Post by Shadow on Jan 2, 2013 1:29:03 GMT -4
[glow=Green,9,200]THEN...[/glow]
[shadow=purple,left,600]December 22nd, 2012[/shadow]
Shadow struggled to push himself off the mat. His feet shuffled back and forth as he erected himself then suddenly.
“Like a Bawse!”
The smash of a champagne bottle sent Shadow back to the mat. He barely could keep his eyes open. Shadow blinked and looked to ringside. Slade was calling to him telling him to get up. Shadow doesn’t even have time to think as Delikado rolled him over with a kick to the gut. A searing pain shooting up his spine was the last thing he remembered as the lights above blinded him to blackness. A few seconds passed then suddenly Shadow heard something calling him back to life. A thud, then another and Shadow spasmed pushing his shoulder off the mat!
The next minute was a blur. Shadow was seeing double. Without warning he was being pulled up and an arm wrapped around his throat, Shadow threw an elbow he spun around after breaking the hold and seized Delikado by the throat: Chokeslam!
Shadow could barely stand up. He peeled himself from the canvas. The fans were cheering, chanting for him then in a single second- CLICK!
Shadow dropped.
[glow=White,9,200]NOW...[/glow]
Today Shadow stood on the English countryside. He was busy looking out over the beautiful snow covered fields staring at that pure white frost. Everything was so clear out there. Shadow thought about everything that happened over the past two weeks.
Even though Slade had turned his back on Shadow and despite the tag match that Shadow was now involved in, he could see the big picture. The snow was clean, it was pure. It had altered his perspective, rest assured. Without question, it was a perfectly white cure.
“Now it’s my choice, to epically destroy... SLADE!”
Shadow let out a loud billowing roar of anger. If he were on a mountaintop he would cause an avalanche.
Shadow hated the bright light reflecting off the snow. That light reflected his anger, his white hot anger that boiled inside him. Everything had been turned upside down, everything he believed was leveled in a single second. He hated Slade for that. But what’s more is he wasn’t getting his wish.
The big guy didn’t want to sound like a brat but he really set his heart on bashing in Evan Envi’s skull at Survive and Conquer. Shadow even went to visit a mall Santa to ask for it. Sure the kids looked at the giant like he was a freak but that didn’t matter. The picture looked cool as hell.
Now, instead of defeating Delikado and earning his match with Evan Envi, Shadow was being forced to tag with them to take on people he actually liked, and Nick Watson. This was humiliating.
There was not much he could say. Hell, Shadow wished he didn’t blame Slade for everything. It felt wrong to place blame on someone else. Especially because all those asshole were going to tell him “it was his own fault.” What a crock.
When Shadow woke up and found his way to the backstage area he sought out Slade’s locker room. Craven had already left. Slade left and took the damn truck with him. Shadow had to call a cab, find a hotel and then get a flight out of town. He flew back to Texas and went looking for his former tag partner but Slade never came back. Shadow spent Christmas and New Year’s alone.
Seann tried to call him, but Shadow didn’t answer. Shadow wasn’t taking any calls. He didn’t want to talk to anyone; he just wanted to be left alone. Three punching bags suffered during the big guy’s time off. After a while his phone stopped ringing. Then he got an email with the card. The first thing he did was try to call Johnny Diamond. Shadow knew there must be some mistake.
However, instead of getting the Overdrive General Manager Shadow got transferred to voicemail, time and time again. No one was taking his calls now. Shadow was losing his faith in people. He saw himself heading down a dark road, the same road Slade went down.
As he stared at the snow Shadow tried to think about something else. He was worried his anger would billow over, that someone innocent would catch the wrath Shadow was withholding. His thoughts drifted to his opponents. Buckson Gooch and Mac Bane: two up and comers who were trying to make it big on Overdrive. They were doing a decent job of it too. Then there was Nick Watson. However thinking about the former Xtreme Champion reminded Shadow of being Xtreme Champion and the man who beat him for the belt: Evan Envi.
Everything was connected to him in some way, shape or form- even if indirectly. Evan Envi wasn’t a problem in Shadow’s life, they just had so much in common it sickened him and now they were tag partners. Shadow couldn’t take it much longer he was going to explode.
“Take a deep breath,” He inhaled the brisk cold air. That was another reason Shadow was out here, he hoped the cold air would cool his rage. It wasn’t working. “In through the nose and out through the mouth.”
The fog of his breath was just as white as the snow. The camera panned away from Shadow, it pulled back up into the sky. Shadow was the living contrast to the world, Black baseball cap over his long blonde hair, black leather duster, black jeans and black boots in a world of pure white beauty. This is what it meant to be everyone else. This is the world he lived in. Shadow would always be the one person who did not fit in. Yet he didn’t care. Shadow would carve himself a home in this world one way or another. Up until the Megashow, he thought he was doing just that. Thing had changed in his career. He’d moved on from Meltdown, picked a fight with one of APW’s most “promising” pair of heels and was well on his way to finally fulfilling a vow he made a long time ago. Now Shadow felt that he was back at square one, it sucked.
