Post by C.J. Gates on Jul 23, 2015 21:08:04 GMT -4
"It's good to be home.
"The Reunion show was just the tip of the iceberg. The APW showed why it is one of the most successful federations when it re-opened for one night only to showcase the best of the best. People flocked, people watched, and people went home with memories to last a lifetime.
"And they also went home with questions floating through their minds.
"Why?
"Why did I do what I did?
"That's all I've heard for the past few weeks. Why did I attack Mark Mania? Did he steal my lunch money? Did he cut me off in the parking lot? Did he take the last slice of pizza off the catering table? Did he touch my hat?
"Really, it doesn't matter what Mark Mania did or why I did what I did. In fact that doesn't even matter right now because there are more pressing matters at hand. There are things that are more important then whatever happened after our match at the Reunion show.
"I know, I know, everyone is dying to know! But for all of the people who are chomping at the bit to find out, well, they will just have to tune in to Deception.
"They will have to tune in to the first show of the rebirth. The show where I take back the position that I never truly lost. The Main Event. Battling at the end of the show in a spot that truly showcases my talents.
"And to do so against someone like Arkia Fisk is a bonus in itself. I get to step back into the ring against someone with some form of talent.
"Against a well known name.
"Beating a well known name.
"Oh it feels so good to be home."
---------------------
A phone rings. C.J. Gates looks down at the caller display and rolls his eyes before lifting the receiver and placing it back down, ending the call.
"Another interview?" Vincent James asks from across the room. Gates and James are in a much larger office then we've seen them in before, with Gates seated behind his large wooden desk.
"Yeah," Gates responds. "They just won't leave me alone."
"Well why don't you just answer," James says. "You've been dodging them long enough, just give them what they want."
Gates smiles. "Where's the fun in that? Why not string them along a bit farther, let them want it that much more."
James smirks and shakes his head. "Man what happened to you?"
"What do you mean?" Gates says with a wide smile. "I'm the same lovable guy I've always been."
"You just enough attacking your friends?"
"I simply opened my eyes, Vinnie."
"Now you're sounding like a cult," James laughs. "You're not going down the same path as Tom Cruise are you? Am I going to have to reinforce the couch for when you start jumping on it?"
"Come on man, you know what I meant," Gates says. "I just realized a few things in my time away."
"Like what?"
"You sound just like them," Gates accuses. "When did you become a journalist?"
"I'm just curious man," James explains. "We were so focused on getting your business back off the ground, getting back out from under your mothers criminal ways, and then the reunion show happened."
"You remember details very well."
"And next thing I know, you're beating Mania and then beating on Mania."
"Like I said I realized something. But that's neither here nor there. If you're so curious, you're just going to have to wait until Deception to get the meat and potatoes of the situation." Gates shrugs. "If you want your explanation, you're going to have to tune in."
"Okay, okay, let's change the topic," James continues. "Do you think you will be able to compete at the same level your used to?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You haven't exactly been going full bore this entire time. You've had a few matches here and there but most of your efforts have been put into building your business."
"Come on, Vinnie," Gates says. "You're talking about C.J. Gates. I have looked fear in the face and laughed. I have been knocked down countless times but I always got back up. I have been cut open and bruised, and I still get back up. Even if I haven't been flying around a ring for a year, that doesn't automatically mean I'm going to fail at everything I do. Use your head."
Vincent James just stares at Gates. "You do know what you just said doesn't even add up. It doesn't make sense. You're deluded if you think you can just get into the ring. When was the last time you trained."
Gates opens his mouth to speak but James holds up a hand.
"Prior to your preparation for the Reunion show."
"Like, three months before that when I was trying to figure out if I had the chops to return to VWF."
"And that wasn't the sign that this was a bad idea?"
"Hey now, I won my matches there. It's not my fault they couldn't pull off the rebirth the way they expected. Besides, I didn't hear you saying this was a bad idea when I signed on to compete."
"Well, yeah," James says with a smirk. "I'm getting an extra paycheck now."
"Asshole."
"Might as well join the club, right?" James chuckles. "Alright, let's talk about something that actually has relation to your match."
"Arkia Fisk?"
"I'm talking about the special guest referee."
"Oh yeah," Gates shrugs. "I'm not too worried about it."
"Why wouldn't you be?" James asks. "Last time the two of you were in the APW, you were toeing the same line. You were fighting for the same rights and freedoms and all that shit. How do you think he's going to take to you flipping the script?"
"I don't think he will care."
"You don't?"
"I don't," Gates says. "Buckson has his morals and his views, sure. But at the end of the day, Buckson is a man who has honor and a man who won't get himself too involved in the match. He's not about to knock me out just because I hit Mark Mania at the Reunion show."
"You never know."
