Post by Twister on May 30, 2009 22:49:51 GMT -4
Its a weird feeling knowing something you've worked so hard for for so many years is coming to an end. Heading into your last match, knowing its your last match... Its heart wrenching. Everyday it eats at you, knowing all the preperation, all the sweat and tears will soon no longer be. Knowing soon, your daily routine will cease to be, your time in the spotlight, over, life as you know it... dead.
[glow=red,2,300]~*~ Tuesday, May 26th, 2009, 21:00 ~*~[/glow]
Our scene opens in a dank, quiet bar. A few patrons wander around one knocking some balls around a pool table. In typical, character fashion we see Twister sitting out of the lime light, at the bar. He sits slumped over, his arm rested on the bar, and his head staring into an empty glass, light dancing off two scattered ice cubes.
"Fill it again" Twister proclaimed shoving the glass towards the edge of the bar. The bartender looks up from the opposite end of the bar and grabs his rag off the bar and slings it over his shoulder before moving towards the Natural Disaster.
"Drinking awfully heavy tonight there champ." The bartender grips the glass and turns away still talking, Twister taking limited notice of the bartenders words. "Seems to me a guy who has it all should be celebrating his life not wasting it away in a dive like this, but what do I know I just work here." The bartenders sentence finishes as he places a refilled glass down on the bar in front of Twister and turns to walk away.
"The hell do you know man?" Twister blurts out stopping the bartender in his tracks. The keep is an older fellow, no doubt just finding a way to fill his days before retirement... or death... Ya know what ever. "Actually no you know what, you might. God knows your old enough to be in a retiring situation yourself... Ya know it would have been so easy to be able to walk away after Rasslemania. It was a great match, it satisfied what I wanted in my career. I felt complete, then I got to just sit back. To walk away then, no worries, was just my own decision then fuckin kid had to come out and run his mouth like he knew anything about me, or my situation. Now all week.... Shit the past month I've had to sit back and while I prepared for this match, all I could think about is I'll never get to do this again."
The bartender cocks an eyebrow and leans down on the bar. "If ya dont want to quit, why are you?"
"Its just time man." Twister replies taking a sip from his drink. "I've been in the business for years now... I've done all there is to do. Its time for me to move on and be with my family." Twister looks up at the bartender as if anticipating his next words.
The bartender nods and looks back at the stranger. "Yeah... Sounds like your doing it for all the right reasons." The bartender grabs the rag from his shoulder and wipes it across the bar bringing a slight shine to it. "Least you can say you worked in a business you loved for so many years. You've gained years of admiration and respect from your peers, not to mention the legions of fans you've acquired." Twister sits up in his seat as though taking heed to the words of the bartender. "No one said change was easy son. But your young yet, you still got time to put a whole new life in front of yourself. Least your getting away on your own terms, not like your one of those stars who got crippled or some such... Ruins the rest of their life too. Make the most of it kid."
Twister stares down at the drink in front of him then pushes it aside as he stands up. He looks at the bartender and throws some cash on the bar. "Your right man... Gotta make the most of it. Thanks." And with that twister turns around and walks out of the bar leaving his glass almost untouched the light sparkling off the liquor with in. A breeze flows through bar gathering the attention of the other patrons as Twister steps out the door and into the Washington street as the scene draws to a close.
[glow=red,2,300]~*~ Saturday, May 30th, 2009, 20:00 ~*~[/glow]
Fan appreciation night is running rampant around the Verizon Center. Thousands of fans still flock through the arena despite most of them having been there since early this morning. Dozens of booths are proped up around the concourse from merchandise stands to a kissing both for all the APW divas... Wait does APW even have any divas? Must be Cindy Shannons way to get a cheap thrill. Cameras capturing footage to be played on the next Overdrive stumble across a well known figure in the midst of all the fans. APW star Twister is surrounded by dozens of kids and adults alike. An almost genuine smile is etched on the usually hard man, his eyes though shaded by his trademark sun glasses. He wears a Redskins jersey and knee length black jean shorts.. He holds in his hand a black sharpie and is trying desperately to keep up with the demands of the public. A young boy catches the eye of the star. "Are you really retiring Twister... I really wont be ble to watch you no more?" Twister stops the rest of the barrage of fans and kneels down with the young man. Twister takes his sun glasses off and places them on the youngster the fans take a slight step back allowing Twister to have his space.
