Post by Anthony Bailey on Aug 6, 2015 23:58:34 GMT -4
My calendar was looking like 2013 all over again as I became a part time student in graduate school while getting back on the road with APW. My professors were glad that I lightened by academic load instead of dropping school altogether. I was halfway done so what sense did it make to drop out now? But traveling from city to city with my brother Jair Hopkins felt good. It felt like the old days and I hadn’t realized how much I missed it. I liked being back in the mix of everything and living out of a suitcase, but on the flip side free time had now become a luxury. My school UNF had a Creative Writing club that met once a week so whenever I was in town, I dropped by. With living in the public eye, this small intimate setting of a few undergrad and grad students who loved writing brought balance to my life.
Today’s topic of discussion was “fairy tales.” Attendance was small today but I liked it that way. We were encouraged to write our own stories and discuss what we came up with. But since I had been busy traveling, I hadn’t found the time to get around to my story just yet but I was brainstorming a few different ideas. This was going to be fun. I need a creative outlet to express myself, especially in the midst of my life being so hectic.
{{Annette, the cute brunette that I had occasionally seen at the meetings before gave a great breakdown of what elements comprise fairy tales. She was the head of the Creative Writing Club, a junior, and single if I’m not mistaken. But honestly, I was more interested in her plans for Saturday night but I’m not one to come on too strong.}}
“Fairy tales will always, no matter the circumstance, begin with the phrase ‘Once upon a time’” she said. “So be sure that all of your stories start off with that.”
I inserted, “Hypothetically speaking, if we haven’t gotten around to constructing our stories yet, is there anything we should keep in mind when we are writing?”
{{She politely smiled at my ridiculous question.}}
“Seeing that you are a graduate level student here at this institution Mr. Bailey, I’m sure you already know the answer.”
{{Other attendees laughed as I returned a smile because I knew she was on to me.}}
I laughed. “Call me Anthony…and darn, you caught me. What I do know is that fairy tales should utilize fantasy, have an antagonist and protagonist, and a happy ending. On an unrelated note, shout out to my good friend Sally Talfourd.”
{{The individuals that were present and who were wrestling fans all laughed while the others had the “I don’t get it” glazed look on their faces.}}
“You are absolutely correct, Anthony. You have a good grasp on this. Have you had the time to work on your creative writing project yet?” she asked.
“Not yet but I have some ideas,” I responded.
“Care to share bro?”
{{The question came from a young man seated on the other side of the room.}}
“Well the story that I want to write is about how a fraudulent villain is ultimately overcome by the power of good. I want to step outside of the box and make it three primary antagonists instead of one.”
“Sounds unique. What is the inspiration behind it?” someone asked.
I announced, “Oh just a few of my colleagues.”
“Interesting. If this is the route you are taking, it would be wise to change the characters names, in order to protect their integrity,” she remarked.
“But what if they don’t have any integrity to protect?”
“Dang! That’s foul,” the hipster looking guy said.
“Well my brother…the truth is sometimes foul.”
The first edition of Deception kicked off the new era of APW with a bang and I don't expect tomorrow to be any different. I have the privilege of teaming up with two of my favorite people ever, Jair Hopkins and Sally Talfourd, to take on the team of C.J. Gates, Buckson Gooch, and Crusher Crenshaw in the main event. One of my partners is like a brother to me while the other is a good friend of mine and someone who showed me the ropes when I was new around here. I'm very excited to be teaming up with them but for me there are so many other sentiments surrounding tomorrow, especially since something like this would've normally been friendly competition with two of my three opponents. In any given space of time I would've entered this match differently, but I dunno man...
{{Bailey sighs deeply.}}
What can you do though? What's done is done but I still have so many questions. The fans have so many questions. We all demand an answer tomorrow night. For starters and to the opponent that I have had the most interaction with both on camera and off, Buckson Gooch....all I wanna know is why? Where did it all go wrong? Why did you do that to Arkia? And most of all, why Gates? Taking a quick trip down memory lane, this possibly was the start of your degradation...
{{The scene cuts to a two and a half year old clip of a Gooch promo as he boldly utters the words "Are you going to be running against Callahan any time soon? Anthony Bailey...you are a politician. In the words of Mac Bane, 'Anthony Bailey is a fraud.'" The clip slowly fades away as Gooch's voice echoes, adding a more dramatic effect.}}
It's funny how time reveals all things, isn't it? The same thing you once accused me of is the very same thing you have become, a fraud. But wait, there's more. Let's fast forward to a few months after that initial promo. That was only the appetizer, oh and a quick side note, all comments from Buckson Gooch have been taken in context and haven't been altered in any shape or form...
