Post by C.J. Gates on Oct 2, 2013 15:16:15 GMT -4
"Just when you think the Black Hand can't get any lower, they prove you wrong.
"Maybe I gave them too much credit. I figured there was no way they could stoop much lower, yet here we are, a week later, and I can only shake my own head.
"My own hat-less head.
"I should have seen it coming. After putting up with a Level One who looked as though he had changed his stripes only to show his true colors, after dealing with a Terry Marvin who tried to be the good guy and retire, after putting up with Kurt Noble who began to fall into a funk, you'd figure I'd be able to tell when things are going south.
"Instead, the Black Hand stole my hat, burned it and all my other possessions, along with Biggs', and then, if that wasn't enough, they attacked us.
"Now, this week, I get a shot at the Overdrive title, but I also have to contend with three members of the Black Hand. I'm sure Biggs won't be far, but that still out numbers us five to two. Not that it matters, because there's nothing those guys can throw our way that we can't deal with.
"We're resilient.
"We bounce back.
"We're warriors.
"And we're not going to let those guys push us around. That's why we fight back, and that's why I am going to fight back this week. I might be stuck in the ring with three of them, but that doesn't mean I am just going to roll over and throw in the towel.
"I am going to give Madison, Knox and Martin my all. I am going to use this moment to take out some frustrations on them. I am going to show them that they can't break my spirit. And in doing so, I am going to make sure that they know that nice guys don't finish last.
"It won't be easy, but by this point in my career, nothing really is. With everyone looking to use me as a launching point for their careers, I am always in for a fight.
"I am always entering into a war.
"And this week is no different."
"So tell me more about what you do," Abigail Markos says as she sits down on the couch. She leans forward and places her drink on the coffee table, sitting back and smiling at C.J. Gates.
"You should know by now, Abby," Gates says as he sits down beside her. "I mean, you work for us now, right?"
"True," she says with a smile. "But the only thing I've really got a hold of, is your T-Shirt business."
Gates nods. "Yeah, that was something I started when I first came to APW. Started during my partnership with Blade and just kind of grew from there."
"But what else is there?"
"Well there's the family business," Gates says. "And then there a few small things here and there. Nothing too crazy, but just small ventures I started up over the years."
"Basically just building on what you have?"
"Exactly," Gates says before smiling. "Funnily enough, no one ever looks at it like that. They all just assume that I've been born with a silver spoon in my mouth, just coasting on my parents money. They don't realize that I've built the majority of my personal wealth on my own."
"And what about the wrestling?"
"What about it?" Gates asks.
"Why do you do it?" Abby asks with a slight smile.
"The competition," Gates answers, almost immediately. "That's how it started anyways. Unlike some other people, I didn't need to do it for the money, I didn't need to do it to turn my life around, I did it because I enjoyed the thrill of competition."
"What changed?"
"Nothing really change," Gates says with a shrug. "I think it just went from being about the competition, to being about turning the business around." Gates shakes his head. "No, that's the wrong way to put it. After things really picked up for me in APW, I was able to see all of the evil going on in the business, so I figured I would do whatever I could to eliminate it, and to give the fans something to cheer for."
"Thus everything going on with the Black Hand," Abby says as she picks up her glass.
Gates nods. "I was preoccupied with Level One when Biggs was first getting attacked by Jennings, and then when things continued, I couldn't sit back and let five people attack one. It just doesn't seem right."
"I can agree with that," Abby says, taking a sip, "but aren't you worried that you might get injured?"
"There's always that risk," Gates says. "I guess sometimes I worry, but for the most part, I'm not. In the end, it's all worth it to me, and if I have to put my life on the line to save someone or to give the fans a good match, then I will."
"Makes sense," Abby says. "I guess I was just wondering why you'd want to do something that puts your body on the line every night."
"You've got to remember, though, for every night where my body is on the line, there are nights when my body isn't on the line. It all depends on who I'm facing and who is looking to hunt me down. I was pretty safe when Level One and I were facing off."
