Post by C.J. Gates on Jul 17, 2013 17:48:39 GMT -4
"Another week to look forward to.
"In a world where people are constantly looking over their shoulders, it's always relaxing to know that there is a week when we can just relax. That doesn't mean that we're going to take it easy, what it means is that we don't have to worry about steel chairs and ambush attacks.
"Of course, I'm talking about my upcoming match against Reya Serra. It's an opportunity to have an actual match. It's a chance where I don't have to worry about when my opponent will attack me, when he will throw caution to the wind and eliminate the rules altogether.
"It's like a week off.
"A week off where there is still work to be done, sure, but a week off from everything else. A week off from being cut open, a week off from being bruised and battered. It's a week off that I am definitely looking forward to.
"Not only will it be a week off, but it will be a week where I get to fight against world class talent. It will be a week when I get to once again step into the ring against a friend. I get to step into the ring against someone that sees things on the same level as me.
"Win or lose, I could consider this match a win. Truly. After all, it's not every day that this sort of match happens. Like C.J. Gates versus Jason Kash at the final Meltdown show, this isn't the kind of thing that will be seen regularly.
"So I am going to make the most of it.
"There's been a lot of stuff playing on my mind lately, and with everything going on between my mother and myself, and the supposed mafia that seems to be knocking down my door, this week is a chance to escape. A chance to revisit the roots of wrestling, the roots of why I am here.
"The roots of why we're all here.
"So I'm going to come prepared. I'm going to come ready.
"I just hope Reya Serra is ready, too."[/color]
"Mom!" C.J. Gates shouts as he enters his mothers house. "Mom! Where are you?"
"In in here, dear," Mrs. Gates calls from down the hall. C.J. follows her voice into the kitchen where Mrs. Gates can be seen washing dishes. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise."
"Is it?" C.J. asks as he walks up to the far side of the island. Mrs. Gates turns her head slightly before shaking off her wet hands, grabbing a dish towel and drying them off. She turns to face her son.
"Something's wrong," she says.
"You're damn right something's wrong," C.J. blurts out. "You're wrong. Ever since you decided to start sticking your nose in my business, I've had nothing but bad luck."
"Oh, come now," Mrs. Gates tries to reason. "You can't seriously blame me for everything. You've just hit a rough patch in your career. You can't win every match."
"I'm not talking about that!" C.J. Gates shouts. He pauses and looks down at the counter top. "Yes, you've made things difficult in the ring because of all the stunts you've tried to pull. But recently, you've outdone yourself, mother."
"Mother?" Mrs. Gates says, giving her son a hard look. "Don't take that tone with me, young man."
"You placed bets," C.J. says, ignoring his mother. "You owe people money."
"And I'll pay."
"Will you?" C.J. asks as he reaches into his pocket. "Because I was visited by a very intimidating man who gave me this letter. A letter than says otherwise."
"Oh, I don't-"
"See for yourself."
C.J. hands his mother the letter and she unfolds it and reads it over. She glances up at her son who remains angry at his mother. After a few moments, she folds the letter back up and lays it down on the island.
"Condemning, isn't it?" C.J. says with a shake of his head. "To be honest, I was able to get over the fact that you were betting money on my matches and trying to get me thrown into an asylum. But now?"
"They lied," Mrs. Gates says as she turns back to the sink.
"They-" C.J. starts before chuckling. "That's your God damn signature, mother."
"Haven't you heard of forging a signature?" Mrs. Gates shakes her head. "Your half-brother O.J. used to do it all the time in school. Never saw a single one of his report cards up until-"
"Don't change the subject!"
Silence falls between the two as Mrs. Gates flicks the water with her finger. After a few moments she turns back around and dries it off on the towel.
"I didn't think you'd mind," she finally says.
"You didn't think I'd mind?" C.J. says, smirking again. "Had you asked, sure I don't think I would mind. But just going ahead and doing it without my knowledge? That's a bit low, even for you."
"But you have money," Mrs. Gates says. "You're a big time pro wrestler. It's not like losing a little money would hurt you, especially when it's to help out your poor, old money."
"Maybe not, but not paying could cripple me. You didn't tell me and they interrupted my dinner to give me this letter and a threat. If I don't pay by the end of the month." Gates pauses and shakes his head. "No, if you don't pay by the end of the month, then they are going to break my legs."
