Post by Chaos Stryke on May 1, 2013 20:45:09 GMT -4
We open without a scene and just a voice over.
Nothing comes easy for me. I’m a talented competitor, with a good eye for scouting opposition, knowledge and experience, and have a strong core of relationships around me. Obtaining and developing those assets took much time to establish, develop, and refine. In some cases, that’s required years of work. None of it came easily. I have natural gifts in some areas. They weren’t formidable weapons to start, but they’ve grown to become so. Keeping that in mind should make the news I received last week easier to accept… but it hasn’t. I look at where I’m going this week, and while I’m making progress… I cannot help but feel disappointed by the scale on which it occurred.
On the last Asylum, I did exactly what I’d intended. I lined up Kaylyn Evans in my crosshairs, pulled the trigger, and I didn’t miss my shot. Sure there was a distraction with Christian Kane giving a speech that resonated strongly with me. It was unexpected. I don’t like distractions either. They tend to give people excuses for failing. I didn’t get distracted, and I didn’t fail. I scored another victory. For a second week in a row, I secured a submission victory over an APW champion. It feels like a hollow victory though… I beat the champion, but I’m still short a championship. I didn’t like that decision to keep that match as a non-title affair. I beat Evans cleanly and I have a legitimate claim to the title she holds now. Should I decide to pursue that title, I don’t see why I shouldn’t have my shot at it, regardless of whatever hoops I’m told I still have to jump through.
It turns out there was method to the madness though. Just before my match took place last week, the announcement about my match for this week was made… I’d face Jair Hopkins again and Reaver for a spot in the Tap Out championship gauntlet at Mayhem. Really? No, REALLY? I once again find myself having to jump through hoops to earn a championship match, because… why? I really don’t know why I even need to be in a match like this.
TJ, the Tap Out, in heavy quotation marks, champion defends against Young Mannie, William Williams, and Michael Lively because… they asked for a title match? They begged for a title match? They all haven’t proven they deserve a title match. Mannie, I can understand. He’s undefeated on Asylum. Well, I haven’t been pinned or submitted since I came to the show, either. Why do I have to qualify for the title match, yet he gets a free pass? Is it because I didn’t go begging for a spot in the gauntlet? You’d think my qualifications for said title wouldn’t require grovelling. After all, only four of my last five victories have come by submission!
If there’s a stick to be found in APW, you can almost be certain that I’ll get the short end of it.
A few days after Asylum, to give the dagger another twist, my match gets bumped to a four-way showdown with Christian Kane added to the mix. I really shouldn’t be surprised. Hopkins is ice cold in singles competition. When was the last time he won a solo match? Reaver had his shot a month ago and blew it. Does he really need another one? Kane’s been nothing to write home about, even though he might be ready to turn a corner. Why is he suddenly deserving of a shot?
Conspiracy theory? Maybe. Lack of respect? Definitely. Out of the eight people currently in the Tap Out title hunt, I’m the only one that can carry it, not have to rename it or change its rules to suit me better, and have a skill set conductive to causing submissions in matches. Yet, I’m on the outside looking in. This nonsense has got to stop…
This week it’s not about submissions though. This week, it’s about taking care of business and being the first to tally a fall for a chance at redemption… Not just for me, but for a championship as well.
The camera opens and we find ourselves in a locker room. The camera has a view of the entire width of the main room from one side. We can see multiple bags and some clothing set out across the benches. From one of the adjoining rooms, Logan Alexander walks out into the main room. He gives the camera a nod as he takes a drink from a bottle of water he’s holding. He’s dressed in a red t-shirt, black pants and a pair of white and black running shoes. He moves over to one of the bags and sets his bottle down. He opens the bag and then starts putting some clothing, identifiable as his in-ring attire. Without looking at the camera he speaks.
Meltdown’s been a fun show tonight.
He closes up the bag and looks over to the camera.
I really wasn’t interested in being a lumberjack for that cluster of an opening match, but with my partners there, you’d be sure I’d be there beside them. I tried to stay out of things as much as possible, but being there generally results in you getting some lumps from the more unruly ones… I got posted by Reaver, attacked from behind by Bailey, and jumped by Roberts. Aubrey got the last laugh on the Dying Breed, but Evans got the last laugh on her.
He scowls slightly at that, and lets out a breath. Shaking his head slightly, he sits down on the bench.