"But now, not so much."
"Now not so much," Gates echoes. "But it's all part of the business. In the end, I'm sure it will have all been worth it."
"Especially this week," Abby says.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you've got that title shot. If you win, it will have been worth it to win some more gold, wouldn't it?"
"I guess it would, yeah," Gates says. "I mean, I'm not too caught up in winning titles, it's more the people holding them that I want to beat."
"Because?"
"Bragging rights I guess," Gates says. "And probably to try and put them in their place. It might not work, but I'm at least trying, right?"
"I guess that's true," Abby says. "But the pain and punishment."
"It's not as bad as it looks," Gates chuckles. "Shockwave was the first time a match kept me from competing and the first time there was an actual health scare to go along with it. And that's in three plus years of wrestling."
"I guess."
"There's nothing to worry about," Gates reassures. "This thing between Biggs and I and the Black Hand, it's going to end at One Night in Hell, and then, we won't have to worry about them anymore. As for me, I'm fine right now, and I know I'll be fine after."
"I'm just worried I guess," Abby admits with a shrug.
"I know, and I can't really blame you. It's not like we're playing tiddly winks out there."
"Just be careful."
"I will."
"Careful.
"That's not exactly something I have control over. Especially not when I'm facing off against three members of the same faction. You don't even have to say it to know that I am target number one. That those three are going to be doing anything and everything to keep me grounded, bleeding and battered.
"I mean, why not? I'm the outsider. Eliminate me and then the three of them can play rock, paper, scissors to figure out who the next champion will be. Or they can just let Knox keep it since he beat Envi to win it in the first place.
"The thing about the Black Hand though, is whether or not that is possible. Most factions would all focus in on me, but maybe the Black Hand isn't the same. Maybe they are the sort of people who will take some licks and some shots at one another, just to see where they stand. Just to see if they can fight back.
"I can only hope.
"Because really, that's my only chance. To have Madison, Martin and Knox battle it out at some point before I get eliminated, that's what I need.
"I need some dissension in the ranks.
"I need the family to fight.
"I need some sort of breathing room."
"Well this should be fun," Vincent James says as he drops the paper containing the line up for Overdrive.
"Tell me about it," C.J. Gates responds from behind his desk.
"You guys got a plan?"
"What do you mean?"
"You and Biggs," James says. "You two know how you're going to handle it this week."
"The same way we do every week, Vinnie," Gates says with a chuckle. "Just do whatever we can do and hope for the best. I mean, there's not much we can do, aside from protect ourselves and fight out of the mayhem that we're bound to get in to."
"Seems weak," James says. "You're just asking for an ass kicking if that's your attitude."
"Well what do you expect?" Gates asks. "I'm fighting three member of the Black Hand, there are probably two more hanging close by. Biggs is there too, but he's not four guys, so it's going to be hard to really even the odds."
"That's what I'm saying," James says. "The two of you need a real plan. Something more then just throwing your hands up and saying 'oh well'."
Gates shrugs. "I guess we'll see what Overdrive brings. But as of right now, that's the plan."
James nods his head repeatedly before sitting forward. "Can I use your computer later?"
"What for?" Gates asks, looking up from his screen.
"I'd like to work on my resume," James offers.
"What are you on about now?"
"Well, if you're going to walk into the lion's den, why can't I make sure I've got myself ready for when you don't walk out. Because there's a buzz saw flying right at your head and you aren't willing to accept that."
"I accept it," Gates says. "Don't think I have, I've accepted the fact that they all want to take my head off. There's just not much that Biggs and I can do about it."
"Well then, right here, right now, I'm telling you to change that." James sits back down in the chair. "Change that before you end up being a dead man walking."
"Bound to happen right?" Gates chuckles, but James doesn't laugh. "Take the stick out of your ass, I'm only kidding."
"There are a lot of people who care about you," James begins. "Me, Abigail, Biggs, your mom-"
"My mom," Gates scoffs as he shakes his head.