Twister places a hand on the young mans shoulder and looks him eye to eye. "Whats your name son?"
"Michael sir..."
"Lay off the Sir kid... Im not some old man yet. You know how long I've been working the rings Mike?"
"Yes si... Twister... seven years, nine months and 27 days... I've been your fan for soo long."
Twister leans back almost taken a back that such a fan exsists. "Wow... Well yeah. This is a tough business to keep on with especially when your trying to start up a family and what not. A wise man once told me to make the most of my life, and this business has allowed me to do that... Now I have to go and help my own son to do that too. I want you to promise me Mike that you'll do that too."
The kid squirms a bit, then nods... "You bet Twist... I will."
Twister stands up and pats the kid on the head. He looks at a man standing over the boys shoulder and nods. "You raised a good one here man... You guys enjoy the show tomorrow." Twister smiles as he turns away and walks about five feet before getting stopped by another familiar face. Phil... APWs head reporter has cut Twisters path off obviously looking for a rare interview with the natural disaster these days. "Funny its been so long since I've seen you... Yet I didnt miss you a bit."
"I've been trying to find you for weeks Twist. Figured with as much as we've been through if someone was going to get the last word with you it may as well be me." Phil fidgits a bit, but seems confortable with a man he's been through a lot with.
"Its actually refreshing to have ya around Phil... So many changing faces in this business good to have familiarity around."
"So it seems all but official Twister... A prestigious career will come to an end pitting yourself against an up and comer, not much different from where you were when you first started in CWF... THK, The Hardcore Kid."
"Kid seems to have a misunderstanding about things... He seems to think I have something against him. THK doesnt realise I never had anything against him. I respect what he's trying to do... All I wanted was to be able to walk away from the business I loved with out all the hype around it, with out it being a distraction in my final match, but THK had the need to push and push until I finally caved." Twister looks at a couple kids frolicing to the side. "Guess he's more like me than most people realise."
"THK was adamant that he had to prove to you, and to the world, that he could hang in with the big boys. Your thoughts?"
"THK wants what everyone in the business wants... Opportunity. I mean shit, Royce got a fucking world title shot at Mayhem... For what? Yeah I dont know either... But Seems to have lit a fire under THK, so he looked for a way to one up Icepick... I think he has. He saw a former champion, a man who was the model of consistancy through out his career, and a man who he knew would leave nothing left in his body when the opportunity rose to do it. He went after that man, and now has gained himself his match. His chance to step into the big time."
"Twister, We heard THKs comments earlier this week... He commented on your abbriviated title reigns in APW... Care to respond to them?"
"Lets look at it Phil... I held the tag titles for a bit over a month... But, my partner and I ran into a hungrier team... Besides we both had singles careers to pursue... We didnt want to be held back. I held the extreme title... The same title good ol THK holds now for over a month as well... remember too Phil... I never lost that title. I dropped that title to pursue excellence which I obtained in the form of the World Heavyweight Championship. When I gained the title, no one in six months had successfully defended it... up to and including the up to that point undefeated champion. I went through the month and then successfully defended it against Sabur ending the streak of title changes at pay per views. It took an elimination chamber, and not just that but both Doctor Matt and the afore mentioned Sabur to hold me down after both hitting their finishers to keep me down and take away my title. Phil, there was no one man in APW who could one on one beat me for a belt... THK should consider himself lucky that I dropped that extreme title when I gained the world champion... If I didnt, he would still be a nobody." Twister shifts uncomfortably then continues. "THK talks about me passing the torch... Far as Im concerned, I already did... If not for me paving the way, guys like THK, even like Iceman, wouldnt exsist."
