Post by Speede on Jan 2, 2013 21:50:55 GMT -4
The scene opens to the check-in at the airport, where Roy Speede has a bag in each hand, and is standing, waiting with Meghan and Katie. He’s got a bottle of Dr. Pepper in the pocket of his hoodie sweatshirt.
Katie Walker: “So you’re really going to England, huh?”
Meghan Morrison: “And you’re not taking us?”
Roy Speede: “Relax, girls. You know I’d take if you I were going to be there for longer than just a two days.”
Katie Walker: “Again, why are you only going for two days?”
Roy Speede: “I’m going to be there two days. The first day will be to prepare myself, get myself a bit more adjusted to the sleep schedule so I’m not going to bed at seven in the morning and waking up three hours before my match, and the second to actually compete in my match. It’s my first chance to be on one of the main shows, and I’m not going to miss out on it because I won’t travel overseas to make it happen.”
Meghan Morrison: “I get it. I mean, I think we both do, but the thing that confuses me about it... You’re really going for two days, and then coming back home? And you need two full bags for that?”
Roy Speede: “Well, one bag is my wrestling gear, so yeah, I do need to have both of them with me. But uh... Not exactly, babe. I’m going to be flying from London straight to Winnipeg for my scheduled appearance on Meltdown. Don’t you remember? We scheduled everything so my flight is supposed to arrive in Canada a couple hours before yours, and I’ll meet you at the airport so that we can rent a car and head to the hotel we’re staying at together.”
Katie Walker: “I remember that. Come on, Megs! Get your head in the game!”
Meghan Morrison: “It’s not my head that needs to be in the game! I’m just watching from home. Roy’s the one actually fighting!”
Katie Walker: “So? You couldn’t even remember the flight you’re supposed to take in three days from now! Do you know how awkward it would’ve been if I had to wake you and shove your clothes into your suitcase to get to the airport on time like last time we met Roy in another city for one of these road trips?”
Meghan Morrison: “Well, it was kinda nice. At least I didn’t have to pack my things for myself.”
Katie Walker: “That’s not what I had in mind!”
Meghan Morrison: “With that blonde hair, I’d be surprised if there ever is anything in mind with you.”
Katie Walker: “Why, I oughta-“
Katie lunges for Meghan, but the redhead ducks behind Roy, and Roy puts his arm up, separating the two.
Roy Speede: “Will you two cut it out? I’m leaving for this trip in like fifteen minutes, and I do not want to leave the two of you alone with one another if you’re going to be yelling and fighting like little children! Now, behave!”
Katie Walker: “But... But... I wasn’t going to hurt her! I just wanted to shut her up after calling me a dumb blonde!”
Meghan Morrison: “But you are a dumb blonde!”
Katie tries to grab Meghan again, and again Roy has to hold the two of them apart.
Roy Speede: “I told you two to stop and I meant it. Now, keep your hands to yourself, and stop insulting one another, or so help me I’ll call two taxis and send one of you to Denver and the other to Miami, and neither of you will meet me in Canada. Understand me?”
The girls sigh and Roy puts his arms down.
Roy Speede: “Good. Now, look. I’m not going to tell you what you two can and can’t do while I’m gone, but I want you two to get along, even if that means faking it until I can’t see you and then slugging it out in the parking lot like female MMA fighter wanna be’s. If that’s too much for you, I don’t care! Meghan, you’re my girlfriend, and Katie, you’re my best friend, and you both mean too much to me to lose because you two can’t get along with one another for whatever reason.”
Meghan Morrison: “It’s because she’s a jealous little bitch, Roy.”
Katie Walker: “What did you call me!?!”
Meghan Morrison: “Oh, sorry, didn’t you hear me? You’re a jealous... little... BITCH!”
Katie lunges for Meghan again, and Roy can’t step between them fast enough, and Katie grabs Meghan’s hair, pulling hard. Meghan screams and Roy grabs at Katie’s wrists, forcing her to let go.
Roy Speede: “Alright, that’s enough! Now, I told you that I want you to get along, and I meant it!”
Katie Walker: “And since when are you the boss of us?”
Roy Speede: “Well, since I’m letting you travel all over the freaking map to come to my matches and see the sights of some of the nicest cities in the entire freaking world, I’d say since I started wrestling with APW!”
Meghan Morrison: “He has a point, you know.”
Attendant: “Next!”
