Post by biggs on Sept 11, 2013 20:35:17 GMT -4
My head is still ringing. I can't feel my fingers, and up to my elbows is all tingly still. The Black Hand certainly did a number on me, and all these miscilanious injuries keep on piling up. Still, I can't give into them. I can't give them the satisfaction of knowing what they've done to me.
I have to be strong. I have to stand up to them. Because nobody else is....
”Ow, that hurts! Sorry, but I'm still sore from last week...” I wretch in pain as Alice tries to wrap her arm around my neck and shoulders on the couch. We're pulling a Doctor Who marathon of Series Seven in my hotel room, getting prepared for “The Day of the Doctor” on November 23. Actually, it's the second time we've marathoned Series Seven, with it planned for at least one more time. And I know that she's just trying to be affectionate, but it hurts like the devil!
”I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you...” a frown comes across Alice's face as she responds. Knowing her as well as I do, I know that she wouldn't hurt a fly given the chance, and I immediately reassure her.
”It wasn't you that gave me a Canadian Destroyer off of the bench into a garbage can, hun. It was The Black Hand. It's their fault that we can't cuddle, not yours...”
”I know, but I still feel bad about the fact that you're in pain. Seriously, somebody needs to do something about those jerks! I know that I just started watching wrestling when I started dating you, but it seems like they're just a bunch of big bullies!”
”You're right, they are. And the thing about bullies is that they never, ever act without the odds being in their favor,” I reply. I know that C.J. Is back in action this week, and that we'll have each others backs, but considering the physical condition the two of us are in, I'm not sure if the two of us are enough to stand up to the Black Hand for long. We need to get some help.
”You know, I think Armando and Stan would help you if you just asked. One of those Black Hand people are on the other show anyways, so with them, you'd be even, four-on-four!”
”You know, that's not a bad idea! I knew I liked you for reasons other than the fact that you're beautiful and love Doctor Who! Let me give them a call!”
(Note: I'm pulling a Treasure Island, and switching perspectives here. The following section is from the POV of “Sr. Guapo” Armando Asante.)
Ah, there are way too many sexy ladies here in Greece! Mi amigo numero uno, Stan and I are dancing the night away at one of the most exclusive clubs in Athens, and they let us in, despite the fact that we're wearing nothing but togas!
”Seriously, Armando, I can't believe they let us in wearing these! Sure, it's culturally insensitive, and I'm feeling a little drafty, but boy are they getting the attention of the sexy women!”
Stan says, dancing with two olive skinned beauties. I'd be muy jealous, save for the fact that I have three sexy ladies dancing up in mi cara!
”What can I say, Amigo, the ladies love getting such a great look at our sexy bodies! We're muy caliente!”
”That is so true, Armando! If I were a gay man, I'd think that we'd be the two most handsome men around!”
”You don't have to be gay to know that you and I are the two sexiest men in the whole world! It helps, unless you're a sexy lady, in which case, you already knew that! Right ladies?”
The women, they giggle and nod. I don't think they're grasp of English or Spanish is all that good. Still, it doesn't matter what language they speak, so long as they speak the language of love! In the middle of the song that is playing, I feel a vibration coming from my belt area. My cell phone, it rings in it's holster. Even though they don't speak English, I know the sexy women won't mind me answering.
”Hello! This is Sr. Guapo, the most sexiest man in the world!”
”Hey Armando, this is Biggs! I got a favor to ask!”
”Sr. Guapo can barely hear you over the sexy ladies! Can you please speak up, mi amigo!?”
Biggs yells over the phone, so I can make out what he is saying over the pulsing music. ”Tomorrow night, can I count on you and Stan to back Ceej and I up against the Black Hand?”
”You need us to back up a mini van?”
”No, I need your help tomorrow night in dealing with The Black Hand!”
”You need me to help lead a game of Hang Man?”
”Just call me back when you're not in such a loud place...”
All of a sudden, I feel a hard fist connecting with the back of my head! The last thing I see as I fall like a ton of bricks is Stan being attacked by a not so sexy lady and a dirty man! Then everything is black...
I hear a loud thud on the other end of the line, and immediately, I know something is wrong! I can still hear the loud music on the other end of the line, and I can barely make it out, but I think I hear screaming as well. ”Armando! Answer me! ARMANDO!”