These things will resolve themselves soon enough. They helped bring things into focus for Asylum though. Reaver, Hopkins, Christian and I are angling for a title shot. Knowing Hopkins, he’ll be looking for payback for his loss tonight. He’s got problems with everyone in this match, so we’ll see how he handles it alone. Reaver’s going to feel right at home out there, surrounded by foes. He enjoys pain and suffering, and there’ll be lots to go around. Christian’s looking to correct his course after a lukewarm run on Asylum, but I have no doubt that he’s going to bring his best for this match. I’d practically guarantee it given that I’m in there against him. For me though, I’m planning to show that this match’s result should have been a foregone conclusion. I’ve beaten Christian. I’ve beaten Hopkins. It’ll be my first time facing Reaver, but I’m used to the type of characters that pop from his type of mould, even if his particular approach differs.
You three had better keep one thing in mind as we gear up for this match though: be prepared for me. I enjoy these wilder matches more than people expect. I may be a more highly proficient one-on-one grappler in the ring, but I have no trouble threading my way through multi-person matches, using the chaos it creates to my own advantage. I’ve already played this particular game in APW under similar circumstances. On Meltdown, the first of October last year, I had to win a four-way match like this one to get a shot at the North American championship. In that match I faced three undefeated competitors… one who was my partner. Gee… doesn’t this sound oddly familiar? I fought everyone in that match tooth and nail for that title opportunity and I walked away with the victory. At the Meltdown Supershow before Christmas Chaos, I outlasted four opponents to retain my championship there, so it’s not like I can’t handle the pressure.
But I look around at each of the three of you and I simply have to ask, can any of you handle it? Is there anyone among you that has what is required to not merely survive in this particular kind of battle, but also thrive within it?
He smirks towards the camera then glances aside before he scoops up a bottle of water and has a drink. He sets the bottle aside and returns his focus to the camera.
I don’t need to wonder about you, Hopkins. I already know your answer. Your career is littered with championship opportunities that have slipped away. You’ve never distinguished yourself as a guy that can handle business alone. You’ve got some noteworthy accomplishments to your name through tag competition. The problem is that you have a habit of relying on your partner to get you through those outings. Almost every week, we see these wonderful training sessions you go through, but I can’t say what they actually accomplish since you tend to come out flat regardless. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind whether I can beat you. I’ve done so twice already. So, while you might have hopes of being victorious this week, I wouldn’t bet on it. You’re surrounded by people looking to bring you down another peg and I don’t believe you’re up to the challenge. Maybe you’ll surprise us Hopkins, but you’re out of your element, and I’ll be ready to put you back in your place just like I did weeks ago.
Reaver’s a more interesting person to look at for this match. You’re a long standing competitor here in APW regardless of your name. You’re tough, resilient, have a high pain threshold and lots of experience in fighting for big prizes in the ring. You’ve made plenty of championship match appearances and had excellent showings in Survive and Conquer. Of the four people in this match, you’re definitely a force to be reckoned with. I know you’ll be out there with hard hitting offence and be the most comfortable in this situation with fewer rules. I’m betting I’ll be walking to my locker room afterwards bruised and possibly bloodied. But despite all of that, you’re not a top tier competitor. You’ve had flashes of brilliance and knocked off big name stars I’m sure, but when it comes down to it, you’ve never taken that last step and claimed the prize. There’s always someone who wants it more, so you always end up as an ‘also-ran’. You had your shot at TJ a month ago. You didn’t want it more than him. I’m telling you that you don’t want it more than I do. I’m not letting you walk out with my victory and I’ll be damned if I let you stand in my way either.
Logan sits back against the wall. He raises one hand, covering his mouth for a few moments as he considers something. He smiles as he looks to the camera.
This isn’t part of the standard M&M orientation, Christian. Usually we’d hold off on busting one another up outside of practice matches for a while, but you’re in the mix and I think another round between us is something you could use. It’s been ten to twelve weeks since you’ve really looked strong. Since your two North American title matches, you haven’t been the same. I thought that was because of Evans… but now we’ll get to find out for sure. I’m not here to hold you back or have you help me to victory. I was ready to fight this match as a three-way without any help before you were belatedly added.
