May the Best Man Win
Jul 31, 2013 15:21:05 GMT -4
Tommy Knox, Michael Jennings, and 4 more like this
Post by C.J. Gates on Jul 31, 2013 15:21:05 GMT -4
"Well, this is something new.
"The entire time I have been in APW, Level One has always been the man that would do whatever it took to win a title. He would find every rule in the book and break them. Even as recent as Mayhem and Rasslemania, he's done what he can to make sure that the World title remains around his waist.
"But now, all of that has changed. Now, after a loss to Terry Marvin, Level One thinks he doesn't deserve the World Heavyweight title he stole from me at Mayhem. He thinks he has to start at the bottom, to reinvent himself, and to do that, Level One decided to hand me the APW World Heavyweight title.
"I can't have that, though. Much like Level One doesn't think he has earned it, it wouldn't feel like I earned the title either. I need to, at the very least, have the opportunity to earn the title, and that is why I gave it back. That is why I left it in his locker room.
"Which brings us to now.
"After all that has gone on, with uncertainty on the horizon, we find ourselves in an eight man tag team match. We find ourselves tossed into the fray with six other men. Does this work with Level One's plans? Probably not. He's not fighting Joseph Johnson this time, and I'm sure he'd rather be fighting Amy Zing to try and reinvent himself.
"Not that it matters. All that matters is that I stand on the same side of the ring as my ally Biggs, a man I respect in A.C. Smith, and a man with a lot of promise in Nick Watson to take on the four people that embody what we can't stand. Victor Hades, Michael Jennings, Leon Roberts, and of course, Level One.
"Each one has there unfortunate sides and each one has pissed off someone on our side of the ring. But that's what it all comes down to as we get closer to Shockwave. It comes down to good versus evil. It comes down to what they can do against what we can do.
"And I know that I am going to do everything that I can.
"Maybe not to win, but I definitely want to prove myself. I definitely want to show Level One that he's not the only one that has started from the bottom after certain losses. That's what I did after our Overdrive match. That's what I used Test for the Best to do. Reinvent myself.
"To give myself another chance.
"Whether or not it worked, that remains to be seen.
"This week, though, is about the best man standing. This could be a chance to show just who is the best person out of all of us. About which side triumphs in the battle of good versus evil.
"If I were a betting man? I'd put my money on good."
"Who's the heavy outside your office?" Vincent James asks as he walks through the door. C.J. Gates looks up from his desk, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"The dude down at the entrance," James repeats.
"What dude?"
"I don't know," James says. "I got here and there was this tall guy standing just inside the doors. He gave me a dirty look as I walked by and was wearing all black, so I assumed he was here and wasn't bringing good news."
"No one was down there when I got in," Gates says with a shrug. "I guess it's not too important, whatever it is he wants."
James walks past the desk to the large window behind Gates. He parts the blinds and peers down. "There's another one standing by a parked car across the street." James motions with his head. "Take a look."
Gates gets up and looks. "He doesn't look suspicious."
"How often are people parked outside your building?" James asks. "You aren't exactly downtown or in the hub of life."
"I guess you've got a point," Gates says. "I just don't see anything to worry about."
"After what your mom said, you don't think there's anything to worry about?"
"I assumed she was saying that to be helpful," Gates shrugs. "I didn't think she was going to send goons out to kill me."
"Maybe those aren't hers," James suggests. "Maybe she's sending people to protect you. Maybe they aren't here yet."
"You're paranoid, man," Gates says with a smirk.
"Am I?" James asks. "After all that your mom has done to you, and after she said she would take care of it, you're still thinking that everything's a dream?" James shakes his head. "There are guys around that usually aren't around. That have never been around. We've been coming here for how long? And I've never seen a guy in the lobby, waiting."
"Maybe he's here to pick someone else up."
Vincent James simply shakes his head as he walks over to an empty chair and falls into it. "You're delusional man."
"Why?" Gates asks, abruptly. "Because my mom said something? A lot of people say things and never follow through on them, Vinnie. It's part of life."
"But it's being followed through on!" James exclaims before once again shaking his head. "You know what, never mind."
