Post by Shadow on Mar 9, 2014 15:57:49 GMT -4
"Endings are hard."
Rob Benedict's voices caused Shadow to look back over his shoulder to the television.
"Any chapped-ass monkey with a keyboard can poop out a beginning, but endings are impossible. You try to tie up every loose end, but you never can. The fans are always gonna bitch. There's always gonna be holes. And since it's the ending, it's all supposed to add up to something. I'm telling you, they're a raging pain in the ass. "
It's the conclusion to the season five finale of Supernatural. Shadow stopped packing as he turns to watch the fifth act. This episode always tugged at his heart strings. It was hard watching something you loved end. Every television series that ended, Firefly, Angel, DBZ, they all ended. It was the thing about endings. These characters that someone has created, you become invested in them. You never want them to end, but they do.
Shadow stood there watching what was supposed to be the final episode of Supernatural. His mind thought back to everything he'd ever been through. He remembered that night after Tokyo, when he pulled Slade from the depths. Dragging his best friend out from the abyss as promised. Slade was in a coma now, God knew if he would ever wake up. Then there was Seann and Assassin; two of Shadow's best friends. They were waiting in Toronto. Through all the faces that kept flashing through Shadow's mind the one that stood out most was Dita Morgan. He missed her so. As the show continued to play in the background, Shadow returned to packing.
"Nothing ever really ends, does it?"
The show concluded in the background as Shadow zipped up his bag. With a heavy sigh he slung it over his shoulder and turned to the television. On screen Shadow didn't realize he was looking at the personification of himself staring back. Their unwavering gaze upon one another was cold.
With a slap of the button, Shadow shut off the television and left the room. "Everything ends." Shadow said solemnly as the credits began to roll.
*The scene opens in the locker room area. As Shadow stands there its obvious that he's uncomfortable. Even dressed in his usual jeans and black sleeveless shirt or with his eyes masked by the usual black sunglasses, something is off. There is nothing special about this locker room, not this time. Shadow didn't hang up the black drapes. Nor did her dim the lighting and strike up a couple of candles. Shadow stands like a statue. His lip quivers for a moment.*
It's had to imagine that this moment has finally arrived. But you know what? While it's almost surreal I can't say I am entirely surprised. Kingdom's are always rising and falling in the world, so it would be unrealistic to think something a great as APW could stand forever. I mean it's not heaven is it... I mean THE HEAVEN? No, but as long as I've been a part of Action Packed Wrestling, I've considered it heaven on Earth. It's been an Eden, a private sanctuary for some of the greatest wrestling talent to ever set foot in the ring. Unlike other federations we had no borders, ours extended to the far reaches of the world we live in and into other federations centered around the globe. Without a doubt, APW is and will always be one of a kind.
So it only makes sense that this one of a kind place, that hosted one of a kind events, should go out in a never seen before style: Three nights of non stop wrestling packed with action. I have to admit I didn't expect to be booked on the final night of Rasslemania X. I never held myself in that high of regard. Don't get me wrong I do think very highly of myself; however, when it comes to something like this, the names that are booked on this show: legends, myths and even a massive main event between Biggs and President Jeff, I never once thought I, the Usher of Darkness, would be graced with the opportunity to open such a show.
It's no secret, I love starting show. Not because I'm a "curtain jerker." If anyone out there is ever booked in the first match and think's they've been reduced to such a thing well, they can go fuck themselves. Opening a show is a great honor, it's the second most important match of the night, second to the main event. We set the pace of the show, we draw the fans in, we hook them so I'll be damn if I let anyone out there ever disrespect the honor that comes with opening a show, let alone the FINAL show APW will ever have.
And I'm big on respect. Shit, you know that. If you're watching this right now, you're a true APW fan. You are not Joe the Jobber, walking into this place looking for a chance to make it in the big time. APW shut it's doors to the new guys this show, this pay per view is for the die hard fans, the ones who followed us from the beginning. This show is for them.
*Shadow's voice is serious, he continues on then suddenly pauses mid sentence.*
You better believe EVERYBODY booked on this show is going to leave everything in that ring on March 30th. Well... wait stop. Not everybody. I forgot, I'm booked in a match with Mark Mania. What a piece of shit. How the hell did you convince President Jeff to give you a "Billy Martin?" In the past two year's you've spit on this federation more than people like Bacon Andrews and Joseph Johnson. That's right I said it. Since it is the final show you better believe I'm not pulling in punches. So I'm just going to say it: Fuck Mark Mainia. If there was anyone who earn the right to say that it's me. First and foremost the bastard was a former Overdrive Champion. Carl Cage was a better Overdrive Champion than Mark Mania.... smart people help the dumb people.