"I guess there's always the possibility that Buckson is trying to get himself one up by proving a point against a legend in the ring, but I think it's a slim chance. I might not know everyone's inner thoughts, but I get the feeling that Gooch won't be much of a problem for me in this match. He wants to get paid, and he's not going to jeopardize that."
"You never-"
"If you say 'you never know' one more time..."
"I'm just putting the possibility out there," James offers. "You never know what could happen in this place, especially since you stirred things up. Who would have thought that one man doing one thing would create a ripple throughout APW."
"I guess I have that effect on people," Gates smirks. "My presence in APW is a big one, I have to admit that. I've done a lot to help promote this place after all."
"Good to know your modesty stuck around."
"I'm just saying that if there was someone who would effect a wide variety of people, I can see why it's me." Gates sits up straight in the chair. "Listen, no matter what you say, I'm not worried about whatever Buckson might be thinking, and if I can be honest, I'm less worried about Arkia Fisk."
"I've heard good things about her."
"Who have you heard that from?" Gates asks with a smirk. "Half the 'critics' I talked to liked her more for her looks then her in ring talent. So really, as long as I can keep my head on straight, I should have no problem."
"Well good luck, man," James offers up. "It's a new era so you might very well need all the luck you can get."
"It might be a new era, but I'm also a new man." Gates smirks once more. "This isn't the same old C.J. Gates that people have been used to in the past."
"I guess we will find out at Deception."
"That we will," Gates starts. "Or at least, everyone else will. I already know I'm going to be a force to reckon with.
"I'm going to continue to be successful."
---------------------
"Arkia Fisk.
"You're a well known name, a name that rings throughout the halls. People say your name and there are at least a handful of people who know who you are. They all speak of you for one reason or another. Some because you are a great wrestler and others because they can't get past your looks. Regardless of why, your name has always been buzzing around this business, no matter where I've gone.
"I guess there's good reason. I mean, I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I have paid attention to your career, stroke your ego and tell you how much I looked up to you because I haven't. You've been successful, that much I know, but titles only mean so much, don't they? Isn't that what everyone says?
"Well, that's what they all said to me. No matter what I did in the past, it never mattered in the present. So I will give you the same treatment in turn. Everything that you've done doesn't really matter to me for many different reasons. For one, some of them happened a long time ago. For another this isn't like any of the other places that you've been. This is Action Packed Wrestling. This is one of the best places to ply your craft.
"This is my APW.
"Argue it all you want, I know you or someone else will, but before you do, ask yourself one thing. Can you? Can you deny that this has been my company since the moment I stepped foot through the doors? I've done nothing but put my face out there as the poster boy of APW. In the times when no one else would, I raised the APW flag everywhere I went. I set the tone for everyone else to do so, for everyone else who went from one place to another boasting about their involvement in APW.
I started that, Arkia. Sure that doesn't really speak to my in ring credentials, but what it does speak to is my heart. My tenacity. My willingness to do whatever the hell I can to get the job done. If that means soldiering out on my own, then so be it. If that means putting my body on the line, you know I will do that. If that means taking down one of the favorites in this entire business, well you know I will do that, too.
"There isn't even a question about it Arkia.
"Because I've done it before.
"Consider this. Back before I broke through and took APW for my own, I was looking across the ring at Sally Talfourd. At one point, she was everyone's favorite. At one point, she was what everyone strive to be. Sure, she turned all of that around in a few short months, but the point is still there. When she tried to use me to springboard her way back into the title picture, she was no longer seen as peoples favorite. And by the end of his attempt, I was the one who came out smelling like roses with his eye on the prize.
"Which brings us to you, Arkia. You were one a favorite but now you are nothing. You are starting from scratch and while one or two people might still have you as a favorite, the reality is that this is a fresh start for you. Your name precedes you but that's about it. And once Deception rolls through, and after I defeat you, I would have again defeated a former favorite. Because it's what I do.
"Especially at my homecoming. I'm not about to let you ruin this for me, Arkia. I'm not about to let you steal this win from under me. I've got big plans coming up, and this is just the first step to those plans. To that success. To that satisfaction.
"And who knows, maybe none of what I've said matters. Maybe everything I've said is just words in the wind and it doesn't hold any weight. Maybe what I have to do is just shut up, man up, and show everyone that I have no lost a step since that final Rasslemania show. Show them that the Reunion Show was not just a flash in the pan one time thing. Show them that I'm never going to roll over and die.
"Show them that you just don't belong in APW, Arkia.
"And all of that will come at your expense.
"Love it or not, believe it or not, your entrance into APW will not go smoothly. People might want you here, but the truth is, you should have never signed up. You're going to have to do a lot to overcome everything that I am going to throw at you.
