Post by C.J. Gates on Apr 16, 2013 22:15:05 GMT -4
"Well, last week was a bit of a clusterfuck.
"I expected it to be, however. With that man people in one match, and with that much bad blood, I knew it would only be a matter of time before it turned into what it was. However that result is far from my mind.
"The one thing that has been in my head, though, is the same thing that's been flying through the atmosphere, the ionosphere, hell even the twitter sphere.
"Kid Dynamo is returning to APW to save C.J. Gates.
"It's funny, because I never thought I'd need saving. I mean, I knew I was in a bit of a funk and the past year hasn't exactly been all stars and glitter, but to think that I need to be saved? I never thought it had come to that, let alone thinking that someone would take it upon themselves to do it.
"But Kid Dynamo thinks he has to. Or thinks that he must. Either way, Kid Dynamo is taking it upon himself to come to APW to save me from falling into obscurity. From his own mouth, he is coming into APW to throw himself down on the mat so that I can pick up a victory. Or at least that's the summarized version.
"Even though he wants to be this hero, he does a good job at portraying himself as everything that evil stands got. He does a great job at making sure that no one understands what is going on. He does an even better job at mixing up his facts.
"Kid Dynamo has talent though, which is evident from his success in his home federation. And the fact that he is fearless, albeit stupid, when it comes to picking his battles and talking himself into problems is something that many people would look up to.
"Though as the match draws closer, I can't help but what just what it will really accomplish. I just can't help feel like there is an ulterior motive for Kid Dynamo's bravado.
"I just can't help but wonder who it is that will actually be saved."
"I can't believe it," C.J. Gates mutters as he drops the headphones to the desk, shaking his head.
"Can't believe what?" Vincent James asks as he closes the door behind him. Gates looks up as James drops a duffel bag onto the couch of Gates' office.
"This," Gates says, motioning to the computer in front of him. "This bullshit being spewed from this guys mouth. I get that people are always trying to leave their mark and make an impact, but this is something else."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Kid Dynamo."
"Ah," James says with a smirk.
"What's in the bag?" Gates says, motioning to the bag with his head.
"Nothing much," James says. "Just a few items that your mom wants you to sell off."
"You're running errands for my mom now?" Gates shakes his head and folds his arms over his chest. "Why does she want me to sell stuff for her?"
James shrugs. "She says she needs money and I guess this is her way to get it. And since you won't go and talk to her, I have to be the middle man in all of this."
Again, Gates shakes his head. "What kind of stuff is in there?"
"A few movies, some odds and ends, and this," James says as he opens the bag and pulls out a small cowboy hat.
"She's trying to sell my very first hat?"
James chuckles. "Yeah, she wants you to sign it, too. Figured she could get a lot more cash for it that way."
"My mom sure is a piece of work."
"You can say that again," James chuckles. He walks forward and takes a seat in one of the chairs across from Gates. "So, back on topic. What kind of lies has Dynamo been spewing about you?"
"Apparently, I need to be saved."
"Saved?" James says with a smile. "Who are you? Lois Lane?"
"Apparently," Gates says, shaking his head again. "I mean, just listen to this guy." Gates hands the headphones to James who leans forward and puts them on. After a few moments, James rips them off.
"Does he have to yell?" James asks. "It seems like every other word he says, he's yelling it out like it's important."
"Yeah, that's kind of his style," Gates says. "He likes to be the center of attention, and if that's not going his way, then he's not a happy camper."
"So he's like the majority of the people you've had to put with?" James cracks a smile and hands the headphones back to Gates. "So what did he say? Sum it up."
"He basically told the world that I needed to be saved. That, and he pulled out some stats about the past year."
"About you?"
Gates nods. "My win-loss record. He seemed to think it mattered."
"Well, if he's trying to save you, he needs to point out how much of a disaster the year has been."
"But it hasn't," Gates says. "Sure, it wasn't as dominating as the year I had in 2011, but it was still a good year by most people's accounts."
"I guess what they say is true," James begins. "At one point you're going to end up becoming a product of your own success, whether that's good or bad."
"And people like Kid Dynamo will be there to jump all over it when it happens, I know," Gates says. "It doesn't mean it doesn't suck."
James nods for a few moments. "So you're going to beat him, right?"
