Post by C.J. Gates on Apr 3, 2013 16:09:53 GMT -4
"Another Rasslemania is in the books and another season is on the horizon.
"Much like last year, I find myself looking for answers. I find myself on the losing end of an Undisputed title match, but what could be worse, I let down all of APW. I let down the fans that were cheering me on. I let down my colleagues that were cheering me on. And most of all, I let down myself.
"And now, with recent news, I might not get a chance to avenge myself against that piece of trash Terry Marvin. I might never get that opportunity, because he turned and fled to the Asylum. Fitting, really. As for me? Well, I just don't know right now.
"The only thing I do know is that at Overdrive I will get to take on a man that I have a lot of history with. I will get to take on a man that I have had good success against. I will get to welcome Johnny Rebel back to active competition in APW.
"Who knows, maybe this will be a good step back in the right direction. Maybe a good showing against a man like Rebel will allow me to climb back up the ladder. At least I can redeem myself for my inability to defeat Terry.
"And it's against a man I've had a lot of success against.
"Does in translate, no maybe not, but at the very least it's a bit of a confidence boost. It's a better option then if I had to face Level One or someone else that I've had trouble beating. Not that winning truly matters, but I wouldn't mind getting back on the right track after a poor performance.
"After I failed.
"And no matter how many times people tell me otherwise, I can't get over that feeling. I can't get over the fact I had an opportunity to stop Terry Marvin and I failed to do so. Sure, Level One cost me a fall, but I still failed to get one back.
"So I need to make it up to the fans. To my fans. I need to show them that I am not going to give up just like that. And most importantly, I need to prove to myself that I am not the failure I feel like. I need to listen to what everyone is saying and show myself that there is still a long road ahead of me.
"I did not fail.
"I merely hit a set back.
"And now it's time to overcome."
"I failed, Vinnie," C.J. Gates says to Vincent James from behind his desk. His head is against the back of his chair.
"I wouldn't say you failed," James says. "Terry Marvin is a tough guy to beat, you can't fault yourself for losing."
"It's hard not to," Gates says. "I spent so long working toward it, and then when the moment came I said I would save APW from his tyranny. I said I would put an end to all of his shit and as of right now, he's still sitting at the top of the pile."
"But look at how you lost. It took Terry Marvin and a briefcase shot from Level One to take you down. It's not like you just rolled over. It's not like he dominated you five nothing."
Gates nods. "I guess you've got a point, it's just tough to know that I let the fans down."
"I don't think you let anyone down," James says. "Maybe yourself, but that's it."
"I guess we'll have to see on that front," Gates shrugs.
"And look at things this way, you're facing Johnny Rebel this week. You've owned Johnny Rebel in your time, so even if you feel like you've taken a step back, use this week to take a step forward."
"Is there a point?"
"Don't tell me you're giving up," James says, shaking his head.
"I'm not giving up, it's just, what's the point of it all?" Gates says, sitting forward. "I work so hard to fight against the assholes like Terry Marvin and Level One, to eliminate the evil from APW, yet around every corner there's even more. We lose one with Marvin going to Asylum, but we gain an even bigger pain in the ass in Michael Callahan coming to Overdrive, and we've still got Level One, Envi and now Rebel to contend with." Gates shakes his head and runs his hands over his face.
"It just seems like you're not doing anything, right?" James asks. Gates nods as he lowers his hands. "But you are doing something. You're giving people hope."
"Terry killed that hope," Gates reminds James. "He said that as much. If he beat me, he killed the hope of the APW fans."
"He can't kill hope," James says. "What he was saying was that beating you would kill your hope and your will to fight. You can't let that happen. He might have beaten you at Rasslemania but you can't let him beat you in general."
Gates nods. "You've got a point, it's just hard. After the year I had..."
"Forget that," James says, with authority. "Forget last year. Wipe that slate clean. Everything that happened to you last year, everyone that was running you into the ground, they're gone. Marvin is on Asylum, Noble is gone to the wind and you and Biggs are actually working together. This is a new year filled with new opportunities."
Gates looks over at Vincent James for a few moments before smirking. "When did you get so positive?"
"I figured you could use it," James says with a shrug. "I came back to help you late in the year, so now, I'm going to push for you to start fresh. We're going to turn things around for you."