{The scene once again cuts to a clip of Gooch from early 2013. This one takes place after the previous one but this time he says "I perceived something about Anthony that was incorrect. I assure you he is no fraud. He genuinely cares about those around him and tries his best to give back to the community." The scene then shifts back to Bailey, who is now shaking his head.}}
Gooch...what are you trying to be? Are you the aspiring politician? You can't keep backpedaling like that because I can assure you that you'll be on the fast track to become one if you keep that sort of behavior up. We all have misspoken before, but what you did was simply a whole nother level. At this rate, how can we ever believe anything you say? Maybe the clothesline incident with Arkia was all one big misunderstanding. It's sad to say because we'll never know the truth...and that's only because you aren't capable of speaking it. I had high hopes for you Gooch, and even though I don't agree with the path you are headed on, there isn't one ounce of doubt in my mind that you will still go on to one day enter the APW Hall of Fame. But at what cost? Is this how you wanted to get there? It's not very admirable to say the least. You were one of the noble few around here and now that's all down the drain...
And continuing on the subject of individuals no longer being admirable, I never thought that I'd witness the day where C.J. Gates was placed in this category. The former White Knight, whose heart has hardened and ultimately turned as black as night, has let down an entire generation of people. Why Gates? What was so important that you needed to forsake the fans? The same fans that have stood by you since the beginning...through thick and thin. I guess it doesn't matter now does it? You have to start looking out for yourself and putting yourself first? I get it cognitively. It's never good to be enslaved by the perceptions or expectations of others but that's not what you said. You said "to hell with the fans." You never cared what they really thought in the first place. It was all a farce.
A tree with deep roots doesn't just collapse out of nowhere. A great storm can take it out or sometimes termites that aren't visible to the naked eye can cause the tree's destruction. And before you know it, the tree is no more. One termite turned to one hundred and that was the end. What did you two allow to fester and grow? I'm not buying that this all of a sudden happened out of nowhere...
I remember it like it was yesterday. The bright eyed, bushy tailed Anthony Reese Bailey had just graduated from college and landed a contract with APW. The locker room is a frightening place for a rookie. It's like Halloween Horror Nights meets Groundhog Day because the fear is great and it never subsides. You're nervous, anxious, want to make a good first impression, all of the above. Hopkins wasn't around then so I had no one in my circle to draw inspiration from. But there was one man...a man apart of the Overdrive brand at the time that inspired me. His in-ring ability, his humility, his character, his drive to persevere. I wanted to do what he did...and in the same sense, I wanted to be like him. The passion he had for the sport and the way he touched the heart of the fans, I wanted to be that. I needed to be that.
Gates was one of the few megastars that Bailey hoped to be like one day. He was a fan of many, but Gates embodied what Bailey wanted to become in the business.
That's who you were for me Gates so it pains me to see what you have become. Self seeking, careless, fighting for what you "deserve"...how cliché. Everybody ends up going down that road but I expected different from you and Gooch. But what's done is done and maybe tomorrow you two will see the light myself, Hopkins, and Sally are bearing. That's a banner that we all will wave proudly 'til our dying day. And shifting gears a bit because there is another opponent besides Gooch and Gates. The man known as Crusher Crenshaw, a man with a beastly physique and who will stop at nothing to make a name for himself. You seem like a smart person who will seize the opportunities he is given. You did a great job against Sally at the first edition of Deception but with her being almost a foot shorter than you, we saw that physiques are nice but isn’t the end all be all at the end of the day. You might aim to "crush" people but only a portion of this sport is physical.
Hopefully you will see that as time goes on. The Dying Breed and Sally are relentless and will stop at nothing to do what we have to do. We take care of business. It's in our DNA. Our work is cut out for us. Gooch and Gates seem emotionally unstable and are making what looks to be impulsive decisions and you Crenshaw, you just want to go around calling people liars with no sort of factual backing. You sound like your partner Gooch two years ago. Maybe you’ll end up apologizing the way that he did, but I don’t want your apology…I want your respect. I want the respect of Buckson Gooch and C.J. Gates too. That won’t be earned with ease so The Dying Breed and Sally will have to do so by the fiber of our being.