Gates smiles and then nods. "That's the aim, anyways. I can't say one hundred percent for sure-"
"Oh, you have to beat him."
"I have to?"
Now James nods. "He's invading APW."
"Drop it," Gates says as he turns off the computer monitor and leans back in the large deck chair.
"Drop it?" James says before shaking his head. "You are the white knight, you are the guy who is set to defend APW. Kid Dynamo is not flying the same flag, and he is coming into your territory claiming to best you so that he can save you."
Gates holds up a hand. "That's where you're wrong."
"I'm wrong?"
"He didn't say he wanted to beat me. He said he wanted to save me by losing to me and giving me a bit of a kick in the ass."
"Wait, what?" James asks, confused. "I don't think I follow."
"That's Kid Dynamo for you," Gates shrugs. "He's making about as much sense now as he did when he was actually in APW. Except this time, it's associated with a split personality."
"Another one of those types, huh?" James says with a shake of his head. "On the plus side, you'll be able to put him in his place."
"Split personality might be the wrong word, though. He's just losing touch with who he really is, and is becoming more and more the character of Kid Dynamo. I guess he's really into his wrestling in that case."
"Sounds like a fun time for you this week."
"Could be worse," Gates says, cracking a smile. "I could have to put up with Terry Marvin again."
"Yeah but at least then you'd have the possibility to win a title," James reasons. "What do you gain from a win over this Kid Dynamite?"
"Kid Dynamo," Gates corrects. "And I don't know what I'd gain. I don't think I'd gain anything more than bragging rights. It won't impact me in APW, it's just one of those one-off matches."
"So then why are you having the match?"
"Because Kid Dynamo wants to."
"Seriously?"
"He's been trying to get a match with me since 2012's Survive and Conquer," Gates says. "I guess now is just that time."
"But you don't gain anything."
"Other than a win to my record and bragging rights."
"Seems like a waste of time to me," James says. "Not that it's a waste to fight, just if you aren't going to get anything out of it, what's the point."
"Well, I guess there's always your idea about saving APW from the interlopers."
"That might be the only thing to look forward to. At least afterwards you can send him back to that two-bit federation he comes from."
"I wouldn't call it two-bit," Gates says. "But it's definitely not APW. I can't say much about the rest of the competition he has to put up with, but I can say that it's most likely not at the same level."
"So what you're saying," James begins, "is that if you were in OWF, you would be considered one of the top dogs."
"It's quite possible," Gates says. "But I'm not worrying about that."
"No, you're worrying about Dynaman."
"Dynamo. And yes. I want to show him that I don't need him to be saved. That this entire idea he's throwing around is nothing more than a symptom of his delusions."
"What, does he think he's a God or something?" James chuckles. Gates simply looks at him. "You've got to be kidding me."
"I don't kid," Gates says.
"That's rich," James says. "It seems like there are always a few of them out there."
"Definitely does," Gates says. "It doesn't help that he assaults twitter at every possible moment. It's like he has nothing better to do than tweet what he's doing at every moment."
"I take it you're not a fan of that?"
"I could do without it," Gates says. "Then again, I haven't really used twitter all that much myself. It actually didn't bother me until he called me out for not using twitter enough. It's as if I'm supposed to sit in front of a computer or tweet from a smart phone all day."
James nods in agreement. "So you're writing him off, then?"
Gates shakes his head. "Oh no. God no. I know that if I do that, that is when Dynamo is going to come out of no where and pull a win out of no where, whether he wants one or not."
"You think so?"
"He's a World champion, so I assume he's got at least that much ability. Anything more I plan to put to the test in a few days when he and I lock up in the main event.
"I am going to show him that I don't need to be saved.
"I am going to show him that it is he that needs the good luck."
"You've come a long way, Kid.
"I mean, the last time we saw you for more than Survive and Conquer, you were in way over your head. You were a guy who thought he could do more than he actually could, a guy who thought more of himself then was probably rightfully deserved. You had big plans, but never seemed capable of following through.
"But now? Now you're the top champion in your home federation. You've got ambition, drive, and a World title to back up your big talk. However, even thought you've managed to improve yourself over time, there are still aspects of you that remind me of the old Kid Dynamo. There are still things that you do that make me shake my head in wonder.
