Post by Chaos Stryke on May 4, 2013 19:16:09 GMT -4
We open to an impressive outdoor shot of the Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge in Sao Paulo, Brazil. A couple of different panning shots are shown of the suspension bridge with it’s massive X-shaped central support. The camera focuses down near the base of the center support where there appears to be a pedestrian walkway. The perspective changes again to a close up of the area near the base, and we find Logan Alexander there, wearing dark brown pants, a light grey shirt, grey running shoes and a blue jean jacket. He looks out across the Pinheiros River that the bridge crosses over above him. It’s the middle of the day and he looks over towards the camera, smiling slightly, and adjusting the sunglasses he has on.
Had to come by here and check out this marvel of design up close. Required unique planning and it’s a symbol of achievement and progress. It also helps people find their way around and reach their destination more easily in the city. I could go over some of the stuff I’ve learned about it, but that’s not really important now.
He walks towards the walkway running through the base of the support, motioning for the camera to follow. Once inside, the surrounding noise level drops off greatly. He turns and looks towards the camera.
So here we are… not days, but hours away from my next big encounter. It’s something of a tired refrain, but I might be facing my toughest challenge in APW tomorrow night. It seems that every week I’m stepping into the ring I have something to prove. Prove to my critics… to my fans… to my bosses… to myself.
He lowers his head, looking down towards the floor, then reaches up and rubs one hand back and forth on his forehead.
Since Rasslemania, I’ve been trying to set a direction for myself. I wasn’t kidding when I said I was in limbo after losing the Tag Team titles. No one likes losing, but getting beaten indirectly leaves a worse taste in your mouth. It leaves things unresolved too. No one has a definitive answer to whether Dying Breed or M&M are the better team. They have the titles, but they didn’t get the fall against us. Before Rasslemania, Aubrey beat Bailey. After Rasslemania, I beat Hopkins. I had to prove I was better, to show that I was capable of beating half the Dying Breed. I need to do that to show that M&M deserved to still be in the Tag title hunt.
Since early February, when I lost the North American championship, I’ve been looking for redemption for what happened that night. I knew I wouldn’t have a second chance at that championship ever again, so I’d have to make up for it elsewhere. Since then, I’ve been damn near perfect in my appearances. I had to. When you’ve had a bull’s eye on your back for months, you don’t easily shake the need to always be at your best very easily. I’ve proven myself in tag competition, and recently in singles as well against Hopkins… then against Evans.
I’d faced and beaten her since she helped cost me the North American championship, but there was more on the line last week. It was the first time I’d faced a singles champion in months and was a chance to show that I deserve to be competing for singles gold. Yeah, I’m a team player. I’ve been showing for a while that I can buddy up with others and work towards a common goal, whether it was with my partner, another acquaintance, or even a rival. My success there may have led others to think I can’t handle being on my own.
Some people seem to have the impression that Aubrey‘s leading me to all my success. I remember seven months ago that story had the roles reversed. Regardless of how the story is told, it’s all crap. I’ve shown that through my success on Meltdown and here on Asylum since Rasslemania, but it seems I’m not viewed as a contender. I’m apparently not good enough for a Suicidal championship match. I don’t profess to be the master of garbage wrestling. Does that mean I can’t hold my own when I can school opponents without using weapons? I beat the champion, so what does that say?
Now, I must prove I deserve to compete for the Tap Out title against opponents that may or may not want the spot at all. Just need to listen to their comments during the first twelve days after the match was announced. Hopkins… silence. Christian… silence. Reaver… was contradictory. Whether that was because of the chocolates or concussions, you the viewer will have to decide.
Logan smirks slightly as he looks back towards the camera. His smirk fades slowly as he regards the camera quietly for several moments. His expression grows more contemplative before he resumes speaking.
Hopkins, what else needs to be said about you at this point? You carry around an APW championship. As such you should be a representative of this company, setting an example of what it means to be a champion or what it takes to be a champion here. But have we seen that from you at all in the last several months as a contender or a champion? You almost seem to be stuck in autopilot, going through the motions and waiting for others around you to pick up the slack and guide you along to victory.