"Then just pay them."
"It's your fault!"
Once again silence falls between the two and Gates steps back from the counter. "I know you're trying to just get out of everything, but Jesus, mom, if you just dealt with this already, none of this would matter."
Mrs. Gates nods her head, absently playing with her pearl necklace. "Who was it that came to you?"
Gates stares at his mother for a few moments. He opens his mouth to speak, but closes it and shakes his head.
"Who was it?" Mrs. Gates asks again, still staring off.
"I didn't catch his name," C.J. finally says.
"Well, what did he look like?"
Gates shrugs. "He was tall, bald and had a bit of a dark demeanor about him and he wore a black suit. That's about all I could gather from him when he ambushed me."
"Well, don't worry about him," Mrs. Gates says. "I'm sure he won't be bothering you anytime soon."
"He had goons with him."
"Don't worry, son," Mrs. Gates says again, this time with a smile. "He won't be bothering you anytime soon."
C.J. stares at his mother as she stares into space. "That's it?"
"That's it."
"And you're going to pay?"
"That's it." Mrs. Gates begins to crack a bit of a smile.
"Mother."
Mrs. Gates finally breaks out of her trance and looks at her son. "Don't worry.
"I'll handle it."
"So, did you speak to her?" Vincent James asks as C.J. Gates climbs back into the passenger seat of the rental car. Gates looks past James toward the house, shaking his head slightly.
"Something's off."
"I think you said that last time," James says with a smile. "But why do you say it this time?"
"She seemed happy, almost," Gates shrugs. "It was as if she was expecting this to happen, if now it's all falling into place for her."
"So you're not on the hook for the cash?"
"I don't know," Gates admits with a chuckle. "She told me she would take care of it. That she was going to handle it and that I didn't have to worry. But I get the feeling that she's not going to pay."
"That bitch," James says. "You ask her to do one thing, and that's the answer she gives you?"
"I'm worried that she might do something she'll regret."
"I think she already has."
Gates continues to watch the house and after a few more moments, he shakes his head. "We might as well head out, we've got a fair bit of ground to cover before the show."
James starts the car, puts it in drive and pulls out from the side of the road. "So are you looking forward to your match this week?"
"Like you wouldn't believe."
"Oh, I could believe it."
Gates smiles. "Matches like this only come around once in a lifetime. No titles, no hatred, nothing but the desire to put on a good match against people I respect."
"But haven't you fought against her like, three or four times?"
"Yeah, but only one of those was one on one," Gates answers. "And that had the stigma of the tournament attached to it. This, this has nothing." Gates nods slowly. "This is just for fun. Bragging rights, if you will, though I don't think I'd hold it over her or anything like that."
"No?"
"No," Gates shakes his head. "I'm not in that business, Vinnie, you know that. How often do I hold wins over the head of A.C. Smith?"
"But you held them over Biggs."
"That was back when Biggs and I were tearing each other apart on a weekly basis," Gates says. "If he and I fought next week and I won, I wouldn't brag about it or constantly remind him of it. Just like I wouldn't brag about it to Reya."
"You would remind her of it though, right?"
"I'm going to mention it the next time we face, sure, but I'm not going to rub it in her face." Gates shrugs. "That's just not my style."
"Well, hey, at least the match is happening," James says as he drives. "It very well could have gone the way of the dinosaurs."
"It nearly did," Gates says with a smirk. "There was a moment when I began wondering if we'd ever find a date that worked for both of us. It got pushed back once or twice and kept getting shuffled around, but now, now we can have this match and wow the fans."
"And win."
"Maybe."
"None of this maybe stuff," James says. "You've got to start thinking optimistically. You've got to start pushing yourself to score pinfalls or submissions or whatever. You need to start taking these matches seriously."
"Who says I'm not taking them seriously?" Gates asks. James simply shakes his head and continues driving. "I take every match seriously. I fight every fight like I was taking on the best of the best. I make sure to push myself every time I am inside that ring."
"But you don't hunt for the wins."
"Because wins don't matter," Gates says, a bit loud. "Maybe to people like Level One and Terry Marvin wins mean everything. Maybe to you wins mean everything. But to me, what means the most is those fans and making sure they are satisfied and happy."
"You going to buy them dinner, too?"
Gates looks over at his friend. "What the hell crawled up your ass and died?"