Roy Speede: “Of course I have a point! I’m the one trying to keep the peace between you two so you don’t get yourselves arrested for public indecency, assault, or any other stupid crime you two might commit, or even worse, hurt and killed by one another! I mean, gosh damn how confusing you two can be sometimes. I have a good mind to-“
Attendant: “Next!”
Roy turns the attendant.
Roy Speede: “Hold on a minute.”
He turns back to the girls.
Roy Speede: “I have a good mind to stop talking to both of you because it looks like I’m the reason you’re fighting! You two have seventy-two hours before we’ll be meeting up in Manitoba, and by that point you two better have reached some sort of agreement that will result in the two of you not fighting and clawing at one another’s throats, or I’m done trying to-“
Attendant: “Sir, you’re next. You need to turn in your luggage and board the plane.”
Roy glares at the attendant.
Roy Speede: “I said just a minute please!”
Attendant: “Sir, you’re the last one to board this plane, and we’re starting our taxi onto the runway in two minutes, whether you’re on board or not.”
Roy Speede: “Alright. I’ll be right there. Here, take my bags.”
He hands the woman one of his bags and turns back to the girls.
Roy Speede: “Look. I’m not mad; I just want things to stay happy between the three of us. You both mean a whole lot to me, and seeing you fighting like this isn’t easy. Now I’ll see you in a few days, okay?”
Katie Walker: “Alright, Roy. I understand. Have a safe trip.”
She hugs him, and Meghan steps forward as she lets go.
Meghan Morrison: “Yeah, Roy, have a safe flight. I love you.”
Roy Speede: “I love you too, darling.”
He kisses her briefly and then smiles as he walks through the door with a wave and out toward the plane. As soon as he’s out of sight, the two girls glare at one another, and turn to leave, only getting about twenty steps before Meghan takes off running and Katie runs after her, chasing her.
Back at the plane, Roy has the bag he held on to, and is making his way down the row toward where his seat is; the plane is rather empty, as opposed to being full as he expected, and when he sees that an entire row of seats is empty, he places his bag in the second one and then slides down to the third one, the window seat, before reaching over for his bag and picking it up. He swings his feet up onto the seats and lets the bag rest between his ankles as he lies back for a few minutes. He closes his eyes, and for a few minutes it looks like he might be falling asleep, until the stewardess walks over and looks at him.
Stewardess: “Can I get you anything, sir?”
Roy Speede: “I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine, thank you. I brought my own.”
He pulls the Dr. Pepper out of his hoodie pocket and shows the stewardess.
Stewardess: “You really weren’t supposed to bring anything on the plane food or beverage other than water.”
Roy Speede: “Well, it’s already here, and it’s got a cap on it. I’ll be careful.”
The stewardess sighs and shakes her head, and walks past to the next aisle as the pilot’s voice rings out through the use of the speaker system.
Pilot: “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. This is flight 227 to London, and before we leave I must instruct you to turn off all cell phones and other electrical devices with a wireless or otherwise connectable Internet signal at this time.
The temperature in London is currently forty-six degrees, and it has gotten dark but with clear skies. We’re looking at a nice long flight, so for your viewing pleasure, we’re offering Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at this time on the screens located at the front of the cabin, and above seats Six A, Twelve A, and Nine F, and at the conclusion of the film will offer other selections for your viewing pleasure. Headphones are being offered courtesy of United Airlines this evening free of charge, and our stewardesses will be providing them to you upon request.
I’d like to ask that you fasten your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff at this time please.”
Roy sighs and shakes his head, fastening his seatbelt. He coughs and closes his eyes as the plane starts to taxi down the runway, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off starts to play on the monitors a few rows in front of Roy’s head. Once the plane is in the air, a few minutes pass by before the same stewardess stops by with headphones in hand.
Stewardess: “Would you like some headphones for the movie?”
Roy Speede: “Oh, no thank you. I appreciate it, but I’m not interested in this movie. Thanks, though.”
She nods and continues on down the aisle as Roy looks over at the camera man, who is sitting in the seat in front of him, the camera aimed back at him.
Roy Speede: “Excellent! I was hoping I’d be able to send a little message to everyone out there that might be watching while I was on this flight! After all, this won’t be broadcast until after the plane touches down, so I’ve got a few takes to work with.”
Camera Man: “Actually, we’ve only supposed to record one take. The editor is on vacation and won’t be back until the show, so there won’t be time to broadcast if we need to edit.”
Roy Speede: “Well, that’s some pretty shitty planning, if I do say so myself. But anyway, if that’s the way things are, give me a minute to get my thoughts together, and then we’ll start.”
