Post by C.J. Gates on Apr 10, 2013 14:35:18 GMT -4
"It's just another day.
"That's the only way I can look at it after being attacked. Again. After my match. I know there are others that get the same treatment, but it just seems like they don't have it happen to them as often. It just seems like I'm target number one for everyone. If someone is looking for an easy bit of momentum, attacking me seems like the chic thing to do.
"And it's bullshit. Truly. You think by now people would see that I'm not just going to give up. That no matter how many times they attack me, I'm just going to come back, and if they push me far enough, I'm going to come back harder and more vicious.
"Especially when it's the usual suspects.
"I'd be lying if I said that last week didn't set me into a bit of a frenzy. If last weeks loss didn't hit me harder, but it wasn't the act of actually losing. What got to me was the way that Rebel was choking me out. It was the way that Rebel was doing so because of the promise of money.
"Which got me wondering about Terry Marvin and how much he fears me. I mean, he's an entire show away now, but he's still putting hits on me for what seems like no reason at all.
"And Johnny Rebel took him up on his offer.
"And now Johnny Rebel will pay. Maybe I'm out of my element by saying so, since I've shown very few signs of doing so, but when I get the opportunity, I'm going to take it. When Johnny Rebel is in my sights, I will make sure that I pay him back for trying to kill me.
"It's the least I could do.
"And it looks like I'll get that chance sooner rather than later.
"It looks like I'll get my chance this Thursday.
"It looks like I'll get my chance at Overdrive."
"What's all this?" Vincent James asks as C.J. Gates loudly drops a duffel bag on the table in front of him. James closes the magazine he was reading and puts it off to the side.
"Back up," Gates says, unzipping the bag. He reaches in and pulls out a wooden baseball bat. "If Overdrive is any indication of how things are going to go, I can't just remain a sitting duck. I can't let people like Johnny Rebel push me around."
"So you're going to use a baseball bat?"
Gates shrugs. "Maybe Michael Callahan had it right." Gates rotates the bat in his hand, looking at it as he does. "Maybe having one of these around for safe keeping was the right way to go. I doubt I'd be attacked as often if people knew I had this gem."
"Or they'd attack you even more," James offers up, peering into the bag and pulling out a lead pipe. "Or the fans would hate you for it."
"But it worked for Michael Callahan. He became the World Heavyweight champion by making sure no one punked him."
"Michael Callahan was crazy," James points out, putting the pipe back into the bag. "Michael Callahan is crazy. Michael Callahan was trying to beat people down for his own pleasure. Michael Callahan wanted to end careers. He didn't use that bat because he had to defend himself."
"So maybe I do."
"Do you?" James asks. "Nine months ago you were worried because you used the ropes to get a win over Keaton Saint and Slade Craven to get an Overdrive title shot. Now you're talking about using weapons to get ahead?"
"Not to get ahead," Gates cuts in. "To protect myself. How am I going to be able to return to where I was if guys like Johnny Rebel, Level One and Delikado are attacking me at all possible moments?" James opens his mouth to speak and Gates shakes his head. "I'm not."
"Well, how did you get here?" James offers up. "Through hard work."
"And look where that got me," Gates shouts. "It got me a nice choking at the hands of Johnny Rebel last week, and it even got me a near death experience at One Night in Hell when Marvin and Lester tried to break my neck."
"So?"
"So?" Gates shouts, his eyes wide as he glares at James. "You're saying you don't care that I nearly died?"
James sighs. "No, not that."
"Then what?"
"I'm just saying that you can't be bringing that up," James reasons. "You earned your shots through hard work. You've always been that man that personifies resilience and tenacity. You always got back up after getting knocked back down and always made sure to strike twice as hard after you did. Now," James motions to the table. "Now you're resorting to this? And because of what happened at One Night in Hell?"
"And every week," Gates says. "I go out there, I wrestle, and after the match, I get my head bashed in with a chair, or I eat a briefcase for lunch. Then I get choked out with a cable or I get belittled in the middle of the ring." Gates shakes his head. "There is only so much that I can take."
"This is what you want then?" James asks.
