more cheap shots, no more doubling up on the fallen warrior, no more sneak attacks, no more sending other people to take me out, and most of all...there will be no escape for you Evan Envi. You see these last two months you have gotten off easy because I like your sister and I respect her, but now I have been given the green light by her and I promise you that I will...by the end of the night...knock some fucking sense into you.
It doesn't matter if you fear me either. Fear me, hate me, disregard me, or disrespect me...it doesn't matter to me. Because going into One Night in Hell, I have one plan and one plan only. And that is to give one hundred and ten percent while kicking your ass for each and every single member of the Overdrive roster that you have slandered and each person that you have ever disrespected. And I swear that though I have been unsuccessful these past two months that you will regret ever hurting the people who care you for the rest of your pathetic existence.
So keep on telling yourself that you got this, that you are in control, and that you even stand a chance because at One Night in Hell, I am not just one man, but many. I will have the backing of thousands of people world wide looking to put an end to this charade and this pathetic championship reign that you have been putting together. And though you may cry mercy, you may beg, and plead... but I will not relent because I am not the weakling you think I am.
I am Nick Watson.
I am the Sensational One.
And at One Night in Hell I will be crowned Xtreme Champion and that Evan Envi...will be Xtremely Sensational."
I grin at the camera as I turn it off, the last sound that is heard is me turning the ignition key, and pulling out of the parking lot on to the road nearby.
*To Be Continued*
"So have you seen him or not?"
Sienna Harrison asked, getting more, and more annoyed at Corey, who was busily trying to pack Nick's bags so that he could make the trip to Tokyo. Corey, who had been answering most of Sienna's questions, had no idea where Nick was, and only knew that he had left right after his match.
"No. I'm sorry Sienna, but I don't know where Nick is at, but I'm sure that I can give him a message for yo.."
"I wanted to apologize for tonight."
Corey looked at her and then shook his head.
"Apologize for what?"
"For costing him the match tonight...I'm sure that if I hadn't gone out there tonight that Nick would have won the match."
"Trust me, Sienna, Nick doesn't think that, and neither should you."
"It is pretty hard not to think that when you know it is true!"
Corey stopped packing Nick's bag and turned away from it to look at Sienna. He could tell that she was quite a bit upset, but didn't know how to console her. After about a few seconds of silence, Corey decided to take a crack at making her feel better.
"I'm sure Nick doesn't think you cost him the match. If anything I'm sure Nick is blaming himself for the loss right now."
"But he shouldn't be blaming himself! He should be blaming me for costing him that match out there."
"Nick would never do tha..."
"I deserve his hate, Corey! I deserve to be hated by him for putting him in that situation. I want him to despise me, Corey, I want him to be mad at me for making him lose."
"And as I tried to say before...he would never do that."
She grunted, clearly she was not happy with Corey's answers, but Corey didn't know what else to do. Clearly he sucked at making people feel better.
"Nick has never blamed anyone, but himself for his shortcomings since the day I met him. And that is saying something because he has fallen on his face a lot since he got here."
Corey said, trying to soothe Sienna, and stop her from feeling so bad.
"It is just who he is...he doesn't blame the people who he cares about for his screw ups. It is one of his most admirable qualities."
"But he deserves to hate somebody else other than himself for what happened tonight!"
"But he won't."
Sienna let a sigh escape her lips as Corey began to see a bit of the tension lift from Sienna's face. Corey would then turn back around and go back to packing Nick's bag. Making sure not to forget anything as Nick wasn't there to pack his own things. Turning his head for just a quick second to see how Sienna was doing, he could see the concern beginning to creep up on her face, and with a quick sigh said.
"Listen, don't worry so much about Nick. I will help you find him after I'm done packing his bags here."
"You will?"
"Yeah. Besides, I have to give him his tickets for his flight to Tokyo, after all."
"Thanks a lot, Corey."
"Don't sweat it besides going out on the streets alone at night is not safe for a young lady."
She grinned and nodded her head in agreement as Corey went back to finishing packing. A few minutes later the two of them would head out into the streets, looking for Nick Watson, but more than likely...they would not like what they would find.
===========================
*A Few Hours Later, Local Bar*
"Hai."
It was the only word that I knew that would make the Japanese bar keep pouring me another glass of sake. It was true that I had drank too much and I could feel the effects of it impairing my thoughts and my movements, but I kept ordering more because the pain would not go away.