The camera man nods, and Roy pulls his Dr. Pepper out, taking a long drink of it before screwing the cap back on and setting it on top of the bag at his feet before nodding to the camera man. He takes a deep breath and starts to speak.
Roy Speede: “You know, I was sitting here pondering just where to start with this whole thing for quite some time, but then it hit me that I’ve already got my start all planned out for me. I figure that sure, I’m not being moved up permanently just yet, but this will be a precursor to it all, and will show everyone on both Overdrive and Asylum that no matter which brand I end up on, I’m a threat, and I’m not someone they want to take lightly.
And you know how I know that’s the case? It’s clear as day that I’m someone who never backs down from a challenge, and that I’m someone who will go out of his way to get a chance to fight, no matter what the stakes or who the opponent? After all, when it was announced that there was an open challenge being issued for the first Overdrive of 2013, it took me hours, not weeks, not days, but hours to accept the challenge; I didn’t look to see who my opponent would be first, and I for damned sure didn’t take any regard to the fact that I’m spending almost a full day on traveling to get there by plane and then rental car. I just wanted a chance to fight, and a chance to prove myself.
I did what I had to do, and I stepped up to the plate to make an impact in this company. I put my name on the map. I made my face recognizable as someone with the boldness and the courage to walk into a fight with anyone and everyone, and not back down, and that I’m paving my own road to success in this company, one fight at a time.
It was once said that even the longest of journeys begins with a single step; I suppose my first step was my debut on Meltdown, but I was only just getting my feet wet before I decided it was time to really step it up and show this place what I’ve got, and Overdrive is the best place in this company to do it. It’s got the most competitive roster, and it’s got a much rougher road to the top than Asylum, and a lot tougher road to success than Meltdown could muster up. It’s where the big boys go to play ball, and by taking this open challenge, I just added my name to the lineup.
I let it go a couple days before I even checked to see who I was facing because I was that determined that my debut on Overdrive would be a success; little did I know that I was signing up for a match with one of the greatest wrestlers this company could send in any fighter’s direction. Little was I aware that I’d signed myself up for a one-on-one war with Kurt... Friggin... Noble.
You might ask, Roy, do you regret signing up for this now that you know who you’re facing? And I sit here thinking to myself that, as much as I probably ought to, I simply DON’T. Was it probably the worst decision of my career to this point? Yeah. Am I probably just setting myself in the line of fire for some pissed off son of a bitch who couldn’t get the job done at Christmas Chaos only to end up the whipping boy for one of the biggest names in Overdrive’s history? Yeah. Would I take my name back off that contract and stick around on Meltdown if I could? Oh, HELL no.”
I’d do it all over again, and there’s one reason behind all of it. There’s one reason that I am grinning from ear to ear over the fact to step into the ring with an APW great like Kurt Noble. The fact of the matter is that by simply stepping into the ring against this guy, it makes me that much better of a competitor. There’s a ton I could learn from Kurt Noble, and wrestling a match against him is one of the quickest ways toward learning everything I could from him.
Well, that and the fact that my name is out there now. Let’s face it; even if I lose, being recognized as the guy who volunteered to fight Kurt Noble will look pretty damn good on my résumé. You can’t deny that.
And then I start to wonder... What happens if I actually beat him? What happens if when that bell rings, Kurt’s shoulders are on the mat, and my arm is raised in victory? The reality slowly starts to sink in and I realize... Holy shit! That’s actually a possibility! I could actually beat Kurt Noble! And then what? I can be damned sure that a victory over a household name like Kurt Noble will shock the world, and will put everyone on notice. And the best part is, it could actually freaking happen!
So at that point, I looked myself in the mirror, and I asked myself, ‘Roy, what will it take for you to be able to beat Kurt Noble? What is it going to take for you to walk out the winner of this one and take home perhaps the biggest victory of your career so far?’ The answer I got back from myself was really quite simple; I’m going to need every ounce of talent in my entire body, I’m going to need the energy and the endurance to outlast him, I’m going to need the heart to stare him down and know I’m in for the fight of my life, and I’m going to need a whole damn lot of luck.
Hey, it’s better to be lucky than good, right? But why settle for being lucky when you can be both?
That’s what I told myself, and by that point, I was sure of it. I was ready for this match, and I knew for sure that I was right to accept this match blindly, book a flight England, rent a car, get a hotel room, and take my first steps into an Overdrive arena when everyone else is getting their first steps into the APW Arena of 2013; we’re all on similar playing fields now. We all want to start this year off right and pick up a victory, and we all want to show the world that 2013 is going to be our year.