James sighs. "Nothing. It's just." He pauses and shakes his head. "It's just where else are you going to go? You've been doing this for years now, and it seems like you aren't exactly taking any steps forward, you know?"
"Maybe," Gates says. "But I am going places. I'm bettering myself. Competition is always growing and that means that I am being forced to push myself that much harder. Going up against Aubrey J. Parker at Test for the Best might not have ended ideally, but it took three people to keep me down."
"You don't need to make excuses," James says.
"Excuses?" Gates shouts before shaking his head. "Jesus, Vinnie, you're a real pain in the ass today. I've done just fine going about things the way that I go about them. I don't need to be hunting for the win, because if I don't win then I'd feel that much worse."
"But you could-"
Gates just glares at Vinnie, causing him to stop speaking. Gates takes a deep breath before continuing.
"I am going to go into this match just like I go into every match," Gates says. "I am going to treat this match with Reya Serra as though it's worth the world. If I win, great. If I lose, that's great too, because I'd still come out a winner."
"How could you lose and still be a winner?"
"By using the match to make me better," Gates says. "Isn't that what we're supposed to do? Learn from our mistakes?"
"I guess so," James says.
"So if I lose, I still gain something from this. I know Reya won't hold this over me, so I don't have to put up with her constantly throwing it in my face. She's not Evan Envi."
"Whatever works for you, I guess," James says. "I know I would just be looking to get the win, especially on home soil."
"Well, this isn't like the match I had with Kid Dynamo," Gates says. "They were created from the same event, but in his case, he was making it a point to try and be a dick about everything. Reya Serra hasn't been doing that. In fact, I'm sure there are some people who aren't exactly stoked by this match, simply because it was just kind of booked without any suspense."
"There's probably one or two, anyways," James chimes in.
"And I guess they might have the right to be," Gates shrugs. "But that's where the real battle lies. Making those people see that this is a match that should always be looked at as a match to look forward to whether her and I had been exchanging words for weeks, months, days or hours."
"And you think you can do that?"
"I know I can do that," Gates starts. "I know we can do that because that's the sort of wrestler Reya Serra is. She's a fighter, Vinnie. She doesn't let anyone - and I mean anyone - get her down. She's not going to let someone talk her into a tailspin, and she's sure as Hell not going to let someone back her into one in the wrestling ring.
"She's in every match until she can physically go no farther," Gates continues. "All of that tells me that this is going to be something special. That her and I are about to put together something that the fans will remember for a long time, and that is what I fight for around here, Vinnie. I fight for the fans."
"Fine, fine, I concede," James says.
"Don't worry about me, Vinnie," Gates says. "I'm going to be fine in the long term. This week just gives me a chance to do something fun. This week just allows me to do something a bit more laid back then I have in the past, and I don't mean that because it's easy. I just mean I won't be getting bashed in the skull.
"I won't be jumped from behind.
"I won't be choked out with a chain.
"I'm going up against someone I highly respect. It's like a mini vacation when I don't have to put up with other peoples shit.
"And I'm looking forward to it."
"I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again.
"Anytime you get the opportunity to face off against someone who you honestly respect, that's a win in my books. Anytime you get to go up against someone who's hand you can shake before and after the match is something that I live for. It might not seem like a huge aspiration, but in a world that is littered with the exact opposite, the few times this occurs is a blessing.
"And that is where I find myself this week. In a match that has been in the works for months, finally Reya Serra and I will get to go one on one inside of an APW ring. Finally the fans will get one of the matches they have been waiting for since the conclusion of Survive and Conquer.
"It's true, Reya. You are someone I respect. Every time we step into the ring, I look forward to it. Every time we go one on one, I can't wait for that bell to ring so that you and I can do what we do best. We put on a good show for the fans. We make sure they all go home happy.
"To say I always look forward to a match against you is an understatement, but not just for the reason I named. To go along with knowing you will be an honest opponent, I also know that any match against you will help draw the best out of me. And unlike my match against Kid Dynamo, a match that came about similar to this one, I'm not going into this thing with hatred and I'm not going into this knowing my opponent wants to take credit for making me better.
"I'm going into this match knowing my opponent will make me better. Not through their will, but through simply fighting the match. I mean, it happens every time we face off, Reya.