The humiliation would not go away and no matter how many times I demanded for the feeling to just go away, it would not, and every time it would not go away I took another shot of sake. Needless to say I had downed more than what I usually could tolerate, but yet somehow, I kept drinking. Slowly, but steadily losing control of my own actions and slipping further and further down the rabbit hole.
Sure, it wasn't right that I was drinking this much, but the fact was that at the time, I felt it was completely necessary. Downing another glass of sake left an after-taste in my mouth, but I shrugged it off, and said the only word that came to mind.
"Hai."
For a minute the barkeep gave me a look of concern. Even he was beginning to doubt that continuing to serve me was a good idea, but he wasn't going to say no to my money. Money that was quickly becoming a distant memory, just like my motor control I would say. He, after a few seconds of conflict, poured me another glass, and I downed it within seconds of it being poured.
I was feeling sick, but at this point I didn't give a shit about that. All I wanted was for the damn pain to go away. The pain of losing that match to him, being pinned by him, and having him use Sienna as a meat shield were almost too much to bear. And with that...
"Hai."
The barkeep stared at me and shook his head.
"Hai..."
My voice began to sound more desperate, the barkeep, however remained stoic, and stood unmoved by the desperation in my voice.
"Hai!"
I shouted, standing up from the bar stool I had been sitting on. Not a good idea as I quickly found out.
"Damnit!"
I cursed as I nearly fell down, but quickly regained my footing, and sat down before another incident of failing motor skills took me to the floor. I glared at the barkeep and he glared back at me. This continued on for a few more minutes before finally I begrudgingly admitted defeat and let my head hit the bar itself. I barely felt it, but knew that I had hit it just hard enough to feel that in the morning.
"I lose money on you."
A Japanese accent speaking English said as I turned my head softly to the right to see a tall Asian man with tattoos all over his body staring me down. I didn't like the look he was giving me, but because of the booze I wasn't feeling much like pondering what the hell he was staring at me like that for.
"I will go then..."
I said, not wanting to have a confrontation with this man. I tried standing up, but the loss of motor skills quickly took hold, stopping me from even getting an inch before stumbling to the floor.
"No, you stay, and pay off my bet."
Looking up at the man, who was drawing ever closer to me, I was beginning to feel that a conflict was pretty much inevitable at this point. So I staggered to my feet and looked him square in the eyes and said:
"Blegh!"
Well I would have said something along the lines of: "No. I'm not paying.", but what came out was a fountain of vomit. The barkeep shook his head, my eyes went wide in surprise, and the man in front of me with the tattoos quickly let out a disgruntled and angry hiss of rage. Yeah, this was about to become a confrontation.
The man began to speak in Japanese, none of which I understood, and then just as quickly as he started talking began to move forward. He got so close to me that I could smell his breath, which by the way was no where near pleasant.
"I am going to kick your ass!"
He said in perfect English, or maybe it was messed up English, I really couldn't tell because at that point the alcohol had taken me far away from rational thinking. The man swung a wild fist toward my face, but much to his dismay I would duck under, and then bring my fist square across his jaw with an uppercut. The man would fall through a table, causing the people at that table to get mad at me, and the man.
About ten minutes later the entire bar was engulfed with people beating the shit out of each other and to be quite honest, that wasn't good at all. Managing to stagger out into the street, I straightened my suit jacket, and buttoned it up in a futile attempt to stay warm, and then turned to make my way down the street. Where was I going? Well hell, I didn't even know that. All I knew was that anywhere was better than the bar.
===========================
*A Few Hours Later, Alleyway*
"Corey! He is over here!"
I awoke to the feeling of a piercing head-ache that made me feel like someone was taking my head and squeezing it. The noises around me caused me such pain that I had no clue what the hell to do about it, so in a futile attempt to stop the sound, I covered my ears, and began to hum to myself to drown it out.
"Holy shit, he looks fucking terrible."
I could hear Corey and Sienna, but I didn't want to say a word because I thought that any words I spoke would only add to the pain the sounds were causing me.
"He looks plastered. What should we do?"
"Don't ask me. I don't know what we should do in this situation."
"Being quieter would be a start."
I said in a state of irritation, realizing that speaking also caused me a great deal of pain, and caused me to grit my teeth.