It’s not going to be their year, though. 2013 is going to be ALL MINE. And it starts with perhaps one of the most interesting decisions I’ve ever made, because now I’m on my way to a match with Kurt Noble in his home of Overdrive, when he looks at me as nothing more than the young kid with fire in his eyes and a drive to succeed. I’m just that Meltdown rookie dying for his chance to make it big and willing to do anything to get there, including being a quick pin for him or anybody else on Overdrive willing to step into the ring with a loser like me.
That’s what they all think.
They’re very misguided.
While they may be able to see that yeah, I’m just a young gun in this business, and yeah, I’m just starting out here. I’m a Meltdown rookie ready to get his name up in lights any way he can. But here’s where I differ from what everyone sees in me and what everyone expects out of me: I’m not going to lay down and be an easy win for ANYBODY, I don’t care if I’m facing Terry Marvin or even President Jeff himself. I’m going to go down to that ring and give it everything I’ve got each and every friggin match.
If I don’t get my hand raised at the end of the match, most people in my shoes would think to themselves, ‘oh well! At least I tried! And hey, I got to compete on Overdrive! That’s pretty good, right?’ What I think to myself when I lose is, ‘I could’ve done better’, and now that I’m getting my shot on Overdrive, I’m not going to settle for less than putting my body on the line for the victory in this match. I’m not going to hesitate for a single freaking second to risk everything if it means I’m getting myself closer to victory.
I’m going to take my chances.
So while, yes, I’m going to be put forth 110% to beat Kurt Noble at Overdrive, if I’m not the winner, I’m going to walk back to the back, look myself in the mirror, and shake my head in disgust with myself. I’m The Silver Lining in this company, and I look at every match like there’s a way I can win if I do what I have to do and give it everything I’ve got, and falling short isn’t an option against anyone. I look at guys like Mark Mania and Terry Marvin, and see that they’ve got gold around their waists, and while they lose matches on occasion, they win when it counts.
For me, every match counts.
For me, every match is one that I’ve got to win.
For me, there is no ‘oh well, I tried!’ And that means that when it comes to competing against Kurt Noble, this match is one that I’ve got to win, and upon doing so, I can show everyone what The Silver Lining is capable of. Nobody believes in my abilities around here, and everyone thinks I’m just riding on the coattails of those like William D. Williams and Donald Deruty to pick up any wins I might be lucky enough to score, and the odds of me making it on my own in this company, from the eyes of everyone else in the wrestling world, are slim to none.
Beating Kurt Noble is going to prove them wrong, and it’s my opportunity to start 2013 off right. And by starting this year off right, I’m going to deliver to Kurt Noble the same fate that’s befallen him many times before; he’s going to lose.
Now, I know, I know, he’s a former tag team champion with Chris Hart. I get it; he’s a former Overdrive Champion, and a former Undisputed Champion, and the fact that he’s been the king of this company should have me running scared.
It DOESN’T.
See, what nobody in this company sees in me is that I’m the future of this company, and I’m going to show Kurt Noble that he’s nothing but a miserable, underachieving past... He’s at the end of his chain, and all the barking in the world won’t set him any closer to success than the day he first started slipping. He just doesn’t have it anymore.
His end, however, is my beginning, and I’m just a short time away from starting my journey toward what is rightfully mine in this company, and that’s the journey toward success. Kurt Noble is but a stepping stone for me, because soon I’ll be facing the greats like Level One, like CJ Gates, like Terry Marvin, and when all is said and done, I’m making it my place to put my legacy on my shoulders, and if that means that the beginning of my legacy is pushing through a has been like Kurt Noble, everyone in this company should believe that I’m going to do it, and gladly so.
Because what it all comes down to is that he’s slipping. He was once great, but he’s no longer at the top of this company, and 2013 is the beginning of the end for Kurt Noble. He was once the Undisputed Champion, and now the only thing that’s undisputed is that his past glorious successes don’t equate to his future, one of disappointing failures. He’s lost his passion for this business, and I’ve just begun to find mine, because he doesn’t have it anymore, and I’ve found it. I’ve got it all.
Drive.
Determination.
Dedication.
Will.
Passion.
Dare I say, HEART.
And I’m only starting what will be the greatest career anyone in Action Packed Wrestling could ever hope to see. Noble could be considered lucky to be the first Overdrive competitor to witness what is all but set in stone as the beginning of a legacy, but I don’t consider him lucky. I consider him just another opponent. And just like any other opponent, he can be beaten, and he WILL be beaten. Just wait and see.”