The sound of a car door closing can be heard and Gates looks out the window one more time. The man who was in the car is now standing outside of it, leaning against the hood and looking up at Gates' window. Gates continues to stare at the man and he continues to stare back. After a few minutes, James finally breaks the silence.
"How's the view?" James asks.
"He's looking at me."
"I told you so."
"So that means..."
"Probably," James says. "All we can hope is that your mom sent them to protect you and their not here to kill you."
"But what is..."
Gates is cut off by a knock at the door. He quickly looks back to the window, but the man is gone. Gates and James exchange a look before the door opens and in step two men, both wearing all black suits. Gates looks to James who glances at the men and nods.
"Who are you?" Gates asks, nervously.
"This here's Charlie O," the taller, bald man says. "They call me the Dentist."
"The Dentist?" James asks.
"The Dentist," the Dentist says. "They call me that because when I'm trying to get information out of someone, I like to pull out a tooth or two.
"And I'm here for some information."
"Now this is a team I can get on board with.
"Sure, it's all thrown together, but I'm going to be fighting alongside three men I can trust and three men I respect. I will be able to step into the ring when called upon without the constant fear eating away at the back of my head. I won't have to worry about someone bashing me in the head with a weapon.
"Biggs I know and trust the most out of the three because he and I have been through a lot together, both as enemies and allies. I have full faith in him being there to watch my back, no matter what and I'm sure that he knows I'd do the same for him.
"A.C. Smith is another of this weeks partners that I know I can trust, and after our two battles leading into and at Test for the Best, I respect what he is out to do and what he is capable of. All signs point to him not wavering from that line of thinking, which means that he will still be watching my back at Overdrive. Just like I'll be watching his.
"The man who can closest be described as a wild card is Nick Watson, but I only describe him as such because I'm unsure. Unlike my other two partners, I don't truly know what Watson is capable of, and I haven't had the opportunities to fight him one on one inside of the ring. Unlike Smith and Biggs, Watson and I haven't had our paths cross.
"However, like the other two, I know that Watson has the best intentions in mind, so I know that Watson won't be likely to turn on the three of us. He's got some bad blood with Hades and I think, at the very least, he's going to stay with the team until the job is done.
"Really, knowing that I can trust everyone will make the match that much smoother for me. I won't be worried and I can focus on the task at hand. I can focus on this match, on proving my place in APW and showing everyone that I am still one of the top competitors. Showing them that Test for the Best was no fluke.
"I will be able to prove that I am still relevant."
"You really thought they could help?" Vincent James asks as he points his thumb towards the television. Playing is a replay of APW Overdrive. More specifically, the point of the show where C.J. Gates asked the LeWinter sisters for help.
"It was worth a shot," Gates shrugs. "I needed to get that title back to Level One."
"How come?"
Gates looks to his friend. "What do you mean?"
"Why did you have to get it back to him?" James asks. "Couldn't you have just held onto it?"
Gates shakes his head. "It didn't feel right. It felt like I didn't deserve it. Like I said to the twins, everything that Level One is feeling about the belt after losing to Terry, I was feeling that when he handed it to me."
"But why couldn't you just give it to President Jeff?"
"I don't know," Gates says. "I guess I wanted Level One to see that he actually does deserve the title. After all, I was there when he beat me on Overdrive."
"Thanks to Terry Marvin."
"I guess that's how people are earning wins," Gates says. "I mean, up until he lost to Terry, he thought he deserved that title. I figured he might be able to just go back to that line of thinking."
"But it didn't work, did it?"
"I don't know," Gates admits. "I left the title in his locker room."
"You broke in?" James asks.
"No, I was let in. And I left a note that told Level One that I, basically, wasn't accepting charity. I wanted to earn the title. I wanted to fight for it."
"So I assume you guys are going to be fighting at Shockwave."
"No," Gates says. "At least there's nothing concrete yet. I just left the title and the note, that's all."
"I'm still shocked he handed it off," James says. "He's a great competitor, and it's not like he's let other shortcomings effect him."
"That was my thought exactly," Gates says before shrugging. "Oh well, I guess it is what it is, right? Leads to this weeks match, anyways."
"Who are you up against this time?"
"I'm teaming with Biggs, A.C. Smith and Nick Watson to take on Level One, Victor Hades, Michael Jennings and Leon Roberts."