"She cares about you," James says. "And like the rest, she doesn't want to see who throw it all away and hurt yourself. So be smart when you're in that ring."
"I'll try."
"Don't try. Do."
"Okay," Gates says after a few moments of silence.
"Just don't be stupid, C.J."
"I kind of feel like I'm already stupid for considering going out there."
"I wasn't going to say it," James says with a smirk. "I figured I'd let you get there on your own."
"But I can't really be considering that, right? I mean, to just throw in the towel and refuse to fight."
"It wouldn't be the C.J. Gates way, that's true," James says. "But it would be the smart thing to do, because then you wouldn't be forced to put your life on the line. You never know what those guys are going to do."
"I know," Gates admits. After a long silence he simply shakes his head. "I just can't bring myself to do it. I can't bring myself to just walk out on that match."
"Well, give it some time," James offers. "You've got a few days, think about it, and when Overdrive goes live, you can decide which way you want to go."
Gates nods repeatedly, seemingly looking past James, and Vinnie simply shrugs.
"Ultimately, it's up to you."
"I know," Gates says. "It's not exactly an easy decision, though."
"All I'm saying," James starts, "is that it would be stupid to go out there."
"There was a point in time when beating Evan Envi for the Overdrive title would have sounded great to any man. Unfortunately, I never got that chance, and while many others did, the only one that made anything of it, was Tommy Knox.
"Now I stand across the ring from him in a match I can only assume was designed by the Black Hand. After all, when you're facing off against three of it's members, you can't suspect the General Manager or the owner to have done this.
"Right?
"The puzzling thing, is who did Knox piss off? I only ask, because it would have been enough to put me in a handicapped match against the Iron Nightmare. They could have even done a three on one with the three in this match. Instead, they chose to put Tommy Knox's title on the line. If the Black Hand made this match, they chose to have one of their own sacrifice something so dear and near.
"Maybe there's a reason? Maybe this is a sort of reality check for Knox, who has been all but absent the past few weeks. Maybe this is a test of wills between the entire Black Hand, put together by Michael Jennings. See which one of them is true to the cause. If Madison and Niobe let Knox have the title, then so be it, the whole group will just be a cohesive unit. If not, well, then there are some issues that probably need to be dealt with.
"I know. I can hear the question. What about me? What about Gates?
"Quite frankly, I don't expect to walk out of this match the winner. Sure, it would be great if I could overcome those odds, slap each of those Black Hand members around and stand tall at the end of it with the title held high. But I know that is probably a pipe dream. Instead, I know that I am going to have to kick, scream and claw my way through this match so that I come out on the other side with some semblance of survival. I need to make sure that I am able to power through anything that is thrown my way.
"So this week, winning isn't what I'm after. No, this week, it's all about survival. It's all about treading water. I'll still give it my all, if only to show those assholes that I am not some easy win they can hang their hats on. And if the chips fall where they need to, I might even pick up the win. But I'm not counting on it.
"If anything, I can see this match ending up in some form of chaos. I can see the world closing in on me, and everything just goes...black. I can see fists being thrown, bodies being dragged. What I see could be compared to hell.
"And I can't wait.
"Sick? Maybe. Stupid? Depending on who you ask, that answer could be no or most definitely. I know what odds face me and I know that I'm probably better off just walking away from this match. Never going down that ramp, never looking any of my opponents in the eye.
"But then they win. Then they would be the ones with the last laugh and, really, we can't have that, can we? After everything that has happened, after what they did last week, I can't have them believe that they have actually won. That they have actually broken me down. What kind of image would that create for weeks to come? They would see me as the weak link in the chain.
"I guess what I should do is look to my three opponents and find out where the weak link is there.
"Is it Chris Madison? Probably not. He's been pretty dominant in the past few weeks, doing whatever he can to not only get under my skin, but also to further his own agenda, and the agenda of the Black Hand. He's picked up a few wins and he has really begun making a name for himself in APW. I probably wouldn't peg him as the weak link, at least not at first. Not after he, or I assume it was he, orchestrated what happened last week.