I think I have a right to be pissed off. This is the final night of Rasslemania X and here I am slated to take you on. The first time we were met you sat outside the ring like a bitch. Then the next time you didn't even show up. Mark Mania, you are a waste of oxygen and it's time you leave. On the other hand, while I may have the right to be pissed off, I'm not. As a matter of fact I'm ecstatic that you're bitch ass got chunked into the meat grinder. You see by doing so, I get one last opportunity to do the thing I love most: Take out the trash. That's right, APW's fan-appointed sanitation specialist is clocking in one last time.
*He cracks the Diamond Standard grin. For a moment he's can help but chuckle. Thoughts roll through his head of all those piss ants Shadow had eradicated during his time in APW, all those nobodies who didn't deserve to be called APW Megastars. Right now, Shadow thought that of Mark Mania. There is another shift though. Someone else has popped into his head.*
But there is someone else in this match, someone who isn't trash. A wrestler whose earned the right to be a part of Rasslemania X Part III: Nathaniel Havok, the Enforcer of Sorrow. Nate, I got to say; while I may not like you, goddamn son do I respect you. Why? Because you had the balls to pour your heart out. Here I was all set to let loose a torrent of text book trash talk about how you and Mark Mania weren't going to ruin my last night in APW. Then I heard you and it really made me think.
Because you're right Nate, I don't need this victory. To be honest I was perfectly happy ending my career the way back in Tokyo. I mean look at my final year of APW. I took on some of the greatest. And I I'm not talking about going head to head with some of the greatest megastars APW had on roster, I took on the authority of APW: Alexander Duvall, Sienna Harrison and Stefan Raab. I went from show to show; incurring the wrath of the power behind the curtain and I welcomed it. They sent everything the had at me; The Natural Born Killerz, Gauntlet matches, The Unforgiven. It didn't matter what they unleashed, I let NOTHING stand in my way.
*The Usher of Darkness speaks with his own authority.*
Then I given an opportunity that I certainly never expected. A shot at the APW Undisputed Championship at One Night in Hell 2013. No I didn't win and no I wasn't the last contender standing against the champion. And that didn't bother me because I never cared about gold, everyone knows that. I just wanted to get my hands in Aubrey J Parker and that I did. Being given a chance to become Undisputed Champion, that was something I'd only dreamed of. After a boisterous year stemming from One Night in Hell 2012 to 2013, I'd have to surmise it was probably the my favorite year in my entire career. So when I heard that APW was shutting its doors following 1-night-n-Hell, I just smiled, unlaced my boots, hung up my coat and went home.
Unlike Nathaniel Havok, I didn't have to participate in this event to get my closure. I wanted to be a part of APW's final show because I felt that after everything this company had done for me, I owed it to this place to help make sure she went out in a blaze of glory. Little did I know that this particular show would give me two chances to do something I loved doing for this company: put the CEO of Mania Enterprises on extended medical leave and give Nathaniel Havok the closure he deserved.
This isn't a shoot Nate, this is a sign of respect. You say you need this. You told the world that if you fail here it will gnaw at your very core until the day you die. Then earn this win Havok. You can't pin Mark Mania either, You have to pin me, because I lay down for nobody. Let say you do take the cheap way out, because we both know if Mania shows up we both will probably graduate him to a permanent liquid diet. So you pin him rather than me. We both know that won't do it for you. For the rest of your life you know that if you pin Mark Mania out there all you'll have is a hollow victory.
You think losing will eat away at you? No, not compared to something as empty win over Mark Mania. Because pinning Mania doesn't give you your closure, pinning me will.
I'm Shadow, motherfucker. Everything you said about me, everything I've ever done, all that I am is standing between you and the thing you crave the most. I'm the biggest roadblock of your whole career. And if you pin Mark Mania you'll spend the rest of your life wondering. I have no intention on pinning Mark Mania. I'll be cleaning chunks of his ass off my boot for weeks, I don't want to achieve my final victory through him. No I want to go through you. I want to make you earn it because if you do win, if your dream is realized I'll still have my closure. And you should feel the same way.
After this match is over we're all going home, everyone one of us. Sure some people will go to other federations but in reality a little piece of all of us will be finished. Those who gave everything to this company didn't do it for the money or to headline they did it because they love the business and Havok I think you do love this business. So when this is over regardless of who's music is playing, I'll still shake you hand.
There is no tomorrow for me Havok. I'm fucking forty years old. I've been doing this since I was fifteen. I have no desire to sign up for another federation, go through their physical and determine if my body can still compete. Carve my name into their headlines using the bones of their roster. When that bell rings I'm finished. And if my music is playing, well I'm sorry you won't get to realize your dream. But don't be to hard on yourself, son. A lot of people have given their all to defeat me only to fall short. I'm not going to win because I want to rob you of your victory. If I win tonight its simply because I won't lay down, I won't stop. I never stop. This is our last night Nathaniel, its our swan song. If I win tonight it's because I know that once that bell rings it IS over.
*A tear rolls down Shadow's cheek as he accepts the fact that this would be the last time he ever cuts a promo.*
Havok, I plan to make this moment last forever.
