Post by C.J. Gates on May 17, 2011 15:44:10 GMT -4
"So this is what it all comes down to, is it?
"After spending the past three weeks proving myself in the main event, competing in tough matches against even tougher opponents, I finally get the chance that I have truly been waiting for. I finally get the opportunity to prove myself to the one person that has been casting the most doubt on my abilities. I can finally, once and for all, show Sally Talfourd that I am not this black hole of hopelessness that she claims me to be.
"I will finally be able to teach her the lesson that she seems unwilling to accept. I will finally be able to show her that this doubt that she has stuck to my name is....not right. Will she listen to what I have to say? Probably not, because it's been well documented that Sally won't believe it. But I still have to try.
"And then I have to prove it to her when we step inside of that ring.
"Just like I proved it to Khaos last week. I'm sure that he, and a few others, wrote me off. Assumed that I had only succeeded because of tag team partners. That the two weeks prior were fluke wins that never should of happened.And then I gave Khaos quite the fight. I made sure that he would remember the match, remember me, and would also realize that he wasn't as tough and as invincible as he would like to think himself to be.
"In short, I had that match won. And in doing so, I made sure to grab hold of all the momentum I needed going into Mayhem. Sure, Sally beat Biff, but that is only one win. Beating her in the two weeks prior, that is what it was all about. And seeing that she felt the need to come down and interfere...well, that showed me that she is worried. That she is scared of what could possibly happen.
"Even if she won't outright admit it.
"Though even then, when she ran out from the back, I still held the momentum in my favor. Even after she knocked me off the turnbuckle, I still had all the aces in my hand. Thanks to one unlikely source, I might add.
"Biggs.
"I thank you for what you did this week. I know that we don't see eye to eye, and I know that we are far away on thinking about the same goals. At least there was enough mutual hate for Sally and Khaos to draw you out. Without your help, there is no telling what would have happened and where I would be right now. I could be in the hospital, I could be dead in a ditch...Anywhere.
"All places that Sally would love for me to have ended up. And since I didn't, I'm sure she hopes to put me there herself. I'm sure she hopes to eradicate me from the face of the APW, just so she can prove her point about me being worthless.
"But this is when I shock the world.
"This is when I prove my doubters wrong, and when I prove my believers right. This is when I take a step forward and shed away the Exchange Rate, tag team wrestler label that has been attached to me since I won those titles.
"With the momentum firmly in my court, with the fans cheering me on...this is when APW realizes that this North Dakota Cowboy is on the rise.
"It's time to go big or go home."
(The scene opens up inside the lobby of a hotel in Darwin, Australia. There are a few people milling about, talking to one another, while others make their way in from outside and head straight for the bank of elevators, and vice versa. A small line forms at the front desk while some people check in and others, just check for messages. Among them, is APW Megastar C.J. Gates, who is wearing a pair of black dress pants, a white dress shirt, and his usual cowboy hat. He waits patiently while the people in front of him finish checking in before he finally reaches the front of the line. He places his elbows on the top of the front desk and lays his forearms down while the woman behind the counter finishes up something on the computer. After she is done, she looks up and smiles at him, and he returns the smile.)
Woman: Hello, sir. How can I help you?
C.J. Gates: Been out all day, just wondering if there were any messages left for me.
Woman: Alright. And can I get your room number?
C.J. Gates: Room 407.
Woman: One moment.
(She punches it into the computer in front of her and waits a moment before continuing with her search. After a few moments she smiles up at Gates and nods.)
Woman: Mr. Gates?
C.J. Gates: That's me.
Woman: We don't have an actual message for you, but there was a man here looking for you earlier this afternoon.
C.J. Gates: Oh? Was it a big, bald man with crazy eyes and a glean of sweat on his forehead?
(The woman looks confused for a moment before shaking her head.)
Woman: No. No, that wasn't him at all.
C.J. Gates: Oh. Well, what did he look like?
Woman: He was...
(She hesitates for a moment, presumably thinking about what the man looked like.)
Woman: He was very professional. He didn't joke around much and was very direct and to the point. Seemed almost like he expected you not to be here.
C.J. Gates: Really? That seems odd...
(The woman shrugs.)
C.J. Gates: Did you get a good look at his face?
Woman: Not really. He was wearing a grey suit with a grey trench coat on over top, a grey fedora, and he had a newspaper tucked under his arm.
C.J. Gates: A trench coat? In this weather?
Woman: That's what we all thought, too. We were laughing at it because it seemed so out of place. But he didn't seem to mind. Like I said, he was very professional. I guess you could say he looked like he was right out of a detective novel.
C.J. Gates: Yeah, that's what I'm curious about.
Woman: Do you know him? If you don't mind me asking that is.
C.J. Gates: No, I don't know him. I want to know him, because I believe he's been tailing me all over Australia for the past month or so.
Woman: Oh, wow. Kind of like a stalker?
C.J. Gates: I guess. I've never had one before, so I'm not too sure.
Woman: Some of them can be harmless, but other times, you have to watch out. There are some real crazies and sickos out there. Though there are also some nice guys as well.
(Gates gives the woman a perplexed look and she blushes.)
Woman: Not that I have any experience with things like that.
C.J. Gates: Fair enough. Did he leave a name or anything? Maybe word on where I could get a hold of him or meet him?
Woman: No. He didn't leave a name. He did say he was a cousin of yours from Krakozhia...though now I know he wasn't telling the truth.
C.J. Gates: Even though Krakozhia is a fake country. And I'm assuming that he didn't look like Tom Hanks, or you'd have caught that right away, right?
(Again the girl blushes and looks down at the desk. Gates pauses, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.)
C.J. Gates: Sorry, didn't mean to burst out there. What else did he say?
Woman: When I asked him for his number so you could call him back, he said that you would know where to contact him at, and if not, then he would find you.
C.J. Gates: He said that he would find me?
Woman: That's what he said. But at the time I assumed him to be known to you, and didn't think anything of it.
C.J. Gates: How long ago was this?
(The woman glances over her shoulder to the wall clock hanging over the back counter of the front desk area.)
Woman: It was about three hours ago, at around one. Again, I'm sorry. If I'd have known I would have done something about it.
C.J. Gates: Naw, it's alright. It's not like I told the front desk to watch out for a could-be stalker following me. I'll figure it all out eventually. I'm sure it's nothing important anyways, just someone having a bit of fun.
Woman: Hopefully. Anyways, if there is anything that we can do for you here, just let us know.
C.J. Gates: Will do. Thanks.
(They exchange another smile before Gates walks away, toward the elevators. He pauses and glances behind him, looking for anything that seems out of place, but nothing sticks out. After a moment he smiles and gives his head a shake before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his cell phone. He punches in a number and after a few rings, and thanks to the magic of technology, the voice on the other end is recognized as Rico Casteel.)
Rico: What do?
C.J. Gates: What the hell? What are you talking about?
Rico: Nevermind. What's going on?
C.J. Gates: Nothing. And you'll never guess what I just found out.
Rico: You found out that James Chambers is a hack? A fake champion? Cause I already knew that.
C.J. Gates: No. I found out that I'm still being followed.
(The sound of Rico letting out a frustrated sigh is heard.)
Rico: Listen, I know you think you're being followed, but I'm sure it's nothing. And I can't be bothered with this shit while I'm trying to get ready for an important match. You should be doing the same. You've got Sally Talfourd after all, which is nothing to scoff at.
C.J. Gates: He came to my hotel and asked for me.
Rico: Someone came looking for you?
C.J. Gates: Yes, but it's the same person that I saw in the last few cities.
Rico: The one that was hiding behind the kid on the big wheel?
C.J. Gates: I know you don't believe me, but come on, throw me a bone. Someone else was witnessed to his existence, and she is credible.
Rico: Is she real?
(Gates lowers the phone and curses silently before raising it back up.)
Rico: I'm not trying to bust your balls or anything but, come on, it's kind of shady, no? I've never seen him and I was with you when you claimed to have seen him.
C.J. Gates: I'm telling you man, someone is following me. I don't know who, but I'm going to find out.
Rico: And how are you going to do that when the guy never wants to be seen?
C.J. Gates: Well, he said that he would find me, if that means anything to you. And I am inclined to believe that if he really wants to talk to me, then he will find me. I just have to be ready.
Rico: Just like we have to be ready for out matches.
C.J. Gates: Exactly.
Rico: And not worried about some phantom stalker that may or may not exist.
(Gates pauses and rolls his eyes.)
C.J. Gates: If you don't want to deal with it, you don't have to.
Rico: Sounds good. Because I'm too busy training and preparing for what is undoubtedly going to be a tough match.
C.J. Gates: I know all about those kind of matches, man.
Rico: Do you?
C.J. Gates: I just spent the past three weeks winning main event match after main event match. I think I know a thing or two about competing when it counts.
Rico: Well, didn't you only win because Sally interfered last week?
