Post by C.J. Gates on May 21, 2011 20:42:36 GMT -4
(The scene opens inside of a gym somewhere in Australia. The place is pretty packed, with a good deal of the machines occupied, but the focus is on a punching bag at the far side of the gym where a large man can be seen working out. He is wearing a pair of black shorts and a black hooded sweatshirt, with the hood up. As he punches the bag, his hood slowly falls down until it's off, revealing the man as APW Suicidal champion Rico Casteel. After a few more furious punches thrown, he pauses and places his hand against the punching bag, stopping it.)
Voice: How's it, I say, how's it going, champ?
(A snarl spreads across Rico's face as he closes his eyes and swallows. He slowly turns his head to glare at the aged face of Colonel Frederick de LaFontaine III. He is once again wearing his mustard yellow suit without his hat this time.)
Rico: What the hell are you doing here?
Colonel: Calm down, son. I'm only here to accept your thank you for my help two weeks ago. So, whenever you're ready.
(The Colonel extends his hand to Rico, but Rico looks at it with disgust.)
Rico: What the hell are you on about?
Colonel: Whaduya mean? Last week when you pretended to fire me, I fired you up. I got you going. I got that blood pumping in your body. How else do you think you won your match?
Rico: I didn't win the match. Cyrus did. And I didn't pretend to fire you, I actually did. But maybe your Alzheimer's caused you to miss that part.
Colonel: Such the comedian, there boy. When I was growing up, I'd have been hit with a switch for mouthing off like that.
(Rico takes a step forward, as the Colonel withdraws his hand and continues.)
Colonel: Besides, you might not have scored the pinfall, but you still took it to that son of a bitch Chambers and his partner. And after all, a win is a win right?
Rico: Wrong.
(The Colonel takes a step back, looking confused.)
Colonel: What are you, I say, what are you on about, son? How am I wrong, you mind explaining that to me, boy? Did you even listen to anything I said?
Rico: Oh, I listened alright. But things probably add up differently to you and me. Because to me, a win is not a win. A win, to me, is defined by my opponent laying motionless on the mat. It's defined by blood being spilled. It's defined by me being the one to score the final pinfall, and not that pissant Cyrus.
Colonel: Well hollering ain't going to solve that, boy. You don't want to accept that as a win, then so be it. But don't be blaming me for nothing.
Rico: Who said I was blaming you? I was merely telling you that you were fired and that you have no reason to be here right now.
(The Colonel chuckles and shakes his head.)
Colonel: Now you didn't mean that the other week, I know that.
Rico: What makes you say that? I thought I was very concise in my delivery. Any working relationship between you and I was terminated. Done. Finished. Now get the fuck out of my sight.
(Rico shakes his head as he turns back around to the punching bag and throws a few punches.)
Colonel: Now wait, I say, now wait just a minute, son. This isn't over between us.
(Rico turns back around, his eyes locking with the Colonel's.)
Rico: We aren't breaking up, Grandpa. You helping me out though, is kaput.
Colonel: Is it?
(Rico looks confused for a moment before chuckling.)
Rico: I do believe I said it was. Now kindly fuck off.
(Once again Rico turns around, but before he can take a punch, the Colonel speaks up.)
Colonel: What if I told you I could still help you out? What if I told you that I could get you that APW Heavyweight title you've been after. What then, son?
Rico: You already said that and you already failed.
Colonel: Did I?
(Now the Colonel walks around the punching bag so he is on the far side, in front of Rico.)
Colonel: If my fossil of a brain can recall, I believe I said that I can help you, right?
Rico: Right.
Colonel: And I think I helped you grab a win last week by light that fire underneath you, right?
Rico: You helped Cyrus pick up the victory, but I don't count it as a win.
Colonel: Whatever. The fact, I say, the fact is that I came through on what I said. You want that Heavyweight title? I can help you get that, too.
(Rico places a hand on either side of the punching bag and is staring at the Colonel, trying to figure out if he is telling the truth. After a few moments of silence, the Colonel checks his watch and whistles.)
Colonel: Well, my time might not be important to you, but it is to me, so if you'll excuse me I have to be heading out.
(As the Colonel goes to leave, Rico stands up away from the punching bag.)
