Post by T-Marv on Nov 14, 2012 20:33:58 GMT -4
A Journey of a thousand Miles, begins with a single step.
Even if that journey is never ending, one single foot forward was what put the whole thing into motion. And once the momentum began, there was no stopping in sight. The beauty of a journey such as this is not in the destination, but in the actual expedition itself….that’s where the adventure truly lies. And it has been one hell of an adventure thus far. And part of the journey is always moving forward, always going, always continuing.
But every now and then it’s good to take a step back and remember the past, to revel on where the journey began. That first step is always the sweetest, always the one you remember the most, the one you come back to when you want to enjoy the memories. What if you could go back and take that first step again, no matter how difficult it was, no matter the chance at failure? Would you do it, even if it meant having to do it all over again taking the good with the bad, the hardships with the triumphs?
Soon, I get the chance very few people in their lives get. I get the chance to take that first step all over again. Wiser, more experienced, and with a better idea of where the road will lead, I get one more chance to relive my journey.
The key is not where you’re going….It’s how you get there.
Terry sits at his desk and reads this letter and a smirk comes over his face. Faythe watches him from across the room and smiles.
”Something wrong babe?”
Terry crumples the paper in his hands and tosses it in the waste basket. He shakes his head and looks to Faythe.
”Nah, but it looks like we’re getting left off the invite list to the Sindicate Christmas party this year.”
Terry stands up and looks out the window and lets out a huge sigh.
”Having second thoughts about jumping on the I hate Level One bandwagon.”
”Of course not.”
”You sure about that? I mean, letting him lay out Biggs would have basically done you a favor right?”
Terry nods at Faythe as he crosses his arms.
”It absolutely would have been. It would have been me taking the easy way out and letting others do my dirty work. It would have been something I’d have done in the past.”
”But you’ve changed right? So the new you wouldn’t take advantage of the situation like this?”
Terry shakes his head.
”Nah, if I thought this would get me closer to my destiny, I would have let Level One end Biggs right then and there. But that’s not the way this has to play out. It has to be me, I have to be the one to beat Biggs….by myself.”
”This some kind of macho pride thing?”
”I guess you could call it that. It’s more of a doing it my way kinda thing! I’m gonna beat Biggs at Christmas Chaos, defeating the one and only person in APW that I haven’t laid to waste one on one! It’s something I HAVE to do!”
Terry’s face is frozen in an intensely serious glare.
”And that bastard Biggs couldn’t even give me a simple thank you for saving his neck. Instead he comes out there and mocks me, trying to get inside my head.”
”So you think he’s playing some kind of huge mind game with you?”
”Of course he is, it’s exactly what I’d do. He’s trying to get inside my head until I lose all focus and determination and become easy pickings. It’s a brilliant plan to be honest.”
He smirks, almost impressed.
”So what are you going to do about it?”
Terry’s smirk turns into a wide grin….what you might call a shit eating grin.
”What I do best! If Biggs wants to play mind games, then he’s in way over his head. I caused Keaton Saint to doubt ever wanting to step in the ring again. I turned Kurt Noble against his beloved fans and ended his marriage. I am the MASTER of mind Games, whereas Biggs is one hell of a player in his own right. But he’s an amateur compared to the king.”
”Let me guess, your little match with Biggs’ new BFF Gates this week is step one to your master plan?”
Terry flashes a smirk
”Maybe, maybe not.”
Terry shakes his head.
”Honestly it makes no difference. Biggs has already given up the advantage, and he doesn’t even see it, thought it’s clearly there plain as day. Biggs may have fired the first shots….but I’ll be the one standing when all the smoke has finally cleared away.”
Terry smiles as he holds up another sheet of paper. This one has the matches written on it, including Terry Marvin vs. CJ Gates. At the bottom of the letter, it is signed from the NEW General Manager of Overdrive….Johnny Rebel!
”What do you make of Rebel getting this new job?”
”I don’t know. I haven’t really figured it out yet.”
”What You think he’s going to screw you, make your life a living hell? A little payback for casting aside his pal Level One?”
Terry bursts out laughing loudly.
”I doubt that Rebel will be standing on that side of the isle when the teams are picked. I’m pretty sure the Sindicate has them on their list shortly after yours truly. No, I think Johnny Rebel is going to pose a challenge in a different way.”
”What do you mean by that?”
