Post by T-Marv on Mar 22, 2013 13:00:32 GMT -4
High atop his perch in the Sindicate Towers looking down at the city below him is the LEADER of the most devastating group in Wrestling History, Felipe Deloren. He smiles a VERY satisfying smile.
But the smile quickly fades away as he turns around to face the NEW ViW Tag Team Champions Level One and Terry Marvin. His facial expression is one of discontent as he sighs.
“HERE we sit on the very EDGE of history! We have the most prestigious Tag Team titles in the WORLD hanging from our shoulders after the two of you went through an ALL STAR lineup of fabricated teams. We’re days away from the most important APW event the Sindicate has EVER seen. Level One is in a battle for respect and dominance against one of our major enemies in Biggs while you Terry are headlining the GREATEST Rasslemania card that has ever been displayed. And the two of you want to FUCK things up by introducing a variable?”
Terry scowls at Felipe as Level One just scoffs.
“He’s NOT a variable. He’s a solid guy with a true wrestling mind. That’s EXACTLY what we need right now, somebody down there in the trenches with us who truly knows the sport and the matches inside and out!”
“And you’re saying I don’t?”
Terry smiles.
“See, you finally get it!”
Felipe explodes
“Look, you two little bags of shit would be nothing without me….”
“NOTHING? NOTHING!? I won this title ON MY OWN without so much as a PEEP from the likes of you. Level-One was already the first name on the tip of everyone’s tongue when the thought of wrestling came out WAY before you ever came in the picture. Without you Felipe, we’d be just fine!”
Terry smirks as the tension builds between he and Felipe as Level-One stands up to calm them down.
“Look, all he’s trying to say is you’re a business man. You handle things from up here. You don’t need to get your hands dirty! That’s what this guy is for.”
Felipe thinks it over calmly.
“Now just doesn’t feel like the right time. We’ve got so many big things on the horizon. We’re SO close to just reaching out and taking everything we’ve wanted for so long.”
Terry slams his fist on the table.
“BULLSHIT FELIPE!”
Level-One tries to calm him down but Terry shrugs him off.
“You’re just a scared little boy trying to keep hold of your shiny toy a little bit longer. Well I don’t answer to you!”
“You BET YOUR ASS you do!”
Again they stare each other down. But in the end Terry just smirks.
“You don’t really get it do you? I am the real reason the Sindicate is together. I am the real reason we work! I’m what brings us the prestige and the notoriety. Without me, the sindicate would just be some stuffy suit, two slutty bimbos, and a former shining star who’s been hit in the head a few times and has lost his way!”
“Now wait just one fucking second!”
Terry ignores him and continues staring at Felipe! He holds up the Undisputed Championship!
“THIS, this right here is what matters. This is ALL that matters. This is what I’ll be spending 60 minutes inside a ring against an unworthy piece of shit to attempt to hold on to. THIS, Felipe is the ONLY reason you have any major claim in APW! This is the reason I make the fucking decisions around here!”
The stare down is intense. Three big Egos are continually inflating in this room and there’s certainly not enough space for them to NOT explode! Level-One turns Terry around and gets in his face.
“LISTEN to me you arrogant little puke. I know you think you’re big shit here, but why do you think that is? You’re in your position STILL because the Sindicate has ALWAYS had your back! “
Terry digests what he’s saying for a minute as the tension slowly dissipates.
“Now I happen to AGREE with you on this, but don’t be puffing out your chest and thinking you’re bigger than the Sindicate.“
Terry smirks and looks at Level One.
“You know what’s funny Level-One? This could have been an entirely different conversation. Instead of trying to build togetherness, we could be standing around talking plans for the biggest match in the history of APW. WE could be talking about Level One vs. Terry Marvin, an ALL SINDICATE main event! ”
Level-One raises an eyebrow wondering where the point comes into play.
“But we’re not, because YOU couldn’t get the job done at Christmas Chaos! I however DID MY PART! I’ve always DONE MY PART! And do you know what that means?”
Terry looks at a now fuming Level One and a continually pissed off Felipe Deloren.
“It means that I MAKE THE DECISIONS here. I may not be bigger than the Sindicate, but I’m sure as hell the biggest fucking piece! Now the two of you can either stand here and fight me on that all day long, or you can do the smart thing and just accept my decision! Cause at the end of the day, I’ve ALWAYS done the right thing for the Sindicate, have I not?”
He stands there waiting for Felipe or Level One to answer. They just look at each other silent.
“What’s that? I don’t think I heard you. The correct answer is YES! YES, everything I’ve done, everything I’ve said has been to further the Sindicate. I have never made a shitty decision that jepordized everything.”
He glares at Felipe who hangs his head accepting blame for certain things.
“I’ve NEVER made an outside alliance with some FLOOZY to try to out my teammate in Survive and Conquer.”
HE glares at Level One now who looks on in shock at being caught for his role in Vannah White’s attempt at greatness.
“I AM A TEAM PLAYER! So don’t you DARE ever question MY loyalty!”
His voice rings out proud and true as neither man can dispute a word he’s said.
“Now if you’ll EXCUSE me, I need to go tell our new manager the good news.”
Terry smirks and turns toward the doorway. After he leaves, a humbled Level-One looks at Felipe.