"Then again, a lot of that could be because of your changes. A low of these things that are making me wonder could just be because you've improved and become more confident in what you're able to do. You've become tougher, meaner, more sure of what you're capable to do when you step inside of that ring.
"And you've also become more hypocritical.
"Or maybe I'm just listening to you more now. I mean, I know you were tearing me up and down at 2012's Survive and Conquer, much like a lot of the roster was doing. But then, it just seemed like a guy who didn't really know his place yet. A typical guy who comes into a federation expecting to be handed the main event spotlight, expected to be handed title shots, expected to be handed high profile matches.
"You came off as a punk, plain and simple. People tried to tell you the way of things around here, they tried to give you pointers, but it was too late because you had already talked yourself into a match against Level One. You had already gifted Lester a win. Who knows, maybe you did it on purpose. Maybe you tried to rile him up just to give him a little something else. Maybe you wanted to save him, just like you want to save me.
"Truth is, Kid, I don't need saving. Believe it or not, I don't need someone to gift me a win just to make myself feel better. I don't need to take the easy way out. Everything I have done up until now, I have earned and worked hard for. Even through defeat, I have managed to learn enough to come out on the other side stronger then I was when I lost the match. Even after hitting ruts and losing streaks, I still managed to come out firing on the other side.
"But apparently you want to bring up your first Survive and Conquer.
"And that's fine. Truly. I mean, ever since I opted to wrestle in the Survive and Conquer match instead of defend my title, I've had to face people throwing it back in my face. I have had to deal with every Tom, Dick and Harry telling me that I let everyone down. The funny thing is, Kid, if I let the fans down then, why would they continue to cheer for me? Why would they continue to have my back, even after I lost to Kurt Noble?
"Because I didn't let them down. Everyone thinks I did, but I didn't. And what's worse, is I'm the only one getting grilled about my decision. No one talked ill of Terry Marvin for wanting to win Survive and Conquer this past year instead of defend his title. If anything, his title evasion leaves something to be desired, seeing as how my win at Christmas Chaos wasn't just for a title match, but a title match at Rasslemania. Terry Marvin had already been given Survive and Conquer off from defending his title, and the event hadn't even cast a shadow yet.
"That's fine, though. I'm used to that kind of stuff happening around here. And if you want another example of the top champion failing to defend his belt, look at Level One in 2011. On a night when I not only competed in a tag team title match, but I also came fourth in the Survive and Conquer match, Level One couldn't even be bothered to think of defending his belt.
"Yet I'm the bad guy.
"Bullshit.
"It's only because I'm the good guy that I get the shit thrown at me like that. It's only because I'm the only one around who wants to defend APW from the lowlifes and the degenerates that seem to walk through the doors on a monthly basis. That's the only reason why other wrestlers look on that one event with a sour taste in their mouth. Notice how I said other wrestlers, though, because the fans never once had that reaction. It's always been people like you, Kid.
"The same sort of people who think it's their job to save me. The same sort of people that use facts and figures to try and make it sound like they know what they're talking about, only to prove that they're full of shit. Don't believe me, Kid?
"Just look at the things you had to say. Just listen to the way you contradicted yourself and turned yourself into the hypocrite I called you out as. Just like Terry Marvin and Level One, you manipulate everything to fit your own agenda. You twist words and information just to paint everyone else to be the villain. Just to make everyone look bad.
"Don't believe me? Just look at what you said this past week. You told me that my recent wins over Kurt Noble and Level One don't mean anything. That beating them, that finally beating Level One, is pointless because they beat me, as you so eloquently put it, 'ten straight times' before that. Fine. Even though I don't agree with that, because beating those two recently shows how much work I've put in to get to this point, I'll reluctantly concede that point to make mine.
"How can you say that, only to turn around and tell me that Johnny Rebel's one win over me means the world? How can you sit there and rationalize that after telling me that my one win in eleven tries means jack shit? And it was a tainted win at that, but that is just one of those things you are willing to look over just to make yourself seem like you have a point.
"Sure, maybe you have a point about what I claimed that match to be, but what I realized following that loss, and what I've realized since it happened, is that the road leading up to Rasslemania showed me that I still have a lot of talent within me.
