Post by Anthony Bailey on Oct 27, 2012 12:33:28 GMT -4
**The following promo was inspired by Dante Alighieri’s Inferno, the first part of his epic fourteenth century poem Divine Comedy**
"But the stars that marked our starting fall away. We must go deeper into greater pain, for it is not permitted that we stay." - Dante Alighieri
{{Bailey continues to walk down towards the third circle of Hell. He sees that a ditch has been structured around the circle establishing a great ring. Inside of the ring, two groups of souls slowly push weights along in great pain and anguish. Each group completes a semicircle before crashing into the other group and then turning around to proceed in the opposite direction. This same incident will occur for all of eternity and the outcome won’t ever be any different. A spitting image of Michael Callahan is spotted laboring in one of the groups. The souls condemned to this convoluted drudgery are those of the Avaricious and the Prodigal, people who were greedy and hoarded their material possessions while living.}}[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: I can guarantee that none of the forefathers ever saw this one coming. George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton are probably among that number who made it inside of the pearly gates and they are probably all up in Heaven right now looking down on this bamboozled. The man who spoke eloquently and appeared to rally in their name, a man who supposedly dedicated his life with the intent to uphold America’s core values is now in his final resting place and as you can see, he’s doing anything but resting. The man Michael Callahan deserves his punishment and it is no mistake of the good Lord above that he is here. Greed is what justifies the presence of his soul being here in Hell along with the other souls who failed to exercise benevolence during their time on Earth.
I find it ironic that most of these helpless souls here in this circle were in some shape or form involved in politics. Look over there, there’s Richard Nixon…and Karl Rove is not too far from him. Callahan fits in oh so well with these detestable human beings, who might have had a genuine knack for politics, but used their platform for unrighteous self gain. Claiming to be for the people, Callahan just used the people to get what he really wanted…power. As an American citizen, I don’t exercise my civil privileges the way that I should, but it’s because of men like this. I have turned my nose up and turned my back on the “beloved” word and idea of politics. I am sickened by crooked scumbags who feast on the affections of the American people and indulge themselves as parasites all in the name of government.
I’ve never been totally opposed to the vehicle of politics, because I’m not pro anarchy, I’ve just been leery about the person in the driver’s seat. Do we know the driver? Is he or she even trustworthy? But your days of shifting gears and failing to yield for that old female pedestrian attempting to cross the road are long gone Callahan. The driver has now become the driven and on Sunday night in Tokyo, you will have an ample amount of time to ponder your lawless deeds. In Hell, there is no escape. There are a million ways to enter here but not one single exit. No exit from the Elimination Chamber as your bruised and battered body becomes the result and the outlet of my malice. Evil has been a longtime companion of yours as you paraded around Asylum vocalizing how much we were alike and how bad you wanted me to be apart of your stable of buffoons.
But all the while, I knew your true intentions because they were so poorly masked by that lame conservative smirk and haircut of yours. You interfered in multiple matches of mine and tried to keep the World Title away from me but you failed. You tried and almost succeeded to cause a rift between my uncle and I but you failed. You will always fail at bringing me down Callahan because we are not alike; that’s where you are wrong. I’m more astute than you and I will prevail against you and your agenda. Me fooling around with your ex fiancé Bethany was only minor recompense for your actions but that was only the beginning. What I have prepared for you inside of that Chamber is more merciless and more vicious than you could ever imagine.
{{Bailey follows King David down to the fourth circle of Hell. This circle borders the muddy river Styx and the souls here are crouched on the river’s bank covered in mud striking and biting at one another. The most ferocious of them all is a Johnny Rebel look alike. The souls in this circle were consumed with anger during their lives.}}[/color]
Anger will not ever do a single soul any good and what I am feasting my eyes on at this very moment is no surprise. We’re all born into sin and unless atonement has been made for that sin, Hell is your just punishment. Phil Atken and Keaton Saint winding up here might have caught some of you all off guard, but the man Johnny Rebel being here didn’t even surprise Satan himself. All Mr. Rebel had to do was to lead a quiet life of joy and contentment, but instead he chose to lead a life of anger. Enraged over the fact that he was no longer the top dawg of APW. Aggravated over the actuality that a rookie whom he has pinned on three different occasions was far more recognized and more valued than he ever was.