“We’ve GOT to do something about him. I mean, we’re an AMAZING team and we’re going to continue to dominate. But there’s no way the two of us are going to survive together on Overdrive.“
Felipe smiles as he watches Terry leave the building through his window.
“Don’t you worry about Marvin. I know exactly what to do with him!”
He flashes a wicked smile as the scene slowly fades to black.
“Well?”
The cold Toronto wind blows through the streets of downtown as the APW Undisputed Champion approaches a man in a suit. The man turns around and we see SAM STRACHON: ViW commentator, SCW superstar, and Mr. Sure Shot! HE smiles as Terry pats him on his back.
“Welcome to the Sindicate my friend. ”
They both smile before turning and walking down the street.
“Excellent. So, you ready for Rasslemania then?”
“More than ready! I’ve been waiting for this showdown for longer than I could have EVER imagined. And now, with you as the ace up my sleeve, I’m fucking untouchable! ”
“So I guess it’s time to celebrate then? I’ll call the Hardcore Monkey and we can paint the town…”
“Not so fast my friend. Rasslemania may be my destiny, and it may even be a foregone conclusion. But I don’t want to tempt the fates. CJ Gates is a dangerous man if everything goes perfect for him. I need to make sure that doesn’t happen. I need to guarantee that I’m ready for whatever he throws at me. I need a plan. I need to do something special, to really hit it home this week!”
Sam smiles a cocky smile and puts his arm around Marvin.
“Lucky for you, the greatest wrestling manager who’s ever lived is now in your corner. I’ve got an idea strait out of the legends. Come on Terry… let’s get ready for Infamy! ”
They continue walking down the street as the scene fades to black.
There is no more fierce, vicious, and majestic a creature in this world than a dragon.
But for all the myths and legends that exist, it’s all but impossible to discern the truth! Stories have been told that Dragons are evil creatures that rape virgins and pillage towns leaving a path of destruction in their wake. But those are just stories told by scared little boys and girls who still check under their bed every night for the boogey man. They’re stories inspired by fear, and that’s all they are… Stories.
The true glory of a Dragon comes in their mystery, in their power. There isn’t a force on the universe that can match up to them! They are the true kings of the world, though they rarely ever claim their throne. Why would you squander that much power? Why would you hold back when you could have the masses bowing down at your feet? That is where the mystery comes in, that is the questions on the tongue of every mythic lore scholar that has ever existed. That is what makes them the epitome of all interesting creatures.
But it’s time to separate fact from fiction here. Dragon’s do exist. You see them every day, and never even realize it because you’re blinded by the outlandish stereo types you’ve been brainwashed into believing. You see, the dragon won’t have gigantic wings, won’t have a distinct tail, and won’t be covered with scales. The dragon is a man of immense charisma and immense power. The dragon is a being with an aura around him that inflicts fear and awe! Everything else that follows around the stigma of the being is pure fairy tale bullshit that has got misconstrued throughout history.
Another falsehood brought into being by the gullible masses that believe anything in written form, is the great stories about heroic knights who slay dragons. Sure, those are great stories to imbue the fact that ANYTHING is possible, but all it’s truly doing is growing FALSE hope. Not everything is possible. Not anyone can be a hero. Sometimes David gets SQUASHED by Goliath. Dragons are GODS in a different form. They cannot be defeated. They cannot be diminished. They CANNOT BE KILLED! Dragons are final step in Evolution. Nothing will come after them. And nothing before them can survive. They are the alpha, the omega. They will be the last thing this world sees before time comes to an end.
Trying to defeat a dragon is foolish. But the world is full of fools. One day soon, the greatest of all dragons will once again be persecuted against, will once again be misunderstood. They will send their chosen champion to fight the perceived tyranny of the Dragon. They will put all their hopes and dreams on this one mere mortal. He will hold his head up high, and march to his ultimate demise.
Just like they always do.
Just like the rest of them have done.
They find out that fairy tales are make believe….
They find out that this is life, and that in life, things GET REAL!
The scene opens in a large cave dwelling. The sounds echo through the gigantic cavern. WE see gold and treasure littering the floor. We see a large Structure jutting out of the floor and raising 40 or so feet into the air. On top of the structure is a nest like platform. On the far, smooth wall of the cave were scenes fired from a projector of all kinds of different “dragon” scenes from movies over the ages. Standing on the nest is a man with his own bit of gold. Wearing the VIW Tag Team Championship around his waist and the APW Undisputed title over his shoulder is the REAL SHOW Terry Marvin. The camera closes in on his face as he smirks.
“So this is what it all comes down to eh C.J? That cowboy hat of yours becomes a halo, and you’re chosen to protect the poor rampaged village of APW from the big bad Dragon? You’re the Dragon slayer, the last hope of the people. Kind of anti climactic don’t you think? I mean of all the choices they had at their disposal, they chose a broken and battered man. But then again, maybe that’s the point. Maybe this is your redemption. Maybe all the failures of the past year will be washed away by cutting out the heart of the most feared man in APW.”
Terry smirks slightly as he lets out a sigh.
