Staying true to yourself...no matter what.

[Buckson Gooch]

The first Overdrive after Rasslemania is going to be a strong one. I know we are all trying to get noticed...but the least people can be is respectful.

A.C. Smith. There’s a fine line in being a confident guy and being a jerk. You are skirting the latter. Do you think the fans appreciate you talking bad about a fellow MegaStar who is trying to do good? Remember, scooter, you didn’t beat me at Rasslemania. You pinned Michael Lively. I held my own against you. For you to have all of this experience, you should be putting me away easily...but you’re not. I’m a dumb, redneck rookie, right? A guy like you should be handling me soundly...and you aren’t.

So instead of fessing up that I’m giving you competition, you say that you’ve ‘handled’ me? You haven’t handled anything. We’re still split. There are more than a few in APW management that see you getting preferential treatment. If you can’t see it, you are dilusional.

I’m a big, strong guy...Shadow is a big, strong guy...but A.C., remember, I’ve pinned you twice...you’ve pinned me twice...Sounds like you may have a weakness and that’s big strong, guys.

I really respected you a lot, but the past few weeks you are showing yourself to be an immature baby. You were extremely angry that you got pig slop poured on you? I can see how that’s disrespectful, but you never looked in the mirror to see why I felt disrespected by you just moving on to Michael Lively. You let that event drive you to Rasslemania. Not Michael Lively stealing from you...but that moment it took for me to dump slop on you...you pinned Lively NOT me and now you think you are above facing me? Grow up. You never talked this big when we were facing each other before...could it be who your partners is? Who is hiding behind Evan Envi? Smith, perhaps I was wrong about you. You aren’t the golden boy, hero that I thought you were. I’m sure the fans will pick up on this, too. I’m the same Buckson Gooch that I’ve always been. I’m genuine. You’ll know how I feel and why. If I’m wrong, I’m man enough to admit it. A.C. Smith, perhaps you’ve let your guard down and let the fans take a good look at who you really are. An elitist, crybaby who talks brave when teaming with someone who will carry him in a match.

Evan Envi may not like me very much, but he’s at least respectful.

Even from my first encounter with Envi, he had watched me on Meltdown. I remember the Sons of the South facing Envikado. We got our skulls thumped. I’m green. Real green. Envi saw something that others didn’t...he even had the amount of days it took for me to get called up to Overdrive. He and I have tied up a few times and I’m sure he won’t say it was a “walk in the park” or “why do I have to face Gooch again?” He’ll wear his big boy pants and know that he’s coming for a fight.

Evan Envi is a top flight MegaStar. You can’t list the best from APW and not have him on the list.

I bring my best to every match, sometimes it’s not good enough, sometimes it is. I try daily to improve. I try daily to grow. I know it’s going to click soon, I just know it. I work too hard to not be competitive.

Envi and Smith. I know that you guys are both incredibly, individually talented. But how often have we seen two talents get together and their abilities not mesh? A lot of it is about attitude. It seems that A.C. Smith has written off the abilities of myself and Shadow...and he doesn’t think much of us as a team. That is a key ingredient in failure.

--------------------------------------------

Two large men walk into a giant conference center in Panama City Beach, FL. They are following signs and Gooch swings open a giant door...

Buckson Gooch: What have we gotten ourselves into?

Shadow and Gooch stand shoulder to shoulder and look around a giant convention center in Panama City Beach, FL. They are immediately met by two people dressed in dog outfits and given them lanyards with their names on them.

Buckson Gooch: Where are we supposed to go?

Dog #1: Ruff Ruff Ruff!!!!

Buckson Gooch: You understand that, Shadow?

Shadow looks at him like, “Are you serious?”

Buckson Gooch: I guess we should just follow them.

The two dogs hand their collars to Gooch and Shadow and lead them to a big table on the convention floor that has a long line...a long line of animals of varying species, apparently ready to get autographs...it seems that wrestling reaches those who are normal...and those who are somewhat strange.

Buck and Shadow sit down and get comfortable. They unscrew the tops of their waters and take a drink before a short man with very rosie cheeks walks up.

Event Coordinator: Thank you guys so much for coming. We’re trying to get more people involved in our “scene” so we settled on APW MegaStars. You guys were the ones that people said were the best.

Shadow gets a puzzled look on his face as Gooch grins from ear to ear.

Event Coordinator: We’re hoping that you guys will bring in more people...Which one of you is Anthony Bailey? Jair Hopkins?