I’ll be honest with you Christian. I badly want to win this match, but I also want you to be at your peak fighting me the whole way. Regardless of what we do in this match, it boils down to the fact that only one person gets the title match slot, so I have no illusions about what your priority is going to be on Sunday night. We might work together to remove Hopkins and Reaver from the equation, but I know the moment after that, you’ll have an SSK waiting for me when I turn towards you. You’ll be looking to stab me in the back if it gets you the win. I know this… because I’d do the same. The last time I faced Aubrey in a match, she almost took my head off with a chair. You and I have too much to settle in the ring for me to assume you’d do any less. We’re not friends. We’re barely partners. At this point we have a common agenda, and that is to win.
I’ve got the edge on you from past encounters. I’ve taken your best and kept going. I’ve continued to grow and improve since we last faced off. I told you back in January that I’m never prepared to settle for anything when I can achieve better. I intend to take the next step and do so. If I have to go through you to do so, I will. So be prepared.
He leans forward towards the camera, a focused expression on his face.
The three of you might want this opportunity, but I doubt that any of you want it as much as I do. I’ve waited patiently for opportunities while each of you have received them. Now that I have such an opportunity here before me, I’m not going to let it be snatched away. No one wants to see Hopkins competing for a title he has no chance of winning. Let’s see if he can compete reliably and handle being a tag champion first. No one wants to see Reaver in the title picture again. We’ve seen this show many times and it always ends the same way… he drops the ball and goes to the back of the line. No one wants to see Christian in the gauntlet. He could do it, but he’s not quite ready for that particular challenge. He needs to get his heart back into this first.
For me though, I’m ready for this opportunity. I’ve been watching and waiting and now I finally get a chance at getting a chance. I suppose it’s something anyway. I want the opportunity to go for the Tap Out championship and I want to be the one who restores that title to its former glory. It needs a champion capable of meeting its exacting demands. I am such a person. I’m a top notch wrestler and I’m out to prove that’s what matters. Not becoming something from nothing, or being a hardcore master, or being a bad guy. You don’t have to take my word for it though as I intend to prove it through deed this week. It’s the four of us now, with four more waiting for the winner. There’s only one shot… I’m going to be the one to take it, and I won’t miss.
Logan raises one hand in front of him and points a finger towards the camera with his thumb extended upward. He smirks slightly.
Bang.
The scene fades to black.
Nothing comes easy for me. I’m a talented competitor, with a good eye for scouting opposition, knowledge and experience, and have a strong core of relationships around me. Obtaining and developing those assets took much time to establish, develop, and refine. In some cases, that’s required years of work. None of it came easily. I have natural gifts in some areas. They weren’t formidable weapons to start, but they’ve grown to become so. Keeping that in mind should make the news I received last week easier to accept… but it hasn’t. I look at where I’m going this week, and while I’m making progress… I cannot help but feel disappointed by the scale on which it occurred.
On the last Asylum, I did exactly what I’d intended. I lined up Kaylyn Evans in my crosshairs, pulled the trigger, and I didn’t miss my shot. Sure there was a distraction with Christian Kane giving a speech that resonated strongly with me. It was unexpected. I don’t like distractions either. They tend to give people excuses for failing. I didn’t get distracted, and I didn’t fail. I scored another victory. For a second week in a row, I secured a submission victory over an APW champion. It feels like a hollow victory though… I beat the champion, but I’m still short a championship. I didn’t like that decision to keep that match as a non-title affair. I beat Evans cleanly and I have a legitimate claim to the title she holds now. Should I decide to pursue that title, I don’t see why I shouldn’t have my shot at it, regardless of whatever hoops I’m told I still have to jump through.
It turns out there was method to the madness though. Just before my match took place last week, the announcement about my match for this week was made… I’d face Jair Hopkins again and Reaver for a spot in the Tap Out championship gauntlet at Mayhem. Really? No, REALLY? I once again find myself having to jump through hoops to earn a championship match, because… why? I really don’t know why I even need to be in a match like this.
TJ, the Tap Out, in heavy quotation marks, champion defends against Young Mannie, William Williams, and Michael Lively because… they asked for a title match? They begged for a title match? They all haven’t proven they deserve a title match. Mannie, I can understand. He’s undefeated on Asylum. Well, I haven’t been pinned or submitted since I came to the show, either. Why do I have to qualify for the title match, yet he gets a free pass? Is it because I didn’t go begging for a spot in the gauntlet? You’d think my qualifications for said title wouldn’t require grovelling. After all, only four of my last five victories have come by submission!