There was a time long ago when you were “it” Johnny. You were carrying this company on your back as one of its biggest draws. I don’t know when or where the downward spiral of your career started, but I most certainly know how. I’m sure you are familiar with the saying of “nothing lasts forever” and though that is the case on Earth, that statement doesn’t hold much weight here. Here, everything lasts forever. Hell will remind you that all of your toil and labor on Earth was in vain because this place of unquenchable fire is your final destination. All of your bragging about how you were better than me and how you constantly defeated me means nothing because one night in Hell with me will drastically change one’s perspective.
{{David speaks up.}}[/color]
King David: That kind of reminds me of the biblical passage where it says that it is better for one to go through life crippled than to be healthy and get thrown into Hell.
{{Bailey nods in agreement.}}[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: And that is my goal King David. I desire to physically impair Johnny Rebel inside of that Elimination Chamber at One Night In Hell so that he has the ability to experience authentic redemption. Authentic redemption at the cost of mutilated flesh is far better than spending an eternity here.
King David: That’s commendable of you Champ. It’s quite obvious that this spiritual sojourn is doing you well. You are rediscovering your path the deeper we go into Hell.
What could have seemed like an oxymoron to Bailey actually made sense. He was beginning to see himself more clearly as he witnessed the suffering of his opponents firsthand. Suffering produces endurance and Bailey was willing to endure whatever he had to at the cost of their suffering.[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: People have been under the impression that I possess ill will towards my opponent Johnny Rebel but that has never been the case. Honestly, he hasn’t been important enough for me to make a priority of him because I wouldn’t want to give him the satisfaction that he occupies my mind on a regular basis. I’m not against the person of Rebel, I am here for him but in his rare situation, the only way to show a person like this that you truly care is to usher in his destruction. Giving him the beating of a lifetime and showing him a side of myself that he’s never seen during our prior encounters is what I am aiming for and whatever The Promise aims for, I eventually get it in my grasp.
A rebel without a cause you were for all of your days on Earth and a rebel without a cause you will be for One Night In Hell. All of this anger that you have towards me has slowly eaten away at you and has ultimately caused you to waste away. And I will gladly watch you waste away Johnny, it’ll be one of the greatest joys that I have ever experienced…
{{As David and Bailey march towards the fifth circle of Hell, an unyielding stench rises from it that overpowers the two. Appalled by the aroma, David takes the opportunity to explain this circle and its respective subdivisions.}}[/color]
King David: This circle contains those who are violent and it is divided into three smaller circles. In one, they punish the sins of violence against one’s neighbor, in the other against oneself, and in the third against God.
{{Bailey’s face is filled with remorse as he witnesses a Sally Talfourd look alike pay for her sins against her neighbor. Bailey presumes that he is the neighbor that Sally has offended and David tells him that he is right. She is the only one that Bailey wishes he could rescue from the pits of Hell.}}[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: Oh please God nooo, nooooo!!!! Not my dear friend Sally Talfourd!!
{{Bailey wails at the top of his lungs and seemingly drowns out the sound of the other millions of souls doing the same.}}[/color]
She does not deserve to be here. The rest of them? Yes…but her? She was so innocent. She never meant any harm.
King David: I empathize with your despair Anthony but God’s decision to put her here was just. The Judge never does wrong even when we can’t understand.
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: I know, but…
King David: But what?
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: But Hell is so…permanent. Is there any possible way to rescue her?
King David: I am afraid not. Her fate has been decided and has been sealed.
{{Bailey struggles to come to terms with David’s declaration but he knows that as innocent as Sally might have seemed, she was far from it.}}[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: I wouldn’t necessarily call her actions towards me violent; I just think that there is a more fitting term. Misguided? Yes. Selfish? Of course they were. For months I have tried to make amends with her but her double mindedness made me impatient. The moment when I thought she forgave me, she left me awestruck and hanging on a cliff. The trust that the two of us quickly built together was lost at the blink of an eye and not because of me. But because of that fool Shane Borderland, a man who finds himself in the worst circle of Hell for all of his immaturity and bickering.
She claims that I don’t have the instinct or the drive to go out there in Tokyo in front of thousands of fans and be the best. Months ago the tune that she was singing was a tad bit different as she was showering me with flattery and saying how I was on my way to being the best. Which is it Sally? I mean can we truly believe anything that you say? One minute I’m the best thing since sliced bread but the next I’m weak and incapable of doing much. But look at you…harassed by demons for violently coveting who I am and my accomplishments. I want to rescue you from this place of depravity but at the same time I want to leave you here to rot and to think about the numerous amount of times when you wronged me, your supposed “friend.”