A fairy tale is defined as a misleading statement or account and the last few years of C.J. Gates and Buckson Gooch’s lives have been fairy tales. Playing the “good” guy role for their own gain and then turning on the fans like that. You’ve made your beds and now you have to lay in them because the frauds and fairy tales are over with come Deception. No more whining Gates, no more backpedaling Gooch, and no more empty threats Crenshaw about how you are going to break my jaw. This is reality and reality is far harder to deal with than fairytales. The trio of The Dying Breed and Sally Talfourd is a dream team but for you three, it is a legitimate nightmare. There will be no backing down or turning the other cheek. We will engage evil head on because that’s what this is…a classic battle of good and evil. And as the record shows, good always prevails. You shouldn’t have but in case you have forgotten, I am Anthony Bailey…APW’s only Promise…the only Promise that can't be broken. Until tomorrow…
{{The scene slowly fades to black.}}
Today’s topic of discussion was “fairy tales.” Attendance was small today but I liked it that way. We were encouraged to write our own stories and discuss what we came up with. But since I had been busy traveling, I hadn’t found the time to get around to my story just yet but I was brainstorming a few different ideas. This was going to be fun. I need a creative outlet to express myself, especially in the midst of my life being so hectic.
---------------
{{Annette, the cute brunette that I had occasionally seen at the meetings before gave a great breakdown of what elements comprise fairy tales. She was the head of the Creative Writing Club, a junior, and single if I’m not mistaken. But honestly, I was more interested in her plans for Saturday night but I’m not one to come on too strong.}}
“Fairy tales will always, no matter the circumstance, begin with the phrase ‘Once upon a time’” she said. “So be sure that all of your stories start off with that.”
I inserted, “Hypothetically speaking, if we haven’t gotten around to constructing our stories yet, is there anything we should keep in mind when we are writing?”
{{She politely smiled at my ridiculous question.}}
“Seeing that you are a graduate level student here at this institution Mr. Bailey, I’m sure you already know the answer.”
{{Other attendees laughed as I returned a smile because I knew she was on to me.}}
I laughed. “Call me Anthony…and darn, you caught me. What I do know is that fairy tales should utilize fantasy, have an antagonist and protagonist, and a happy ending. On an unrelated note, shout out to my good friend Sally Talfourd.”
{{The individuals that were present and who were wrestling fans all laughed while the others had the “I don’t get it” glazed look on their faces.}}
“You are absolutely correct, Anthony. You have a good grasp on this. Have you had the time to work on your creative writing project yet?” she asked.
“Not yet but I have some ideas,” I responded.
“Care to share bro?”
{{The question came from a young man seated on the other side of the room.}}
“Well the story that I want to write is about how a fraudulent villain is ultimately overcome by the power of good. I want to step outside of the box and make it three primary antagonists instead of one.”
“Sounds unique. What is the inspiration behind it?” someone asked.
I announced, “Oh just a few of my colleagues.”
“Interesting. If this is the route you are taking, it would be wise to change the characters names, in order to protect their integrity,” she remarked.
“But what if they don’t have any integrity to protect?”
“Dang! That’s foul,” the hipster looking guy said.
“Well my brother…the truth is sometimes foul.”
---------------
The first edition of Deception kicked off the new era of APW with a bang and I don't expect tomorrow to be any different. I have the privilege of teaming up with two of my favorite people ever, Jair Hopkins and Sally Talfourd, to take on the team of C.J. Gates, Buckson Gooch, and Crusher Crenshaw in the main event. One of my partners is like a brother to me while the other is a good friend of mine and someone who showed me the ropes when I was new around here. I'm very excited to be teaming up with them but for me there are so many other sentiments surrounding tomorrow, especially since something like this would've normally been friendly competition with two of my three opponents. In any given space of time I would've entered this match differently, but I dunno man...
{{Bailey sighs deeply.}}
What can you do though? What's done is done but I still have so many questions. The fans have so many questions. We all demand an answer tomorrow night. For starters and to the opponent that I have had the most interaction with both on camera and off, Buckson Gooch....all I wanna know is why? Where did it all go wrong? Why did you do that to Arkia? And most of all, why Gates? Taking a quick trip down memory lane, this possibly was the start of your degradation...
{{The scene cuts to a two and a half year old clip of a Gooch promo as he boldly utters the words "Are you going to be running against Callahan any time soon? Anthony Bailey...you are a politician. In the words of Mac Bane, 'Anthony Bailey is a fraud.'" The clip slowly fades away as Gooch's voice echoes, adding a more dramatic effect.}}
It's funny how time reveals all things, isn't it? The same thing you once accused me of is the very same thing you have become, a fraud. But wait, there's more. Let's fast forward to a few months after that initial promo. That was only the appetizer, oh and a quick side note, all comments from Buckson Gooch have been taken in context and haven't been altered in any shape or form...