“Oh what a great story that would be. Unfortunately CJ, it’s only a story. You may live in the fictional world of fantasy, but here in the real world, not every epic has a happy ending! You see, the problem with facing down the biggest and baddest monster that nobody else could kill, is that NOBODY ELSE COULD KILL IT! You’re attempting to do the impossible. You’re attempting to catch lightning in a bottle. But what happens when that bottle explodes and all you’re left with is a million volts of electricity running through your veins?”
Terry closes his eyes and smiles, imagining the gory picture his words paint. He then opens them and smiles.
“Can’t you taste the irony Gates? Here you are, sent to destroy the monster YOU created. You do remember that don’t you Gates? You do remember the Test for the Best qualifier that you FAILED in preventing yours truly from moving on. That was the first domino Gates. That’s what knocked them all over one by one. That’s what set off the pattern that resulted in the most dominating year in WRESTLING history! You started this ride toward destiny. You started my path to the MAIN EVENT of Rasslemania. It’s only fitting that my journey completes with you, that this whole thing comes full circle.”
Terry shakes his head with a small hoarse laugh.
“To be honest, I’m shocked that you somehow made it here. After all the disappointment you’ve displayed this last year, you should be hiding your face under the pillows, red from embarrassment at the big stink you just left floating around. But somehow the fates have lead you here. I’m sure you’re praising them for this opportunity, not even registering the fact that they sent you to slaughter. That’s just like you CJ. You see the light at the end of the tunnel and assume glory when really you’re on a collision course with a freight train that will show no mercy!
All your hard work, all your fortitude used to get you to this point, to overcome so many hardships and depressing failures over the last year will be POINTLESS! When all is said and done, your post Rasslemania 8 downward spiral will look like a ride at Disneyland compared to the black hole of melancholy that I will thrust you toward after allowing all your hopes and dreams to build just to CRUSH them into dust! ”
Terry smirks as he looks around to his “lair” and shakes his head.
“When you take a look at all the treasures and glory I’ve accumulated in just one short year CJ, you’ve got to ask yourself one question. Who else has come looking to slay the dragon? Surely with all these trophies, somebody would try to come into my lair, my house, MY environment and try to STEAL my glorious possessions right?”
Terry smiles slyly and lets out a low laugh.
“You know the answer to that CJ. You know that LONG before you came into the picture the people chose a REAL champion, a TRUE champion to come to try and take my head. They believed in this man so much that they sent him again and again and again. And even though he continued to FAIL, he kept coming back, kept coming after me. Keaton Saint was a true hero CJ Gates. He forfeited all else he cared about to try to take me down. He sacrificed everything! He was the REAL DEAL! But for all of his beliefs, for all of his intentions, he could not do the job. Keaton saint was the PATRON SAINT of APW CJ, and he failed time and time again! And he was a TRUE warrior with PURE motives. Can you say the same?
Sure, you play the part well in front of the fans, putting on your white hat and shiny golden cape! You puff your chest out and speak about the virtues of good and the wickedness of EVIL! But when you look at all you’ve been through…it’s easy to see that your faith is shaken! And when the stories of old are repeated, there is one clear theme. The hero always has faith of some sort, and it’s what pulls him through. They are courageous to a fault, and they never have one single doubt. There are doubts in your eyes CJ… big gaping holes of doubts. And your heart is not pure, not solid. You are tainted CJ. And a Tainted warrior, a tainted champion can never EVER defeat a true source of power!”
The scene on the wall now depicts countless FAILED crusades by warriors to slay the dragons, getting obliterated in their attempts.
“Do you remember what I told you SOOO many months ago CJ? Do you remember when you came to me with that high and mighty stick up your ass proclaiming that you would NEVER let me conquer APW, that you’d never let me destroy it’s legacy. Do you remember what I said in that locker room that day? I told you ‘APW will be mine, and I will achieve glory. And there’s absolutely NOTHING you can do about it.’ And now here we are so many months later and I’m the man on the throne! And you couldn’t stop it, you couldn’t even slow it down CJ. When you look around APW you see a SHELL of what you once thought it was! I see a glorious and growing empire, but your self righteous viewpoint won’t let you see the truth in front of your eyes.
Instead you see an evil waste land ruled by a vicious emperor with a heart of stone! And in your fractured soul you realize that it’s your entire fault. You dropped the ball. All this is your creation. And now you see one last desperate attempt to right all your wrongs. You see beating me at Rasslemania as your chance for redemption, your shot at putting all those fans you let down back on your shoulders and carrying APW back to the fantasy promise land that you depicted in your mind. In your heart you believe that pile of bull shit. You’ve even gotten the world to believe that pile of bullshit. But I’m not so easily manipulated CJ! I know the truth.
I’ve seen the CJ Gates who is faced with adversity and runs away screaming or crumbles under pressure. The pressure has NEVER been higher than Rasslemania CJ and it’s already taken a toll on you hasn’t it? I can see that think little thread in your fragile mind ready to snap! Then what? You gonna see ghosts again? Your little psychotic break over the year has shown us nothing other than the fact that you cannot handle being in this position CJ! It feels like WHEN you collapse at Rasslemania, and you will collapse, there will be nothing left of the cowboy other than an empty shell! Perhaps that’s the way it should be. Perhaps that’s the END of the CJ Gates story. You know, the best tales in history all end in Tragedy!”
Terry takes another deep breath before he walks around the edge of the platform. He looks down at the far drop and then back at the camera.