Shadow face palms and Gooch looks a little dejected...but he whips out his phone to text Bailey what's going on. By the end he's smiling. Bailey's quick response makes Gooch laugh and he shows it to Shadow. Shadow smirks.

Event Coordinator: You are the Dying Breed right? Tag team champions?

Buckson Gooch: I’m afraid not. I like those guys, but we’re not them. There must be some sort of mix up.

Shadow: Didn’t you go to a Super Bowl party at Bailey’s house?

Buckson Gooch: I did. We had a great time.

Shadow: Aren’t you facing them for the tag titles sometime soon?

Buckson Gooch: Yeah, but that doesn’t make me like them any less. We’ll handle our business in the ring. I like ‘em. They’re good people.

The Event Coordinator coughs trying to get the conversation back to him.

Event Coordinator: So...who are you?

Shadow: I’m Shadow, and this is Buckson Gooch.

Event Coordinator: I just hope we don’t have any let down animals.

The man taps his forehead with his index finger, trying to turn this negative into a positive.

Event Coordinator: Do you think you guys have fans?

Shadow: A few.

Buckson Gooch: I have at least one...but I don’t see my Mom in line.

The Event Coordinator’s eyes bug out, obviously not getting the sarcasm from Shadow and Gooch. He grabs his phone and is obviously going to give his agent what for.

Shadow: Your Mom?

Buckson Gooch: Figured it would make him do...exactly what he did.

The share a laugh as the first of the people dressed like animals walks up. This guy is a monkey. He’s made it to where his tail is gripping the pen and he’s holding a paper, provided by the conference. Gooch and Shadow look at each other trying to get the other one to take the pen from the monkey’s tail. Gooch breaks up the staring contest by smiling and sticking his tongue through a tooth hole. Shadow cracks and slams his big fist on the table. He reaches forward and grabs the pen. He signs the paper as Buck pulls a pen from his overalls. The monkey grabs his tail and tries to get Shadow to put the pen back in his tail.

Shadow: No way, dude.

The monkey gets angry and starts jumping up and down.

Monkey: Oooh oooh ooh ahhhahhh ahhh!

The monkey rips up the autographed paper and runs off making loud animal noises. The next guy in line comes up. He seems to be an APW fan. He’s wearing a brand new “Guv’nor: Made in Hackney” shirt. He drops his paper on the table and smiles.

Buckson Gooch: Hey, nice shirt!

Fan: Thanks, Gooch! I think he’s going to have a great 2013. He did awesome the other night. I’m a big fan of his!

Buckson Gooch: I don’t blame you. He’s a great talent.

Buck scribbles his name on the paper and Shadow does the same. The guy asks if he can get a picture with them. So they both get up and take the picture. They dwarf the guy. So they crouch down a little bit and all three smile.

Fan: I was looking forward to seeing the Dying Breed. But I’m glad you guys are here. Good luck against Envi and Smith.

Buckson Gooch: Thanks buddy!

The line then becomes a blur of mostly animals and a few APW fans. Nothing truly eventful happens. The line eventually trickles out and the Event Coordinator walks up.

Event Coordinator: Thanks for coming, guys. As you can see, we’re a small conference. We don’t have much money, so we hope this is worth your stay.

He hands Shadow and Gooch an envelope and scuttles off. Shadow opens it up and pulls out the contents...two free meal coupons.

Buckson Gooch: What are those?

Shadow: I think we just got paid in Golden Corral tickets.

Buckson Gooch: Well, let’s turn a negative into a positive...plus I’m hungry!

Sometimes you don’t have your expenses covered, but Gooch is excited about Golden Corral. It’s been a few years since he has been to one. He thinks about the Floridian delacasies that await for him. The scene fades out as Shadow and Gooch leave the premises of animals hopping up and down, making noises, and wearing fancy clothes.

................................
....Later that Night after they went to Golden Corral....
................................

The walk down the busy Panama City strip was an interesting one to say the least. There were a few autograph and photograph seekers, which Shadow and Gooch gladly obliged. More often than not, there were people who would just stare at the massive humanity.

Buckson Gooch: I’m still hungry! Golden Corral had false advertising!

Even though he had cleared 10 plates on his own, at home those would be considered cup saucers.

Shadow: Yeah, me too. Where do you want to get some food?

Buckson Gooch: We could just go to a gas station. My inner redneck is calling for me to make a coke and peanuts drink.

Shadow: Your inner redneck? What am I looking at?

Buckson Gooch: Well...I guess I see your point.