Rico: How?
Colonel: Pardon me, son? You might have to speak up, my hearing aid ain't working like it used to.
Rico: How can you get me that title?
(The Colonel smirks and nods.)
Colonel: Well, I can't say now, as you know, but I can let you know later on. Like I said, I have somewhere to be, but I can be in touch after Mayhem.
Rico: And if I win the title this week?
Colonel: Well, then you won't have a need for me, right, son? But if you lose, then at least you'll have a contingency plan.
(Rico nods his head.)
Rico: So if I win, then you'll fuck off forever and take those two trolls with you?
(The Colonel chuckles.)
Colonel: Sure, why not. After all, I'd have nothing else to offer you if you had the title.
Rico: Not quite. You would be keeping those two idiots away from me, which would help immensely.
(The Colonel nods his head.)
Colonel: I'll be in touch after Mayhem. One way or the other.
(He walks passed Rico and disappears in the crowd of gym-goers, leaving Rico all alone.)
Rico: He better not be fucking with me again.
(Rico turns and wails a punch right into the punching bag as the scene fades to black.)
"Well, Asylum didn't exactly go the way I would have scripted it. Never would I have thought that Chris Cyrus would have been the one to score the pinfall. Never would I have believed that it was that anti-hardcore piece of trash that would swoop in and capitalize on what I managed to start. Sure, he'll boast that he earned it, that his hard work is what allowed him to score the pinfall, but he would be lying. Just like James and Suzuki will lie when they boast about how that match ended in bullshit. How nothing should have happened the way it did.
"But it happened the way it should have. It ended with the two of you losing, just like I said. Just like I prophesied. But you didn't want to listen, and that's fine. If you'd rather delay the inevitable and deny the truth of the situation, that is your own choice. Hopefully, though, you listen closely to what I am going to say now, because this time, there is more on the line then pride. More on the line then a measly win. More on the line than the embarrassment of being pinned by Chris Cyrus.
"If anything, the two of you should be glad that you didn't end up hospitalized after the match, because that was my intention. That was my goal. To leave my two Mayhem opponents unable to move, gasping for air. It would have been a fitting end to the evening.
"But unfortunately I wasn't so lucky.
"Though, that's all about to change this week when I take home the APW Heavyweight title to go along with my Suicidal strap. Will make the disappointment of watching the two of you walk out of that arena on your own power that much easier to stomach.
"Suzuki, this is definitely the biggest match of your career. Can the same be said for me? It could be, but I'd like to consider that the biggest match of my career will come when I get what was promised to me after Rasslemania. When I get my one on one match against the Heavyweight champion, not this bastardized triple threat match with MY title on the line. No, Reginald surely fucked this one up and turned you into nothing more than a throw in to what could have had match of the year written all over it. And why? Because you impressed him? Because you had a match in the palm of your hand, but went to the top of a video screen to put me away and failed? Well, if failure is the going rate for title matches, then I'm sure you'll have many more opportunities coming your way.
"I'm not saying you're a failure, Isamu, but that seems to sum it up when it comes to your involvement in big matches. Sure, you won that qualifying match against those DangerTainment nobodies, but when it came to the actual title match, you lost. When it came to the tag team match last week, you and James lost. I have to give you credit for your heart though, because every time you get knocked down, you keep stepping back into the thick of things. You keep getting this thought in your head that you actually stand a chance at winning.
"Just like you think you have a chance at winning a title this week.
"Sure, odds might be with you to leaving with one belt, but there are still possibilities where you won't win either. Where you will have disgraced your family and yourself. And not only that, but you would have also let David down. Poor David. The man who managed you, who coached you to that title shot that you botched. A man that has put his heart into making you into a successful wrestler.
"You wouldn't want to disappoint him, would you? Not after he warned you about screwing it all up. Though you are right. This match will be nothing short than a brutal contest. A fight to end all fights. Perhaps we could even consider this an initiation into the world of Asylum. Or better yet, this will be the chance for me to show you the real reason no one has beaten me for the Suicidal title. To show you why no one has laid a finger on the belt I worked so hard for.
"Because I'm a monster.
"Because I don't hold anything back.
