Post by C.J. Gates on Mar 6, 2013 20:26:42 GMT -4
"The time is almost upon us.
"This is the last week before I get my chance to capture the Undisputed title for a second time. This is the last week before I get my chance to get my hands on Terry Marvin in an environment which could allow me to end his reign of terror.
"Before I do that, however, I have to put with Evan Envi. Again. Though this time it's not just him and I inside of the ring. This time, there's the added involvement of one Buckson Gooch. Gooch and I haven't had the pleasure of competing against one another, while Envi and I, we're all too familiar.
"This will be the fourth match in a row that Envi and I are competing in as opponents. You would think by now that I am over him, that I don't want to fight him anymore, but it's the exact opposite. I want to fight Evan Envi.
"Just like I want to fight Buckson Gooch.
"After all, I enjoy something that is unknown to me, someone that I haven't had to test myself against. It's why I do interfed events and why I enjoy fighting someone for the first time. I only hope that the two of them are ready because I am not going to be letting up easy.
"The time is almost upon us, after all. Because of that, I need to make sure I am operating at a high level of competition. I need to make sure that I am ready for everything and I will use this match as a preparation match. I will use this match to make sure that I am capable of downing the ruling tyrant.
"For Buckson and Evan, this only means that they will both be treated as if they are Terry Marvin. They will both be treated as if they were the Undisputed champion. It's the easiest way.
"The time is almost upon us.
"And I am going to make sure I've got the momentum going into my match. I am going to make sure that I've got what it takes to become the new APW Undisputed champion."
"What did he want?" Vincent James asks C.J. Gates while the two eat at a diner somewhere in London, Ontario.
"Who?" Gates asks after taking a sip of water.
"The suit," James says. "The guy that found you at the arena. The guy that came around the office looking for you."
"Oh, him," Gates says. "He just wanted to talk to me about financial stuff."
"Anything important?" James asks, taking a bit of his sandwich.
"Just a few things that my mother was trying to hide from me. A few things that she's being a bit of a bitch about, to be honest. She's really starting to go a bit crazy, about everything really. It's really starting to weigh on me."
"Is it distracting you?" James asks. "I know last year around this time you had the whole deal going on with your family and that kind of got you all caught up in everything that wasn't the fatal four way at Rasslemania."
Gates nods. "It's not distracting me too much. I told the man to come back after Rasslemania, that I had more important things to do right now."
"Like focus on Terry Marvin."
Gates nods again. "That's one of them. But right now, I have to worry about Buckson Gooch and Evan Envi."
"Envi?" James asks. "Again? Jesus, is there no one else they can put you in a match with?"
"Seems that way," Gates chuckles. "Every match I've had since Survive and Conquer, he has been involved in them. And every match I've had with him, I've made sure to put him in his place."
"That might be up for debate," James says, "but I know what you're getting at. Now, who's this other guy. Buck?"
"Buckson Gooch."
"Gooch? What the hell kind of name is that," James says with a smile. "Sounds..."
"Inappropriate? Yeah, some people have made comments about it, but really, it doesn't matter to me what his name is. He could be Johnny Appletree for all I care, that doesn't make a difference to how he's going to fight inside of that ring."
"I guess that's true," James says. "But still. Gooch?" Gates chuckles along.
"I've got nothing bad to say about him," Gates says. "The name is funny, but I've still got nothing bad to say."
"Maybe not, but you're going to beat him, right?"
"I'm going to try," Gates says, nodding. "I'm going to give it my best to come out of that match the winner because I need that momentum going into my match against Marvin."
"Well at least you've got one up on Envi, right?" James suggests. "You've beaten him the past three times."
"Yes and no," Gates answers. "The first time, in that six man tag team match, his team won, though I eliminated him from the match. The second time, I beat him one on one. The win was by count out, sure, but it was still a win, and a match that he lost because he was a bit full of himself."
"And the third time?"
"Well, you saw that one. Marvin and I came out on top after Envi did what we figured he would do and turned on Mania."
"But that's still a win, right?"
Gates nods. "In the record books, sure, but in here," Gates taps his temple, "it comes out as something a bit less than that. Especially for Evan. He's the sort of guy who will hold it over someone's head, and I'm sure that he's going to remind me that Marvin and I didn't really win, instead Envi won the match for us."