”Rebel may be a conniving son of a bitch, but he’s a BRILLIANT conniving son of a bitch. You can bet that this whole Endeavour into APW politics has a hidden agenda rolled up in it. And every member of the Overdrive roster just became his pawns. So I’m sure we’re in for one hell of a ride.”
Faythe smiles a flirtatious smile.
”Sounds like things are going to get quite interesting around here.”
Terry smiles, truly elated at the sound of this.
”I certainly hope so! Either way, Rebel can’t be nearly as bad as Jeff. He may be a crooked son of a bitch, but at least he doesn’t hide it. He’ll stick it to you while looking you in the eyes instead of finding the right place in the shoulder blades to slide the knife into. Whatever Rebel throws my way… I’ll be ready for it. After all, he and I play the same game….and a new season just began.”
Terry laughs as the scene slowly fades to black
The cold November air breezes through the banks of the Delaware river. Standing on the riverside feet away from the water, shivering as the wind cuts through the bone, is the APW Undisputed Champion, title hunched over his shoulder. He smiles as he looks out at the beautiful scenery.
”Two hundred and thirty some years ago, the most famous journey in this country’s history began when George Washington and his cronies pushed off the shore on a makeshift boat hell bent on stopping the British. From there launched a series of victories for the Colonist and soon the ultimate victory of separation from the tyrannical rule that oppressed them.”
Terry smiles at this thought.
”It was the beginning of one man’s destiny into greatness! Many years later, Washington took another trip across the Delaware as sort of a victory lap. It was during that trip that he took the time to revel in the success that he had achieved. The second trip was more difficult, and almost became the end of him, but it was something he KNEW he had to do!”
He turns to the camera and sets his face.
”Tomorrow Night, I don the shoes of the great General Washington and retrace the first steps of my fateful journey when I step in the ring with the man who began my rise to god like status… CJ GATES.”
Terry pauses for a second going over in his mind his past exploits with CJ.
”Let me give you a small history lesson. Nearly 6 months ago, I was on the cusp of rejuvenating my APW career after being the most successful Overdrive champion in recent history. But I was ready to take the next step, ready to throw my name into the most illustrious of hats. How was I going to accomplish that most illustrious of all tasks? I was going to do what few men had done before, go through 7 of the best APW had to offer in one night and Ace the TEST FOR THE BEST. But before I could climb that mountain, before I could ascend on my god given journey…I had to take one single step….I had to best CJ GATES!”
Terry smiles a cocky smile as he remembers how that turned out.
”We all know how that turned out, so I won’t bore you with the gruesome details. Now it seems that my journey has circled around and once again I am on the cusp of a greater destiny. I stand here with the chance to accomplish something new, something I’d never done…defeat Biggs one on one. He is the holy grail of victories! And just like before, the same obstacle blocks my path. CJ Gates has made a hypocritical new friendship with the one man who’s relentlessly tried to bash his head in. By defeating Gates, I will open the flood gates to my new destiny; I will open up the road to victory over Biggs! Once again, CJ Gates will be the cardinal step of my voyage!”
Terry paces along the river bank, ever so careful with his steps as to keep out of the water.
”You know CJ, you and I have been tiptoeing on the edge of battle for months now. Sure, we’ve had our back and forth scuffles, and even a few in ring interactions, but never a head on collision, not since I ripped the title of back to back Test for the Best winner out of your grasps. And now here we are, on a direct course! Things haven’t been going very well for you lately have they? I mean, your mother has basically written you of as the king of the crazies, you failed to take back this title you falsely claim is yours, and you’ve thrown your allegiances in with a man who once promised to end your career! Seems like you’re the million dollar winner aren’t you?”
Terry turns again and frowns at the camera.
”It truly is a shame to see you drop so mightily down the ranks. After all, I believe you to be a major talent here in APW, one of the best. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. After all it was I who came to you for help when Kurt Noble was first running amuck. It is I who am always trying to cut you down and get inside your head. Why do you think that is CJ? Why do you think I continuously attempt to tear a hole in your soul? It’s because you’re easily one of the few in this company who actually pose a threat to me! You’re a former Undisputed Champion, and no matter how many rungs of the proverbial latter you’ve slid down, that means something VERY special.