A champion should be trying to better themselves, isn’t that right Sally? But what you have failed to realize is that I am not only on the defense trying to keep my belt from being taken away from me by the pack. I am planning an offensive initiative that will make you wish that you were anywhere else in the entire universe than in that Chamber with me. Anywhere other than staring at a reformed Anthony Bailey right in the eyes holding a weapon of his choice. Cognitively you know that you are in this match with me, but you’re going to regret every moment of it. Every time that you failed to pick up the phone and return my call, every time that you refused to reply to one of my many e-mails to ensure that our friendship was still unblemished, and every time I went to pursue some genuine conversation with you backstage at Asylum, you will wish upon every single star in this immense galaxy that you would have given me the time of the day to hear me out.
People expect me to gun for Callahan, they expect me to go after Rebel, but nobody really expects me to target my dear sweet friend Sally. Our match at Shockwave will look so meager compared to One Night In Hell. If a steel chair was what drew a rift between us in the first place, imagine what it’ll do in Tokyo. It, along with the many others weapons that I intend to use on you, will drive you to place of insanity and make you grieve over the day that you ever doubted or second guessed me.
I have been called weak, I have been called unworthy, and I have been told that I’m simply not cut out to handle or retain the World Heavyweight Title. I mean look at the quality and stature of all of my opponents; does the little ol’ rookie even stand a chance against the talent that he is up against? Some believe that I do while others object. But it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks because I know in my heart what I am capable of. I might have lost my path before, but it has once again been pinpointed. As the old hymn says “I once was blind but now I see.” The limelight and the fame blinded me. I was trying to live up to this false perception that people wanted me to be.
But honestly, I was never really good at being anybody else. I was only good at being me. I have been to Hell and back and I will return here once more on October 28th. Not as a soul who was condemned here but as a man who knows what it’s like to descend to Hell, against every single odd in the book, and still travail. How is this even possible? It’s possible because of the fact that I am Anthony Bailey…APW’s only Promise…the only Promise that can't be broken, not even spending one night in the place of eternal damnation with five other souls. Until Tokyo…
{{The scene slowly fades to black as David and Bailey escape Hell by climbing down Satan's rugged fur and pass through the center of the Earth.}}[/color]
"But the stars that marked our starting fall away. We must go deeper into greater pain, for it is not permitted that we stay." - Dante Alighieri
{{Bailey continues to walk down towards the third circle of Hell. He sees that a ditch has been structured around the circle establishing a great ring. Inside of the ring, two groups of souls slowly push weights along in great pain and anguish. Each group completes a semicircle before crashing into the other group and then turning around to proceed in the opposite direction. This same incident will occur for all of eternity and the outcome won’t ever be any different. A spitting image of Michael Callahan is spotted laboring in one of the groups. The souls condemned to this convoluted drudgery are those of the Avaricious and the Prodigal, people who were greedy and hoarded their material possessions while living.}}[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: I can guarantee that none of the forefathers ever saw this one coming. George Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton are probably among that number who made it inside of the pearly gates and they are probably all up in Heaven right now looking down on this bamboozled. The man who spoke eloquently and appeared to rally in their name, a man who supposedly dedicated his life with the intent to uphold America’s core values is now in his final resting place and as you can see, he’s doing anything but resting. The man Michael Callahan deserves his punishment and it is no mistake of the good Lord above that he is here. Greed is what justifies the presence of his soul being here in Hell along with the other souls who failed to exercise benevolence during their time on Earth.
I find it ironic that most of these helpless souls here in this circle were in some shape or form involved in politics. Look over there, there’s Richard Nixon…and Karl Rove is not too far from him. Callahan fits in oh so well with these detestable human beings, who might have had a genuine knack for politics, but used their platform for unrighteous self gain. Claiming to be for the people, Callahan just used the people to get what he really wanted…power. As an American citizen, I don’t exercise my civil privileges the way that I should, but it’s because of men like this. I have turned my nose up and turned my back on the “beloved” word and idea of politics. I am sickened by crooked scumbags who feast on the affections of the American people and indulge themselves as parasites all in the name of government.
