Post by C.J. Gates on Feb 6, 2013 19:47:33 GMT -4
"They want me to be the C.J. Gates that beat Level One.
"They want me to be the same person that earned the right to call himself the number one contender to the Undisputed title.
"Basically, they want me to be the same person that I have been since One Night in Hell. They want me to be the person that I have, more or less, always been. They're worried that I may have lost a step in time even though I beat Kurt Noble right before Survive and Conquer?
"I am that man. I am the same man that beat Level One every time I step into the ring. I am the same man that beat Kurt Noble. I am the same man that finished fifth in the Survive and Conquer match.
"I am the same man that lost to Michael Lively. That I admit. But that's not enough reason to question my entire body of work up to that point. One week does not make or break a man. One week does not put doubt into his own mind. Sure, they might doubt me, but I don't doubt myself. Over the past few months, I've never doubted myself.
"But then again, I'm not Evan Envi. I'm not Level One. I'm not Terry Marvin. I'm not the sort of person who sees one loss and jumps on it, picks at it, and turns it into an inquisition. If I was I wouldn't be here right now. If I let doubt get at me, I never would have made it out of the summer, and I never would have beat Level One. I've made strides since this time last year. I've improved, I'm focused, and I'm more than ready to show everyone that.
"To prove that.
"I will be the man who beat Level One. I will be the man who won the Undisputed title in 2011.
"I will be the man who will win the Undisputed title at Rasslemania."
"Fifth place, huh?" Vincent James says with a nod from one of the couches in the office of C.J. Gates. "That's not bad. Better than how I thought you were going to do. Though what's this?" James waves what looks to be a certificate. "Is this some sort of participation certificate? Some sort of losers reward?"
"You've got me," Gates says from behind his desk. "When I returned to the office after Survive and Conquer, that was waiting for me in the mail. Maybe it was sent out to everyone, kind of like a symbol of your participation in a historically large event."
"Seems kind of stupid, but maybe that's just me."
"Probably is," Gates jokes. "But it doesn't really matter. It's just a piece of paper. The real reward, it's all up here." Gates taps his temple.
James shrugs and looks at the paper again. "Fifth place, man, you were so close. Though I think the part that sticks in my mind, was the fact that you were beaten by a guy I'd never heard of."
"You mean Gordon Fury, don't you."
"Terry Marvin and Sally Talfourd I've heard of before. Rex Evans I've heard some things of. But Gordon Fury? Who the hell is that?"
"A talented wrestler who has the ability to persevere in the face of adversity. That whole match, he made sure people took notice of him. It just so happened that, with the way things unfolded at the end, he was part of the group trying to eliminate Terry and, in a round about way, trying to save me."
"But you ate the mats," James reminds Gates.
"I did, and that's going to be something I always remember." Gates sighs and turns to face his computer. "But I also can't dwell on it. Just like 2011 when I came so close to making it to the final three, I have to shrug this one off, remember the memories and work toward my next goal. Because much like that year, this year I've also got an Undisputed title match, and I don't plan on wasting that opportunity."
"It's a great chance, and I think it's coming at the right time," James admits. "You've got confidence, you've had a lot of big matches to get yourself prepared, and in a matter of time you'll finally get the moment to shine."
"That's the game plan," Gates says. "That's how it went in 2011, though I had a few more under my belt."
"Yeah but this is different, the competition is higher."
"I don't doubt that," Gates admits. "There's tons of people who could be Undisputed champion. Hell, I'm fighting in a match with five of them at Overdrive."
"Don't let them hear you say that."
Gates smirks. "True. Next thing I know, Evan Envi and Level One will be knocking down Jeff's door to try and get themselves put into the match. Their egos are already overblown, it's just a matter of time."
"That's my point," James says. "Then again, maybe that's what you need. Get them thinking about other things so you can sneak in and take the win."
"Not just me. But myself, Biggs and Mark Mania."
"It's a good team. Do you think you'll be able to work together?"
"Why wouldn't we?"
"Well," James starts before trailing off.