Gates looks down at the bag on the table and sighs, falling into a nearby chair, the baseball bat still dangling from his hand. "No."
"I didn't think so. You're better then all of that. You've always been better then that because you were able to succeed without cheating, without using weapons. Not only that, but you were able to get into your opponents head without having to attack them."
"I know, it's just aggravating," Gates says. "No matter what I do, they continue to act like degenerates. No matter how much I try, it seems like I'm the only one trying to cleanse APW. Or maybe I'm just the one that's delirious, thinking that it's even possible."
"It is possible, but it might not be practical." James pauses. "It's a good idea to start with, but after that, if you don't follow through with a win, then it gives them more fuel to their fire. Just look at exhibit A, Terry Marvin."
Gates nods. "I know, but what else is there? I can't just sit back and let those assholes ruin this business with their underhanded tactics. I can't sit back and let the fans be disappointed week in and week out when a top notch match turns into a clusterfuck. I can't just let them get away with it - I have to stand up to them. I have to stand up for the fans."
"Which is commendable," James says.
"But not practical, like you said." Gates sighs. "I don't know. I guess right now I'm caught in the middle. What good is it to try and defend APW when it never seems to work, and seems to cost me opportunities more often then not."
"Eventually you'll break them down," James adds. "Look what happened in 2011 with Biggs. You broke him down until all of his tactics simply fueled your fire, and by then you were already on the top of the pyramid."
"And then I fell."
"Well, yeah, but no one is invincible. You said it yourself. At some point, everyone falls and sometimes it is isn't exactly graceful."
"I know."
"Really, all I can offer to you is that you do the same thing you've been doing each week you are in that ring. Give it your all..."
"And put on a great show," Gates finishes. "I know."
"It won't be easy though," James says.
Gates scoffs. "Tell me about it. Delikado, Level One and Johnny Rebel on one side of the ring. It's like they're trying to test me by giving me these matches each week."
"As opposed to what?"
"Giving me a match against a guy like myself, someone who wants to see the good in wrestler. An A.C. Smith or a Mark Mania."
"Well, you're teaming with Mark Mania."
"True, but it's not the same," Gates says. "If we were facing off, it would be a match built on respect. It would be a match where the better man would win and no one would hate the other by the end of it. But this? This is putting six personalities into the ring that, at some level, hate someone else across the ring from them. Some are even hated by their own team."
"You're speaking of Callahan, aren't you?"
Gates nods. "Maybe he doesn't hate me. Besides, he seems to have bigger fish to fry with Level One breathing down his neck."
"He does have those two wins over you though," James reminds Gates. "Maybe he'll take as many opportunities as possible to rub those wins in your face."
"I don't think he will," Gates says. "But then again, you never can tell."
"That's true."
"If I could," Gates continues, "I'd know when my head is going to be used for target practice, or when I could walk out of the ring on my own two feet."
"At least Delikado hasn't screwed you over like that," James offers.
Gates nods. "I guess that's a positive. He hasn't exactly been squeaky clean when fighting me, but he hasn't attacked me. Yet."
"Optimism at it's finest."
"Oh, I'm optimistic. Optimistic that I'm still going to get my head bashed in. It's the way of life for people like me, and with Biggs out of action for a bit after being put through hell by Level One, I'm kind of flying solo."
"Well, maybe Level One will still be feeling the effects of that match," James says with a chuckle.
"Maybe," Gates says. "But if he is, he wouldn't showcase it. He'll try to play it off like he's all well and good just to try and throw us off."
"But he can't, can he? I mean, he was thrown around that ring, off that cage, he's bound to be in all sorts of pain."
Gates shrugs. "Who knows. We'll find out at Overdrive."
"Another plus, you're at least fighting with Mania. You can bring your tag team work from Clash of the Titans to Overdrive."
"Also true, however with him there's a wildcard," Gates adds. "Losing the title to Envi, I don't know how much he'll be looking to win and move on from it, or how angry he will be about losing, and how much he'll want to win."
"That's good, no?" James asks. "The fire would help your team."
"True," Gates says as he leans forward, closing the bag. "It could also hurt. Not to say anything bad about Mania, because I respect what he does inside of that ring, but sometimes anger can have a negative effect overall."