I’ve never been totally opposed to the vehicle of politics, because I’m not pro anarchy, I’ve just been leery about the person in the driver’s seat. Do we know the driver? Is he or she even trustworthy? But your days of shifting gears and failing to yield for that old female pedestrian attempting to cross the road are long gone Callahan. The driver has now become the driven and on Sunday night in Tokyo, you will have an ample amount of time to ponder your lawless deeds. In Hell, there is no escape. There are a million ways to enter here but not one single exit. No exit from the Elimination Chamber as your bruised and battered body becomes the result and the outlet of my malice. Evil has been a longtime companion of yours as you paraded around Asylum vocalizing how much we were alike and how bad you wanted me to be apart of your stable of buffoons.
But all the while, I knew your true intentions because they were so poorly masked by that lame conservative smirk and haircut of yours. You interfered in multiple matches of mine and tried to keep the World Title away from me but you failed. You tried and almost succeeded to cause a rift between my uncle and I but you failed. You will always fail at bringing me down Callahan because we are not alike; that’s where you are wrong. I’m more astute than you and I will prevail against you and your agenda. Me fooling around with your ex fiancé Bethany was only minor recompense for your actions but that was only the beginning. What I have prepared for you inside of that Chamber is more merciless and more vicious than you could ever imagine.
{{Bailey follows King David down to the fourth circle of Hell. This circle borders the muddy river Styx and the souls here are crouched on the river’s bank covered in mud striking and biting at one another. The most ferocious of them all is a Johnny Rebel look alike. The souls in this circle were consumed with anger during their lives.}}[/color]
Anger will not ever do a single soul any good and what I am feasting my eyes on at this very moment is no surprise. We’re all born into sin and unless atonement has been made for that sin, Hell is your just punishment. Phil Atken and Keaton Saint winding up here might have caught some of you all off guard, but the man Johnny Rebel being here didn’t even surprise Satan himself. All Mr. Rebel had to do was to lead a quiet life of joy and contentment, but instead he chose to lead a life of anger. Enraged over the fact that he was no longer the top dawg of APW. Aggravated over the actuality that a rookie whom he has pinned on three different occasions was far more recognized and more valued than he ever was.
There was a time long ago when you were “it” Johnny. You were carrying this company on your back as one of its biggest draws. I don’t know when or where the downward spiral of your career started, but I most certainly know how. I’m sure you are familiar with the saying of “nothing lasts forever” and though that is the case on Earth, that statement doesn’t hold much weight here. Here, everything lasts forever. Hell will remind you that all of your toil and labor on Earth was in vain because this place of unquenchable fire is your final destination. All of your bragging about how you were better than me and how you constantly defeated me means nothing because one night in Hell with me will drastically change one’s perspective.
{{David speaks up.}}[/color]
King David: That kind of reminds me of the biblical passage where it says that it is better for one to go through life crippled than to be healthy and get thrown into Hell.
{{Bailey nods in agreement.}}[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: And that is my goal King David. I desire to physically impair Johnny Rebel inside of that Elimination Chamber at One Night In Hell so that he has the ability to experience authentic redemption. Authentic redemption at the cost of mutilated flesh is far better than spending an eternity here.
King David: That’s commendable of you Champ. It’s quite obvious that this spiritual sojourn is doing you well. You are rediscovering your path the deeper we go into Hell.
What could have seemed like an oxymoron to Bailey actually made sense. He was beginning to see himself more clearly as he witnessed the suffering of his opponents firsthand. Suffering produces endurance and Bailey was willing to endure whatever he had to at the cost of their suffering.[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: People have been under the impression that I possess ill will towards my opponent Johnny Rebel but that has never been the case. Honestly, he hasn’t been important enough for me to make a priority of him because I wouldn’t want to give him the satisfaction that he occupies my mind on a regular basis. I’m not against the person of Rebel, I am here for him but in his rare situation, the only way to show a person like this that you truly care is to usher in his destruction. Giving him the beating of a lifetime and showing him a side of myself that he’s never seen during our prior encounters is what I am aiming for and whatever The Promise aims for, I eventually get it in my grasp.
A rebel without a cause you were for all of your days on Earth and a rebel without a cause you will be for One Night In Hell. All of this anger that you have towards me has slowly eaten away at you and has ultimately caused you to waste away. And I will gladly watch you waste away Johnny, it’ll be one of the greatest joys that I have ever experienced…
{{As David and Bailey march towards the fifth circle of Hell, an unyielding stench rises from it that overpowers the two. Appalled by the aroma, David takes the opportunity to explain this circle and its respective subdivisions.}}[/color]
King David: This circle contains those who are violent and it is divided into three smaller circles. In one, they punish the sins of violence against one’s neighbor, in the other against oneself, and in the third against God.
