Post by C.J. Gates on Jun 12, 2013 15:48:11 GMT -4
"Nothing ever changes.
"Even when he's on a different brand, I still end up having to deal with Terry Marvin. I still end up with him ruining my matches and costing me title shots. Last week didn't go like I wanted it to, but I can't dwell on what happened. I know that I wasn't free of blame, but I know that I can't keep focusing on the past.
"Not with Test for the Best coming up, though all signs point to me being screwed out of a title if I won it. After all, that's the way it's gone the last three title shots that I've earned. For normal people, that would be enough to turn them away, to send them packing.
"But not me. If anything, it makes me want to win that much more. It makes me want to get back to that point so that I can once and for all pull out a win. Maybe I'm a masochist or something if I want to keep getting to the top only to get screwed out of winning the title. Who knows. I'm still going to give it my all.
"And I am going to have to start this week when I battle for a spot in the Test for the Best tournament. I am going to have to work hard to get through to the Pay-Per-View, especially since my opponent isn't exactly a push over. He might be crazy, but he's no push over.
"He's Delikado.
"We've had our problems in the past, and even though he and his friends have a new found outlook on life, I can't let those past problems just disappear. Not after the way he not only treated me, but the way he treated my mother as well. Using her for his own gain is not exactly a chivalric act but then again, he's not exactly a chivalric person.
"Even if that's what they want us to see now, Delikado is still the same Delikado that ran around APW before Christmas Chaos. The rabid raccoon toting, wild eyed crazy man that spent many days trying to confuse his opponents. And while some might have fallen victim, I wasn't one of them.
"Sure I've lost, but I haven't exactly been brainwashed by what he's had to say. I've always seen him for what he is.
"A competitor.
"A warrior.
"And the next man standing between me and history."
"Hola, Vinnie!"
Vincent James stops before entering the office of C.J. Gates and turns to look down the hall where two familiar faces are exiting the elevator. The man in the lead, the one who the voice belongs to, is Armando Asante and following him down the hall is his Studmuffins tag team partner Stan Everdeen. James rolls his eyes as the two get closer.
"We're here to talk with C.J.," Stan chimes in as the duo reaches the door.
"That's awesome," James says. "Why are you telling me?"
"So that you can clear it with him," Stan says.
"Why should I clear it with him? I'm not his secretary or anything."
"Very true," Armando chimes in. "If you were, I would have already made you my bedroom compañero."
James slowly looks from Stan to Armando.
"Even with me being male?"
"Well, if you were female. Read between the lines, ese." Armando quickly steps back and pats Stan on the shoulder.
"We're just here to help, that's all," Stan pleads his case.
"Did Biggs send you?" James asks, confused.
"No, we came on our own," Stan says. "We've noticed C.J. just isn't himself lately and thought we could help."
"The two of you? Help?" James holds back laughter. "I don't see how that is going to work, but I could do with some laughs. Welcome."
James opens the door and walks into the office, followed by Asante and Everdeen.
"I found some...friends in the hallway."
C.J. Gates looks up from behind the desk, looking from James to Armando to Stan in turn. "What brings the two of you by?"
"We're here to help," Armando says. "You are a friend of Biggs, and therefore you are a friend of us. Los amigos ayudan a los amigos, no?"
"Right," Stan says. James chuckles in the background.
"How do you plan to help?" Gates asks. "Going to train with me inside of the ring? Going to help me dissect the insect that is Delikado? It's one on one out there, so your tag team experience isn't going to help me any."
"We're here to help you with the ladies," Armado says with a big smile.
"The ladies?"
"Si. You haven't exactly been yourself and there's one element missing in your life. Women. Mujeres."
Gates looks at James and the big man shrugs. "So you think that I've missed a step because I don't have women hanging off of me when I'm on television, is that it?"
"That's what we've gathered," Stan says. "We figured we could help. And after you came up short against Level One last week, now might be the best time. You're between title chances so why not, right? What's the worst that could happen?"
"I don't think I want to imagine that," Gates says. "But I'm willing to see what the two of you have to say. Not this week though, at least not now."
"Now is just the first stage," Armando says. "This is the first lesson, donde sentar las bases. From there, it gets put into action. First you get the girls attention." Armando turns to face James, a wide smile on his face. He turns his head back to face Gates. "Then, you want to make sure they know you're into them. Me, I like to start with a line that will make their feet melt and their hearts swoon." He takes a step toward James. "Something like, 'hey, chica, can I have your picture so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas."