As I'm screaming for my friend to respond, I hear a calm, eerie voice on the other end of the line. I immediately recognize it as the voice of Michael Jennings.
”You're friends have a message for you. Or rather, they are the message for you. The longer you mess with the Black Hand, the more those close to you will get hurt! Do you want the Stud Muffins to get hurt? Well if you didn't it's already too late...”
He hangs up. I stand there for a moment, shocked as to what's gone on. I feel so powerless being unable to help my friends. I have no idea what club they were at, I have no idea where to even begin to look. I just know that when I face The Black Hand tomorrow on Overdrive. I have no choice but to make them pay....
I have to be strong. I have to stand up to them. Because nobody else is....
***
”Ow, that hurts! Sorry, but I'm still sore from last week...” I wretch in pain as Alice tries to wrap her arm around my neck and shoulders on the couch. We're pulling a Doctor Who marathon of Series Seven in my hotel room, getting prepared for “The Day of the Doctor” on November 23. Actually, it's the second time we've marathoned Series Seven, with it planned for at least one more time. And I know that she's just trying to be affectionate, but it hurts like the devil!
”I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you...” a frown comes across Alice's face as she responds. Knowing her as well as I do, I know that she wouldn't hurt a fly given the chance, and I immediately reassure her.
”It wasn't you that gave me a Canadian Destroyer off of the bench into a garbage can, hun. It was The Black Hand. It's their fault that we can't cuddle, not yours...”
”I know, but I still feel bad about the fact that you're in pain. Seriously, somebody needs to do something about those jerks! I know that I just started watching wrestling when I started dating you, but it seems like they're just a bunch of big bullies!”
”You're right, they are. And the thing about bullies is that they never, ever act without the odds being in their favor,” I reply. I know that C.J. Is back in action this week, and that we'll have each others backs, but considering the physical condition the two of us are in, I'm not sure if the two of us are enough to stand up to the Black Hand for long. We need to get some help.
”You know, I think Armando and Stan would help you if you just asked. One of those Black Hand people are on the other show anyways, so with them, you'd be even, four-on-four!”
”You know, that's not a bad idea! I knew I liked you for reasons other than the fact that you're beautiful and love Doctor Who! Let me give them a call!”
*~*~*~*
(Note: I'm pulling a Treasure Island, and switching perspectives here. The following section is from the POV of “Sr. Guapo” Armando Asante.)
Ah, there are way too many sexy ladies here in Greece! Mi amigo numero uno, Stan and I are dancing the night away at one of the most exclusive clubs in Athens, and they let us in, despite the fact that we're wearing nothing but togas!
”Seriously, Armando, I can't believe they let us in wearing these! Sure, it's culturally insensitive, and I'm feeling a little drafty, but boy are they getting the attention of the sexy women!”
Stan says, dancing with two olive skinned beauties. I'd be muy jealous, save for the fact that I have three sexy ladies dancing up in mi cara!
”What can I say, Amigo, the ladies love getting such a great look at our sexy bodies! We're muy caliente!”
”That is so true, Armando! If I were a gay man, I'd think that we'd be the two most handsome men around!”
”You don't have to be gay to know that you and I are the two sexiest men in the whole world! It helps, unless you're a sexy lady, in which case, you already knew that! Right ladies?”
The women, they giggle and nod. I don't think they're grasp of English or Spanish is all that good. Still, it doesn't matter what language they speak, so long as they speak the language of love! In the middle of the song that is playing, I feel a vibration coming from my belt area. My cell phone, it rings in it's holster. Even though they don't speak English, I know the sexy women won't mind me answering.
”Hello! This is Sr. Guapo, the most sexiest man in the world!”
”Hey Armando, this is Biggs! I got a favor to ask!”
”Sr. Guapo can barely hear you over the sexy ladies! Can you please speak up, mi amigo!?”
Biggs yells over the phone, so I can make out what he is saying over the pulsing music. ”Tomorrow night, can I count on you and Stan to back Ceej and I up against the Black Hand?”
”You need us to back up a mini van?”
”No, I need your help tomorrow night in dealing with The Black Hand!”