They both laugh as they see a gas station a few blocks away. There was a gas station on the corner of the strip and a side road that barely had any traffic going to it. Buck and Shadow walked in. Buck grabbed some sodas and some sandwhiches, some burgers made fresh, two packets of roasted peanuts, being warmed by the glow of a bright light, and two snickers bars. Gooch paid for it before Shadow knew what was going on. He enjoyed having some money to be able to spend on friends, so he gladly is paying it forward. He’s become pretty fond of Shadow and is enjoying his company on this crazy trip that APW has sent them both on.

Shadow: You didn’t have to buy my second dinner.

Buckson Gooch: I know, it’s all good. I’ve had a fun day today.

They walk over to the curb of the non-busy street and sit down. Buck takes everything out of the bags and lays it out in front of them. Gooch grabs the soda and untwists the top, he takes a swig and grabs the peanuts. He pours them into his soda. Shadow looks at him curiously.

Buckson Gooch: Southern tradition, brother. You get to drink and eat at the same time. Drink the coke, chew the peanuts...

Gooch takes a swig and smacks his teeth on the peanuts, turning them into a paste before swallowing the mixture.

Buckson Gooch: People can knock it, but I sure love being a redneck. Our food is good. Our people are nice...and don’t get me started on sweet tea.

Shadow laughs and grabs some of the food.

Buckson Gooch: You know what, Shadow? Maybe that’s why our teaming up this week is going to work. We aren’t carbon copies of each other. We have serious competition this week and we are seriously different, but with one objective. Victory.

Shadow nods and takes a bite from his sandwhich.

Buckson Gooch: We know we can rely on each other. We have to work together as a team, not one of us outworking the other one. We won’t get brave because of who we are teaming with. It’s obvious, Smith is trying to ride the coattails of Evan Envi to victory.

Shadow: How do you figure that?

Buckson Gooch: Look back at how he’s talked to me in weeks past. There has always been some level of respect, even excitement about facing each other. This week, he’s showing his true colors and trying to act like he’s Evan Envi...which he is not. I’m not trying to be you and you aren’t trying to be me. We’re individuals that are doing our own thing, not trying to be like each other. We’re true to ourselves.

Shadow nods in agreement.

Shadow: Plus, I’d look weird in overalls.

Buck laughs and takes a big swig of his coke-peanut concoction.

A car comes down the quiet road and Buck and Shadow have to pull their feet in so they don’t get run over. The car rolls past, the passengers eyeing the duo with a mixture of fear and interest. The car sits at the stop sign for what seems like an eternity before finally getting an opening and being able to go to the main strip.

Buckson Gooch: I’m not taking anything away from Smith. He’s a strong competitor. I just think he’ll be what loses the match for his team. This week wasn’t his strongest stuff, and that’s not surprising, he wasn’t being true to himself.

Shadow lets a few moments go by.

Shadow: This has been a crazy day. People dressed up like animals. Golden Corral. Now we’re eating on the side of the road, sitting on the curb.

Buckson Gooch: Sometimes, it’s easy to go with the norm. But, like us, it can be a lot of fun going with the extreme.

Gooch polishes off his soda and Shadow finishes his sandwhich. What fun does the evening have in store for them?

-----------------------------------------

I was looking forward to this match. I’m glad I’m teaming with Shadow. I was looking forward to facing off with Smith and Envi.

But Smith, you messed it all up.

You weren’t true to your character.

You’ve always prided yourself on being a man of principle and character...this week, you strayed from that. The APW Universe knows it. The APW Management would have to be blind if they don’t.

Your attitude isn’t the same as it normally is. You know I’ve taken you to the limit each time we’ve faced each other...and you sure didn’t pin me at Rasslemania. You realize there is a great chance that another encounter with me would not be good for you.

I never suspected Smith for a chicken.

You’re going to get me and you’re going to get me full force. You didn’t fool anyone with your lame promo this week. I’m not some slack jawed idiot. I’m not a one dimensional wrestler. I’m an up-and-coming APW MegaStar. You denying that showed your attitude.

I’ll be glad to adjust that attitude this week.

Evan Envi. We meet up again. You are one of the best wrestlers in the world, not just APW. You don’t have to have me tell you that because you know it. The fans know it. You were one of my first opponents on Overdrive. We met up again after that...and tonight we meet again. You’ve been able to see my growth as a wrestler. You’ve said you see big things for me. I want to live up to those expectations. You may not like me all that much, but I respect you.

I’m excited to show you that I’ve grown as a competitor.

I’m excited to show the world that Shadow and I are a formidable tag team.

I believe in my dreams.

I believe in my goals.

I believe in Buckson Gooch.