"Sounds jam-packed. Action packed even."
Gates shoots James a tired look and shakes his head. "Should be good though," Gates says. "At least it will showcase a lot of Overdrive's top talent."
"You're calling Leon Roberts top talent?"
"He's put himself out there," Gates says. "He's challenging Smith for the Xtreme title, so he's at least getting his nose into peoples business."
"I just don't see it," James says. "And Watson is still a bit removed from that scene."
"But he's been a champion before, so it's not completely out of the realm of possibilities. I didn't say this was the cream of the crop, the best of the best, but it's a lot of top talent. That's not to take anything away from them, it's just that it's not a match of eight Terry Marvin's."
"Could you imagine?" James chuckles shaking his head.
"It will still be competitive," Gates says, ignoring Vincent James. "And really, that's all I can ask for. If I want to have a great match, competition is the first step to that."
"And maybe you'll pick up a win."
"Maybe," Gates says. "You never know. This is an elimination match after all, so you never can tell what's going to happen. All I can do is work hard, put out my best effort and hopefully, if everything works out well, I can help my team win."
"It's a good team."
"It's a great team.
"It's a team that can win.
"It's a team I'm glad to be a part of."
"May the best man win.
"Essentially, that's what this week boils down to. Even though we are split into two teams of four, the fact that this match is an elimination match shows that in the end, the best man, or men, will most likely be left standing.
"Also, there's a good chance that one side of this match won't exactly be working together as a team. But isn't that how it always goes? The ones that are so self absorbed tend to be more focused on attacking those that are on their heels, and that is all they want to do. They don't want to work together to gain the win, they want to inflict pain upon their opponents.
"Michael Jennings said as much when he called all of us victims. Then again, Michael Jennings showed as much when he knocked out his former agent. Not that it surprises me, because Michael Jennings seems to be caught up in himself. He seems to have this pedestal in his head where he sits, and everyone else cowers around. But in reality, things aren't the same. In reality, Michael Jennings is the small fish in the big pond. He's the one that is cowering around, looking up at everything he hopes to accomplish.
"He just can't accept that. He can't help but bitch about everything and anything that is going on. The World Champion doesn't feel like he deserves his title? Jennings is there to lay claim and issue a challenge, even though he hasn't done anything to really deserve one.
"And I mean that the best way that I can. Maybe it's just me, but I feel that if you want a crack at the upper echelon, if you want an opportunity to win the top title, you have to have paid your dues, put in your time, and shown everyone that you deserve to be there. Has Michael? In his eyes, sure, but when you really break it down, he's kind of just in the middle of the road. He's got the talent to be a top tier wrestler, don't get me wrong, and I'm sure in time, he will rise to the top of APW. But right now?
"Right this moment?
"He's not there yet.
"He's smart though, even if he doesn't let everything click. By that, all I mean is that he was able to look up all sorts of information about me, but that's all he was able to do. He wasn't able to understand that I am not the spoiled brat rich kid that all the others tend to be. I don't flaunt my money, even if I mentioned I could buy the Empire State Building in the past. Key word though, is past.
"You see, Michael, I've never made it a secret about how I was before coming to APW. I played on the foul side of the fence, but that was then. Now, it's entirely different. I don't have the ego you seem to think I do, and you would know that if you paid even the slightest bit of attention to me or APW as a whole. The worst part, is you were around when I was the Undisputed champion. You were there when you saw just how big my non-existent ego was. Yet I supposedly have one for comments made in the past?
"Brilliant play, Michael. Who knows, maybe that will be the one thing that holds you back from reaching the apex. Maybe you being unable to actually look at the real world around you will be what holds you back. I mean, that's the only thing I can think of given everything that you've said about me. Given everything that you've read about me. It's not like we're strangers, after all. We might not have fought one on one yet, but we have been in APW together. You should know the very basics about me, Michael.
"Though, maybe you don't care.
"Jennings isn't the only one I'm up against though. That we're up against.
"Victor Hades and I did battle three weeks ago, which resulted in me coming out on top. Ideally, I would hope that Hades realized I wasn't the pushover he thought I was, but I'm sure that's not going to be the case. I'm sure that Hades will just think he didn't give it a strong enough try, that he needs to drive my head into the canvas a few more times to get the job done.