C.J. Gates: I had Khaos in the bag anyways. She just got involved which put the stamp on the whole match.
Rico: I guess a win is a win.
C.J. Gates: It's not the big win I'm after but it will do for now. A four match winning streak would definitely help me out in the long run.
Rico: Worst case is Test For the Best, right?
C.J. Gates: I guess so. But I'm not looking past Sally. Even with all of this stuff that is going on with the mystery man who seems to be falling me, I'm not looking past her.
Rico: Good on you. Now all you have to do is put your words into action.
C.J. Gates: That's the goal.
(Silence falls between the two of them.)
Rico: Listen, I'll talk to you later. I can't deal with your stories anymore. Hopefully by Mayhem all of this shit will be sorted out and you can focus on what's important. Yeah?
C.J. Gates: Hopefully. I can't say that it will, though.
Rico: Yeah, hopefully.
(The line goes dead as Rico hangs up. Gates shakes his head as he pockets his cell phone and takes one last look at the entrance to the hotel. After thinking about it, he walks back over to the front desk and, after waiting for another patron to be helped, steps back up to the counter.)
Woman: Hello, sir. How can I--Oh, it's you again.
(She looks up and smiles as Gates nods.)
C.J. Gates: It is. I was just wondering if you knew of anywhere around here that I could call for some...professional protection.
Woman: You mean...like, a bodyguard?
C.J. Gates: Yeah, I guess we could call it that.
Woman: If you don't mind me asking, why would you need a bodyguard?
C.J. Gates: Just to keep certain people at bay. Normally I wouldn't worry about it, but I have a pretty busy week this week and don't want to get sidetracked, you know?
(The woman shakes her head.)
Woman: Not really.
C.J. Gates: Fair enough.
Woman: And I'm sorry. I don't exactly have anything for you as far as bodyguards for hire go.
C.J. Gates: Do you know of anyone who might know?
(The woman shakes her head.)
Woman: No, I'm sorry. We don't really get those sort of requests that often.
(Gates lets out a chuckle.)
C.J. Gates: No, I wouldn't expect so. It's probably right out of left field.
Woman: Deep left field.
C.J. Gates: Oh well, I'm sure I'll be able to find something at some point.
Woman: I'm sure you will. Have a good evening, sir.
(Gates walks away from the counter and heads toward the bank of elevators. As he does, and as he walks past them to the stairway leading up, a man enters the hotel wearing a suit, trench coat and fedora. He turns right and walks over to an area with a few chairs and couches and takes a seat. He opens the newspaper he was carrying under his arm and proceeds to read as the scene fades to black.)
Tuesday, May 17
Six Days Before Mayhem
(The scene slowly begins to open up inside of a classroom. Nothing seems odd about the set up of the room; there is a blackboard at the far end, a large desk for the teacher off to the left, and in front of the blackboard, sit rows and rows of desks. What does look odd are the occupants of the desks. Instead of children getting ready to learn, the desks are occupied by cardboard standees of former APW World champion Sally Talfourd. There look to be about thirty desks in the room, and of those thirty desks, half of them are showcasing the smiling face of Sally.
The door to the classroom opens and in walks C.J. Gates, looking quite smart. He is wearing a pair of black pants, a black shirt with a tweed blazer, complete with leather patches on the elbows. He is wearing a pair of lens-less horn rimmed glasses and his cowboy hat on top. As he enters the room, he flashes a cheesy, toothy smile before walking to his desk and placing the stack of books he was carrying under his arm on top. He removed his hat and places it on top of a mannequin head on the desk, before removing his glasses, folding the arms under and placing them on the desk as well. Gates then walks up to the chalkboard and writes "Professor C.J. Gates" on the board in large cursive letters before he turns to face the desks, clapping his hands together as he does.)
C.J. Gates: Good afternoon, class! I'm glad that all of you could make it here this afternoon because I have quite the lesson in store for all of you. For the first time ever, we will be taking a look at the a very promising career in the professional wrestling business.
(Gates pauses for a moment before smiling and shaking his head.)
C.J. Gates: No, no, we aren't going to be doing an expose of Lester Only. No, the promising career that we are going to be taking a look at, is that of yours truly. Yes, along with stepping into the classroom I am also a great wrestler, if I do say so myself. Now, some of you may not agree, but that is what this class is for. To enlighten everyone as to who I am. To show them that my career was not and is not a hopeless mess.
We will break it down into three points of discussion: the past, which will encompass the time in my career that occurred before I signed my contract with Action Packed Wrestling; the present, which, naturally, will talk about the events in APW that allowed me to get where I am today. And if we have time, we will even touch on the future, and what is to come for the North Dakota Cowboy.
Now before we begin, are there any questions?
(Gates clasps his hands together and glances out over the class.)
C.J. Gates: Anyone? There might not be time for questions during the lesson, and if things draw on, then we might have to hold all questions until the next class. So, last chance.
(Gates once again scans the class, looking each cutout in the face before nodding his head.)
C.J. Gates: Very well, let us begin.
(Gates turns and walks toward the blackboard where he picks up an eraser and wipes his name off the board.)
C.J. Gates: We're going to skip by everything that occurred in my childhood, because it's really not important in this lesson. It really doesn't help tell the story of my career. Sure, it shaped me, and drove me, but it didn't create who I was inside of that ring. I wasn't the sort of person to use the fact that I had many siblings as my drive to succeed. No, they were my support net in whatever I did. If anything, my family didn't want me to get into the wrestling business. Perhaps that is the reason for my foray into the sport? Maybe. But it's not the reason in my mind.
Moving on.
(He faces the board again and, in large letters, writes "THE PAST". Underneath that, he writes three initials: U. W. O.)
C.J. Gates: My career started in the Ultimate Wrestling Organization, or UWO for short. Great group of guys, great owner, probably would have been in the same spot APW is in now had it not fallen on hard times. In any case, I got my start in a federation that some immense talent. Names that would make peoples eyes open up in respect. Names that, unfortunately, have no bearing in peoples minds right now. Still, I took this opportunity to get my foot in the door, and, being the hotshot rookie that I was, I tried to do too much.
And I put my faith in the wrong people. A downfall, yes, but everyone has done it. Anyways, things started rocky, but after getting a good head of steam, I began to turn the tables. I began to win matches, and when I wasn't winning I was making things impossible for some of the big named wrestlers that we on the roster. The Lester Only's, Ryan Ruckus', and Sally Talfourd's of the UWO. And really, the only difference between then and now is that I was losing more matches then.
But I'm getting ahead of myself already.
It was during these early days that I began to understand. That I began to realize the error of my ways early on. I tried to correct that as fast I could. I tried to rewrite my own book, and I actually succeeded. Though, the choice of purchasing the federation from the former owner was one that I would like to redo. Sure, it was great to be able to say that I owned a wrestling federation, but in the end it was a lot more work than I thought it would be.
But that led to my reinvention, to changing the way I handled myself. And that was when I began to open eyes even more. That was when I began to win titles, becoming a thorn in the side of one David Wallace, and capturing the Television title on two occasions.
Though I hear all of you out there.
(Gates points out to the class.)
C.J. Gates: I hear all of you asking yourselves how that matters. How the first federation I was a part of means anything to the current situation. Well, all you doubters, it does matter. With those months of trial and error, I learned what suited me and what didn't. And I grabbed it and ran.
Next up, was Wrestling Unplugged. It was a short stint in a Japanese based federation but I still excelled during my short time there. I flipped the script from my time in UWO and, wouldn't you know, I was winning matches. I came away from that federation undefeated, and even managed to grab one title during my short, short time there. Just another case of using my past experiences to help me out, to allow me to get better, and to make sure that I excelled.
And in the notes you're taking, please put an asterisk beside The Past, and note that during this time, all of my success came in singles wrestling. Just as an aside.
Now, before we move on to my time in APW, does anyone have any questions?
(Gates glances around the classroom.)
C.J. Gates: Yes. You in the back.
(Silence fills the room as Gates nods his head, almost as if he understands.)
C.J. Gates: Ah, good question. What do the titles mean? Nothing more than proving that I could handle myself in tougher situations. Though I think that case was also proven in what we are about to cover in the present chapter. I wasn't throwing mention of them in there to brag, but simply to show that when push came to shove in tense moments with everything riding on a win, I managed to come away victorious numerous times, with all the glory around my waist.
Any other questions?
(He once again glances around the room.)
C.J. Gates: No? Very well. Let us continue with the present.
(Gates writes down "THE PRESENT" beside The Past.)
C.J. Gates: This is what you should be more knowledgeable about, because all of it happened while you were around. All of what I am about to tell you, happened while you were stealing the show and making a name for yourself. One would think that because of that, I wouldn't have to go through it. That I could let it speak for itself. But if I did that, then I'd only be letting myself down. Because, regardless as to whether or not I need to say it, I feel as though it has to be mentioned. In any case, let us continue.