"Sorry..."
Corey whispered and I nodded my head, I opened my eyes to look around, and saw Sienna and Corey standing around me and looking at me expectantly. It was as if they thought I had some sort of plan for what to do with my own stupid ass.
"We need to get him back to the hotel so he can sleep this off."
Sienna said confidently as Corey nodded his head in agreement, but there was of course a problem with that plan.
"I don't have a hotel room."
"What do you mean, you don't have a room?"
"Can't afford one, Sienna...some people aren't loaded, you know?"
She let my agitation go, which was good, because at that point I didn't want to talk anymore, and just wanted to focus on getting the fucking pain in my head to go away.
"That's no problem...he can sleep in my hotel room tonight."
"You have a room?"
"Yeah."
"And he doesn't?"
"Ever since a while ago when we had to sleep in an airport, he has taken care of me by getting me a room...even if it costs him his own room."
"I see...well I guess it is settled. I will hail a cab. You get Nick up and ready to go, okay?"
"Alright..."
The last thing I remember from that evening was Corey picking me up and Sienna walking out of the alley to hail a cab. After that my mind blacked out and drifted off into a drunken sleep.
===========================
**The Rental Car, Present Day**
"Over the course of the last few weeks I've been feeling bad about myself.
I had come so close to winning, so close to making a difference on multiple occasions only to come up just short of the finish line. I have no one to blame, but myself for that one, however that does not change the feeling of shame that I had felt.
Last Overdrive for example had me being pinned by that scum Evan. Not only shattering my wavering confidence, but of course making my peers: Smith and Mania, look upon me with such shame. Needless to say that made me feel bad and I will not lie when I say I turned to the bottle to ease my anger and my frustrations so that I could just make it through the days leading up to this show.
For a while it worked, but after a while the pain wouldn't go away."
I pause, moving from the car to the middle of the parking lot. A cold breeze hits me and sends a quick shiver down my spine. I zip up my hoodie in response and stick my hands in my pockets to gather warmth.
"It was then that I realized I deserved the scrutiny and the pain.
I deserved it because out of all the competitors in this Xtreme title match I had been the one with the least actual results. Sure, I talked a big game, and made some pretty solid points most of the time, but that didn't change the fact that The Sensational One had not won a match in a very long time.
And on that note I had no one to blame, but myself for that. I had approached every match with a great deal of arrogance and a feeling of high self-worth only to be knocked flat on my ass at every turn. Which I deserved of course seeing as how I was being an ass myself. In all honesty I think I lost a part of myself on my road here. I think I lost the ability to actually humbly admit that I still have a lot to learn and that even though I am good now, I can still be better. At least I hope so, of course.
But, that...does not change the fact that I am here fighting for a championship right now. That though I have my flaws and my weaknesses that I am still competing at one of the biggest PPVs of the year for a championship that has been held by some of the all time greats."
I pause as we reach the middle of the parking lot. I look around at the surrounding area for a second, gathering my thoughts before continuing on with a smile on my face.
" It is as much of an honor as it is humbling to be competing for the Xtreme title to me. And though neither of my opponents this week give a damn about the title itself...I care.
I care because I know how important the Xtreme title is to the history of Overdrive. It is a title that embodies the spirit of what it means to be an action packed wrestler and without a doubt puts the word action in action packed wrestling. But to some it is just another stepping stone or a chip in a long line of successes. To me...it means so much more than that."
I pause again and let out a sigh.
"Rather than looking at the Xtreme championship as just a title, I look at it as what it really is...a way of life. I mean it is easy to look at it as just another title, but to me it just strikes me as being more than that.
The title embodies resiliency and a never say die attitude. It embodies the strengths of the body and the will of competition. That belt symbolizes that the person who has obtained it has gone through hell to obtain it, that no matter what that man should be known as being one of the most resilient men in the world, but yet...as of late that has been untrue."
I spit on the floor and shake my head in disgust.
"Evan Envi has degraded that belt with each passing second of his cowardice. His inability to fight me, man to man, has proven to me, and the world that Evan Envi is not deserving of that championship!
Sure, Evan has been on fire...winning matches left and right, but look at the cold hard facts here! This is a man who has cheated his way to the top of the proverbial APW ladder, a woman beater, and a scoundrel on the best of days. This man is not a champion and above all else he is not Xtreme.