"Because shedding someone elses blood is what I do for a living.
"Everyone that has crossed my path has been dealt with, and everyone that has tried to take this title away from me has been left in a writhing pile of pain. From Delilah to Nate Bishop, everyone has felt my wrath. Even you have, Isamu, albeit, after you dealt yourself the final blow. I just felt it necessary to remind you that while you did beat yourself, you ever eventually going to walk right into a world of bedlam sooner or later.
"Sure, I could lose the title without being pinned, but that's not the way it's going to happen. Not by a long shot. In fact, I'm not even going to be losing this title. And the two of you will eventually realize that. You will realize that after I give you everything that I have. After I pound both of you into submission and after I bust you both open with ease. But that is the life of the Suicidal champion. That is the life on the suicidal side of things. Blood is a badge to us and yours will just be another item to add to the mantle.
"But Suzuki isn't the only one in this match.
"I once again get the pleasure of beating James Chambers over the head and this time, there is no knife wielding idiot, there is no idiot named Chris Cyrus. And even though this is a triple threat match, I know that at some point, there will be an opportunity for us to dance, and there will be an opportunity for you to bleed. For you feel the pain that you should have felt two weeks ago. You can deny that all you want, and you can try and make it seem like another idle threat coming your way, but there is truth to it. Just like there was truth to what I said at Overdrive.
"You might not even realize it now, but you are definitely in danger of losing your title this weekend. And with it, your position atop the APW ranks. Instead you will be forced to start back at the bottom, and it will be months before I have to put up with you again. And I definitely can't wait for that.
"Not like my hatred of you has been kept a secret.
"Quite the opposite actually because since day one you have done nothing but aggravate me. You haven't done a damn thing but strut around the Asylum like you own the place. And frankly, James, I'm sick and tired of it. I'm sick of watching you parade around like some sort hero that everyone should look up to.
"Because you're far from that. If anything, you were just lucky enough to have found yourself in the right place at the right time. Need I remind you that there was one person missing from that tournament that would have not only defeated you soundly, but would have taken home that belt as well. And his name is Rico Casteel. The man standing before you right now, and the man that will make your life a living hell come Mayhem.
"Believe me, I know that Suzuki lurks in the match, but I also know that, thanks to Reginald, this might be my last chance to really hammer home my point and to really make you feel true pain. This will be my chance to prove that your first win over me, only happened because of Cyrus and that your second win was a direct result of a man off his medication. So don't expect to get lucky a third time. Don't expect to walk out of Australia with any sort of gold around your waist.
"In fact, I've already envisioned how you are going to go down. I've already seen your demise in the match, and it was...glorious. You went down in a blaze of glory, blood all over the floor below the stage, flames kissing the sky. Definitely a excellent sight if you were me. Watching one of your rivals become incapacitated at your own hands is...wonderful.
"And when that rival is the APW Heavyweight champion? It's even better.
"Because then I know that I am that much closer to winning the title. You may think this is all just gibberish coming out of my mouth, but come match time, you will understand that I am not just making shit up. You will see that I am telling nothing but the truth. After all, this is an Anything Goes environment. This is a match that was designed for people like me who have no care for anything but themselves. This was made for people like me, the Loose Cannons of the world, to destroy and dominate my opponents.
"And when you consider that the Loose Cannon in this match is as much of a brute as I am, as reckless as I am, and as destructive as I am...well, things don't look too good for you right now. And I know that you don't want to end up like Delilah or Nate Bishop, but, part of me thinks that is going to be an impossible goal for you to accomplish. Part of me knows that you are going have to defend yourself like you've never had to defend yourself before just to have hope of a career after Mayhem.
"Which I know the two of you desperately want to do to me.
"I can already see how it's all going to play out. As much as you say this match is one that has a hint of honor in it, Isamu, I know what will really happen. I know that the two of you are going to take it upon yourselves to eliminate me from the match. To eliminate the true threat before going to work on each other. But that's nothing new to me.
"It's something I'm used to.
"But you both knew that, especially if you both know me like you say you do. You would know that I have been teamed up on many times. That my basic ferocity has caused opponents to target me first out of the bunch.
