Post by Chaos Stryke on Dec 18, 2012 13:32:11 GMT -4
We open to a blank scene with an audio recording from Logan Alexander.
“People ask if I crossed a line last week. I’m not sure if I crossed one or drew one.”
“I needed a clean break from the North American championship but I should have known I’d face opposition from the GM. I’m still champion without the belt and, officially, I have a title defence. In my eyes, I’m challenging for the title like everyone else in a five person match where first fall wins. Some people think I’m like Michael Lively, orchestrating my own demise here. He demanded the One Night in Hell championship match that he lost and I’ve been responsible for this one. I called the contender match between Valo and Deruty a draw, knowing I’d have to defend against both of them. Kaylyn got into the match by my interference. That gave Amy another chance and someone else’s interference got her in.”
“So… rightly or wrongly, Deruty, Evans, and Zing are here because of me. If I let the Valo-Deruty match continue rather than end by countout, Valo probably beats Deruty like the last two weeks and it’s Alexander versus Valo this week. The appropriate comment here is ‘no good deed goes unpunished’. But I’ve got a chance to rightfully claim the championship. My match with Aubrey was a travesty. Everyone can call me champion, but I refuse to acknowledge it now. I want to win only if I deserve it, not by being handed the title. I expect Sienna and Duvall to move the Earth to keep me from winning though.”
“I needed to have this match. Everything considered, it’ll be a challenge. If I win, it’ll be because I deserve it or I lucked into it. Either one’s an improvement over previous circumstances and ones I can live with. I need to prove I deserve to be the champion. I don’t think my opponents understand that motivation. I haven’t had an off week since the belt ‘became’ mine because I pushed myself to be worthy of it. I’d bet my opponents are more interested in having the title for prestige and recognition… but all they need to do is look around at champions on other brands to see that having a belt doesn’t make one stand out. I want the belt so I can face the best competition. Being champion gives me challenges like this, which push me to improve. This match will be a hard one to win… and that means I have to step up my game even more.”
“Zing, Evans, Deruty, Valo… I’m going to do whatever I have to this week and I’ll be prepared for the worst as well. So you’d all better be ready for a fight. If you want the belt… prove it.”
The scene opens as the camera is carried into a different part of Logan’s home. He’s in his basement gym, with assorted training equipment along the walls and benches in the middle. He’s on a stationary bike, working at a quick pace, while lifting small weights with each hand alternately. He’s dressed in dark clothes, but the sweat is apparent on his skin. The camera comes to a stop nearby and Logan slows his pace.
“So how are you today? Considering you had the stuffing knocked out of you for the first time in years, I figured it’s prudent to ask.”
“Of course. I’m not that young anymore and I’ve taken my toll of injuries. That last chair shot cut me open too.”
Having ceased lifting the weights, he motions to the bandage on his forehead above his left eye.
“But I feel great.”
He smiles.
“If that is what I get for dropping Sienna in the ring, I clearly have little to worry about.”
“Are you serious?”
The reply is sceptical.
“I took some hard shots, but it did no lasting damage. Besides, I’ve gained some insight. For instance, while I have four official opponents, I need to prepare for eight.”
“Eight?”
Logan nods.
“Four in the ring and four through outside interference.”
“So… your attack was planned?”
“Nope. It was more impulse, but I figured it was worth it regardless of consequences.”
He slows his pace further.
“Some days… I think you’re crazy.”
“Only some days?”
He smirks slightly.
“It was an example that people should consider when I’m across the ring. I give no warning and can strike in an instant. That’s all I need to end someone’s day. As unpredictable as things will be in this match, it’ll be easy to catch anyone off guard, but it requires proper timing. There’s no sense in putting one person down if the others are in any position to stop you afterwards. You’re wasting time and energy because someone else will take you out and maybe even steal the win from you.”
“That’s a very good point.”
“Yeah. Most people think you should go for the quick win. I agree with that when it doesn’t compromise your position in the match. A blindside attack can send you from being a moment from victory to being the one tasting defeat. I was reminded of that last week after my match. I’m not unstoppable. Valo has come close to beating me before, so I know he can do it. Zing caught me when I was distracted and almost won from it. Evans has struck me down twice on sneak attacks.”
His pace on the bike slows further.
“Are you going to try and keep that from happening?”
He ponders that for a few moments as he finally stop peddling.