Fade to black.
Katie Walker: “So you’re really going to England, huh?”
Meghan Morrison: “And you’re not taking us?”
Roy Speede: “Relax, girls. You know I’d take if you I were going to be there for longer than just a two days.”
Katie Walker: “Again, why are you only going for two days?”
Roy Speede: “I’m going to be there two days. The first day will be to prepare myself, get myself a bit more adjusted to the sleep schedule so I’m not going to bed at seven in the morning and waking up three hours before my match, and the second to actually compete in my match. It’s my first chance to be on one of the main shows, and I’m not going to miss out on it because I won’t travel overseas to make it happen.”
Meghan Morrison: “I get it. I mean, I think we both do, but the thing that confuses me about it... You’re really going for two days, and then coming back home? And you need two full bags for that?”
Roy Speede: “Well, one bag is my wrestling gear, so yeah, I do need to have both of them with me. But uh... Not exactly, babe. I’m going to be flying from London straight to Winnipeg for my scheduled appearance on Meltdown. Don’t you remember? We scheduled everything so my flight is supposed to arrive in Canada a couple hours before yours, and I’ll meet you at the airport so that we can rent a car and head to the hotel we’re staying at together.”
Katie Walker: “I remember that. Come on, Megs! Get your head in the game!”
Meghan Morrison: “It’s not my head that needs to be in the game! I’m just watching from home. Roy’s the one actually fighting!”
Katie Walker: “So? You couldn’t even remember the flight you’re supposed to take in three days from now! Do you know how awkward it would’ve been if I had to wake you and shove your clothes into your suitcase to get to the airport on time like last time we met Roy in another city for one of these road trips?”
Meghan Morrison: “Well, it was kinda nice. At least I didn’t have to pack my things for myself.”
Katie Walker: “That’s not what I had in mind!”
Meghan Morrison: “With that blonde hair, I’d be surprised if there ever is anything in mind with you.”
Katie Walker: “Why, I oughta-“
Katie lunges for Meghan, but the redhead ducks behind Roy, and Roy puts his arm up, separating the two.
Roy Speede: “Will you two cut it out? I’m leaving for this trip in like fifteen minutes, and I do not want to leave the two of you alone with one another if you’re going to be yelling and fighting like little children! Now, behave!”
Katie Walker: “But... But... I wasn’t going to hurt her! I just wanted to shut her up after calling me a dumb blonde!”
Meghan Morrison: “But you are a dumb blonde!”
Katie tries to grab Meghan again, and again Roy has to hold the two of them apart.
Roy Speede: “I told you two to stop and I meant it. Now, keep your hands to yourself, and stop insulting one another, or so help me I’ll call two taxis and send one of you to Denver and the other to Miami, and neither of you will meet me in Canada. Understand me?”
The girls sigh and Roy puts his arms down.
Roy Speede: “Good. Now, look. I’m not going to tell you what you two can and can’t do while I’m gone, but I want you two to get along, even if that means faking it until I can’t see you and then slugging it out in the parking lot like female MMA fighter wanna be’s. If that’s too much for you, I don’t care! Meghan, you’re my girlfriend, and Katie, you’re my best friend, and you both mean too much to me to lose because you two can’t get along with one another for whatever reason.”
Meghan Morrison: “It’s because she’s a jealous little bitch, Roy.”
Katie Walker: “What did you call me!?!”
Meghan Morrison: “Oh, sorry, didn’t you hear me? You’re a jealous... little... BITCH!”
Katie lunges for Meghan again, and Roy can’t step between them fast enough, and Katie grabs Meghan’s hair, pulling hard. Meghan screams and Roy grabs at Katie’s wrists, forcing her to let go.
Roy Speede: “Alright, that’s enough! Now, I told you that I want you to get along, and I meant it!”
Katie Walker: “And since when are you the boss of us?”
Roy Speede: “Well, since I’m letting you travel all over the freaking map to come to my matches and see the sights of some of the nicest cities in the entire freaking world, I’d say since I started wrestling with APW!”
Meghan Morrison: “He has a point, you know.”
Attendant: “Next!”
Roy Speede: “Of course I have a point! I’m the one trying to keep the peace between you two so you don’t get yourselves arrested for public indecency, assault, or any other stupid crime you two might commit, or even worse, hurt and killed by one another! I mean, gosh damn how confusing you two can be sometimes. I have a good mind to-“
Attendant: “Next!”