Gates continues to pack up the bag and James just looks at him. After a few moments, James speaks. "So what about you?"
"What about me?" Gates says, sitting back in his chair.
"Are you angry?"
Gates hesitates. "No, not really."
"Are you sure?"
Again, Gates hesitates. "Yeah, I am. Why are you asking?"
"Because of everything you just said," James says. "You wanted to grab a weapon to bash in some heads and to use as protection, and after you said that anger could hurt, I thought I'd see if you were. Because if you are, it might not end too well for you."
"No, I'm good," Gates says before sighing a few moments later. "Alright, maybe I'm pissed that I didn't get the job done at Rasslemania, and maybe I'm a bit ticked off that I let Johnny Rebel gain some measure of bragging rights over me, but I'm not going to let that get to me. I'm not going to let it define what I do inside of that ring."
"You're not?"
"I'm not."
James nods his head absently. "Whatever you say boss."
"What, you don't believe me?" Gates says. "You don't believe me."
"I believe you're going to do what you need to do, I just don't know if it's going to be anger free."
"Well, I guess that's something I'm going to have to prove to you," Gates says with a smile. "I mean, it wouldn't be the first time I've had to prove something to someone, right? It seems like every week I'm doing it.
"And this week is no different."
"Where do we begin?
"There are so many people in this match that I have a history with, I just don't know where to start. Do I start with Level One, a man that my history goes way back with, back to when I first started in APW. Back to when he belittled me at every opportunity. Back to when I couldn't beat him. Or do I worry more about the recent history, when I beat him at Christmas Chaos.
"Maybe I go with Johnny Rebel, another man I have an extensive history with. A man who had his fair share of troubles beating me until last week when he managed to beat me with a handful of tights. Do I use all of those wins I have over him as motivation? Do I belittle him like Level One belittled me?
"Maybe I look at Delikado. While our history is not as long and extensive, we still have some. It only dates back to this past summer, back to when he barely managed to squeak out with the Overdrive title at Shockwave and Overdrive. Back to when he enlisted my mother to help him play his games.
"Or do I look at my own team. Mark Mania and I have been in APW together for quite some time and, as recently as Clash of the Titans over at Visionary Wrestling, have begun to see things on the same page, teaming up to take on every. To prove that we're not just built on wealth. However, I don't know if that will truly matter here.
"And of course, there's Michael Callahan. A man that I have had very little interaction with, but a man that I have also been unable to beat. Luckily, I don't have to worry about him wanting to pin me, since that would defeat the purpose of the match, but you never know what's going through his head. You never know what kind of points he wants to make about this match. About me.
"Fact is, no matter where I start, there's history. There is tons that could be said about each man. On the same note, there is tons that I know about each of them, tons that I know about their in ring habits. Even in the case of Delikado and Callahan, the sample size might be small, but there is still knowledge. There is still memory about what they did when certain opportunities opened up.
"Point is, I would say I'm more than prepared.
"Can the others say the same thing? Is Delikado prepared after having his World title chance ruined last week by Level One, a man that he has to team with this week. Is Johnny Rebel prepared after finally getting some booze money for trying to end my career? Is Mark Mania prepared, or is he just hungry to get his title back? Is Level One even prepared or did those injuries he suffered at Rasslemania really take a toll.
"You see, there are question marks everywhere. Everyone can wonder about who is ready and who isn't. People could even wonder about me, though it wouldn't do them well. It wouldn't make sense because I am always ready, always prepared. I do my homework whenever I am able, between matches, the night of. I make sure that there are no surprises.
"Which everyone in this match should know.
"It's not like we're strangers right? Just like it should be no surprise that everyone has the talent to pull out the win. Do I contradict myself? Maybe, but that doesn't change anything. Regardless of whether or not you are prepared, one can still have the talent to pull out victories. And when I look around at the five others in this match, I know that each one of us fits that bill. That each one of us has shown we are capable of winning a big match when the moment calls for it. And most of them, I've seen first hand.