"Is it Niobe Martin? After what her and I went through two weeks ago, I'd have to say no. She picked up the victory over me and showed me that she wasn't the low woman on the totem pole. She did have help to do so, but that's the sort of thing people like the Black Hand gloss over. They don't look at all of the details. Still, she showed me what she is capable of in that match, so I can't just write her off as the weak link in the chain this week.
"Then it has to be Tommy Knox, right? The guy that beat Evan Envi? The guy that stopped as successful a run as his? I doubt that one, too. He did what so many others couldn't do. He did what some high profile names couldn't do. So for me to overlook him, well, that's not going to be good for my business.
"Which leads most to the conclusion that there is no weak link, and they might be right. I refuse to accept that as gospel, however, because I refuse to accept that they can't be beaten. There's a weakness there, it's just a matter of finding it and exposing it so that I can take advantage of it.
"Maybe there's unrest. Maybe Knox has worked himself out of the good graces of his partners in crime, and they are going to want to make an example out of him. Show the rest of the world that the Black Hand is not something to mess with or piss off, even amongst their own ranks. It might make people hesitant to want to join them, but hey, at this point, you never can tell what their up to.
"At the very least, for however long I am able to stand on my own two feet, I will be able to get some revenge on everyone in this match. Some payback for what they have done.
"Helping Niobe pick up the victory two years ago would have been enough for me to want to take Chris Madison down a peg or two, but then after the stunt he pulled last week. After stealing my hat and setting it on fire. Well, now I really want to show him that I mean business. I want to show him that he isn't this top dog he thinks he is. I mean, you take away the power in numbers and what do you have?
"You've got a man who is afraid to step into the ring with me. I mean, look at it. Since Shockwave ended and since I could put my focus towards helping Biggs in this little situation, Madison hasn't had the gall to step up against me. Instead, the Black Hand has thrown Knox, Niobe - twice - and then Biggs and I were booked in a pretty good tag team match, ruined by the aftermath.
"Maybe this can be seen as me calling him out. Maybe next week I'll get a match with him. Maybe. Or maybe not, especially if the Black Hand continues to, seemingly, get their way.
"Of course, theirs anger towards Niobe, too, mainly because she used help to beat me. Because she couldn't do it on her own. Believe me, had she beaten me fair and square without the need of someone like Madison to help her out, I'd shake her hand and tell her she was the better person that night. But that wasn't really the case, and yet, she probably thinks she's on top of the world going into this match. She's beaten me, she could ask her boyfriend to lay down for her, and she could hopefully convince Madison to let her have the title.
"But much like Madison, you take away the numbers and what is she? A floozy? A woman who uses her charm to get her way? No, she's neither of those, but she's also not this unstoppable force she seems to have become lately. She beat me two weeks ago, she won last week. All of sudden people are looking at her like a real threat to...something.
"And then there's Knox. Admittedly, Knox and I haven't crossed paths too often, but the basic fact that he's aligning himself with that riff-raff tells me that he's just as bad as they are. He might be one of the few in that faction that have earned what came to them, but even that can be left up to speculation. Would he have won the Overdrive title if he didn't have the presence of the Black Hand in his rear view mirror?
"Some people might say so, and they might say that he deserves everything he's gotten so far in APW, with or without his back up. And they might be right. I just can't overlook where he is now, and who he has chosen to surround himself with.
"So I guess there's a bright side to this puzzle. Even though I'm walking into a lion's den, and even though it's looking more and more probable that I won't walk out the victor, I am still able to extract some sort of revenge on the people that have decided to make my life hell since I came to Biggs' side during one of their blitz attacks.
"Really, when you break it all down, the only real question people will need to ask is whether or not I will make it out alive.
"Even still, I'll be out there doing what I always do.
"I'll be fighting this match the same way I fight every match.
