Post by jc on Aug 25, 2011 1:08:39 GMT -4
To say that Zachary Rodell's interference in Ebirah's match was uncharacteristic would be an understatement. For all intent and purposes, Rodell is supposed to be the level headed, baby faced, good kid just happy to have a contract with Action Packed Wrestling. He's supposed to be the new kid on the block that the kids in the crowd are supposed to look up to, dream about becoming one day, and yet he walked out and cost Ebirah a match.
It wasn't expected, and would be something you'd expect more from Ebirah's Twilight Zone cronies.
Yet, anyone could go back to a replay of the last Overdrive and see Zach presumably crossing over to the dark side.
“What's up with you, kid?”
Zachary Rodell lifts his head from the Lowrider magazine he was flipping through, and arches an eyebrow in his road companion, Jake Huron's direction.
Rodell: Excuse me?
Jake folds his arms across his chest, covering up the APW Overdrive logo on the black t-shirt he is wearing. Still wearing his plain black trunks, until he is finished tearing down the ring at the end of the night and he can shower, he does not seem to be in a good mood.
Huron: That crap you just pulled. I know you're new to this, but those kids out there need someone they can look up to, someone they can count on to lead them in the right direction to make good choices in life, and you're one of the guys that they have put that faith in... And you just spit in their damn faces because you're still butt hurt that you lost to Ebirah.
Zach tosses the magazine aside, standing up from the bench he had made himself comfortable on and getting right in Jake's face.
Rodell: Don't come in here talking to me like I'm a dog that just pissed in your new slippers. I know what I'm supposed to be, but I know who I am better than anyone aside from my parents, and I am not a damn place mat for people to walk across or wipe their damn feet on their way to something more. I refuse to just stand by and let a chance to be something more than some never gonna be that isn't even good enough to be in advertised dark matches.
The jab at Huron's career with APW thus far wasn't necessary, and the look on Jake's face makes it clear that it hurts more than a knife being twisted into his back slowly.
Huron: Hey screw you, kid. You don't know me or what I've been through, so don't stand there and insult me.
Rodell: Then don't come in here and tell me something I already know. I didn't ask to be a role model, and I never said that I'm going to start visiting kids in hospitals and tell them they have a fighting chance to make it through some life threatening disease. I'm a competitor, plain and simple. Just because I sat there and nodded my head when I was told what direction they wanted me to go in, doesn't mean I have to like it. I'm going to do my damn job, and if that means I have to go out there and slap hands with a bunch of kids to put a smile on their face in order to keep it, then so be it. But don't think for one moment, that I'm going to turn the other cheek when someone takes an opportunity I think I deserve.
Jake shakes his head, as Zach backs off a bit and returns to the bench. He doesn't sit though, instead he just places his hands on his hips and lowers his chin to his chest.
Huron: Ebirah didn't take a damn thing away from you, but you may have just thrown it away yourself after that little stunt.
Rodell: He took more from me than you know, Jake. Whether you see it or not, I know and I don't plan on forgetting. This match we have coming up at Shockwave...
Zach turns back to face Jake, lifting his hand and rubbing his chin as he allows a devilish grin to sneak onto an otherwise expressionless face.
Rodell: Well, let's just say that Ebirah's not going to be the only one out there with an ace up his sleeve. No, I'm going to give those fans exactly what they expect to see from me, but I'm also going to give exactly what I expect of myself.
Jake lowers his head as he shakes it, clearly not happy with Zachary's comments.
Huron: You're walking a fine line, kid. I know you're not going to listen to me when I tell you to stay on the side you were assigned, but there are some people you just don't want to piss off. Especially the ones who actually have the control over where your career goes.
Jake turns around and heads to the door, pausing for a moment as he pulls the door open.
Huron: You just might end up wrestling in dark matches no one ever talks about.
And with that, Jake walks out the door and lets it close slowly behind him. All Zach does is stare at it for a moment, the smile no longer there as the words slowly sink in.
“First and foremost, I'd like to apologize.”
Zachary Rodell sits on a stool in front of an APW Shockwave backdrop, baggy denim pants and an oversized white t-shirt the ensemble for today's appearance. One would also take notice of the white cap turned backwards and slightly tipped to the side.
Rodell: Apologize to Ebirah for costing him a match, but more importantly to my fans... To the kids who saw me make a bad decision. One I cannot change or take back.
He lowers his head and sighs audibly.
Rodell: I'm sorry.
He lifts his head, moisture slowly building up in the corners of his eyes.
Rodell: I don't know what came over me, and if I could go back and make a different choice.. the right choice. I would do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, life doesn't give you a second chance... You don't get a mulligan in real life when you make a bad decision. You have to live with the choices you make, so even though it is not advice that I followed myself... I want to stress how important it is to not make a decision in haste, but to take your time and consider the repercussions of your actions.
“CUT!”
Zach sits up straight, his gaze focused beyond the camera filming his every action with a confused look on his face.
Rodell: I thought that was going pretty good.
A man in khaki slacks and a red polo shirt walks on screen shaking his head.