"He's not unlike Jennings in that respect. They don't see their own faults and instead, just assume that they're going to kill the opponent the next time out. They don't look to win, they look to maim, and while I'm sure they're simply nodding their heads to all of that, there becomes a point when you have to figure out if you're ever going to get over the hump and win.
"That wasn't directed solely at you, Victor, I'm just saying that after the way you presented yourself before our match on Overdrive, I would not be surprised if you were still thinking that way, with your head in the clouds. You thought you could beat me then, but you failed, and now you want to make up for that. You want to prove that you weren't just blowing smoke before, but that I got lucky.
"Basically, you won't a chance at redemption, and even though you're probably more focused on Watson with everything going on between the two of you, I'm sure that part of you is still going to try its hardest to make me your bitch. You don't even need to say it, I can just close my eyes and see it. I can see you trying to make me pay for winning three weeks ago.
"Thing is, nothing has really changed. If anything, you've taken a step or two back in recent weeks, but that's neither here nor there. I haven't hit a spiral nor have I hit a wall of self doubt. Sure, I might not know what's going on with Level One right now, but hey, there's still loads of time for that, isn't there? None of it equals me being unsure of my own abilities.
"On the plus side, for me anyways, I know a bit about how you operate inside of the ring, Hades. I can't say the same for Leon Roberts, though.
"And unlike Jennings, I'm not simply going to assume. I'm not going to read a biography about my opponent and spew it back like it was dictation. No, what I will do, is I will go back and watch matches of Leon's. I will watch him outside of the ring and I will make sure that I am ready for everything that he has to offer.
"Basically, I am going to prepare myself. Leon was known as a tag team wrestler in his early days in APW, much like I was. He has probably been written off by people because of that, much like I was. And just like me, I'm sure that Leon has made those people think twice.
"But I'm not like those people, Leon. Partially because it happened to me and partially because I've never been that sort of person. Contrary to what Jennings has been feeding you, I'm not the sort of egotistical bastard that thinks he is above everyone else. I am fully aware that there are people in APW who might not be barging down my door, but have the talent to do so.
"Like you, Leon. I may not know a lot about you, but from what I have seen in your short time on Overdrive, you've got talent. You've got the will to survive and to fight. You've got that desire to push yourself through everything, proven by the fact that you're aiming to take down one of, if not the, most successful and dangerous Xtreme champions in APW history.
"But I wonder if you're going to be a bit too eager. If you're going to be pushing yourself a bit too much with the hope that you're going to come out on the other side with a win in your hat. I mean, if you were to be the last man standing, having outlasted myself, Level One, Biggs, Victor Hades, and Smith, that's a pretty big accomplishment and I'm sure it would make a lot of people take notice.
"I just hope you don't lose sight.
"That just leaves Level One, but really, it's hard to get an exact read on you. I mean, I can kind of see what you're trying to do and the point you're trying to make, but it's not like you won that title because you lost to Terry Marvin. It wasn't a consolation prize.
"You stole it from me and you defended it against me. You won it. I think the problem I'm having is seeing why you think you wouldn't deserve it, but then again, I'm not in your head. And who knows? Maybe it won't ever become a problem that I have to deal with. Maybe you will get your title back from your locker room, look at it, and realize that it is yours and no one elses. Maybe you'll be able to see that you do deserve to be the APW World Heavyweight champion.
"Or maybe not, since that possibility always exists. It just sucks because as much as you grate on my nerves, as angry as I am toward you for things you did in the past, you're still a hell of a talent and a hell of a competitor. I might not always see eye to eye with you, but on that one, I can. On your talent, I can definitely see eye to eye with you.
"I mean, you've been this successful for a reason, right? Problem is, you're still a jackass. Not to mince words, but you're still the same guy that tried to kill me, the same guy who laughed each time Marvin knocked me down. You're still a pain in the ass.
"I guess I'll repeat what I said earlier. May the best man or men win. May the best team come out on top at the end of it all, but trust me when I say that it's not going to end with someone beating the ever loving shit out of someone else.