"I'm not worried about it," Gates answers. "Biggs and I have been on the same page, more or less, since One Night in Hell. As long as I have his back, he's got no reason to turn his on me. And with him going up against Level One at Rasslemania, he and I would benefit to continue this partnership going so that we both make it there in one piece."
"And Mark Mania?"
"I know I can work with him."
"Are you sure about that?" James asks. "Four or five months ago, you were raging on him about how you should be in line for an Overdrive title shot. You beat him before One Night in Hell with the intent that you were going to take him down afterwards if he won the title. You can't expect something like that to have disappeared from someones mind, can you?"
"Why not?" Gates says, looking away from the computer and toward Vinnie. "It's not like I've antagonized him over it. I'm in a different place right now, professionally, then I was back then."
"I don't think he'll like that."
"I didn't say I was on a different level than him," Gates corrects. "All I said was that I was still trying to find my footing before One Night in Hell, and when I was put into that elimination chamber, I had it. I found it and I ran with all of that momentum and success." Gates pauses and shakes his head. "I didn't mean Mark hasn't, I just meant-"
"I know, I'm just busting your balls," James laughs. "It's so easy that I couldn't help it."
"Asshole," Gates mutters. James leans forward and puts the paper on the coffee table.
"It's kind of interesting though," James says. "It's like you're fighting against the past, present and future villains of APW Overdrive."
Gates looks at James for a few moments before nodding his head. "You're right. I never thought about it like that before."
"Level One is the surly veteran who has been around this company for awhile, Terry Marvin is the man at the top of the pyramid right now, and a lot of people have pegged Envi to be the future of APW Overdrive."
Gates nods again. "Though not wrestling in general, because where that is concerned, I think all three of them have paid their dues over time. But you're right. It's like I'm looking at the three men that have consistently been pains in everyone's asses for the entire duration of Overdrive."
"Should be a fun week."
"It will be," Gates says. "But it will also be a challenging one. Since they are the past, present and future, there's a lot of, shall we say, mileage on the other side of the ring. They know what they're doing and they know how to not only win, but to also get under our skin."
"Worried?"
"No," Gates says with a smirk. "But only because, like I said, they're all going to try and one up each other. I mean, as much as Level One and Terry Marvin enjoy working together, at some point, Level One's desire to be the Undisputed champion is going to overshadow how much money the Sindicate is throwing around."
"And what about Envi?"
"He's going to be trying to prove himself even more. But not in the same sense that I'm always trying to prove myself. He's going to be doing it in a way that will ideally make his ego even bigger, and make those other two think about bringing him into the Sindicate."
"Ah," James says. "So we'll have another super group running around."
"Maybe, but I think that the rest of Overdrive is more capable of handling it right now. There's a lot of underrated stars who are making an impact."
"Led by the three of you."
Gates smirks. "More or less, I guess. But I'm not focused on that."
"What are you focused on then?" James asks. "Why wouldn't you be focused on leading the charge to get rid of the villains?"
"Because right now, I'm more worried about what looms ahead. I'm more worried about Rasslemania and everything leading up to it. I'm not going to spearhead a mission to eradicate the evil. I tried that against Noble, but even the best exorcism couldn't have saved his soul."
"But it's a perfect chance!"
"It's also a perfect chance to take everything one step at a time. To make the most of my opportunities and to show Terry Marvin that no matter what collection of men he gathers to fight alongside of him, I will never back down.
"I will always have an answer."
"The road begins.
"Now that Survive and Conquer is behind us, Rasslemania looms ahead and for me, it will be a moment that will make the entire year before worth it. The downward spiral, the inability to win certain matches, the affinity to choke when it matters the most, all of that will have been made worth it once I step into that ring against Terry Marvin for the Undisputed title.
"At least that's how it stands right now, but you never know what's going to happen before then. The only thing I know for sure is that at Rasslemania I will be competing for that title. My opponent, or possible opponents, will be up in the air until the week before, until everything is hammered away.
"However, whether or not the rumors that have been swirling around are true, there is still a matter of this weeks Overdrive, and every Overdrive between now and Rasslemania. While that event looms ahead, there is still the necessity to focus on the present, to take things one week at a time, to make sure that nothing is forgotten, nothing taken for granted.