Contrary to earlier belief, I actually had my first APW match on July twenty-ninth in a draw against Cooper Conrad. And while everyone, recently, seems to want to point at that, they don't realize, or refuse to realize, that I won six of my next seven matches following that. I began to put myself on the map and carve my own niche in this company. After that, I teamed with Blade to help get my foot in the door and show everyone that I was here to stay. As a team, we ran the gauntlet, defeating all comers who wanted a shot at us or at our titles. Win after win, we defend against anyone that came within arms length of us and began to rewrite the tag team division.
And then came my first obstacle.
While still tag team champions, I was given the opportunity to experiment into singles wrestling and, well, it didn't exactly go as I would have hoped at first. But everyone has set backs, right? Everyone is caught off guard when they're not really expecting to be thrown into the ring against the people that would be fighting for the World title. And as the records will show, I managed to lose both of those matches. Though, what those records will fail to show, is that I managed to make both of them sweat for their wins. I made them earn the right to hold a pinfall over me.
And after I had begun coming back around from those losses, the Exchange Rate was caught in a heated battle with the Beautiful Disaster. The toughest team that we had yet to face in APW. We were the team to beat until they rolled into town. And I admit, they are the better team, though my one win over Kaycee does show that when divided, they are not truly better.
Sadly, we lost the titles but, it wasn't all bad at Survive and Conquer.
Because it was on that night that I broke out. It was that night that I made an impressive splash, making it to the final four when no body thought I had any business getting there. And after that, things began to change. I was given more singles opportunities, and made the best of them, grabbing wins over Pence Weatherlight and Johnny Knuckles. I had strong showings against Ryan Ruckus and his Contourage cronies. I even defeated my former tag team partner Blade in what I can only describe as a match filled with anger and hatred toward him for all that he didn't do.
(Gates pauses and shakes his head, as if recollecting.)
C.J. Gates: Which brings us to the past three weeks. To when my star really began to shine, and to when me momentum really began to pick up. Ruckus, Marvin, Talfourd, Khaos...all of them ended up on the losing end, allowing me to cement myself as a true competitor of this company. And another thing.
(Gates erases the board again and scrawls down "22-10-2".)
C.J. Gates: That, boys and girls, is my record, and it does not lie. It shows that I have been able to have success right there in black and white. It shows that I have managed to overcome any defeats and climb right back onto the horse.
But what does it all mean?
Well, I'll tell you. It means that even when things look bleak, I am able to persevere. That even in times when everything seems stacked against me, I am still able to pull out a win. And really? If a win doesn't seem to be in the cards, I am at least able to walk away with my head held high.
Not everyone can say that.
History also shows that I am not intimidated by who stands across the ring from me. Whether it's Mr. Dangerous or Lester Only, or someone as tall as David Wallace was, I am still in the same frame of mind come match time. I am still fighting at the same level of competition. Sure, other people can claim the same, but I have been able to maintain that high level week in and week out.
(He pauses and glances around the room a bit.)
C.J. Gates: Still not convinced? Fair enough. Perhaps I should throw in the information about the recent CWC Ascension Tournament. A collection of some of the best talents that anyone could piece together, and I managed to make it to the final four, beating highly talented hopefuls in the process, and nearly beating the current CWC World champion. I doubt there is a single person that could look at that and say that it is a worthless achievement. You can't tell me that the success I had there means nothing, that it was all for naught.
Because I know that it wasn't, and I know that this is just the beginning. Which brings us to our next topic...
(As Gates opens his mouth to continue, he is cut off by a ringing bell. A smile spreads to his face as he places the piece of chalk on the ledge of the chalkboard.)
C.J. Gates: Well, looks like we've run out of time today. So...class dismissed! Make sure to take one of the handouts by the door so you can study for your test next week.
(He walks over to the desk and sits down in the chair, leaning back in it. He picks up his glasses and grabs a tissue from the box and pretends to clean the lens-less frames while two stage hands enter the room and silently begin to remove all of the cardboard standees from their seats. They quickly take them all outside the classroom and close the door. Gates breathes on the right frame and pretends to clean it before placing the glasses back down on the top of the desk, the arms folded under.)
C.J. Gates: It's a shame I couldn't touch on the future with the students, but that is the nature of education. You only have so much time to get through what you need to get through. Though to be honest, it might work out better this way, since it will allow me to get across the point that I really want to hammer home. Instead of speaking to a classroom full of individuals, I can concentrate on talking about my future to the one person that truly needs to hear it.
Though I'm sure that, by now, Sally, you are trying to figure out what it all means and how it all matters to you. Through your fits of laughter you're trying to figure why it even matters to you that I decided to detail my past. And really, the answer to that is quite simple. Since you've done nothing but drag me and my name through the dirt, I figure it was a good idea to let you know that this isn't all that I have done. That APW is just the latest stop in my career. Sure, I might not have captured a World title in any fed that I have been to, but it's not like I haven't shown the capability. It's not like I haven't been standing toe to toe with some of those champions, some Grand Slam champions, and even some future Hall of Fame members in whatever fed I was in.
In short, Sally? I'm not a one trick pony.
Which is really what you keep going back to, isn't it? That I will only amount to holding those tag team titles at a time when the division was weak and in it's infantile stage. Or perhaps you'll give me credit and say that my showing in the Survive and Conquer is enough to give me a second accolade to my name in APW. But I'm more than that, and I hope you realized that. I hope you took in what I had to say and will actually realize that there is more than what you have seen in your stint in APW. That there is more than the tag team wrestler you know me as.
I know that you could do something similar. You could come out here later in the week and tell me all about your past. You could detail every win of yours, every loss, every title that you have ever won and talk about every tag team or manager that has been by your side. I understand that, but there is a difference between you doing it and me doing it. I did it because it seems like I have to. Because based on what I say and what I have done in APW, you still seem to cast me aside, throw me under the bus, and spit on my downed body. But me, I am not denouncing your career. I am not running you through the mud and making you out to be as significant as a piece of lint.
I don't need to be convinced that you are a true competitor.
(Gates shakes his head.)
C.J. Gates: I don't need to know your history to know that you have a bright and promising career. I've watched you tear through APW and rise to the top in a few short months. That right there is evidence enough for me to make my own conclusions. But then again, I don't really doubt anyone in the sense that you have doubted me. I don't make people out to be worthless until they've proven to be so. And you haven't proven to be worthless. In fact, it's been quite the opposite. For the most part, you've had a flawless run while being in APW. You've beaten the majority of people that stand in your way and you even managed to topple the then Level One for the World title.
But then Survive and Conquer came around and you did a complete one eighty. You became the very Level One that you despised. The one that you swore vengeance against. And really that was the beginning of your downward spiral into oblivion. You've been trying to find the reason for it, then you need to take a good look in the mirror, because it's all you. It's not because of anything I did, oh no.This one is all on you. This error is all your fault Sally, and no matter how many people you blame it on, it won't change in the slightest. It won't suddenly make it someone else's fault.
Will you learn from it?
Probably not. Then again, I don't even anticipate you hearing it. I mean, if I were a betting man, then I would bet that you were watching this with the sound on mute, mocking me, making jokes at my expense. After all, gone are the days of Sally Talfourd APW World champion. Gone are the days of Sally Talfourd fan favorite. Gone are the days of Sally Talfourd decent human being. And all because you are the more professional of the two of us, right? Because you are the most...successful person in this wide world, right? Wrong. You're making jokes because you aren't taking this match seriously.
Oh, you say you are, but really, how serious can someone be in your position? How serious can someone be if they're trolling for sex, or playing the entire encounter off as just another walk in the park. As some sort of payback for a made up reason that you never told us. Sure, I could have begged you to tell everyone, to reveal why you have been acting this way, but I didn't care. Because either way, I was going to end up standing across from you in a ring, going toe to toe with the better one of us winning. The reason didn't matter to me. I would have figured that if you were looking to repair the one true mistake you made, and looking to, in some words, regain your fans that you turned your back on, you would have told everyone. You would have painted me as the bad guy in this match.
But you didn't, did you? No, instead you missed a golden opportunity to turn the tables and have everyone pointing their fingers at me, whispering behind my back.
(Again, Gates shakes his head, but this time he gets up from his chair and begins to pace the front of the classroom.)
C.J. Gates: But you didn't do that. And maybe I should give you credit for not pulling out all the villain cards that you could leading up to our match. Maybe I should cut you some slack because you've still managed to maintain the impression and the visual appearance of being a bitch, instead of even trying to turn the tables on me. Then again, maybe you realized that doing so would be pointless. That taking everything and throwing it on me would only provide a small change before the fans were once again booing you from the floor to the nosebleeds.
After all, I haven't had the need to cheap shot anyone to get myself across as being angry. In fact, I have never taken it upon myself to attack someone without them knowing about it, though I have had it done to me by a few people. Hell, I haven't even run in on any matches where it wasn't warranted. Yes, I did it once, but even you can agree that the Contourage ganging up on your friends is warrant enough to make an appearance, right? Though maybe you are the wrong person to be preaching to about friends, considering there's a good chance that you have forgotten what the feeling of friends is like.