"You think?"
"I know."
"Well, maybe he would have changed his tune. Maybe he'll admit that he was losing anyways so why not just send his partner up the river."
Gates looks at James. "This is Evan Envi, Vinnie. He's not that kind of person."
James smiles. "I know. It was just a thought, you know? Something to maybe go to as a last resort."
Gates shakes his head. "No, Evan is going to use that as his go to. He's got nothing else since I've bested him at every other turn. But it's good preparation for Rasslemania."
"Since Marvin is the same sort of person?"
"Mentally," Gates says. "Talent wise, probably not, but he has a similar mindset. He thinks he's the be all, end all, just like Evan Envi. Marvin things that he is above earning his opportunities, just like Evan Envi. They are two peas in two different pods, though both of them are on the sour side. And they both infuriate me."
"Oh, I'm sure they'll love that," James says before taking a sip of his coffee. He raises the empty mug up into the air, signaling to the waitress. "They will love to know that they are capable of getting under your skin. They would consider that a victory, as small as it is."
"Most likely, though they also need to realize that it doesn't mean as much as they think it does," Gates says. "I mean, sure, they infuriate me, but that isn't anything for them to celebrate. It just means I would want to get at them one hundred percent more than normal."
"Yeah but to them, that means that they've gotten you off your game."
"It might, but that's not what happens," Gates says. "I was infuriated with Level One before Christmas Chaos and look what happened to him."
James chuckles. "I guess it works both ways. They infuriate you, think they've got you right where they want you which makes them a bit more capable of slipping up since they're so confident and then that's when you turn around and get the win from them."
"It works well, though, since I can prepared myself for Terry."
"That's very true," James says. "If you want the momentum, though, I wouldn't get too caught up with what Terry is doing or what he does. Focus on this match first. Then worry about Terry and the Undisputed title."
"I know," Gates says, "but it works just as well to make these people out to be Terry Marvin incarnate. Let my mind get prepared to face someone of his skill."
"And if they don't live up?"
"What do you mean?"
"Say Envi and Gooch," James starts before stopping to chuckle slightly. "Say your two opponents don't live up to those expectations you've set for them. You win and then when you face Marvin, you aren't ready for him and he comes at you with more then you're prepared for."
"I guess it's possible," Gates says. "But my matches with Terry Marvin are enough of a baseline to know exactly what he's going to throw my way."
"Then why worry about these two?"
"To make sure I'm ready. To make sure I'm prepared for everything that could happen at Rasslemania."
"Well, just don't get too caught up in him," James says.
"I know, I know, you don't have to keep reminding me. I've had big matches like this before, and sometimes it works to be too focused on your opponent. Sometimes it works to be so focused on someone that you can't think of anything but that one person. It keeps you focused and determined. And when it's people that you have a bit of a hatred out for, it makes it that much easier."
"You've got a hate out for Terry Marvin?" James asks before thanking the waitress.
"Who wouldn't?" Gates says. "After all he's done? After all he's done to me?"
"But there are people that have done worse to you, right?"
"Oh, way worse," Gates agrees. "Noble, Biggs, Talfourd, I've definitely had worse, but each time, is just as bad in some respects as the last."
"I guess you're a seasoned veteran at putting up with all of that shit, aren't you?"
"Somewhat, I guess," Gates says with a chuckle. "Though I partially wonder if I'll ever be truly prepared for what is to come. It seems like every moment, I'm expecting something and something else happens."
"True."
"And when I'm expecting the truth," Gates continues, "when I know what is coming, everyone calls me out on it because I shouldn't know what to really expect. Like Marvin's whole retirement plot. I didn't truly buy it, yet have been getting written off about it."
"Well, that could just be because you let it play out," James advises. "Had you taken a different approach the week after, I'm sure people wouldn't be calling you out on it."
"Possibly," Gates says. "It still doesn't sit right with me."
"Naturally it wouldn't. People are questioning your integrity and what you're all about. I wouldn't let that sit easy for me either."