I watch you compete and I see no drive in you to succeed. I see no heart or passion. I just see a guy who’s content to be at the level he’s reached and decided that he’s willing to settle for being whatever he is now. It makes me wonder how you ever became a champion… oh right! It was Bailey doing all the heavy lifting for you. More often than not, you leave him hanging out to dry. I need to point no further than your non-title match back on Monday night. You were facing the Trust, a team that probably should’ve been a non-issue for you two, but even before Williams’ and Aubrey’s interference there, you didn’t look like a winner. I saw no sense of urgency in you. You almost looked like you’d rather be somewhere other than in the ring competing.
Now, you’ve got another opportunity sitting before you this week. You have a chance to go for singles gold for the first time since October. You’ve pretty much been handed a chance to accomplish something I had assumed you wanted to. You seemed like you really wanted the Suicidal championship back in October after all. You could prove your championship calibre here this week and get a shot at the Tap Out championship. But I can pretty much tell right now that you just don’t want it. You’d rather stay tied to Bailey and only go as far as he can take you. That’s why you’re not championship material and you’re going to lose this week.
He speaks those words with almost absolute certainty. He glances down again, pausing as he pulls open his jacket and reaches inside. He reaches in and takes hold of something, then withdraws a water bottle. He opens and takes a drink for several moments, then puts it back inside his jacket. Now he regards the camera with a look of disappointment as he continues.
Christian… I could the same for you right now too. I’m not going to pull punches with you. I’m not here to coddle you and help you along. I’m going to rake you over the coals. I’m here to beat the stuffing out of you and break you in two if I can. I’m not looking to partner up with people that want to be followers or lack initiative or spirit. I want to work alongside people that aspire to be as good as or better than I am and want to be stars. You’ve been underwhelming for months in APW. I have to wonder if your losses to Mannie and I did something to you because you’ve never been the same since. I’ve seen you lamenting your inability to make progress here in APW. Well Christian, if you don’t seem to give a damn about yourself and what you’re doing in the ring, why should anyone else?
I was hoping that some sort of spark would ignite inside you during this last week once you got added to this match. You used to practically froth at the mouth when the prospect of stepping into the ring with me was put before you. I was looking forward to facing you this week as circumstances kept us from having our rematch in February. I remember your beat-the-clock match where you beat down Deruty to win the competition. I remember listening to you talk about how you were going to beat me at Survive and Conquer and take the North American championship. You were possessed… and you were at your absolute best that night. That’s what you need to find again if you’re ever going to stand a real chance here on Asylum, whether facing me or anyone else.
What you’re doing now won’t cut it. You’ve had some bad breaks, but all of us had at one point or another. I’ve lost two matches this year. Both were for championships I’ve held. Despite the success I’ve had otherwise, I can’t seem to catch a break and get ahead, but I keep on fighting harder. I kept pressing forward. I sought redemption. You should do the same. As it stands now, you’re an opponent in my way and you’re not ready to fight at your best. I’m going to do what I must to dispatch you and the others and secure the prize. That’s my only priority this week.
Logan pauses, taking a few moments to cross his arms over his chest. His expression changes to one of amusement and he smirks at the camera now.
As for you Reaver… I wonder where your head’s at. You make a wonderful argument for a while before tripping over your own words and just coming across as someone that wants something irrelevant to the matters at hand. It doesn’t impact your actual skills. It just results in you not applying them to the best effect in ring. Perhaps that’s how you’re ‘making’ people on Asylum as you claim, like TJ. The only problem with that is when everyone beats you it’s no longer an impressive feat. It becomes expected and makes you a stepping-stone. But if you’re fine with that, more power to you.
That doesn’t take away from your legitimate strengths though. You’re tough and through your career you’ve been tenacious and don’t give up easily, but what has that gotten you? Sometimes, having all of those traits, but not having the real push behind them, just results in them prolonging the inevitable result of an encounter. What has your recent return demonstrated after all? You went in to prove something against TJ and he ended up beating you at your own game. You can blame the ref for stopping that match, but you sure weren’t getting back up from his parting shot at Rasslemania even if the ref counted to one hundred. After Rasslemania, you’ve managed to earn a split against the Dying Breed. So are the rest of us supposed to be impressed by that? Is this furthering your crusade for a return to a more violent Asylum? Or is it showing that your methods are outdated and not as effective as you’d like everyone to believe?