"Rebel won last week to save his self respect. Level One won at Rasslemania. Michael Callahan won in the Extreme Tournament. Mark Mania won at One Night in Hell. Delikado won at Shockwave.
"Everyone has that ability. The only difference in this case will be that we each have two others standing on an apron ready to get saddled with a loss if they decide to let their own opinions trump a win. Two men who will be there to break a count and a submission when the moment comes to it.
"Of course, that also means there are two men there who we have to work well with. If my past is any indication, Mark Mania and I should be able to work together. The Wall Street Warriors should be able to co-exist on our side of the ring. The real question will be Michael Callahan. The real wild card will be the political mastermind. The real factor will be the World Heavyweight champion.
"Usually, they are a lock to be the focal point, but with Mania and I already working together, we've got to make sure that we can work well with Callahan. And I think that for one night, we can all agree that while there might be some problems working between us, or at least between Callahan and me, we can agree that we have three common enemies on the other side of the ring. We have three men that we can all find some sort of anger towards.
"Whether it be an attack to leave us down or a rabid raccoon that nearly infected us, each one of us has some sort of hatred towards the men across from us and that is the one thing we're going to have to rely on.
"Of course there is one common thread running between all of us.
"The World Heavyweight title.
"All of us in this match want it, that is no surprise. We are all looking for it and know that a match like this could be a great opportunity to put ourselves on the map. Everyone sees the other five and knows that they might be the ones that need to be beaten to get the next shot.
"Meanwhile, I've been doing that my entire career.
"But some need that push and because of that, this match could take on a whole different personality. Because of that, this match could end up being so hard fought that it will make Evan Envi vs. Shadow look like a poor man's main event. This match will be so hard fought just so we can all get a title opportunity.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way. Truly. If this match is actually going to be used as some sort of measuring stick for the APW World Heavyweight title, then I wouldn't want it to be a half-assed affair that no one really gives two shits about. I would want everyone to be giving it their all so that when the name was announced, we could all say that they earned it.
"That I earned it.
"Like I said, we all want it, and I'm sure we're all looking at this match in that way. I am no exception. If anything, I want to prove myself that much more after the way Rasslemania went down. I want to show everyone that I still have what it takes to challenge for the top belt, to show them that just because I had a shot, that doesn't mean I shouldn't have the opportunity for another shot.
"Not if I earn it anyways. And I intend to. Just like I intend to give it my all.
"And who knows? Maybe I'll give out some payback in the name of someone else, kind of like a little retribution. Maybe I'll take it extra hard to Level One in the name of Biggs, after the hell you put him through. Sure, he knows what he was getting involved in, but putting him in a position where he might not be able to wrestle for the next little while, well, to me that means that you've got to have a little something coming your way, Lester.
"Even though you're walking, you haven't really gotten off free, and I intend to show that to you this week. Just like I intend to show Rebel that last week was a one in a million occurrence. That his win is something not many will see again. Even Rebel knows that it's not something he should expect to see week in and week out, because even if I were to lose one more, it's not like the floor was going to open up and swallow me whole.
"That's something I've been running through my mind since last years Rasslemania. That even a few losses here and there won't cripple me. Sure, sometimes it's hard to keep that mindset, but other times, it can be quite easy. Other times, it's good to know that I am not completely screwed if I run into hot opponents or tough matches.
"Like this week.
"It doesn't mean instant success if my team pulls out a win, but it also doesn't mean that I've been lost in the abyss. It just shows that the three of us would still have what it takes, and down the road, who knows. Maybe we will go on to something a bit better. Maybe a title shot is in our future.
"But all of that is speculation, really. All of that is just something that I've cooked up to give this match a little something extra. Still, though, on the surface this is a match filled with stories and filled with hatred. This is a match where emotions run high ninety percent of the time. This is the sort of match that I live for.
"And I don't care who I end up in the ring against, I am going to drive them to put out there best performance. I am going to make sure that if they want a win, even if it's just a six man tag team win for the sake of a win, they are going to have to earn it. They are going to have to prove that they deserve to win.
"There will be safety nets this week and, of course, there will be no bounty's placed on anyone's head. This is simply going to be a fight.