Gates nods. "Though I don't think any of that will come into play this week. If Terry Marvin appears during my match, he's not going to gain much out of it. I figure he'll spend the whole night waiting for me to slip up, rather then to put himself in harms way."
"But whats harms way for Marvin?"
"Anything that makes him look like a chump."
"Don't leave much," James says and the two share a laugh.
"Too true," Gates says, shaking his head. "But Marvin is a story for another day. This week, I have to take on Gooch and Envi, and I am not going to sit back and just let them take control. I'm going to show them that I am not taking Marvin lightly, nor am I taking them lightly."
"They're in for a fight?"
"They're in for a fight."
"Your story intrigues me, Gooch.
"Nothing about what happened to you before coming to APW, but your story since signing up to fight under this banner. You came in with Mac Bane with aspirations of tag team glory set in your sights. You were waiting for that right moment for the two of you to strike.
"Then, after some ups and downs, Mac Bane disappears, leaving you in the lurch. Leaving you wondering what's next in the Tao of Buckson. What is next for you. And you survived, moving forward to carve out a nice role for yourself as a singles wrestler, moving to Overdrive and creating a great challenge for Mark Mania's Overdrive title.
"In some ways, this reminds me of myself. On the surface anyways. When I started here, I got my start as part of a tag team wrestler. I had success, but at one point, my partner, Blade, turned on me and left me in the lurch, as well. Left me wondering where to step next. Luckily for me, I became the target of nearly every villain that wanted to try and shine their way to the top. Everyone wanted to take a shot at me to try and put themselves over.
"But I prevailed.
"I fought against all of them and ended up coming out on top, ended up being the one that everyone else would look up to for a few months. So I guess in a way, you remind me of myself. In a way, you remind me of the trials and tribulations that I went through to get to where I am today.
"And maybe that's why I am so looking forward to getting into the ring with you. Seeing what you did to get that match against Mark Mania and what you did when you finally got that match. You put on quite a show and got yourself noticed, at least by me. Maybe others are still writing you off for your name or your lack of true APW success.
"But not me. Then again, I've never been one to let people be decided by what they haven't done or what their name is. I go by what I've seen, and from what I've seen, Buckson, you've got an ability to stun the world and win this match at Overdrive. No lie. You could come out on top of this match and really make people take notice. You could really set yourself up for a nice bit of recognition from the people upstairs, as well.
"Which is why treating you like an actual threat isn't so far fetched. I'm sure Evan will simply write you off as an added party so that people don't get bored of him fighting me again, but then again, that's the way his brain operates. But that's not what I see you as. You're more than just a filler. You're more than just some Southern redneck.
"You're Buckson Gooch. Former member of the Sons of the South, former number one contender to the Overdrive title. Hell, Gooch, you were in the seat than Evan Envi wants to be in. He's been hounding Mark Mania for a title shot for weeks, while you, you earned it.
"You are a man of morality, Gooch. A man that knows it's better to earn something than to take it from them. A man that knows it's better to win something based on what you have done, then to win something because you stole it.
"You are not Evan Envi.
"And for that, I tip my hat off to you. Because you play by the rules. You are an honest man, and you are going to be a man that I am going to enjoy wrestling, because it will be a match, at least between us that is played by the rules.
"The only downer to the match is the addition of Evan Envi. We all know what he is about, and he's shown his colors week in and week out. He's shown that he doesn't have the ability to earn a title show, to fight until one is awarded to him, but instead, he wants to try and steal it, to make it his. Kind of like how he wanted to put himself a bit ahead of everyone else, to form a better opinion of himself, by demanding John Dionysus in a match. Not by a simple challenge, but by luring him in as a friend and attacking him.
"Stand up citizen he is, that's for sure.
"But it's not like that was a secret, right Evan? It's not like you were still trying to make the fact that you are anything but a good person hidden. If you were, then you failed at that, just like you failed to beat me.
"I know, you probably have some elaborate explanation for everything, but the facts are there. We met in that six man tag, and even though Marvin and Lester got you the victory, you were the one from your team to be eliminated, and I was the one to eliminate you. So while you have the win next to your name, remember that you didn't exactly stand tall at the end of the night, thanks to yours truly.