{{Bailey’s face is filled with remorse as he witnesses a Sally Talfourd look alike pay for her sins against her neighbor. Bailey presumes that he is the neighbor that Sally has offended and David tells him that he is right. She is the only one that Bailey wishes he could rescue from the pits of Hell.}}[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: Oh please God nooo, nooooo!!!! Not my dear friend Sally Talfourd!!
{{Bailey wails at the top of his lungs and seemingly drowns out the sound of the other millions of souls doing the same.}}[/color]
She does not deserve to be here. The rest of them? Yes…but her? She was so innocent. She never meant any harm.
King David: I empathize with your despair Anthony but God’s decision to put her here was just. The Judge never does wrong even when we can’t understand.
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: I know, but…
King David: But what?
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: But Hell is so…permanent. Is there any possible way to rescue her?
King David: I am afraid not. Her fate has been decided and has been sealed.
{{Bailey struggles to come to terms with David’s declaration but he knows that as innocent as Sally might have seemed, she was far from it.}}[/color]
Anthony "The Promise" Bailey: I wouldn’t necessarily call her actions towards me violent; I just think that there is a more fitting term. Misguided? Yes. Selfish? Of course they were. For months I have tried to make amends with her but her double mindedness made me impatient. The moment when I thought she forgave me, she left me awestruck and hanging on a cliff. The trust that the two of us quickly built together was lost at the blink of an eye and not because of me. But because of that fool Shane Borderland, a man who finds himself in the worst circle of Hell for all of his immaturity and bickering.
She claims that I don’t have the instinct or the drive to go out there in Tokyo in front of thousands of fans and be the best. Months ago the tune that she was singing was a tad bit different as she was showering me with flattery and saying how I was on my way to being the best. Which is it Sally? I mean can we truly believe anything that you say? One minute I’m the best thing since sliced bread but the next I’m weak and incapable of doing much. But look at you…harassed by demons for violently coveting who I am and my accomplishments. I want to rescue you from this place of depravity but at the same time I want to leave you here to rot and to think about the numerous amount of times when you wronged me, your supposed “friend.”
A champion should be trying to better themselves, isn’t that right Sally? But what you have failed to realize is that I am not only on the defense trying to keep my belt from being taken away from me by the pack. I am planning an offensive initiative that will make you wish that you were anywhere else in the entire universe than in that Chamber with me. Anywhere other than staring at a reformed Anthony Bailey right in the eyes holding a weapon of his choice. Cognitively you know that you are in this match with me, but you’re going to regret every moment of it. Every time that you failed to pick up the phone and return my call, every time that you refused to reply to one of my many e-mails to ensure that our friendship was still unblemished, and every time I went to pursue some genuine conversation with you backstage at Asylum, you will wish upon every single star in this immense galaxy that you would have given me the time of the day to hear me out.
People expect me to gun for Callahan, they expect me to go after Rebel, but nobody really expects me to target my dear sweet friend Sally. Our match at Shockwave will look so meager compared to One Night In Hell. If a steel chair was what drew a rift between us in the first place, imagine what it’ll do in Tokyo. It, along with the many others weapons that I intend to use on you, will drive you to place of insanity and make you grieve over the day that you ever doubted or second guessed me.
I have been called weak, I have been called unworthy, and I have been told that I’m simply not cut out to handle or retain the World Heavyweight Title. I mean look at the quality and stature of all of my opponents; does the little ol’ rookie even stand a chance against the talent that he is up against? Some believe that I do while others object. But it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks because I know in my heart what I am capable of. I might have lost my path before, but it has once again been pinpointed. As the old hymn says “I once was blind but now I see.” The limelight and the fame blinded me. I was trying to live up to this false perception that people wanted me to be.
But honestly, I was never really good at being anybody else. I was only good at being me. I have been to Hell and back and I will return here once more on October 28th. Not as a soul who was condemned here but as a man who knows what it’s like to descend to Hell, against every single odd in the book, and still travail. How is this even possible? It’s possible because of the fact that I am Anthony Bailey…APW’s only Promise…the only Promise that can't be broken, not even spending one night in the place of eternal damnation with five other souls. Until Tokyo…
{{The scene slowly fades to black as David and Bailey escape Hell by climbing down Satan's rugged fur and pass through the center of the Earth.}}[/color]