"To make sure I am ready for whatever stands ahead.
"And that 'whatever' this week comes in the form of three men. Two men that I have a somewhat extensive history with, and a third man who is a bit of an unknown. A bit of a wild card, at least in my books.
"But even though he's a wild card, Evan Envi is a man that I have been waiting to get the chance to face. Ever since he made the transition from Meltdown to Overdrive, the transition that everyone saw coming, I've been watching, biding my time until I could step into the ring with him. Sure, it might not be a one on one opportunity, it's not the ideal, but it's something. It whets the appetite and gives me a first hand look at what will face me off when we eventually do meet up in that match.
"What makes it even better is that Evan Envi is the sort of opponent that I love fighting. Not because he's unknown, but because he's so full of himself, that he thinks he's untouchable. And it seems like moments like that are what bring the best out of me. If my opponents think that they are the best wrestler in APW, bar none, then I am going to take everything I have to them.
"Luckily, all three of them this week have that problem, though Envi might have it a bit more than the other two, and for worse reasons. At least with Level One we have a multiple World champion and a two time True Expert. With Terry Marvin we have a man who, in the past year, has done everything that one could possibly do, short of becoming the President of the United States. But with Evan Envi?
"We have a man who won the North American title at a time when talent on Meltdown might not have been at it's height. At least now, there are more than a handful of respectful talents. Then he came over and won the Xtreme title, and while impressive, it doesn't exactly hold enough weight to make me think you deserve to be considered one of, if not the best to currently walk the APW halls.
"But maybe I'm missing something, Evan.
"Maybe your ego is big enough to earn you extra accolades. Maybe your body of work, as a whole, is enough to make you seem like everyone else is below you. I mean, at some point you did lose that title to Nick Watson, a man who has done even less than you have during his time in APW. And at another point, you lost the North American title to someone who didn't even deserve to sniff the strap for that belt. Sure, you can make an excuse that you had already fought against Stefan Raab that night, but for a man who considers himself to be above everyone, above people like myself, I'd expect you could win multiple matches in a night.
"So maybe you aren't as godly as you say you are. Maybe you're not as unstoppable as you've been claiming. Maybe there is something to you that actually makes you more human than you'd like to believe, Evan. And if anyone is going to be able to show that to you, it's going to be Mark Mania, but if I get into that ring with you, you can bet that I am going to do what I can to show it to you, as well.
"But then again, I enjoy making sure people understand things like that. I make sure that people know where they stand, even if that is only to prove to me that they are better than me. And trust me, Evan, I haven't eliminated that fact...I just don't buy into it. Until I see everything first hand, I can't know for sure. I can speculate and make assumptions, but I can't know. Though if I was a betting man, I'd say that you aren't what you seem to be. Sure, you've had some wins, but are they enough to put you into an actual Mega Megastar status, as opposed to your self proclaimed one.
"Level One on the other hand, I could buy him saying he was the best thing going. Maybe that's because I've had some problems with him in the past, or maybe it's because I've actually watched him for an extended period of time, but he has shown me that when he makes statements like that, he has the ability to back them up.
"But I also have the ability to beat them.
"And yes, Lester, that one win will go a long way to how I approach matches against you. Knowing that I am able to pin your shoulders to the mat, that is going to do a lot to making me more sure of my skills against you. Maybe you were a bit of an intimidation to me early on, but now, not so much. Now you're just another APW wrestler that I have managed to beat. That I know I can beat.
"Will it happen this week? Well, that's the goal, isn't it? To get things started on the right foot as we head into Rasslemania. To make sure that we're ready for everything. You've got a meeting with my partner then, and I have one with yours. Both of us are probably looking to get themselves some early momentum, especially considering how much of a pain Biggs has been for you. Your kryptonite, if you will.
"But that doesn't mean I'm going to let him into the ring each time you tag yourself in, in the fashion that you like to do. No, because if I'm in there, I am going to go toe to toe with you. I am going to stand up to you and show you that I no longer fear that I am just wasting my time. I no longer worry about how I'm in line for another loss.