Yet he has the audacity to claim that something is wrong with the division. That something needs to change. Here is a thought, Evan...the thing that needs to change is the man wearing the belt, not the division! Sadly, Evan...you can't change so instead I'm just going to remove you from command of a division that is in dire need of a champion who actually gives a flying fuck about something other than himself.
Don't worry though, I hear that APW is coming up with a whiny bitch title, I'm sure you could champion that cause without a single fuck in the world being given."
I smile and then keep going. Clearly my distaste for Evan is evident.
"You see I'm sick of it Evan? I'm sick of your bull shit, Evan. I'm sick and tired of hearing about how you have accomplished so much in such a small amount of time, yet have done absolutely nothing with that praise except ram it back up the guy who praised you's ass. But, most all the people are tired of it as well.
The fans in the audience have watched your villainy first hand and have, every step of the way, shown their hatred for you due to your actions. Yet, you keep going. You keep chugging along like the fucked up little engine that could, but I'm telling you right now that shit ends this Sunday. And it won't be at the hands of that historian, A.C. Smith...it will be my hands!
Of course he will tell you otherwise and ramble on and on about a history that you two share. About how you have what he want and how he will violently take it from you because he is the big apple ass kicker and that everyone should bow at his feet and blow him.
Ridiculous."
I snicker and then continue on.
"Sure, I've never bested the big apple ass kicker, but I'm not quaking in my boots or punching my ticket already. Oh no, that would be foolish. Instead, I'm going to remain confident, and continue to watch things unfurl because giving up now when you are so close would be a stupid idea. Especially before the bell has even rung.
But I'm sure Smith didn't expect me to give up just because he said he is going to "rule supreme" over me. Because if that were the case then he would be foolish. Then again, this is the man who is using the history of the atomic bombs and the Pacific theater battles as a way of furthering himself."
I shake my head in disappointment.
"For a man who preached about wanting to honor the customs and the dead of the Japanese, he sure as hell did a poor job of it. Especially when he compared the brilliant strategists of WWII to Evan in a pathetic attempt to make Evan look like an unintelligent and unsophisticated twit.
That is not to say that Evan isn't those things, but the comparison just isn't fair to the men and women who died fighting for their country."
I sigh and then keep going, collecting my thoughts as I go along.
"The fact is...you disgraced the Japanese, Smith. And I don't like that...and I'm sure that the fans who are here in Japan sure as hell don't like that.
Those "shamed" strategists were honor bound warriors who fought for the love of country, empire, and family. Yet you slandered them...you compared them to this honorless monster that we are fighting this week without even double checking your fucking facts.
That is what I can't stand about you, Smith."
I spit on the asphalt, my eyes narrow, and begin to pierce through the camera lens.
"It disgusts me that a man like you, a man who is apparently a strong advocate, and a well loved figure in society, can be so heartless and opportunistic.
Do you think that those jet fighters, the kamikaze who payed the ultimate price for their country, want to be used as a simplistic comparison just to further your own bull shit?
Let me answer for you: Fuck No! But yet you do it, with no consideration for the people that have died for this country, and then use it to sell your own agenda. But your the hero! You get to stick it to Evan with little jabs that not only destroy any integrity that the men and women who served during that time had, but also shame the families who were left behind remembering the heroism and the selflessness of their forefathers.
In short you get to play the hero, but everyone else gets to pay the price. Which of course fits in with your game plan because you could give a rat's ass about any one else, but your own fucking self.
That's why this little fight you are having with Evan is all about what you want and nothing about what the people need. It's always been about your own personal grudge with him and that is why you can care less about who's grave you trample over just as long as you get yours!"
I sigh and dig my hands deeper into my jacket, the wind is beginning to pick up a bit more, and as such it is getting quickly colder.
"For me, I don't give a shit about my grudge with Evan. The only thing I care about it making him pay for the wrong's he has committed to the people and his own sister. The title is a bonus and it has always been a bonus to me...it was never the focus of my assaults and it was never my ultimate goal.
I can't say the same about you...which is sad, but I guess it is as expected. After all, it has always been about what you. It's why you have always tried to force your image on to other's. Trying to make us out to be like some inexperienced and less skilled version of yourself so that you could pretend to be the best man in the business.