"Thanks, Vinnie," Gates says. "Hopefully it works."
"It will, but you have to take it one step at a time," James says. "Starting with Rebel."
"Starting with Rebel."
"I'm shocked he's back," James says as he sits back on the couch. "I figured after he got fired as General Manager, he wouldn't be welcomed back to APW at all."
"I guess Jeff had a change of heart," Gates says. "Or whoever is the new General Manager had a change of heart. Though I wonder if there's anything behind it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've heard rumors of Rebel falling on hard times," Gates says. "Reports of him diving in dumpsters, scrounging for food, and if that's true, I wonder if this return was done out of pity for Rebel."
"Or maybe it was in his contract. If he gets fired as the General Manager, he gets re-signed as an active wrestler."
"Who knows," Gates says. "I don't really want to worry too much about the details. I want to try and stay focused on Rebel the wrestler."
"Good call," James says. "That's the way you've got to be thinking."
"I also can't get caught up in the past. Like you said, this is a new year, so everything that happened between me and Rebel before, I can't dwell on that. I have to act as if it never happened."
"But it's got to be in the back of your head, right?"
"I guess," Gates admits. "But I wouldn't say it's nagging. It wouldn't be like it would have if this match took place before Rasslemania, where I knew I could beat him. And I can't even say it would then, because of the way I go into a match. I'm always preparing, even if it's the twelfth time I've faced someone. I'm always making sure I'm ready to go at a moments notice, that I'm watching my opponents video to see what he could be doing when he takes a step to the left."
"Essentially it's always something new?"
"Kind of," Gates says. "Besides, this is Johnny Rebel. This is a man who doesn't mince words and doesn't hold back if he sees victory in sight. He will do what he needs to do, even if that means using weapons or grabbing the ropes."
"So essentially he's the kind of guy you hate?" James asks.
"I've always hated Rebel," Gates says. "Maybe not when he first got to APW, but ever since we started locking horns on a more regular basis, he gets under your skin. He worms his way in and becomes a man that I just can't stand. So, yeah, the fact that he likes to cheat does make him someone I can't really stand."
"So it's exactly what you need!" James exclaims.
Gates cracks a bit of a smile. "I guess so, but it doesn't exactly erase those feelings of failure. At least not for me anyways. Regardless, I'm still going to go out there and do what I've done since I stepped into APW and that is to compete. It could be Rebel or Lively standing across from me, I'd still go out and compete."
"That's what I like to hear," James says as he lets out a long sigh. "I was getting worried that you were losing focus and starting to wonder if you still wanted to be here or not."
Gates cracks another smile. "Who says that's all out of my head?"
"You know what I mean."
"I do," Gates nods. "And while it might not be gone completely, I know I have to keep my head up and keep plugging away. Even if I still feel like it's worthless, I'm still going to keep my head up and compete."
"At the same level and in the same style?"
"Of course," Gates says. "I might have felt like I failed and that I ruined the possibilities for every one, but I'm not going to go and start cheating just to win. I'm not going to resort to those tactics."
James holds up his hands. "I know, I was only joking."
Gates fires James a look. "But yes, I am going to go at it in the same style, I'm going to give it my all and I am going to make sure that I am competing at the best of my abilities, especially this week against Rebel. And who knows, maybe a win here fast tracks me to the World title."
"Wouldn't that be something," James adds. "Winning both the Undisputed and World titles in your career. You'd be entering Sally Talfourd territory there."
"It would be nice, I won't lie about that," Gates says, "but I'm not going to demand that chance."
"You're going to earn it."
"I'm going to earn it, starting with this weeks match against Rebel. I will do my best to win back the fans, and I will do my best to regain myself. And the only way I can do that, is to compete."
Before James can say anything more, the phone rings. Gates glances down at the call display and shakes his head.
"Who is it?" James asks.
"My mom," Gates says, ignoring the ringing phone. Eventually the phone stops ringing and after a few moments, Gates reaches forward and presses a button on the voice mail to play her message.
"Hey C.J., it's mom calling. Just wanted to see how you were doing and maybe we could talk about a few things. Nothing big, just some small money issues that I've been having recently, but I'm sure that-"
Gates hits another button, erasing the message. He sits back in the chair, looking at the phone.