"Back when you took over for Matt Slater in the CWC Ascension tournament, you pushed me to my limits and we put on one hell of a show. You made sure that I earned my way into the next round and even though you weren't my original opponent, even though you weren't originally in the tournament, you showed me that you deserved to be in that tournament.
"Point is, that match went a long way to make me what I am today. That match pushed my limits and helped get me in the right mind frame for the rest of the tournament. I didn't win the whole thing, but you still made me a better wrestler.
"Fast forward to Visionary Wrestling's first show, where you and I took place in a five person match. You weren't the only opponent I had that night, but you were still there and, as the eventual winner, you made sure that every single person in that match was put to the test. You made sure that everyone gave you their all so that your win would not be tainted. You earned that victory that night, and in doing so, you made me better.
"I lost then, but losing to someone like you was an easy pill to swallow. But it all doesn't stop there, does it?
"You continued to make me better inside of that ring when we met in the Visionary Wrestling tag team tournament. It was only for one round, but that one round did enough to once again make sure I was better. It made me push myself harder and made me fight at the top of my game just to get by. It might not have had the same impact as the first two times we fought, but it still did enough to make me better. As a tag team wrestler, maybe, but better nevertheless.
"And now that brings us to now. On the heels of me coming second in the Test for the Best tournament, I know that this match will continue to do what every other match against you has done for me. This match is going to make me better and is going to help me become better all around. Whether or not that means I am going to end up with a title shot down the line isn't important and it isn't what we're fighting about this week.
"What it will do, though, is give me a renewed source of energy. It will allow me to continue on fighting the fights that I've got in mind. It will allow me to keep pushing forward, to continue to rebel against everything evil that resides in not only this federation, but in this business as a whole.
"Don't get me wrong though. I talk about how much of a better wrestler you make me, but I know that it doesn't happen just because I show up. I don't become a better wrestler and a better man by just stepping into the ropes. I hope to earn that and I have to put in just as much work as anyone else to get to that point. If I don't drive myself to fight, then I don't get better. It's not an easy task, but then again, not much is.
"Like this match. Like fighting you, Reya. If I were even going to be in the hunt for a victory, it would take a lot of work. I know that you have the heart of a fighter deep within you, and I know that you aren't going to let anything keep you from achieving your dreams. And who knows, maybe you're going to be out there to beat me in my home fed, it's hard to tell and really, it wouldn't matter. It probably wouldn't change how I, maybe we, approach the match.
"Regardless, you are going to be hungry for a win, if only to gain some personal momentum. Me? I could use it. I could definitely use a victory, just like anyone can. No one is going to say no to a win. But I'm also not stepping into that ring with winning on my mind. I'm not going to be hunting for it, settling for nothing but a victory.
"I'm going to settle for bettering myself, even if that means a humble loss. I am going to push you, Reya, and perhaps I can make you better by the end of the match. Perhaps I can make you a better wrestler by the time that bell rings at the end of the match.
"Not that you need it, mind you. You're already a world class athlete.
"Which I guess just leaves bragging rights on the line in this match. We've got no titles up for grabs, we've got no feuds to settle and no scores to even. All we've got, is the two of us going one on one inside of the ring.
"And I can't wait.
"This will be a chance to get back to my roots, and this will be a chance for me to shake everything off and clear my mind. It will allow me to forget about everything going on in my personal life and just concentrate on wrestling, and much like the basic idea of this match, Reya, that is something that I am looking forward to.
"But you know that feeling, right? I mean, I can't be the only person in this business who is constantly getting used, constantly getting beat up on and constantly getting attacked by every Tom, Dick and Harry in the back. So you must know where I'm coming from right now. You must know why this match has so many good angles to it.
"Who knows? Maybe this will provide a bit of a preview into a potential Experts tournament meeting. If the stars align there, we could very well be meeting each other in yet another match that will allow us both to be better. Allow us both to grow as wrestlers.
"This week isn't about all of those past encounters though. This isn't about the CWC Ascension tournament, Visionary Wrestling tag tournament or the five pack challenge match we both took part of. It's not even about Survive and Conquer or the potential match ups we might have down the road. No, this week is about you and me simply having a match to remembers.
"A match we'll remember.
"A match the fans will remember.
"So I guess the next time we'll see each other, Reya, we will once again be standing across the ring from one another. We will once again be getting ready to do battle.
"We will once again be putting on a stellar show for the fans.