He pauses long enough to offer the camera a questioning look then continues.
You said early on you don’t want this title shot, so right there you’ve admitted you don’t want this win as much as I do. Instead, you want to beat people up. Okay, but you can do that anywhere. It might make you dangerous, but it doesn’t make you a winner. You’ve demonstrated that time and again. So you say that you get the job done in the ring and you hurt people, but do you actually accomplish anything? Your career achievements say no. You sure survive, but you don’t thrive because you’re still just… here, doing your usual thing and getting your usual results.
As for me though, I’m always looking for ways to thrive rather than only surviving. The proof of my ability to thrive is my entire Asylum run to this point. Victories over Asylum mainstays and champions and I haven’t been pinned or submitted. I’m also on a winning streak, something I’m sure you’re not familiar with Reaver. That’s why I deserve the opportunity placed before us this week, because I’m actually working for it. It doesn’t matter to me which title I’m competing for at this point, whether Suicidal, Tap Out, or even Undisputed, once I’m in the running, I give my all to win. You don’t ‘get’ that obviously, but that’s not my problem, it’s just another shortcoming that’ll hold you back.
Despite my success in APW, you don’t think I can get the job done. Well Reaver, you’re going to get an up close look at what I can accomplish in the ring. I’m driven to win and seek out success. You’d rather revel in the way things used to be and try to bring back that glory. If you’re not willing to change to the demands of the present, then you have no hope for the future. You’re done Reaver. You can say you need this win and opportunity, but I doubt you’ve got what it takes to secure it. This week, I’ll help you move further towards obscurity.
Logan smiles confidently at the camera.
I’m ready for this match and to do what needs to be done. Whether friend, foe, or obstacle, I’m going to bring the fight to all of my opponents this week. I intend to prove that unlike them, I’m ready to step up to the next level and face the challenges that entails. None of you want this as much as I do, and if any of you think that you do, I’m going to prove otherwise. I’m not here to take a backseat to anyone. It’s my time and I’m claiming what should have been mine from the start. Hopkins, Reaver, Christian… I’ll take whatever you can bring to this fight, and unleash my own chaotic arsenal before giving you all a lesson in Chaos Theory.
He nods to the camera, still smiling confidently. He moves past the camera before it turns to watch him walk away. The scene fades to black.
Had to come by here and check out this marvel of design up close. Required unique planning and it’s a symbol of achievement and progress. It also helps people find their way around and reach their destination more easily in the city. I could go over some of the stuff I’ve learned about it, but that’s not really important now.
He walks towards the walkway running through the base of the support, motioning for the camera to follow. Once inside, the surrounding noise level drops off greatly. He turns and looks towards the camera.
So here we are… not days, but hours away from my next big encounter. It’s something of a tired refrain, but I might be facing my toughest challenge in APW tomorrow night. It seems that every week I’m stepping into the ring I have something to prove. Prove to my critics… to my fans… to my bosses… to myself.
He lowers his head, looking down towards the floor, then reaches up and rubs one hand back and forth on his forehead.
Since Rasslemania, I’ve been trying to set a direction for myself. I wasn’t kidding when I said I was in limbo after losing the Tag Team titles. No one likes losing, but getting beaten indirectly leaves a worse taste in your mouth. It leaves things unresolved too. No one has a definitive answer to whether Dying Breed or M&M are the better team. They have the titles, but they didn’t get the fall against us. Before Rasslemania, Aubrey beat Bailey. After Rasslemania, I beat Hopkins. I had to prove I was better, to show that I was capable of beating half the Dying Breed. I need to do that to show that M&M deserved to still be in the Tag title hunt.
Since early February, when I lost the North American championship, I’ve been looking for redemption for what happened that night. I knew I wouldn’t have a second chance at that championship ever again, so I’d have to make up for it elsewhere. Since then, I’ve been damn near perfect in my appearances. I had to. When you’ve had a bull’s eye on your back for months, you don’t easily shake the need to always be at your best very easily. I’ve proven myself in tag competition, and recently in singles as well against Hopkins… then against Evans.