That’s why I was so PROUD after my first victory over you in May CJ…because I knew that I had defeated something special, something grand! I knew that if I could pin your shoulders to the mat, that there was nothing in heaven and earth that could stop me from reigning supreme. And I was right! I rode that victory to the place where I am today….you made me what I am today CJ! How does that feel to hear me say? Does it make you proud to know that your shortcomings came against the GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO WRESTLING? No…I’m sure you can’t open your eyes far enough to allow free and intelligent thinking to cloud your closed off brain. All you can see is your own personal failures.”
Terry shakes his head and lets out a sigh.
”That’s your problem CJ, you can’t see the bigger picture about things. Have you honestly let your ego grow so out of control that you can’t fathom a situation where you aren’t directly involved? Have you become the delusional force of nature that has made Kurt Noble into the most hated man alive? No, you’re not even close to being the disparagingly abysmal human being that he’s become. Your problem isn’t that of pride, but of ignorance. See, I came to you months ago, begging for your help when Kurt started to go out of control. But you couldn’t allow yourself to intervene on behalf of such a HORRIBLE person such as myself. You couldn’t allow yourself to believe that I was the good guy in the story. And what happened? Kurt Noble imploded and damn near took you down with him! And he would have ended you too….if I didn’t stick my nose in! So that should be enough right there to buy your trust shouldn’t it Gates?
OF COURSE NOT! You still hold this brooding prejudice against me! You still think that everything I do is just an act to get one over on the whole of the APW locker room. See, for some unknown reason I feel this dire need to prove myself to you. See, I have never lied to you, not once. I don’t’ need to! I have never once lied to these fans either. I’ve never been anything but myself. I don’t’ claim to be a saint….hell I don’t claim to be anything. But I’m not the enemy here, I never was. At first it bothered me that you turned a blind eye to my crusade, that you refused to see that I was a savior, not a monster. But now, it’s what drives me CJ. It’s what keeps me going, keeps me fighting.”
Terry clears his throat and takes a few steps toward the camera.
”So Tomorrow night, I have one goal in mind. It’s not something so lofty or insignificant as embarrassing you in the middle of the ring. What would that prove? That I’m the greatest wrestler alive in APW today?”
Terry smirks and pats his title.
”I’m pretty sure this does just a fine job at that thank you very much. I’m going to prove that I’m not the despicable son of a bitch you make me out to be. Sure, I’ll do whatever it takes to win this match CJ… but there are no tricks up my sleeve. You don’t have to worry about watching your back, or about the terrors that come after the match. You and I will leave it all out in that ring! And when all is said and done, I will stick my hand out to you in respect and honor of the battle that just took place.
But do NOT mistake my kindness for weakness CJ! This will be no walk in the park for either of us. You are hungry as hell to get back on the golden path you followed earlier this year. I am anxious as hell to continue my run of greatness and keep this Autumn of Awesome flowing right into the bitterness of winter! My next mission in the most successful year of any life that has ever stepped into a wrestling ring is to prove once and for all that my dismantling of you in may was no trace of a fluke. This time I will leave no doubt in your mind, or in the mind of the millions of fans who now call me their hero.”
Terry raises his finger up like a lightbulb just went off in his head.
”That’s it isn’t it CJ. That’s why you can’t possibly fathom that I’m not the villain. You’re JEALOUS that these fans see me as the kind of hero they never saw you as. It must be heartbreaking to go through this once again. I mean, you were their beloved one before Kurt Noble swept in and stole them away from you. I saw how they treated you when Kurt came riding into town on his white horse. You were expendable, yesterday’s news! That’s what really forced you into this mental breakdown of yours isn’t it? And now, just when Kurt Noble has rushed into the darkside, you figured that the fans would come running back to hoist you on their shoulders to carry you into the sunset. But instead, they look up to me, love me, see me as their savior! And you can’t stand it can you CJ!
THAT is why you couldn’t stand to be on my side, to stand with me against true Evil, cause you KNEW that the fans would ALWAYS choose me! THAT is why you’ve joined up with the perennially hated Biggs in hopes that you’d always look like a holy roller in comparison. You’re fucking jealous because you’ve worked your ass off to gain their love whereas I was the exact opposite. My whole career, I’ve been doing the exact opposite of what the fans wanted, and they still flocked to me! You can’t stand it can you Gates? Frankly, I find that sad and pathetic that you are so dependent on these people that you would allow it to affect.”
Terry shakes his head and smiles.
”I’m sure you see this match as an opportunity to win them back don’t you? I’m sure you think that standing over me in victory will send them rushing to your side, pleading you’re your forgiveness and insisting that they never meant to leave you in the first place right?”
