Post by Varga Zodd on Feb 17, 2008 17:18:04 GMT -4
(click the video before reading promo)
Ah, the Fremont Street Experience.
It truly does come at you from all angles. There's nothing like it anywhere else in the world. Twelve and a half million LEDs and five hundred fifty thousand watt sound system. It's nearly as over-the-top as yours truly, Vinnie HaRdCoRe.
While Portland, Maine is a large step up from places like Toronto, Ottawa and Montréal that I've been forced into spending time in, it's still cold and raining today, a few hours out from OVERDRIVE at the County Civic Center. Unfortunately, it looks like we'll be riding out the next six weeks - at least - here in the Northeastern US of A.
I'm hoping for an early spring.
My rented Cadillac pulls into the sheltered parking of the County Civic Center and I pull into the first available spot. I know that the Hardcore Kid is already in the building, getting psyched for our match. Somehow, the guy I walked all over last week - Jason Royce - has weaselled his way into somewhat of a rematch against me. This time out, it's a tag-team match and he gets to partner up with next week's former APW World Champion, John Green against the Kid and I.
Grabbing my gear from the trunk, I head through the bowels of the arena and lo and behold, Phil - with a camera-jocky in tow - accosts me for a prematch interview.
"What can I do for you, Phillip?"[/color]
"It's just Phil, Vinnie."[/color]
"Unless you want to sue me like you tried to the Blackwells, you'll call me Mr. HaRdCoRe, capice?"
"Yes, sir, Mr. HaRdCoRe."[/color]
"Much better. Now... why are you bothering me?"[/color]
My smirk shows just how much I enjoy having put the man off-balance from the get-go. It's my nature to own every encounter from the outset, be it a match, a simple interview or anything else in life.
"Nobody has seen or heard from you at all since last week's Overdrive in Montreal where you beat Jason Royce like a red-headed step-child. Both of your opponents this week - and your tag-team partner The Hardcore Kid - have all stepped up and made their intentions known."[/color]
Like Phil's telling me something I didn't know.
"Apparently you didn't see my little confrontation with John Green at the Quickie Mart a few days ago. Buncha kids, a hot MILF - with whom I managed to get to know in the biblical manner later that night if you catch my drift."[/color]
"Ummm, no. I didn't see that."[/color]
"You know what, Phil? Give me the microphone and get the Hell out of my face. You're worse on the stick than Jason Royce."[/color]
It's at this point that I snag the mic from his fist and step right up to him, my chest an inch from his face. If I didn't know better, I'd say the man shit himself before sulking and walking away. At least the camera-jockey's got enough balls to stick around.
"First off, Iceman, I'm not sure who told you that I'm a white man. Open your damned eyes, boy, I'm half-Chinese! All I hear from you are strings of expletives and vulgarities that have done absolutely nothing to improve your oh and three record. You've looked around and somehow attached yourself to the soon-to-be former APW World Champion in some obscure hope of coming out with a victory somewhere along the line."
"Let me be the first to tell you that it's not coming at the expense of Vinnie HaRdCoRe and the Hardcore Kid. Me and the THK have been tight since day one of this promotion. He's me ten years ago. Less battle scars, but with the same never-say-die attitude and an outlook on life that gives him the HaRdCoRe edge."
"We both grew up in Sin City itself - Las Vegas. If you've been there, I'm sure you know all about the strip and all the swanky resorts, but I doubt you've ever ventured downtown. Downtown to Fremont Street."[/color]
Ah, Fremont Street. The bright lights, the nightly overhead video show. The gritty, less-polished appeal of the hotel/casinos like the Golden Nugget and the 4 Queens is exactly the ambiance that most people don't experience when in Vegas.
"Royce, it's going to be oh and four after tonight's main event, but at the very least you'll be able to tell your mama that you stepped into the ring in a main event match at Overdrive - even though you were outclassed by everyone else including the referee."
"Under the bright lights of Las Vegas, the Iceman's going to melt."[/color]
I was wondering when he'd get here.
"Vinnie, what's up?"
The Hardcore Kid and I knock fists.
"That little surprised we've cooked up for Green and Royce tonight is going to blow them away. 'The Fremont Experience'. I love it!"[/color]
"Don't go giving away too much, there, Kid. While Green's handicapped by having a useless piece of garbage as a partner tonight, he's the APW World Champion for a reason. The guy knows what he's doing in the ring."
"So we isolate the Iceman and melt him down. Easy enough 'cause we both know - heck, the whole world knows - that John Green's only looking out for John Green."[/color]
"Isolating Royce wouldn't be any fun. The match would be over in seconds. Besides, I want to give Green a hint of what he can expect in the Hell in a Cell match at Carnage next Sunday night."[/color]
"Next Sunday's your B-day, isn't it?"[/color]
"Damn right. The only thing I want is the APW World Championship and Vinnie HaRdCoRe always gets what he wants for his birthday."[/color]
I can't believe in less than a week I'll be thirty-four with a decade of experience in this business under my belt.
"What about Green saying that you're going to get hurt at Carnage?"[/color]
"Kid, if John Green doesn't put the hurt on me next week, then he never deserved to be APW Champion. You don't take the name 'HaRdCoRe' and worry about getting busted open or breaking a finger or a rib. I've been through a lot more than John Green's going to ever be able to put me through and I've not only survived, I've emerged victorious."
"I plan on getting hurt at Carnage and I plan on dishing it right back out at Green. The winner is going to be the man that can stand the suffering the longest. Take a look at the scars on my face, my arms, my chest. I get knocked down and I get back up to laugh in the faces of those that think they've got me where they want me."
"Johnny and Jason, I'm giving myself an early birthday gift tonight and that's going to be the look of embarassment when one... maybe even both of you are pinned for the one... two... three after being victimized by 'The Fremont Street Experience'. Team HaRdCoRe is coming at you from all angles. We'll overwhelm you with half a million watts of pure energy and twelve and a half million doses of pain. HaRdCoRe's our name, our game and our claim to fame. After Overdrive, you punks won't ever be the same."[/color]
The Kid slaps me on the back and laughs confidently, knowing that when OVERDRIVE comes to an end tonight Team HaRdCoRe will have picked up the victory, giving us the momentum going into CARNAGE...