"You see, Dynamo, there's this guy in APW that is deemed as the next big thing. The man that everyone has pegged to win an Undisputed title in the very near future. I'm sure you've heard of him, his name is Evan Envi. Prior to Rasslemania, Evan and I met and in three meetings between Survive and Conquer and Rasslemania, I managed to come out on top. I managed to best the man that many are picking to be the best.
"'Anyone can get lucky once' is what you're saying right now. One win, sure, maybe that would be luck. Two wins, and maybe there is a bit of luck still involved. But three wins? How can someone ignore three straight wins over someone.
"They can't.
"Unless they're you.
"But that's because admitting that wouldn't fit into your little story. It wouldn't match up with what you're hoping to accomplish. I mean, sure, you're throwing up the smokescreen of this being a night where you save me from something or other, but the truth is that this is a night where you are trying to save yourself.
"You can hide behind your lies, Dynamo, but what I see is a man trying to regain the favor that he threw away when he bailed. What I see is someone that is trying to rewrite the wrongs that he did, and, in your mind I guess, the way for that to happen is to give the fans what you think they're missing.
"Me.
"Give them back their knight in shining armor and they will accept you back into the fold. Show them that you're not a spiteful man and they might even give you a few cheers. Give that evil-fighting a leg up and the fans will love you for letting one of their favorites get right back into the lime light. I mean, it's win-win for you, right?
"You beat me and you can go home to your Outsider brethren and let them know that you beat a former APW Undisputed champion. Lose to me and you can smile knowing that you let the fans have something back that you think they've been missing. You can smile thinking that you 'saved' me.
"Who knows, maybe you're really trying to save face in OWF. Come into APW with one goal in mind and if all goes well for you this week, then you can have some sort of bragging rights over all of them. You can boast about what you managed to do abroad.
"And contrary to what you may believe, Dynamo, I don't view OWF as inferior. I view it as different. I view it as a federation that isn't like APW, a federation that can't boast the talent that we can here. And maybe that's why I don't see the reason for your whole 'save me' campaign. Maybe I realize that the talent here is top notch, and that losing some of the matches I've lost is because I was beaten by some top talent.
"Can you say the same?
"I mean, I have willingly gone to different federations, to inter fed events, all to challenge myself, to take myself to the next limit. And numerous times, I have managed to do that. Sure, you see losses to Jack Benevolence as a sign of weakness, but me, I see them as something that helped strengthen me. I see them as fighting competitors that many others can only dream of facing. But the more important thing is that to get to those matches, I had to earn my way there.
"Granted, that was back in 2011, back before I hit my road block and before I went into my rut. Before I began getting blind sided and before people began stealing every single match. You might not want to believe that bit, overlooking something yet again, but if you go back through history you can see that I have been robbed of numerous matches.
"Robbed in that Test for the Best qualifying match by Stan Everdeen.
"Robbed at Rasslemania by Level One.
"Robbed last week by Johnny Rebel.
"And those are only the tip of the iceberg, Dynamo. You think I'm happy? Far from it. Every time someone has to cheat to get a win, it makes me remember why I fight. And even in those off moments when I wonder if it's all worth it, I still get that twinge and I remember. You might question why the fans still have my back, but I don't. I know that they believe in me. I know that they have my back, even when I let them down by failing to beat Terry Marvin.
"I know that they will be cheering me on. And who knows, maybe that will be the ultimate difference between you and I this week. Maybe whatever advantage you might have by being the champion of another federation, or by being on a roll or by not being in a funk, whatever advantage you might have then will be wiped out by the cheering fans, by the people that will stand up and chant my name.
"The people who know I don't have to be saved.
"I guess this is when people would say that it's time to put up or shut up, Kid. You've made such bold claims when it comes to what you want to do this week, that to not follow through would make you look week. Though, like I said, you 'coming through' would basically equate to you losing. Funny how that works out.
"So bring your superhero cape and your modesty and realize that no one will be cheering for you. No one will be hoping you save me, because no one thinks I need to be saved. Even the worst of the worst would say I'm fine where I am, though there's would be more because they think they could score an easy win.
"Not because it's the truth.
"The truth? The truth is that your return to Overdrive is not going to be a pleasant one, Kid.
"The trust is that I am going to send you home to the OWF with your tail between your legs.