Terry wags his finger with a disappointed look on his face.
”Not so fast there cowboy. It doesn’t quite work that way does it? See, I’ve learned long ago that you and I have no power over the way these fans think and feel. I tried for so long to influence them that It became exhausting. We don’t chose the fans, they chose us. Unfortunately Gates, the people have spoken and have nominated me as the champion of whichever cause they feel they represent. I’ve learned that trying to manipulate their feelings only leads to them doing the exact opposite. It’s the glory of free will. It’s what makes this business so great, to know that we’re not just in this for ourselves, that somewhere somehow what we do affects everyone watching one way or another. You can’t force them to love you….all you can do is be yourself and let the chips fall where they may!”
Terry points at the camera once again.
”Do you know why they love me CJ? Do you know why the fans chant my name, why they cheer when I walk out? Do you know why I’m surrounded by autograph seeking fans everywhere I go, and you’re just begging for some more attention? It’s because I don’t bullshit them Gates. I don’t tell them what they want to hear, or what I think they want to hear. I don’t give them the run around and I don’t pander to their wishes. IT’s because I’m fucking REAL! All the way down to the bone, I am as real as it gets. I speak my mind. I tell the truth, and they all know it! Meanwhile, you go out of your way to put out the image that you’re what the fans want, and they see right through your façade Gates! Sure some of them will cheer you, some of them will even be behind you this week. But those are the fans who believe the lie…. Who lie to themselves. Those are the fans who buy into all the bullshit that they’re told by the social media. They conform when told to like this thing, that this thing is bad, to where this, to eat that….. Your fans are SHEEP, Gates. My fans are the informed masses who know the truth when they see it!”
Terry’s face is no longer smiling and jovial. It’s not angry, or enraged either. It is still and solid.
”Tomorrow Night Gates, my journey continues just like it began 6 months ago. And this time, you don’t have the luxury of home court advantage….you don’t have the upper hand. This time, Gates, I am more focused than I’ve ever been. I’ve learned much in my 3 months as Undisputed Champion! I’ve learned what stepping up to a challenge really means. And you pose one hell of a challenge to any soul who is charged with stepping up against you. But for the past year, I have THRIVED on conquering any and all quests thrown in my face! I have never backed down from a challenge and I have never FAILED!
Tomorrow will be much of the same. You will not stop the momentum that I’m on. You will not be the final chapter in the storybook that is the Year of the REAL SHOW!
I am still the chosen one, GODS GIFT TO WRESTLING! And I will live up to the hype in a way that you couldn’t possibly understand. I will not crumble under the pressure no matter how GREAT!
My journey has come full circle. You and I Gates, we’ll put on a show they’ll be talking about for ages.
And when it’s said and done, when I raise my hand to the heavens in victory….you will finally see the truth.
You will finally see what I’ve been saying all along. That I am not the villain, that I never have been.
I am the hero Gates, and this is MY STORY!
Tomorrow Night isn’t the end….it’s just another beginning!
It’s SHOWTIME!”
Marvin turns and walks up the banks of the river, prepared to make the same journey George Washington did many years ago….The scene fades to black!
Even if that journey is never ending, one single foot forward was what put the whole thing into motion. And once the momentum began, there was no stopping in sight. The beauty of a journey such as this is not in the destination, but in the actual expedition itself….that’s where the adventure truly lies. And it has been one hell of an adventure thus far. And part of the journey is always moving forward, always going, always continuing.
But every now and then it’s good to take a step back and remember the past, to revel on where the journey began. That first step is always the sweetest, always the one you remember the most, the one you come back to when you want to enjoy the memories. What if you could go back and take that first step again, no matter how difficult it was, no matter the chance at failure? Would you do it, even if it meant having to do it all over again taking the good with the bad, the hardships with the triumphs?
Soon, I get the chance very few people in their lives get. I get the chance to take that first step all over again. Wiser, more experienced, and with a better idea of where the road will lead, I get one more chance to relive my journey.
The key is not where you’re going….It’s how you get there.
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Dear Mr. Marvin,
It seems that even after our months of partnership and devotion to you including providing you with adequate officiating, your loyalty to us was exaggerated. We thought beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you’d be the next key to advancing our agenda here in APW. We envisioned a future where you would stand at the side of Lester Only as you rode in on white horses to cleanse the APW of the heresy that infected it.