But we'll save that sort of fight for the children on the playground.
I only bring it up because you used to have a friend in me, Sally. At one point, you could have counted on me as a friend and an ally. But after everything you have pulled, the words you have thrown me way, and the attacks you have instigated...that is no longer the case. Though I'm sure you've figured that out. After all, it's very hard to nearly kill someone with a car and expect them to be all smiles and high fives, right Sally? Even in your ignorant state, you can still figure that one out.
And you know what, Sally? Ever since you...ran me down for helping you at Survive and Conquer, there has been no match that I have been looking forward to more than this one. Because unlike other matches, this is about more than just a win. This is about more than possible titles, title shots and having your name up in lights. Or, at least, it is to me. To you, this could just be another week of showcasing someone's lack of talent. Just another week of showing everyone that you are better than your opponents. You know, just like you showed everyone you were better than Lester Only, Brandon Young and myself. Or that time when you showed everyone that you were better than Biggs and myself. But to me, this isn't about showing that I am better than you.
No, this match is about showing you that I belong. This is all about proving you wrong and making sure you realize that I am not about to turn around and run away with my tail between my legs. Because I am not going anywhere. I am here to stay, challenge, open some eyes, and send those fans into frenzies of excitement.
Though in this case, this match might even take precedence over the fans. Sure, I want to make sure they have a match to remember, and that their jaws are left on the sticky arena floors, but I also want to make sure my point is made. And to do so, I can't be worried about them. And I know I'll kick myself for saying that, or for even thinking that, but I know that the fans will forgive me. I'm sure they will be able to look past it this one time, knowing that I am fighting for them...
(Gates stops pacing, pauses and nods his head.)
C.J. Gates: That's right, Sally. You turned your back on the fans, and now, I am going to fight for them. I am going to take up their cause and prove that everything you did since Survive and Conquer wasn't in your best interest. And I know that the fans will accept that, because they have my back. They have always had my back. Ever since I stepped through the curtains at my first APW Pay-Per-View, they were trying to tear the roof down just cheering for me. But this has all been harped on a lot, hasn't it? I'm pretty sure any opponent you have had has mentioned your lack of care for the fans that you disappointed and let down.
But that has to be some sort of indication as to how low of a move you pulled. Blaming them for your failures. Blaming them because you couldn't hack it when it mattered most. Did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, there were better people out there? That you were beaten because you weren't the top dog in whatever match you lost. I mean, heaven forbid someone out do you in that ring, but it's not like it's impossible. In fact, I know it's not impossible. I know that you are able to be beaten.
Though part of me wonders.
What would have happened if you would have won Survive and Conquer? Would you have pranced and skipped your way down to the ring at the next Overdrive and praised the fans for having your back? Or would you have still admonished them for only liking you because you were winning? The odds are that at some point, even if you had won Survive and Conquer and won at Rasslemania, you would have still admonished the fans. You would have still blamed them all for something that they didn't do, and something that they didn't deserve.
And to think, at one point I actually thought you were a character full of class.
(Gates shakes his head and walks over to the chalk board. He picks up the piece of chalk and begins lightly tossing it into the air and catching it again.)
C.J. Gates: The one thing I can't seem to get over, is how much this whole situation reminds me of what happened between Blade and myself. How things slowly began to fall apart for whatever reason, whether its self inflicted alcoholism or the inability to lose. How the other party didn't think it worthwhile to mention anything about them finding me to be an utter waste of time. Although, in your case Sally, at least you spent a good month or so throwing insults my way. But then in the end, I never really saw anything coming.
Because in the end, I was on the receiving end of what can best be called a few blindside attacks. First it was Blade knocking me for a loop, and then after that, you began to become more of a thorn in my side. And yes, Sally, I consider them on the same ballpark. And yes, if you have been paying attention I pretty much said that you are on the same level as Blade. Maybe not in the competition department, since I know that fighting you will be harder than fighting Blade, but in the mindset and the actions? You seem exactly the same.
After all, both of you are jealous. I never thought I'd be agreeing with Lester, but when he mentioned three weeks ago that you were jealous...I couldn't help it. Blade was jealous of my success outside of the team, and how well I was getting on without him. And it seems like you are jealous that the fans cheer me. You are jealous that I am able to keep myself centered and concentrated on the task at hand. You've already said that the fans left you for me and, in your words, you claimed I stole them. Not exactly the words of someone that is secure in herself now is it?
But why not get to the heart of the matter.
The future.
So what is in store for us this week as I march toward my future in APW and in the wrestling world in general. Well, you hit the overly confused nail on the head when you were detailing the mayhem that may or may not ensue if things go a certain way. And really, you're right. But I'll take things one step further. The mayhem will ensue if I beat you, that is the truth. But the real mayhem will occur when I put up a strong showing against you, turn some heads, and make sure that you take me as a serious competitor and not as a piece of discarded trash.
And better yet, this match this week is going to be a stepping stone to me. Naturally, it's not about titles or title shots because there are none on the line. And it won't be about getting my name in lights. But it will be about taking another step forward, about making sure that my future...exists. And who knows? If things go well, I could even be walking out of Australia with a singles win over you. Now wouldn't that be something? The one thing you never saw possible, coming true in the blink of an eye. That would almost make the three months of verbal insults worth it.
Almost.
What would really make it worth it, would be for you to accept the fact that I was helping you, that you only hurt yourself, and that I am going nowhere but up. My stock is doing nothing but rising, and there really is nothing you can do to change that. Nothing you can do to stop me from climbing to all new heights. It might not happen overnight, and it might not happen within a month or two.
But it will happen. And when it does, I can say that you were used as the stepping stone to such heights. Because you will be the stepping stone for me, regardless of when things finally take off, whether you like it or not. Fun to know that, right? I mean, it's probably the one thing that you don't want to see happen, but it will. And a loss here, yes, it will delay that from happening for a little while, but it will still make me a better person. And making sure that I show you the truth behind my arsenal, and the truth that lies under my hat...well, that's just the icing on the cake, really.
And I can't wait for it.
(Gates smirks before shaking his head and walk toward the desks.)
C.J. Gates: Truth be told, Sally, there is a good chance that I might even pull out the win over you this week. I know, I know, I can hear you from here, shouting at the top of your lungs about how wrong I am. And I very well could be wrong...though, I do have the momentum on my side. I do have that mental edge over you when it comes to matches. Yes, you've gotten the better of me in run ins, and in the encounters we've had backstage, even if your "This Is Your Life" information was skewed. But after rattling off three straight wins, I feel good. I feel like I am in the drivers seat in this whole situation.
Even though you beat Biff, I have a feeling that what I've managed to do is a bit more impressive, a bit more substantial then what you have been able to do. Even after my match with Khaos, I still managed to get the upper hand on you with that tackle and near Stamp of Approval. After all, who was the one that was walking away and who was the one that was ready to fight? Because I know that if the referee wasn't trying to hold me back, I would have climbed over that guardrail and chased you down. Followed you while you ran for the hills, fled the city, and tried to save yourself before the real tornado began.
And as I'm sure you are well aware, Sally, the things that are going on outside of the wrestling ring won't play a factor. They won't be wearing on my mind as I try to wrestle circles around you. This guy following me? He means nothing in comparison to stepping into the ring with you, and no, that is in no way a compliment. Once that bell rings, I will forget all about him, and you can guarantee that my focus will be on Sally Talfourd, one hundred percent.
But really, Sally, let's break it down.
I know that this match will be tough, there is no denying that. You are far from an easy opponent, but I am prepared for that. I am always prepared for situations like that.
I know that you will be trying your hardest to make me fail, and fail hard. You will try to end this match as quickly as you possible can, and I don't blame you for doing that. You've got to try and prove your own points, just like I'm trying to prove mine.
I know that we will probably end up stealing the show, but that might be because we have real issues to fight about. Everyone else, it's all about gold and title shots. We're out for blood.
And I know that the fans will be cheering for me with everything they have. That is a fact that we can both take home, and a fact that you will have to live with throughout our entire meeting. I usually say that someone has to be the villain, and in this case...well, you made yourself the villain so we've got both sides covered this time.
(Gates smirks and walks back to the chalkboard, erasing what is on the board before writing his usual catch phrase "GO BIG OR GO HOME".)
C.J. Gates: We both know what is on the line in this match, Sally, that is without question. We also both know that we will be tested, and pushed to our limits. As much as you want to knock my head off, I want to beat you just as much. And in the end, there is only going to be one thing that separates the winner from the loser.
It's time to go big or go home.
(Gates tosses the piece of chalk toward the back of the room before walking back to the desk. He picks up his glasses and puts his cowboy hat back on his head. He turns toward the door, exits and as he closes it behind him, the scene fades to black.)