"And they have all failed just like the two of you will. Both at double teaming me and at beating me altogether.
"Face it, boys, and admit your defeat.
"You're looking at the next APW Heavyweight champion, and there is nothing you will be able to do to stop that from happening. Because even though James is the supposed top dog...
"Both of you are on my turf, now."
Voice: How's it, I say, how's it going, champ?
(A snarl spreads across Rico's face as he closes his eyes and swallows. He slowly turns his head to glare at the aged face of Colonel Frederick de LaFontaine III. He is once again wearing his mustard yellow suit without his hat this time.)
Rico: What the hell are you doing here?
Colonel: Calm down, son. I'm only here to accept your thank you for my help two weeks ago. So, whenever you're ready.
(The Colonel extends his hand to Rico, but Rico looks at it with disgust.)
Rico: What the hell are you on about?
Colonel: Whaduya mean? Last week when you pretended to fire me, I fired you up. I got you going. I got that blood pumping in your body. How else do you think you won your match?
Rico: I didn't win the match. Cyrus did. And I didn't pretend to fire you, I actually did. But maybe your Alzheimer's caused you to miss that part.
Colonel: Such the comedian, there boy. When I was growing up, I'd have been hit with a switch for mouthing off like that.
(Rico takes a step forward, as the Colonel withdraws his hand and continues.)
Colonel: Besides, you might not have scored the pinfall, but you still took it to that son of a bitch Chambers and his partner. And after all, a win is a win right?
Rico: Wrong.
(The Colonel takes a step back, looking confused.)
Colonel: What are you, I say, what are you on about, son? How am I wrong, you mind explaining that to me, boy? Did you even listen to anything I said?
Rico: Oh, I listened alright. But things probably add up differently to you and me. Because to me, a win is not a win. A win, to me, is defined by my opponent laying motionless on the mat. It's defined by blood being spilled. It's defined by me being the one to score the final pinfall, and not that pissant Cyrus.
Colonel: Well hollering ain't going to solve that, boy. You don't want to accept that as a win, then so be it. But don't be blaming me for nothing.
Rico: Who said I was blaming you? I was merely telling you that you were fired and that you have no reason to be here right now.
(The Colonel chuckles and shakes his head.)
Colonel: Now you didn't mean that the other week, I know that.
Rico: What makes you say that? I thought I was very concise in my delivery. Any working relationship between you and I was terminated. Done. Finished. Now get the fuck out of my sight.
(Rico shakes his head as he turns back around to the punching bag and throws a few punches.)
Colonel: Now wait, I say, now wait just a minute, son. This isn't over between us.
(Rico turns back around, his eyes locking with the Colonel's.)
Rico: We aren't breaking up, Grandpa. You helping me out though, is kaput.
Colonel: Is it?
(Rico looks confused for a moment before chuckling.)
Rico: I do believe I said it was. Now kindly fuck off.
(Once again Rico turns around, but before he can take a punch, the Colonel speaks up.)
Colonel: What if I told you I could still help you out? What if I told you that I could get you that APW Heavyweight title you've been after. What then, son?
Rico: You already said that and you already failed.
Colonel: Did I?
(Now the Colonel walks around the punching bag so he is on the far side, in front of Rico.)
Colonel: If my fossil of a brain can recall, I believe I said that I can help you, right?
Rico: Right.
Colonel: And I think I helped you grab a win last week by light that fire underneath you, right?
Rico: You helped Cyrus pick up the victory, but I don't count it as a win.
Colonel: Whatever. The fact, I say, the fact is that I came through on what I said. You want that Heavyweight title? I can help you get that, too.
(Rico places a hand on either side of the punching bag and is staring at the Colonel, trying to figure out if he is telling the truth. After a few moments of silence, the Colonel checks his watch and whistles.)
Colonel: Well, my time might not be important to you, but it is to me, so if you'll excuse me I have to be heading out.
(As the Colonel goes to leave, Rico stands up away from the punching bag.)
Rico: How?
Colonel: Pardon me, son? You might have to speak up, my hearing aid ain't working like it used to.
Rico: How can you get me that title?
(The Colonel smirks and nods.)