"You going to call her back?"
"Maybe," Gates says. "Maybe not. I don't know, I'm not really worried about her and her money problems. I've got my own problems to deal with.
"And the first of them is Johnny Rebel."
"It looks as though I'm going to be dealing with a different breed of Rebel.
"The last time we met, Johnny, you were hungry, salivating at the thought of getting a win over me. Before that, you were desperate to win the Undisputed title at Rasslemania. Now, though, everything is different. Now your desperation is seen through your lack of funds and your willingness to do whatever it will take to get the job done.
"Or at least that's the rumor going around, Johnny. That's what everyone keeps saying. That Johnny Rebel is so far in the red that he's coming back out of desperation. He needs a paycheck. He needs money. And he knows that the only place he can get it is in the wrestling ring.
"I mean, you tried sitting behind the desk and calling the shots, but that failed for you. Instead, you ended up trying to get yourself caught up in more title matches then you deserved, and Jeff tossed you onto the curb. Though, I guess I should commend you for the fact that you didn't use your job title for petty reasons. You didn't take it upon yourself to make me look like a fool inside of the ring week in and week out, like I've made you look countless times.
"I know it's not in my nature to revel in the past victories, but in this case, I can't help it. It would be different if there was a balance, but it seems like every time you and I step into the ring against one another, I am the one coming out on top. I am the one with my arm raised in victory. I am the one who is smiling by the end.
"Which is why your current desperation is so intriguing. Like I said, the scales have been tipped in my favor as far as an overall record between us, but now, now you could come out of no where for a victory. Now you could dig deep in the dumpster and come at me with everything that you have. I guess I'd categorize you as the sort of man who currently has nothing to lose.
"If you win the match, awesome, you'll be one step closer to achieving whatever goal you have in mind.
"If you lose, it's no real skin off your back since you're still getting a paycheck. Unless of course you're getting paid by the wins.
"And because of all of that, I need to be careful. Sure, I've normally come out on top, and I can enjoy the fact that I have dominated you inside of the ring, but I can't overlook the possibilities. I can't look past your ability to pull out all of the stops, to come in with some unpredictable offense that I have never seen before. I can't rule anything out because I can't really say where your head is at.
"Before I could. Sure, I could just take a look at how things have been going with you and eventually I'd get an idea of how you were acting. But now? Now it's harder. Now it's nearly impossible because you've been out of the ring for a bit. Sure, you were still crafting strategy, but the strategy is easy to make when you aren't running the ropes and defending yourself from every Tom, Dick and Harry looking to get themselves over the hump.
"Hell, I still remember one of the first times you and I locked horns.
"Sure it's a trip down memory lane, but I remember when you and I met in the Test for the Best tournament. It was right after you nearly severed Khaos' head from his body, you and I tied up to see which one would move on to the finals of the tournament. And let me say, that was one hell of a battle and even then, I didn't really know what to expect. I thought I had you scouted very well, but after seeing what you did to Khaos, well, things changed.
"I began to see a side to you that I might have overlooked and I had to learn on the fly. I had to keep my wits about me so that when you took a step off book, I'd be there to match you, to defend against you, and to keep you at bay. Something that I think I did successfully.
"And that meeting kind of reminds me of this meeting. Like then when I realize what you were capable of, right now, I'm still trying to figure that out. I'm still trying to see what a man who spends his spare time dumpster diving is going to bring to the table. How far are you willing to go to make yourself known once again? How many lines are you willing to cross to secure a win and maybe grab a bit of extra dollars for your hard work and effort? What are you capable of doing in this state of desperation that you find yourself in?
"Those are questions that I can't answer. I can speculate, but until the bell rings and until you take that first step in our dance, it's hard to tell. It's nearly impossible to tell. You're like a vicious animal backed into a corner right now.
"But I am going to do my best to tame you. It wasn't easy to beat you in that Test for the Best tournament, just like it hasn't been easy in any of our matches. I mean, I can sit around and talk about how many wins I have over you, but the truth of the matter is that those wins were hard earned. You made those wins hard earned.
"I could possibly say that you helped mold me into the man that I turned into in that year.
"And I am looking to get back there.