“I don’t think I can. With four people to keep track of, someone’s going to surprise you, or they could get the better of you directly. I can’t assume I’ll be able to keep everyone from getting the drop on me. I’ve got to be able to recover and get back up quickly when someone puts me down. At least one of them will put me down so I need to be up fast after, because I don’t want to be on the mat or the floor while someone else picks up the win. I don’t plan to be a spectator at the end. I’m going to do all I can to not be one of the people watching the winner when the final bell rings.”
He climbs off the bike, still holding the weights, and makes his way to the weight rack, returning them as the camera follows.
“What if you end up being the person that gets beaten?”
“Just means I was in there right until the end.”
“Interesting way of looking at it.”
He moves to the benches and takes a seat.
“You’re the winner, the loser, or left wondering if you could have won if you’d just been in there.”
“Do you think you have what it takes to win?”
“I’d like to say yes… but I don’t know for sure.”
He sighs quietly.
“My record suggests so but Valo’s and Evans’ are better. Based on that… I’m third. I’ve got the desire to win, but so does everyone else. I’ve beaten quite a list of competitors on Meltdown, but I’m not the only one who can say that. I’ve got experience, but that isn’t always enough. I’ve beaten plenty of more experienced wrestlers before. I’m not a stand out here, just like at One Night in Hell. I fell short there because I arrogantly thought it was my match to win. Now, I can win but I have to work harder than everyone else to do so. I won’t win just because I assume I’m better. I have to prove it. I’ve spent the last two weeks preparing for this match and the following one, by pushing my stamina and endurance. I need to survive and then I can try to thrive. I want to prove I belong here.”
He looks up towards the camera.
“I hope I’m up to the challenge… because there won’t be another chance.”
The scene fades out with Logan still looking towards the camera.
The scene opens later in the day, with Logan in his study, contemplating a display case with championships displayed inside it from his time prior to APW. He’s all cleaned up after his earlier workout session. He begins without looking up.
“The clock’s winding down and I have more to do… I have to push myself harder. I have to reach higher. I feel like I’ve got the deck stacked against me though. To emerge the winner would be a huge statement. It’s what we’re all aiming for, but four of us will be going home disappointed.”
He looks up towards the camera.
“Amy… you got what you wanted last week. You had your opportunity against me. I’ll tell you that you didn’t face me at my best. I was conflicted about that match from the moment it was announced, and it was a match that I didn’t care if I won or lost. Despite that, what did you accomplish last week? You won because Duvall wanted you in this match, not because you were better.”
“I took your best shot last week. I found a few things amusing after that too. On reviewing the match, you failed to ‘kick my head off’ since it didn’t get you the win and after you connected you sat back, hoping for a count out. Hardly how I’d expect a ‘competitor’ to try and win. I thought you had something to prove? If that was you motivated, you don’t stand a chance here. You’ve always been an underachiever. You never succeed at achieving your lofty goals. So what has changed?”
“You’re facing people that want the win more than you and against that competition, you don’t measure up. I told you, if you won last week, you’d be filler for this match. I stand by that. You might come close and give the crowd something to cheer for, but that’s it. Someone will put you out of contention and the odds favour Valo, Evans, or myself doing the honours. All you can hope for is that you aren’t the person who gets beaten… and that’s really not much to hold onto.”
“But it is Christmas, so pray for a miracle.”
He waves that off dismissively with his hand.
“Donald Deruty, you’re the only person here that I have a relatively clean slate with. We’ve crossed paths only when I refereed your number one contender’s match. As things played out over the last two months, you and I are on opposite sides of two different title matches this week. I haven’t had this particular scenario play out like this before, but I am quite interested by it. We get to face off in two different matches with very similar situations. For now I’m keeping my focus with you limited to the singles match perspective.”
“I have to start off by saying that your singles run in APW hasn’t been impressive. You’ve had two matches with Valo and he’s put you down. I’ll give you credit in that you have gotten some impressive victories thus far, but they’ve all been in tag team action… which is the core of your problem for this match. You’re not geared to be a singles wrestler. That’s a crippling liability for you going into this match. You’re facing people that can handle themselves well or who excel when they’re on their own. You’re in a spot where you have to step up significantly… and I’m not sure if that’ll be enough for you to level the playing field.”
“You earned your contender match spot in a tag match. Had that been a one on one match, perhaps you wouldn’t even be in the picture right now. As it stands two people in this match hold victories over you, Valo and Evans. You’re going to have to overcome them and me in order to claim singles gold. As impressive as you’ve been since your arrival, the last couple of weeks have brought you to a halt. At the supershow, I think you’re out of your depth.”