"Don't make me drop you," James threatens.
"I think you've got a boyfriend, Vinnie," Gates jokes.
"Armando doesn't float that way," Asante says. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."
Stan begins to laugh and Gates joins in. Armando simply turns back to face Gates and smiles.
"Listen, I appreciate you guys trying to help," Gates begins, "but I assure you that I'm fine on that front."
"I don't know if you are," Stan says. "Armando and I were talking and just saw that as the one element missing."
"I totally understand, I just have a very important match this week and I don't want to get side tracked or distracted."
"You don't want to get distracted by women?"
"I guess," Gates says. "This week will just depend whether I continue on in the Test for the Best tournament or if I am stuck on the sidelines, again, waiting for my next chance. And after what happened last year." Gates gives Stan a look and Stan simply shakes his head. "I don't want to get screwed, you know?"
"I can see that," Stan says. "And hey, about last year-"
"Don't worry about it," Gates says. "What's done is done. Maybe all I need to get back to the top of the mountain is to get there the same way I got there before. Instead of just getting a shot here and there, I need to go through the gauntlet of being up against some of the best. Maybe I need that tournament style to get to that point."
"Maybe," Armando offers up, somewhat helplessly.
"It's worth a shot anyways," Gates says. "And after I got through A.C. Smith, I was on my way. I'm still on my way. But I need to make sure I stay focused on the man who is standing between me and having a chance at being the only person to win this tournament twice."
"Delikado?" Stan asks.
"Delikado," James echoes.
"But there is so much we can teach you!" Armando says. "And with that hat that you wear, you could get all the women in the world!"
"I'll keep you guys in mind, maybe after Test for the Best we'll get together and the two of you can show me what makes you guys so successful."
"I think we're in his head," Stan says, elbowing Armando in the ribs.
"Here's our card," Armando says, pulling a business card from his pocket. He hands it across to Gates. "When you have a moment, after you're done being so serious, give us a call."
"You can be sure of that."
Armando shakes Gates' hand before turning around to exit through the door that Vincent James already has open. Both Stan and Armando exit into the hallway and James closes the door behind them.
"The nerve of those two," James says as he takes a seat in one of the chairs nearest the desk.
"They meant well."
"Meant well?" James shakes his head. "After what that one turd did last year, how can you say they meant well."
"Because they weren't here to distract me. They were trying to help."
"You hope. For all we know, Delikado paid them off to come down here and mess with your head right before a huge match up."
"Why would you say that?" Gates asks. "I'm not saying it's impossible, it just seems like you want to pin something on them."
"I don't know," James begins. "Maybe Delikado is scared of you. Maybe he sees what you've been doing, he sees that in the past month alone your matches have seen you beat Michael Callahan, seen you have the World Heavyweight title robbed from you, beat A.C. Smith and then took Level One to lengths before Terry Marvin got involved." James shrugs. "Maybe he's scared."
"Maybe, but Delikado doesn't seem the sort to be scared. Crazy? Yes. Stupid? Of course. But scared? I don't know about that one."
"I don't know, I just don't buy that those two came here on their own to try and get you laid."
"That wasn't the only reason," Gates says. "I'm pretty sure Armando wants your number."
"Oh, aren't you a funny one."
Gates chuckles. "Seriously, though, I can see what you're saying. Yeah, I wouldn't put it past Delikado to pull some sort of trick out of his hat so that he can catch me when I'm off my guard. But at the same time, I get the feeling that he doesn't even know who the Studmuffins are. Or, at least, who they are individually."
"Google is a hell of a thing."
"I know, but Delikado seems more likely to use Gaagle them Google. He seems more likely to leaf through old editions of the Wall Street Journal for no reason then to do any sort of research on people he used to have as colleagues."
"I can't argue that one."
"Besides," Gates says. "According to Delikado and his super friends, they are all upstanding citizens determined to change the face of wrestling with their Justice League."
"I take it you aren't a fan of them?" James asks.
"It's not that," Gates says, shaking his head as he sits down in the chair behind the desk. "I mean, I love that there are people who want to revolutionize wrestling, it's just the way they're going about it that I think bothers me. It just seems like a big smokescreen and at some point it's all going to come crashing down with Buckson Gooch at the bottom of the pile."