"After spending the past three weeks proving myself in the main event, competing in tough matches against even tougher opponents, I finally get the chance that I have truly been waiting for. I finally get the opportunity to prove myself to the one person that has been casting the most doubt on my abilities. I can finally, once and for all, show Sally Talfourd that I am not this black hole of hopelessness that she claims me to be.
"I will finally be able to teach her the lesson that she seems unwilling to accept. I will finally be able to show her that this doubt that she has stuck to my name is....not right. Will she listen to what I have to say? Probably not, because it's been well documented that Sally won't believe it. But I still have to try.
"And then I have to prove it to her when we step inside of that ring.
"Just like I proved it to Khaos last week. I'm sure that he, and a few others, wrote me off. Assumed that I had only succeeded because of tag team partners. That the two weeks prior were fluke wins that never should of happened.And then I gave Khaos quite the fight. I made sure that he would remember the match, remember me, and would also realize that he wasn't as tough and as invincible as he would like to think himself to be.
"In short, I had that match won. And in doing so, I made sure to grab hold of all the momentum I needed going into Mayhem. Sure, Sally beat Biff, but that is only one win. Beating her in the two weeks prior, that is what it was all about. And seeing that she felt the need to come down and interfere...well, that showed me that she is worried. That she is scared of what could possibly happen.
"Even if she won't outright admit it.
"Though even then, when she ran out from the back, I still held the momentum in my favor. Even after she knocked me off the turnbuckle, I still had all the aces in my hand. Thanks to one unlikely source, I might add.
"Biggs.
"I thank you for what you did this week. I know that we don't see eye to eye, and I know that we are far away on thinking about the same goals. At least there was enough mutual hate for Sally and Khaos to draw you out. Without your help, there is no telling what would have happened and where I would be right now. I could be in the hospital, I could be dead in a ditch...Anywhere.
"All places that Sally would love for me to have ended up. And since I didn't, I'm sure she hopes to put me there herself. I'm sure she hopes to eradicate me from the face of the APW, just so she can prove her point about me being worthless.
"But this is when I shock the world.
"This is when I prove my doubters wrong, and when I prove my believers right. This is when I take a step forward and shed away the Exchange Rate, tag team wrestler label that has been attached to me since I won those titles.
"With the momentum firmly in my court, with the fans cheering me on...this is when APW realizes that this North Dakota Cowboy is on the rise.
"It's time to go big or go home."
(The scene opens up inside the lobby of a hotel in Darwin, Australia. There are a few people milling about, talking to one another, while others make their way in from outside and head straight for the bank of elevators, and vice versa. A small line forms at the front desk while some people check in and others, just check for messages. Among them, is APW Megastar C.J. Gates, who is wearing a pair of black dress pants, a white dress shirt, and his usual cowboy hat. He waits patiently while the people in front of him finish checking in before he finally reaches the front of the line. He places his elbows on the top of the front desk and lays his forearms down while the woman behind the counter finishes up something on the computer. After she is done, she looks up and smiles at him, and he returns the smile.)
Woman: Hello, sir. How can I help you?
C.J. Gates: Been out all day, just wondering if there were any messages left for me.
Woman: Alright. And can I get your room number?
C.J. Gates: Room 407.
Woman: One moment.
(She punches it into the computer in front of her and waits a moment before continuing with her search. After a few moments she smiles up at Gates and nods.)
Woman: Mr. Gates?
C.J. Gates: That's me.
Woman: We don't have an actual message for you, but there was a man here looking for you earlier this afternoon.
C.J. Gates: Oh? Was it a big, bald man with crazy eyes and a glean of sweat on his forehead?
(The woman looks confused for a moment before shaking her head.)
Woman: No. No, that wasn't him at all.
C.J. Gates: Oh. Well, what did he look like?
Woman: He was...
(She hesitates for a moment, presumably thinking about what the man looked like.)
Woman: He was very professional. He didn't joke around much and was very direct and to the point. Seemed almost like he expected you not to be here.
C.J. Gates: Really? That seems odd...
(The woman shrugs.)
C.J. Gates: Did you get a good look at his face?
Woman: Not really. He was wearing a grey suit with a grey trench coat on over top, a grey fedora, and he had a newspaper tucked under his arm.
C.J. Gates: A trench coat? In this weather?
Woman: That's what we all thought, too. We were laughing at it because it seemed so out of place. But he didn't seem to mind. Like I said, he was very professional. I guess you could say he looked like he was right out of a detective novel.
C.J. Gates: Yeah, that's what I'm curious about.
Woman: Do you know him? If you don't mind me asking that is.
C.J. Gates: No, I don't know him. I want to know him, because I believe he's been tailing me all over Australia for the past month or so.
Woman: Oh, wow. Kind of like a stalker?
C.J. Gates: I guess. I've never had one before, so I'm not too sure.
Woman: Some of them can be harmless, but other times, you have to watch out. There are some real crazies and sickos out there. Though there are also some nice guys as well.
(Gates gives the woman a perplexed look and she blushes.)
Woman: Not that I have any experience with things like that.
C.J. Gates: Fair enough. Did he leave a name or anything? Maybe word on where I could get a hold of him or meet him?
Woman: No. He didn't leave a name. He did say he was a cousin of yours from Krakozhia...though now I know he wasn't telling the truth.
C.J. Gates: Even though Krakozhia is a fake country. And I'm assuming that he didn't look like Tom Hanks, or you'd have caught that right away, right?
(Again the girl blushes and looks down at the desk. Gates pauses, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.)
C.J. Gates: Sorry, didn't mean to burst out there. What else did he say?
Woman: When I asked him for his number so you could call him back, he said that you would know where to contact him at, and if not, then he would find you.
C.J. Gates: He said that he would find me?
Woman: That's what he said. But at the time I assumed him to be known to you, and didn't think anything of it.
C.J. Gates: How long ago was this?
(The woman glances over her shoulder to the wall clock hanging over the back counter of the front desk area.)
Woman: It was about three hours ago, at around one. Again, I'm sorry. If I'd have known I would have done something about it.
C.J. Gates: Naw, it's alright. It's not like I told the front desk to watch out for a could-be stalker following me. I'll figure it all out eventually. I'm sure it's nothing important anyways, just someone having a bit of fun.
Woman: Hopefully. Anyways, if there is anything that we can do for you here, just let us know.
C.J. Gates: Will do. Thanks.
(They exchange another smile before Gates walks away, toward the elevators. He pauses and glances behind him, looking for anything that seems out of place, but nothing sticks out. After a moment he smiles and gives his head a shake before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his cell phone. He punches in a number and after a few rings, and thanks to the magic of technology, the voice on the other end is recognized as Rico Casteel.)
Rico: What do?
C.J. Gates: What the hell? What are you talking about?
Rico: Nevermind. What's going on?
C.J. Gates: Nothing. And you'll never guess what I just found out.
Rico: You found out that James Chambers is a hack? A fake champion? Cause I already knew that.
C.J. Gates: No. I found out that I'm still being followed.
(The sound of Rico letting out a frustrated sigh is heard.)
Rico: Listen, I know you think you're being followed, but I'm sure it's nothing. And I can't be bothered with this shit while I'm trying to get ready for an important match. You should be doing the same. You've got Sally Talfourd after all, which is nothing to scoff at.
C.J. Gates: He came to my hotel and asked for me.
Rico: Someone came looking for you?
C.J. Gates: Yes, but it's the same person that I saw in the last few cities.
Rico: The one that was hiding behind the kid on the big wheel?
C.J. Gates: I know you don't believe me, but come on, throw me a bone. Someone else was witnessed to his existence, and she is credible.
Rico: Is she real?
(Gates lowers the phone and curses silently before raising it back up.)
Rico: I'm not trying to bust your balls or anything but, come on, it's kind of shady, no? I've never seen him and I was with you when you claimed to have seen him.
C.J. Gates: I'm telling you man, someone is following me. I don't know who, but I'm going to find out.
Rico: And how are you going to do that when the guy never wants to be seen?
C.J. Gates: Well, he said that he would find me, if that means anything to you. And I am inclined to believe that if he really wants to talk to me, then he will find me. I just have to be ready.
Rico: Just like we have to be ready for out matches.
C.J. Gates: Exactly.
Rico: And not worried about some phantom stalker that may or may not exist.
(Gates pauses and rolls his eyes.)
C.J. Gates: If you don't want to deal with it, you don't have to.
Rico: Sounds good. Because I'm too busy training and preparing for what is undoubtedly going to be a tough match.
C.J. Gates: I know all about those kind of matches, man.
Rico: Do you?
C.J. Gates: I just spent the past three weeks winning main event match after main event match. I think I know a thing or two about competing when it counts.
Rico: Well, didn't you only win because Sally interfered last week?
C.J. Gates: I had Khaos in the bag anyways. She just got involved which put the stamp on the whole match.