"Which might have been how I felt before Christmas Chaos. Before I focused in on you and made sure that you were what I was worried about. Before I made sure that you were what I obsessed with. And it worked. So maybe I'll spend the last few hours before our match stressing myself out about everything that you are capable of. Making sure that I am honed in on what you might or might not do.
"Or maybe I'll just let my instinct take over.
"Because at the end of the day, our match at Christmas Chaos, my instinct went a lot further than my obsession. Sure, it allowed me to make sure I was ready, but knowing what you might do and putting up with what you are doing are two different things. Two things that I will be ready for, however.
"Of course I'd be stupid not to take this opportunity as another chance to focus my attentions on Terry Marvin. With him and I slated to do battle at Rasslemania, I'd like to be ready for him. I'd like to make sure that I have enough opportunities to test myself against him before I fight him for his title. And this is the kind of match where that test can happen.
"Terry Marvin and I, it's been one of those matches a long time coming. Ever since the summer when he and I had our run ins, when he was warning me to stay away from Keaton Saint, to stay away from Noble-Hart, to go back to the kid table and play with the plastic forks. Ever since those few moments of bypassing one another, I was looking for the opportunity. Everything else just built up to it.
"Right, Terry?
"Then again, you were probably just being you, right? You were probably just doing what an egotistical Terry Marvin would do when he's trying to rule the world. And at least if you admit to it, I can nod my head and say that yeah, you probably did. You ruled the world, so you were probably just trying to squash as many of us under your foot as you could.
"Even if you weren't truly earning your stripes. It's not like I've shied away from the comments, and it's not like they've been denied. But that's something that we can, hopefully, settle at another time. Right now, it's all about momentum. Early momentum, but momentum that we can all use, save for you since you'll be riding that high of Survive and Conquer for quite some time. Probably until someone wins a Survive and Conquer match with more than one hundred people.
"But I digress because this isn't Survive and Conquer. This is a six man elimination tag team match. This is a match with the chance to work as a team. This is a match where the three of us can work together to eliminate the three of you, which I have no doubt we will be able to do. But I think that's what works well for us. We're three men with a similar goal, while the three of you are three men who are trying to one up each other, all headed by you, Terry.
"You all represent different moments of Overdrive. Level One represents the pesky past that just won't go away. Terry Marvin is the ever dominant present that is always there, no matter where you look. While Evan Envi is the future. The star in the making. The man to eventually take the torches of Level One and Terry Marvin and run with them. And when you have that much behind you, the skies the limit.
"But for some reason, thinking of the three of you like that, it doesn't worry me. Sure, in some cases I'd say that out loud and wonder if I'm in over my head. I wonder if the collection of men standing across from me will be my eventual end. But then I remember that the reason they got there, is because they are all good at one thing.
"You're all good at pulling the rug out from underneath people.
"Even if we see it coming, you all still do it. Level One did it before Christmas Chaos when he made it seem like he wanted to help me, only to reveal that he was only doing so because he wanted me to be a credible opponent. He wanted me to be something more than the nothing he thought I was. And if that was true, in the slightest, I wonder what that says for Lester now that I won.
"Of course Envi did the same thing to Dionysus. Just after he had Dionysus convinced he was willing to team up, Envi turned his back on him, pulled the rug out from under him, and laughed in his face about it. Sure, he sent Dionysus packing, but I wouldn't count it as a good moment after I had to literally buddy up with the guy to get that job accomplished.
"Then of course there's Terry Marvin who has pulled the rug from under...well, most of APW and all of it's fans. Whether it's the Terry Marvin we saw before One Night in Hell or the one we saw afterwards when he tricked Biggs into thinking they were tight, Terry Marvin seems to be a master at deceiving everyone.
"And that's the bonus of this weeks match. The three of you don't have the ability to use those tricks, because the three of us already know your games. We already know how much shit you are all full of, so we won't be buying whatever the hell you're selling. All we're going to do is go out to that ring, fight as a team and by the end of the match, stand tall with our arms raised. I've got faith in them, just like I have faith that the three of you won't play fair.
"Because you never play fair.
"That's your M.O.
"Just like mine is to always give it my all, to always prove myself, to always send the fans home happy.