"It's time to go big or go home.
"Good luck."
"In a world where people are constantly looking over their shoulders, it's always relaxing to know that there is a week when we can just relax. That doesn't mean that we're going to take it easy, what it means is that we don't have to worry about steel chairs and ambush attacks.
"Of course, I'm talking about my upcoming match against Reya Serra. It's an opportunity to have an actual match. It's a chance where I don't have to worry about when my opponent will attack me, when he will throw caution to the wind and eliminate the rules altogether.
"It's like a week off.
"A week off where there is still work to be done, sure, but a week off from everything else. A week off from being cut open, a week off from being bruised and battered. It's a week off that I am definitely looking forward to.
"Not only will it be a week off, but it will be a week where I get to fight against world class talent. It will be a week when I get to once again step into the ring against a friend. I get to step into the ring against someone that sees things on the same level as me.
"Win or lose, I could consider this match a win. Truly. After all, it's not every day that this sort of match happens. Like C.J. Gates versus Jason Kash at the final Meltdown show, this isn't the kind of thing that will be seen regularly.
"So I am going to make the most of it.
"There's been a lot of stuff playing on my mind lately, and with everything going on between my mother and myself, and the supposed mafia that seems to be knocking down my door, this week is a chance to escape. A chance to revisit the roots of wrestling, the roots of why I am here.
"The roots of why we're all here.
"So I'm going to come prepared. I'm going to come ready.
"I just hope Reya Serra is ready, too."[/color]
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"Mom!" C.J. Gates shouts as he enters his mothers house. "Mom! Where are you?"
"In in here, dear," Mrs. Gates calls from down the hall. C.J. follows her voice into the kitchen where Mrs. Gates can be seen washing dishes. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise."
"Is it?" C.J. asks as he walks up to the far side of the island. Mrs. Gates turns her head slightly before shaking off her wet hands, grabbing a dish towel and drying them off. She turns to face her son.
"Something's wrong," she says.
"You're damn right something's wrong," C.J. blurts out. "You're wrong. Ever since you decided to start sticking your nose in my business, I've had nothing but bad luck."
"Oh, come now," Mrs. Gates tries to reason. "You can't seriously blame me for everything. You've just hit a rough patch in your career. You can't win every match."
"I'm not talking about that!" C.J. Gates shouts. He pauses and looks down at the counter top. "Yes, you've made things difficult in the ring because of all the stunts you've tried to pull. But recently, you've outdone yourself, mother."
"Mother?" Mrs. Gates says, giving her son a hard look. "Don't take that tone with me, young man."
"You placed bets," C.J. says, ignoring his mother. "You owe people money."
"And I'll pay."
"Will you?" C.J. asks as he reaches into his pocket. "Because I was visited by a very intimidating man who gave me this letter. A letter than says otherwise."
"Oh, I don't-"
"See for yourself."
C.J. hands his mother the letter and she unfolds it and reads it over. She glances up at her son who remains angry at his mother. After a few moments, she folds the letter back up and lays it down on the island.
"Condemning, isn't it?" C.J. says with a shake of his head. "To be honest, I was able to get over the fact that you were betting money on my matches and trying to get me thrown into an asylum. But now?"
"They lied," Mrs. Gates says as she turns back to the sink.
"They-" C.J. starts before chuckling. "That's your God damn signature, mother."
"Haven't you heard of forging a signature?" Mrs. Gates shakes her head. "Your half-brother O.J. used to do it all the time in school. Never saw a single one of his report cards up until-"
"Don't change the subject!"
Silence falls between the two as Mrs. Gates flicks the water with her finger. After a few moments she turns back around and dries it off on the towel.
"I didn't think you'd mind," she finally says.
"You didn't think I'd mind?" C.J. says, smirking again. "Had you asked, sure I don't think I would mind. But just going ahead and doing it without my knowledge? That's a bit low, even for you."
"But you have money," Mrs. Gates says. "You're a big time pro wrestler. It's not like losing a little money would hurt you, especially when it's to help out your poor, old money."
"Maybe not, but not paying could cripple me. You didn't tell me and they interrupted my dinner to give me this letter and a threat. If I don't pay by the end of the month." Gates pauses and shakes his head. "No, if you don't pay by the end of the month, then they are going to break my legs."
"Then just pay them."
"It's your fault!"