Rico: I guess a win is a win.
C.J. Gates: It's not the big win I'm after but it will do for now. A four match winning streak would definitely help me out in the long run.
Rico: Worst case is Test For the Best, right?
C.J. Gates: I guess so. But I'm not looking past Sally. Even with all of this stuff that is going on with the mystery man who seems to be falling me, I'm not looking past her.
Rico: Good on you. Now all you have to do is put your words into action.
C.J. Gates: That's the goal.
(Silence falls between the two of them.)
Rico: Listen, I'll talk to you later. I can't deal with your stories anymore. Hopefully by Mayhem all of this shit will be sorted out and you can focus on what's important. Yeah?
C.J. Gates: Hopefully. I can't say that it will, though.
Rico: Yeah, hopefully.
(The line goes dead as Rico hangs up. Gates shakes his head as he pockets his cell phone and takes one last look at the entrance to the hotel. After thinking about it, he walks back over to the front desk and, after waiting for another patron to be helped, steps back up to the counter.)
Woman: Hello, sir. How can I--Oh, it's you again.
(She looks up and smiles as Gates nods.)
C.J. Gates: It is. I was just wondering if you knew of anywhere around here that I could call for some...professional protection.
Woman: You mean...like, a bodyguard?
C.J. Gates: Yeah, I guess we could call it that.
Woman: If you don't mind me asking, why would you need a bodyguard?
C.J. Gates: Just to keep certain people at bay. Normally I wouldn't worry about it, but I have a pretty busy week this week and don't want to get sidetracked, you know?
(The woman shakes her head.)
Woman: Not really.
C.J. Gates: Fair enough.
Woman: And I'm sorry. I don't exactly have anything for you as far as bodyguards for hire go.
C.J. Gates: Do you know of anyone who might know?
(The woman shakes her head.)
Woman: No, I'm sorry. We don't really get those sort of requests that often.
(Gates lets out a chuckle.)
C.J. Gates: No, I wouldn't expect so. It's probably right out of left field.
Woman: Deep left field.
C.J. Gates: Oh well, I'm sure I'll be able to find something at some point.
Woman: I'm sure you will. Have a good evening, sir.
(Gates walks away from the counter and heads toward the bank of elevators. As he does, and as he walks past them to the stairway leading up, a man enters the hotel wearing a suit, trench coat and fedora. He turns right and walks over to an area with a few chairs and couches and takes a seat. He opens the newspaper he was carrying under his arm and proceeds to read as the scene fades to black.)
------------------------------
Tuesday, May 17
Six Days Before Mayhem
(The scene slowly begins to open up inside of a classroom. Nothing seems odd about the set up of the room; there is a blackboard at the far end, a large desk for the teacher off to the left, and in front of the blackboard, sit rows and rows of desks. What does look odd are the occupants of the desks. Instead of children getting ready to learn, the desks are occupied by cardboard standees of former APW World champion Sally Talfourd. There look to be about thirty desks in the room, and of those thirty desks, half of them are showcasing the smiling face of Sally.
The door to the classroom opens and in walks C.J. Gates, looking quite smart. He is wearing a pair of black pants, a black shirt with a tweed blazer, complete with leather patches on the elbows. He is wearing a pair of lens-less horn rimmed glasses and his cowboy hat on top. As he enters the room, he flashes a cheesy, toothy smile before walking to his desk and placing the stack of books he was carrying under his arm on top. He removed his hat and places it on top of a mannequin head on the desk, before removing his glasses, folding the arms under and placing them on the desk as well. Gates then walks up to the chalkboard and writes "Professor C.J. Gates" on the board in large cursive letters before he turns to face the desks, clapping his hands together as he does.)
C.J. Gates: Good afternoon, class! I'm glad that all of you could make it here this afternoon because I have quite the lesson in store for all of you. For the first time ever, we will be taking a look at the a very promising career in the professional wrestling business.
(Gates pauses for a moment before smiling and shaking his head.)
C.J. Gates: No, no, we aren't going to be doing an expose of Lester Only. No, the promising career that we are going to be taking a look at, is that of yours truly. Yes, along with stepping into the classroom I am also a great wrestler, if I do say so myself. Now, some of you may not agree, but that is what this class is for. To enlighten everyone as to who I am. To show them that my career was not and is not a hopeless mess.
We will break it down into three points of discussion: the past, which will encompass the time in my career that occurred before I signed my contract with Action Packed Wrestling; the present, which, naturally, will talk about the events in APW that allowed me to get where I am today. And if we have time, we will even touch on the future, and what is to come for the North Dakota Cowboy.
Now before we begin, are there any questions?
(Gates clasps his hands together and glances out over the class.)
C.J. Gates: Anyone? There might not be time for questions during the lesson, and if things draw on, then we might have to hold all questions until the next class. So, last chance.
(Gates once again scans the class, looking each cutout in the face before nodding his head.)
C.J. Gates: Very well, let us begin.
(Gates turns and walks toward the blackboard where he picks up an eraser and wipes his name off the board.)
C.J. Gates: We're going to skip by everything that occurred in my childhood, because it's really not important in this lesson. It really doesn't help tell the story of my career. Sure, it shaped me, and drove me, but it didn't create who I was inside of that ring. I wasn't the sort of person to use the fact that I had many siblings as my drive to succeed. No, they were my support net in whatever I did. If anything, my family didn't want me to get into the wrestling business. Perhaps that is the reason for my foray into the sport? Maybe. But it's not the reason in my mind.
Moving on.
(He faces the board again and, in large letters, writes "THE PAST". Underneath that, he writes three initials: U. W. O.)
C.J. Gates: My career started in the Ultimate Wrestling Organization, or UWO for short. Great group of guys, great owner, probably would have been in the same spot APW is in now had it not fallen on hard times. In any case, I got my start in a federation that some immense talent. Names that would make peoples eyes open up in respect. Names that, unfortunately, have no bearing in peoples minds right now. Still, I took this opportunity to get my foot in the door, and, being the hotshot rookie that I was, I tried to do too much.
And I put my faith in the wrong people. A downfall, yes, but everyone has done it. Anyways, things started rocky, but after getting a good head of steam, I began to turn the tables. I began to win matches, and when I wasn't winning I was making things impossible for some of the big named wrestlers that we on the roster. The Lester Only's, Ryan Ruckus', and Sally Talfourd's of the UWO. And really, the only difference between then and now is that I was losing more matches then.
But I'm getting ahead of myself already.
It was during these early days that I began to understand. That I began to realize the error of my ways early on. I tried to correct that as fast I could. I tried to rewrite my own book, and I actually succeeded. Though, the choice of purchasing the federation from the former owner was one that I would like to redo. Sure, it was great to be able to say that I owned a wrestling federation, but in the end it was a lot more work than I thought it would be.
But that led to my reinvention, to changing the way I handled myself. And that was when I began to open eyes even more. That was when I began to win titles, becoming a thorn in the side of one David Wallace, and capturing the Television title on two occasions.
Though I hear all of you out there.
(Gates points out to the class.)
C.J. Gates: I hear all of you asking yourselves how that matters. How the first federation I was a part of means anything to the current situation. Well, all you doubters, it does matter. With those months of trial and error, I learned what suited me and what didn't. And I grabbed it and ran.
Next up, was Wrestling Unplugged. It was a short stint in a Japanese based federation but I still excelled during my short time there. I flipped the script from my time in UWO and, wouldn't you know, I was winning matches. I came away from that federation undefeated, and even managed to grab one title during my short, short time there. Just another case of using my past experiences to help me out, to allow me to get better, and to make sure that I excelled.
And in the notes you're taking, please put an asterisk beside The Past, and note that during this time, all of my success came in singles wrestling. Just as an aside.
Now, before we move on to my time in APW, does anyone have any questions?
(Gates glances around the classroom.)
C.J. Gates: Yes. You in the back.
(Silence fills the room as Gates nods his head, almost as if he understands.)
C.J. Gates: Ah, good question. What do the titles mean? Nothing more than proving that I could handle myself in tougher situations. Though I think that case was also proven in what we are about to cover in the present chapter. I wasn't throwing mention of them in there to brag, but simply to show that when push came to shove in tense moments with everything riding on a win, I managed to come away victorious numerous times, with all the glory around my waist.
Any other questions?
(He once again glances around the room.)
C.J. Gates: No? Very well. Let us continue with the present.
(Gates writes down "THE PRESENT" beside The Past.)
C.J. Gates: This is what you should be more knowledgeable about, because all of it happened while you were around. All of what I am about to tell you, happened while you were stealing the show and making a name for yourself. One would think that because of that, I wouldn't have to go through it. That I could let it speak for itself. But if I did that, then I'd only be letting myself down. Because, regardless as to whether or not I need to say it, I feel as though it has to be mentioned. In any case, let us continue.