"Twister tomorrow night, you will face THK in a match that would seem best suited to the Extreme Champ. Why did you decide to go this route?"
"THK wants to prove to the world whaat he's capable of. THK is the extreme champion. Based on that, the way to get the kid at his best is to put him into an extreme rules match. We can... and will... fight anywhere and everywhere. Kid says this is right up his alley. Kid says he's gonna send me straight back to hell. Kid has to realise... I've got a pretty damn good record in hardcore matches too. This is how I made my mark in the business too. As for getting sent to hell... Kid... I've been there. I spent years fighting my inner demons, sinking to the bottom of a bottle for a life preserver... But I found myself. I renewed my life through my beloved son, and after Sunday, I will give that back to him, and help him too develop to hopefully be as good if not a better man than I. Kid... Not you, nor anyone else will send me back to hell, but like a wise man once expressed... Sometimes it is hell... Trying to get to heaven."
Phil shuffles around and takes a deep breath before questioning Twister again. "Twist... whats left for you to obtain in this match come sunday?"
Twister stands in silence for a minute shifting back and forth before looking Phil straight in the eye, a looser, more relaxed man than we've seen in years past. "Phil... Im going out on Sunday to do what Ive been doing for almost eight years... Im going to put on the best show I can for these fans. Im going to leave everything I have in my tank in that ring... In the stands... On the floor... Where ever we may end up in this match. Why? Why after everything I've accomplished would I do it? Its what has become expected of me Phil. I have not disappointed before... I will not disappoint again. Sunday night, I am going to go out there and put on the show of my life to not just make believers of the nay sayers... But to maintain the respect that I have garnered over the years. THK... We've never actually met one on one... So I guess you may not know yet, but... Sunday you will. Everyone will... For one last time... Fear... Twisters... Rage."
Twister reaches a hand out which Phil graciously takes. Years of history in that shake alone... then suddenly and violently Twister grabs Phil by the head and drives him to the floor with a wind breaker. Twister bounces up and stares down at the reporter. "It just wouldnt be like old times if I had left you standing... Thanks Phil."
With that Twister turns back to the legions of fans and signs some more autographs as the count down to Mayhem continues.
[glow=red,2,300]~*~ Tuesday, May 26th, 2009, 21:00 ~*~[/glow]
Our scene opens in a dank, quiet bar. A few patrons wander around one knocking some balls around a pool table. In typical, character fashion we see Twister sitting out of the lime light, at the bar. He sits slumped over, his arm rested on the bar, and his head staring into an empty glass, light dancing off two scattered ice cubes.
"Fill it again" Twister proclaimed shoving the glass towards the edge of the bar. The bartender looks up from the opposite end of the bar and grabs his rag off the bar and slings it over his shoulder before moving towards the Natural Disaster.
"Drinking awfully heavy tonight there champ." The bartender grips the glass and turns away still talking, Twister taking limited notice of the bartenders words. "Seems to me a guy who has it all should be celebrating his life not wasting it away in a dive like this, but what do I know I just work here." The bartenders sentence finishes as he places a refilled glass down on the bar in front of Twister and turns to walk away.
"The hell do you know man?" Twister blurts out stopping the bartender in his tracks. The keep is an older fellow, no doubt just finding a way to fill his days before retirement... or death... Ya know what ever. "Actually no you know what, you might. God knows your old enough to be in a retiring situation yourself... Ya know it would have been so easy to be able to walk away after Rasslemania. It was a great match, it satisfied what I wanted in my career. I felt complete, then I got to just sit back. To walk away then, no worries, was just my own decision then fuckin kid had to come out and run his mouth like he knew anything about me, or my situation. Now all week.... Shit the past month I've had to sit back and while I prepared for this match, all I could think about is I'll never get to do this again."
The bartender cocks an eyebrow and leans down on the bar. "If ya dont want to quit, why are you?"