"It's time to go big or go home, Kid."
"I expected it to be, however. With that man people in one match, and with that much bad blood, I knew it would only be a matter of time before it turned into what it was. However that result is far from my mind.
"The one thing that has been in my head, though, is the same thing that's been flying through the atmosphere, the ionosphere, hell even the twitter sphere.
"Kid Dynamo is returning to APW to save C.J. Gates.
"It's funny, because I never thought I'd need saving. I mean, I knew I was in a bit of a funk and the past year hasn't exactly been all stars and glitter, but to think that I need to be saved? I never thought it had come to that, let alone thinking that someone would take it upon themselves to do it.
"But Kid Dynamo thinks he has to. Or thinks that he must. Either way, Kid Dynamo is taking it upon himself to come to APW to save me from falling into obscurity. From his own mouth, he is coming into APW to throw himself down on the mat so that I can pick up a victory. Or at least that's the summarized version.
"Even though he wants to be this hero, he does a good job at portraying himself as everything that evil stands got. He does a great job at making sure that no one understands what is going on. He does an even better job at mixing up his facts.
"Kid Dynamo has talent though, which is evident from his success in his home federation. And the fact that he is fearless, albeit stupid, when it comes to picking his battles and talking himself into problems is something that many people would look up to.
"Though as the match draws closer, I can't help but what just what it will really accomplish. I just can't help feel like there is an ulterior motive for Kid Dynamo's bravado.
"I just can't help but wonder who it is that will actually be saved."
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"I can't believe it," C.J. Gates mutters as he drops the headphones to the desk, shaking his head.
"Can't believe what?" Vincent James asks as he closes the door behind him. Gates looks up as James drops a duffel bag onto the couch of Gates' office.
"This," Gates says, motioning to the computer in front of him. "This bullshit being spewed from this guys mouth. I get that people are always trying to leave their mark and make an impact, but this is something else."
"Who are you talking about?"
"Kid Dynamo."
"Ah," James says with a smirk.
"What's in the bag?" Gates says, motioning to the bag with his head.
"Nothing much," James says. "Just a few items that your mom wants you to sell off."
"You're running errands for my mom now?" Gates shakes his head and folds his arms over his chest. "Why does she want me to sell stuff for her?"
James shrugs. "She says she needs money and I guess this is her way to get it. And since you won't go and talk to her, I have to be the middle man in all of this."
Again, Gates shakes his head. "What kind of stuff is in there?"
"A few movies, some odds and ends, and this," James says as he opens the bag and pulls out a small cowboy hat.
"She's trying to sell my very first hat?"
James chuckles. "Yeah, she wants you to sign it, too. Figured she could get a lot more cash for it that way."
"My mom sure is a piece of work."
"You can say that again," James chuckles. He walks forward and takes a seat in one of the chairs across from Gates. "So, back on topic. What kind of lies has Dynamo been spewing about you?"
"Apparently, I need to be saved."
"Saved?" James says with a smile. "Who are you? Lois Lane?"
"Apparently," Gates says, shaking his head again. "I mean, just listen to this guy." Gates hands the headphones to James who leans forward and puts them on. After a few moments, James rips them off.
"Does he have to yell?" James asks. "It seems like every other word he says, he's yelling it out like it's important."
"Yeah, that's kind of his style," Gates says. "He likes to be the center of attention, and if that's not going his way, then he's not a happy camper."
"So he's like the majority of the people you've had to put with?" James cracks a smile and hands the headphones back to Gates. "So what did he say? Sum it up."
"He basically told the world that I needed to be saved. That, and he pulled out some stats about the past year."
"About you?"
Gates nods. "My win-loss record. He seemed to think it mattered."
"Well, if he's trying to save you, he needs to point out how much of a disaster the year has been."
"But it hasn't," Gates says. "Sure, it wasn't as dominating as the year I had in 2011, but it was still a good year by most people's accounts."
"I guess what they say is true," James begins. "At one point you're going to end up becoming a product of your own success, whether that's good or bad."
"And people like Kid Dynamo will be there to jump all over it when it happens, I know," Gates says. "It doesn't mean it doesn't suck."
James nods for a few moments. "So you're going to beat him, right?"