"To always go big or go home."
"They want me to be the same person that earned the right to call himself the number one contender to the Undisputed title.
"Basically, they want me to be the same person that I have been since One Night in Hell. They want me to be the person that I have, more or less, always been. They're worried that I may have lost a step in time even though I beat Kurt Noble right before Survive and Conquer?
"I am that man. I am the same man that beat Level One every time I step into the ring. I am the same man that beat Kurt Noble. I am the same man that finished fifth in the Survive and Conquer match.
"I am the same man that lost to Michael Lively. That I admit. But that's not enough reason to question my entire body of work up to that point. One week does not make or break a man. One week does not put doubt into his own mind. Sure, they might doubt me, but I don't doubt myself. Over the past few months, I've never doubted myself.
"But then again, I'm not Evan Envi. I'm not Level One. I'm not Terry Marvin. I'm not the sort of person who sees one loss and jumps on it, picks at it, and turns it into an inquisition. If I was I wouldn't be here right now. If I let doubt get at me, I never would have made it out of the summer, and I never would have beat Level One. I've made strides since this time last year. I've improved, I'm focused, and I'm more than ready to show everyone that.
"To prove that.
"I will be the man who beat Level One. I will be the man who won the Undisputed title in 2011.
"I will be the man who will win the Undisputed title at Rasslemania."
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"Fifth place, huh?" Vincent James says with a nod from one of the couches in the office of C.J. Gates. "That's not bad. Better than how I thought you were going to do. Though what's this?" James waves what looks to be a certificate. "Is this some sort of participation certificate? Some sort of losers reward?"
"You've got me," Gates says from behind his desk. "When I returned to the office after Survive and Conquer, that was waiting for me in the mail. Maybe it was sent out to everyone, kind of like a symbol of your participation in a historically large event."
"Seems kind of stupid, but maybe that's just me."
"Probably is," Gates jokes. "But it doesn't really matter. It's just a piece of paper. The real reward, it's all up here." Gates taps his temple.
James shrugs and looks at the paper again. "Fifth place, man, you were so close. Though I think the part that sticks in my mind, was the fact that you were beaten by a guy I'd never heard of."
"You mean Gordon Fury, don't you."
"Terry Marvin and Sally Talfourd I've heard of before. Rex Evans I've heard some things of. But Gordon Fury? Who the hell is that?"
"A talented wrestler who has the ability to persevere in the face of adversity. That whole match, he made sure people took notice of him. It just so happened that, with the way things unfolded at the end, he was part of the group trying to eliminate Terry and, in a round about way, trying to save me."
"But you ate the mats," James reminds Gates.
"I did, and that's going to be something I always remember." Gates sighs and turns to face his computer. "But I also can't dwell on it. Just like 2011 when I came so close to making it to the final three, I have to shrug this one off, remember the memories and work toward my next goal. Because much like that year, this year I've also got an Undisputed title match, and I don't plan on wasting that opportunity."
"It's a great chance, and I think it's coming at the right time," James admits. "You've got confidence, you've had a lot of big matches to get yourself prepared, and in a matter of time you'll finally get the moment to shine."
"That's the game plan," Gates says. "That's how it went in 2011, though I had a few more under my belt."
"Yeah but this is different, the competition is higher."
"I don't doubt that," Gates admits. "There's tons of people who could be Undisputed champion. Hell, I'm fighting in a match with five of them at Overdrive."
"Don't let them hear you say that."
Gates smirks. "True. Next thing I know, Evan Envi and Level One will be knocking down Jeff's door to try and get themselves put into the match. Their egos are already overblown, it's just a matter of time."
"That's my point," James says. "Then again, maybe that's what you need. Get them thinking about other things so you can sneak in and take the win."
"Not just me. But myself, Biggs and Mark Mania."
"It's a good team. Do you think you'll be able to work together?"
"Why wouldn't we?"
"Well," James starts before trailing off.
"I'm not worried about it," Gates answers. "Biggs and I have been on the same page, more or less, since One Night in Hell. As long as I have his back, he's got no reason to turn his on me. And with him going up against Level One at Rasslemania, he and I would benefit to continue this partnership going so that we both make it there in one piece."