"After what happened against Terry Marvin at Rasslemania, I want to get a chance at redemption and to do that, I need to once again prove myself. I need to take on all comers and show everyone that I still have what it takes to sit at the top of the pyramid. A lot of people have written me off since I couldn't get that Rasslemania win, and I'm sure you are one of them, Johnny. It would be hard for me to believe that you aren't after everything we've been through.
"So I guess you can say that we're both kind of desperate going into this match even if our desperation varies. In your case, you're desperate for money while me, I'm desperate to get back to the top. We're also both trying to reclaim something that we lost. Me, the credibility of the fans and you, well, everything. The difference is that I am not going to deviate from my norm. I am not going to change my plan of attack simply because everyone else does. I am not going to make myself into some sort of Level One wanna-be because it seems to be what gets people by.
"I'm going to keep doing what I have been doing, and I am going to make this match into an apology. I am going to use this opportunity to show those fans that I still have their back. That even though I failed at Rasslemania to rid the world of Terry Marvin's tyranny, I haven't given up. I never give up. And since I can only assume that those fans haven't given up on me, I can't give up on them.
"Which means I'm going to be doing all that I can to pick up this win. To get back on track. To once again take a step over the body of Johnny Rebel.
"I'm going to do all that I can to walk out of that arena with a new head of steam and a new outlook on my career here in APW. I'm going to show that I've still got some gas left in the tank, and that I still have what it takes to return to that point. And by the end of the night, I hope to be one step closer to that.
"But this battle won't be like it was before, Johnny. This isn't going to be two men on the cusp of something big. This is going to be a fight between two men who are trying to reinvent themselves, who are trying to rebuild themselves. This is going to be Johnny Rebel and C.J. Gates looking to do something with themselves, to show people something special inside of that ring.
"Like I said, I commend you for not trying to ruin me when you were the General Manager, but I know that you still have that ability to pull something out in desperation, to show your true corruption in the ring. And given your circumstances, I wouldn't be surprised if I saw that first hand. But I won't let the possibility of how you will cheat become a distraction, I'm not going to be worried about how, since I will only be worried about the match and about saving face in light of Rasslemania.
"So in a battle between two men looking to climb back into relevance, Johnny, there is only one question to ask yourself, Johnny.
"Are you going to go big or go home?"
"Much like last year, I find myself looking for answers. I find myself on the losing end of an Undisputed title match, but what could be worse, I let down all of APW. I let down the fans that were cheering me on. I let down my colleagues that were cheering me on. And most of all, I let down myself.
"And now, with recent news, I might not get a chance to avenge myself against that piece of trash Terry Marvin. I might never get that opportunity, because he turned and fled to the Asylum. Fitting, really. As for me? Well, I just don't know right now.
"The only thing I do know is that at Overdrive I will get to take on a man that I have a lot of history with. I will get to take on a man that I have had good success against. I will get to welcome Johnny Rebel back to active competition in APW.
"Who knows, maybe this will be a good step back in the right direction. Maybe a good showing against a man like Rebel will allow me to climb back up the ladder. At least I can redeem myself for my inability to defeat Terry.
"And it's against a man I've had a lot of success against.
"Does in translate, no maybe not, but at the very least it's a bit of a confidence boost. It's a better option then if I had to face Level One or someone else that I've had trouble beating. Not that winning truly matters, but I wouldn't mind getting back on the right track after a poor performance.
"After I failed.
"And no matter how many times people tell me otherwise, I can't get over that feeling. I can't get over the fact I had an opportunity to stop Terry Marvin and I failed to do so. Sure, Level One cost me a fall, but I still failed to get one back.
"So I need to make it up to the fans. To my fans. I need to show them that I am not going to give up just like that. And most importantly, I need to prove to myself that I am not the failure I feel like. I need to listen to what everyone is saying and show myself that there is still a long road ahead of me.
"I did not fail.
"I merely hit a set back.
"And now it's time to overcome."
-------------------------------------
"I failed, Vinnie," C.J. Gates says to Vincent James from behind his desk. His head is against the back of his chair.
"I wouldn't say you failed," James says. "Terry Marvin is a tough guy to beat, you can't fault yourself for losing."
"It's hard not to," Gates says. "I spent so long working toward it, and then when the moment came I said I would save APW from his tyranny. I said I would put an end to all of his shit and as of right now, he's still sitting at the top of the pile."