"Then there was last week, which I'm sure you won't let anyone forget about. You know, when you cost your team the match just to prove a point to Mania. The fact that you aren't going to let Marvin and myself settle on that win is also present, since you are going to shout from the rooftops that you were the real winner of the match.
"Even though you got the official loss.
"And even though you still don't have the title shot you want.
"You will tell everyone that you are the winner. Whatever that means in your head. What it means to me is that you just like to think of yourself as the best, no matter what happens. If you lost four matches in a row, you would still claim how you are unbeatable, because that is just what you do. You would still make people cringe at the way you build yourself up into some sort of unbeatable monster.
"An unbeatable monster that I have two official wins over. After all, we can't forget the count out victory. And while you won't officially recognize that because of how it all went down, you can at least see where I'm coming from. You can at least understand that, right?
"Or are you so lost in the clouds, that even the simplest of things go right by you. That even the most factual episodes are irrelevant because you don't want to believe them to be the truth. I beat you, I have the win, you failed to capitalize. That's all there is to it. I may not have pinned or submitted you, but I did do that the match prior when I eliminated you.
"But you're different now, though, right? You're on the verge of getting what you want after throwing one tantrum after another, and you are on the verge of becoming another blip on Mania's radar. Trust me, Evan, he will beat you. I mean, if you think I'm as bad as you do, if you believe that you should be ahead of me in every single list, including as a contender for the Undisputed title, then my recent success over you can only mean that someone who is as talented as Mark Mania is going to come out on top.
"No?
"Why not? Is it you not wanting to listen to facts? Or just stubbornness because you believe you are still in every match, even if you have no right being there. But enough about what might happen at Rasslemania for you, and let's focus on what is going to be happening at Overdrive for all three of us. What will be happening when the three of us step into the ring.
"It will be a fight, that much is sure. When you have one man looking to show that he's the best in the world, another looking to gain momentum, and a third who is from the south, a fight is what's to be expected. At the end, only one of us can come out on top. Only one of us can become the victor, and it's not going to come easy. We're going to have to earn it. We're going to have to bust our asses to get the job down, and we're going to have to show that we deserve it.
"Now, I know that Gooch is going to be bringing his A game, because that is what Gooch does week in and week out. That is why Gooch has my respect as a competitor, because he doesn't let himself get counted out of any match that he is in. No matter who his opponent is, he's bringing his best so that he has a chance to win. That's the same reason why I know he is a threat to stealing this victory away. He's got that much talent, and I, for one, can see that in him.
"Will Envi bring his A game? Probably, but only if it suits him. For instance, if he doesn't want to get himself caught up in a fight, he will probably do his best to avoid one, even if that means sitting out on the outside. He's probably going to employ some dirty tactics to try and get the upper hand, namely because he can. Because he's Evan Envi. Because it's what he's best at.
"Which is why I don't respect him as a competitor. Sure, he's won more titles then Buckson has in APW, but that's not what my respect hinges on. If it was, then I would have some measure of respect for Level One, though whatever respect there was disappeared quite quickly. No, Envi is the low life I know him to be and he's shown it a few times now.
"So what makes you think you can win, Evan? Because you want to? Well, I'm sure Buck and I both want to win just as much. Maybe you demand it, is that it? Whatever the case, Evan, I don't see you pulling out the victory this week. I won't go on record to say that I am going to get the win, because that's not my style, but I will say that if you want to have a chance at sniffing a victory, you will have to put in a lot of work and you will have to be anything but the person you are.
"As for me? As much as I want to say that I can get the win, as much as I want to say I will win this for momentum, I can't. Sure, I need the momentum, but that's just that. I need it. I'm not saying that I am going to get it. But what I will say, is that I am going to try. What I will say is that I am going to give it my all, I am going to put on a great show for the fans, and I am going to try and walk out of that arena with the victory so that I can keep that train rolling with a victory over Terry Marvin at Rasslemania.
"So I guess the two of you need to ask yourselves if you're ready? Will each of you be able to give it your all in an attempt to win? Will you, Evan, be able to fight an actual clean fight for once in your APW career?
"I doubt that one.
"The night is almost upon us, though, so I only have one question for the both of you.