"And Mark Mania?"
"I know I can work with him."
"Are you sure about that?" James asks. "Four or five months ago, you were raging on him about how you should be in line for an Overdrive title shot. You beat him before One Night in Hell with the intent that you were going to take him down afterwards if he won the title. You can't expect something like that to have disappeared from someones mind, can you?"
"Why not?" Gates says, looking away from the computer and toward Vinnie. "It's not like I've antagonized him over it. I'm in a different place right now, professionally, then I was back then."
"I don't think he'll like that."
"I didn't say I was on a different level than him," Gates corrects. "All I said was that I was still trying to find my footing before One Night in Hell, and when I was put into that elimination chamber, I had it. I found it and I ran with all of that momentum and success." Gates pauses and shakes his head. "I didn't mean Mark hasn't, I just meant-"
"I know, I'm just busting your balls," James laughs. "It's so easy that I couldn't help it."
"Asshole," Gates mutters. James leans forward and puts the paper on the coffee table.
"It's kind of interesting though," James says. "It's like you're fighting against the past, present and future villains of APW Overdrive."
Gates looks at James for a few moments before nodding his head. "You're right. I never thought about it like that before."
"Level One is the surly veteran who has been around this company for awhile, Terry Marvin is the man at the top of the pyramid right now, and a lot of people have pegged Envi to be the future of APW Overdrive."
Gates nods again. "Though not wrestling in general, because where that is concerned, I think all three of them have paid their dues over time. But you're right. It's like I'm looking at the three men that have consistently been pains in everyone's asses for the entire duration of Overdrive."
"Should be a fun week."
"It will be," Gates says. "But it will also be a challenging one. Since they are the past, present and future, there's a lot of, shall we say, mileage on the other side of the ring. They know what they're doing and they know how to not only win, but to also get under our skin."
"Worried?"
"No," Gates says with a smirk. "But only because, like I said, they're all going to try and one up each other. I mean, as much as Level One and Terry Marvin enjoy working together, at some point, Level One's desire to be the Undisputed champion is going to overshadow how much money the Sindicate is throwing around."
"And what about Envi?"
"He's going to be trying to prove himself even more. But not in the same sense that I'm always trying to prove myself. He's going to be doing it in a way that will ideally make his ego even bigger, and make those other two think about bringing him into the Sindicate."
"Ah," James says. "So we'll have another super group running around."
"Maybe, but I think that the rest of Overdrive is more capable of handling it right now. There's a lot of underrated stars who are making an impact."
"Led by the three of you."
Gates smirks. "More or less, I guess. But I'm not focused on that."
"What are you focused on then?" James asks. "Why wouldn't you be focused on leading the charge to get rid of the villains?"
"Because right now, I'm more worried about what looms ahead. I'm more worried about Rasslemania and everything leading up to it. I'm not going to spearhead a mission to eradicate the evil. I tried that against Noble, but even the best exorcism couldn't have saved his soul."
"But it's a perfect chance!"
"It's also a perfect chance to take everything one step at a time. To make the most of my opportunities and to show Terry Marvin that no matter what collection of men he gathers to fight alongside of him, I will never back down.
"I will always have an answer."
-------------------------------------
"The road begins.
"Now that Survive and Conquer is behind us, Rasslemania looms ahead and for me, it will be a moment that will make the entire year before worth it. The downward spiral, the inability to win certain matches, the affinity to choke when it matters the most, all of that will have been made worth it once I step into that ring against Terry Marvin for the Undisputed title.
"At least that's how it stands right now, but you never know what's going to happen before then. The only thing I know for sure is that at Rasslemania I will be competing for that title. My opponent, or possible opponents, will be up in the air until the week before, until everything is hammered away.
"However, whether or not the rumors that have been swirling around are true, there is still a matter of this weeks Overdrive, and every Overdrive between now and Rasslemania. While that event looms ahead, there is still the necessity to focus on the present, to take things one week at a time, to make sure that nothing is forgotten, nothing taken for granted.
"To make sure I am ready for whatever stands ahead.