Instead you turned your back on us after all that we’ve done for you. You betrayed us and everything we stood for. You decided to benefit yourself instead of the greater good, especially when you allowed Level One to take the fall in the Elimination Chamber contest. Then, you once again showed your disloyalty when you named Biggs the #1 contender to the title. But the final straw was last week when you prevented him from doing our good work and take out the most corrupt evil of all in Biggs. It was to be one of our finest hours, the righting of your previous mentioned mistake, but instead you stuck your nose in business you didn’t belong in. You chose an enemy over a man who’s stood by you for months.
Therefore, we regret to inform you that we have decided to dissolve our business relationship. More so than that, you’ve been shot strait to the top of our most wanted list. You are syndicate public enemy number one. I hope you’ve enjoyed your ride with the Undisputed Championship, for it will soon come to a sudden and abrupt end! So please enjoy your time while we let you pretend to reign on top of the totem pole. Your end will come soon!
Sincerely,
The Sindicate.
It seems that even after our months of partnership and devotion to you including providing you with adequate officiating, your loyalty to us was exaggerated. We thought beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you’d be the next key to advancing our agenda here in APW. We envisioned a future where you would stand at the side of Lester Only as you rode in on white horses to cleanse the APW of the heresy that infected it.
Instead you turned your back on us after all that we’ve done for you. You betrayed us and everything we stood for. You decided to benefit yourself instead of the greater good, especially when you allowed Level One to take the fall in the Elimination Chamber contest. Then, you once again showed your disloyalty when you named Biggs the #1 contender to the title. But the final straw was last week when you prevented him from doing our good work and take out the most corrupt evil of all in Biggs. It was to be one of our finest hours, the righting of your previous mentioned mistake, but instead you stuck your nose in business you didn’t belong in. You chose an enemy over a man who’s stood by you for months.
Therefore, we regret to inform you that we have decided to dissolve our business relationship. More so than that, you’ve been shot strait to the top of our most wanted list. You are syndicate public enemy number one. I hope you’ve enjoyed your ride with the Undisputed Championship, for it will soon come to a sudden and abrupt end! So please enjoy your time while we let you pretend to reign on top of the totem pole. Your end will come soon!
Sincerely,
The Sindicate.
Terry sits at his desk and reads this letter and a smirk comes over his face. Faythe watches him from across the room and smiles.
”Something wrong babe?”
Terry crumples the paper in his hands and tosses it in the waste basket. He shakes his head and looks to Faythe.
”Nah, but it looks like we’re getting left off the invite list to the Sindicate Christmas party this year.”
Terry stands up and looks out the window and lets out a huge sigh.
”Having second thoughts about jumping on the I hate Level One bandwagon.”
”Of course not.”
”You sure about that? I mean, letting him lay out Biggs would have basically done you a favor right?”
Terry nods at Faythe as he crosses his arms.
”It absolutely would have been. It would have been me taking the easy way out and letting others do my dirty work. It would have been something I’d have done in the past.”
”But you’ve changed right? So the new you wouldn’t take advantage of the situation like this?”
Terry shakes his head.
”Nah, if I thought this would get me closer to my destiny, I would have let Level One end Biggs right then and there. But that’s not the way this has to play out. It has to be me, I have to be the one to beat Biggs….by myself.”
”This some kind of macho pride thing?”
”I guess you could call it that. It’s more of a doing it my way kinda thing! I’m gonna beat Biggs at Christmas Chaos, defeating the one and only person in APW that I haven’t laid to waste one on one! It’s something I HAVE to do!”
Terry’s face is frozen in an intensely serious glare.
”And that bastard Biggs couldn’t even give me a simple thank you for saving his neck. Instead he comes out there and mocks me, trying to get inside my head.”
”So you think he’s playing some kind of huge mind game with you?”
”Of course he is, it’s exactly what I’d do. He’s trying to get inside my head until I lose all focus and determination and become easy pickings. It’s a brilliant plan to be honest.”
He smirks, almost impressed.
”So what are you going to do about it?”
Terry’s smirk turns into a wide grin….what you might call a shit eating grin.
”What I do best! If Biggs wants to play mind games, then he’s in way over his head. I caused Keaton Saint to doubt ever wanting to step in the ring again. I turned Kurt Noble against his beloved fans and ended his marriage. I am the MASTER of mind Games, whereas Biggs is one hell of a player in his own right. But he’s an amateur compared to the king.”