If there’s a stick to be found in APW, you can almost be certain that I’ll get the short end of it.
A few days after Asylum, to give the dagger another twist, my match gets bumped to a four-way showdown with Christian Kane added to the mix. I really shouldn’t be surprised. Hopkins is ice cold in singles competition. When was the last time he won a solo match? Reaver had his shot a month ago and blew it. Does he really need another one? Kane’s been nothing to write home about, even though he might be ready to turn a corner. Why is he suddenly deserving of a shot?
Conspiracy theory? Maybe. Lack of respect? Definitely. Out of the eight people currently in the Tap Out title hunt, I’m the only one that can carry it, not have to rename it or change its rules to suit me better, and have a skill set conductive to causing submissions in matches. Yet, I’m on the outside looking in. This nonsense has got to stop…
This week it’s not about submissions though. This week, it’s about taking care of business and being the first to tally a fall for a chance at redemption… Not just for me, but for a championship as well.
The camera opens and we find ourselves in a locker room. The camera has a view of the entire width of the main room from one side. We can see multiple bags and some clothing set out across the benches. From one of the adjoining rooms, Logan Alexander walks out into the main room. He gives the camera a nod as he takes a drink from a bottle of water he’s holding. He’s dressed in a red t-shirt, black pants and a pair of white and black running shoes. He moves over to one of the bags and sets his bottle down. He opens the bag and then starts putting some clothing, identifiable as his in-ring attire. Without looking at the camera he speaks.
Meltdown’s been a fun show tonight.
He closes up the bag and looks over to the camera.
I really wasn’t interested in being a lumberjack for that cluster of an opening match, but with my partners there, you’d be sure I’d be there beside them. I tried to stay out of things as much as possible, but being there generally results in you getting some lumps from the more unruly ones… I got posted by Reaver, attacked from behind by Bailey, and jumped by Roberts. Aubrey got the last laugh on the Dying Breed, but Evans got the last laugh on her.
He scowls slightly at that, and lets out a breath. Shaking his head slightly, he sits down on the bench.
These things will resolve themselves soon enough. They helped bring things into focus for Asylum though. Reaver, Hopkins, Christian and I are angling for a title shot. Knowing Hopkins, he’ll be looking for payback for his loss tonight. He’s got problems with everyone in this match, so we’ll see how he handles it alone. Reaver’s going to feel right at home out there, surrounded by foes. He enjoys pain and suffering, and there’ll be lots to go around. Christian’s looking to correct his course after a lukewarm run on Asylum, but I have no doubt that he’s going to bring his best for this match. I’d practically guarantee it given that I’m in there against him. For me though, I’m planning to show that this match’s result should have been a foregone conclusion. I’ve beaten Christian. I’ve beaten Hopkins. It’ll be my first time facing Reaver, but I’m used to the type of characters that pop from his type of mould, even if his particular approach differs.
You three had better keep one thing in mind as we gear up for this match though: be prepared for me. I enjoy these wilder matches more than people expect. I may be a more highly proficient one-on-one grappler in the ring, but I have no trouble threading my way through multi-person matches, using the chaos it creates to my own advantage. I’ve already played this particular game in APW under similar circumstances. On Meltdown, the first of October last year, I had to win a four-way match like this one to get a shot at the North American championship. In that match I faced three undefeated competitors… one who was my partner. Gee… doesn’t this sound oddly familiar? I fought everyone in that match tooth and nail for that title opportunity and I walked away with the victory. At the Meltdown Supershow before Christmas Chaos, I outlasted four opponents to retain my championship there, so it’s not like I can’t handle the pressure.
But I look around at each of the three of you and I simply have to ask, can any of you handle it? Is there anyone among you that has what is required to not merely survive in this particular kind of battle, but also thrive within it?
He smirks towards the camera then glances aside before he scoops up a bottle of water and has a drink. He sets the bottle aside and returns his focus to the camera.