"I'll be going big or going home."
"Maybe I gave them too much credit. I figured there was no way they could stoop much lower, yet here we are, a week later, and I can only shake my own head.
"My own hat-less head.
"I should have seen it coming. After putting up with a Level One who looked as though he had changed his stripes only to show his true colors, after dealing with a Terry Marvin who tried to be the good guy and retire, after putting up with Kurt Noble who began to fall into a funk, you'd figure I'd be able to tell when things are going south.
"Instead, the Black Hand stole my hat, burned it and all my other possessions, along with Biggs', and then, if that wasn't enough, they attacked us.
"Now, this week, I get a shot at the Overdrive title, but I also have to contend with three members of the Black Hand. I'm sure Biggs won't be far, but that still out numbers us five to two. Not that it matters, because there's nothing those guys can throw our way that we can't deal with.
"We're resilient.
"We bounce back.
"We're warriors.
"And we're not going to let those guys push us around. That's why we fight back, and that's why I am going to fight back this week. I might be stuck in the ring with three of them, but that doesn't mean I am just going to roll over and throw in the towel.
"I am going to give Madison, Knox and Martin my all. I am going to use this moment to take out some frustrations on them. I am going to show them that they can't break my spirit. And in doing so, I am going to make sure that they know that nice guys don't finish last.
"It won't be easy, but by this point in my career, nothing really is. With everyone looking to use me as a launching point for their careers, I am always in for a fight.
"I am always entering into a war.
"And this week is no different."
------------------------------------------
"So tell me more about what you do," Abigail Markos says as she sits down on the couch. She leans forward and places her drink on the coffee table, sitting back and smiling at C.J. Gates.
"You should know by now, Abby," Gates says as he sits down beside her. "I mean, you work for us now, right?"
"True," she says with a smile. "But the only thing I've really got a hold of, is your T-Shirt business."
Gates nods. "Yeah, that was something I started when I first came to APW. Started during my partnership with Blade and just kind of grew from there."
"But what else is there?"
"Well there's the family business," Gates says. "And then there a few small things here and there. Nothing too crazy, but just small ventures I started up over the years."
"Basically just building on what you have?"
"Exactly," Gates says before smiling. "Funnily enough, no one ever looks at it like that. They all just assume that I've been born with a silver spoon in my mouth, just coasting on my parents money. They don't realize that I've built the majority of my personal wealth on my own."
"And what about the wrestling?"
"What about it?" Gates asks.
"Why do you do it?" Abby asks with a slight smile.
"The competition," Gates answers, almost immediately. "That's how it started anyways. Unlike some other people, I didn't need to do it for the money, I didn't need to do it to turn my life around, I did it because I enjoyed the thrill of competition."
"What changed?"
"Nothing really change," Gates says with a shrug. "I think it just went from being about the competition, to being about turning the business around." Gates shakes his head. "No, that's the wrong way to put it. After things really picked up for me in APW, I was able to see all of the evil going on in the business, so I figured I would do whatever I could to eliminate it, and to give the fans something to cheer for."
"Thus everything going on with the Black Hand," Abby says as she picks up her glass.
Gates nods. "I was preoccupied with Level One when Biggs was first getting attacked by Jennings, and then when things continued, I couldn't sit back and let five people attack one. It just doesn't seem right."
"I can agree with that," Abby says, taking a sip, "but aren't you worried that you might get injured?"
"There's always that risk," Gates says. "I guess sometimes I worry, but for the most part, I'm not. In the end, it's all worth it to me, and if I have to put my life on the line to save someone or to give the fans a good match, then I will."
"Makes sense," Abby says. "I guess I was just wondering why you'd want to do something that puts your body on the line every night."
"You've got to remember, though, for every night where my body is on the line, there are nights when my body isn't on the line. It all depends on who I'm facing and who is looking to hunt me down. I was pretty safe when Level One and I were facing off."
"But now, not so much."