"Arkia Fisk, it's time for you to go big or go home."
"The Reunion show was just the tip of the iceberg. The APW showed why it is one of the most successful federations when it re-opened for one night only to showcase the best of the best. People flocked, people watched, and people went home with memories to last a lifetime.
"And they also went home with questions floating through their minds.
"Why?
"Why did I do what I did?
"That's all I've heard for the past few weeks. Why did I attack Mark Mania? Did he steal my lunch money? Did he cut me off in the parking lot? Did he take the last slice of pizza off the catering table? Did he touch my hat?
"Really, it doesn't matter what Mark Mania did or why I did what I did. In fact that doesn't even matter right now because there are more pressing matters at hand. There are things that are more important then whatever happened after our match at the Reunion show.
"I know, I know, everyone is dying to know! But for all of the people who are chomping at the bit to find out, well, they will just have to tune in to Deception.
"They will have to tune in to the first show of the rebirth. The show where I take back the position that I never truly lost. The Main Event. Battling at the end of the show in a spot that truly showcases my talents.
"And to do so against someone like Arkia Fisk is a bonus in itself. I get to step back into the ring against someone with some form of talent.
"Against a well known name.
"Beating a well known name.
"Oh it feels so good to be home."
---------------------
A phone rings. C.J. Gates looks down at the caller display and rolls his eyes before lifting the receiver and placing it back down, ending the call.
"Another interview?" Vincent James asks from across the room. Gates and James are in a much larger office then we've seen them in before, with Gates seated behind his large wooden desk.
"Yeah," Gates responds. "They just won't leave me alone."
"Well why don't you just answer," James says. "You've been dodging them long enough, just give them what they want."
Gates smiles. "Where's the fun in that? Why not string them along a bit farther, let them want it that much more."
James smirks and shakes his head. "Man what happened to you?"
"What do you mean?" Gates says with a wide smile. "I'm the same lovable guy I've always been."
"You just enough attacking your friends?"
"I simply opened my eyes, Vinnie."
"Now you're sounding like a cult," James laughs. "You're not going down the same path as Tom Cruise are you? Am I going to have to reinforce the couch for when you start jumping on it?"
"Come on man, you know what I meant," Gates says. "I just realized a few things in my time away."
"Like what?"
"You sound just like them," Gates accuses. "When did you become a journalist?"
"I'm just curious man," James explains. "We were so focused on getting your business back off the ground, getting back out from under your mothers criminal ways, and then the reunion show happened."
"You remember details very well."
"And next thing I know, you're beating Mania and then beating on Mania."
"Like I said I realized something. But that's neither here nor there. If you're so curious, you're just going to have to wait until Deception to get the meat and potatoes of the situation." Gates shrugs. "If you want your explanation, you're going to have to tune in."
"Okay, okay, let's change the topic," James continues. "Do you think you will be able to compete at the same level your used to?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"You haven't exactly been going full bore this entire time. You've had a few matches here and there but most of your efforts have been put into building your business."
"Come on, Vinnie," Gates says. "You're talking about C.J. Gates. I have looked fear in the face and laughed. I have been knocked down countless times but I always got back up. I have been cut open and bruised, and I still get back up. Even if I haven't been flying around a ring for a year, that doesn't automatically mean I'm going to fail at everything I do. Use your head."
Vincent James just stares at Gates. "You do know what you just said doesn't even add up. It doesn't make sense. You're deluded if you think you can just get into the ring. When was the last time you trained."
Gates opens his mouth to speak but James holds up a hand.
"Prior to your preparation for the Reunion show."
"Like, three months before that when I was trying to figure out if I had the chops to return to VWF."
"And that wasn't the sign that this was a bad idea?"
"Hey now, I won my matches there. It's not my fault they couldn't pull off the rebirth the way they expected. Besides, I didn't hear you saying this was a bad idea when I signed on to compete."
"Well, yeah," James says with a smirk. "I'm getting an extra paycheck now."
"Asshole."
"Might as well join the club, right?" James chuckles. "Alright, let's talk about something that actually has relation to your match."
"Arkia Fisk?"
"I'm talking about the special guest referee."
"Oh yeah," Gates shrugs. "I'm not too worried about it."
"Why wouldn't you be?" James asks. "Last time the two of you were in the APW, you were toeing the same line. You were fighting for the same rights and freedoms and all that shit. How do you think he's going to take to you flipping the script?"
"I don't think he will care."
"You don't?"
"I don't," Gates says. "Buckson has his morals and his views, sure. But at the end of the day, Buckson is a man who has honor and a man who won't get himself too involved in the match. He's not about to knock me out just because I hit Mark Mania at the Reunion show."
"You never know."