"Its just time man." Twister replies taking a sip from his drink. "I've been in the business for years now... I've done all there is to do. Its time for me to move on and be with my family." Twister looks up at the bartender as if anticipating his next words.
The bartender nods and looks back at the stranger. "Yeah... Sounds like your doing it for all the right reasons." The bartender grabs the rag from his shoulder and wipes it across the bar bringing a slight shine to it. "Least you can say you worked in a business you loved for so many years. You've gained years of admiration and respect from your peers, not to mention the legions of fans you've acquired." Twister sits up in his seat as though taking heed to the words of the bartender. "No one said change was easy son. But your young yet, you still got time to put a whole new life in front of yourself. Least your getting away on your own terms, not like your one of those stars who got crippled or some such... Ruins the rest of their life too. Make the most of it kid."
Twister stares down at the drink in front of him then pushes it aside as he stands up. He looks at the bartender and throws some cash on the bar. "Your right man... Gotta make the most of it. Thanks." And with that twister turns around and walks out of the bar leaving his glass almost untouched the light sparkling off the liquor with in. A breeze flows through bar gathering the attention of the other patrons as Twister steps out the door and into the Washington street as the scene draws to a close.
[glow=red,2,300]~*~ Saturday, May 30th, 2009, 20:00 ~*~[/glow]
Fan appreciation night is running rampant around the Verizon Center. Thousands of fans still flock through the arena despite most of them having been there since early this morning. Dozens of booths are proped up around the concourse from merchandise stands to a kissing both for all the APW divas... Wait does APW even have any divas? Must be Cindy Shannons way to get a cheap thrill. Cameras capturing footage to be played on the next Overdrive stumble across a well known figure in the midst of all the fans. APW star Twister is surrounded by dozens of kids and adults alike. An almost genuine smile is etched on the usually hard man, his eyes though shaded by his trademark sun glasses. He wears a Redskins jersey and knee length black jean shorts.. He holds in his hand a black sharpie and is trying desperately to keep up with the demands of the public. A young boy catches the eye of the star. "Are you really retiring Twister... I really wont be ble to watch you no more?" Twister stops the rest of the barrage of fans and kneels down with the young man. Twister takes his sun glasses off and places them on the youngster the fans take a slight step back allowing Twister to have his space.
Twister places a hand on the young mans shoulder and looks him eye to eye. "Whats your name son?"
"Michael sir..."
"Lay off the Sir kid... Im not some old man yet. You know how long I've been working the rings Mike?"
"Yes si... Twister... seven years, nine months and 27 days... I've been your fan for soo long."
Twister leans back almost taken a back that such a fan exsists. "Wow... Well yeah. This is a tough business to keep on with especially when your trying to start up a family and what not. A wise man once told me to make the most of my life, and this business has allowed me to do that... Now I have to go and help my own son to do that too. I want you to promise me Mike that you'll do that too."
The kid squirms a bit, then nods... "You bet Twist... I will."
Twister stands up and pats the kid on the head. He looks at a man standing over the boys shoulder and nods. "You raised a good one here man... You guys enjoy the show tomorrow." Twister smiles as he turns away and walks about five feet before getting stopped by another familiar face. Phil... APWs head reporter has cut Twisters path off obviously looking for a rare interview with the natural disaster these days. "Funny its been so long since I've seen you... Yet I didnt miss you a bit."
"I've been trying to find you for weeks Twist. Figured with as much as we've been through if someone was going to get the last word with you it may as well be me." Phil fidgits a bit, but seems confortable with a man he's been through a lot with.
"Its actually refreshing to have ya around Phil... So many changing faces in this business good to have familiarity around."
"So it seems all but official Twister... A prestigious career will come to an end pitting yourself against an up and comer, not much different from where you were when you first started in CWF... THK, The Hardcore Kid."
"Kid seems to have a misunderstanding about things... He seems to think I have something against him. THK doesnt realise I never had anything against him. I respect what he's trying to do... All I wanted was to be able to walk away from the business I loved with out all the hype around it, with out it being a distraction in my final match, but THK had the need to push and push until I finally caved." Twister looks at a couple kids frolicing to the side. "Guess he's more like me than most people realise."