“It’s one hell of a long fall from the top isn’t it CJ? And the landing, that sharp piercing crack all over your body just makes you want to crawl into a corner and die! But that’s not nearly the HARDEST part of the fall is it? No, what’s worse is the climb back up from obscurity. You have to scratch and crawl your way. I’ve watched you do it CJ and I applaud your perseverance, but there’s a difference between the journey and the destination! And what makes this destination an impenetrable fortress for you CJ is the fact that in your mind you’ve already lost! In your mind you’ve already been beaten. Don’t believe me?
Five months ago I had you CONVINCED that I changed my colors, had you believing that deep down I was truly a good person. I convinced you of the evils of Kurt Noble, of Biggs, of everybody. Then in one fell swoop I pulled the carpet out from under your feet and sent you tumbling back unsure of which way was up. In that moment, a little piece of your soul was forever tarnished. And in that moment I won the first battle, a mental battle that left you beaten and battered. Not only would you never trust me again, which I can live with, but you can never trust yourself! I left you unsure and rattled.
And then comes the Fool you twice portion of our programming. I had just won Survive and Conquer! I had just achieved all of my goals and dreams, so it only made sense for me to hang up my boots and walk away from this business of ours. And all it took was a few words of flattery to boost your ego and once again you were on Team Marvin! You ate up the line of bullshit I was feeding you and the second I mentioned giving you that title, you went absolutely bat shit. You dropped your panties like a sorority chick spotting a sports car. You finally got the chance to get your greedy little fingers on that title you couldn’t win for yourself and you jumped at it. Only to feel that slight discomfort coming from behind you. And this time it wasn’t your boy toy Biggs in a “Wish I could quit you” moment that you two Cowboys love so much! That was the moment your brain SNAPPED!”
Terry smiles proudly. He puffs his chest out smiling.
“But wait, there’s more. You’re psyche is shot not just because of the psychological warfare I’ve waged on you. I have instilled a mindset in your fragile little brain that you CANNOT defeat me physically. Let’s look at the history shall we Gates? And I’m not even talking about that fateful night when I stormed through you toward my Test for the Best victory. No, I’m talking about EVERY OTHER time I’ve gotten one up on you. Starting with Survive and Conquer. There you were, ready to finally breach that gap between good and great when who should come out of no where and pull your ass out of the ring? YOURS TRULY! And just to add a little bit of insult, I used your lame ass as a platform to keep myself in the match. I walked all over you that night CJ…literally.
And then let’s talk about a few nights SENCE then TJ. One in particular when Level One and myself defeated you and your revolving door of tag partners Mark and Biggs. That was pretty embarrassing being dominated by the very same people you swore to vanquish. Then it was just you and I in a tag team against your buddy and my enemy. And when all was said and done, I DIDN’T NEED YOU to win the match! I did a hell of a job myself. And after it was all said and done for good measure, I PINNED YOU AGAIN! This is becoming a pattern CJ, maybe you should look into that.
But that’s not the biggest break to your ego. That’s not the biggest stab to your confidence. You see, the problem with you is that when it comes to the BIG matches, you fall to pieces. So how did it feel when Level One and I conquered over you for yet ANOTHER big notch in my belt at Clash of the Titans. You know, It’s gotta get pretty exhausting always looking up the ladder and seeing me standing in your way. I men, personally I fucking love it, but then again, I’m the guy always looking down at you from my seat of power. You’re allowed to be jealous CJ…in fact, I encourage it! ”
Terry smiles one last time before he looks at the pictures on the wall. Over and over again, the dragon slaughters the knight.
“In the past, I’ve used every single dirty trick in the book to get my victories. But this time, at Rasslemania, that won’t be necessary. You see, on a stage like this, beating you fair and square in front of MILLIONS of my fans will feel SO much better than any contrived method I can think of.
See, this isn’t just any match. It’s 60 minutes full of strategy, plotting, and pure talent. It’s what I was built for. Who can defeat the other person more times in 60 minutes? That’s the real question isn’t it? Well, over the last year I’ve beaten you so many times that my expansive brain has lost count. And you CJ…you’ve beaten me once. One time, many moons ago before I became the pinnacle of APW! I’m sure you’ll hold on to that meaningless victory for a very VERY long time. Unfortunately that will be the only one you have!
I, however, will have Rasslemania and a plethora of defeats over the man formerly known as CJ Gates. After all, once I destroy your reason for living, you’ll just cease to exist!”
Terry sits on the edge of the platform and looks out into the camera.
“But for now, I’ll just sit and way for the knight to come strolling into this lair.
For now, I’ll just bide my time and dream about everything this past year has meant to me.
For now, I’ll just continue to plan my reign of terror after Rasslemania.
After all, I am the Dragon of APW…that’s what I do.
And in just a few short days, this dragon flies again. This time, it won’t be the virgins or gold that I’m after. This time it will be the most valuable possession the fans of APW have left. HOPE! CJ Gates is the last remaining thread of hope these people have. And I will burn that hope to the ground!
It’s time for you people to respect and FEAR the most powerful force in APW.
THIS is the year of the DRAGON!
This is the year of THE REAL SHOW
This….
is……
SHOWTIME!”