He pauses and takes a breath.
“Evans… I’m not sure where to begin with you.”
“I’ve known of you for three years. I first saw you at the high point of your career as ACW World Women’s champion. We’ve never faced one another and we’ve only been in one match together. You came down from your championship high one month after I arrived in ACW, and I never saw you accomplish anything after that. Ever. So other than being the boss’ favourite, I have no idea why you’re in this match. You’re another example of someone that gets opportunities, but lacks the talent to make anything of them. You’ve coasted through your time here and haven’t had a serious challenge placed in your way.”
“You have issues with my partner, which have become problems with me. You attacked me each of the last two weeks. For all that you’ve done Kaylyn… I want to say thank you. When you showed up in APW, I was content to ignore you. I figured we might cross paths if you ever decided to make something of yourself. But with your unprovoked attacks, you’ve given me what I wanted… permission. I can now settle some long standing debts that you’re sorely owed.”
“You needn’t worry about repaying them this week. I intend on beating you to a pulp inside and outside the ring at the supershow but it will be appropriate to the confines of a wrestling match. I’ll only attempt to break you in two with my own hands. I won’t need a championship belt or a chair or two other people helping to leave you lying unconscious in the middle of the ring. All I’ll need is to decide whether it’ll be more satisfying to spike you headfirst into the mat or choke you out.”
“For you Kaylyn, I’ll be neither chivalrous nor sporting. You should feel fortunate that I have three other people to concern myself, and despite all you’ve done, you’re not my top priority here. Honestly, you aren’t important enough to rate that high. You’re definitely a ten… if we’re counting in binary.”
He scoffs at that, before growing more serious.
“The person I’m looking forward to facing is Tuhoa Valo. Six weeks ago, I handed him his only loss and he’s spent every moment trying to convince himself and everyone else that it never happened. He’s obsessive, but talented as well. I’ve watched as Valo has beaten everyone placed in his path. I have plenty of professional respect for Valo. He’s someone that has knowledge and ability. He’s an experienced competitor.”
“Many people are curious about his secret identity, but I’d be happy to derail his plan to reveal himself by winning like last time. I know that loss motivated him. He probably thinks I stole his place and he should be the champion instead. I’ll honestly say he’s earned to think that way. Out of the competitors, Valo is head and shoulders above the rest. I wonder if I can keep up with him, especially now. I beat him before because he underestimated me. His arrogance was to my benefit. I don’t expect such an advantage this time. I expect him to be better prepared than last time, because he can’t afford to lose again at this point.”
“Everything he’s been going on about for months hinges on this opportunity before him. He needs the title. But this isn’t a one-on-one match like the ones he’s mostly dominated here. He’s got watch everything going on around him because he doesn’t have to be beaten to lose this match, and who knows what it means if he fails. We’ll see how well he copes when crunch time gets here. He has the most to lose, and when he gets overwhelmed and sees his chance slipping away, I’ll watch for the mistake that’ll take him out of the match… or end it.”
While I’d like to beat Valo directly, it’s not required. There’ll be other opportunities for us to settle our differences, so if one of us bypasses the other on Saturday, I’m sure we’ll have another chance later on. Don’t worry Valo, another contender cycle starts in January.”
He smiles slightly.
“Looking at everyone here, I give Valo the edge. But the dynamics of this match don’t necessarily benefit the one with the edge. So much can happen with five people in the ring. I have the preparation, focus, and desire to win this. I have issues to settle here but I’m going to put them aside. I’m not pulling my punches. I just won’t be reckless or sloppy by trying to get even. I’ll pick my spots and make them count instead.”
“This match requires skill, endurance, and intelligence to win. I have skill, but I can’t say that I’m the best. I’ll give my best though. I won’t throw in the towel easily either. I’ll give all I have to claim the championship until the final bell. Until then I won’t consider stopping. But those alone aren’t enough. You’ve got to be smart. Waste no time or effort and pay attention. This match may hinge on snap decisions and I don’t plan on making any bad ones.”
“But this will be my toughest match to date. I believe I can win, but making it happen won’t be easy. I’m not destined to win this match… I’ll win by being better than everyone else. For the last month I’ve waited for a chance at redemption after facing Aubrey. Now it’s here and I’ll do my damnedest to make it count. I’ll give all I can and see if it’s enough.”