Contrary to earlier belief, I actually had my first APW match on July twenty-ninth in a draw against Cooper Conrad. And while everyone, recently, seems to want to point at that, they don't realize, or refuse to realize, that I won six of my next seven matches following that. I began to put myself on the map and carve my own niche in this company. After that, I teamed with Blade to help get my foot in the door and show everyone that I was here to stay. As a team, we ran the gauntlet, defeating all comers who wanted a shot at us or at our titles. Win after win, we defend against anyone that came within arms length of us and began to rewrite the tag team division.
And then came my first obstacle.
While still tag team champions, I was given the opportunity to experiment into singles wrestling and, well, it didn't exactly go as I would have hoped at first. But everyone has set backs, right? Everyone is caught off guard when they're not really expecting to be thrown into the ring against the people that would be fighting for the World title. And as the records will show, I managed to lose both of those matches. Though, what those records will fail to show, is that I managed to make both of them sweat for their wins. I made them earn the right to hold a pinfall over me.
And after I had begun coming back around from those losses, the Exchange Rate was caught in a heated battle with the Beautiful Disaster. The toughest team that we had yet to face in APW. We were the team to beat until they rolled into town. And I admit, they are the better team, though my one win over Kaycee does show that when divided, they are not truly better.
Sadly, we lost the titles but, it wasn't all bad at Survive and Conquer.
Because it was on that night that I broke out. It was that night that I made an impressive splash, making it to the final four when no body thought I had any business getting there. And after that, things began to change. I was given more singles opportunities, and made the best of them, grabbing wins over Pence Weatherlight and Johnny Knuckles. I had strong showings against Ryan Ruckus and his Contourage cronies. I even defeated my former tag team partner Blade in what I can only describe as a match filled with anger and hatred toward him for all that he didn't do.
(Gates pauses and shakes his head, as if recollecting.)
C.J. Gates: Which brings us to the past three weeks. To when my star really began to shine, and to when me momentum really began to pick up. Ruckus, Marvin, Talfourd, Khaos...all of them ended up on the losing end, allowing me to cement myself as a true competitor of this company. And another thing.
(Gates erases the board again and scrawls down "22-10-2".)
C.J. Gates: That, boys and girls, is my record, and it does not lie. It shows that I have been able to have success right there in black and white. It shows that I have managed to overcome any defeats and climb right back onto the horse.
But what does it all mean?
Well, I'll tell you. It means that even when things look bleak, I am able to persevere. That even in times when everything seems stacked against me, I am still able to pull out a win. And really? If a win doesn't seem to be in the cards, I am at least able to walk away with my head held high.
Not everyone can say that.
History also shows that I am not intimidated by who stands across the ring from me. Whether it's Mr. Dangerous or Lester Only, or someone as tall as David Wallace was, I am still in the same frame of mind come match time. I am still fighting at the same level of competition. Sure, other people can claim the same, but I have been able to maintain that high level week in and week out.
(He pauses and glances around the room a bit.)
C.J. Gates: Still not convinced? Fair enough. Perhaps I should throw in the information about the recent CWC Ascension Tournament. A collection of some of the best talents that anyone could piece together, and I managed to make it to the final four, beating highly talented hopefuls in the process, and nearly beating the current CWC World champion. I doubt there is a single person that could look at that and say that it is a worthless achievement. You can't tell me that the success I had there means nothing, that it was all for naught.
Because I know that it wasn't, and I know that this is just the beginning. Which brings us to our next topic...
(As Gates opens his mouth to continue, he is cut off by a ringing bell. A smile spreads to his face as he places the piece of chalk on the ledge of the chalkboard.)
C.J. Gates: Well, looks like we've run out of time today. So...class dismissed! Make sure to take one of the handouts by the door so you can study for your test next week.
(He walks over to the desk and sits down in the chair, leaning back in it. He picks up his glasses and grabs a tissue from the box and pretends to clean the lens-less frames while two stage hands enter the room and silently begin to remove all of the cardboard standees from their seats. They quickly take them all outside the classroom and close the door. Gates breathes on the right frame and pretends to clean it before placing the glasses back down on the top of the desk, the arms folded under.)
C.J. Gates: It's a shame I couldn't touch on the future with the students, but that is the nature of education. You only have so much time to get through what you need to get through. Though to be honest, it might work out better this way, since it will allow me to get across the point that I really want to hammer home. Instead of speaking to a classroom full of individuals, I can concentrate on talking about my future to the one person that truly needs to hear it.
Though I'm sure that, by now, Sally, you are trying to figure out what it all means and how it all matters to you. Through your fits of laughter you're trying to figure why it even matters to you that I decided to detail my past. And really, the answer to that is quite simple. Since you've done nothing but drag me and my name through the dirt, I figure it was a good idea to let you know that this isn't all that I have done. That APW is just the latest stop in my career. Sure, I might not have captured a World title in any fed that I have been to, but it's not like I haven't shown the capability. It's not like I haven't been standing toe to toe with some of those champions, some Grand Slam champions, and even some future Hall of Fame members in whatever fed I was in.
In short, Sally? I'm not a one trick pony.
Which is really what you keep going back to, isn't it? That I will only amount to holding those tag team titles at a time when the division was weak and in it's infantile stage. Or perhaps you'll give me credit and say that my showing in the Survive and Conquer is enough to give me a second accolade to my name in APW. But I'm more than that, and I hope you realized that. I hope you took in what I had to say and will actually realize that there is more than what you have seen in your stint in APW. That there is more than the tag team wrestler you know me as.
I know that you could do something similar. You could come out here later in the week and tell me all about your past. You could detail every win of yours, every loss, every title that you have ever won and talk about every tag team or manager that has been by your side. I understand that, but there is a difference between you doing it and me doing it. I did it because it seems like I have to. Because based on what I say and what I have done in APW, you still seem to cast me aside, throw me under the bus, and spit on my downed body. But me, I am not denouncing your career. I am not running you through the mud and making you out to be as significant as a piece of lint.
I don't need to be convinced that you are a true competitor.
(Gates shakes his head.)
C.J. Gates: I don't need to know your history to know that you have a bright and promising career. I've watched you tear through APW and rise to the top in a few short months. That right there is evidence enough for me to make my own conclusions. But then again, I don't really doubt anyone in the sense that you have doubted me. I don't make people out to be worthless until they've proven to be so. And you haven't proven to be worthless. In fact, it's been quite the opposite. For the most part, you've had a flawless run while being in APW. You've beaten the majority of people that stand in your way and you even managed to topple the then Level One for the World title.
But then Survive and Conquer came around and you did a complete one eighty. You became the very Level One that you despised. The one that you swore vengeance against. And really that was the beginning of your downward spiral into oblivion. You've been trying to find the reason for it, then you need to take a good look in the mirror, because it's all you. It's not because of anything I did, oh no.This one is all on you. This error is all your fault Sally, and no matter how many people you blame it on, it won't change in the slightest. It won't suddenly make it someone else's fault.
Will you learn from it?
Probably not. Then again, I don't even anticipate you hearing it. I mean, if I were a betting man, then I would bet that you were watching this with the sound on mute, mocking me, making jokes at my expense. After all, gone are the days of Sally Talfourd APW World champion. Gone are the days of Sally Talfourd fan favorite. Gone are the days of Sally Talfourd decent human being. And all because you are the more professional of the two of us, right? Because you are the most...successful person in this wide world, right? Wrong. You're making jokes because you aren't taking this match seriously.
Oh, you say you are, but really, how serious can someone be in your position? How serious can someone be if they're trolling for sex, or playing the entire encounter off as just another walk in the park. As some sort of payback for a made up reason that you never told us. Sure, I could have begged you to tell everyone, to reveal why you have been acting this way, but I didn't care. Because either way, I was going to end up standing across from you in a ring, going toe to toe with the better one of us winning. The reason didn't matter to me. I would have figured that if you were looking to repair the one true mistake you made, and looking to, in some words, regain your fans that you turned your back on, you would have told everyone. You would have painted me as the bad guy in this match.
But you didn't, did you? No, instead you missed a golden opportunity to turn the tables and have everyone pointing their fingers at me, whispering behind my back.
(Again, Gates shakes his head, but this time he gets up from his chair and begins to pace the front of the classroom.)
C.J. Gates: But you didn't do that. And maybe I should give you credit for not pulling out all the villain cards that you could leading up to our match. Maybe I should cut you some slack because you've still managed to maintain the impression and the visual appearance of being a bitch, instead of even trying to turn the tables on me. Then again, maybe you realized that doing so would be pointless. That taking everything and throwing it on me would only provide a small change before the fans were once again booing you from the floor to the nosebleeds.
After all, I haven't had the need to cheap shot anyone to get myself across as being angry. In fact, I have never taken it upon myself to attack someone without them knowing about it, though I have had it done to me by a few people. Hell, I haven't even run in on any matches where it wasn't warranted. Yes, I did it once, but even you can agree that the Contourage ganging up on your friends is warrant enough to make an appearance, right? Though maybe you are the wrong person to be preaching to about friends, considering there's a good chance that you have forgotten what the feeling of friends is like.