"Now not so much," Gates echoes. "But it's all part of the business. In the end, I'm sure it will have all been worth it."
"Especially this week," Abby says.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you've got that title shot. If you win, it will have been worth it to win some more gold, wouldn't it?"
"I guess it would, yeah," Gates says. "I mean, I'm not too caught up in winning titles, it's more the people holding them that I want to beat."
"Because?"
"Bragging rights I guess," Gates says. "And probably to try and put them in their place. It might not work, but I'm at least trying, right?"
"I guess that's true," Abby says. "But the pain and punishment."
"It's not as bad as it looks," Gates chuckles. "Shockwave was the first time a match kept me from competing and the first time there was an actual health scare to go along with it. And that's in three plus years of wrestling."
"I guess."
"There's nothing to worry about," Gates reassures. "This thing between Biggs and I and the Black Hand, it's going to end at One Night in Hell, and then, we won't have to worry about them anymore. As for me, I'm fine right now, and I know I'll be fine after."
"I'm just worried I guess," Abby admits with a shrug.
"I know, and I can't really blame you. It's not like we're playing tiddly winks out there."
"Just be careful."
"I will."
------------------------------------------
"Careful.
"That's not exactly something I have control over. Especially not when I'm facing off against three members of the same faction. You don't even have to say it to know that I am target number one. That those three are going to be doing anything and everything to keep me grounded, bleeding and battered.
"I mean, why not? I'm the outsider. Eliminate me and then the three of them can play rock, paper, scissors to figure out who the next champion will be. Or they can just let Knox keep it since he beat Envi to win it in the first place.
"The thing about the Black Hand though, is whether or not that is possible. Most factions would all focus in on me, but maybe the Black Hand isn't the same. Maybe they are the sort of people who will take some licks and some shots at one another, just to see where they stand. Just to see if they can fight back.
"I can only hope.
"Because really, that's my only chance. To have Madison, Martin and Knox battle it out at some point before I get eliminated, that's what I need.
"I need some dissension in the ranks.
"I need the family to fight.
"I need some sort of breathing room."
------------------------------------------
"Well this should be fun," Vincent James says as he drops the paper containing the line up for Overdrive.
"Tell me about it," C.J. Gates responds from behind his desk.
"You guys got a plan?"
"What do you mean?"
"You and Biggs," James says. "You two know how you're going to handle it this week."
"The same way we do every week, Vinnie," Gates says with a chuckle. "Just do whatever we can do and hope for the best. I mean, there's not much we can do, aside from protect ourselves and fight out of the mayhem that we're bound to get in to."
"Seems weak," James says. "You're just asking for an ass kicking if that's your attitude."
"Well what do you expect?" Gates asks. "I'm fighting three member of the Black Hand, there are probably two more hanging close by. Biggs is there too, but he's not four guys, so it's going to be hard to really even the odds."
"That's what I'm saying," James says. "The two of you need a real plan. Something more then just throwing your hands up and saying 'oh well'."
Gates shrugs. "I guess we'll see what Overdrive brings. But as of right now, that's the plan."
James nods his head repeatedly before sitting forward. "Can I use your computer later?"
"What for?" Gates asks, looking up from his screen.
"I'd like to work on my resume," James offers.
"What are you on about now?"
"Well, if you're going to walk into the lion's den, why can't I make sure I've got myself ready for when you don't walk out. Because there's a buzz saw flying right at your head and you aren't willing to accept that."
"I accept it," Gates says. "Don't think I have, I've accepted the fact that they all want to take my head off. There's just not much that Biggs and I can do about it."
"Well then, right here, right now, I'm telling you to change that." James sits back down in the chair. "Change that before you end up being a dead man walking."
"Bound to happen right?" Gates chuckles, but James doesn't laugh. "Take the stick out of your ass, I'm only kidding."
"There are a lot of people who care about you," James begins. "Me, Abigail, Biggs, your mom-"
"My mom," Gates scoffs as he shakes his head.