{The scene once again cuts to a clip of Gooch from early 2013. This one takes place after the previous one but this time he says "I perceived something about Anthony that was incorrect. I assure you he is no fraud. He genuinely cares about those around him and tries his best to give back to the community." The scene then shifts back to Bailey, who is now shaking his head.}}
Gooch...what are you trying to be? Are you the aspiring politician? You can't keep backpedaling like that because I can assure you that you'll be on the fast track to become one if you keep that sort of behavior up. We all have misspoken before, but what you did was simply a whole nother level. At this rate, how can we ever believe anything you say? Maybe the clothesline incident with Arkia was all one big misunderstanding. It's sad to say because we'll never know the truth...and that's only because you aren't capable of speaking it. I had high hopes for you Gooch, and even though I don't agree with the path you are headed on, there isn't one ounce of doubt in my mind that you will still go on to one day enter the APW Hall of Fame. But at what cost? Is this how you wanted to get there? It's not very admirable to say the least. You were one of the noble few around here and now that's all down the drain...
And continuing on the subject of individuals no longer being admirable, I never thought that I'd witness the day where C.J. Gates was placed in this category. The former White Knight, whose heart has hardened and ultimately turned as black as night, has let down an entire generation of people. Why Gates? What was so important that you needed to forsake the fans? The same fans that have stood by you since the beginning...through thick and thin. I guess it doesn't matter now does it? You have to start looking out for yourself and putting yourself first? I get it cognitively. It's never good to be enslaved by the perceptions or expectations of others but that's not what you said. You said "to hell with the fans." You never cared what they really thought in the first place. It was all a farce.
A tree with deep roots doesn't just collapse out of nowhere. A great storm can take it out or sometimes termites that aren't visible to the naked eye can cause the tree's destruction. And before you know it, the tree is no more. One termite turned to one hundred and that was the end. What did you two allow to fester and grow? I'm not buying that this all of a sudden happened out of nowhere...
I remember it like it was yesterday. The bright eyed, bushy tailed Anthony Reese Bailey had just graduated from college and landed a contract with APW. The locker room is a frightening place for a rookie. It's like Halloween Horror Nights meets Groundhog Day because the fear is great and it never subsides. You're nervous, anxious, want to make a good first impression, all of the above. Hopkins wasn't around then so I had no one in my circle to draw inspiration from. But there was one man...a man apart of the Overdrive brand at the time that inspired me. His in-ring ability, his humility, his character, his drive to persevere. I wanted to do what he did...and in the same sense, I wanted to be like him. The passion he had for the sport and the way he touched the heart of the fans, I wanted to be that. I needed to be that.
Gates was one of the few megastars that Bailey hoped to be like one day. He was a fan of many, but Gates embodied what Bailey wanted to become in the business.
That's who you were for me Gates so it pains me to see what you have become. Self seeking, careless, fighting for what you "deserve"...how cliché. Everybody ends up going down that road but I expected different from you and Gooch. But what's done is done and maybe tomorrow you two will see the light myself, Hopkins, and Sally are bearing. That's a banner that we all will wave proudly 'til our dying day. And shifting gears a bit because there is another opponent besides Gooch and Gates. The man known as Crusher Crenshaw, a man with a beastly physique and who will stop at nothing to make a name for himself. You seem like a smart person who will seize the opportunities he is given. You did a great job against Sally at the first edition of Deception but with her being almost a foot shorter than you, we saw that physiques are nice but isn’t the end all be all at the end of the day. You might aim to "crush" people but only a portion of this sport is physical.
Hopefully you will see that as time goes on. The Dying Breed and Sally are relentless and will stop at nothing to do what we have to do. We take care of business. It's in our DNA. Our work is cut out for us. Gooch and Gates seem emotionally unstable and are making what looks to be impulsive decisions and you Crenshaw, you just want to go around calling people liars with no sort of factual backing. You sound like your partner Gooch two years ago. Maybe you’ll end up apologizing the way that he did, but I don’t want your apology…I want your respect. I want the respect of Buckson Gooch and C.J. Gates too. That won’t be earned with ease so The Dying Breed and Sally will have to do so by the fiber of our being.
A fairy tale is defined as a misleading statement or account and the last few years of C.J. Gates and Buckson Gooch’s lives have been fairy tales. Playing the “good” guy role for their own gain and then turning on the fans like that. You’ve made your beds and now you have to lay in them because the frauds and fairy tales are over with come Deception. No more whining Gates, no more backpedaling Gooch, and no more empty threats Crenshaw about how you are going to break my jaw. This is reality and reality is far harder to deal with than fairytales. The trio of The Dying Breed and Sally Talfourd is a dream team but for you three, it is a legitimate nightmare. There will be no backing down or turning the other cheek. We will engage evil head on because that’s what this is…a classic battle of good and evil. And as the record shows, good always prevails. You shouldn’t have but in case you have forgotten, I am Anthony Bailey…APW’s only Promise…the only Promise that can't be broken. Until tomorrow…
{{The scene slowly fades to black.}}