Man: Haste? We're making this segment to air on Shockwave... To address the kids in the crowd that you'll eventually want to buy your t-shirt's, action figures, and sheet sets, and you use a word like haste... How many kids do you know that use the word haste?
Zach shrugs his shoulders.
Rodell: Hell if I know. Smart ones, I guess. I used it in elementary.
Man: And how many times did you get your butt kicked for being a smart ass?
Rodell: You're kidding right?
The man throws his arms up.
Man: No, I'm not kidding. You need to use smaller words that kids will understand, or they're gonna sit there and pick their noses and pay no attention to you.
Rodell: I get it... You want me to dumb it down.
The man shakes his head, then stops and smiles as if he just struck gold.
Man: Yes... Yes, that's exactly what I want you to do. Let's try this again.
The man rushes off stage and yells...
“ACTION!”
Rodell: I'm sowwy.
”CUT!”
Maybe we'll just come back to this later. Zachary actually has someone else he needs to address anyway.
“And now we both know what it is like to lose a match we know we should have won.”
There is no backdrop, nothing exciting going on in the background or going on at all. All there is, is Zachary Rodell and a camera. The film crew shooting his segment is long gone, and one can only hope that he got his act together and pulled it off.
Rodell: Just between you and I, though... I don't think you should have won the one I cost you either.
A smug smirk rests casually on the face of Zachary Rodell, one that only appears during the private conversations between him and his opponents.
Rodell: I'm not going to stand here and tell you that you suck and you have no business inside of the squared circle, but I will tell you that Terry Marvin had you beat dead to rights. If anything, I made you look good in that match.
The smirk grows as Rodell nods his head steadily.
Rodell: You can always fall back on the fact that your first loss, the loss that sent you on a downward spiral during a fall from grace that is going to continue at Shockwave, only happened because I pulled you off of Marvin during your pin attempt. Admit it though... You knew you were going to lose, right?
As rhetorical as they come, Zach wastes no time moving on from the question.
Rodell: This coming week is going to be the same story, and the only happy ending you can expect is if you happen to find an Asian massage parlor. You see, Ebirah, if there is one thing I learned from our match, it's that you aren't in the same shape as when you were my age... In the prime of your career, I guess you could say. No, your best days are behind you and now that I know that...
Deadpan.
Rodell: Well, I know better than to play your little game this time around. When we faced on Overdrive I did exactly what you said I would, what you expected me to do. Well, Shockwave is going to be different, because this time I know what to expect from you and as much as you're not going to like what I have to say... I'm not impressed. Besides, I have an extra added advantage you don't.
He leans back, turning the white cap around to show the logo on the front. The star logo of America's team.
Rodell: When push comes to shove, it's the cowboys in white hats who get to ride off into the sunset with the pretty girls.
It wasn't expected, and would be something you'd expect more from Ebirah's Twilight Zone cronies.
Yet, anyone could go back to a replay of the last Overdrive and see Zach presumably crossing over to the dark side.
“What's up with you, kid?”
Zachary Rodell lifts his head from the Lowrider magazine he was flipping through, and arches an eyebrow in his road companion, Jake Huron's direction.
Rodell: Excuse me?
Jake folds his arms across his chest, covering up the APW Overdrive logo on the black t-shirt he is wearing. Still wearing his plain black trunks, until he is finished tearing down the ring at the end of the night and he can shower, he does not seem to be in a good mood.
Huron: That crap you just pulled. I know you're new to this, but those kids out there need someone they can look up to, someone they can count on to lead them in the right direction to make good choices in life, and you're one of the guys that they have put that faith in... And you just spit in their damn faces because you're still butt hurt that you lost to Ebirah.
Zach tosses the magazine aside, standing up from the bench he had made himself comfortable on and getting right in Jake's face.
Rodell: Don't come in here talking to me like I'm a dog that just pissed in your new slippers. I know what I'm supposed to be, but I know who I am better than anyone aside from my parents, and I am not a damn place mat for people to walk across or wipe their damn feet on their way to something more. I refuse to just stand by and let a chance to be something more than some never gonna be that isn't even good enough to be in advertised dark matches.
The jab at Huron's career with APW thus far wasn't necessary, and the look on Jake's face makes it clear that it hurts more than a knife being twisted into his back slowly.
Huron: Hey screw you, kid. You don't know me or what I've been through, so don't stand there and insult me.
Rodell: Then don't come in here and tell me something I already know. I didn't ask to be a role model, and I never said that I'm going to start visiting kids in hospitals and tell them they have a fighting chance to make it through some life threatening disease. I'm a competitor, plain and simple. Just because I sat there and nodded my head when I was told what direction they wanted me to go in, doesn't mean I have to like it. I'm going to do my damn job, and if that means I have to go out there and slap hands with a bunch of kids to put a smile on their face in order to keep it, then so be it. But don't think for one moment, that I'm going to turn the other cheek when someone takes an opportunity I think I deserve.
Jake shakes his head, as Zach backs off a bit and returns to the bench. He doesn't sit though, instead he just places his hands on his hips and lowers his chin to his chest.