He lets out a breath, before looking at the display case. He places one hand on an empty section of it, before turning and walking away. The scene then fades to black.
“People ask if I crossed a line last week. I’m not sure if I crossed one or drew one.”
“I needed a clean break from the North American championship but I should have known I’d face opposition from the GM. I’m still champion without the belt and, officially, I have a title defence. In my eyes, I’m challenging for the title like everyone else in a five person match where first fall wins. Some people think I’m like Michael Lively, orchestrating my own demise here. He demanded the One Night in Hell championship match that he lost and I’ve been responsible for this one. I called the contender match between Valo and Deruty a draw, knowing I’d have to defend against both of them. Kaylyn got into the match by my interference. That gave Amy another chance and someone else’s interference got her in.”
“So… rightly or wrongly, Deruty, Evans, and Zing are here because of me. If I let the Valo-Deruty match continue rather than end by countout, Valo probably beats Deruty like the last two weeks and it’s Alexander versus Valo this week. The appropriate comment here is ‘no good deed goes unpunished’. But I’ve got a chance to rightfully claim the championship. My match with Aubrey was a travesty. Everyone can call me champion, but I refuse to acknowledge it now. I want to win only if I deserve it, not by being handed the title. I expect Sienna and Duvall to move the Earth to keep me from winning though.”
“I needed to have this match. Everything considered, it’ll be a challenge. If I win, it’ll be because I deserve it or I lucked into it. Either one’s an improvement over previous circumstances and ones I can live with. I need to prove I deserve to be the champion. I don’t think my opponents understand that motivation. I haven’t had an off week since the belt ‘became’ mine because I pushed myself to be worthy of it. I’d bet my opponents are more interested in having the title for prestige and recognition… but all they need to do is look around at champions on other brands to see that having a belt doesn’t make one stand out. I want the belt so I can face the best competition. Being champion gives me challenges like this, which push me to improve. This match will be a hard one to win… and that means I have to step up my game even more.”
“Zing, Evans, Deruty, Valo… I’m going to do whatever I have to this week and I’ll be prepared for the worst as well. So you’d all better be ready for a fight. If you want the belt… prove it.”
The scene opens as the camera is carried into a different part of Logan’s home. He’s in his basement gym, with assorted training equipment along the walls and benches in the middle. He’s on a stationary bike, working at a quick pace, while lifting small weights with each hand alternately. He’s dressed in dark clothes, but the sweat is apparent on his skin. The camera comes to a stop nearby and Logan slows his pace.
“So how are you today? Considering you had the stuffing knocked out of you for the first time in years, I figured it’s prudent to ask.”
“Of course. I’m not that young anymore and I’ve taken my toll of injuries. That last chair shot cut me open too.”
Having ceased lifting the weights, he motions to the bandage on his forehead above his left eye.
“But I feel great.”
He smiles.
“If that is what I get for dropping Sienna in the ring, I clearly have little to worry about.”
“Are you serious?”
The reply is sceptical.
“I took some hard shots, but it did no lasting damage. Besides, I’ve gained some insight. For instance, while I have four official opponents, I need to prepare for eight.”
“Eight?”
Logan nods.
“Four in the ring and four through outside interference.”
“So… your attack was planned?”
“Nope. It was more impulse, but I figured it was worth it regardless of consequences.”
He slows his pace further.
“Some days… I think you’re crazy.”
“Only some days?”
He smirks slightly.
“It was an example that people should consider when I’m across the ring. I give no warning and can strike in an instant. That’s all I need to end someone’s day. As unpredictable as things will be in this match, it’ll be easy to catch anyone off guard, but it requires proper timing. There’s no sense in putting one person down if the others are in any position to stop you afterwards. You’re wasting time and energy because someone else will take you out and maybe even steal the win from you.”
“That’s a very good point.”
“Yeah. Most people think you should go for the quick win. I agree with that when it doesn’t compromise your position in the match. A blindside attack can send you from being a moment from victory to being the one tasting defeat. I was reminded of that last week after my match. I’m not unstoppable. Valo has come close to beating me before, so I know he can do it. Zing caught me when I was distracted and almost won from it. Evans has struck me down twice on sneak attacks.”
His pace on the bike slows further.
“Are you going to try and keep that from happening?”
He ponders that for a few moments as he finally stop peddling.
