Champion vs Champion, Family vs Family

[Reaver]

10/1/13


I sit back and watch as construction continues rebuilding the house that Juan built, the dungeon as some of us have come to call it. The debris being removed to accommodate for the fresh, almost known all too well. I sit and reminisce about how it's all a metaphor for my APW career. Here I am thinking that I was sent here to remove the trash and found myself apart of it. How has it come to this? I almost feel like I'm only good in a pinch rather than the starting five.

The designated hitter if you will.

Second string.

I've always fought to better myself through any situation. Gotten back up when I fell. Refused to quit, and took the loss as being placed on the path to getting stronger. What more could anybody ask for? Besides a win of coarse. I couldn't help but get goosebumps at the thought of training with Juan again. Coming back harder and stronger. The thought of watching the gym being rebuilt. Just as hard as it fell, it comes back stronger. Not lazy and over confident, but open minded and ready to learn. Almost sounds too familiar, HA![/color]

The scene opens up as Knuckles stares through a chain length fence; looking on as the construction crew moves the scattered mess of Juan Ramirez's gym out of sight to make room for the new, and improved, hell that we will train under. He knew that Kash pushes harder even without the place but Knuckles waits patiently. He could always just follow Kash's ways but he wanted to be his own man. Those days of dehydration in dim light basements trying to make a name for himself were behind him; although he never forgotten where he started. Kash loved that daily reminder. Knuckles tended not to dwell on the past ways but more looked to the future.

Juan came up from behind Knuckles and put his hand on his shoulder as if to enjoy the “watch the show”, so to speak, and take in what's going on. They didn't say anything to each other at first. Kind of like a first date but in a completely non-homosexual way. (I swear)

Juan: Jason said you might be comin' by. I'm kinda curious which one I'll get to talk to today, HA!

Knuckles: Ha ha, very funny. So I take it you've noticed the changes huh?

Juan: OHHHHH so I get Knuckles today huh? Or is it Reaver?

Knuckles: Always the joker I see. We're both here. Just getting antsy at the restoration since the old place fell like Rome. Again Juan, we're sorry it happened. Foul Play wanted to make sure we could help out anyway we could.

Juan: Don't worry about it homie. It's definitely appreciated.

Knuckles: Except by Jair.

Juan: He'll come around. He's just protective is all. Been training him for a long time ya' know. I remember when he was still in diapers.

Knuckles: You're not gonna' get all sentimental on me are ya? Cuz' I can go for a walk......

Juan: HA HA! Nah it aint' like that at all. Just know the kid for so long that he feels like one of my own and I think he feels the same way.

Knuckles: Don't get me wrong, I totally understand where he's coming from. Like a step father trying to get the kids to listen to him for the first time. He really doesn't have any reason to trust us is all I'm saying. Kash and I fought to get ourselves in the tag division just so we could rip away those titles away from him and Bailey. Kash has consistently put Dying Breed in their place where as I really haven't done shit. I kinda' hoping Jair just see's all of this as business and nothing personal.

Juan: Like I said homie, He'll come around. Just takes time. Trust isn't anything to you start with, it has to be earned. You guys have had your battles and I think maybe he see's what you guys were tryin' to accomplish.

Knuckles: It's more than that though. In this line of work, there's no room for emotion. Just ask Kash about Kaylyn, HA! In fact, I don't think I've ever seen him with anything BUT a failed relationship.

Juan: Are you trying to say that you want a relationship with Jair?

Knuckles: WHOA!! No Homo! Just sayin' that if we're supposed to be a family then he should pick up on it a little quicker than just being Uncle Touchy who plays in the naked basement.

Juan: No Homo my ass HA!!

Juan laughs at Knuckles who smirks back at him and gives him a playful shove to the side. Knuckles knew the past relationship between him and Jair. They were too busy fighting with each other to really understand the reality that was in front of them at the time.

Juan: Johnny boy, even brothers fight with each other. How many times did you and Jason nearly kill each other before you guys became one solid team?

Knuckles: Point, Juan! (as if there was a game to keep score of) There has to be at least a SMALL shred of respect there somewhere.....

Juan: And there is! Trust me!

Reaver: Are you guys done playing grab ass cuz' all this sentimental garbage is making me wanna' vomit.