"Are you going to go big, or are you simply going to go home?
"I know I'm going big."
"This is the last week before I get my chance to capture the Undisputed title for a second time. This is the last week before I get my chance to get my hands on Terry Marvin in an environment which could allow me to end his reign of terror.
"Before I do that, however, I have to put with Evan Envi. Again. Though this time it's not just him and I inside of the ring. This time, there's the added involvement of one Buckson Gooch. Gooch and I haven't had the pleasure of competing against one another, while Envi and I, we're all too familiar.
"This will be the fourth match in a row that Envi and I are competing in as opponents. You would think by now that I am over him, that I don't want to fight him anymore, but it's the exact opposite. I want to fight Evan Envi.
"Just like I want to fight Buckson Gooch.
"After all, I enjoy something that is unknown to me, someone that I haven't had to test myself against. It's why I do interfed events and why I enjoy fighting someone for the first time. I only hope that the two of them are ready because I am not going to be letting up easy.
"The time is almost upon us, after all. Because of that, I need to make sure I am operating at a high level of competition. I need to make sure that I am ready for everything and I will use this match as a preparation match. I will use this match to make sure that I am capable of downing the ruling tyrant.
"For Buckson and Evan, this only means that they will both be treated as if they are Terry Marvin. They will both be treated as if they were the Undisputed champion. It's the easiest way.
"The time is almost upon us.
"And I am going to make sure I've got the momentum going into my match. I am going to make sure that I've got what it takes to become the new APW Undisputed champion."
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"What did he want?" Vincent James asks C.J. Gates while the two eat at a diner somewhere in London, Ontario.
"Who?" Gates asks after taking a sip of water.
"The suit," James says. "The guy that found you at the arena. The guy that came around the office looking for you."
"Oh, him," Gates says. "He just wanted to talk to me about financial stuff."
"Anything important?" James asks, taking a bit of his sandwich.
"Just a few things that my mother was trying to hide from me. A few things that she's being a bit of a bitch about, to be honest. She's really starting to go a bit crazy, about everything really. It's really starting to weigh on me."
"Is it distracting you?" James asks. "I know last year around this time you had the whole deal going on with your family and that kind of got you all caught up in everything that wasn't the fatal four way at Rasslemania."
Gates nods. "It's not distracting me too much. I told the man to come back after Rasslemania, that I had more important things to do right now."
"Like focus on Terry Marvin."
Gates nods again. "That's one of them. But right now, I have to worry about Buckson Gooch and Evan Envi."
"Envi?" James asks. "Again? Jesus, is there no one else they can put you in a match with?"
"Seems that way," Gates chuckles. "Every match I've had since Survive and Conquer, he has been involved in them. And every match I've had with him, I've made sure to put him in his place."
"That might be up for debate," James says, "but I know what you're getting at. Now, who's this other guy. Buck?"
"Buckson Gooch."
"Gooch? What the hell kind of name is that," James says with a smile. "Sounds..."
"Inappropriate? Yeah, some people have made comments about it, but really, it doesn't matter to me what his name is. He could be Johnny Appletree for all I care, that doesn't make a difference to how he's going to fight inside of that ring."
"I guess that's true," James says. "But still. Gooch?" Gates chuckles along.
"I've got nothing bad to say about him," Gates says. "The name is funny, but I've still got nothing bad to say."
"Maybe not, but you're going to beat him, right?"
"I'm going to try," Gates says, nodding. "I'm going to give it my best to come out of that match the winner because I need that momentum going into my match against Marvin."
"Well at least you've got one up on Envi, right?" James suggests. "You've beaten him the past three times."
"Yes and no," Gates answers. "The first time, in that six man tag team match, his team won, though I eliminated him from the match. The second time, I beat him one on one. The win was by count out, sure, but it was still a win, and a match that he lost because he was a bit full of himself."
"And the third time?"
"Well, you saw that one. Marvin and I came out on top after Envi did what we figured he would do and turned on Mania."
"But that's still a win, right?"
Gates nods. "In the record books, sure, but in here," Gates taps his temple, "it comes out as something a bit less than that. Especially for Evan. He's the sort of guy who will hold it over someone's head, and I'm sure that he's going to remind me that Marvin and I didn't really win, instead Envi won the match for us."