"I don't know, I think they might be legit," James says. "Maybe they aren't totally believable, but I think that's just the stigma that people have thrown on them. They might actually be trying to change things."
"Listen to you," Gates chuckles. "A minute ago, you were trying to convince me that Delikado is buying up all the former wrestlers to try and throw me off balance, and now you're trying to tell me that the League is legit?"
"He's bat shit crazy," James admits. "But these four guys might actually be trying to do good, even if Delikado is an escaped mental patient."
"I'm still unsure about the whole thing."
"Well, you can probably bet that they will be there at Overdrive to watch Delikado's back."
"And to be there to trip me up?" Gates asks.
"I guess we can't rule that out," James shrugs. "I'd expect them to be honest outside the ring though."
"Honest? Evan Envi? Come on, now, Vinnie, you aren't an idiot."
"They'd have to be," James says. "Otherwise everything they're trying to be built would be thrown down the drain."
"Unless this was their whole plan," Gates says. "Duvall might be looking for some new Overdrive protection now that Terry Marvin's Sindicate is on Asylum, and with Level One a bit miffed that he had to defend his title last week, Lord knows that Duvall needs someone. Maybe it's the League?"
"That might be grasping at straws. But here, let's take those three out of the equation. Worry about them if they show up, but right now, focus on the man that actually matters. Focus on the guy that you are actually facing."
Gates sighs. "You're right. I should be worried more about what Delikado is capable of doing then what may or may not happen. But sometimes, Delikado is a man that simply adapts to his environment. He sees that opportunity so he takes it, even if that means he has to grab those ropes, or pull a referee out of the ring."
"But he's in the match."
"His buddies. If they pull him out." Gates sighs again. "I don't know. Every time I start thinking about Delikado, I get his cronies caught in my head."
"Okay then," James says. "Go back to Shockwave and the events around that."
"You mean when he barely got out with the title?"
"Exactly. He did all that he could to keep that thing around his waist."
"He did," Gates says. "And he kept the belt. That right there is why he will always be the wicked Delikado that others seem to forget about."
"Don't worry about now, worry about Delikado. Can you beat him?"
"I have beaten him. Of course, that was when the Overdrive title wasn't on the line."
"So, what, you think that you can't bring it when it matters most?"
"Have you not been watching the past year?" Gates asks. "But no, that's not what I mean. What I meant was that Delikado seems like the sort to only care when the match means something. He's not like me, for instance, who wrestles every match as if I'm fighting the best of the best. I don't take vacations in the ring because it's a non-title match or something."
"You don't think he's going to bring it his all?"
"Quite the opposite," Gates says. "Because there is so much riding on this match, I'm sure that he is going to bring everything in his arsenal. I'm sure he's not too happy about me getting involved in his title match at Mayhem, so this might be his chance at redemption."
"Didn't he put you into that title match?"
Gates smiles. "I didn't say it made a lot of sense, I was just stating it as a possibility. I wouldn't put it past him to have that in his head as a thought, using this to kind of get out some frustration. Hell, I bet he wasn't really happy that I was trying to pin him to win the title."
"Well, I wish you luck this week. I think you might need it."
"Oh, I know I'll need it," Gates says. "Delikado won't be a pushover, so I'm going to have to be on top of my game. I'm going to have to do what I do, treat this match like it's Level One so that I have a chance to make history in APW."
"It's a tall order," James says. "But you already know how difficult it might be to beat Delikado."
"Yeah, and that's only half of it." Gates shakes his head. "I've got the Test for the Best round coming up, APW is currently in the middle of some sort of turf war, and my mom is still causing problems for me with her gambling."
"More problems?"
"The phone is constantly ringing, but when I pick it up, there's dead air and then whoever it is, hangs up. All night long. Maybe it's nothing, but it sure is annoying."
"At least you didn't get a horse head mailed to you," James says.
"It was a toy."
"It was still a horse head," James counters. "Maybe we should send it to Delikado, throw him off his game. Intimidate him."
"With a toy horse head?"
"You got any better ideas?"
"Of course I do," Gates says. "My plan is to enter that ring, run circles around Delikado and come out on the other side with a victory and a spot in the next round. It won't be easy, but everything I do to get to the victory will be worth it.
"A win like this will always be worth it."