"But look at how you lost. It took Terry Marvin and a briefcase shot from Level One to take you down. It's not like you just rolled over. It's not like he dominated you five nothing."
Gates nods. "I guess you've got a point, it's just tough to know that I let the fans down."
"I don't think you let anyone down," James says. "Maybe yourself, but that's it."
"I guess we'll have to see on that front," Gates shrugs.
"And look at things this way, you're facing Johnny Rebel this week. You've owned Johnny Rebel in your time, so even if you feel like you've taken a step back, use this week to take a step forward."
"Is there a point?"
"Don't tell me you're giving up," James says, shaking his head.
"I'm not giving up, it's just, what's the point of it all?" Gates says, sitting forward. "I work so hard to fight against the assholes like Terry Marvin and Level One, to eliminate the evil from APW, yet around every corner there's even more. We lose one with Marvin going to Asylum, but we gain an even bigger pain in the ass in Michael Callahan coming to Overdrive, and we've still got Level One, Envi and now Rebel to contend with." Gates shakes his head and runs his hands over his face.
"It just seems like you're not doing anything, right?" James asks. Gates nods as he lowers his hands. "But you are doing something. You're giving people hope."
"Terry killed that hope," Gates reminds James. "He said that as much. If he beat me, he killed the hope of the APW fans."
"He can't kill hope," James says. "What he was saying was that beating you would kill your hope and your will to fight. You can't let that happen. He might have beaten you at Rasslemania but you can't let him beat you in general."
Gates nods. "You've got a point, it's just hard. After the year I had..."
"Forget that," James says, with authority. "Forget last year. Wipe that slate clean. Everything that happened to you last year, everyone that was running you into the ground, they're gone. Marvin is on Asylum, Noble is gone to the wind and you and Biggs are actually working together. This is a new year filled with new opportunities."
Gates looks over at Vincent James for a few moments before smirking. "When did you get so positive?"
"I figured you could use it," James says with a shrug. "I came back to help you late in the year, so now, I'm going to push for you to start fresh. We're going to turn things around for you."
"Thanks, Vinnie," Gates says. "Hopefully it works."
"It will, but you have to take it one step at a time," James says. "Starting with Rebel."
"Starting with Rebel."
"I'm shocked he's back," James says as he sits back on the couch. "I figured after he got fired as General Manager, he wouldn't be welcomed back to APW at all."
"I guess Jeff had a change of heart," Gates says. "Or whoever is the new General Manager had a change of heart. Though I wonder if there's anything behind it."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I've heard rumors of Rebel falling on hard times," Gates says. "Reports of him diving in dumpsters, scrounging for food, and if that's true, I wonder if this return was done out of pity for Rebel."
"Or maybe it was in his contract. If he gets fired as the General Manager, he gets re-signed as an active wrestler."
"Who knows," Gates says. "I don't really want to worry too much about the details. I want to try and stay focused on Rebel the wrestler."
"Good call," James says. "That's the way you've got to be thinking."
"I also can't get caught up in the past. Like you said, this is a new year, so everything that happened between me and Rebel before, I can't dwell on that. I have to act as if it never happened."
"But it's got to be in the back of your head, right?"
"I guess," Gates admits. "But I wouldn't say it's nagging. It wouldn't be like it would have if this match took place before Rasslemania, where I knew I could beat him. And I can't even say it would then, because of the way I go into a match. I'm always preparing, even if it's the twelfth time I've faced someone. I'm always making sure I'm ready to go at a moments notice, that I'm watching my opponents video to see what he could be doing when he takes a step to the left."
"Essentially it's always something new?"
"Kind of," Gates says. "Besides, this is Johnny Rebel. This is a man who doesn't mince words and doesn't hold back if he sees victory in sight. He will do what he needs to do, even if that means using weapons or grabbing the ropes."
"So essentially he's the kind of guy you hate?" James asks.
"I've always hated Rebel," Gates says. "Maybe not when he first got to APW, but ever since we started locking horns on a more regular basis, he gets under your skin. He worms his way in and becomes a man that I just can't stand. So, yeah, the fact that he likes to cheat does make him someone I can't really stand."
"So it's exactly what you need!" James exclaims.