"You think?"
"I know."
"Well, maybe he would have changed his tune. Maybe he'll admit that he was losing anyways so why not just send his partner up the river."
Gates looks at James. "This is Evan Envi, Vinnie. He's not that kind of person."
James smiles. "I know. It was just a thought, you know? Something to maybe go to as a last resort."
Gates shakes his head. "No, Evan is going to use that as his go to. He's got nothing else since I've bested him at every other turn. But it's good preparation for Rasslemania."
"Since Marvin is the same sort of person?"
"Mentally," Gates says. "Talent wise, probably not, but he has a similar mindset. He thinks he's the be all, end all, just like Evan Envi. Marvin things that he is above earning his opportunities, just like Evan Envi. They are two peas in two different pods, though both of them are on the sour side. And they both infuriate me."
"Oh, I'm sure they'll love that," James says before taking a sip of his coffee. He raises the empty mug up into the air, signaling to the waitress. "They will love to know that they are capable of getting under your skin. They would consider that a victory, as small as it is."
"Most likely, though they also need to realize that it doesn't mean as much as they think it does," Gates says. "I mean, sure, they infuriate me, but that isn't anything for them to celebrate. It just means I would want to get at them one hundred percent more than normal."
"Yeah but to them, that means that they've gotten you off your game."
"It might, but that's not what happens," Gates says. "I was infuriated with Level One before Christmas Chaos and look what happened to him."
James chuckles. "I guess it works both ways. They infuriate you, think they've got you right where they want you which makes them a bit more capable of slipping up since they're so confident and then that's when you turn around and get the win from them."
"It works well, though, since I can prepared myself for Terry."
"That's very true," James says. "If you want the momentum, though, I wouldn't get too caught up with what Terry is doing or what he does. Focus on this match first. Then worry about Terry and the Undisputed title."
"I know," Gates says, "but it works just as well to make these people out to be Terry Marvin incarnate. Let my mind get prepared to face someone of his skill."
"And if they don't live up?"
"What do you mean?"
"Say Envi and Gooch," James starts before stopping to chuckle slightly. "Say your two opponents don't live up to those expectations you've set for them. You win and then when you face Marvin, you aren't ready for him and he comes at you with more then you're prepared for."
"I guess it's possible," Gates says. "But my matches with Terry Marvin are enough of a baseline to know exactly what he's going to throw my way."
"Then why worry about these two?"
"To make sure I'm ready. To make sure I'm prepared for everything that could happen at Rasslemania."
"Well, just don't get too caught up in him," James says.
"I know, I know, you don't have to keep reminding me. I've had big matches like this before, and sometimes it works to be too focused on your opponent. Sometimes it works to be so focused on someone that you can't think of anything but that one person. It keeps you focused and determined. And when it's people that you have a bit of a hatred out for, it makes it that much easier."
"You've got a hate out for Terry Marvin?" James asks before thanking the waitress.
"Who wouldn't?" Gates says. "After all he's done? After all he's done to me?"
"But there are people that have done worse to you, right?"
"Oh, way worse," Gates agrees. "Noble, Biggs, Talfourd, I've definitely had worse, but each time, is just as bad in some respects as the last."
"I guess you're a seasoned veteran at putting up with all of that shit, aren't you?"
"Somewhat, I guess," Gates says with a chuckle. "Though I partially wonder if I'll ever be truly prepared for what is to come. It seems like every moment, I'm expecting something and something else happens."
"True."
"And when I'm expecting the truth," Gates continues, "when I know what is coming, everyone calls me out on it because I shouldn't know what to really expect. Like Marvin's whole retirement plot. I didn't truly buy it, yet have been getting written off about it."
"Well, that could just be because you let it play out," James advises. "Had you taken a different approach the week after, I'm sure people wouldn't be calling you out on it."
"Possibly," Gates says. "It still doesn't sit right with me."
"Naturally it wouldn't. People are questioning your integrity and what you're all about. I wouldn't let that sit easy for me either."
Gates nods. "Though I don't think any of that will come into play this week. If Terry Marvin appears during my match, he's not going to gain much out of it. I figure he'll spend the whole night waiting for me to slip up, rather then to put himself in harms way."