"I guess there's always the possibility that Buckson is trying to get himself one up by proving a point against a legend in the ring, but I think it's a slim chance. I might not know everyone's inner thoughts, but I get the feeling that Gooch won't be much of a problem for me in this match. He wants to get paid, and he's not going to jeopardize that."
"You never-"
"If you say 'you never know' one more time..."
"I'm just putting the possibility out there," James offers. "You never know what could happen in this place, especially since you stirred things up. Who would have thought that one man doing one thing would create a ripple throughout APW."
"I guess I have that effect on people," Gates smirks. "My presence in APW is a big one, I have to admit that. I've done a lot to help promote this place after all."
"Good to know your modesty stuck around."
"I'm just saying that if there was someone who would effect a wide variety of people, I can see why it's me." Gates sits up straight in the chair. "Listen, no matter what you say, I'm not worried about whatever Buckson might be thinking, and if I can be honest, I'm less worried about Arkia Fisk."
"I've heard good things about her."
"Who have you heard that from?" Gates asks with a smirk. "Half the 'critics' I talked to liked her more for her looks then her in ring talent. So really, as long as I can keep my head on straight, I should have no problem."
"Well good luck, man," James offers up. "It's a new era so you might very well need all the luck you can get."
"It might be a new era, but I'm also a new man." Gates smirks once more. "This isn't the same old C.J. Gates that people have been used to in the past."
"I guess we will find out at Deception."
"That we will," Gates starts. "Or at least, everyone else will. I already know I'm going to be a force to reckon with.
"I'm going to continue to be successful."
---------------------
"Arkia Fisk.
"You're a well known name, a name that rings throughout the halls. People say your name and there are at least a handful of people who know who you are. They all speak of you for one reason or another. Some because you are a great wrestler and others because they can't get past your looks. Regardless of why, your name has always been buzzing around this business, no matter where I've gone.
"I guess there's good reason. I mean, I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I have paid attention to your career, stroke your ego and tell you how much I looked up to you because I haven't. You've been successful, that much I know, but titles only mean so much, don't they? Isn't that what everyone says?
"Well, that's what they all said to me. No matter what I did in the past, it never mattered in the present. So I will give you the same treatment in turn. Everything that you've done doesn't really matter to me for many different reasons. For one, some of them happened a long time ago. For another this isn't like any of the other places that you've been. This is Action Packed Wrestling. This is one of the best places to ply your craft.
"This is my APW.
"Argue it all you want, I know you or someone else will, but before you do, ask yourself one thing. Can you? Can you deny that this has been my company since the moment I stepped foot through the doors? I've done nothing but put my face out there as the poster boy of APW. In the times when no one else would, I raised the APW flag everywhere I went. I set the tone for everyone else to do so, for everyone else who went from one place to another boasting about their involvement in APW.
I started that, Arkia. Sure that doesn't really speak to my in ring credentials, but what it does speak to is my heart. My tenacity. My willingness to do whatever the hell I can to get the job done. If that means soldiering out on my own, then so be it. If that means putting my body on the line, you know I will do that. If that means taking down one of the favorites in this entire business, well you know I will do that, too.
"There isn't even a question about it Arkia.
"Because I've done it before.
"Consider this. Back before I broke through and took APW for my own, I was looking across the ring at Sally Talfourd. At one point, she was everyone's favorite. At one point, she was what everyone strive to be. Sure, she turned all of that around in a few short months, but the point is still there. When she tried to use me to springboard her way back into the title picture, she was no longer seen as peoples favorite. And by the end of his attempt, I was the one who came out smelling like roses with his eye on the prize.
"Which brings us to you, Arkia. You were one a favorite but now you are nothing. You are starting from scratch and while one or two people might still have you as a favorite, the reality is that this is a fresh start for you. Your name precedes you but that's about it. And once Deception rolls through, and after I defeat you, I would have again defeated a former favorite. Because it's what I do.
"Especially at my homecoming. I'm not about to let you ruin this for me, Arkia. I'm not about to let you steal this win from under me. I've got big plans coming up, and this is just the first step to those plans. To that success. To that satisfaction.
"And who knows, maybe none of what I've said matters. Maybe everything I've said is just words in the wind and it doesn't hold any weight. Maybe what I have to do is just shut up, man up, and show everyone that I have no lost a step since that final Rasslemania show. Show them that the Reunion Show was not just a flash in the pan one time thing. Show them that I'm never going to roll over and die.
"Show them that you just don't belong in APW, Arkia.
"And all of that will come at your expense.
"Love it or not, believe it or not, your entrance into APW will not go smoothly. People might want you here, but the truth is, you should have never signed up. You're going to have to do a lot to overcome everything that I am going to throw at you.
"Arkia Fisk, it's time for you to go big or go home."