”You need me to help lead a game of Hang Man?”
”Just call me back when you're not in such a loud place...”
All of a sudden, I feel a hard fist connecting with the back of my head! The last thing I see as I fall like a ton of bricks is Stan being attacked by a not so sexy lady and a dirty man! Then everything is black...
*~*~*~*~*
I hear a loud thud on the other end of the line, and immediately, I know something is wrong! I can still hear the loud music on the other end of the line, and I can barely make it out, but I think I hear screaming as well. ”Armando! Answer me! ARMANDO!”
As I'm screaming for my friend to respond, I hear a calm, eerie voice on the other end of the line. I immediately recognize it as the voice of Michael Jennings.
”You're friends have a message for you. Or rather, they are the message for you. The longer you mess with the Black Hand, the more those close to you will get hurt! Do you want the Stud Muffins to get hurt? Well if you didn't it's already too late...”
He hangs up. I stand there for a moment, shocked as to what's gone on. I feel so powerless being unable to help my friends. I have no idea what club they were at, I have no idea where to even begin to look. I just know that when I face The Black Hand tomorrow on Overdrive. I have no choice but to make them pay....
***
”Another week, and another vicious attack by the Black Hand on yours truly. I guess if I were a smarter man, I would have left the arena last week sooner rather than later, but the fact of the matter is that while I'm smart, I'm also not a coward.”
“I knew that after I went back to rescue Kurt Styles from the Black Hand, the target would be put squarely back on me. I knew that after I cleared the ring, my chances of leaving Paris without being any worse for wear pretty much went to nil.”
“So why did I help Kurt Styles, even though I know he wouldn't have done the same for me?”
“Why did I cut short the beat down by the Black Hand, even though Kurt would probably never thank me?”
“Because it was the right thing to do.”
“Now I know that in professional wrestling, and life in general, nice guys usually end up finishing last, but this thing between me and The Black Hand, well, it's not about who's nice and who isn't. It's not about titles, it's not about fame, it's not about money, heck, it's not even about respect. It's about principles, or rather, The Black Hand's lack of them.”
“The bottom line is that I disagree with the philosophy of The Black Hand, as muddled as it may be. Simply put, I do not think that it is right to get ahead at any cost. I used to think like that, Lord knows I did, but there are better ways to advance your career than being nothing more than ruthless thugs who beat up people and try to injure them to the point to where they have to take time off, so you can get ahead.”
“I understand that professional wrestling is a full contact sport. It's our objective each and every time we step into that ring to hurt our opponents enough to be able to either pin them for a three count, or make them submit. But I've said it once, and I'll say it again, there's a big difference between trying to hurt somebody and trying to injure them.”
“And believe me, I've had enough experience with the lot of you to know that it's your M.O. to do the latter. Michael Jennings has tried to take my head off with a steel chair more times than I care to, or at this point, can remember! Your assault on me last week in the locker room wasn't meant to scare me, it was meant to take me out for good! Heck, we haven't heard a blessed thing from Kurt Styles since your attack last week, and compared to me, he got off easy!”
“Still, the fact remains that what The Black Hand seems to be trying to do is to eliminate the competition, rather than overcome it. And it shows just how sad and desperate of a group you all are collectively. Listen, I know you're all pissed about the fact that Knox was the only one of you to leave Shockwave with a win under their belt, and I also know that you're pissed that one of the rules about being in the Black Hand is that you can only shower once every few weeks, just to keep up your grungy appearances, but going around trying to maim and mutilate people and smelling bad while doing so is no way to get over in this business! No, you do it in the ring.”
“And that's exactly what my partner C.J. Gates and I have done over our respective careers here in APW. He is a former APW Undisputed Champion, not to mention a former Tag Champ. I am a Three-Time Overdrive Champion, as well as a former Undisputed Champ myself! Our pedigree speaks for itself! Our feud dominated the APW landscape for well over half-a-year back on the tail end of 2011, and as great as foils as we were for one another, we're better friends! You see, you don't wrestle a guy over two-dozen times and not get to know him. Ceej and I are to a point to where we know what ther other guy is going to do before they do it! We're on the same wavelength. He knows that I have his back, and I know that he has mine!”