"When I took a look at the eight people remaining in the hunt for the Test for the Best tournament, I knew that it wasn't going to be easy. If I want to have a chance at winning, I am going to have to make up for any errors I might have made in the past. I am going to have to work hard to make sure that I don't follow down the same paths as before.
"I have history with almost everyone left, everyone except Amy Zing and Tommy Knox. No matter where I look, I can see a past that I am going to have to overcome. I overcame it two weeks ago when I beat A.C. Smith to get to this point, and if he and I meet again, I am going to have to make sure that I don't run into the same problems like I did the first time we fought.
"Biggs, Johnny Rebel, Nathaniel Havok, we all have history, some more then others. Because of that, it won't be easy to win the Overdrive side of things, let alone win the entire tournament. Though, before I can even think of the others I might have to face, I have to take on the next man standing between me and the tournament.
"Delikado.
"He and I have had our run ins, but it seems that neither one of us can get the advantage. I best him in singles action one week, he defends the Overdrive title against me the next, he outlasts me in a championship scramble at Shockwave, but I get the better of him at Mayhem.
"So needless to say, this isn't going to be a one sided contest. This isn't going to be a match where one man does all the work and picks up a simple victory, or the sort of match that looks to be in one persons favor, only to turn around and slap him right in the face.
"No, this is going to be a hard fought back and forth fight. It's going to take everything that we have for one of us to get a win. And we know how hard we fight. He and I know just what we have in store for each other. Sure, Delikado can be a bit of a wild card from time to time, but all that does is it keeps me on my toes. All it does is make sure that I am on top of my game.
"Oddly enough, I prefer that. It's almost better that my opponent always keeps me guessing, rather then being the same old man each and every week. That way, it never gets boring and there is always excitement inside of the ring. Excitement for me and excitement for the fans. Because after all, those are the people that we are wrestling for.
"Right, Delikado?
"Maybe I've missed the memo, but isn't that what you and the League are trying to accomplish? Maybe not fighting for the fans, but still wrestling with them in mind. Otherwise, you wouldn't be calling yourselves the best of the best and you definitely wouldn't be talking about revolutionizing wrestling as it is today.
"Though maybe I should take this entire League thing with a grain of salt. I mean, I wasn't lying when I said that I was still unsure on the whole deal. I wasn't spinning tales when I questioned its validity. I mean, you want to revolutionize wrestling, yet, not even a month ago you were doing your best to screw me out of a World Heavyweight title shot when you stepped into the ring to take out Michael Callahan. And now this?
"Who knows, I could be way off on the entire point of your little play date, but that's what it seems like you guys are trying to do, yet trying to do it all the wrong way. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that you have all decided to jump ship from the ways of evil, since it was only holding some of you back. Then again, maybe you never considered yourselves evil, that's just the cameras painting you in a negative light.
"The real test will come at Overdrive when you are faced with a decision. All of you. After all, if the four of you are trying to make things right, if you are fighting with the full force of the APW faithful behind you, then what's going to happen when you get into the main event, when your brother in arms Delikado is faced with the task of beating me. Will you let him fight it out on his own?
"Maybe.
"Or will you get involved so that he is guaranteed a spot in the next round?
"That seems more likely. And that's where the dilemma comes in. You will have to decide if you want to throw everything you've been trying to build away and cheat so Delikado can advance, or if you want to play by the rules and let the chips fall where they may. And it's not like you can rely on anyone else because unlike every other big match I have had, there is no degenerate waiting in the wings to strike me down from the sky.
"Unless the rest of the League wishes to fill that bill.
"But I'm getting away from you, Delikado, and that's not right. Let it be known that I want this win. I want to go on so I can have a chance not only at proving to everyone that I am more than capable of winning the Test for the Best tournament, but I also want to win this match so I have a chance at a fair fight against the champion. And really, that's all I've been looking for, and that's all I hope for from you. A fair fight. But that's something that no one seems capable of providing.
"Then again, the whole idea of power in numbers tends to crop up when people aren't certain in their own abilities. I mean, you don't see me joining forces with every Tom, Dick and Harry just so I have a chance at success. I work through things myself, I walk alongside the one person I can trust, and I make sure that my actions speak louder then any spoken words ever could.
"Can you say the same, Delikado?
"You've hitched your wagon to Evan Envi's horse once again, and I just pray to the Pope himself that your decision doesn't make this match something to forget.
"I hope we can make this competitive.
"I hope that we can do battle one on one.
"I hope that the better man can eventually win.