Once again silence falls between the two and Gates steps back from the counter. "I know you're trying to just get out of everything, but Jesus, mom, if you just dealt with this already, none of this would matter."
Mrs. Gates nods her head, absently playing with her pearl necklace. "Who was it that came to you?"
Gates stares at his mother for a few moments. He opens his mouth to speak, but closes it and shakes his head.
"Who was it?" Mrs. Gates asks again, still staring off.
"I didn't catch his name," C.J. finally says.
"Well, what did he look like?"
Gates shrugs. "He was tall, bald and had a bit of a dark demeanor about him and he wore a black suit. That's about all I could gather from him when he ambushed me."
"Well, don't worry about him," Mrs. Gates says. "I'm sure he won't be bothering you anytime soon."
"He had goons with him."
"Don't worry, son," Mrs. Gates says again, this time with a smile. "He won't be bothering you anytime soon."
C.J. stares at his mother as she stares into space. "That's it?"
"That's it."
"And you're going to pay?"
"That's it." Mrs. Gates begins to crack a bit of a smile.
"Mother."
Mrs. Gates finally breaks out of her trance and looks at her son. "Don't worry.
"I'll handle it."
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"So, did you speak to her?" Vincent James asks as C.J. Gates climbs back into the passenger seat of the rental car. Gates looks past James toward the house, shaking his head slightly.
"Something's off."
"I think you said that last time," James says with a smile. "But why do you say it this time?"
"She seemed happy, almost," Gates shrugs. "It was as if she was expecting this to happen, if now it's all falling into place for her."
"So you're not on the hook for the cash?"
"I don't know," Gates admits with a chuckle. "She told me she would take care of it. That she was going to handle it and that I didn't have to worry. But I get the feeling that she's not going to pay."
"That bitch," James says. "You ask her to do one thing, and that's the answer she gives you?"
"I'm worried that she might do something she'll regret."
"I think she already has."
Gates continues to watch the house and after a few more moments, he shakes his head. "We might as well head out, we've got a fair bit of ground to cover before the show."
James starts the car, puts it in drive and pulls out from the side of the road. "So are you looking forward to your match this week?"
"Like you wouldn't believe."
"Oh, I could believe it."
Gates smiles. "Matches like this only come around once in a lifetime. No titles, no hatred, nothing but the desire to put on a good match against people I respect."
"But haven't you fought against her like, three or four times?"
"Yeah, but only one of those was one on one," Gates answers. "And that had the stigma of the tournament attached to it. This, this has nothing." Gates nods slowly. "This is just for fun. Bragging rights, if you will, though I don't think I'd hold it over her or anything like that."
"No?"
"No," Gates shakes his head. "I'm not in that business, Vinnie, you know that. How often do I hold wins over the head of A.C. Smith?"
"But you held them over Biggs."
"That was back when Biggs and I were tearing each other apart on a weekly basis," Gates says. "If he and I fought next week and I won, I wouldn't brag about it or constantly remind him of it. Just like I wouldn't brag about it to Reya."
"You would remind her of it though, right?"
"I'm going to mention it the next time we face, sure, but I'm not going to rub it in her face." Gates shrugs. "That's just not my style."
"Well, hey, at least the match is happening," James says as he drives. "It very well could have gone the way of the dinosaurs."
"It nearly did," Gates says with a smirk. "There was a moment when I began wondering if we'd ever find a date that worked for both of us. It got pushed back once or twice and kept getting shuffled around, but now, now we can have this match and wow the fans."
"And win."
"Maybe."
"None of this maybe stuff," James says. "You've got to start thinking optimistically. You've got to start pushing yourself to score pinfalls or submissions or whatever. You need to start taking these matches seriously."
"Who says I'm not taking them seriously?" Gates asks. James simply shakes his head and continues driving. "I take every match seriously. I fight every fight like I was taking on the best of the best. I make sure to push myself every time I am inside that ring."
"But you don't hunt for the wins."
"Because wins don't matter," Gates says, a bit loud. "Maybe to people like Level One and Terry Marvin wins mean everything. Maybe to you wins mean everything. But to me, what means the most is those fans and making sure they are satisfied and happy."
"You going to buy them dinner, too?"
Gates looks over at his friend. "What the hell crawled up your ass and died?"