"It's going to end the way a match should end, with a pinfall or submission victory.
"It's going to end after the fans have had a match to cheer for.
"It's time to go big or go home."
"The entire time I have been in APW, Level One has always been the man that would do whatever it took to win a title. He would find every rule in the book and break them. Even as recent as Mayhem and Rasslemania, he's done what he can to make sure that the World title remains around his waist.
"But now, all of that has changed. Now, after a loss to Terry Marvin, Level One thinks he doesn't deserve the World Heavyweight title he stole from me at Mayhem. He thinks he has to start at the bottom, to reinvent himself, and to do that, Level One decided to hand me the APW World Heavyweight title.
"I can't have that, though. Much like Level One doesn't think he has earned it, it wouldn't feel like I earned the title either. I need to, at the very least, have the opportunity to earn the title, and that is why I gave it back. That is why I left it in his locker room.
"Which brings us to now.
"After all that has gone on, with uncertainty on the horizon, we find ourselves in an eight man tag team match. We find ourselves tossed into the fray with six other men. Does this work with Level One's plans? Probably not. He's not fighting Joseph Johnson this time, and I'm sure he'd rather be fighting Amy Zing to try and reinvent himself.
"Not that it matters. All that matters is that I stand on the same side of the ring as my ally Biggs, a man I respect in A.C. Smith, and a man with a lot of promise in Nick Watson to take on the four people that embody what we can't stand. Victor Hades, Michael Jennings, Leon Roberts, and of course, Level One.
"Each one has there unfortunate sides and each one has pissed off someone on our side of the ring. But that's what it all comes down to as we get closer to Shockwave. It comes down to good versus evil. It comes down to what they can do against what we can do.
"And I know that I am going to do everything that I can.
"Maybe not to win, but I definitely want to prove myself. I definitely want to show Level One that he's not the only one that has started from the bottom after certain losses. That's what I did after our Overdrive match. That's what I used Test for the Best to do. Reinvent myself.
"To give myself another chance.
"Whether or not it worked, that remains to be seen.
"This week, though, is about the best man standing. This could be a chance to show just who is the best person out of all of us. About which side triumphs in the battle of good versus evil.
"If I were a betting man? I'd put my money on good."
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"Who's the heavy outside your office?" Vincent James asks as he walks through the door. C.J. Gates looks up from his desk, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"The dude down at the entrance," James repeats.
"What dude?"
"I don't know," James says. "I got here and there was this tall guy standing just inside the doors. He gave me a dirty look as I walked by and was wearing all black, so I assumed he was here and wasn't bringing good news."
"No one was down there when I got in," Gates says with a shrug. "I guess it's not too important, whatever it is he wants."
James walks past the desk to the large window behind Gates. He parts the blinds and peers down. "There's another one standing by a parked car across the street." James motions with his head. "Take a look."
Gates gets up and looks. "He doesn't look suspicious."
"How often are people parked outside your building?" James asks. "You aren't exactly downtown or in the hub of life."
"I guess you've got a point," Gates says. "I just don't see anything to worry about."
"After what your mom said, you don't think there's anything to worry about?"
"I assumed she was saying that to be helpful," Gates shrugs. "I didn't think she was going to send goons out to kill me."
"Maybe those aren't hers," James suggests. "Maybe she's sending people to protect you. Maybe they aren't here yet."
"You're paranoid, man," Gates says with a smirk.
"Am I?" James asks. "After all that your mom has done to you, and after she said she would take care of it, you're still thinking that everything's a dream?" James shakes his head. "There are guys around that usually aren't around. That have never been around. We've been coming here for how long? And I've never seen a guy in the lobby, waiting."
"Maybe he's here to pick someone else up."
Vincent James simply shakes his head as he walks over to an empty chair and falls into it. "You're delusional man."
"Why?" Gates asks, abruptly. "Because my mom said something? A lot of people say things and never follow through on them, Vinnie. It's part of life."
"But it's being followed through on!" James exclaims before once again shaking his head. "You know what, never mind."
The sound of a car door closing can be heard and Gates looks out the window one more time. The man who was in the car is now standing outside of it, leaning against the hood and looking up at Gates' window. Gates continues to stare at the man and he continues to stare back. After a few minutes, James finally breaks the silence.