Gates smiles and then nods. "That's the aim, anyways. I can't say one hundred percent for sure-"
"Oh, you have to beat him."
"I have to?"
Now James nods. "He's invading APW."
"Drop it," Gates says as he turns off the computer monitor and leans back in the large deck chair.
"Drop it?" James says before shaking his head. "You are the white knight, you are the guy who is set to defend APW. Kid Dynamo is not flying the same flag, and he is coming into your territory claiming to best you so that he can save you."
Gates holds up a hand. "That's where you're wrong."
"I'm wrong?"
"He didn't say he wanted to beat me. He said he wanted to save me by losing to me and giving me a bit of a kick in the ass."
"Wait, what?" James asks, confused. "I don't think I follow."
"That's Kid Dynamo for you," Gates shrugs. "He's making about as much sense now as he did when he was actually in APW. Except this time, it's associated with a split personality."
"Another one of those types, huh?" James says with a shake of his head. "On the plus side, you'll be able to put him in his place."
"Split personality might be the wrong word, though. He's just losing touch with who he really is, and is becoming more and more the character of Kid Dynamo. I guess he's really into his wrestling in that case."
"Sounds like a fun time for you this week."
"Could be worse," Gates says, cracking a smile. "I could have to put up with Terry Marvin again."
"Yeah but at least then you'd have the possibility to win a title," James reasons. "What do you gain from a win over this Kid Dynamite?"
"Kid Dynamo," Gates corrects. "And I don't know what I'd gain. I don't think I'd gain anything more than bragging rights. It won't impact me in APW, it's just one of those one-off matches."
"So then why are you having the match?"
"Because Kid Dynamo wants to."
"Seriously?"
"He's been trying to get a match with me since 2012's Survive and Conquer," Gates says. "I guess now is just that time."
"But you don't gain anything."
"Other than a win to my record and bragging rights."
"Seems like a waste of time to me," James says. "Not that it's a waste to fight, just if you aren't going to get anything out of it, what's the point."
"Well, I guess there's always your idea about saving APW from the interlopers."
"That might be the only thing to look forward to. At least afterwards you can send him back to that two-bit federation he comes from."
"I wouldn't call it two-bit," Gates says. "But it's definitely not APW. I can't say much about the rest of the competition he has to put up with, but I can say that it's most likely not at the same level."
"So what you're saying," James begins, "is that if you were in OWF, you would be considered one of the top dogs."
"It's quite possible," Gates says. "But I'm not worrying about that."
"No, you're worrying about Dynaman."
"Dynamo. And yes. I want to show him that I don't need him to be saved. That this entire idea he's throwing around is nothing more than a symptom of his delusions."
"What, does he think he's a God or something?" James chuckles. Gates simply looks at him. "You've got to be kidding me."
"I don't kid," Gates says.
"That's rich," James says. "It seems like there are always a few of them out there."
"Definitely does," Gates says. "It doesn't help that he assaults twitter at every possible moment. It's like he has nothing better to do than tweet what he's doing at every moment."
"I take it you're not a fan of that?"
"I could do without it," Gates says. "Then again, I haven't really used twitter all that much myself. It actually didn't bother me until he called me out for not using twitter enough. It's as if I'm supposed to sit in front of a computer or tweet from a smart phone all day."
James nods in agreement. "So you're writing him off, then?"
Gates shakes his head. "Oh no. God no. I know that if I do that, that is when Dynamo is going to come out of no where and pull a win out of no where, whether he wants one or not."
"You think so?"
"He's a World champion, so I assume he's got at least that much ability. Anything more I plan to put to the test in a few days when he and I lock up in the main event.
"I am going to show him that I don't need to be saved.
"I am going to show him that it is he that needs the good luck."
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"You've come a long way, Kid.
"I mean, the last time we saw you for more than Survive and Conquer, you were in way over your head. You were a guy who thought he could do more than he actually could, a guy who thought more of himself then was probably rightfully deserved. You had big plans, but never seemed capable of following through.
"But now? Now you're the top champion in your home federation. You've got ambition, drive, and a World title to back up your big talk. However, even thought you've managed to improve yourself over time, there are still aspects of you that remind me of the old Kid Dynamo. There are still things that you do that make me shake my head in wonder.