Gates cracks a bit of a smile. "I guess so, but it doesn't exactly erase those feelings of failure. At least not for me anyways. Regardless, I'm still going to go out there and do what I've done since I stepped into APW and that is to compete. It could be Rebel or Lively standing across from me, I'd still go out and compete."
"That's what I like to hear," James says as he lets out a long sigh. "I was getting worried that you were losing focus and starting to wonder if you still wanted to be here or not."
Gates cracks another smile. "Who says that's all out of my head?"
"You know what I mean."
"I do," Gates nods. "And while it might not be gone completely, I know I have to keep my head up and keep plugging away. Even if I still feel like it's worthless, I'm still going to keep my head up and compete."
"At the same level and in the same style?"
"Of course," Gates says. "I might have felt like I failed and that I ruined the possibilities for every one, but I'm not going to go and start cheating just to win. I'm not going to resort to those tactics."
James holds up his hands. "I know, I was only joking."
Gates fires James a look. "But yes, I am going to go at it in the same style, I'm going to give it my all and I am going to make sure that I am competing at the best of my abilities, especially this week against Rebel. And who knows, maybe a win here fast tracks me to the World title."
"Wouldn't that be something," James adds. "Winning both the Undisputed and World titles in your career. You'd be entering Sally Talfourd territory there."
"It would be nice, I won't lie about that," Gates says, "but I'm not going to demand that chance."
"You're going to earn it."
"I'm going to earn it, starting with this weeks match against Rebel. I will do my best to win back the fans, and I will do my best to regain myself. And the only way I can do that, is to compete."
Before James can say anything more, the phone rings. Gates glances down at the call display and shakes his head.
"Who is it?" James asks.
"My mom," Gates says, ignoring the ringing phone. Eventually the phone stops ringing and after a few moments, Gates reaches forward and presses a button on the voice mail to play her message.
"Hey C.J., it's mom calling. Just wanted to see how you were doing and maybe we could talk about a few things. Nothing big, just some small money issues that I've been having recently, but I'm sure that-"
Gates hits another button, erasing the message. He sits back in the chair, looking at the phone.
"You going to call her back?"
"Maybe," Gates says. "Maybe not. I don't know, I'm not really worried about her and her money problems. I've got my own problems to deal with.
"And the first of them is Johnny Rebel."
-------------------------------------
"It looks as though I'm going to be dealing with a different breed of Rebel.
"The last time we met, Johnny, you were hungry, salivating at the thought of getting a win over me. Before that, you were desperate to win the Undisputed title at Rasslemania. Now, though, everything is different. Now your desperation is seen through your lack of funds and your willingness to do whatever it will take to get the job done.
"Or at least that's the rumor going around, Johnny. That's what everyone keeps saying. That Johnny Rebel is so far in the red that he's coming back out of desperation. He needs a paycheck. He needs money. And he knows that the only place he can get it is in the wrestling ring.
"I mean, you tried sitting behind the desk and calling the shots, but that failed for you. Instead, you ended up trying to get yourself caught up in more title matches then you deserved, and Jeff tossed you onto the curb. Though, I guess I should commend you for the fact that you didn't use your job title for petty reasons. You didn't take it upon yourself to make me look like a fool inside of the ring week in and week out, like I've made you look countless times.
"I know it's not in my nature to revel in the past victories, but in this case, I can't help it. It would be different if there was a balance, but it seems like every time you and I step into the ring against one another, I am the one coming out on top. I am the one with my arm raised in victory. I am the one who is smiling by the end.
"Which is why your current desperation is so intriguing. Like I said, the scales have been tipped in my favor as far as an overall record between us, but now, now you could come out of no where for a victory. Now you could dig deep in the dumpster and come at me with everything that you have. I guess I'd categorize you as the sort of man who currently has nothing to lose.
"If you win the match, awesome, you'll be one step closer to achieving whatever goal you have in mind.
"If you lose, it's no real skin off your back since you're still getting a paycheck. Unless of course you're getting paid by the wins.
"And because of all of that, I need to be careful. Sure, I've normally come out on top, and I can enjoy the fact that I have dominated you inside of the ring, but I can't overlook the possibilities. I can't look past your ability to pull out all of the stops, to come in with some unpredictable offense that I have never seen before. I can't rule anything out because I can't really say where your head is at.