"And that 'whatever' this week comes in the form of three men. Two men that I have a somewhat extensive history with, and a third man who is a bit of an unknown. A bit of a wild card, at least in my books.
"But even though he's a wild card, Evan Envi is a man that I have been waiting to get the chance to face. Ever since he made the transition from Meltdown to Overdrive, the transition that everyone saw coming, I've been watching, biding my time until I could step into the ring with him. Sure, it might not be a one on one opportunity, it's not the ideal, but it's something. It whets the appetite and gives me a first hand look at what will face me off when we eventually do meet up in that match.
"What makes it even better is that Evan Envi is the sort of opponent that I love fighting. Not because he's unknown, but because he's so full of himself, that he thinks he's untouchable. And it seems like moments like that are what bring the best out of me. If my opponents think that they are the best wrestler in APW, bar none, then I am going to take everything I have to them.
"Luckily, all three of them this week have that problem, though Envi might have it a bit more than the other two, and for worse reasons. At least with Level One we have a multiple World champion and a two time True Expert. With Terry Marvin we have a man who, in the past year, has done everything that one could possibly do, short of becoming the President of the United States. But with Evan Envi?
"We have a man who won the North American title at a time when talent on Meltdown might not have been at it's height. At least now, there are more than a handful of respectful talents. Then he came over and won the Xtreme title, and while impressive, it doesn't exactly hold enough weight to make me think you deserve to be considered one of, if not the best to currently walk the APW halls.
"But maybe I'm missing something, Evan.
"Maybe your ego is big enough to earn you extra accolades. Maybe your body of work, as a whole, is enough to make you seem like everyone else is below you. I mean, at some point you did lose that title to Nick Watson, a man who has done even less than you have during his time in APW. And at another point, you lost the North American title to someone who didn't even deserve to sniff the strap for that belt. Sure, you can make an excuse that you had already fought against Stefan Raab that night, but for a man who considers himself to be above everyone, above people like myself, I'd expect you could win multiple matches in a night.
"So maybe you aren't as godly as you say you are. Maybe you're not as unstoppable as you've been claiming. Maybe there is something to you that actually makes you more human than you'd like to believe, Evan. And if anyone is going to be able to show that to you, it's going to be Mark Mania, but if I get into that ring with you, you can bet that I am going to do what I can to show it to you, as well.
"But then again, I enjoy making sure people understand things like that. I make sure that people know where they stand, even if that is only to prove to me that they are better than me. And trust me, Evan, I haven't eliminated that fact...I just don't buy into it. Until I see everything first hand, I can't know for sure. I can speculate and make assumptions, but I can't know. Though if I was a betting man, I'd say that you aren't what you seem to be. Sure, you've had some wins, but are they enough to put you into an actual Mega Megastar status, as opposed to your self proclaimed one.
"Level One on the other hand, I could buy him saying he was the best thing going. Maybe that's because I've had some problems with him in the past, or maybe it's because I've actually watched him for an extended period of time, but he has shown me that when he makes statements like that, he has the ability to back them up.
"But I also have the ability to beat them.
"And yes, Lester, that one win will go a long way to how I approach matches against you. Knowing that I am able to pin your shoulders to the mat, that is going to do a lot to making me more sure of my skills against you. Maybe you were a bit of an intimidation to me early on, but now, not so much. Now you're just another APW wrestler that I have managed to beat. That I know I can beat.
"Will it happen this week? Well, that's the goal, isn't it? To get things started on the right foot as we head into Rasslemania. To make sure that we're ready for everything. You've got a meeting with my partner then, and I have one with yours. Both of us are probably looking to get themselves some early momentum, especially considering how much of a pain Biggs has been for you. Your kryptonite, if you will.
"But that doesn't mean I'm going to let him into the ring each time you tag yourself in, in the fashion that you like to do. No, because if I'm in there, I am going to go toe to toe with you. I am going to stand up to you and show you that I no longer fear that I am just wasting my time. I no longer worry about how I'm in line for another loss.