“I don’t think I can. With four people to keep track of, someone’s going to surprise you, or they could get the better of you directly. I can’t assume I’ll be able to keep everyone from getting the drop on me. I’ve got to be able to recover and get back up quickly when someone puts me down. At least one of them will put me down so I need to be up fast after, because I don’t want to be on the mat or the floor while someone else picks up the win. I don’t plan to be a spectator at the end. I’m going to do all I can to not be one of the people watching the winner when the final bell rings.”
He climbs off the bike, still holding the weights, and makes his way to the weight rack, returning them as the camera follows.
“What if you end up being the person that gets beaten?”
“Just means I was in there right until the end.”
“Interesting way of looking at it.”
He moves to the benches and takes a seat.
“You’re the winner, the loser, or left wondering if you could have won if you’d just been in there.”
“Do you think you have what it takes to win?”
“I’d like to say yes… but I don’t know for sure.”
He sighs quietly.
“My record suggests so but Valo’s and Evans’ are better. Based on that… I’m third. I’ve got the desire to win, but so does everyone else. I’ve beaten quite a list of competitors on Meltdown, but I’m not the only one who can say that. I’ve got experience, but that isn’t always enough. I’ve beaten plenty of more experienced wrestlers before. I’m not a stand out here, just like at One Night in Hell. I fell short there because I arrogantly thought it was my match to win. Now, I can win but I have to work harder than everyone else to do so. I won’t win just because I assume I’m better. I have to prove it. I’ve spent the last two weeks preparing for this match and the following one, by pushing my stamina and endurance. I need to survive and then I can try to thrive. I want to prove I belong here.”
He looks up towards the camera.
“I hope I’m up to the challenge… because there won’t be another chance.”
The scene fades out with Logan still looking towards the camera.
The scene opens later in the day, with Logan in his study, contemplating a display case with championships displayed inside it from his time prior to APW. He’s all cleaned up after his earlier workout session. He begins without looking up.
“The clock’s winding down and I have more to do… I have to push myself harder. I have to reach higher. I feel like I’ve got the deck stacked against me though. To emerge the winner would be a huge statement. It’s what we’re all aiming for, but four of us will be going home disappointed.”
He looks up towards the camera.
“Amy… you got what you wanted last week. You had your opportunity against me. I’ll tell you that you didn’t face me at my best. I was conflicted about that match from the moment it was announced, and it was a match that I didn’t care if I won or lost. Despite that, what did you accomplish last week? You won because Duvall wanted you in this match, not because you were better.”
“I took your best shot last week. I found a few things amusing after that too. On reviewing the match, you failed to ‘kick my head off’ since it didn’t get you the win and after you connected you sat back, hoping for a count out. Hardly how I’d expect a ‘competitor’ to try and win. I thought you had something to prove? If that was you motivated, you don’t stand a chance here. You’ve always been an underachiever. You never succeed at achieving your lofty goals. So what has changed?”
“You’re facing people that want the win more than you and against that competition, you don’t measure up. I told you, if you won last week, you’d be filler for this match. I stand by that. You might come close and give the crowd something to cheer for, but that’s it. Someone will put you out of contention and the odds favour Valo, Evans, or myself doing the honours. All you can hope for is that you aren’t the person who gets beaten… and that’s really not much to hold onto.”
“But it is Christmas, so pray for a miracle.”
He waves that off dismissively with his hand.
“Donald Deruty, you’re the only person here that I have a relatively clean slate with. We’ve crossed paths only when I refereed your number one contender’s match. As things played out over the last two months, you and I are on opposite sides of two different title matches this week. I haven’t had this particular scenario play out like this before, but I am quite interested by it. We get to face off in two different matches with very similar situations. For now I’m keeping my focus with you limited to the singles match perspective.”
“I have to start off by saying that your singles run in APW hasn’t been impressive. You’ve had two matches with Valo and he’s put you down. I’ll give you credit in that you have gotten some impressive victories thus far, but they’ve all been in tag team action… which is the core of your problem for this match. You’re not geared to be a singles wrestler. That’s a crippling liability for you going into this match. You’re facing people that can handle themselves well or who excel when they’re on their own. You’re in a spot where you have to step up significantly… and I’m not sure if that’ll be enough for you to level the playing field.”
“You earned your contender match spot in a tag match. Had that been a one on one match, perhaps you wouldn’t even be in the picture right now. As it stands two people in this match hold victories over you, Valo and Evans. You’re going to have to overcome them and me in order to claim singles gold. As impressive as you’ve been since your arrival, the last couple of weeks have brought you to a halt. At the supershow, I think you’re out of your depth.”