"But whats harms way for Marvin?"
"Anything that makes him look like a chump."
"Don't leave much," James says and the two share a laugh.
"Too true," Gates says, shaking his head. "But Marvin is a story for another day. This week, I have to take on Gooch and Envi, and I am not going to sit back and just let them take control. I'm going to show them that I am not taking Marvin lightly, nor am I taking them lightly."
"They're in for a fight?"
"They're in for a fight."
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"Your story intrigues me, Gooch.
"Nothing about what happened to you before coming to APW, but your story since signing up to fight under this banner. You came in with Mac Bane with aspirations of tag team glory set in your sights. You were waiting for that right moment for the two of you to strike.
"Then, after some ups and downs, Mac Bane disappears, leaving you in the lurch. Leaving you wondering what's next in the Tao of Buckson. What is next for you. And you survived, moving forward to carve out a nice role for yourself as a singles wrestler, moving to Overdrive and creating a great challenge for Mark Mania's Overdrive title.
"In some ways, this reminds me of myself. On the surface anyways. When I started here, I got my start as part of a tag team wrestler. I had success, but at one point, my partner, Blade, turned on me and left me in the lurch, as well. Left me wondering where to step next. Luckily for me, I became the target of nearly every villain that wanted to try and shine their way to the top. Everyone wanted to take a shot at me to try and put themselves over.
"But I prevailed.
"I fought against all of them and ended up coming out on top, ended up being the one that everyone else would look up to for a few months. So I guess in a way, you remind me of myself. In a way, you remind me of the trials and tribulations that I went through to get to where I am today.
"And maybe that's why I am so looking forward to getting into the ring with you. Seeing what you did to get that match against Mark Mania and what you did when you finally got that match. You put on quite a show and got yourself noticed, at least by me. Maybe others are still writing you off for your name or your lack of true APW success.
"But not me. Then again, I've never been one to let people be decided by what they haven't done or what their name is. I go by what I've seen, and from what I've seen, Buckson, you've got an ability to stun the world and win this match at Overdrive. No lie. You could come out on top of this match and really make people take notice. You could really set yourself up for a nice bit of recognition from the people upstairs, as well.
"Which is why treating you like an actual threat isn't so far fetched. I'm sure Evan will simply write you off as an added party so that people don't get bored of him fighting me again, but then again, that's the way his brain operates. But that's not what I see you as. You're more than just a filler. You're more than just some Southern redneck.
"You're Buckson Gooch. Former member of the Sons of the South, former number one contender to the Overdrive title. Hell, Gooch, you were in the seat than Evan Envi wants to be in. He's been hounding Mark Mania for a title shot for weeks, while you, you earned it.
"You are a man of morality, Gooch. A man that knows it's better to earn something than to take it from them. A man that knows it's better to win something based on what you have done, then to win something because you stole it.
"You are not Evan Envi.
"And for that, I tip my hat off to you. Because you play by the rules. You are an honest man, and you are going to be a man that I am going to enjoy wrestling, because it will be a match, at least between us that is played by the rules.
"The only downer to the match is the addition of Evan Envi. We all know what he is about, and he's shown his colors week in and week out. He's shown that he doesn't have the ability to earn a title show, to fight until one is awarded to him, but instead, he wants to try and steal it, to make it his. Kind of like how he wanted to put himself a bit ahead of everyone else, to form a better opinion of himself, by demanding John Dionysus in a match. Not by a simple challenge, but by luring him in as a friend and attacking him.
"Stand up citizen he is, that's for sure.
"But it's not like that was a secret, right Evan? It's not like you were still trying to make the fact that you are anything but a good person hidden. If you were, then you failed at that, just like you failed to beat me.
"I know, you probably have some elaborate explanation for everything, but the facts are there. We met in that six man tag, and even though Marvin and Lester got you the victory, you were the one from your team to be eliminated, and I was the one to eliminate you. So while you have the win next to your name, remember that you didn't exactly stand tall at the end of the night, thanks to yours truly.