"Boys, it's time to go big or go home."
"That's the only way I can look at it after being attacked. Again. After my match. I know there are others that get the same treatment, but it just seems like they don't have it happen to them as often. It just seems like I'm target number one for everyone. If someone is looking for an easy bit of momentum, attacking me seems like the chic thing to do.
"And it's bullshit. Truly. You think by now people would see that I'm not just going to give up. That no matter how many times they attack me, I'm just going to come back, and if they push me far enough, I'm going to come back harder and more vicious.
"Especially when it's the usual suspects.
"I'd be lying if I said that last week didn't set me into a bit of a frenzy. If last weeks loss didn't hit me harder, but it wasn't the act of actually losing. What got to me was the way that Rebel was choking me out. It was the way that Rebel was doing so because of the promise of money.
"Which got me wondering about Terry Marvin and how much he fears me. I mean, he's an entire show away now, but he's still putting hits on me for what seems like no reason at all.
"And Johnny Rebel took him up on his offer.
"And now Johnny Rebel will pay. Maybe I'm out of my element by saying so, since I've shown very few signs of doing so, but when I get the opportunity, I'm going to take it. When Johnny Rebel is in my sights, I will make sure that I pay him back for trying to kill me.
"It's the least I could do.
"And it looks like I'll get that chance sooner rather than later.
"It looks like I'll get my chance this Thursday.
"It looks like I'll get my chance at Overdrive."
------------------------------------------
"What's all this?" Vincent James asks as C.J. Gates loudly drops a duffel bag on the table in front of him. James closes the magazine he was reading and puts it off to the side.
"Back up," Gates says, unzipping the bag. He reaches in and pulls out a wooden baseball bat. "If Overdrive is any indication of how things are going to go, I can't just remain a sitting duck. I can't let people like Johnny Rebel push me around."
"So you're going to use a baseball bat?"
Gates shrugs. "Maybe Michael Callahan had it right." Gates rotates the bat in his hand, looking at it as he does. "Maybe having one of these around for safe keeping was the right way to go. I doubt I'd be attacked as often if people knew I had this gem."
"Or they'd attack you even more," James offers up, peering into the bag and pulling out a lead pipe. "Or the fans would hate you for it."
"But it worked for Michael Callahan. He became the World Heavyweight champion by making sure no one punked him."
"Michael Callahan was crazy," James points out, putting the pipe back into the bag. "Michael Callahan is crazy. Michael Callahan was trying to beat people down for his own pleasure. Michael Callahan wanted to end careers. He didn't use that bat because he had to defend himself."
"So maybe I do."
"Do you?" James asks. "Nine months ago you were worried because you used the ropes to get a win over Keaton Saint and Slade Craven to get an Overdrive title shot. Now you're talking about using weapons to get ahead?"
"Not to get ahead," Gates cuts in. "To protect myself. How am I going to be able to return to where I was if guys like Johnny Rebel, Level One and Delikado are attacking me at all possible moments?" James opens his mouth to speak and Gates shakes his head. "I'm not."
"Well, how did you get here?" James offers up. "Through hard work."
"And look where that got me," Gates shouts. "It got me a nice choking at the hands of Johnny Rebel last week, and it even got me a near death experience at One Night in Hell when Marvin and Lester tried to break my neck."
"So?"
"So?" Gates shouts, his eyes wide as he glares at James. "You're saying you don't care that I nearly died?"
James sighs. "No, not that."
"Then what?"
"I'm just saying that you can't be bringing that up," James reasons. "You earned your shots through hard work. You've always been that man that personifies resilience and tenacity. You always got back up after getting knocked back down and always made sure to strike twice as hard after you did. Now," James motions to the table. "Now you're resorting to this? And because of what happened at One Night in Hell?"
"And every week," Gates says. "I go out there, I wrestle, and after the match, I get my head bashed in with a chair, or I eat a briefcase for lunch. Then I get choked out with a cable or I get belittled in the middle of the ring." Gates shakes his head. "There is only so much that I can take."
"This is what you want then?" James asks.
Gates looks down at the bag on the table and sighs, falling into a nearby chair, the baseball bat still dangling from his hand. "No."