James sighs. "Nothing. It's just." He pauses and shakes his head. "It's just where else are you going to go? You've been doing this for years now, and it seems like you aren't exactly taking any steps forward, you know?"
"Maybe," Gates says. "But I am going places. I'm bettering myself. Competition is always growing and that means that I am being forced to push myself that much harder. Going up against Aubrey J. Parker at Test for the Best might not have ended ideally, but it took three people to keep me down."
"You don't need to make excuses," James says.
"Excuses?" Gates shouts before shaking his head. "Jesus, Vinnie, you're a real pain in the ass today. I've done just fine going about things the way that I go about them. I don't need to be hunting for the win, because if I don't win then I'd feel that much worse."
"But you could-"
Gates just glares at Vinnie, causing him to stop speaking. Gates takes a deep breath before continuing.
"I am going to go into this match just like I go into every match," Gates says. "I am going to treat this match with Reya Serra as though it's worth the world. If I win, great. If I lose, that's great too, because I'd still come out a winner."
"How could you lose and still be a winner?"
"By using the match to make me better," Gates says. "Isn't that what we're supposed to do? Learn from our mistakes?"
"I guess so," James says.
"So if I lose, I still gain something from this. I know Reya won't hold this over me, so I don't have to put up with her constantly throwing it in my face. She's not Evan Envi."
"Whatever works for you, I guess," James says. "I know I would just be looking to get the win, especially on home soil."
"Well, this isn't like the match I had with Kid Dynamo," Gates says. "They were created from the same event, but in his case, he was making it a point to try and be a dick about everything. Reya Serra hasn't been doing that. In fact, I'm sure there are some people who aren't exactly stoked by this match, simply because it was just kind of booked without any suspense."
"There's probably one or two, anyways," James chimes in.
"And I guess they might have the right to be," Gates shrugs. "But that's where the real battle lies. Making those people see that this is a match that should always be looked at as a match to look forward to whether her and I had been exchanging words for weeks, months, days or hours."
"And you think you can do that?"
"I know I can do that," Gates starts. "I know we can do that because that's the sort of wrestler Reya Serra is. She's a fighter, Vinnie. She doesn't let anyone - and I mean anyone - get her down. She's not going to let someone talk her into a tailspin, and she's sure as Hell not going to let someone back her into one in the wrestling ring.
"She's in every match until she can physically go no farther," Gates continues. "All of that tells me that this is going to be something special. That her and I are about to put together something that the fans will remember for a long time, and that is what I fight for around here, Vinnie. I fight for the fans."
"Fine, fine, I concede," James says.
"Don't worry about me, Vinnie," Gates says. "I'm going to be fine in the long term. This week just gives me a chance to do something fun. This week just allows me to do something a bit more laid back then I have in the past, and I don't mean that because it's easy. I just mean I won't be getting bashed in the skull.
"I won't be jumped from behind.
"I won't be choked out with a chain.
"I'm going up against someone I highly respect. It's like a mini vacation when I don't have to put up with other peoples shit.
"And I'm looking forward to it."
----------------------------------------------
"I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again.
"Anytime you get the opportunity to face off against someone who you honestly respect, that's a win in my books. Anytime you get to go up against someone who's hand you can shake before and after the match is something that I live for. It might not seem like a huge aspiration, but in a world that is littered with the exact opposite, the few times this occurs is a blessing.
"And that is where I find myself this week. In a match that has been in the works for months, finally Reya Serra and I will get to go one on one inside of an APW ring. Finally the fans will get one of the matches they have been waiting for since the conclusion of Survive and Conquer.
"It's true, Reya. You are someone I respect. Every time we step into the ring, I look forward to it. Every time we go one on one, I can't wait for that bell to ring so that you and I can do what we do best. We put on a good show for the fans. We make sure they all go home happy.
"To say I always look forward to a match against you is an understatement, but not just for the reason I named. To go along with knowing you will be an honest opponent, I also know that any match against you will help draw the best out of me. And unlike my match against Kid Dynamo, a match that came about similar to this one, I'm not going into this thing with hatred and I'm not going into this knowing my opponent wants to take credit for making me better.
"I'm going into this match knowing my opponent will make me better. Not through their will, but through simply fighting the match. I mean, it happens every time we face off, Reya.