”Let me guess, your little match with Biggs’ new BFF Gates this week is step one to your master plan?”
Terry flashes a smirk
”Maybe, maybe not.”
Terry shakes his head.
”Honestly it makes no difference. Biggs has already given up the advantage, and he doesn’t even see it, thought it’s clearly there plain as day. Biggs may have fired the first shots….but I’ll be the one standing when all the smoke has finally cleared away.”
Terry smiles as he holds up another sheet of paper. This one has the matches written on it, including Terry Marvin vs. CJ Gates. At the bottom of the letter, it is signed from the NEW General Manager of Overdrive….Johnny Rebel!
”What do you make of Rebel getting this new job?”
”I don’t know. I haven’t really figured it out yet.”
”What You think he’s going to screw you, make your life a living hell? A little payback for casting aside his pal Level One?”
Terry bursts out laughing loudly.
”I doubt that Rebel will be standing on that side of the isle when the teams are picked. I’m pretty sure the Sindicate has them on their list shortly after yours truly. No, I think Johnny Rebel is going to pose a challenge in a different way.”
”What do you mean by that?”
”Rebel may be a conniving son of a bitch, but he’s a BRILLIANT conniving son of a bitch. You can bet that this whole Endeavour into APW politics has a hidden agenda rolled up in it. And every member of the Overdrive roster just became his pawns. So I’m sure we’re in for one hell of a ride.”
Faythe smiles a flirtatious smile.
”Sounds like things are going to get quite interesting around here.”
Terry smiles, truly elated at the sound of this.
”I certainly hope so! Either way, Rebel can’t be nearly as bad as Jeff. He may be a crooked son of a bitch, but at least he doesn’t hide it. He’ll stick it to you while looking you in the eyes instead of finding the right place in the shoulder blades to slide the knife into. Whatever Rebel throws my way… I’ll be ready for it. After all, he and I play the same game….and a new season just began.”
Terry laughs as the scene slowly fades to black
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The cold November air breezes through the banks of the Delaware river. Standing on the riverside feet away from the water, shivering as the wind cuts through the bone, is the APW Undisputed Champion, title hunched over his shoulder. He smiles as he looks out at the beautiful scenery.
”Two hundred and thirty some years ago, the most famous journey in this country’s history began when George Washington and his cronies pushed off the shore on a makeshift boat hell bent on stopping the British. From there launched a series of victories for the Colonist and soon the ultimate victory of separation from the tyrannical rule that oppressed them.”
Terry smiles at this thought.
”It was the beginning of one man’s destiny into greatness! Many years later, Washington took another trip across the Delaware as sort of a victory lap. It was during that trip that he took the time to revel in the success that he had achieved. The second trip was more difficult, and almost became the end of him, but it was something he KNEW he had to do!”
He turns to the camera and sets his face.
”Tomorrow Night, I don the shoes of the great General Washington and retrace the first steps of my fateful journey when I step in the ring with the man who began my rise to god like status… CJ GATES.”
Terry pauses for a second going over in his mind his past exploits with CJ.
”Let me give you a small history lesson. Nearly 6 months ago, I was on the cusp of rejuvenating my APW career after being the most successful Overdrive champion in recent history. But I was ready to take the next step, ready to throw my name into the most illustrious of hats. How was I going to accomplish that most illustrious of all tasks? I was going to do what few men had done before, go through 7 of the best APW had to offer in one night and Ace the TEST FOR THE BEST. But before I could climb that mountain, before I could ascend on my god given journey…I had to take one single step….I had to best CJ GATES!”
Terry smiles a cocky smile as he remembers how that turned out.
”We all know how that turned out, so I won’t bore you with the gruesome details. Now it seems that my journey has circled around and once again I am on the cusp of a greater destiny. I stand here with the chance to accomplish something new, something I’d never done…defeat Biggs one on one. He is the holy grail of victories! And just like before, the same obstacle blocks my path. CJ Gates has made a hypocritical new friendship with the one man who’s relentlessly tried to bash his head in. By defeating Gates, I will open the flood gates to my new destiny; I will open up the road to victory over Biggs! Once again, CJ Gates will be the cardinal step of my voyage!”
Terry paces along the river bank, ever so careful with his steps as to keep out of the water.