"She cares about you," James says. "And like the rest, she doesn't want to see who throw it all away and hurt yourself. So be smart when you're in that ring."
"I'll try."
"Don't try. Do."
"Okay," Gates says after a few moments of silence.
"Just don't be stupid, C.J."
"I kind of feel like I'm already stupid for considering going out there."
"I wasn't going to say it," James says with a smirk. "I figured I'd let you get there on your own."
"But I can't really be considering that, right? I mean, to just throw in the towel and refuse to fight."
"It wouldn't be the C.J. Gates way, that's true," James says. "But it would be the smart thing to do, because then you wouldn't be forced to put your life on the line. You never know what those guys are going to do."
"I know," Gates admits. After a long silence he simply shakes his head. "I just can't bring myself to do it. I can't bring myself to just walk out on that match."
"Well, give it some time," James offers. "You've got a few days, think about it, and when Overdrive goes live, you can decide which way you want to go."
Gates nods repeatedly, seemingly looking past James, and Vinnie simply shrugs.
"Ultimately, it's up to you."
"I know," Gates says. "It's not exactly an easy decision, though."
"All I'm saying," James starts, "is that it would be stupid to go out there."
------------------------------------------
"There was a point in time when beating Evan Envi for the Overdrive title would have sounded great to any man. Unfortunately, I never got that chance, and while many others did, the only one that made anything of it, was Tommy Knox.
"Now I stand across the ring from him in a match I can only assume was designed by the Black Hand. After all, when you're facing off against three of it's members, you can't suspect the General Manager or the owner to have done this.
"Right?
"The puzzling thing, is who did Knox piss off? I only ask, because it would have been enough to put me in a handicapped match against the Iron Nightmare. They could have even done a three on one with the three in this match. Instead, they chose to put Tommy Knox's title on the line. If the Black Hand made this match, they chose to have one of their own sacrifice something so dear and near.
"Maybe there's a reason? Maybe this is a sort of reality check for Knox, who has been all but absent the past few weeks. Maybe this is a test of wills between the entire Black Hand, put together by Michael Jennings. See which one of them is true to the cause. If Madison and Niobe let Knox have the title, then so be it, the whole group will just be a cohesive unit. If not, well, then there are some issues that probably need to be dealt with.
"I know. I can hear the question. What about me? What about Gates?
"Quite frankly, I don't expect to walk out of this match the winner. Sure, it would be great if I could overcome those odds, slap each of those Black Hand members around and stand tall at the end of it with the title held high. But I know that is probably a pipe dream. Instead, I know that I am going to have to kick, scream and claw my way through this match so that I come out on the other side with some semblance of survival. I need to make sure that I am able to power through anything that is thrown my way.
"So this week, winning isn't what I'm after. No, this week, it's all about survival. It's all about treading water. I'll still give it my all, if only to show those assholes that I am not some easy win they can hang their hats on. And if the chips fall where they need to, I might even pick up the win. But I'm not counting on it.
"If anything, I can see this match ending up in some form of chaos. I can see the world closing in on me, and everything just goes...black. I can see fists being thrown, bodies being dragged. What I see could be compared to hell.
"And I can't wait.
"Sick? Maybe. Stupid? Depending on who you ask, that answer could be no or most definitely. I know what odds face me and I know that I'm probably better off just walking away from this match. Never going down that ramp, never looking any of my opponents in the eye.
"But then they win. Then they would be the ones with the last laugh and, really, we can't have that, can we? After everything that has happened, after what they did last week, I can't have them believe that they have actually won. That they have actually broken me down. What kind of image would that create for weeks to come? They would see me as the weak link in the chain.
"I guess what I should do is look to my three opponents and find out where the weak link is there.
"Is it Chris Madison? Probably not. He's been pretty dominant in the past few weeks, doing whatever he can to not only get under my skin, but also to further his own agenda, and the agenda of the Black Hand. He's picked up a few wins and he has really begun making a name for himself in APW. I probably wouldn't peg him as the weak link, at least not at first. Not after he, or I assume it was he, orchestrated what happened last week.