He pauses and takes a breath.
“Evans… I’m not sure where to begin with you.”
“I’ve known of you for three years. I first saw you at the high point of your career as ACW World Women’s champion. We’ve never faced one another and we’ve only been in one match together. You came down from your championship high one month after I arrived in ACW, and I never saw you accomplish anything after that. Ever. So other than being the boss’ favourite, I have no idea why you’re in this match. You’re another example of someone that gets opportunities, but lacks the talent to make anything of them. You’ve coasted through your time here and haven’t had a serious challenge placed in your way.”
“You have issues with my partner, which have become problems with me. You attacked me each of the last two weeks. For all that you’ve done Kaylyn… I want to say thank you. When you showed up in APW, I was content to ignore you. I figured we might cross paths if you ever decided to make something of yourself. But with your unprovoked attacks, you’ve given me what I wanted… permission. I can now settle some long standing debts that you’re sorely owed.”
“You needn’t worry about repaying them this week. I intend on beating you to a pulp inside and outside the ring at the supershow but it will be appropriate to the confines of a wrestling match. I’ll only attempt to break you in two with my own hands. I won’t need a championship belt or a chair or two other people helping to leave you lying unconscious in the middle of the ring. All I’ll need is to decide whether it’ll be more satisfying to spike you headfirst into the mat or choke you out.”
“For you Kaylyn, I’ll be neither chivalrous nor sporting. You should feel fortunate that I have three other people to concern myself, and despite all you’ve done, you’re not my top priority here. Honestly, you aren’t important enough to rate that high. You’re definitely a ten… if we’re counting in binary.”
He scoffs at that, before growing more serious.
“The person I’m looking forward to facing is Tuhoa Valo. Six weeks ago, I handed him his only loss and he’s spent every moment trying to convince himself and everyone else that it never happened. He’s obsessive, but talented as well. I’ve watched as Valo has beaten everyone placed in his path. I have plenty of professional respect for Valo. He’s someone that has knowledge and ability. He’s an experienced competitor.”
“Many people are curious about his secret identity, but I’d be happy to derail his plan to reveal himself by winning like last time. I know that loss motivated him. He probably thinks I stole his place and he should be the champion instead. I’ll honestly say he’s earned to think that way. Out of the competitors, Valo is head and shoulders above the rest. I wonder if I can keep up with him, especially now. I beat him before because he underestimated me. His arrogance was to my benefit. I don’t expect such an advantage this time. I expect him to be better prepared than last time, because he can’t afford to lose again at this point.”
“Everything he’s been going on about for months hinges on this opportunity before him. He needs the title. But this isn’t a one-on-one match like the ones he’s mostly dominated here. He’s got watch everything going on around him because he doesn’t have to be beaten to lose this match, and who knows what it means if he fails. We’ll see how well he copes when crunch time gets here. He has the most to lose, and when he gets overwhelmed and sees his chance slipping away, I’ll watch for the mistake that’ll take him out of the match… or end it.”
While I’d like to beat Valo directly, it’s not required. There’ll be other opportunities for us to settle our differences, so if one of us bypasses the other on Saturday, I’m sure we’ll have another chance later on. Don’t worry Valo, another contender cycle starts in January.”
He smiles slightly.
“Looking at everyone here, I give Valo the edge. But the dynamics of this match don’t necessarily benefit the one with the edge. So much can happen with five people in the ring. I have the preparation, focus, and desire to win this. I have issues to settle here but I’m going to put them aside. I’m not pulling my punches. I just won’t be reckless or sloppy by trying to get even. I’ll pick my spots and make them count instead.”
“This match requires skill, endurance, and intelligence to win. I have skill, but I can’t say that I’m the best. I’ll give my best though. I won’t throw in the towel easily either. I’ll give all I have to claim the championship until the final bell. Until then I won’t consider stopping. But those alone aren’t enough. You’ve got to be smart. Waste no time or effort and pay attention. This match may hinge on snap decisions and I don’t plan on making any bad ones.”
“But this will be my toughest match to date. I believe I can win, but making it happen won’t be easy. I’m not destined to win this match… I’ll win by being better than everyone else. For the last month I’ve waited for a chance at redemption after facing Aubrey. Now it’s here and I’ll do my damnedest to make it count. I’ll give all I can and see if it’s enough.”
He lets out a breath, before looking at the display case. He places one hand on an empty section of it, before turning and walking away. The scene then fades to black.