"How's the view?" James asks.
"He's looking at me."
"I told you so."
"So that means..."
"Probably," James says. "All we can hope is that your mom sent them to protect you and their not here to kill you."
"But what is..."
Gates is cut off by a knock at the door. He quickly looks back to the window, but the man is gone. Gates and James exchange a look before the door opens and in step two men, both wearing all black suits. Gates looks to James who glances at the men and nods.
"Who are you?" Gates asks, nervously.
"This here's Charlie O," the taller, bald man says. "They call me the Dentist."
"The Dentist?" James asks.
"The Dentist," the Dentist says. "They call me that because when I'm trying to get information out of someone, I like to pull out a tooth or two.
"And I'm here for some information."
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"Now this is a team I can get on board with.
"Sure, it's all thrown together, but I'm going to be fighting alongside three men I can trust and three men I respect. I will be able to step into the ring when called upon without the constant fear eating away at the back of my head. I won't have to worry about someone bashing me in the head with a weapon.
"Biggs I know and trust the most out of the three because he and I have been through a lot together, both as enemies and allies. I have full faith in him being there to watch my back, no matter what and I'm sure that he knows I'd do the same for him.
"A.C. Smith is another of this weeks partners that I know I can trust, and after our two battles leading into and at Test for the Best, I respect what he is out to do and what he is capable of. All signs point to him not wavering from that line of thinking, which means that he will still be watching my back at Overdrive. Just like I'll be watching his.
"The man who can closest be described as a wild card is Nick Watson, but I only describe him as such because I'm unsure. Unlike my other two partners, I don't truly know what Watson is capable of, and I haven't had the opportunities to fight him one on one inside of the ring. Unlike Smith and Biggs, Watson and I haven't had our paths cross.
"However, like the other two, I know that Watson has the best intentions in mind, so I know that Watson won't be likely to turn on the three of us. He's got some bad blood with Hades and I think, at the very least, he's going to stay with the team until the job is done.
"Really, knowing that I can trust everyone will make the match that much smoother for me. I won't be worried and I can focus on the task at hand. I can focus on this match, on proving my place in APW and showing everyone that I am still one of the top competitors. Showing them that Test for the Best was no fluke.
"I will be able to prove that I am still relevant."
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"You really thought they could help?" Vincent James asks as he points his thumb towards the television. Playing is a replay of APW Overdrive. More specifically, the point of the show where C.J. Gates asked the LeWinter sisters for help.
"It was worth a shot," Gates shrugs. "I needed to get that title back to Level One."
"How come?"
Gates looks to his friend. "What do you mean?"
"Why did you have to get it back to him?" James asks. "Couldn't you have just held onto it?"
Gates shakes his head. "It didn't feel right. It felt like I didn't deserve it. Like I said to the twins, everything that Level One is feeling about the belt after losing to Terry, I was feeling that when he handed it to me."
"But why couldn't you just give it to President Jeff?"
"I don't know," Gates says. "I guess I wanted Level One to see that he actually does deserve the title. After all, I was there when he beat me on Overdrive."
"Thanks to Terry Marvin."
"I guess that's how people are earning wins," Gates says. "I mean, up until he lost to Terry, he thought he deserved that title. I figured he might be able to just go back to that line of thinking."
"But it didn't work, did it?"
"I don't know," Gates admits. "I left the title in his locker room."
"You broke in?" James asks.
"No, I was let in. And I left a note that told Level One that I, basically, wasn't accepting charity. I wanted to earn the title. I wanted to fight for it."
"So I assume you guys are going to be fighting at Shockwave."
"No," Gates says. "At least there's nothing concrete yet. I just left the title and the note, that's all."
"I'm still shocked he handed it off," James says. "He's a great competitor, and it's not like he's let other shortcomings effect him."
"That was my thought exactly," Gates says before shrugging. "Oh well, I guess it is what it is, right? Leads to this weeks match, anyways."
"Who are you up against this time?"
"I'm teaming with Biggs, A.C. Smith and Nick Watson to take on Level One, Victor Hades, Michael Jennings and Leon Roberts."
"Sounds jam-packed. Action packed even."