”You know CJ, you and I have been tiptoeing on the edge of battle for months now. Sure, we’ve had our back and forth scuffles, and even a few in ring interactions, but never a head on collision, not since I ripped the title of back to back Test for the Best winner out of your grasps. And now here we are, on a direct course! Things haven’t been going very well for you lately have they? I mean, your mother has basically written you of as the king of the crazies, you failed to take back this title you falsely claim is yours, and you’ve thrown your allegiances in with a man who once promised to end your career! Seems like you’re the million dollar winner aren’t you?”
Terry turns again and frowns at the camera.
”It truly is a shame to see you drop so mightily down the ranks. After all, I believe you to be a major talent here in APW, one of the best. Surprised? You shouldn’t be. After all it was I who came to you for help when Kurt Noble was first running amuck. It is I who am always trying to cut you down and get inside your head. Why do you think that is CJ? Why do you think I continuously attempt to tear a hole in your soul? It’s because you’re easily one of the few in this company who actually pose a threat to me! You’re a former Undisputed Champion, and no matter how many rungs of the proverbial latter you’ve slid down, that means something VERY special.
That’s why I was so PROUD after my first victory over you in May CJ…because I knew that I had defeated something special, something grand! I knew that if I could pin your shoulders to the mat, that there was nothing in heaven and earth that could stop me from reigning supreme. And I was right! I rode that victory to the place where I am today….you made me what I am today CJ! How does that feel to hear me say? Does it make you proud to know that your shortcomings came against the GREATEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO WRESTLING? No…I’m sure you can’t open your eyes far enough to allow free and intelligent thinking to cloud your closed off brain. All you can see is your own personal failures.”
Terry shakes his head and lets out a sigh.
”That’s your problem CJ, you can’t see the bigger picture about things. Have you honestly let your ego grow so out of control that you can’t fathom a situation where you aren’t directly involved? Have you become the delusional force of nature that has made Kurt Noble into the most hated man alive? No, you’re not even close to being the disparagingly abysmal human being that he’s become. Your problem isn’t that of pride, but of ignorance. See, I came to you months ago, begging for your help when Kurt started to go out of control. But you couldn’t allow yourself to intervene on behalf of such a HORRIBLE person such as myself. You couldn’t allow yourself to believe that I was the good guy in the story. And what happened? Kurt Noble imploded and damn near took you down with him! And he would have ended you too….if I didn’t stick my nose in! So that should be enough right there to buy your trust shouldn’t it Gates?
OF COURSE NOT! You still hold this brooding prejudice against me! You still think that everything I do is just an act to get one over on the whole of the APW locker room. See, for some unknown reason I feel this dire need to prove myself to you. See, I have never lied to you, not once. I don’t’ need to! I have never once lied to these fans either. I’ve never been anything but myself. I don’t’ claim to be a saint….hell I don’t claim to be anything. But I’m not the enemy here, I never was. At first it bothered me that you turned a blind eye to my crusade, that you refused to see that I was a savior, not a monster. But now, it’s what drives me CJ. It’s what keeps me going, keeps me fighting.”
Terry clears his throat and takes a few steps toward the camera.
”So Tomorrow night, I have one goal in mind. It’s not something so lofty or insignificant as embarrassing you in the middle of the ring. What would that prove? That I’m the greatest wrestler alive in APW today?”
Terry smirks and pats his title.
”I’m pretty sure this does just a fine job at that thank you very much. I’m going to prove that I’m not the despicable son of a bitch you make me out to be. Sure, I’ll do whatever it takes to win this match CJ… but there are no tricks up my sleeve. You don’t have to worry about watching your back, or about the terrors that come after the match. You and I will leave it all out in that ring! And when all is said and done, I will stick my hand out to you in respect and honor of the battle that just took place.
But do NOT mistake my kindness for weakness CJ! This will be no walk in the park for either of us. You are hungry as hell to get back on the golden path you followed earlier this year. I am anxious as hell to continue my run of greatness and keep this Autumn of Awesome flowing right into the bitterness of winter! My next mission in the most successful year of any life that has ever stepped into a wrestling ring is to prove once and for all that my dismantling of you in may was no trace of a fluke. This time I will leave no doubt in your mind, or in the mind of the millions of fans who now call me their hero.”
Terry raises his finger up like a lightbulb just went off in his head.