“I'll be honest, I'm not getting that vibe from The Black Hand. There is no 'All for One, and One for All' mentality, only a 'Let's pull off a Zerg Rush and hope for the best!' Yes, I just pulled out a StarCraft reference, and yes, I made it less cool by pointing it out! Still, the only time I see y'all working as a unit is when you undoubtedly have an advantage. It's always four-on-one, five-on-two at the most with you guys.”
“That's why I know to be cautious tomorrow night. Because even though it's officially The Space Cowboys versus Tommy Knox and Niobe Martin, there's no doubt that your buddies Michael Jennings and Chris Madison won't be far behind. Heck, Raab might even show up. My point is the same either way. C.J. and I are stepping into uneven odds.”
“But if you think for one moment that we're going to complain about it, or be afraid, you'd be dead wrong! If you want to bring your friends along, I say go ahead! It'll make it all the easier for C.J. And I to kick all your butts in one shot!”
“Don't take this for me saying that we're going to steamroll you, Knox and Martin. I know better than to think that about anyone in APW. I know that when we meet between those ropes, we're in for a battle. I mean, they don't just give the Overdrive Title to just anybody, Knox. You had to earn that strap. Granted, I don't have much faith in you keeping that Title for long, but you at least had to earn it.”
“And Niobe, you are as cold and calculating a person as they come. You were the ring-leader on the assault against me last week, and I'll be honest, my head and neck are till hurting. I just hope for your sake that you're half the tactician in the ring as you were backstage last week.”
“When I'm telling the Black Hand to bring it on this week, I'm not showing that I have a death wish, I'm not saying that I want to get beat up. Call me a realist, but I know that that's probably going to happen. Win, lose, or draw, I know that my chances of leaving Overdrive tomorrow night unscathed are about the same as they were last week.”
“But I'm not going to let that fact intimidate me. I'm not going to let it scare me. Because even when C.J. Gates and I defeat the lot of you tomorrow night, and the rest of the Black Hand swarms the ring, I'll be ready. If it means I have to take another licking, well, I'll take my lumps. I will not, and cannot, succumb to the tactics of a bunch of stinky bullies! And that's exactly what the Black Hand is, is a bunch of smelly, disgusting, bottom-feeding, trash bag bullies! Y'all wouldn't know a fair fight if you saw one, nor would you partake.”
“But like I said earlier, The Space Cowboys, we're ready for you. You might be able to play the numbers game, you might be able to overwhelm us. But know this, if you strike at us, we'll make darn sure we take at least one or two of you down with us!”
“Because unlike you dirty, stinky hippies, C.J. Gates and I are quite simply OUT OF THIS WORLD!”
”Another week, and another vicious attack by the Black Hand on yours truly. I guess if I were a smarter man, I would have left the arena last week sooner rather than later, but the fact of the matter is that while I'm smart, I'm also not a coward.”
“I knew that after I went back to rescue Kurt Styles from the Black Hand, the target would be put squarely back on me. I knew that after I cleared the ring, my chances of leaving Paris without being any worse for wear pretty much went to nil.”
“So why did I help Kurt Styles, even though I know he wouldn't have done the same for me?”
“Why did I cut short the beat down by the Black Hand, even though Kurt would probably never thank me?”
“Because it was the right thing to do.”
“Now I know that in professional wrestling, and life in general, nice guys usually end up finishing last, but this thing between me and The Black Hand, well, it's not about who's nice and who isn't. It's not about titles, it's not about fame, it's not about money, heck, it's not even about respect. It's about principles, or rather, The Black Hand's lack of them.”
“The bottom line is that I disagree with the philosophy of The Black Hand, as muddled as it may be. Simply put, I do not think that it is right to get ahead at any cost. I used to think like that, Lord knows I did, but there are better ways to advance your career than being nothing more than ruthless thugs who beat up people and try to injure them to the point to where they have to take time off, so you can get ahead.”
“I understand that professional wrestling is a full contact sport. It's our objective each and every time we step into that ring to hurt our opponents enough to be able to either pin them for a three count, or make them submit. But I've said it once, and I'll say it again, there's a big difference between trying to hurt somebody and trying to injure them.”