Roy turns the attendant.
Roy Speede: “Hold on a minute.”
He turns back to the girls.
Roy Speede: “I have a good mind to stop talking to both of you because it looks like I’m the reason you’re fighting! You two have seventy-two hours before we’ll be meeting up in Manitoba, and by that point you two better have reached some sort of agreement that will result in the two of you not fighting and clawing at one another’s throats, or I’m done trying to-“
Attendant: “Sir, you’re next. You need to turn in your luggage and board the plane.”
Roy glares at the attendant.
Roy Speede: “I said just a minute please!”
Attendant: “Sir, you’re the last one to board this plane, and we’re starting our taxi onto the runway in two minutes, whether you’re on board or not.”
Roy Speede: “Alright. I’ll be right there. Here, take my bags.”
He hands the woman one of his bags and turns back to the girls.
Roy Speede: “Look. I’m not mad; I just want things to stay happy between the three of us. You both mean a whole lot to me, and seeing you fighting like this isn’t easy. Now I’ll see you in a few days, okay?”
Katie Walker: “Alright, Roy. I understand. Have a safe trip.”
She hugs him, and Meghan steps forward as she lets go.
Meghan Morrison: “Yeah, Roy, have a safe flight. I love you.”
Roy Speede: “I love you too, darling.”
He kisses her briefly and then smiles as he walks through the door with a wave and out toward the plane. As soon as he’s out of sight, the two girls glare at one another, and turn to leave, only getting about twenty steps before Meghan takes off running and Katie runs after her, chasing her.
Back at the plane, Roy has the bag he held on to, and is making his way down the row toward where his seat is; the plane is rather empty, as opposed to being full as he expected, and when he sees that an entire row of seats is empty, he places his bag in the second one and then slides down to the third one, the window seat, before reaching over for his bag and picking it up. He swings his feet up onto the seats and lets the bag rest between his ankles as he lies back for a few minutes. He closes his eyes, and for a few minutes it looks like he might be falling asleep, until the stewardess walks over and looks at him.
Stewardess: “Can I get you anything, sir?”
Roy Speede: “I appreciate the offer, but I’m fine, thank you. I brought my own.”
He pulls the Dr. Pepper out of his hoodie pocket and shows the stewardess.
Stewardess: “You really weren’t supposed to bring anything on the plane food or beverage other than water.”
Roy Speede: “Well, it’s already here, and it’s got a cap on it. I’ll be careful.”
The stewardess sighs and shakes her head, and walks past to the next aisle as the pilot’s voice rings out through the use of the speaker system.
Pilot: “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, this is your pilot speaking. This is flight 227 to London, and before we leave I must instruct you to turn off all cell phones and other electrical devices with a wireless or otherwise connectable Internet signal at this time.
The temperature in London is currently forty-six degrees, and it has gotten dark but with clear skies. We’re looking at a nice long flight, so for your viewing pleasure, we’re offering Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at this time on the screens located at the front of the cabin, and above seats Six A, Twelve A, and Nine F, and at the conclusion of the film will offer other selections for your viewing pleasure. Headphones are being offered courtesy of United Airlines this evening free of charge, and our stewardesses will be providing them to you upon request.
I’d like to ask that you fasten your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff at this time please.”
Roy sighs and shakes his head, fastening his seatbelt. He coughs and closes his eyes as the plane starts to taxi down the runway, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off starts to play on the monitors a few rows in front of Roy’s head. Once the plane is in the air, a few minutes pass by before the same stewardess stops by with headphones in hand.
Stewardess: “Would you like some headphones for the movie?”
Roy Speede: “Oh, no thank you. I appreciate it, but I’m not interested in this movie. Thanks, though.”
She nods and continues on down the aisle as Roy looks over at the camera man, who is sitting in the seat in front of him, the camera aimed back at him.
Roy Speede: “Excellent! I was hoping I’d be able to send a little message to everyone out there that might be watching while I was on this flight! After all, this won’t be broadcast until after the plane touches down, so I’ve got a few takes to work with.”
Camera Man: “Actually, we’ve only supposed to record one take. The editor is on vacation and won’t be back until the show, so there won’t be time to broadcast if we need to edit.”
Roy Speede: “Well, that’s some pretty shitty planning, if I do say so myself. But anyway, if that’s the way things are, give me a minute to get my thoughts together, and then we’ll start.”
The camera man nods, and Roy pulls his Dr. Pepper out, taking a long drink of it before screwing the cap back on and setting it on top of the bag at his feet before nodding to the camera man. He takes a deep breath and starts to speak.