Huron: Ebirah didn't take a damn thing away from you, but you may have just thrown it away yourself after that little stunt.
Rodell: He took more from me than you know, Jake. Whether you see it or not, I know and I don't plan on forgetting. This match we have coming up at Shockwave...
Zach turns back to face Jake, lifting his hand and rubbing his chin as he allows a devilish grin to sneak onto an otherwise expressionless face.
Rodell: Well, let's just say that Ebirah's not going to be the only one out there with an ace up his sleeve. No, I'm going to give those fans exactly what they expect to see from me, but I'm also going to give exactly what I expect of myself.
Jake lowers his head as he shakes it, clearly not happy with Zachary's comments.
Huron: You're walking a fine line, kid. I know you're not going to listen to me when I tell you to stay on the side you were assigned, but there are some people you just don't want to piss off. Especially the ones who actually have the control over where your career goes.
Jake turns around and heads to the door, pausing for a moment as he pulls the door open.
Huron: You just might end up wrestling in dark matches no one ever talks about.
And with that, Jake walks out the door and lets it close slowly behind him. All Zach does is stare at it for a moment, the smile no longer there as the words slowly sink in.
= = = = = =
“First and foremost, I'd like to apologize.”
Zachary Rodell sits on a stool in front of an APW Shockwave backdrop, baggy denim pants and an oversized white t-shirt the ensemble for today's appearance. One would also take notice of the white cap turned backwards and slightly tipped to the side.
Rodell: Apologize to Ebirah for costing him a match, but more importantly to my fans... To the kids who saw me make a bad decision. One I cannot change or take back.
He lowers his head and sighs audibly.
Rodell: I'm sorry.
He lifts his head, moisture slowly building up in the corners of his eyes.
Rodell: I don't know what came over me, and if I could go back and make a different choice.. the right choice. I would do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, life doesn't give you a second chance... You don't get a mulligan in real life when you make a bad decision. You have to live with the choices you make, so even though it is not advice that I followed myself... I want to stress how important it is to not make a decision in haste, but to take your time and consider the repercussions of your actions.
“CUT!”
Zach sits up straight, his gaze focused beyond the camera filming his every action with a confused look on his face.
Rodell: I thought that was going pretty good.
A man in khaki slacks and a red polo shirt walks on screen shaking his head.
Man: Haste? We're making this segment to air on Shockwave... To address the kids in the crowd that you'll eventually want to buy your t-shirt's, action figures, and sheet sets, and you use a word like haste... How many kids do you know that use the word haste?
Zach shrugs his shoulders.
Rodell: Hell if I know. Smart ones, I guess. I used it in elementary.
Man: And how many times did you get your butt kicked for being a smart ass?
Rodell: You're kidding right?
The man throws his arms up.
Man: No, I'm not kidding. You need to use smaller words that kids will understand, or they're gonna sit there and pick their noses and pay no attention to you.
Rodell: I get it... You want me to dumb it down.
The man shakes his head, then stops and smiles as if he just struck gold.
Man: Yes... Yes, that's exactly what I want you to do. Let's try this again.
The man rushes off stage and yells...
“ACTION!”
Rodell: I'm sowwy.
”CUT!”
Maybe we'll just come back to this later. Zachary actually has someone else he needs to address anyway.
= = = = = =
“And now we both know what it is like to lose a match we know we should have won.”
There is no backdrop, nothing exciting going on in the background or going on at all. All there is, is Zachary Rodell and a camera. The film crew shooting his segment is long gone, and one can only hope that he got his act together and pulled it off.
Rodell: Just between you and I, though... I don't think you should have won the one I cost you either.
A smug smirk rests casually on the face of Zachary Rodell, one that only appears during the private conversations between him and his opponents.
Rodell: I'm not going to stand here and tell you that you suck and you have no business inside of the squared circle, but I will tell you that Terry Marvin had you beat dead to rights. If anything, I made you look good in that match.
The smirk grows as Rodell nods his head steadily.
Rodell: You can always fall back on the fact that your first loss, the loss that sent you on a downward spiral during a fall from grace that is going to continue at Shockwave, only happened because I pulled you off of Marvin during your pin attempt. Admit it though... You knew you were going to lose, right?
As rhetorical as they come, Zach wastes no time moving on from the question.
Rodell: This coming week is going to be the same story, and the only happy ending you can expect is if you happen to find an Asian massage parlor. You see, Ebirah, if there is one thing I learned from our match, it's that you aren't in the same shape as when you were my age... In the prime of your career, I guess you could say. No, your best days are behind you and now that I know that...
Deadpan.
Rodell: Well, I know better than to play your little game this time around. When we faced on Overdrive I did exactly what you said I would, what you expected me to do. Well, Shockwave is going to be different, because this time I know what to expect from you and as much as you're not going to like what I have to say... I'm not impressed. Besides, I have an extra added advantage you don't.
He leans back, turning the white cap around to show the logo on the front. The star logo of America's team.
Rodell: When push comes to shove, it's the cowboys in white hats who get to ride off into the sunset with the pretty girls.