"Then again, a lot of that could be because of your changes. A low of these things that are making me wonder could just be because you've improved and become more confident in what you're able to do. You've become tougher, meaner, more sure of what you're capable to do when you step inside of that ring.
"And you've also become more hypocritical.
"Or maybe I'm just listening to you more now. I mean, I know you were tearing me up and down at 2012's Survive and Conquer, much like a lot of the roster was doing. But then, it just seemed like a guy who didn't really know his place yet. A typical guy who comes into a federation expecting to be handed the main event spotlight, expected to be handed title shots, expected to be handed high profile matches.
"You came off as a punk, plain and simple. People tried to tell you the way of things around here, they tried to give you pointers, but it was too late because you had already talked yourself into a match against Level One. You had already gifted Lester a win. Who knows, maybe you did it on purpose. Maybe you tried to rile him up just to give him a little something else. Maybe you wanted to save him, just like you want to save me.
"Truth is, Kid, I don't need saving. Believe it or not, I don't need someone to gift me a win just to make myself feel better. I don't need to take the easy way out. Everything I have done up until now, I have earned and worked hard for. Even through defeat, I have managed to learn enough to come out on the other side stronger then I was when I lost the match. Even after hitting ruts and losing streaks, I still managed to come out firing on the other side.
"But apparently you want to bring up your first Survive and Conquer.
"And that's fine. Truly. I mean, ever since I opted to wrestle in the Survive and Conquer match instead of defend my title, I've had to face people throwing it back in my face. I have had to deal with every Tom, Dick and Harry telling me that I let everyone down. The funny thing is, Kid, if I let the fans down then, why would they continue to cheer for me? Why would they continue to have my back, even after I lost to Kurt Noble?
"Because I didn't let them down. Everyone thinks I did, but I didn't. And what's worse, is I'm the only one getting grilled about my decision. No one talked ill of Terry Marvin for wanting to win Survive and Conquer this past year instead of defend his title. If anything, his title evasion leaves something to be desired, seeing as how my win at Christmas Chaos wasn't just for a title match, but a title match at Rasslemania. Terry Marvin had already been given Survive and Conquer off from defending his title, and the event hadn't even cast a shadow yet.
"That's fine, though. I'm used to that kind of stuff happening around here. And if you want another example of the top champion failing to defend his belt, look at Level One in 2011. On a night when I not only competed in a tag team title match, but I also came fourth in the Survive and Conquer match, Level One couldn't even be bothered to think of defending his belt.
"Yet I'm the bad guy.
"Bullshit.
"It's only because I'm the good guy that I get the shit thrown at me like that. It's only because I'm the only one around who wants to defend APW from the lowlifes and the degenerates that seem to walk through the doors on a monthly basis. That's the only reason why other wrestlers look on that one event with a sour taste in their mouth. Notice how I said other wrestlers, though, because the fans never once had that reaction. It's always been people like you, Kid.
"The same sort of people who think it's their job to save me. The same sort of people that use facts and figures to try and make it sound like they know what they're talking about, only to prove that they're full of shit. Don't believe me, Kid?
"Just look at the things you had to say. Just listen to the way you contradicted yourself and turned yourself into the hypocrite I called you out as. Just like Terry Marvin and Level One, you manipulate everything to fit your own agenda. You twist words and information just to paint everyone else to be the villain. Just to make everyone look bad.
"Don't believe me? Just look at what you said this past week. You told me that my recent wins over Kurt Noble and Level One don't mean anything. That beating them, that finally beating Level One, is pointless because they beat me, as you so eloquently put it, 'ten straight times' before that. Fine. Even though I don't agree with that, because beating those two recently shows how much work I've put in to get to this point, I'll reluctantly concede that point to make mine.
"How can you say that, only to turn around and tell me that Johnny Rebel's one win over me means the world? How can you sit there and rationalize that after telling me that my one win in eleven tries means jack shit? And it was a tainted win at that, but that is just one of those things you are willing to look over just to make yourself seem like you have a point.
"Sure, maybe you have a point about what I claimed that match to be, but what I realized following that loss, and what I've realized since it happened, is that the road leading up to Rasslemania showed me that I still have a lot of talent within me.