"Before I could. Sure, I could just take a look at how things have been going with you and eventually I'd get an idea of how you were acting. But now? Now it's harder. Now it's nearly impossible because you've been out of the ring for a bit. Sure, you were still crafting strategy, but the strategy is easy to make when you aren't running the ropes and defending yourself from every Tom, Dick and Harry looking to get themselves over the hump.
"Hell, I still remember one of the first times you and I locked horns.
"Sure it's a trip down memory lane, but I remember when you and I met in the Test for the Best tournament. It was right after you nearly severed Khaos' head from his body, you and I tied up to see which one would move on to the finals of the tournament. And let me say, that was one hell of a battle and even then, I didn't really know what to expect. I thought I had you scouted very well, but after seeing what you did to Khaos, well, things changed.
"I began to see a side to you that I might have overlooked and I had to learn on the fly. I had to keep my wits about me so that when you took a step off book, I'd be there to match you, to defend against you, and to keep you at bay. Something that I think I did successfully.
"And that meeting kind of reminds me of this meeting. Like then when I realize what you were capable of, right now, I'm still trying to figure that out. I'm still trying to see what a man who spends his spare time dumpster diving is going to bring to the table. How far are you willing to go to make yourself known once again? How many lines are you willing to cross to secure a win and maybe grab a bit of extra dollars for your hard work and effort? What are you capable of doing in this state of desperation that you find yourself in?
"Those are questions that I can't answer. I can speculate, but until the bell rings and until you take that first step in our dance, it's hard to tell. It's nearly impossible to tell. You're like a vicious animal backed into a corner right now.
"But I am going to do my best to tame you. It wasn't easy to beat you in that Test for the Best tournament, just like it hasn't been easy in any of our matches. I mean, I can sit around and talk about how many wins I have over you, but the truth of the matter is that those wins were hard earned. You made those wins hard earned.
"I could possibly say that you helped mold me into the man that I turned into in that year.
"And I am looking to get back there.
"After what happened against Terry Marvin at Rasslemania, I want to get a chance at redemption and to do that, I need to once again prove myself. I need to take on all comers and show everyone that I still have what it takes to sit at the top of the pyramid. A lot of people have written me off since I couldn't get that Rasslemania win, and I'm sure you are one of them, Johnny. It would be hard for me to believe that you aren't after everything we've been through.
"So I guess you can say that we're both kind of desperate going into this match even if our desperation varies. In your case, you're desperate for money while me, I'm desperate to get back to the top. We're also both trying to reclaim something that we lost. Me, the credibility of the fans and you, well, everything. The difference is that I am not going to deviate from my norm. I am not going to change my plan of attack simply because everyone else does. I am not going to make myself into some sort of Level One wanna-be because it seems to be what gets people by.
"I'm going to keep doing what I have been doing, and I am going to make this match into an apology. I am going to use this opportunity to show those fans that I still have their back. That even though I failed at Rasslemania to rid the world of Terry Marvin's tyranny, I haven't given up. I never give up. And since I can only assume that those fans haven't given up on me, I can't give up on them.
"Which means I'm going to be doing all that I can to pick up this win. To get back on track. To once again take a step over the body of Johnny Rebel.
"I'm going to do all that I can to walk out of that arena with a new head of steam and a new outlook on my career here in APW. I'm going to show that I've still got some gas left in the tank, and that I still have what it takes to return to that point. And by the end of the night, I hope to be one step closer to that.
"But this battle won't be like it was before, Johnny. This isn't going to be two men on the cusp of something big. This is going to be a fight between two men who are trying to reinvent themselves, who are trying to rebuild themselves. This is going to be Johnny Rebel and C.J. Gates looking to do something with themselves, to show people something special inside of that ring.
"Like I said, I commend you for not trying to ruin me when you were the General Manager, but I know that you still have that ability to pull something out in desperation, to show your true corruption in the ring. And given your circumstances, I wouldn't be surprised if I saw that first hand. But I won't let the possibility of how you will cheat become a distraction, I'm not going to be worried about how, since I will only be worried about the match and about saving face in light of Rasslemania.
"So in a battle between two men looking to climb back into relevance, Johnny, there is only one question to ask yourself, Johnny.
"Are you going to go big or go home?"