With that the flames in the cave burst out from the ground as Terry just stands there laughing an evil, boisterous laugh that reverberates throughout the cave as the scene fades to black.
But the smile quickly fades away as he turns around to face the NEW ViW Tag Team Champions Level One and Terry Marvin. His facial expression is one of discontent as he sighs.
“HERE we sit on the very EDGE of history! We have the most prestigious Tag Team titles in the WORLD hanging from our shoulders after the two of you went through an ALL STAR lineup of fabricated teams. We’re days away from the most important APW event the Sindicate has EVER seen. Level One is in a battle for respect and dominance against one of our major enemies in Biggs while you Terry are headlining the GREATEST Rasslemania card that has ever been displayed. And the two of you want to FUCK things up by introducing a variable?”
Terry scowls at Felipe as Level One just scoffs.
“He’s NOT a variable. He’s a solid guy with a true wrestling mind. That’s EXACTLY what we need right now, somebody down there in the trenches with us who truly knows the sport and the matches inside and out!”
“And you’re saying I don’t?”
Terry smiles.
“See, you finally get it!”
Felipe explodes
“Look, you two little bags of shit would be nothing without me….”
“NOTHING? NOTHING!? I won this title ON MY OWN without so much as a PEEP from the likes of you. Level-One was already the first name on the tip of everyone’s tongue when the thought of wrestling came out WAY before you ever came in the picture. Without you Felipe, we’d be just fine!”
Terry smirks as the tension builds between he and Felipe as Level-One stands up to calm them down.
“Look, all he’s trying to say is you’re a business man. You handle things from up here. You don’t need to get your hands dirty! That’s what this guy is for.”
Felipe thinks it over calmly.
“Now just doesn’t feel like the right time. We’ve got so many big things on the horizon. We’re SO close to just reaching out and taking everything we’ve wanted for so long.”
Terry slams his fist on the table.
“BULLSHIT FELIPE!”
Level-One tries to calm him down but Terry shrugs him off.
“You’re just a scared little boy trying to keep hold of your shiny toy a little bit longer. Well I don’t answer to you!”
“You BET YOUR ASS you do!”
Again they stare each other down. But in the end Terry just smirks.
“You don’t really get it do you? I am the real reason the Sindicate is together. I am the real reason we work! I’m what brings us the prestige and the notoriety. Without me, the sindicate would just be some stuffy suit, two slutty bimbos, and a former shining star who’s been hit in the head a few times and has lost his way!”
“Now wait just one fucking second!”
Terry ignores him and continues staring at Felipe! He holds up the Undisputed Championship!
“THIS, this right here is what matters. This is ALL that matters. This is what I’ll be spending 60 minutes inside a ring against an unworthy piece of shit to attempt to hold on to. THIS, Felipe is the ONLY reason you have any major claim in APW! This is the reason I make the fucking decisions around here!”
The stare down is intense. Three big Egos are continually inflating in this room and there’s certainly not enough space for them to NOT explode! Level-One turns Terry around and gets in his face.
“LISTEN to me you arrogant little puke. I know you think you’re big shit here, but why do you think that is? You’re in your position STILL because the Sindicate has ALWAYS had your back! “
Terry digests what he’s saying for a minute as the tension slowly dissipates.
“Now I happen to AGREE with you on this, but don’t be puffing out your chest and thinking you’re bigger than the Sindicate.“
Terry smirks and looks at Level One.
“You know what’s funny Level-One? This could have been an entirely different conversation. Instead of trying to build togetherness, we could be standing around talking plans for the biggest match in the history of APW. WE could be talking about Level One vs. Terry Marvin, an ALL SINDICATE main event! ”
Level-One raises an eyebrow wondering where the point comes into play.
“But we’re not, because YOU couldn’t get the job done at Christmas Chaos! I however DID MY PART! I’ve always DONE MY PART! And do you know what that means?”
Terry looks at a now fuming Level One and a continually pissed off Felipe Deloren.
“It means that I MAKE THE DECISIONS here. I may not be bigger than the Sindicate, but I’m sure as hell the biggest fucking piece! Now the two of you can either stand here and fight me on that all day long, or you can do the smart thing and just accept my decision! Cause at the end of the day, I’ve ALWAYS done the right thing for the Sindicate, have I not?”
He stands there waiting for Felipe or Level One to answer. They just look at each other silent.
“What’s that? I don’t think I heard you. The correct answer is YES! YES, everything I’ve done, everything I’ve said has been to further the Sindicate. I have never made a shitty decision that jepordized everything.”
He glares at Felipe who hangs his head accepting blame for certain things.
“I’ve NEVER made an outside alliance with some FLOOZY to try to out my teammate in Survive and Conquer.”
HE glares at Level One now who looks on in shock at being caught for his role in Vannah White’s attempt at greatness.
“I AM A TEAM PLAYER! So don’t you DARE ever question MY loyalty!”
His voice rings out proud and true as neither man can dispute a word he’s said.
“Now if you’ll EXCUSE me, I need to go tell our new manager the good news.”
Terry smirks and turns toward the doorway. After he leaves, a humbled Level-One looks at Felipe.
“We’ve GOT to do something about him. I mean, we’re an AMAZING team and we’re going to continue to dominate. But there’s no way the two of us are going to survive together on Overdrive.“
Felipe smiles as he watches Terry leave the building through his window.