"Then there was last week, which I'm sure you won't let anyone forget about. You know, when you cost your team the match just to prove a point to Mania. The fact that you aren't going to let Marvin and myself settle on that win is also present, since you are going to shout from the rooftops that you were the real winner of the match.
"Even though you got the official loss.
"And even though you still don't have the title shot you want.
"You will tell everyone that you are the winner. Whatever that means in your head. What it means to me is that you just like to think of yourself as the best, no matter what happens. If you lost four matches in a row, you would still claim how you are unbeatable, because that is just what you do. You would still make people cringe at the way you build yourself up into some sort of unbeatable monster.
"An unbeatable monster that I have two official wins over. After all, we can't forget the count out victory. And while you won't officially recognize that because of how it all went down, you can at least see where I'm coming from. You can at least understand that, right?
"Or are you so lost in the clouds, that even the simplest of things go right by you. That even the most factual episodes are irrelevant because you don't want to believe them to be the truth. I beat you, I have the win, you failed to capitalize. That's all there is to it. I may not have pinned or submitted you, but I did do that the match prior when I eliminated you.
"But you're different now, though, right? You're on the verge of getting what you want after throwing one tantrum after another, and you are on the verge of becoming another blip on Mania's radar. Trust me, Evan, he will beat you. I mean, if you think I'm as bad as you do, if you believe that you should be ahead of me in every single list, including as a contender for the Undisputed title, then my recent success over you can only mean that someone who is as talented as Mark Mania is going to come out on top.
"No?
"Why not? Is it you not wanting to listen to facts? Or just stubbornness because you believe you are still in every match, even if you have no right being there. But enough about what might happen at Rasslemania for you, and let's focus on what is going to be happening at Overdrive for all three of us. What will be happening when the three of us step into the ring.
"It will be a fight, that much is sure. When you have one man looking to show that he's the best in the world, another looking to gain momentum, and a third who is from the south, a fight is what's to be expected. At the end, only one of us can come out on top. Only one of us can become the victor, and it's not going to come easy. We're going to have to earn it. We're going to have to bust our asses to get the job down, and we're going to have to show that we deserve it.
"Now, I know that Gooch is going to be bringing his A game, because that is what Gooch does week in and week out. That is why Gooch has my respect as a competitor, because he doesn't let himself get counted out of any match that he is in. No matter who his opponent is, he's bringing his best so that he has a chance to win. That's the same reason why I know he is a threat to stealing this victory away. He's got that much talent, and I, for one, can see that in him.
"Will Envi bring his A game? Probably, but only if it suits him. For instance, if he doesn't want to get himself caught up in a fight, he will probably do his best to avoid one, even if that means sitting out on the outside. He's probably going to employ some dirty tactics to try and get the upper hand, namely because he can. Because he's Evan Envi. Because it's what he's best at.
"Which is why I don't respect him as a competitor. Sure, he's won more titles then Buckson has in APW, but that's not what my respect hinges on. If it was, then I would have some measure of respect for Level One, though whatever respect there was disappeared quite quickly. No, Envi is the low life I know him to be and he's shown it a few times now.
"So what makes you think you can win, Evan? Because you want to? Well, I'm sure Buck and I both want to win just as much. Maybe you demand it, is that it? Whatever the case, Evan, I don't see you pulling out the victory this week. I won't go on record to say that I am going to get the win, because that's not my style, but I will say that if you want to have a chance at sniffing a victory, you will have to put in a lot of work and you will have to be anything but the person you are.
"As for me? As much as I want to say that I can get the win, as much as I want to say I will win this for momentum, I can't. Sure, I need the momentum, but that's just that. I need it. I'm not saying that I am going to get it. But what I will say, is that I am going to try. What I will say is that I am going to give it my all, I am going to put on a great show for the fans, and I am going to try and walk out of that arena with the victory so that I can keep that train rolling with a victory over Terry Marvin at Rasslemania.
"So I guess the two of you need to ask yourselves if you're ready? Will each of you be able to give it your all in an attempt to win? Will you, Evan, be able to fight an actual clean fight for once in your APW career?
"I doubt that one.
"The night is almost upon us, though, so I only have one question for the both of you.
"Are you going to go big, or are you simply going to go home?
"I know I'm going big."