I’d faced and beaten her since she helped cost me the North American championship, but there was more on the line last week. It was the first time I’d faced a singles champion in months and was a chance to show that I deserve to be competing for singles gold. Yeah, I’m a team player. I’ve been showing for a while that I can buddy up with others and work towards a common goal, whether it was with my partner, another acquaintance, or even a rival. My success there may have led others to think I can’t handle being on my own.
Some people seem to have the impression that Aubrey‘s leading me to all my success. I remember seven months ago that story had the roles reversed. Regardless of how the story is told, it’s all crap. I’ve shown that through my success on Meltdown and here on Asylum since Rasslemania, but it seems I’m not viewed as a contender. I’m apparently not good enough for a Suicidal championship match. I don’t profess to be the master of garbage wrestling. Does that mean I can’t hold my own when I can school opponents without using weapons? I beat the champion, so what does that say?
Now, I must prove I deserve to compete for the Tap Out title against opponents that may or may not want the spot at all. Just need to listen to their comments during the first twelve days after the match was announced. Hopkins… silence. Christian… silence. Reaver… was contradictory. Whether that was because of the chocolates or concussions, you the viewer will have to decide.
Logan smirks slightly as he looks back towards the camera. His smirk fades slowly as he regards the camera quietly for several moments. His expression grows more contemplative before he resumes speaking.
Hopkins, what else needs to be said about you at this point? You carry around an APW championship. As such you should be a representative of this company, setting an example of what it means to be a champion or what it takes to be a champion here. But have we seen that from you at all in the last several months as a contender or a champion? You almost seem to be stuck in autopilot, going through the motions and waiting for others around you to pick up the slack and guide you along to victory.
I watch you compete and I see no drive in you to succeed. I see no heart or passion. I just see a guy who’s content to be at the level he’s reached and decided that he’s willing to settle for being whatever he is now. It makes me wonder how you ever became a champion… oh right! It was Bailey doing all the heavy lifting for you. More often than not, you leave him hanging out to dry. I need to point no further than your non-title match back on Monday night. You were facing the Trust, a team that probably should’ve been a non-issue for you two, but even before Williams’ and Aubrey’s interference there, you didn’t look like a winner. I saw no sense of urgency in you. You almost looked like you’d rather be somewhere other than in the ring competing.
Now, you’ve got another opportunity sitting before you this week. You have a chance to go for singles gold for the first time since October. You’ve pretty much been handed a chance to accomplish something I had assumed you wanted to. You seemed like you really wanted the Suicidal championship back in October after all. You could prove your championship calibre here this week and get a shot at the Tap Out championship. But I can pretty much tell right now that you just don’t want it. You’d rather stay tied to Bailey and only go as far as he can take you. That’s why you’re not championship material and you’re going to lose this week.
He speaks those words with almost absolute certainty. He glances down again, pausing as he pulls open his jacket and reaches inside. He reaches in and takes hold of something, then withdraws a water bottle. He opens and takes a drink for several moments, then puts it back inside his jacket. Now he regards the camera with a look of disappointment as he continues.
Christian… I could the same for you right now too. I’m not going to pull punches with you. I’m not here to coddle you and help you along. I’m going to rake you over the coals. I’m here to beat the stuffing out of you and break you in two if I can. I’m not looking to partner up with people that want to be followers or lack initiative or spirit. I want to work alongside people that aspire to be as good as or better than I am and want to be stars. You’ve been underwhelming for months in APW. I have to wonder if your losses to Mannie and I did something to you because you’ve never been the same since. I’ve seen you lamenting your inability to make progress here in APW. Well Christian, if you don’t seem to give a damn about yourself and what you’re doing in the ring, why should anyone else?
I was hoping that some sort of spark would ignite inside you during this last week once you got added to this match. You used to practically froth at the mouth when the prospect of stepping into the ring with me was put before you. I was looking forward to facing you this week as circumstances kept us from having our rematch in February. I remember your beat-the-clock match where you beat down Deruty to win the competition. I remember listening to you talk about how you were going to beat me at Survive and Conquer and take the North American championship. You were possessed… and you were at your absolute best that night. That’s what you need to find again if you’re ever going to stand a real chance here on Asylum, whether facing me or anyone else.