"Back when you took over for Matt Slater in the CWC Ascension tournament, you pushed me to my limits and we put on one hell of a show. You made sure that I earned my way into the next round and even though you weren't my original opponent, even though you weren't originally in the tournament, you showed me that you deserved to be in that tournament.
"Point is, that match went a long way to make me what I am today. That match pushed my limits and helped get me in the right mind frame for the rest of the tournament. I didn't win the whole thing, but you still made me a better wrestler.
"Fast forward to Visionary Wrestling's first show, where you and I took place in a five person match. You weren't the only opponent I had that night, but you were still there and, as the eventual winner, you made sure that every single person in that match was put to the test. You made sure that everyone gave you their all so that your win would not be tainted. You earned that victory that night, and in doing so, you made me better.
"I lost then, but losing to someone like you was an easy pill to swallow. But it all doesn't stop there, does it?
"You continued to make me better inside of that ring when we met in the Visionary Wrestling tag team tournament. It was only for one round, but that one round did enough to once again make sure I was better. It made me push myself harder and made me fight at the top of my game just to get by. It might not have had the same impact as the first two times we fought, but it still did enough to make me better. As a tag team wrestler, maybe, but better nevertheless.
"And now that brings us to now. On the heels of me coming second in the Test for the Best tournament, I know that this match will continue to do what every other match against you has done for me. This match is going to make me better and is going to help me become better all around. Whether or not that means I am going to end up with a title shot down the line isn't important and it isn't what we're fighting about this week.
"What it will do, though, is give me a renewed source of energy. It will allow me to continue on fighting the fights that I've got in mind. It will allow me to keep pushing forward, to continue to rebel against everything evil that resides in not only this federation, but in this business as a whole.
"Don't get me wrong though. I talk about how much of a better wrestler you make me, but I know that it doesn't happen just because I show up. I don't become a better wrestler and a better man by just stepping into the ropes. I hope to earn that and I have to put in just as much work as anyone else to get to that point. If I don't drive myself to fight, then I don't get better. It's not an easy task, but then again, not much is.
"Like this match. Like fighting you, Reya. If I were even going to be in the hunt for a victory, it would take a lot of work. I know that you have the heart of a fighter deep within you, and I know that you aren't going to let anything keep you from achieving your dreams. And who knows, maybe you're going to be out there to beat me in my home fed, it's hard to tell and really, it wouldn't matter. It probably wouldn't change how I, maybe we, approach the match.
"Regardless, you are going to be hungry for a win, if only to gain some personal momentum. Me? I could use it. I could definitely use a victory, just like anyone can. No one is going to say no to a win. But I'm also not stepping into that ring with winning on my mind. I'm not going to be hunting for it, settling for nothing but a victory.
"I'm going to settle for bettering myself, even if that means a humble loss. I am going to push you, Reya, and perhaps I can make you better by the end of the match. Perhaps I can make you a better wrestler by the time that bell rings at the end of the match.
"Not that you need it, mind you. You're already a world class athlete.
"Which I guess just leaves bragging rights on the line in this match. We've got no titles up for grabs, we've got no feuds to settle and no scores to even. All we've got, is the two of us going one on one inside of the ring.
"And I can't wait.
"This will be a chance to get back to my roots, and this will be a chance for me to shake everything off and clear my mind. It will allow me to forget about everything going on in my personal life and just concentrate on wrestling, and much like the basic idea of this match, Reya, that is something that I am looking forward to.
"But you know that feeling, right? I mean, I can't be the only person in this business who is constantly getting used, constantly getting beat up on and constantly getting attacked by every Tom, Dick and Harry in the back. So you must know where I'm coming from right now. You must know why this match has so many good angles to it.
"Who knows? Maybe this will provide a bit of a preview into a potential Experts tournament meeting. If the stars align there, we could very well be meeting each other in yet another match that will allow us both to be better. Allow us both to grow as wrestlers.
"This week isn't about all of those past encounters though. This isn't about the CWC Ascension tournament, Visionary Wrestling tag tournament or the five pack challenge match we both took part of. It's not even about Survive and Conquer or the potential match ups we might have down the road. No, this week is about you and me simply having a match to remembers.
"A match we'll remember.
"A match the fans will remember.
"So I guess the next time we'll see each other, Reya, we will once again be standing across the ring from one another. We will once again be getting ready to do battle.
"We will once again be putting on a stellar show for the fans.
"It's time to go big or go home.
"Good luck."