“Don’t you worry about Marvin. I know exactly what to do with him!”
He flashes a wicked smile as the scene slowly fades to black.
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“Well?”
The cold Toronto wind blows through the streets of downtown as the APW Undisputed Champion approaches a man in a suit. The man turns around and we see SAM STRACHON: ViW commentator, SCW superstar, and Mr. Sure Shot! HE smiles as Terry pats him on his back.
“Welcome to the Sindicate my friend. ”
They both smile before turning and walking down the street.
“Excellent. So, you ready for Rasslemania then?”
“More than ready! I’ve been waiting for this showdown for longer than I could have EVER imagined. And now, with you as the ace up my sleeve, I’m fucking untouchable! ”
“So I guess it’s time to celebrate then? I’ll call the Hardcore Monkey and we can paint the town…”
“Not so fast my friend. Rasslemania may be my destiny, and it may even be a foregone conclusion. But I don’t want to tempt the fates. CJ Gates is a dangerous man if everything goes perfect for him. I need to make sure that doesn’t happen. I need to guarantee that I’m ready for whatever he throws at me. I need a plan. I need to do something special, to really hit it home this week!”
Sam smiles a cocky smile and puts his arm around Marvin.
“Lucky for you, the greatest wrestling manager who’s ever lived is now in your corner. I’ve got an idea strait out of the legends. Come on Terry… let’s get ready for Infamy! ”
They continue walking down the street as the scene fades to black.
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There is no more fierce, vicious, and majestic a creature in this world than a dragon.
But for all the myths and legends that exist, it’s all but impossible to discern the truth! Stories have been told that Dragons are evil creatures that rape virgins and pillage towns leaving a path of destruction in their wake. But those are just stories told by scared little boys and girls who still check under their bed every night for the boogey man. They’re stories inspired by fear, and that’s all they are… Stories.
The true glory of a Dragon comes in their mystery, in their power. There isn’t a force on the universe that can match up to them! They are the true kings of the world, though they rarely ever claim their throne. Why would you squander that much power? Why would you hold back when you could have the masses bowing down at your feet? That is where the mystery comes in, that is the questions on the tongue of every mythic lore scholar that has ever existed. That is what makes them the epitome of all interesting creatures.
But it’s time to separate fact from fiction here. Dragon’s do exist. You see them every day, and never even realize it because you’re blinded by the outlandish stereo types you’ve been brainwashed into believing. You see, the dragon won’t have gigantic wings, won’t have a distinct tail, and won’t be covered with scales. The dragon is a man of immense charisma and immense power. The dragon is a being with an aura around him that inflicts fear and awe! Everything else that follows around the stigma of the being is pure fairy tale bullshit that has got misconstrued throughout history.
Another falsehood brought into being by the gullible masses that believe anything in written form, is the great stories about heroic knights who slay dragons. Sure, those are great stories to imbue the fact that ANYTHING is possible, but all it’s truly doing is growing FALSE hope. Not everything is possible. Not anyone can be a hero. Sometimes David gets SQUASHED by Goliath. Dragons are GODS in a different form. They cannot be defeated. They cannot be diminished. They CANNOT BE KILLED! Dragons are final step in Evolution. Nothing will come after them. And nothing before them can survive. They are the alpha, the omega. They will be the last thing this world sees before time comes to an end.
Trying to defeat a dragon is foolish. But the world is full of fools. One day soon, the greatest of all dragons will once again be persecuted against, will once again be misunderstood. They will send their chosen champion to fight the perceived tyranny of the Dragon. They will put all their hopes and dreams on this one mere mortal. He will hold his head up high, and march to his ultimate demise.
Just like they always do.
Just like the rest of them have done.
They find out that fairy tales are make believe….
They find out that this is life, and that in life, things GET REAL!
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The scene opens in a large cave dwelling. The sounds echo through the gigantic cavern. WE see gold and treasure littering the floor. We see a large Structure jutting out of the floor and raising 40 or so feet into the air. On top of the structure is a nest like platform. On the far, smooth wall of the cave were scenes fired from a projector of all kinds of different “dragon” scenes from movies over the ages. Standing on the nest is a man with his own bit of gold. Wearing the VIW Tag Team Championship around his waist and the APW Undisputed title over his shoulder is the REAL SHOW Terry Marvin. The camera closes in on his face as he smirks.
“So this is what it all comes down to eh C.J? That cowboy hat of yours becomes a halo, and you’re chosen to protect the poor rampaged village of APW from the big bad Dragon? You’re the Dragon slayer, the last hope of the people. Kind of anti climactic don’t you think? I mean of all the choices they had at their disposal, they chose a broken and battered man. But then again, maybe that’s the point. Maybe this is your redemption. Maybe all the failures of the past year will be washed away by cutting out the heart of the most feared man in APW.”
Terry smirks slightly as he lets out a sigh.
“Oh what a great story that would be. Unfortunately CJ, it’s only a story. You may live in the fictional world of fantasy, but here in the real world, not every epic has a happy ending! You see, the problem with facing down the biggest and baddest monster that nobody else could kill, is that NOBODY ELSE COULD KILL IT! You’re attempting to do the impossible. You’re attempting to catch lightning in a bottle. But what happens when that bottle explodes and all you’re left with is a million volts of electricity running through your veins?”