Roy Speede: “You know, I was sitting here pondering just where to start with this whole thing for quite some time, but then it hit me that I’ve already got my start all planned out for me. I figure that sure, I’m not being moved up permanently just yet, but this will be a precursor to it all, and will show everyone on both Overdrive and Asylum that no matter which brand I end up on, I’m a threat, and I’m not someone they want to take lightly.
And you know how I know that’s the case? It’s clear as day that I’m someone who never backs down from a challenge, and that I’m someone who will go out of his way to get a chance to fight, no matter what the stakes or who the opponent? After all, when it was announced that there was an open challenge being issued for the first Overdrive of 2013, it took me hours, not weeks, not days, but hours to accept the challenge; I didn’t look to see who my opponent would be first, and I for damned sure didn’t take any regard to the fact that I’m spending almost a full day on traveling to get there by plane and then rental car. I just wanted a chance to fight, and a chance to prove myself.
I did what I had to do, and I stepped up to the plate to make an impact in this company. I put my name on the map. I made my face recognizable as someone with the boldness and the courage to walk into a fight with anyone and everyone, and not back down, and that I’m paving my own road to success in this company, one fight at a time.
It was once said that even the longest of journeys begins with a single step; I suppose my first step was my debut on Meltdown, but I was only just getting my feet wet before I decided it was time to really step it up and show this place what I’ve got, and Overdrive is the best place in this company to do it. It’s got the most competitive roster, and it’s got a much rougher road to the top than Asylum, and a lot tougher road to success than Meltdown could muster up. It’s where the big boys go to play ball, and by taking this open challenge, I just added my name to the lineup.
I let it go a couple days before I even checked to see who I was facing because I was that determined that my debut on Overdrive would be a success; little did I know that I was signing up for a match with one of the greatest wrestlers this company could send in any fighter’s direction. Little was I aware that I’d signed myself up for a one-on-one war with Kurt... Friggin... Noble.
You might ask, Roy, do you regret signing up for this now that you know who you’re facing? And I sit here thinking to myself that, as much as I probably ought to, I simply DON’T. Was it probably the worst decision of my career to this point? Yeah. Am I probably just setting myself in the line of fire for some pissed off son of a bitch who couldn’t get the job done at Christmas Chaos only to end up the whipping boy for one of the biggest names in Overdrive’s history? Yeah. Would I take my name back off that contract and stick around on Meltdown if I could? Oh, HELL no.”
I’d do it all over again, and there’s one reason behind all of it. There’s one reason that I am grinning from ear to ear over the fact to step into the ring with an APW great like Kurt Noble. The fact of the matter is that by simply stepping into the ring against this guy, it makes me that much better of a competitor. There’s a ton I could learn from Kurt Noble, and wrestling a match against him is one of the quickest ways toward learning everything I could from him.
Well, that and the fact that my name is out there now. Let’s face it; even if I lose, being recognized as the guy who volunteered to fight Kurt Noble will look pretty damn good on my résumé. You can’t deny that.
And then I start to wonder... What happens if I actually beat him? What happens if when that bell rings, Kurt’s shoulders are on the mat, and my arm is raised in victory? The reality slowly starts to sink in and I realize... Holy shit! That’s actually a possibility! I could actually beat Kurt Noble! And then what? I can be damned sure that a victory over a household name like Kurt Noble will shock the world, and will put everyone on notice. And the best part is, it could actually freaking happen!
So at that point, I looked myself in the mirror, and I asked myself, ‘Roy, what will it take for you to be able to beat Kurt Noble? What is it going to take for you to walk out the winner of this one and take home perhaps the biggest victory of your career so far?’ The answer I got back from myself was really quite simple; I’m going to need every ounce of talent in my entire body, I’m going to need the energy and the endurance to outlast him, I’m going to need the heart to stare him down and know I’m in for the fight of my life, and I’m going to need a whole damn lot of luck.
Hey, it’s better to be lucky than good, right? But why settle for being lucky when you can be both?
That’s what I told myself, and by that point, I was sure of it. I was ready for this match, and I knew for sure that I was right to accept this match blindly, book a flight England, rent a car, get a hotel room, and take my first steps into an Overdrive arena when everyone else is getting their first steps into the APW Arena of 2013; we’re all on similar playing fields now. We all want to start this year off right and pick up a victory, and we all want to show the world that 2013 is going to be our year.