What you’re doing now won’t cut it. You’ve had some bad breaks, but all of us had at one point or another. I’ve lost two matches this year. Both were for championships I’ve held. Despite the success I’ve had otherwise, I can’t seem to catch a break and get ahead, but I keep on fighting harder. I kept pressing forward. I sought redemption. You should do the same. As it stands now, you’re an opponent in my way and you’re not ready to fight at your best. I’m going to do what I must to dispatch you and the others and secure the prize. That’s my only priority this week.
Logan pauses, taking a few moments to cross his arms over his chest. His expression changes to one of amusement and he smirks at the camera now.
As for you Reaver… I wonder where your head’s at. You make a wonderful argument for a while before tripping over your own words and just coming across as someone that wants something irrelevant to the matters at hand. It doesn’t impact your actual skills. It just results in you not applying them to the best effect in ring. Perhaps that’s how you’re ‘making’ people on Asylum as you claim, like TJ. The only problem with that is when everyone beats you it’s no longer an impressive feat. It becomes expected and makes you a stepping-stone. But if you’re fine with that, more power to you.
That doesn’t take away from your legitimate strengths though. You’re tough and through your career you’ve been tenacious and don’t give up easily, but what has that gotten you? Sometimes, having all of those traits, but not having the real push behind them, just results in them prolonging the inevitable result of an encounter. What has your recent return demonstrated after all? You went in to prove something against TJ and he ended up beating you at your own game. You can blame the ref for stopping that match, but you sure weren’t getting back up from his parting shot at Rasslemania even if the ref counted to one hundred. After Rasslemania, you’ve managed to earn a split against the Dying Breed. So are the rest of us supposed to be impressed by that? Is this furthering your crusade for a return to a more violent Asylum? Or is it showing that your methods are outdated and not as effective as you’d like everyone to believe?
He pauses long enough to offer the camera a questioning look then continues.
You said early on you don’t want this title shot, so right there you’ve admitted you don’t want this win as much as I do. Instead, you want to beat people up. Okay, but you can do that anywhere. It might make you dangerous, but it doesn’t make you a winner. You’ve demonstrated that time and again. So you say that you get the job done in the ring and you hurt people, but do you actually accomplish anything? Your career achievements say no. You sure survive, but you don’t thrive because you’re still just… here, doing your usual thing and getting your usual results.
As for me though, I’m always looking for ways to thrive rather than only surviving. The proof of my ability to thrive is my entire Asylum run to this point. Victories over Asylum mainstays and champions and I haven’t been pinned or submitted. I’m also on a winning streak, something I’m sure you’re not familiar with Reaver. That’s why I deserve the opportunity placed before us this week, because I’m actually working for it. It doesn’t matter to me which title I’m competing for at this point, whether Suicidal, Tap Out, or even Undisputed, once I’m in the running, I give my all to win. You don’t ‘get’ that obviously, but that’s not my problem, it’s just another shortcoming that’ll hold you back.
Despite my success in APW, you don’t think I can get the job done. Well Reaver, you’re going to get an up close look at what I can accomplish in the ring. I’m driven to win and seek out success. You’d rather revel in the way things used to be and try to bring back that glory. If you’re not willing to change to the demands of the present, then you have no hope for the future. You’re done Reaver. You can say you need this win and opportunity, but I doubt you’ve got what it takes to secure it. This week, I’ll help you move further towards obscurity.
Logan smiles confidently at the camera.
I’m ready for this match and to do what needs to be done. Whether friend, foe, or obstacle, I’m going to bring the fight to all of my opponents this week. I intend to prove that unlike them, I’m ready to step up to the next level and face the challenges that entails. None of you want this as much as I do, and if any of you think that you do, I’m going to prove otherwise. I’m not here to take a backseat to anyone. It’s my time and I’m claiming what should have been mine from the start. Hopkins, Reaver, Christian… I’ll take whatever you can bring to this fight, and unleash my own chaotic arsenal before giving you all a lesson in Chaos Theory.
He nods to the camera, still smiling confidently. He moves past the camera before it turns to watch him walk away. The scene fades to black.