Terry closes his eyes and smiles, imagining the gory picture his words paint. He then opens them and smiles.
“Can’t you taste the irony Gates? Here you are, sent to destroy the monster YOU created. You do remember that don’t you Gates? You do remember the Test for the Best qualifier that you FAILED in preventing yours truly from moving on. That was the first domino Gates. That’s what knocked them all over one by one. That’s what set off the pattern that resulted in the most dominating year in WRESTLING history! You started this ride toward destiny. You started my path to the MAIN EVENT of Rasslemania. It’s only fitting that my journey completes with you, that this whole thing comes full circle.”
Terry shakes his head with a small hoarse laugh.
“To be honest, I’m shocked that you somehow made it here. After all the disappointment you’ve displayed this last year, you should be hiding your face under the pillows, red from embarrassment at the big stink you just left floating around. But somehow the fates have lead you here. I’m sure you’re praising them for this opportunity, not even registering the fact that they sent you to slaughter. That’s just like you CJ. You see the light at the end of the tunnel and assume glory when really you’re on a collision course with a freight train that will show no mercy!
All your hard work, all your fortitude used to get you to this point, to overcome so many hardships and depressing failures over the last year will be POINTLESS! When all is said and done, your post Rasslemania 8 downward spiral will look like a ride at Disneyland compared to the black hole of melancholy that I will thrust you toward after allowing all your hopes and dreams to build just to CRUSH them into dust! ”
Terry smirks as he looks around to his “lair” and shakes his head.
“When you take a look at all the treasures and glory I’ve accumulated in just one short year CJ, you’ve got to ask yourself one question. Who else has come looking to slay the dragon? Surely with all these trophies, somebody would try to come into my lair, my house, MY environment and try to STEAL my glorious possessions right?”
Terry smiles slyly and lets out a low laugh.
“You know the answer to that CJ. You know that LONG before you came into the picture the people chose a REAL champion, a TRUE champion to come to try and take my head. They believed in this man so much that they sent him again and again and again. And even though he continued to FAIL, he kept coming back, kept coming after me. Keaton Saint was a true hero CJ Gates. He forfeited all else he cared about to try to take me down. He sacrificed everything! He was the REAL DEAL! But for all of his beliefs, for all of his intentions, he could not do the job. Keaton saint was the PATRON SAINT of APW CJ, and he failed time and time again! And he was a TRUE warrior with PURE motives. Can you say the same?
Sure, you play the part well in front of the fans, putting on your white hat and shiny golden cape! You puff your chest out and speak about the virtues of good and the wickedness of EVIL! But when you look at all you’ve been through…it’s easy to see that your faith is shaken! And when the stories of old are repeated, there is one clear theme. The hero always has faith of some sort, and it’s what pulls him through. They are courageous to a fault, and they never have one single doubt. There are doubts in your eyes CJ… big gaping holes of doubts. And your heart is not pure, not solid. You are tainted CJ. And a Tainted warrior, a tainted champion can never EVER defeat a true source of power!”
The scene on the wall now depicts countless FAILED crusades by warriors to slay the dragons, getting obliterated in their attempts.
“Do you remember what I told you SOOO many months ago CJ? Do you remember when you came to me with that high and mighty stick up your ass proclaiming that you would NEVER let me conquer APW, that you’d never let me destroy it’s legacy. Do you remember what I said in that locker room that day? I told you ‘APW will be mine, and I will achieve glory. And there’s absolutely NOTHING you can do about it.’ And now here we are so many months later and I’m the man on the throne! And you couldn’t stop it, you couldn’t even slow it down CJ. When you look around APW you see a SHELL of what you once thought it was! I see a glorious and growing empire, but your self righteous viewpoint won’t let you see the truth in front of your eyes.
Instead you see an evil waste land ruled by a vicious emperor with a heart of stone! And in your fractured soul you realize that it’s your entire fault. You dropped the ball. All this is your creation. And now you see one last desperate attempt to right all your wrongs. You see beating me at Rasslemania as your chance for redemption, your shot at putting all those fans you let down back on your shoulders and carrying APW back to the fantasy promise land that you depicted in your mind. In your heart you believe that pile of bull shit. You’ve even gotten the world to believe that pile of bullshit. But I’m not so easily manipulated CJ! I know the truth.
I’ve seen the CJ Gates who is faced with adversity and runs away screaming or crumbles under pressure. The pressure has NEVER been higher than Rasslemania CJ and it’s already taken a toll on you hasn’t it? I can see that think little thread in your fragile mind ready to snap! Then what? You gonna see ghosts again? Your little psychotic break over the year has shown us nothing other than the fact that you cannot handle being in this position CJ! It feels like WHEN you collapse at Rasslemania, and you will collapse, there will be nothing left of the cowboy other than an empty shell! Perhaps that’s the way it should be. Perhaps that’s the END of the CJ Gates story. You know, the best tales in history all end in Tragedy!”
Terry takes another deep breath before he walks around the edge of the platform. He looks down at the far drop and then back at the camera.