"Is it Niobe Martin? After what her and I went through two weeks ago, I'd have to say no. She picked up the victory over me and showed me that she wasn't the low woman on the totem pole. She did have help to do so, but that's the sort of thing people like the Black Hand gloss over. They don't look at all of the details. Still, she showed me what she is capable of in that match, so I can't just write her off as the weak link in the chain this week.
"Then it has to be Tommy Knox, right? The guy that beat Evan Envi? The guy that stopped as successful a run as his? I doubt that one, too. He did what so many others couldn't do. He did what some high profile names couldn't do. So for me to overlook him, well, that's not going to be good for my business.
"Which leads most to the conclusion that there is no weak link, and they might be right. I refuse to accept that as gospel, however, because I refuse to accept that they can't be beaten. There's a weakness there, it's just a matter of finding it and exposing it so that I can take advantage of it.
"Maybe there's unrest. Maybe Knox has worked himself out of the good graces of his partners in crime, and they are going to want to make an example out of him. Show the rest of the world that the Black Hand is not something to mess with or piss off, even amongst their own ranks. It might make people hesitant to want to join them, but hey, at this point, you never can tell what their up to.
"At the very least, for however long I am able to stand on my own two feet, I will be able to get some revenge on everyone in this match. Some payback for what they have done.
"Helping Niobe pick up the victory two years ago would have been enough for me to want to take Chris Madison down a peg or two, but then after the stunt he pulled last week. After stealing my hat and setting it on fire. Well, now I really want to show him that I mean business. I want to show him that he isn't this top dog he thinks he is. I mean, you take away the power in numbers and what do you have?
"You've got a man who is afraid to step into the ring with me. I mean, look at it. Since Shockwave ended and since I could put my focus towards helping Biggs in this little situation, Madison hasn't had the gall to step up against me. Instead, the Black Hand has thrown Knox, Niobe - twice - and then Biggs and I were booked in a pretty good tag team match, ruined by the aftermath.
"Maybe this can be seen as me calling him out. Maybe next week I'll get a match with him. Maybe. Or maybe not, especially if the Black Hand continues to, seemingly, get their way.
"Of course, theirs anger towards Niobe, too, mainly because she used help to beat me. Because she couldn't do it on her own. Believe me, had she beaten me fair and square without the need of someone like Madison to help her out, I'd shake her hand and tell her she was the better person that night. But that wasn't really the case, and yet, she probably thinks she's on top of the world going into this match. She's beaten me, she could ask her boyfriend to lay down for her, and she could hopefully convince Madison to let her have the title.
"But much like Madison, you take away the numbers and what is she? A floozy? A woman who uses her charm to get her way? No, she's neither of those, but she's also not this unstoppable force she seems to have become lately. She beat me two weeks ago, she won last week. All of sudden people are looking at her like a real threat to...something.
"And then there's Knox. Admittedly, Knox and I haven't crossed paths too often, but the basic fact that he's aligning himself with that riff-raff tells me that he's just as bad as they are. He might be one of the few in that faction that have earned what came to them, but even that can be left up to speculation. Would he have won the Overdrive title if he didn't have the presence of the Black Hand in his rear view mirror?
"Some people might say so, and they might say that he deserves everything he's gotten so far in APW, with or without his back up. And they might be right. I just can't overlook where he is now, and who he has chosen to surround himself with.
"So I guess there's a bright side to this puzzle. Even though I'm walking into a lion's den, and even though it's looking more and more probable that I won't walk out the victor, I am still able to extract some sort of revenge on the people that have decided to make my life hell since I came to Biggs' side during one of their blitz attacks.
"Really, when you break it all down, the only real question people will need to ask is whether or not I will make it out alive.
"Even still, I'll be out there doing what I always do.
"I'll be fighting this match the same way I fight every match.
"I'll be going big or going home."