"THK was adamant that he had to prove to you, and to the world, that he could hang in with the big boys. Your thoughts?"
"THK wants what everyone in the business wants... Opportunity. I mean shit, Royce got a fucking world title shot at Mayhem... For what? Yeah I dont know either... But Seems to have lit a fire under THK, so he looked for a way to one up Icepick... I think he has. He saw a former champion, a man who was the model of consistancy through out his career, and a man who he knew would leave nothing left in his body when the opportunity rose to do it. He went after that man, and now has gained himself his match. His chance to step into the big time."
"Twister, We heard THKs comments earlier this week... He commented on your abbriviated title reigns in APW... Care to respond to them?"
"Lets look at it Phil... I held the tag titles for a bit over a month... But, my partner and I ran into a hungrier team... Besides we both had singles careers to pursue... We didnt want to be held back. I held the extreme title... The same title good ol THK holds now for over a month as well... remember too Phil... I never lost that title. I dropped that title to pursue excellence which I obtained in the form of the World Heavyweight Championship. When I gained the title, no one in six months had successfully defended it... up to and including the up to that point undefeated champion. I went through the month and then successfully defended it against Sabur ending the streak of title changes at pay per views. It took an elimination chamber, and not just that but both Doctor Matt and the afore mentioned Sabur to hold me down after both hitting their finishers to keep me down and take away my title. Phil, there was no one man in APW who could one on one beat me for a belt... THK should consider himself lucky that I dropped that extreme title when I gained the world champion... If I didnt, he would still be a nobody." Twister shifts uncomfortably then continues. "THK talks about me passing the torch... Far as Im concerned, I already did... If not for me paving the way, guys like THK, even like Iceman, wouldnt exsist."
"Twister tomorrow night, you will face THK in a match that would seem best suited to the Extreme Champ. Why did you decide to go this route?"
"THK wants to prove to the world whaat he's capable of. THK is the extreme champion. Based on that, the way to get the kid at his best is to put him into an extreme rules match. We can... and will... fight anywhere and everywhere. Kid says this is right up his alley. Kid says he's gonna send me straight back to hell. Kid has to realise... I've got a pretty damn good record in hardcore matches too. This is how I made my mark in the business too. As for getting sent to hell... Kid... I've been there. I spent years fighting my inner demons, sinking to the bottom of a bottle for a life preserver... But I found myself. I renewed my life through my beloved son, and after Sunday, I will give that back to him, and help him too develop to hopefully be as good if not a better man than I. Kid... Not you, nor anyone else will send me back to hell, but like a wise man once expressed... Sometimes it is hell... Trying to get to heaven."
Phil shuffles around and takes a deep breath before questioning Twister again. "Twist... whats left for you to obtain in this match come sunday?"
Twister stands in silence for a minute shifting back and forth before looking Phil straight in the eye, a looser, more relaxed man than we've seen in years past. "Phil... Im going out on Sunday to do what Ive been doing for almost eight years... Im going to put on the best show I can for these fans. Im going to leave everything I have in my tank in that ring... In the stands... On the floor... Where ever we may end up in this match. Why? Why after everything I've accomplished would I do it? Its what has become expected of me Phil. I have not disappointed before... I will not disappoint again. Sunday night, I am going to go out there and put on the show of my life to not just make believers of the nay sayers... But to maintain the respect that I have garnered over the years. THK... We've never actually met one on one... So I guess you may not know yet, but... Sunday you will. Everyone will... For one last time... Fear... Twisters... Rage."
Twister reaches a hand out which Phil graciously takes. Years of history in that shake alone... then suddenly and violently Twister grabs Phil by the head and drives him to the floor with a wind breaker. Twister bounces up and stares down at the reporter. "It just wouldnt be like old times if I had left you standing... Thanks Phil."
With that Twister turns back to the legions of fans and signs some more autographs as the count down to Mayhem continues.