Again Shadow tried to twist his attention to his opponents. He knew if he couldn’t focus on them the match would not go well. Then again, Slade was the special ref, how the hell could this match go well? Craven was pissed, Shadow was pissed those two were on a collision course. Another way Shadow could screw the pooch tomorrow night. The deck was stacked against him. For the first time in a long time, Shadow didn’t see a clear way.
The snowy brilliance only offered him a clear path of destruction: destroy it all, right down to the foundation. That way something new could rise from the ashes.
So Johnny Diamond has decided to throw me into the Lion’s Den. Alright that sounds like fun. Sure I could be pissed about this but instead I see it as a free chance; a free chance to beat the living crap out of anyone and everyone in this match.
I’ll admit, when they first emailed me the card I was a pretty confused, then I got a little steamed. After about thirty seconds, I just started laughing. I like to think it was a maniacal laugh; then again, I could be exaggerating. What I do know is I Johnny Diamond is either a god damn genius or a freaking wacko!
No I’m not kissing ass, I was accused of that when I invented the phrase Diamond Standard, you’re just pissed off you didn’t think of it first.
Again, no I am not bothered by this, in fact I relish it. Look at everyone thrown into this thing, you got those good ole boys, the Sons of the South, fellow former Xtreme champ Nick Watson, Hermi-Cado and myself. Am I forgetting anyone? Oh Yeah! How could I forget our special guess referee, my former tag team partner, Slade Craven.
Oh Slade, what were you thinking? I’ve mulled it over multiple times in my head. Did you join up with Evan Envi and his Cabana boy? I really don’t care. People were right, I carried you too long. When I went down to Meltdown and made a name for myself nobody believed I had anything. Everyone bet against me, people steadfastly refused to acknowledge I was anything. Being teamed with you made me a joke by association and I could not have that.
So I carved my way up through the rookie roster. Actually I was trying to carve my way to someone specifically, his bitch ass ran to Overdrive. So I chased him there. Took me a while longer, but I was finally able to reclaim my roster spot. And I waited, boy did I wait. I was patient and everything. Finally Santa gave me a great Christmas present: The chance to go through Delikado for a shot at Evan Envi. I had it too. And you stuck your nose where it didn’t belong. Big mistake.
Me? I don’t make mistakes. Sure you can call it pride; I like to think of it as “finding ways that don’t work out.” But with this “team” how could it not? I mean you have me, Evan Hermi and Delikado? This is a bigger time bomb that reuniting NobleHart!
Sure I should be bad mouthing my opponents, but why should I? I like the Sons of the South. If you ask me, Nick Watson and I should switch places. At least that way I won’t have to tag my partners in with punches and chops.
That’s right, I have no intention of making the usual tag. In fact I plan to use this opportunity to develop all sorts of new tag methods. Let’s all look at this as a learning experience. Slade you pay attention too. Tonight I get to reinvent the tag match. I will show people how a tag match should really be done.
But with most matches come a reward. You know glory, prestige maybe a title opportunity. But where is the grand prize for this one? Buckson and Macbane they don’t get much from this, neither does Watson. Earlier, when I said how I was laughing like an idiot while looking at the card, I never really gave much thought to my opponents. I was laughing because of my team and the official.
Sorry guys, I hope you don’t take too much offense to this. I mean Buckson I told you before, I like you man. Not like those Deliverance boys liked Ned Beatty. You got something, I wouldn’t call it class, but it sure is something. And your boy Mac Bane, he’s got that swagger that gets noticed. It’s the reason you two were pulled up so quickly. But I have to wonder if the two of you were really ready to be called up to the big league. You two didn’t fare to well on the last Overdrive of 2012. And Gooch, if I recall your last opponent was your third tag partner.
I know how the chemistry in my team is, its unstable, combustible and highly volatile. Are you two even on the same page as Nick Watson. Again, no offense, but can either of you two Redneck Romeos read? Not trying to be a dick here but I have to wonder sometimes about my fellow Southern Brothers. Nick Watson is the “pretty boy” he only cracks books with pictures.
Okay I hear you people, “where is Shadow’s trash talk?” My New Years Resolution was not to be nicer, it’s just I actually don’t dislike my opponents. I dislike the man who is officiating our match, and I hate my partners.
I have a lot more things I would like to say about those assholes. Hell I could ramble on for hours about how much I hate those assholes. Since people are complaining about how nice I’m being let’s get back to basics. Let’s talk about Envikado. That’s right, those ostentatious, overzealous ass-hats I happen to be tagging with tonight.
Delikado, you must be gleaming with self-satisfaction over your “win” at the Meltdown Megashow. It must feel good to finally beat me. Hell after I stomped all over your ass for a few weeks you must be floating on cloud nine. I don’t feel bad, it was Christmas, it was a time of charity. Everyone knows I like helping the less fortunate and if meant so much to you, that hollow, empty victory you can have it. Your final match for the 2012 summed your entire year up into just ten minutes. You battled hard and could not overcome. Then you were handed your victory. Sound about right?