Juan: AHH! Switcheroo time I see whatcha' did there. Just remember guys, which ever one you are, that there will always be something there to prove. You guys just gotta' let it go.

Juan walks off leaving Knuckles, or Reaver, there to enjoy the view himself but also left him to ponder the duality of it all as the scene fades. (ha get it?)

Knuckles: We've come a long way haven't we Jair? Each of has have finally won ourselves singles gold, not that you're a stranger to that anyways. I dunno', a lot of what Juan said kinda' hits me dead on. You and I have had our battles and fought for contention of our own personal wills. Perhaps we put too much pressure on ourselves to succeed for something so meaningless? I do what I do because I love it. The thrill of competition, the rush of adrenaline as I hit those curtains. I love to hurt people Jair, that's no secret. I don't do what I do as a type of hatred or insanity, regardless of what you may think of me at this point, but I do it because it's who I am.

A Survivor.

I always have been, always will be. I have no beef with you. Not anymore. I was hoping that maybe I could make you understand why it is that I do what I do. It's the passion, the love I have for this company, the genuine emotion I have for this brand they call Asylum, the brand we call home. Push came to shove and I was called upon to help defend what was rightfully ours. There was nothing personal about any of what you and I have, just straight business. Where were you when Stefan Raab was destroying our home? I can't expect you to understand Hopkins but I hope maybe I can maybe make you see my love for Asylum.

Just as you have love for Juan in a big brother kind of way. He took care of you, trained you, showed you the ropes. He watched as you grew and matured; not only as a fighter but as a man. The way you conducted yourself inside the ring and out. Of coarse there were times when you slipped. People fall all the time Jair. I'm certainly no stranger to that. People make mistakes. Shit happens. That's why when Kash and I heard about what happened to the gym, we wanted to make sure that we had a hand in keeping the spirit alive. Now I know you can look at us and see the love we have based on that alone, but nobody can make you. You have to WANNA' see it. You have to wanna' see the passion that drives us to push harder and harder week after week.

We all know you feel it Hopkins. You push yourself to your limits just as any of us do. Jason was right when he said we could see how much you've grown and that's just based off of what we've seen since we've all known each other. Imagine how much more you had before we ever met? I'm sorry I didn't have time to finish dealing with you but duty called and I did what I had to do in order to keep money in our pockets, food in our stomachs, clothes on our backs, and a roof over our heads. I did what was necessary in order to keep our jobs by ripping it away from the tyranny of Stefan Raab. I hoped that maybe you would be just slightly grateful. I know Parker and Talfourd sure as fuck weren't. They continue to bicker back and forth like street walkers over the same corner.

So where do we go from here Hopkins? Do we go at it one more time like dogs to see who gets the ast scrap of meat or do we put aside hatred and do as champions do? We will show the people who watch Asylum WHY we're the number one brand and prove to everybody just who the better champion really is.......

Reaver: HEHEHEHAHAHAHA! And we do it on OUR terms! This match won't be for the weak at heart but understand Jair, this is nothing more than to see how far each of us have come since Test For The Best. I WILL do everything in my power to put you down and I expect the same in return. We will be the match of the night and limp away laughing with each other because we both know we love this business. Blood trickling down and gasping for air, we will grin and nod because nothing more really needs to be said. We both have our insecurities Jair. The same insecurities that freak you out help force me to fight back. Those same insecurities push me and drive me to surpass my fears and work harder. And this is what the world can NEVER take away from me, from us.

So from one champion to the next Hopkins, let's do this with style, with class, with dignity. Let's go down hard and go down swinging because that's all we know. Let's bring out the brutality and go for broke. Or did last year against Jason in that parking lot brawl take all of that out of you? HEHEHAHAHAHA! I totally HAD to throw that at ya'.

Let's face it Jair, you are just no good in that type of environment and it's where I excel. Maybe a little too well but that's for a jury to decide right? HEHEHEHAHAHA! We WILL have our time and finish the job that was started against Black Hand but remember that we won't hesitate to put you down just the same.

Knuckles: Don't listen to that fool Jair. Just bring your “A” game and look forward to a good old fashioned beat down. I know I definitely will......

Reaver: Oh shut up! You never let me have any fun!

Knuckles: You're idea of fun are flaming bags of poo.

Reaver: Jason too!

Knuckles: Why am I not surprised?