"Which might have been how I felt before Christmas Chaos. Before I focused in on you and made sure that you were what I was worried about. Before I made sure that you were what I obsessed with. And it worked. So maybe I'll spend the last few hours before our match stressing myself out about everything that you are capable of. Making sure that I am honed in on what you might or might not do.
"Or maybe I'll just let my instinct take over.
"Because at the end of the day, our match at Christmas Chaos, my instinct went a lot further than my obsession. Sure, it allowed me to make sure I was ready, but knowing what you might do and putting up with what you are doing are two different things. Two things that I will be ready for, however.
"Of course I'd be stupid not to take this opportunity as another chance to focus my attentions on Terry Marvin. With him and I slated to do battle at Rasslemania, I'd like to be ready for him. I'd like to make sure that I have enough opportunities to test myself against him before I fight him for his title. And this is the kind of match where that test can happen.
"Terry Marvin and I, it's been one of those matches a long time coming. Ever since the summer when he and I had our run ins, when he was warning me to stay away from Keaton Saint, to stay away from Noble-Hart, to go back to the kid table and play with the plastic forks. Ever since those few moments of bypassing one another, I was looking for the opportunity. Everything else just built up to it.
"Right, Terry?
"Then again, you were probably just being you, right? You were probably just doing what an egotistical Terry Marvin would do when he's trying to rule the world. And at least if you admit to it, I can nod my head and say that yeah, you probably did. You ruled the world, so you were probably just trying to squash as many of us under your foot as you could.
"Even if you weren't truly earning your stripes. It's not like I've shied away from the comments, and it's not like they've been denied. But that's something that we can, hopefully, settle at another time. Right now, it's all about momentum. Early momentum, but momentum that we can all use, save for you since you'll be riding that high of Survive and Conquer for quite some time. Probably until someone wins a Survive and Conquer match with more than one hundred people.
"But I digress because this isn't Survive and Conquer. This is a six man elimination tag team match. This is a match with the chance to work as a team. This is a match where the three of us can work together to eliminate the three of you, which I have no doubt we will be able to do. But I think that's what works well for us. We're three men with a similar goal, while the three of you are three men who are trying to one up each other, all headed by you, Terry.
"You all represent different moments of Overdrive. Level One represents the pesky past that just won't go away. Terry Marvin is the ever dominant present that is always there, no matter where you look. While Evan Envi is the future. The star in the making. The man to eventually take the torches of Level One and Terry Marvin and run with them. And when you have that much behind you, the skies the limit.
"But for some reason, thinking of the three of you like that, it doesn't worry me. Sure, in some cases I'd say that out loud and wonder if I'm in over my head. I wonder if the collection of men standing across from me will be my eventual end. But then I remember that the reason they got there, is because they are all good at one thing.
"You're all good at pulling the rug out from underneath people.
"Even if we see it coming, you all still do it. Level One did it before Christmas Chaos when he made it seem like he wanted to help me, only to reveal that he was only doing so because he wanted me to be a credible opponent. He wanted me to be something more than the nothing he thought I was. And if that was true, in the slightest, I wonder what that says for Lester now that I won.
"Of course Envi did the same thing to Dionysus. Just after he had Dionysus convinced he was willing to team up, Envi turned his back on him, pulled the rug out from under him, and laughed in his face about it. Sure, he sent Dionysus packing, but I wouldn't count it as a good moment after I had to literally buddy up with the guy to get that job accomplished.
"Then of course there's Terry Marvin who has pulled the rug from under...well, most of APW and all of it's fans. Whether it's the Terry Marvin we saw before One Night in Hell or the one we saw afterwards when he tricked Biggs into thinking they were tight, Terry Marvin seems to be a master at deceiving everyone.
"And that's the bonus of this weeks match. The three of you don't have the ability to use those tricks, because the three of us already know your games. We already know how much shit you are all full of, so we won't be buying whatever the hell you're selling. All we're going to do is go out to that ring, fight as a team and by the end of the match, stand tall with our arms raised. I've got faith in them, just like I have faith that the three of you won't play fair.
"Because you never play fair.
"That's your M.O.
"Just like mine is to always give it my all, to always prove myself, to always send the fans home happy.
"To always go big or go home."