I don’t need to wonder about you, Hopkins. I already know your answer. Your career is littered with championship opportunities that have slipped away. You’ve never distinguished yourself as a guy that can handle business alone. You’ve got some noteworthy accomplishments to your name through tag competition. The problem is that you have a habit of relying on your partner to get you through those outings. Almost every week, we see these wonderful training sessions you go through, but I can’t say what they actually accomplish since you tend to come out flat regardless. There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind whether I can beat you. I’ve done so twice already. So, while you might have hopes of being victorious this week, I wouldn’t bet on it. You’re surrounded by people looking to bring you down another peg and I don’t believe you’re up to the challenge. Maybe you’ll surprise us Hopkins, but you’re out of your element, and I’ll be ready to put you back in your place just like I did weeks ago.
Reaver’s a more interesting person to look at for this match. You’re a long standing competitor here in APW regardless of your name. You’re tough, resilient, have a high pain threshold and lots of experience in fighting for big prizes in the ring. You’ve made plenty of championship match appearances and had excellent showings in Survive and Conquer. Of the four people in this match, you’re definitely a force to be reckoned with. I know you’ll be out there with hard hitting offence and be the most comfortable in this situation with fewer rules. I’m betting I’ll be walking to my locker room afterwards bruised and possibly bloodied. But despite all of that, you’re not a top tier competitor. You’ve had flashes of brilliance and knocked off big name stars I’m sure, but when it comes down to it, you’ve never taken that last step and claimed the prize. There’s always someone who wants it more, so you always end up as an ‘also-ran’. You had your shot at TJ a month ago. You didn’t want it more than him. I’m telling you that you don’t want it more than I do. I’m not letting you walk out with my victory and I’ll be damned if I let you stand in my way either.
Logan sits back against the wall. He raises one hand, covering his mouth for a few moments as he considers something. He smiles as he looks to the camera.
This isn’t part of the standard M&M orientation, Christian. Usually we’d hold off on busting one another up outside of practice matches for a while, but you’re in the mix and I think another round between us is something you could use. It’s been ten to twelve weeks since you’ve really looked strong. Since your two North American title matches, you haven’t been the same. I thought that was because of Evans… but now we’ll get to find out for sure. I’m not here to hold you back or have you help me to victory. I was ready to fight this match as a three-way without any help before you were belatedly added.
I’ll be honest with you Christian. I badly want to win this match, but I also want you to be at your peak fighting me the whole way. Regardless of what we do in this match, it boils down to the fact that only one person gets the title match slot, so I have no illusions about what your priority is going to be on Sunday night. We might work together to remove Hopkins and Reaver from the equation, but I know the moment after that, you’ll have an SSK waiting for me when I turn towards you. You’ll be looking to stab me in the back if it gets you the win. I know this… because I’d do the same. The last time I faced Aubrey in a match, she almost took my head off with a chair. You and I have too much to settle in the ring for me to assume you’d do any less. We’re not friends. We’re barely partners. At this point we have a common agenda, and that is to win.
I’ve got the edge on you from past encounters. I’ve taken your best and kept going. I’ve continued to grow and improve since we last faced off. I told you back in January that I’m never prepared to settle for anything when I can achieve better. I intend to take the next step and do so. If I have to go through you to do so, I will. So be prepared.
He leans forward towards the camera, a focused expression on his face.
The three of you might want this opportunity, but I doubt that any of you want it as much as I do. I’ve waited patiently for opportunities while each of you have received them. Now that I have such an opportunity here before me, I’m not going to let it be snatched away. No one wants to see Hopkins competing for a title he has no chance of winning. Let’s see if he can compete reliably and handle being a tag champion first. No one wants to see Reaver in the title picture again. We’ve seen this show many times and it always ends the same way… he drops the ball and goes to the back of the line. No one wants to see Christian in the gauntlet. He could do it, but he’s not quite ready for that particular challenge. He needs to get his heart back into this first.
For me though, I’m ready for this opportunity. I’ve been watching and waiting and now I finally get a chance at getting a chance. I suppose it’s something anyway. I want the opportunity to go for the Tap Out championship and I want to be the one who restores that title to its former glory. It needs a champion capable of meeting its exacting demands. I am such a person. I’m a top notch wrestler and I’m out to prove that’s what matters. Not becoming something from nothing, or being a hardcore master, or being a bad guy. You don’t have to take my word for it though as I intend to prove it through deed this week. It’s the four of us now, with four more waiting for the winner. There’s only one shot… I’m going to be the one to take it, and I won’t miss.
Logan raises one hand in front of him and points a finger towards the camera with his thumb extended upward. He smirks slightly.
Bang.
The scene fades to black.