"It's time to go big, or go home."
"Even when he's on a different brand, I still end up having to deal with Terry Marvin. I still end up with him ruining my matches and costing me title shots. Last week didn't go like I wanted it to, but I can't dwell on what happened. I know that I wasn't free of blame, but I know that I can't keep focusing on the past.
"Not with Test for the Best coming up, though all signs point to me being screwed out of a title if I won it. After all, that's the way it's gone the last three title shots that I've earned. For normal people, that would be enough to turn them away, to send them packing.
"But not me. If anything, it makes me want to win that much more. It makes me want to get back to that point so that I can once and for all pull out a win. Maybe I'm a masochist or something if I want to keep getting to the top only to get screwed out of winning the title. Who knows. I'm still going to give it my all.
"And I am going to have to start this week when I battle for a spot in the Test for the Best tournament. I am going to have to work hard to get through to the Pay-Per-View, especially since my opponent isn't exactly a push over. He might be crazy, but he's no push over.
"He's Delikado.
"We've had our problems in the past, and even though he and his friends have a new found outlook on life, I can't let those past problems just disappear. Not after the way he not only treated me, but the way he treated my mother as well. Using her for his own gain is not exactly a chivalric act but then again, he's not exactly a chivalric person.
"Even if that's what they want us to see now, Delikado is still the same Delikado that ran around APW before Christmas Chaos. The rabid raccoon toting, wild eyed crazy man that spent many days trying to confuse his opponents. And while some might have fallen victim, I wasn't one of them.
"Sure I've lost, but I haven't exactly been brainwashed by what he's had to say. I've always seen him for what he is.
"A competitor.
"A warrior.
"And the next man standing between me and history."
--------------------------------------------
"Hola, Vinnie!"
Vincent James stops before entering the office of C.J. Gates and turns to look down the hall where two familiar faces are exiting the elevator. The man in the lead, the one who the voice belongs to, is Armando Asante and following him down the hall is his Studmuffins tag team partner Stan Everdeen. James rolls his eyes as the two get closer.
"We're here to talk with C.J.," Stan chimes in as the duo reaches the door.
"That's awesome," James says. "Why are you telling me?"
"So that you can clear it with him," Stan says.
"Why should I clear it with him? I'm not his secretary or anything."
"Very true," Armando chimes in. "If you were, I would have already made you my bedroom compañero."
James slowly looks from Stan to Armando.
"Even with me being male?"
"Well, if you were female. Read between the lines, ese." Armando quickly steps back and pats Stan on the shoulder.
"We're just here to help, that's all," Stan pleads his case.
"Did Biggs send you?" James asks, confused.
"No, we came on our own," Stan says. "We've noticed C.J. just isn't himself lately and thought we could help."
"The two of you? Help?" James holds back laughter. "I don't see how that is going to work, but I could do with some laughs. Welcome."
James opens the door and walks into the office, followed by Asante and Everdeen.
"I found some...friends in the hallway."
C.J. Gates looks up from behind the desk, looking from James to Armando to Stan in turn. "What brings the two of you by?"
"We're here to help," Armando says. "You are a friend of Biggs, and therefore you are a friend of us. Los amigos ayudan a los amigos, no?"
"Right," Stan says. James chuckles in the background.
"How do you plan to help?" Gates asks. "Going to train with me inside of the ring? Going to help me dissect the insect that is Delikado? It's one on one out there, so your tag team experience isn't going to help me any."
"We're here to help you with the ladies," Armado says with a big smile.
"The ladies?"
"Si. You haven't exactly been yourself and there's one element missing in your life. Women. Mujeres."
Gates looks at James and the big man shrugs. "So you think that I've missed a step because I don't have women hanging off of me when I'm on television, is that it?"
"That's what we've gathered," Stan says. "We figured we could help. And after you came up short against Level One last week, now might be the best time. You're between title chances so why not, right? What's the worst that could happen?"
"I don't think I want to imagine that," Gates says. "But I'm willing to see what the two of you have to say. Not this week though, at least not now."
"Now is just the first stage," Armando says. "This is the first lesson, donde sentar las bases. From there, it gets put into action. First you get the girls attention." Armando turns to face James, a wide smile on his face. He turns his head back to face Gates. "Then, you want to make sure they know you're into them. Me, I like to start with a line that will make their feet melt and their hearts swoon." He takes a step toward James. "Something like, 'hey, chica, can I have your picture so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas."