It’s not going to be their year, though. 2013 is going to be ALL MINE. And it starts with perhaps one of the most interesting decisions I’ve ever made, because now I’m on my way to a match with Kurt Noble in his home of Overdrive, when he looks at me as nothing more than the young kid with fire in his eyes and a drive to succeed. I’m just that Meltdown rookie dying for his chance to make it big and willing to do anything to get there, including being a quick pin for him or anybody else on Overdrive willing to step into the ring with a loser like me.
That’s what they all think.
They’re very misguided.
While they may be able to see that yeah, I’m just a young gun in this business, and yeah, I’m just starting out here. I’m a Meltdown rookie ready to get his name up in lights any way he can. But here’s where I differ from what everyone sees in me and what everyone expects out of me: I’m not going to lay down and be an easy win for ANYBODY, I don’t care if I’m facing Terry Marvin or even President Jeff himself. I’m going to go down to that ring and give it everything I’ve got each and every friggin match.
If I don’t get my hand raised at the end of the match, most people in my shoes would think to themselves, ‘oh well! At least I tried! And hey, I got to compete on Overdrive! That’s pretty good, right?’ What I think to myself when I lose is, ‘I could’ve done better’, and now that I’m getting my shot on Overdrive, I’m not going to settle for less than putting my body on the line for the victory in this match. I’m not going to hesitate for a single freaking second to risk everything if it means I’m getting myself closer to victory.
I’m going to take my chances.
So while, yes, I’m going to be put forth 110% to beat Kurt Noble at Overdrive, if I’m not the winner, I’m going to walk back to the back, look myself in the mirror, and shake my head in disgust with myself. I’m The Silver Lining in this company, and I look at every match like there’s a way I can win if I do what I have to do and give it everything I’ve got, and falling short isn’t an option against anyone. I look at guys like Mark Mania and Terry Marvin, and see that they’ve got gold around their waists, and while they lose matches on occasion, they win when it counts.
For me, every match counts.
For me, every match is one that I’ve got to win.
For me, there is no ‘oh well, I tried!’ And that means that when it comes to competing against Kurt Noble, this match is one that I’ve got to win, and upon doing so, I can show everyone what The Silver Lining is capable of. Nobody believes in my abilities around here, and everyone thinks I’m just riding on the coattails of those like William D. Williams and Donald Deruty to pick up any wins I might be lucky enough to score, and the odds of me making it on my own in this company, from the eyes of everyone else in the wrestling world, are slim to none.
Beating Kurt Noble is going to prove them wrong, and it’s my opportunity to start 2013 off right. And by starting this year off right, I’m going to deliver to Kurt Noble the same fate that’s befallen him many times before; he’s going to lose.
Now, I know, I know, he’s a former tag team champion with Chris Hart. I get it; he’s a former Overdrive Champion, and a former Undisputed Champion, and the fact that he’s been the king of this company should have me running scared.
It DOESN’T.
See, what nobody in this company sees in me is that I’m the future of this company, and I’m going to show Kurt Noble that he’s nothing but a miserable, underachieving past... He’s at the end of his chain, and all the barking in the world won’t set him any closer to success than the day he first started slipping. He just doesn’t have it anymore.
His end, however, is my beginning, and I’m just a short time away from starting my journey toward what is rightfully mine in this company, and that’s the journey toward success. Kurt Noble is but a stepping stone for me, because soon I’ll be facing the greats like Level One, like CJ Gates, like Terry Marvin, and when all is said and done, I’m making it my place to put my legacy on my shoulders, and if that means that the beginning of my legacy is pushing through a has been like Kurt Noble, everyone in this company should believe that I’m going to do it, and gladly so.
Because what it all comes down to is that he’s slipping. He was once great, but he’s no longer at the top of this company, and 2013 is the beginning of the end for Kurt Noble. He was once the Undisputed Champion, and now the only thing that’s undisputed is that his past glorious successes don’t equate to his future, one of disappointing failures. He’s lost his passion for this business, and I’ve just begun to find mine, because he doesn’t have it anymore, and I’ve found it. I’ve got it all.
Drive.
Determination.
Dedication.
Will.
Passion.
Dare I say, HEART.
And I’m only starting what will be the greatest career anyone in Action Packed Wrestling could ever hope to see. Noble could be considered lucky to be the first Overdrive competitor to witness what is all but set in stone as the beginning of a legacy, but I don’t consider him lucky. I consider him just another opponent. And just like any other opponent, he can be beaten, and he WILL be beaten. Just wait and see.”
Fade to black.