"You see, Dynamo, there's this guy in APW that is deemed as the next big thing. The man that everyone has pegged to win an Undisputed title in the very near future. I'm sure you've heard of him, his name is Evan Envi. Prior to Rasslemania, Evan and I met and in three meetings between Survive and Conquer and Rasslemania, I managed to come out on top. I managed to best the man that many are picking to be the best.
"'Anyone can get lucky once' is what you're saying right now. One win, sure, maybe that would be luck. Two wins, and maybe there is a bit of luck still involved. But three wins? How can someone ignore three straight wins over someone.
"They can't.
"Unless they're you.
"But that's because admitting that wouldn't fit into your little story. It wouldn't match up with what you're hoping to accomplish. I mean, sure, you're throwing up the smokescreen of this being a night where you save me from something or other, but the truth is that this is a night where you are trying to save yourself.
"You can hide behind your lies, Dynamo, but what I see is a man trying to regain the favor that he threw away when he bailed. What I see is someone that is trying to rewrite the wrongs that he did, and, in your mind I guess, the way for that to happen is to give the fans what you think they're missing.
"Me.
"Give them back their knight in shining armor and they will accept you back into the fold. Show them that you're not a spiteful man and they might even give you a few cheers. Give that evil-fighting a leg up and the fans will love you for letting one of their favorites get right back into the lime light. I mean, it's win-win for you, right?
"You beat me and you can go home to your Outsider brethren and let them know that you beat a former APW Undisputed champion. Lose to me and you can smile knowing that you let the fans have something back that you think they've been missing. You can smile thinking that you 'saved' me.
"Who knows, maybe you're really trying to save face in OWF. Come into APW with one goal in mind and if all goes well for you this week, then you can have some sort of bragging rights over all of them. You can boast about what you managed to do abroad.
"And contrary to what you may believe, Dynamo, I don't view OWF as inferior. I view it as different. I view it as a federation that isn't like APW, a federation that can't boast the talent that we can here. And maybe that's why I don't see the reason for your whole 'save me' campaign. Maybe I realize that the talent here is top notch, and that losing some of the matches I've lost is because I was beaten by some top talent.
"Can you say the same?
"I mean, I have willingly gone to different federations, to inter fed events, all to challenge myself, to take myself to the next limit. And numerous times, I have managed to do that. Sure, you see losses to Jack Benevolence as a sign of weakness, but me, I see them as something that helped strengthen me. I see them as fighting competitors that many others can only dream of facing. But the more important thing is that to get to those matches, I had to earn my way there.
"Granted, that was back in 2011, back before I hit my road block and before I went into my rut. Before I began getting blind sided and before people began stealing every single match. You might not want to believe that bit, overlooking something yet again, but if you go back through history you can see that I have been robbed of numerous matches.
"Robbed in that Test for the Best qualifying match by Stan Everdeen.
"Robbed at Rasslemania by Level One.
"Robbed last week by Johnny Rebel.
"And those are only the tip of the iceberg, Dynamo. You think I'm happy? Far from it. Every time someone has to cheat to get a win, it makes me remember why I fight. And even in those off moments when I wonder if it's all worth it, I still get that twinge and I remember. You might question why the fans still have my back, but I don't. I know that they believe in me. I know that they have my back, even when I let them down by failing to beat Terry Marvin.
"I know that they will be cheering me on. And who knows, maybe that will be the ultimate difference between you and I this week. Maybe whatever advantage you might have by being the champion of another federation, or by being on a roll or by not being in a funk, whatever advantage you might have then will be wiped out by the cheering fans, by the people that will stand up and chant my name.
"The people who know I don't have to be saved.
"I guess this is when people would say that it's time to put up or shut up, Kid. You've made such bold claims when it comes to what you want to do this week, that to not follow through would make you look week. Though, like I said, you 'coming through' would basically equate to you losing. Funny how that works out.
"So bring your superhero cape and your modesty and realize that no one will be cheering for you. No one will be hoping you save me, because no one thinks I need to be saved. Even the worst of the worst would say I'm fine where I am, though there's would be more because they think they could score an easy win.
"Not because it's the truth.
"The truth? The truth is that your return to Overdrive is not going to be a pleasant one, Kid.
"The trust is that I am going to send you home to the OWF with your tail between your legs.
"It's time to go big or go home, Kid."