"Don't make me drop you," James threatens.
"I think you've got a boyfriend, Vinnie," Gates jokes.
"Armando doesn't float that way," Asante says. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."
Stan begins to laugh and Gates joins in. Armando simply turns back to face Gates and smiles.
"Listen, I appreciate you guys trying to help," Gates begins, "but I assure you that I'm fine on that front."
"I don't know if you are," Stan says. "Armando and I were talking and just saw that as the one element missing."
"I totally understand, I just have a very important match this week and I don't want to get side tracked or distracted."
"You don't want to get distracted by women?"
"I guess," Gates says. "This week will just depend whether I continue on in the Test for the Best tournament or if I am stuck on the sidelines, again, waiting for my next chance. And after what happened last year." Gates gives Stan a look and Stan simply shakes his head. "I don't want to get screwed, you know?"
"I can see that," Stan says. "And hey, about last year-"
"Don't worry about it," Gates says. "What's done is done. Maybe all I need to get back to the top of the mountain is to get there the same way I got there before. Instead of just getting a shot here and there, I need to go through the gauntlet of being up against some of the best. Maybe I need that tournament style to get to that point."
"Maybe," Armando offers up, somewhat helplessly.
"It's worth a shot anyways," Gates says. "And after I got through A.C. Smith, I was on my way. I'm still on my way. But I need to make sure I stay focused on the man who is standing between me and having a chance at being the only person to win this tournament twice."
"Delikado?" Stan asks.
"Delikado," James echoes.
"But there is so much we can teach you!" Armando says. "And with that hat that you wear, you could get all the women in the world!"
"I'll keep you guys in mind, maybe after Test for the Best we'll get together and the two of you can show me what makes you guys so successful."
"I think we're in his head," Stan says, elbowing Armando in the ribs.
"Here's our card," Armando says, pulling a business card from his pocket. He hands it across to Gates. "When you have a moment, after you're done being so serious, give us a call."
"You can be sure of that."
Armando shakes Gates' hand before turning around to exit through the door that Vincent James already has open. Both Stan and Armando exit into the hallway and James closes the door behind them.
"The nerve of those two," James says as he takes a seat in one of the chairs nearest the desk.
"They meant well."
"Meant well?" James shakes his head. "After what that one turd did last year, how can you say they meant well."
"Because they weren't here to distract me. They were trying to help."
"You hope. For all we know, Delikado paid them off to come down here and mess with your head right before a huge match up."
"Why would you say that?" Gates asks. "I'm not saying it's impossible, it just seems like you want to pin something on them."
"I don't know," James begins. "Maybe Delikado is scared of you. Maybe he sees what you've been doing, he sees that in the past month alone your matches have seen you beat Michael Callahan, seen you have the World Heavyweight title robbed from you, beat A.C. Smith and then took Level One to lengths before Terry Marvin got involved." James shrugs. "Maybe he's scared."
"Maybe, but Delikado doesn't seem the sort to be scared. Crazy? Yes. Stupid? Of course. But scared? I don't know about that one."
"I don't know, I just don't buy that those two came here on their own to try and get you laid."
"That wasn't the only reason," Gates says. "I'm pretty sure Armando wants your number."
"Oh, aren't you a funny one."
Gates chuckles. "Seriously, though, I can see what you're saying. Yeah, I wouldn't put it past Delikado to pull some sort of trick out of his hat so that he can catch me when I'm off my guard. But at the same time, I get the feeling that he doesn't even know who the Studmuffins are. Or, at least, who they are individually."
"Google is a hell of a thing."
"I know, but Delikado seems more likely to use Gaagle them Google. He seems more likely to leaf through old editions of the Wall Street Journal for no reason then to do any sort of research on people he used to have as colleagues."
"I can't argue that one."
"Besides," Gates says. "According to Delikado and his super friends, they are all upstanding citizens determined to change the face of wrestling with their Justice League."
"I take it you aren't a fan of them?" James asks.
"It's not that," Gates says, shaking his head as he sits down in the chair behind the desk. "I mean, I love that there are people who want to revolutionize wrestling, it's just the way they're going about it that I think bothers me. It just seems like a big smokescreen and at some point it's all going to come crashing down with Buckson Gooch at the bottom of the pile."