What about Evan Envi? Well seriously what can I say about my unicorn. Wow, that came out gay. Maybe Pegasus would be a better metaphor. Yeah lets go with that because Envi likes to fly away whenever a threat draws near. I wonder if they will even show up. Everyone knows I’ve been asking for a handicap match. I wouldn’t put it past those two to give it to me. Force me into a three on one tag match with a “Shadow hating” Slade as a special referee.
Back to that flying fairy fuck: Evan. We have been at odds for a long time now. Every time you find some way to weasel out of it too. I have to hand it to you, I didn’t credit you with the brains to keep finding ways to avoid me. Too bad for you I’m tired of waiting for you to man up. You’re on my team now son. Where can you run to? You’re on my side of the ring!
How are we supposed to ring in the New Year? Johnny Diamond wants us to start things off with a bang. Little does JD know, he’s getting a boom. I expect this thing match to turn into Reservoir Dogs before this thing is done.
So who does that make me? I could call myself Mr. White. I trusted and got screwed over by the undercover jackoff Slade “Mr. Orange” Craven. I think Evan Envi and Delikado are both Mr. Pink. And yes, pink is for pussy.
So who’re the rest of our compatriots? A couple of Mr. Browns and Mr. Blue. A bunch of red shirts being beamed down to the planet with the main cast. I think I mixed analogies there.
To be honest, this is not how I intended to start off the New Year. I actually planned on spending it with friends, maybe setting things in motion for my big match with Evan Envi. But no! Slade decided to put the brakes on that. Now I’m left starting my year off with uncertainty. Strike that, I am certain of one thing. I will get my hands on Slade for what he did on the megashow. But as for Evan Envi, it’s all up in the air just the way he likes it.
Evan Envi doesn’t have the balls to sack up and step in the ring with me. He hides behind his lackey. If you ask me that’s bullshit. Nut up or shut up Evan Envi. And now, because of Slade, I have to listen to Delikado run his mouth about how he “beat me.” Slade, I always knew misery loved company, but I never believed you would be so petty as to interfere in my business.
This has left me in a pretty foul mood. What the hell were you thinking man? Was it the drugs, the electro shock? You just finally got tired of the crowd? They didn’t cheer enough for you, that’s why you got angry? You need your diaper changed too?
Yes, Slade put me in a funk and Johnny D didn’t help by booking this match. You put me in a very odd place Johnny and you didn’t return my phone calls. So now I have to ask, what were you thinking? Did you just want to wipe out part of your roster? I wasn’t kidding when I said this was going to have a Tarantino ending. Someone is getting hurt tonight. Maybe more than just someone.
Buckson, Mac Bane I have a request for you boys, when it comes down to it. Turn tail and run. You boy got promising careers I wouldn’t want to see that destroyed when the bomb drops. Nick Watson, I never really cared much for you. My mercy for you ran out when I let go of the rope I hung you with. But the Sons of the South, the crowd likes them and for good reason. We all love Southern Hospitality. No one wants to see that destroyed. Hell you boys may be the future of APW tag teaming. You should pay attention tonight too. I’m going to show you how teammates should not act.
Evan, Deli, you two little shits can show up, you can sit in the back and let me do all the work; you know, start 2013 off just like your careers did. I really don’t give a shit. I wonder if this is going to be like the last shit tag match I was thrown into. At least the Thanksgiving tag match had some team work. No I am referring to my last Meltdown tag match. The one I walked out on. Johnny Diamond seems to forget that I don’t do tag matches. That last match I had with the German dude, that was alright because we both had a goal in mind. Instead we got shit on in that match too with Mark Mania sitting it out.
Alright I’ll just come out and say it. I hate tag matches. There Slade, are you happy? You’re the prime example why I should. You can’t rely on anyone in those matches. That’s why I like The Sons of the South. Those boys got one another’s back. EnviKado? I know they would sell one another out for a piece of candy. Look where that leaves me. Smack-dap in the middle of a pile of horse crap. Every tag match I get thrown into someone screws the pooch and makes the match look like utter crap. Azrael and I actually worked together, something I really didn’t want to do, but I swallowed my pride and did it.
The thing is, I don’t like participating in crap matches. Every tag match I’ve been in since returning to APW has had something wrong with it. Overdrive, Mayhem, Meltdown, back to Overdrive, all of them. They all suck. I wouldn’t put a one of them on my highlights reel. Yet people keep booking me in tag matches. This is the thing no one seems to get. I do not play well with others. I like to hit people, I like to hurt people. I thought we established this on Meltdown. I guess not.
So what can I do to convince Johnny Diamond to stop booking me in them? Maybe pounding EnviKado into the ring mat tonight will make that happen.
Like I said before, the thing about tag matches is you can’t trust your partner. Maybe tonight you two can’t trust me. Screw that, you can’t trust me. Tonight I get to have a whole lot of fun!