"I didn't think so. You're better then all of that. You've always been better then that because you were able to succeed without cheating, without using weapons. Not only that, but you were able to get into your opponents head without having to attack them."
"I know, it's just aggravating," Gates says. "No matter what I do, they continue to act like degenerates. No matter how much I try, it seems like I'm the only one trying to cleanse APW. Or maybe I'm just the one that's delirious, thinking that it's even possible."
"It is possible, but it might not be practical." James pauses. "It's a good idea to start with, but after that, if you don't follow through with a win, then it gives them more fuel to their fire. Just look at exhibit A, Terry Marvin."
Gates nods. "I know, but what else is there? I can't just sit back and let those assholes ruin this business with their underhanded tactics. I can't sit back and let the fans be disappointed week in and week out when a top notch match turns into a clusterfuck. I can't just let them get away with it - I have to stand up to them. I have to stand up for the fans."
"Which is commendable," James says.
"But not practical, like you said." Gates sighs. "I don't know. I guess right now I'm caught in the middle. What good is it to try and defend APW when it never seems to work, and seems to cost me opportunities more often then not."
"Eventually you'll break them down," James adds. "Look what happened in 2011 with Biggs. You broke him down until all of his tactics simply fueled your fire, and by then you were already on the top of the pyramid."
"And then I fell."
"Well, yeah, but no one is invincible. You said it yourself. At some point, everyone falls and sometimes it is isn't exactly graceful."
"I know."
"Really, all I can offer to you is that you do the same thing you've been doing each week you are in that ring. Give it your all..."
"And put on a great show," Gates finishes. "I know."
"It won't be easy though," James says.
Gates scoffs. "Tell me about it. Delikado, Level One and Johnny Rebel on one side of the ring. It's like they're trying to test me by giving me these matches each week."
"As opposed to what?"
"Giving me a match against a guy like myself, someone who wants to see the good in wrestler. An A.C. Smith or a Mark Mania."
"Well, you're teaming with Mark Mania."
"True, but it's not the same," Gates says. "If we were facing off, it would be a match built on respect. It would be a match where the better man would win and no one would hate the other by the end of it. But this? This is putting six personalities into the ring that, at some level, hate someone else across the ring from them. Some are even hated by their own team."
"You're speaking of Callahan, aren't you?"
Gates nods. "Maybe he doesn't hate me. Besides, he seems to have bigger fish to fry with Level One breathing down his neck."
"He does have those two wins over you though," James reminds Gates. "Maybe he'll take as many opportunities as possible to rub those wins in your face."
"I don't think he will," Gates says. "But then again, you never can tell."
"That's true."
"If I could," Gates continues, "I'd know when my head is going to be used for target practice, or when I could walk out of the ring on my own two feet."
"At least Delikado hasn't screwed you over like that," James offers.
Gates nods. "I guess that's a positive. He hasn't exactly been squeaky clean when fighting me, but he hasn't attacked me. Yet."
"Optimism at it's finest."
"Oh, I'm optimistic. Optimistic that I'm still going to get my head bashed in. It's the way of life for people like me, and with Biggs out of action for a bit after being put through hell by Level One, I'm kind of flying solo."
"Well, maybe Level One will still be feeling the effects of that match," James says with a chuckle.
"Maybe," Gates says. "But if he is, he wouldn't showcase it. He'll try to play it off like he's all well and good just to try and throw us off."
"But he can't, can he? I mean, he was thrown around that ring, off that cage, he's bound to be in all sorts of pain."
Gates shrugs. "Who knows. We'll find out at Overdrive."
"Another plus, you're at least fighting with Mania. You can bring your tag team work from Clash of the Titans to Overdrive."
"Also true, however with him there's a wildcard," Gates adds. "Losing the title to Envi, I don't know how much he'll be looking to win and move on from it, or how angry he will be about losing, and how much he'll want to win."
"That's good, no?" James asks. "The fire would help your team."
"True," Gates says as he leans forward, closing the bag. "It could also hurt. Not to say anything bad about Mania, because I respect what he does inside of that ring, but sometimes anger can have a negative effect overall."