Gates shoots James a tired look and shakes his head. "Should be good though," Gates says. "At least it will showcase a lot of Overdrive's top talent."
"You're calling Leon Roberts top talent?"
"He's put himself out there," Gates says. "He's challenging Smith for the Xtreme title, so he's at least getting his nose into peoples business."
"I just don't see it," James says. "And Watson is still a bit removed from that scene."
"But he's been a champion before, so it's not completely out of the realm of possibilities. I didn't say this was the cream of the crop, the best of the best, but it's a lot of top talent. That's not to take anything away from them, it's just that it's not a match of eight Terry Marvin's."
"Could you imagine?" James chuckles shaking his head.
"It will still be competitive," Gates says, ignoring Vincent James. "And really, that's all I can ask for. If I want to have a great match, competition is the first step to that."
"And maybe you'll pick up a win."
"Maybe," Gates says. "You never know. This is an elimination match after all, so you never can tell what's going to happen. All I can do is work hard, put out my best effort and hopefully, if everything works out well, I can help my team win."
"It's a good team."
"It's a great team.
"It's a team that can win.
"It's a team I'm glad to be a part of."
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"May the best man win.
"Essentially, that's what this week boils down to. Even though we are split into two teams of four, the fact that this match is an elimination match shows that in the end, the best man, or men, will most likely be left standing.
"Also, there's a good chance that one side of this match won't exactly be working together as a team. But isn't that how it always goes? The ones that are so self absorbed tend to be more focused on attacking those that are on their heels, and that is all they want to do. They don't want to work together to gain the win, they want to inflict pain upon their opponents.
"Michael Jennings said as much when he called all of us victims. Then again, Michael Jennings showed as much when he knocked out his former agent. Not that it surprises me, because Michael Jennings seems to be caught up in himself. He seems to have this pedestal in his head where he sits, and everyone else cowers around. But in reality, things aren't the same. In reality, Michael Jennings is the small fish in the big pond. He's the one that is cowering around, looking up at everything he hopes to accomplish.
"He just can't accept that. He can't help but bitch about everything and anything that is going on. The World Champion doesn't feel like he deserves his title? Jennings is there to lay claim and issue a challenge, even though he hasn't done anything to really deserve one.
"And I mean that the best way that I can. Maybe it's just me, but I feel that if you want a crack at the upper echelon, if you want an opportunity to win the top title, you have to have paid your dues, put in your time, and shown everyone that you deserve to be there. Has Michael? In his eyes, sure, but when you really break it down, he's kind of just in the middle of the road. He's got the talent to be a top tier wrestler, don't get me wrong, and I'm sure in time, he will rise to the top of APW. But right now?
"Right this moment?
"He's not there yet.
"He's smart though, even if he doesn't let everything click. By that, all I mean is that he was able to look up all sorts of information about me, but that's all he was able to do. He wasn't able to understand that I am not the spoiled brat rich kid that all the others tend to be. I don't flaunt my money, even if I mentioned I could buy the Empire State Building in the past. Key word though, is past.
"You see, Michael, I've never made it a secret about how I was before coming to APW. I played on the foul side of the fence, but that was then. Now, it's entirely different. I don't have the ego you seem to think I do, and you would know that if you paid even the slightest bit of attention to me or APW as a whole. The worst part, is you were around when I was the Undisputed champion. You were there when you saw just how big my non-existent ego was. Yet I supposedly have one for comments made in the past?
"Brilliant play, Michael. Who knows, maybe that will be the one thing that holds you back from reaching the apex. Maybe you being unable to actually look at the real world around you will be what holds you back. I mean, that's the only thing I can think of given everything that you've said about me. Given everything that you've read about me. It's not like we're strangers, after all. We might not have fought one on one yet, but we have been in APW together. You should know the very basics about me, Michael.
"Though, maybe you don't care.
"Jennings isn't the only one I'm up against though. That we're up against.
"Victor Hades and I did battle three weeks ago, which resulted in me coming out on top. Ideally, I would hope that Hades realized I wasn't the pushover he thought I was, but I'm sure that's not going to be the case. I'm sure that Hades will just think he didn't give it a strong enough try, that he needs to drive my head into the canvas a few more times to get the job done.