"I don't know, I think they might be legit," James says. "Maybe they aren't totally believable, but I think that's just the stigma that people have thrown on them. They might actually be trying to change things."
"Listen to you," Gates chuckles. "A minute ago, you were trying to convince me that Delikado is buying up all the former wrestlers to try and throw me off balance, and now you're trying to tell me that the League is legit?"
"He's bat shit crazy," James admits. "But these four guys might actually be trying to do good, even if Delikado is an escaped mental patient."
"I'm still unsure about the whole thing."
"Well, you can probably bet that they will be there at Overdrive to watch Delikado's back."
"And to be there to trip me up?" Gates asks.
"I guess we can't rule that out," James shrugs. "I'd expect them to be honest outside the ring though."
"Honest? Evan Envi? Come on, now, Vinnie, you aren't an idiot."
"They'd have to be," James says. "Otherwise everything they're trying to be built would be thrown down the drain."
"Unless this was their whole plan," Gates says. "Duvall might be looking for some new Overdrive protection now that Terry Marvin's Sindicate is on Asylum, and with Level One a bit miffed that he had to defend his title last week, Lord knows that Duvall needs someone. Maybe it's the League?"
"That might be grasping at straws. But here, let's take those three out of the equation. Worry about them if they show up, but right now, focus on the man that actually matters. Focus on the guy that you are actually facing."
Gates sighs. "You're right. I should be worried more about what Delikado is capable of doing then what may or may not happen. But sometimes, Delikado is a man that simply adapts to his environment. He sees that opportunity so he takes it, even if that means he has to grab those ropes, or pull a referee out of the ring."
"But he's in the match."
"His buddies. If they pull him out." Gates sighs again. "I don't know. Every time I start thinking about Delikado, I get his cronies caught in my head."
"Okay then," James says. "Go back to Shockwave and the events around that."
"You mean when he barely got out with the title?"
"Exactly. He did all that he could to keep that thing around his waist."
"He did," Gates says. "And he kept the belt. That right there is why he will always be the wicked Delikado that others seem to forget about."
"Don't worry about now, worry about Delikado. Can you beat him?"
"I have beaten him. Of course, that was when the Overdrive title wasn't on the line."
"So, what, you think that you can't bring it when it matters most?"
"Have you not been watching the past year?" Gates asks. "But no, that's not what I mean. What I meant was that Delikado seems like the sort to only care when the match means something. He's not like me, for instance, who wrestles every match as if I'm fighting the best of the best. I don't take vacations in the ring because it's a non-title match or something."
"You don't think he's going to bring it his all?"
"Quite the opposite," Gates says. "Because there is so much riding on this match, I'm sure that he is going to bring everything in his arsenal. I'm sure he's not too happy about me getting involved in his title match at Mayhem, so this might be his chance at redemption."
"Didn't he put you into that title match?"
Gates smiles. "I didn't say it made a lot of sense, I was just stating it as a possibility. I wouldn't put it past him to have that in his head as a thought, using this to kind of get out some frustration. Hell, I bet he wasn't really happy that I was trying to pin him to win the title."
"Well, I wish you luck this week. I think you might need it."
"Oh, I know I'll need it," Gates says. "Delikado won't be a pushover, so I'm going to have to be on top of my game. I'm going to have to do what I do, treat this match like it's Level One so that I have a chance to make history in APW."
"It's a tall order," James says. "But you already know how difficult it might be to beat Delikado."
"Yeah, and that's only half of it." Gates shakes his head. "I've got the Test for the Best round coming up, APW is currently in the middle of some sort of turf war, and my mom is still causing problems for me with her gambling."
"More problems?"
"The phone is constantly ringing, but when I pick it up, there's dead air and then whoever it is, hangs up. All night long. Maybe it's nothing, but it sure is annoying."
"At least you didn't get a horse head mailed to you," James says.
"It was a toy."
"It was still a horse head," James counters. "Maybe we should send it to Delikado, throw him off his game. Intimidate him."
"With a toy horse head?"
"You got any better ideas?"
"Of course I do," Gates says. "My plan is to enter that ring, run circles around Delikado and come out on the other side with a victory and a spot in the next round. It won't be easy, but everything I do to get to the victory will be worth it.
"A win like this will always be worth it."
--------------------------------------------
"When I took a look at the eight people remaining in the hunt for the Test for the Best tournament, I knew that it wasn't going to be easy. If I want to have a chance at winning, I am going to have to make up for any errors I might have made in the past. I am going to have to work hard to make sure that I don't follow down the same paths as before.