And that's why I dread to think that I am beginning to sympathize with that cruel monster, Evan Envi. That maybe because of you that this monster has been born and has slowly, but surely destroyed the integrity of this show and the title that he now holds.
But much like Evan, you will shove blame on to others like Parker to be your fall...gal? Gal is the right term I'm guessing. The fact is Smith...you have taken no responsibility for your actions and it shows that you have no intention to. In fact to me it seems like you could give less than a shit about the little monster that you have created.
Too much work, I'm guessing? After all, it is too much to think about anyone else, but yourself."
Another sigh escapes my lips and deciding that it is getting a bit cold, I begin to make my way back to the car.
"It is not that I hate you, Smith. It's just that you have all of this talent and yet don't do anything unless if something is being handed to you. You don't care about these people...the only thing you care about is them adoring you and bowing at your feet like you are some wrestling God.
I promise you this though, Smith. At One Night in Hell, I will prove that though I have not defeated you yet, that I am capable of beating you, and that I am capable...much to the analysts dismay...of being champion and doing what is needed for the fans."
I pause just outside the door to the rental car and then nod my head.
"Speaking of what the fans need and back to my earlier mentioning of Evan Envi, the fans need me to shut him down, and quite frankly I am more than happy to oblige.
You see, I tire of Evan's remarks, and I tire of Evan's games. The man is a walking, talking pussy, but yet he makes outrageous claims of being a big, bad mother fucker. This is a man who deserves to be put down...well he isn't as much a man as he is a bitch, but the fact is that Evan Envi's ego is cashing checks it can't cash."
I unlock the door to the car and then open the door, but keep speaking as I get inside.
"Evan Envi has made it abundantly clear that I should stop labeling him a villain or a woman beater or a coward. Yet, everything he has ever done has been contrary to what he wants us to believe. You see, Evan is under the illusion that these past two months have meant something to me...that my losing ways have effected me deeply and that I am undeserving of the opportunity, but yet every time we have danced in that ring he has had to cheat, run, or have someone else do his dirty work.
It is funny how things work out, right? How becoming champion makes your shit not stink. Oh wait...that isn't true is it? You see Evan, the fact of the matter is you are a spoiled rotten little prick who thinks that he can get away with whatever the fuck he wants and not get smacked on the hand for it. It is because of this that you assaulted your sister, hired a bodyguard to take me out before we even got here, and filed a law suit to keep me from getting physical with you.
Then you scream that I am nothing, that I don't deserve the shot I have been given, and you begin to list off the last two months as some kind of proving point. Yet I can do the same for you...I could list off hundreds of reasons why you need to be fired, but I choose not to because of who I am. I don't grasp at straws looking for one final way out, I go for it, and much like the people of Japan succeed or die. And the fact of the matter is that I don't have any want to die at One Night in Hell."
I close the door and the camera switches to one that has been placed in my car conveniently.
"At One Night in Hell there will be no more cheap shots, no more doubling up on the fallen warrior, no more sneak attacks, no more sending other people to take me out, and most of all...there will be no escape for you Evan Envi. You see these last two months you have gotten off easy because I like your sister and I respect her, but now I have been given the green light by her and I promise you that I will...by the end of the night...knock some fucking sense into you.
It doesn't matter if you fear me either. Fear me, hate me, disregard me, or disrespect me...it doesn't matter to me. Because going into One Night in Hell, I have one plan and one plan only. And that is to give one hundred and ten percent while kicking your ass for each and every single member of the Overdrive roster that you have slandered and each person that you have ever disrespected. And I swear that though I have been unsuccessful these past two months that you will regret ever hurting the people who care you for the rest of your pathetic existence.
So keep on telling yourself that you got this, that you are in control, and that you even stand a chance because at One Night in Hell, I am not just one man, but many. I will have the backing of thousands of people world wide looking to put an end to this charade and this pathetic championship reign that you have been putting together. And though you may cry mercy, you may beg, and plead... but I will not relent because I am not the weakling you think I am.
I am Nick Watson.
I am the Sensational One.
And at One Night in Hell I will be crowned Xtreme Champion and that Evan Envi...will be Xtremely Sensational."
I grin at the camera as I turn it off, the last sound that is heard is me turning the ignition key, and pulling out of the parking lot on to the road nearby.
*To Be Continued*