But we'll save that sort of fight for the children on the playground.
I only bring it up because you used to have a friend in me, Sally. At one point, you could have counted on me as a friend and an ally. But after everything you have pulled, the words you have thrown me way, and the attacks you have instigated...that is no longer the case. Though I'm sure you've figured that out. After all, it's very hard to nearly kill someone with a car and expect them to be all smiles and high fives, right Sally? Even in your ignorant state, you can still figure that one out.
And you know what, Sally? Ever since you...ran me down for helping you at Survive and Conquer, there has been no match that I have been looking forward to more than this one. Because unlike other matches, this is about more than just a win. This is about more than possible titles, title shots and having your name up in lights. Or, at least, it is to me. To you, this could just be another week of showcasing someone's lack of talent. Just another week of showing everyone that you are better than your opponents. You know, just like you showed everyone you were better than Lester Only, Brandon Young and myself. Or that time when you showed everyone that you were better than Biggs and myself. But to me, this isn't about showing that I am better than you.
No, this match is about showing you that I belong. This is all about proving you wrong and making sure you realize that I am not about to turn around and run away with my tail between my legs. Because I am not going anywhere. I am here to stay, challenge, open some eyes, and send those fans into frenzies of excitement.
Though in this case, this match might even take precedence over the fans. Sure, I want to make sure they have a match to remember, and that their jaws are left on the sticky arena floors, but I also want to make sure my point is made. And to do so, I can't be worried about them. And I know I'll kick myself for saying that, or for even thinking that, but I know that the fans will forgive me. I'm sure they will be able to look past it this one time, knowing that I am fighting for them...
(Gates stops pacing, pauses and nods his head.)
C.J. Gates: That's right, Sally. You turned your back on the fans, and now, I am going to fight for them. I am going to take up their cause and prove that everything you did since Survive and Conquer wasn't in your best interest. And I know that the fans will accept that, because they have my back. They have always had my back. Ever since I stepped through the curtains at my first APW Pay-Per-View, they were trying to tear the roof down just cheering for me. But this has all been harped on a lot, hasn't it? I'm pretty sure any opponent you have had has mentioned your lack of care for the fans that you disappointed and let down.
But that has to be some sort of indication as to how low of a move you pulled. Blaming them for your failures. Blaming them because you couldn't hack it when it mattered most. Did you ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, there were better people out there? That you were beaten because you weren't the top dog in whatever match you lost. I mean, heaven forbid someone out do you in that ring, but it's not like it's impossible. In fact, I know it's not impossible. I know that you are able to be beaten.
Though part of me wonders.
What would have happened if you would have won Survive and Conquer? Would you have pranced and skipped your way down to the ring at the next Overdrive and praised the fans for having your back? Or would you have still admonished them for only liking you because you were winning? The odds are that at some point, even if you had won Survive and Conquer and won at Rasslemania, you would have still admonished the fans. You would have still blamed them all for something that they didn't do, and something that they didn't deserve.
And to think, at one point I actually thought you were a character full of class.
(Gates shakes his head and walks over to the chalk board. He picks up the piece of chalk and begins lightly tossing it into the air and catching it again.)
C.J. Gates: The one thing I can't seem to get over, is how much this whole situation reminds me of what happened between Blade and myself. How things slowly began to fall apart for whatever reason, whether its self inflicted alcoholism or the inability to lose. How the other party didn't think it worthwhile to mention anything about them finding me to be an utter waste of time. Although, in your case Sally, at least you spent a good month or so throwing insults my way. But then in the end, I never really saw anything coming.
Because in the end, I was on the receiving end of what can best be called a few blindside attacks. First it was Blade knocking me for a loop, and then after that, you began to become more of a thorn in my side. And yes, Sally, I consider them on the same ballpark. And yes, if you have been paying attention I pretty much said that you are on the same level as Blade. Maybe not in the competition department, since I know that fighting you will be harder than fighting Blade, but in the mindset and the actions? You seem exactly the same.
After all, both of you are jealous. I never thought I'd be agreeing with Lester, but when he mentioned three weeks ago that you were jealous...I couldn't help it. Blade was jealous of my success outside of the team, and how well I was getting on without him. And it seems like you are jealous that the fans cheer me. You are jealous that I am able to keep myself centered and concentrated on the task at hand. You've already said that the fans left you for me and, in your words, you claimed I stole them. Not exactly the words of someone that is secure in herself now is it?
But why not get to the heart of the matter.
The future.
So what is in store for us this week as I march toward my future in APW and in the wrestling world in general. Well, you hit the overly confused nail on the head when you were detailing the mayhem that may or may not ensue if things go a certain way. And really, you're right. But I'll take things one step further. The mayhem will ensue if I beat you, that is the truth. But the real mayhem will occur when I put up a strong showing against you, turn some heads, and make sure that you take me as a serious competitor and not as a piece of discarded trash.
And better yet, this match this week is going to be a stepping stone to me. Naturally, it's not about titles or title shots because there are none on the line. And it won't be about getting my name in lights. But it will be about taking another step forward, about making sure that my future...exists. And who knows? If things go well, I could even be walking out of Australia with a singles win over you. Now wouldn't that be something? The one thing you never saw possible, coming true in the blink of an eye. That would almost make the three months of verbal insults worth it.
Almost.
What would really make it worth it, would be for you to accept the fact that I was helping you, that you only hurt yourself, and that I am going nowhere but up. My stock is doing nothing but rising, and there really is nothing you can do to change that. Nothing you can do to stop me from climbing to all new heights. It might not happen overnight, and it might not happen within a month or two.
But it will happen. And when it does, I can say that you were used as the stepping stone to such heights. Because you will be the stepping stone for me, regardless of when things finally take off, whether you like it or not. Fun to know that, right? I mean, it's probably the one thing that you don't want to see happen, but it will. And a loss here, yes, it will delay that from happening for a little while, but it will still make me a better person. And making sure that I show you the truth behind my arsenal, and the truth that lies under my hat...well, that's just the icing on the cake, really.
And I can't wait for it.
(Gates smirks before shaking his head and walk toward the desks.)
C.J. Gates: Truth be told, Sally, there is a good chance that I might even pull out the win over you this week. I know, I know, I can hear you from here, shouting at the top of your lungs about how wrong I am. And I very well could be wrong...though, I do have the momentum on my side. I do have that mental edge over you when it comes to matches. Yes, you've gotten the better of me in run ins, and in the encounters we've had backstage, even if your "This Is Your Life" information was skewed. But after rattling off three straight wins, I feel good. I feel like I am in the drivers seat in this whole situation.
Even though you beat Biff, I have a feeling that what I've managed to do is a bit more impressive, a bit more substantial then what you have been able to do. Even after my match with Khaos, I still managed to get the upper hand on you with that tackle and near Stamp of Approval. After all, who was the one that was walking away and who was the one that was ready to fight? Because I know that if the referee wasn't trying to hold me back, I would have climbed over that guardrail and chased you down. Followed you while you ran for the hills, fled the city, and tried to save yourself before the real tornado began.
And as I'm sure you are well aware, Sally, the things that are going on outside of the wrestling ring won't play a factor. They won't be wearing on my mind as I try to wrestle circles around you. This guy following me? He means nothing in comparison to stepping into the ring with you, and no, that is in no way a compliment. Once that bell rings, I will forget all about him, and you can guarantee that my focus will be on Sally Talfourd, one hundred percent.
But really, Sally, let's break it down.
I know that this match will be tough, there is no denying that. You are far from an easy opponent, but I am prepared for that. I am always prepared for situations like that.
I know that you will be trying your hardest to make me fail, and fail hard. You will try to end this match as quickly as you possible can, and I don't blame you for doing that. You've got to try and prove your own points, just like I'm trying to prove mine.
I know that we will probably end up stealing the show, but that might be because we have real issues to fight about. Everyone else, it's all about gold and title shots. We're out for blood.
And I know that the fans will be cheering for me with everything they have. That is a fact that we can both take home, and a fact that you will have to live with throughout our entire meeting. I usually say that someone has to be the villain, and in this case...well, you made yourself the villain so we've got both sides covered this time.
(Gates smirks and walks back to the chalkboard, erasing what is on the board before writing his usual catch phrase "GO BIG OR GO HOME".)
C.J. Gates: We both know what is on the line in this match, Sally, that is without question. We also both know that we will be tested, and pushed to our limits. As much as you want to knock my head off, I want to beat you just as much. And in the end, there is only going to be one thing that separates the winner from the loser.
It's time to go big or go home.
(Gates tosses the piece of chalk toward the back of the room before walking back to the desk. He picks up his glasses and puts his cowboy hat back on his head. He turns toward the door, exits and as he closes it behind him, the scene fades to black.)