Colonel: Well, I can't say now, as you know, but I can let you know later on. Like I said, I have somewhere to be, but I can be in touch after Mayhem.
Rico: And if I win the title this week?
Colonel: Well, then you won't have a need for me, right, son? But if you lose, then at least you'll have a contingency plan.
(Rico nods his head.)
Rico: So if I win, then you'll fuck off forever and take those two trolls with you?
(The Colonel chuckles.)
Colonel: Sure, why not. After all, I'd have nothing else to offer you if you had the title.
Rico: Not quite. You would be keeping those two idiots away from me, which would help immensely.
(The Colonel nods his head.)
Colonel: I'll be in touch after Mayhem. One way or the other.
(He walks passed Rico and disappears in the crowd of gym-goers, leaving Rico all alone.)
Rico: He better not be fucking with me again.
(Rico turns and wails a punch right into the punching bag as the scene fades to black.)
"Well, Asylum didn't exactly go the way I would have scripted it. Never would I have thought that Chris Cyrus would have been the one to score the pinfall. Never would I have believed that it was that anti-hardcore piece of trash that would swoop in and capitalize on what I managed to start. Sure, he'll boast that he earned it, that his hard work is what allowed him to score the pinfall, but he would be lying. Just like James and Suzuki will lie when they boast about how that match ended in bullshit. How nothing should have happened the way it did.
"But it happened the way it should have. It ended with the two of you losing, just like I said. Just like I prophesied. But you didn't want to listen, and that's fine. If you'd rather delay the inevitable and deny the truth of the situation, that is your own choice. Hopefully, though, you listen closely to what I am going to say now, because this time, there is more on the line then pride. More on the line then a measly win. More on the line than the embarrassment of being pinned by Chris Cyrus.
"If anything, the two of you should be glad that you didn't end up hospitalized after the match, because that was my intention. That was my goal. To leave my two Mayhem opponents unable to move, gasping for air. It would have been a fitting end to the evening.
"But unfortunately I wasn't so lucky.
"Though, that's all about to change this week when I take home the APW Heavyweight title to go along with my Suicidal strap. Will make the disappointment of watching the two of you walk out of that arena on your own power that much easier to stomach.
"Suzuki, this is definitely the biggest match of your career. Can the same be said for me? It could be, but I'd like to consider that the biggest match of my career will come when I get what was promised to me after Rasslemania. When I get my one on one match against the Heavyweight champion, not this bastardized triple threat match with MY title on the line. No, Reginald surely fucked this one up and turned you into nothing more than a throw in to what could have had match of the year written all over it. And why? Because you impressed him? Because you had a match in the palm of your hand, but went to the top of a video screen to put me away and failed? Well, if failure is the going rate for title matches, then I'm sure you'll have many more opportunities coming your way.
"I'm not saying you're a failure, Isamu, but that seems to sum it up when it comes to your involvement in big matches. Sure, you won that qualifying match against those DangerTainment nobodies, but when it came to the actual title match, you lost. When it came to the tag team match last week, you and James lost. I have to give you credit for your heart though, because every time you get knocked down, you keep stepping back into the thick of things. You keep getting this thought in your head that you actually stand a chance at winning.
"Just like you think you have a chance at winning a title this week.
"Sure, odds might be with you to leaving with one belt, but there are still possibilities where you won't win either. Where you will have disgraced your family and yourself. And not only that, but you would have also let David down. Poor David. The man who managed you, who coached you to that title shot that you botched. A man that has put his heart into making you into a successful wrestler.
"You wouldn't want to disappoint him, would you? Not after he warned you about screwing it all up. Though you are right. This match will be nothing short than a brutal contest. A fight to end all fights. Perhaps we could even consider this an initiation into the world of Asylum. Or better yet, this will be the chance for me to show you the real reason no one has beaten me for the Suicidal title. To show you why no one has laid a finger on the belt I worked so hard for.
"Because I'm a monster.
"Because I don't hold anything back.
"Because shedding someone elses blood is what I do for a living.
"Everyone that has crossed my path has been dealt with, and everyone that has tried to take this title away from me has been left in a writhing pile of pain. From Delilah to Nate Bishop, everyone has felt my wrath. Even you have, Isamu, albeit, after you dealt yourself the final blow. I just felt it necessary to remind you that while you did beat yourself, you ever eventually going to walk right into a world of bedlam sooner or later.