Gates continues to pack up the bag and James just looks at him. After a few moments, James speaks. "So what about you?"
"What about me?" Gates says, sitting back in his chair.
"Are you angry?"
Gates hesitates. "No, not really."
"Are you sure?"
Again, Gates hesitates. "Yeah, I am. Why are you asking?"
"Because of everything you just said," James says. "You wanted to grab a weapon to bash in some heads and to use as protection, and after you said that anger could hurt, I thought I'd see if you were. Because if you are, it might not end too well for you."
"No, I'm good," Gates says before sighing a few moments later. "Alright, maybe I'm pissed that I didn't get the job done at Rasslemania, and maybe I'm a bit ticked off that I let Johnny Rebel gain some measure of bragging rights over me, but I'm not going to let that get to me. I'm not going to let it define what I do inside of that ring."
"You're not?"
"I'm not."
James nods his head absently. "Whatever you say boss."
"What, you don't believe me?" Gates says. "You don't believe me."
"I believe you're going to do what you need to do, I just don't know if it's going to be anger free."
"Well, I guess that's something I'm going to have to prove to you," Gates says with a smile. "I mean, it wouldn't be the first time I've had to prove something to someone, right? It seems like every week I'm doing it.
"And this week is no different."
------------------------------------------
"Where do we begin?
"There are so many people in this match that I have a history with, I just don't know where to start. Do I start with Level One, a man that my history goes way back with, back to when I first started in APW. Back to when he belittled me at every opportunity. Back to when I couldn't beat him. Or do I worry more about the recent history, when I beat him at Christmas Chaos.
"Maybe I go with Johnny Rebel, another man I have an extensive history with. A man who had his fair share of troubles beating me until last week when he managed to beat me with a handful of tights. Do I use all of those wins I have over him as motivation? Do I belittle him like Level One belittled me?
"Maybe I look at Delikado. While our history is not as long and extensive, we still have some. It only dates back to this past summer, back to when he barely managed to squeak out with the Overdrive title at Shockwave and Overdrive. Back to when he enlisted my mother to help him play his games.
"Or do I look at my own team. Mark Mania and I have been in APW together for quite some time and, as recently as Clash of the Titans over at Visionary Wrestling, have begun to see things on the same page, teaming up to take on every. To prove that we're not just built on wealth. However, I don't know if that will truly matter here.
"And of course, there's Michael Callahan. A man that I have had very little interaction with, but a man that I have also been unable to beat. Luckily, I don't have to worry about him wanting to pin me, since that would defeat the purpose of the match, but you never know what's going through his head. You never know what kind of points he wants to make about this match. About me.
"Fact is, no matter where I start, there's history. There is tons that could be said about each man. On the same note, there is tons that I know about each of them, tons that I know about their in ring habits. Even in the case of Delikado and Callahan, the sample size might be small, but there is still knowledge. There is still memory about what they did when certain opportunities opened up.
"Point is, I would say I'm more than prepared.
"Can the others say the same thing? Is Delikado prepared after having his World title chance ruined last week by Level One, a man that he has to team with this week. Is Johnny Rebel prepared after finally getting some booze money for trying to end my career? Is Mark Mania prepared, or is he just hungry to get his title back? Is Level One even prepared or did those injuries he suffered at Rasslemania really take a toll.
"You see, there are question marks everywhere. Everyone can wonder about who is ready and who isn't. People could even wonder about me, though it wouldn't do them well. It wouldn't make sense because I am always ready, always prepared. I do my homework whenever I am able, between matches, the night of. I make sure that there are no surprises.
"Which everyone in this match should know.
"It's not like we're strangers right? Just like it should be no surprise that everyone has the talent to pull out the win. Do I contradict myself? Maybe, but that doesn't change anything. Regardless of whether or not you are prepared, one can still have the talent to pull out victories. And when I look around at the five others in this match, I know that each one of us fits that bill. That each one of us has shown we are capable of winning a big match when the moment calls for it. And most of them, I've seen first hand.