”That’s it isn’t it CJ. That’s why you can’t possibly fathom that I’m not the villain. You’re JEALOUS that these fans see me as the kind of hero they never saw you as. It must be heartbreaking to go through this once again. I mean, you were their beloved one before Kurt Noble swept in and stole them away from you. I saw how they treated you when Kurt came riding into town on his white horse. You were expendable, yesterday’s news! That’s what really forced you into this mental breakdown of yours isn’t it? And now, just when Kurt Noble has rushed into the darkside, you figured that the fans would come running back to hoist you on their shoulders to carry you into the sunset. But instead, they look up to me, love me, see me as their savior! And you can’t stand it can you CJ!
THAT is why you couldn’t stand to be on my side, to stand with me against true Evil, cause you KNEW that the fans would ALWAYS choose me! THAT is why you’ve joined up with the perennially hated Biggs in hopes that you’d always look like a holy roller in comparison. You’re fucking jealous because you’ve worked your ass off to gain their love whereas I was the exact opposite. My whole career, I’ve been doing the exact opposite of what the fans wanted, and they still flocked to me! You can’t stand it can you Gates? Frankly, I find that sad and pathetic that you are so dependent on these people that you would allow it to affect.”
Terry shakes his head and smiles.
”I’m sure you see this match as an opportunity to win them back don’t you? I’m sure you think that standing over me in victory will send them rushing to your side, pleading you’re your forgiveness and insisting that they never meant to leave you in the first place right?”
Terry wags his finger with a disappointed look on his face.
”Not so fast there cowboy. It doesn’t quite work that way does it? See, I’ve learned long ago that you and I have no power over the way these fans think and feel. I tried for so long to influence them that It became exhausting. We don’t chose the fans, they chose us. Unfortunately Gates, the people have spoken and have nominated me as the champion of whichever cause they feel they represent. I’ve learned that trying to manipulate their feelings only leads to them doing the exact opposite. It’s the glory of free will. It’s what makes this business so great, to know that we’re not just in this for ourselves, that somewhere somehow what we do affects everyone watching one way or another. You can’t force them to love you….all you can do is be yourself and let the chips fall where they may!”
Terry points at the camera once again.
”Do you know why they love me CJ? Do you know why the fans chant my name, why they cheer when I walk out? Do you know why I’m surrounded by autograph seeking fans everywhere I go, and you’re just begging for some more attention? It’s because I don’t bullshit them Gates. I don’t tell them what they want to hear, or what I think they want to hear. I don’t give them the run around and I don’t pander to their wishes. IT’s because I’m fucking REAL! All the way down to the bone, I am as real as it gets. I speak my mind. I tell the truth, and they all know it! Meanwhile, you go out of your way to put out the image that you’re what the fans want, and they see right through your façade Gates! Sure some of them will cheer you, some of them will even be behind you this week. But those are the fans who believe the lie…. Who lie to themselves. Those are the fans who buy into all the bullshit that they’re told by the social media. They conform when told to like this thing, that this thing is bad, to where this, to eat that….. Your fans are SHEEP, Gates. My fans are the informed masses who know the truth when they see it!”
Terry’s face is no longer smiling and jovial. It’s not angry, or enraged either. It is still and solid.
”Tomorrow Night Gates, my journey continues just like it began 6 months ago. And this time, you don’t have the luxury of home court advantage….you don’t have the upper hand. This time, Gates, I am more focused than I’ve ever been. I’ve learned much in my 3 months as Undisputed Champion! I’ve learned what stepping up to a challenge really means. And you pose one hell of a challenge to any soul who is charged with stepping up against you. But for the past year, I have THRIVED on conquering any and all quests thrown in my face! I have never backed down from a challenge and I have never FAILED!
Tomorrow will be much of the same. You will not stop the momentum that I’m on. You will not be the final chapter in the storybook that is the Year of the REAL SHOW!
I am still the chosen one, GODS GIFT TO WRESTLING! And I will live up to the hype in a way that you couldn’t possibly understand. I will not crumble under the pressure no matter how GREAT!
My journey has come full circle. You and I Gates, we’ll put on a show they’ll be talking about for ages.
And when it’s said and done, when I raise my hand to the heavens in victory….you will finally see the truth.
You will finally see what I’ve been saying all along. That I am not the villain, that I never have been.
I am the hero Gates, and this is MY STORY!
Tomorrow Night isn’t the end….it’s just another beginning!
It’s SHOWTIME!”
Marvin turns and walks up the banks of the river, prepared to make the same journey George Washington did many years ago….The scene fades to black!