"Sure, I could lose the title without being pinned, but that's not the way it's going to happen. Not by a long shot. In fact, I'm not even going to be losing this title. And the two of you will eventually realize that. You will realize that after I give you everything that I have. After I pound both of you into submission and after I bust you both open with ease. But that is the life of the Suicidal champion. That is the life on the suicidal side of things. Blood is a badge to us and yours will just be another item to add to the mantle.
"But Suzuki isn't the only one in this match.
"I once again get the pleasure of beating James Chambers over the head and this time, there is no knife wielding idiot, there is no idiot named Chris Cyrus. And even though this is a triple threat match, I know that at some point, there will be an opportunity for us to dance, and there will be an opportunity for you to bleed. For you feel the pain that you should have felt two weeks ago. You can deny that all you want, and you can try and make it seem like another idle threat coming your way, but there is truth to it. Just like there was truth to what I said at Overdrive.
"You might not even realize it now, but you are definitely in danger of losing your title this weekend. And with it, your position atop the APW ranks. Instead you will be forced to start back at the bottom, and it will be months before I have to put up with you again. And I definitely can't wait for that.
"Not like my hatred of you has been kept a secret.
"Quite the opposite actually because since day one you have done nothing but aggravate me. You haven't done a damn thing but strut around the Asylum like you own the place. And frankly, James, I'm sick and tired of it. I'm sick of watching you parade around like some sort hero that everyone should look up to.
"Because you're far from that. If anything, you were just lucky enough to have found yourself in the right place at the right time. Need I remind you that there was one person missing from that tournament that would have not only defeated you soundly, but would have taken home that belt as well. And his name is Rico Casteel. The man standing before you right now, and the man that will make your life a living hell come Mayhem.
"Believe me, I know that Suzuki lurks in the match, but I also know that, thanks to Reginald, this might be my last chance to really hammer home my point and to really make you feel true pain. This will be my chance to prove that your first win over me, only happened because of Cyrus and that your second win was a direct result of a man off his medication. So don't expect to get lucky a third time. Don't expect to walk out of Australia with any sort of gold around your waist.
"In fact, I've already envisioned how you are going to go down. I've already seen your demise in the match, and it was...glorious. You went down in a blaze of glory, blood all over the floor below the stage, flames kissing the sky. Definitely a excellent sight if you were me. Watching one of your rivals become incapacitated at your own hands is...wonderful.
"And when that rival is the APW Heavyweight champion? It's even better.
"Because then I know that I am that much closer to winning the title. You may think this is all just gibberish coming out of my mouth, but come match time, you will understand that I am not just making shit up. You will see that I am telling nothing but the truth. After all, this is an Anything Goes environment. This is a match that was designed for people like me who have no care for anything but themselves. This was made for people like me, the Loose Cannons of the world, to destroy and dominate my opponents.
"And when you consider that the Loose Cannon in this match is as much of a brute as I am, as reckless as I am, and as destructive as I am...well, things don't look too good for you right now. And I know that you don't want to end up like Delilah or Nate Bishop, but, part of me thinks that is going to be an impossible goal for you to accomplish. Part of me knows that you are going have to defend yourself like you've never had to defend yourself before just to have hope of a career after Mayhem.
"Which I know the two of you desperately want to do to me.
"I can already see how it's all going to play out. As much as you say this match is one that has a hint of honor in it, Isamu, I know what will really happen. I know that the two of you are going to take it upon yourselves to eliminate me from the match. To eliminate the true threat before going to work on each other. But that's nothing new to me.
"It's something I'm used to.
"But you both knew that, especially if you both know me like you say you do. You would know that I have been teamed up on many times. That my basic ferocity has caused opponents to target me first out of the bunch.
"And they have all failed just like the two of you will. Both at double teaming me and at beating me altogether.
"Face it, boys, and admit your defeat.
"You're looking at the next APW Heavyweight champion, and there is nothing you will be able to do to stop that from happening. Because even though James is the supposed top dog...
"Both of you are on my turf, now."