"Rebel won last week to save his self respect. Level One won at Rasslemania. Michael Callahan won in the Extreme Tournament. Mark Mania won at One Night in Hell. Delikado won at Shockwave.
"Everyone has that ability. The only difference in this case will be that we each have two others standing on an apron ready to get saddled with a loss if they decide to let their own opinions trump a win. Two men who will be there to break a count and a submission when the moment comes to it.
"Of course, that also means there are two men there who we have to work well with. If my past is any indication, Mark Mania and I should be able to work together. The Wall Street Warriors should be able to co-exist on our side of the ring. The real question will be Michael Callahan. The real wild card will be the political mastermind. The real factor will be the World Heavyweight champion.
"Usually, they are a lock to be the focal point, but with Mania and I already working together, we've got to make sure that we can work well with Callahan. And I think that for one night, we can all agree that while there might be some problems working between us, or at least between Callahan and me, we can agree that we have three common enemies on the other side of the ring. We have three men that we can all find some sort of anger towards.
"Whether it be an attack to leave us down or a rabid raccoon that nearly infected us, each one of us has some sort of hatred towards the men across from us and that is the one thing we're going to have to rely on.
"Of course there is one common thread running between all of us.
"The World Heavyweight title.
"All of us in this match want it, that is no surprise. We are all looking for it and know that a match like this could be a great opportunity to put ourselves on the map. Everyone sees the other five and knows that they might be the ones that need to be beaten to get the next shot.
"Meanwhile, I've been doing that my entire career.
"But some need that push and because of that, this match could take on a whole different personality. Because of that, this match could end up being so hard fought that it will make Evan Envi vs. Shadow look like a poor man's main event. This match will be so hard fought just so we can all get a title opportunity.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way. Truly. If this match is actually going to be used as some sort of measuring stick for the APW World Heavyweight title, then I wouldn't want it to be a half-assed affair that no one really gives two shits about. I would want everyone to be giving it their all so that when the name was announced, we could all say that they earned it.
"That I earned it.
"Like I said, we all want it, and I'm sure we're all looking at this match in that way. I am no exception. If anything, I want to prove myself that much more after the way Rasslemania went down. I want to show everyone that I still have what it takes to challenge for the top belt, to show them that just because I had a shot, that doesn't mean I shouldn't have the opportunity for another shot.
"Not if I earn it anyways. And I intend to. Just like I intend to give it my all.
"And who knows? Maybe I'll give out some payback in the name of someone else, kind of like a little retribution. Maybe I'll take it extra hard to Level One in the name of Biggs, after the hell you put him through. Sure, he knows what he was getting involved in, but putting him in a position where he might not be able to wrestle for the next little while, well, to me that means that you've got to have a little something coming your way, Lester.
"Even though you're walking, you haven't really gotten off free, and I intend to show that to you this week. Just like I intend to show Rebel that last week was a one in a million occurrence. That his win is something not many will see again. Even Rebel knows that it's not something he should expect to see week in and week out, because even if I were to lose one more, it's not like the floor was going to open up and swallow me whole.
"That's something I've been running through my mind since last years Rasslemania. That even a few losses here and there won't cripple me. Sure, sometimes it's hard to keep that mindset, but other times, it can be quite easy. Other times, it's good to know that I am not completely screwed if I run into hot opponents or tough matches.
"Like this week.
"It doesn't mean instant success if my team pulls out a win, but it also doesn't mean that I've been lost in the abyss. It just shows that the three of us would still have what it takes, and down the road, who knows. Maybe we will go on to something a bit better. Maybe a title shot is in our future.
"But all of that is speculation, really. All of that is just something that I've cooked up to give this match a little something extra. Still, though, on the surface this is a match filled with stories and filled with hatred. This is a match where emotions run high ninety percent of the time. This is the sort of match that I live for.
"And I don't care who I end up in the ring against, I am going to drive them to put out there best performance. I am going to make sure that if they want a win, even if it's just a six man tag team win for the sake of a win, they are going to have to earn it. They are going to have to prove that they deserve to win.
"There will be safety nets this week and, of course, there will be no bounty's placed on anyone's head. This is simply going to be a fight.
"Boys, it's time to go big or go home."