"I have history with almost everyone left, everyone except Amy Zing and Tommy Knox. No matter where I look, I can see a past that I am going to have to overcome. I overcame it two weeks ago when I beat A.C. Smith to get to this point, and if he and I meet again, I am going to have to make sure that I don't run into the same problems like I did the first time we fought.
"Biggs, Johnny Rebel, Nathaniel Havok, we all have history, some more then others. Because of that, it won't be easy to win the Overdrive side of things, let alone win the entire tournament. Though, before I can even think of the others I might have to face, I have to take on the next man standing between me and the tournament.
"Delikado.
"He and I have had our run ins, but it seems that neither one of us can get the advantage. I best him in singles action one week, he defends the Overdrive title against me the next, he outlasts me in a championship scramble at Shockwave, but I get the better of him at Mayhem.
"So needless to say, this isn't going to be a one sided contest. This isn't going to be a match where one man does all the work and picks up a simple victory, or the sort of match that looks to be in one persons favor, only to turn around and slap him right in the face.
"No, this is going to be a hard fought back and forth fight. It's going to take everything that we have for one of us to get a win. And we know how hard we fight. He and I know just what we have in store for each other. Sure, Delikado can be a bit of a wild card from time to time, but all that does is it keeps me on my toes. All it does is make sure that I am on top of my game.
"Oddly enough, I prefer that. It's almost better that my opponent always keeps me guessing, rather then being the same old man each and every week. That way, it never gets boring and there is always excitement inside of the ring. Excitement for me and excitement for the fans. Because after all, those are the people that we are wrestling for.
"Right, Delikado?
"Maybe I've missed the memo, but isn't that what you and the League are trying to accomplish? Maybe not fighting for the fans, but still wrestling with them in mind. Otherwise, you wouldn't be calling yourselves the best of the best and you definitely wouldn't be talking about revolutionizing wrestling as it is today.
"Though maybe I should take this entire League thing with a grain of salt. I mean, I wasn't lying when I said that I was still unsure on the whole deal. I wasn't spinning tales when I questioned its validity. I mean, you want to revolutionize wrestling, yet, not even a month ago you were doing your best to screw me out of a World Heavyweight title shot when you stepped into the ring to take out Michael Callahan. And now this?
"Who knows, I could be way off on the entire point of your little play date, but that's what it seems like you guys are trying to do, yet trying to do it all the wrong way. Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that you have all decided to jump ship from the ways of evil, since it was only holding some of you back. Then again, maybe you never considered yourselves evil, that's just the cameras painting you in a negative light.
"The real test will come at Overdrive when you are faced with a decision. All of you. After all, if the four of you are trying to make things right, if you are fighting with the full force of the APW faithful behind you, then what's going to happen when you get into the main event, when your brother in arms Delikado is faced with the task of beating me. Will you let him fight it out on his own?
"Maybe.
"Or will you get involved so that he is guaranteed a spot in the next round?
"That seems more likely. And that's where the dilemma comes in. You will have to decide if you want to throw everything you've been trying to build away and cheat so Delikado can advance, or if you want to play by the rules and let the chips fall where they may. And it's not like you can rely on anyone else because unlike every other big match I have had, there is no degenerate waiting in the wings to strike me down from the sky.
"Unless the rest of the League wishes to fill that bill.
"But I'm getting away from you, Delikado, and that's not right. Let it be known that I want this win. I want to go on so I can have a chance not only at proving to everyone that I am more than capable of winning the Test for the Best tournament, but I also want to win this match so I have a chance at a fair fight against the champion. And really, that's all I've been looking for, and that's all I hope for from you. A fair fight. But that's something that no one seems capable of providing.
"Then again, the whole idea of power in numbers tends to crop up when people aren't certain in their own abilities. I mean, you don't see me joining forces with every Tom, Dick and Harry just so I have a chance at success. I work through things myself, I walk alongside the one person I can trust, and I make sure that my actions speak louder then any spoken words ever could.
"Can you say the same, Delikado?
"You've hitched your wagon to Evan Envi's horse once again, and I just pray to the Pope himself that your decision doesn't make this match something to forget.
"I hope we can make this competitive.
"I hope that we can do battle one on one.
"I hope that the better man can eventually win.
"It's time to go big, or go home."