“It’s one hell of a long fall from the top isn’t it CJ? And the landing, that sharp piercing crack all over your body just makes you want to crawl into a corner and die! But that’s not nearly the HARDEST part of the fall is it? No, what’s worse is the climb back up from obscurity. You have to scratch and crawl your way. I’ve watched you do it CJ and I applaud your perseverance, but there’s a difference between the journey and the destination! And what makes this destination an impenetrable fortress for you CJ is the fact that in your mind you’ve already lost! In your mind you’ve already been beaten. Don’t believe me?
Five months ago I had you CONVINCED that I changed my colors, had you believing that deep down I was truly a good person. I convinced you of the evils of Kurt Noble, of Biggs, of everybody. Then in one fell swoop I pulled the carpet out from under your feet and sent you tumbling back unsure of which way was up. In that moment, a little piece of your soul was forever tarnished. And in that moment I won the first battle, a mental battle that left you beaten and battered. Not only would you never trust me again, which I can live with, but you can never trust yourself! I left you unsure and rattled.
And then comes the Fool you twice portion of our programming. I had just won Survive and Conquer! I had just achieved all of my goals and dreams, so it only made sense for me to hang up my boots and walk away from this business of ours. And all it took was a few words of flattery to boost your ego and once again you were on Team Marvin! You ate up the line of bullshit I was feeding you and the second I mentioned giving you that title, you went absolutely bat shit. You dropped your panties like a sorority chick spotting a sports car. You finally got the chance to get your greedy little fingers on that title you couldn’t win for yourself and you jumped at it. Only to feel that slight discomfort coming from behind you. And this time it wasn’t your boy toy Biggs in a “Wish I could quit you” moment that you two Cowboys love so much! That was the moment your brain SNAPPED!”
Terry smiles proudly. He puffs his chest out smiling.
“But wait, there’s more. You’re psyche is shot not just because of the psychological warfare I’ve waged on you. I have instilled a mindset in your fragile little brain that you CANNOT defeat me physically. Let’s look at the history shall we Gates? And I’m not even talking about that fateful night when I stormed through you toward my Test for the Best victory. No, I’m talking about EVERY OTHER time I’ve gotten one up on you. Starting with Survive and Conquer. There you were, ready to finally breach that gap between good and great when who should come out of no where and pull your ass out of the ring? YOURS TRULY! And just to add a little bit of insult, I used your lame ass as a platform to keep myself in the match. I walked all over you that night CJ…literally.
And then let’s talk about a few nights SENCE then TJ. One in particular when Level One and myself defeated you and your revolving door of tag partners Mark and Biggs. That was pretty embarrassing being dominated by the very same people you swore to vanquish. Then it was just you and I in a tag team against your buddy and my enemy. And when all was said and done, I DIDN’T NEED YOU to win the match! I did a hell of a job myself. And after it was all said and done for good measure, I PINNED YOU AGAIN! This is becoming a pattern CJ, maybe you should look into that.
But that’s not the biggest break to your ego. That’s not the biggest stab to your confidence. You see, the problem with you is that when it comes to the BIG matches, you fall to pieces. So how did it feel when Level One and I conquered over you for yet ANOTHER big notch in my belt at Clash of the Titans. You know, It’s gotta get pretty exhausting always looking up the ladder and seeing me standing in your way. I men, personally I fucking love it, but then again, I’m the guy always looking down at you from my seat of power. You’re allowed to be jealous CJ…in fact, I encourage it! ”
Terry smiles one last time before he looks at the pictures on the wall. Over and over again, the dragon slaughters the knight.
“In the past, I’ve used every single dirty trick in the book to get my victories. But this time, at Rasslemania, that won’t be necessary. You see, on a stage like this, beating you fair and square in front of MILLIONS of my fans will feel SO much better than any contrived method I can think of.
See, this isn’t just any match. It’s 60 minutes full of strategy, plotting, and pure talent. It’s what I was built for. Who can defeat the other person more times in 60 minutes? That’s the real question isn’t it? Well, over the last year I’ve beaten you so many times that my expansive brain has lost count. And you CJ…you’ve beaten me once. One time, many moons ago before I became the pinnacle of APW! I’m sure you’ll hold on to that meaningless victory for a very VERY long time. Unfortunately that will be the only one you have!
I, however, will have Rasslemania and a plethora of defeats over the man formerly known as CJ Gates. After all, once I destroy your reason for living, you’ll just cease to exist!”
Terry sits on the edge of the platform and looks out into the camera.
“But for now, I’ll just sit and way for the knight to come strolling into this lair.
For now, I’ll just bide my time and dream about everything this past year has meant to me.
For now, I’ll just continue to plan my reign of terror after Rasslemania.
After all, I am the Dragon of APW…that’s what I do.
And in just a few short days, this dragon flies again. This time, it won’t be the virgins or gold that I’m after. This time it will be the most valuable possession the fans of APW have left. HOPE! CJ Gates is the last remaining thread of hope these people have. And I will burn that hope to the ground!
It’s time for you people to respect and FEAR the most powerful force in APW.
THIS is the year of the DRAGON!
This is the year of THE REAL SHOW
This….
is……
SHOWTIME!”
With that the flames in the cave burst out from the ground as Terry just stands there laughing an evil, boisterous laugh that reverberates throughout the cave as the scene fades to black.