“And believe me, I've had enough experience with the lot of you to know that it's your M.O. to do the latter. Michael Jennings has tried to take my head off with a steel chair more times than I care to, or at this point, can remember! Your assault on me last week in the locker room wasn't meant to scare me, it was meant to take me out for good! Heck, we haven't heard a blessed thing from Kurt Styles since your attack last week, and compared to me, he got off easy!”
“Still, the fact remains that what The Black Hand seems to be trying to do is to eliminate the competition, rather than overcome it. And it shows just how sad and desperate of a group you all are collectively. Listen, I know you're all pissed about the fact that Knox was the only one of you to leave Shockwave with a win under their belt, and I also know that you're pissed that one of the rules about being in the Black Hand is that you can only shower once every few weeks, just to keep up your grungy appearances, but going around trying to maim and mutilate people and smelling bad while doing so is no way to get over in this business! No, you do it in the ring.”
“And that's exactly what my partner C.J. Gates and I have done over our respective careers here in APW. He is a former APW Undisputed Champion, not to mention a former Tag Champ. I am a Three-Time Overdrive Champion, as well as a former Undisputed Champ myself! Our pedigree speaks for itself! Our feud dominated the APW landscape for well over half-a-year back on the tail end of 2011, and as great as foils as we were for one another, we're better friends! You see, you don't wrestle a guy over two-dozen times and not get to know him. Ceej and I are to a point to where we know what ther other guy is going to do before they do it! We're on the same wavelength. He knows that I have his back, and I know that he has mine!”
“I'll be honest, I'm not getting that vibe from The Black Hand. There is no 'All for One, and One for All' mentality, only a 'Let's pull off a Zerg Rush and hope for the best!' Yes, I just pulled out a StarCraft reference, and yes, I made it less cool by pointing it out! Still, the only time I see y'all working as a unit is when you undoubtedly have an advantage. It's always four-on-one, five-on-two at the most with you guys.”
“That's why I know to be cautious tomorrow night. Because even though it's officially The Space Cowboys versus Tommy Knox and Niobe Martin, there's no doubt that your buddies Michael Jennings and Chris Madison won't be far behind. Heck, Raab might even show up. My point is the same either way. C.J. and I are stepping into uneven odds.”
“But if you think for one moment that we're going to complain about it, or be afraid, you'd be dead wrong! If you want to bring your friends along, I say go ahead! It'll make it all the easier for C.J. And I to kick all your butts in one shot!”
“Don't take this for me saying that we're going to steamroll you, Knox and Martin. I know better than to think that about anyone in APW. I know that when we meet between those ropes, we're in for a battle. I mean, they don't just give the Overdrive Title to just anybody, Knox. You had to earn that strap. Granted, I don't have much faith in you keeping that Title for long, but you at least had to earn it.”
“And Niobe, you are as cold and calculating a person as they come. You were the ring-leader on the assault against me last week, and I'll be honest, my head and neck are till hurting. I just hope for your sake that you're half the tactician in the ring as you were backstage last week.”
“When I'm telling the Black Hand to bring it on this week, I'm not showing that I have a death wish, I'm not saying that I want to get beat up. Call me a realist, but I know that that's probably going to happen. Win, lose, or draw, I know that my chances of leaving Overdrive tomorrow night unscathed are about the same as they were last week.”
“But I'm not going to let that fact intimidate me. I'm not going to let it scare me. Because even when C.J. Gates and I defeat the lot of you tomorrow night, and the rest of the Black Hand swarms the ring, I'll be ready. If it means I have to take another licking, well, I'll take my lumps. I will not, and cannot, succumb to the tactics of a bunch of stinky bullies! And that's exactly what the Black Hand is, is a bunch of smelly, disgusting, bottom-feeding, trash bag bullies! Y'all wouldn't know a fair fight if you saw one, nor would you partake.”
“But like I said earlier, The Space Cowboys, we're ready for you. You might be able to play the numbers game, you might be able to overwhelm us. But know this, if you strike at us, we'll make darn sure we take at least one or two of you down with us!”
“Because unlike you dirty, stinky hippies, C.J. Gates and I are quite simply OUT OF THIS WORLD!”