"He's not unlike Jennings in that respect. They don't see their own faults and instead, just assume that they're going to kill the opponent the next time out. They don't look to win, they look to maim, and while I'm sure they're simply nodding their heads to all of that, there becomes a point when you have to figure out if you're ever going to get over the hump and win.
"That wasn't directed solely at you, Victor, I'm just saying that after the way you presented yourself before our match on Overdrive, I would not be surprised if you were still thinking that way, with your head in the clouds. You thought you could beat me then, but you failed, and now you want to make up for that. You want to prove that you weren't just blowing smoke before, but that I got lucky.
"Basically, you won't a chance at redemption, and even though you're probably more focused on Watson with everything going on between the two of you, I'm sure that part of you is still going to try its hardest to make me your bitch. You don't even need to say it, I can just close my eyes and see it. I can see you trying to make me pay for winning three weeks ago.
"Thing is, nothing has really changed. If anything, you've taken a step or two back in recent weeks, but that's neither here nor there. I haven't hit a spiral nor have I hit a wall of self doubt. Sure, I might not know what's going on with Level One right now, but hey, there's still loads of time for that, isn't there? None of it equals me being unsure of my own abilities.
"On the plus side, for me anyways, I know a bit about how you operate inside of the ring, Hades. I can't say the same for Leon Roberts, though.
"And unlike Jennings, I'm not simply going to assume. I'm not going to read a biography about my opponent and spew it back like it was dictation. No, what I will do, is I will go back and watch matches of Leon's. I will watch him outside of the ring and I will make sure that I am ready for everything that he has to offer.
"Basically, I am going to prepare myself. Leon was known as a tag team wrestler in his early days in APW, much like I was. He has probably been written off by people because of that, much like I was. And just like me, I'm sure that Leon has made those people think twice.
"But I'm not like those people, Leon. Partially because it happened to me and partially because I've never been that sort of person. Contrary to what Jennings has been feeding you, I'm not the sort of egotistical bastard that thinks he is above everyone else. I am fully aware that there are people in APW who might not be barging down my door, but have the talent to do so.
"Like you, Leon. I may not know a lot about you, but from what I have seen in your short time on Overdrive, you've got talent. You've got the will to survive and to fight. You've got that desire to push yourself through everything, proven by the fact that you're aiming to take down one of, if not the, most successful and dangerous Xtreme champions in APW history.
"But I wonder if you're going to be a bit too eager. If you're going to be pushing yourself a bit too much with the hope that you're going to come out on the other side with a win in your hat. I mean, if you were to be the last man standing, having outlasted myself, Level One, Biggs, Victor Hades, and Smith, that's a pretty big accomplishment and I'm sure it would make a lot of people take notice.
"I just hope you don't lose sight.
"That just leaves Level One, but really, it's hard to get an exact read on you. I mean, I can kind of see what you're trying to do and the point you're trying to make, but it's not like you won that title because you lost to Terry Marvin. It wasn't a consolation prize.
"You stole it from me and you defended it against me. You won it. I think the problem I'm having is seeing why you think you wouldn't deserve it, but then again, I'm not in your head. And who knows? Maybe it won't ever become a problem that I have to deal with. Maybe you will get your title back from your locker room, look at it, and realize that it is yours and no one elses. Maybe you'll be able to see that you do deserve to be the APW World Heavyweight champion.
"Or maybe not, since that possibility always exists. It just sucks because as much as you grate on my nerves, as angry as I am toward you for things you did in the past, you're still a hell of a talent and a hell of a competitor. I might not always see eye to eye with you, but on that one, I can. On your talent, I can definitely see eye to eye with you.
"I mean, you've been this successful for a reason, right? Problem is, you're still a jackass. Not to mince words, but you're still the same guy that tried to kill me, the same guy who laughed each time Marvin knocked me down. You're still a pain in the ass.
"I guess I'll repeat what I said earlier. May the best man or men win. May the best team come out on top at the end of it all, but trust me when I say that it's not going to end with someone beating the ever loving shit out of someone else.
"It's going to end the way a match should end, with a pinfall or submission victory.
"It's going to end after the fans have had a match to cheer for.
"It's time to go big or go home."
